Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Being A New Creation!

This is a fraction of some of the things I have been pondering as of late. Once again sorry it is so long, I did shorten it and this is what remains. I don't claim these words to be perfect, but I do pray they will bless and not hinder His work in you the reader.


Come, take up your cross, and follow me–Mark 10:21

Should we expect attesting miracles and wonders to accompany us in our sharing of the word? Yes, but we should be more concerned with the sharing of His word and that our names are written in the Lambs book of life? For many will walk, but the faithful will be lifted up!(Philippians 3:18-20) Many will perform signs, miracles, and wonders in His name(Matthew 7:21-23), but only those who truly believe(not just know, but a belief that causes you to submit yourself through faith under that knowledge of the unseen). A belief that causes you to surrender your life under His kingship and authority, surrendering to Him in a righteous faith and obedience as servants of His word. Then we can be assured of that which we hope for. Even Jesus ,as a man, was first a slave and servant of the Most High God, submitting Himself to death on a cross! We are not greater than Jesus that we should expect a life without walking in faith, obedience, or even persecution like that of Christ are we? Which is more difficult, to be bold in a faith and obedience that produces fruit (a burden He says is light), being a slave of righteousness whose reward is eternal life, or living a life for the flesh(body/lusts/greed/fears/etc.) first, one full of deceitful riches, pleasures, and worries that leads to judgement and eternal Hell fire(which isn't meant for us but for the devil and his demons)?

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Our life in Christ Jesus is to be both that of the servant and the heir. The servant first and then when He returns we shall be fully heirs with Him and sons of God. Loving others is not a request from Jesus to the believer; it is a command and promise! Jesus is our Savior because He first came as a servant to seek and to save that which was lost, but He is also and completely our Teacher and Master! He has not left us here for our health, pleasure, or so that we may live comfortably, but so that we might share in working the work of God and the kingdom; spreading the gospel and proving ourselves to be faithful servants of the most high God! Jesus left us here to bear fruit, and when He returns clothed in the heavens and surrounded by the angels, those who have will be given more, yet those who are without even what they have will be taken away. He is our Master and we are called to be faithful and obedient even as He was to death. Why? So that it will be well with us, and so that we will no longer slaves but sons, even sons of the most High God!
And if we believe in the One whom God the Father sent then we must also do what He says, for "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." "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."
Do you love your neighbour, boss, family member, or enemy as much today/everyday as you love yourself or as much as Christ loved you? If you are in Christ you will! But you must take up your cross first and then that promise will be realized. For all who have died to sin are free from its law of death. "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.""For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.""Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?""But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty"
Let your flesh and fears perish on the cross with Christ Jesus and go follow Him! For He will make us sons and one with Him and the Father! Let your life perish so that you may truly live, not in miracles and wonders, but in everlasting life, not in comfort and ease on this earth, but in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! If your fleshly mind says "NO!" Master your fleshly mind! If your flesh is afraid to let go of your life, then let His Spirit conquer it! Do that which you fear and the death of fear is soon to follow. For He has not given us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind. Let your newness of life in the Spirit rule your flesh which is now dead, for it has been buried with Christ Jesus in your baptism and now it to can also find life in His resurrection! Quit submitting your body to sin and temptations so as to be their slave, but instead submit to the righteousness that is found in obedience to Christ Jesus and His word.

Time can with circumstance and deception kill/delay the zealous heart, so if God has given you a passion or command, do not wait for a comfortable time! For now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation! Leave everything family/friends/wealth/securities and follow the passion that comes from His Spirit in you. Then you will be rewarded! "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
"Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Now ask me how well I'm doing in all that....yes, truly we need to encourage each other to be diligent workers!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I encourage you to be a diligent worker.

gospeloflove said...

Thank you Bambi's Father, I shall try!