…casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God… —2
Corinthians 10:5
{CHAMBERS} Determinedly Demolish Some Things. Deliverance from sin
is not the same as deliverance from human nature. […] There are some things
over which we are not to fight, but only to “stand still, and see the salvation
of the Lord…” (see Exodus 14:13). But every theory or thought that raises
itself up as a fortified barrier “against the knowledge of God” is to be
determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, not through human effort or
by compromise (see 2 Corinthians 10:4). It is only when God has
transformed our nature and we have entered into the experience of
sanctification that the fight begins. The warfare is not against sin; […] The
conflict is waged over turning our natural life into a spiritual life. This is
never done easily, nor does God intend that it be so. […] God does not make us
holy in the sense that He makes our character holy. […] These choices [choosing
God] are continually opposed and hostile to the things of our natural life
which have become so deeply entrenched— the very things that raise themselves
up as fortified barriers “against the knowledge of God.” We can either turn
back, making ourselves of no value to the kingdom of God, or we can
determinedly demolish these things [that which opposes God], allowing Jesus to
bring another son to glory (see Hebrews 2:10).
{ELGIN} When God calls you to
action, it is necessary to abandon the comforts that your natural life may
afford and follow Jesus. Paul said, (2 Timothy 2:3-4) “Join with me in
suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a
soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his
commanding officer.” When you hear His
voice very often the first thing that rises up are all of the earthly,
reasonable considerations that a “responsible” person would make. Things that would exalt themselves against
the knowledge of God. What finds of
things? (Luke
9:59-60) “He [Jesus] said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first
let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own
dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”” What?!?!? What is wrong with burying your
father? Nothing, very reasonable, responsible thing to do. But when faced with
the choice, you must choose God. Jesus was
telling him that there was a competition in the man’s heart. His love of other things, even something like
your love for your family, was exalted above God. (Luke
14:26-27) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person
cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.” Not even your
family can hold a higher place than the Lord.
(Luke 18:22-23) “When Jesus
heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow
me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.” The man Jesus was talking to was doing good
things, but good is not good enough. Good
very often exalts itself against God. (Matthew 22:37) “Love God with all your heart” That does not leave room for anything else.
Right now Martie and I are
dealing with everything I have written this morning. The good, the reasonable standing in defiance
to the best, that being the will and way of God. The church in Houston that we are meeting
with this week made a commitment last January.
They committed to saying “yes” to God, no matter what God says. (by the
way, it is very important that you know it is God speaking and not man. If you act on anything other than God’s
direction, you might find yourself in deep water) And don’t forget, what I am writing about is
a spiritual act not a mortal decision. But
it is the realm of the flesh that will rise up in the face of God’s
leading. Dr. Henry Blackaby said, “It’s
not really a problem of knowing what God has said to you, it is a problem of
obeying what you heard Him say.” Bottom
line … living in the world of “Yes Lord” requires faith (Hebrews 11:1) .. trusting in what is hoped for and not seen. You can only do that with the help of the One
who has called you. Trust God.
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