Monday, December 17, 2012

Needing a Course Correction

My Utmost For His Highest
 
The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him . . . —1 Corinthians 2:14
 
The gospel of God creates the sense of need for the gospel. Is the gospel hidden to those who are servants already? No, Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe . . .” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The majority of people think of themselves as being completely moral, and have no sense of need for the gospel. It is God who creates this sense of need in a human being, but that person remains totally unaware of his need until God makes Himself evident. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you . . .” (Matthew 7:7). […] Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32). When we preach our own experiences, people may be interested, but it awakens no real sense of need. But once Jesus Christ is “lifted up,” the Spirit of God creates an awareness of the need for Him. The creative power of the redemption of God works in the souls of men only through the preaching of the gospel. It is never the sharing of personal experiences that saves people, but the truth of redemption. “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).’ CHAMBERS
 
Lifting Jesus up to those who are perishing …. I am just back from Haiti .. maybe two days … this year more than ever I see the contrast between the Church and the culture.  People on the street don’t say Merry Christmas .. they say ‘Happy Holidays’.  They don’t talk about Jesus … so as not to offend those who don’t believe in that stuff … The darker our culture becomes .. the more contrast there is between the dark and the light.
 
This is not some new phenomenon … this cycle has been seen for centuries … the American culture is in decay … we are morally bankrupt as a whole .. and cannot understand why we have the problems we have today … that is because the natural man does not receive the things of God … It’s time to refocus on Jesus … 1 Peter 1:18
 
1 Peter 1:13-21 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
 
Each successive generation moves further away from where we began when this country was founded.  There is a rule called the ‘1 in 60 rule’ that says if you veer 1 degree off course .. in 60 miles you will be 1 mile off course … the point is that when you get off course … you can’t stay on the same path and expect to reach your destination…. You will only move further and further away.  Take some time to point people to Jesus .. not just by what you say .. but by the way you live … Let your light shine … and pray that our nation will repent.
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

No comments: