Tell Them About Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘[…] If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter. If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root.[…]’ CHAMBERS

 

Do you know someone who is struggling with life?  I think we all do.  It does not really matter what the issue they are struggling with is.  The solution to whatever the problem is starts with Jesus.  But turning to Jesus is often the last thing someone wants to hear when they are struggling with life.  That is not to say that there aren’t physical, relational  or emotional issues that must be tended to, but at the root of everything is our relationship with the Lord.  Think about this … God created .. man fell .. Jesus restored … that is the bigger – eternal - story that we all live in … if that is not right .. then the other things don’t really matter much …

 

When Jesus met people He always got down to what it was that kept them apart from God .. sin … He doesn’t say that He will remove the circumstance .. but He does say He will change how we look at our circumstances .. He gives us a new beginning …

 

The yielding of our lives to Jesus is a spiritual act … it is very personal between me and God … it is not something that someone else can force, coerce, or convince … instead our role to is merely to tell .. to encourage … and then to pray … the root is a spiritual problem and must be dealt with at the spiritual level.

 

Do you know someone who is struggling with life?  Tell them about Jesus.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

What Do You Smell Like?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘[…] Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers. The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.’ CHAMBERS

 

So the challenge for us is to make sure we place our trust in God and not the world and then to bring glory to God through how lives .. where ever we are .. and whatever we put our hands to.

 

Why do you suppose it is so easy to be faithful to work?  We feel compelled to be to work on time.  “Well”, you say, “if I don’t do what I am expected to do then I won’t have a job.” And that is true. But the point is .. why are we more faithful to the demands of our boss than we are to the commands of the Lord?

 

I think it might be that we look at our work as the means of support for our family, our debt, are personal significance.  But isn’t God the one who does all of that? Isn’t He the Provider, the sustainer, the One who said we are so significant that He sent His Son to die for us?

 

Are you getting your back up about now?  Wanting to defend yourself? I am not telling you this so you will feel defensive.  I am telling you this so you will examine your priorities.  What or whom do you trust in, really?  What is the basis for your decisions?  Your financial security or the direction from God?  I am not saying you shouldn’t go to work today so you can pray and read your Bible. I am saying you need to  give your heart fully to God.  We should do everything with excellence, but not for recognition or self-promotion, but for the Lord.  When we go to work are serving Him, not our boss.

 

Colossians 3:22-24 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Likewise, our focus cannot be on how things are going at work or whether we like our job … but knowing that we are where God has planted us … and having confidence that He knows what He is doing.  I have heard many prayer requests like “Lord get me out of this job, I hate it.”  How did you get in the job?  When you did get that job, did you see it as God’s provision?   I believe that it is a false assumption that we must be comfortable and satisfied with our work for it to be the right place for us.   Our ministry  is to be the aroma of Christ, no matter what the circumstance. That goes beyond being devoted to our employer and loving our job.  The aroma cannot be released until the flask is broken.     2 Corinthians 2:14-15 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

 

Keep your eyes on Jesus

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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)

Clean Your Feet First

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘[…] Wrestling before God makes an impact in His kingdom. If you ask me to pray for you, and I am not complete in Christ, my prayer accomplishes nothing. But if I am complete in Christ, my prayer brings victory all the time. Prayer is effective only when there is completeness— “take up the whole armor of God . . . .”  Always make a distinction between God’s perfect will and His permissive will, which He uses to accomplish His divine purpose for our lives. God’s perfect will is unchangeable. It is with His permissive will, or the various things that He allows into our lives, that we must wrestle before Him. It is our reaction to these things allowed by His permissive will that enables us to come to the point of seeing His perfect will for us. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . .” (Romans 8:28)[…]’ CHAMBERS

 

Do you think about your spiritual condition when you pray to God .. or do you just pray … Did you know that the presupposition to the command to “pray without ceasing”?  1 Thessalonians 5:16 “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

 

Before the high priest made a sacrifice for the nation on the day of atonement, he first made a sacrifice for his own sins,  Hebrews 7:27  “Unlike the other high priests, he [Jesus] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people.” This verse has to do with Jesus as our high priest who is sinless.  My point is that we are not sinless .. but are forgiven .. but we still need to have our feet washed … John 13:10  “Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean[…]"  … and we should understand that coming before God in prayer is a highly spiritual act … and although simple .. should not be taken lightly.

 

It is about being spiritually aware throughout the day.  I find that thought very convicting …. Thank God for 1 John 1:9.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Having a Change of Mind

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. Instead, you will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others, which will serve only to increase the contentment they have for remaining out of touch with God. True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to “fill up . . . [with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe intercession by saying, “It is putting yourself in someone else’s place.” That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and His perspective.’ CHAMBERS

 

I thought intercession was praying so God would fix the problem … either the person or the circumstance .. not me!  This raises so many questions.  So where is the line drawn? When do we do something and when do we trust God to do something?  But then that is the point isn’t it.  God can do something through me or through someone else .. or not … the key is having His mind and perspective … Jesus was capable of doing many things in response to what was happening around Him .. He walked on water, raised the dead, headed the sick, resisted Satan … do you really think that a few Jews could subdue Him?  He chose to do the Father’s will.  He said they were one … If you had seen Jesus .. you had seen the Father … 1 Corinthians 2:15-18 “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord  so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

 

Every day I am faced with challenges.  Things that challenge my patience, my compassion, my principles, and my faith. I know the way the Lord is leading me, yet, my flesh says .. you can handle this another way .. and yet, to my benefit,  the Spirit constrains me.  The Lord is teaching me meekness … not doing what I can do in my own power, but the Father’s will.  And how do you know the Father’s will?  Only by having a deep relationship with Him. Have I arrived? I don’t think so .. but I am on that path and my feet are moving .. so I am making progress.

 

Being a Christian is not about being a punching bag or easy mark.  It is about listening for God’s voice and walking in obedience to what you hear, even if it doesn’t make any sense. My goal is that one day when someone asks “What was Jesus like?” they will say, look at the guy over there .. that is what He was like … How about you?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

If They Really Knew - Then What

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.’ CHAMBERS

 

Does anyone walking this planet know you, really?  Not the island that is exposed above the water, but the mountain that lies beneath.  Do they know that person who has doubts, fears, insecurities, sinful thoughts and desires?  Maybe your best friend or wife or husband … but maybe not even them.  There are some things that we may never share with anyone .. because of guilt, shame, or the fear that if it was known, we would be rejected.  But our God knows us all the way down to the sea floor … He knows the innermost parts … there is nothing that has not been exposed to God.  1 John 3:20 “[…] we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything”

 

And yet He still loves us.  We, Christians, are such great pretenders.  We meet on Sunday morning and tell everyone how wonderful things are, but at the same time are carrying around so much inside. You can take heart in knowing that  “There's not a Friend like the lowly Jesus   No, not one! no, not one! None else could heal all our souls' diseases   No, not one! no, not one! Jesus knows all about our struggles;  He will guide 'til the day is done There's not a Friend like the lowly Jesus  No, not one! no, not one!”

 

When our identity is in Him,  when we know His forgiveness … there is no room for fear of rejection … the world may shun you, but God will embrace you …

 

1 John 4:17-19 “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”

 

Spend some time with Jesus today …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

My Way or the High(er) Way

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “. . . let him deny himself . . .”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.’ CHAMBERS

 

Denying the right to yourself is a most difficult step in our new life. It is a reflection of the measure of trust that we have in God.  Some might argue that looking out for your best interest is a survival instinct in us.  That we want to preserve ourselves.  It’s only natural. And that is true, it is natural .. but, as Christians, we live a life that is super-natural.  Self-reliance is the bane of the Christian life.  Self-reliance takes many forms but the result is always the same .. we reject God and trust in ourselves.  How do we reject God?  We accumulate things to pad our existence and make our lives physically more comfortable … we accommodate the culture to avoid conflict and make our lives relationally for tolerable …and we  avoid the spiritual to make our lives less convicting.

 

But God said … not to accumulate, not to accommodate, and not to avoid but to lay your treasures up in heaven, to separate yourself from the patterns of this world, and to draw near to Him, not quenching the Spirit in us.  True independence … is not doing things our way … but finding freedom in Christ.  John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

 

Matthew 16:24-26 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

 

Losing your life to find it or save it makes no sense to the natural man.  It is counter-intuitive.  That is because it is spiritual truth .. it requires faith .. and the power of God’s Spirit to embrace it.

 

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

 

Every day presents a challenge to your faith.  It means that every day you must lay your life down at the foot of the cross … and look to the Son.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)