Looking unto Jesus

In Psalms 71:1-4 we read;

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

We are all aware of the Scripture; "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". But have we really settled this into our spirit? This says that all the work that is necessary to give us victory over our enemies is already done. The work is complete in Christ. Every victory has been accomplished in Jesus. The same Jesus who now lives in us to be the power to enforce his victories in our life. A life with power over sin, the flesh, and the works of the devil.

The Lord has provided us with a life that knows no defeat, only constant victory. To be His vessels. To put the devil to flight. Let me make this a little plainer. Jesus is know to be the "Word of God". We know that the Word will never fail, nor pass away. And that it can't be added to or anything taken from it. So if Jesus is the finisher of our faith, then everything necessary has already been done. He is now seated awaiting for His enemies to be put down.

The gospel is the declaration of the complete ruin of the enemies of man, by the one man Jesus Christ. There are mysteries of God. I don't know the end of these things. But I am sure that there is total freedom in Christ. Freedom not as with men, but freedom from sin, the flesh, and the works of the devil. Real freedom. We aren't here to be a door mat for the world, but to be a brilliant light of true victory over all the things that plague the world. So that all men will be drawn to the light.

If this is so, then what is the problem? That we have taken our eyes off of Jesus. We have look to ourselves for the answers. We have a little of Jesus, but we want to figure all these other things out ourselves. If you don't believe that, let me ask you. Why are there christian doctors? As christians we know that it is God that heals not man, or their devices, or their knowledge and learning. Don't we know that the arm of flesh, the trust in man is worthless, of course.

So then we need to return to the Lord, the word. To seek after His commands, to walk in His ways, to rely only upon Him. This is radical christianity, to "have faith in God". Not in the wisdom of man, not in his strenght, or knowledge and learning. But to rely only on the Lord, this is a step that the leaders of Jesus day missed, and they were turned away for a season, so the Gentiles could be brought in. Today the churchs need to return to the Lord. And to seek His face, to look unto Jesus, and walk in his power by making Him the source of our every need, and giving Him the honor due Him. Then He will show us his victory in the word so that we by His Spirit may see (understand), and that our nakedness (helplessness) be covered with his righteousness (the Spirit working mightily in us).

Did you make a mistake?

Lord, did you make a mistake in saving me? I am greatful that you have given me the life in Christ. I well remember the taking away of my burden of sin and guilt. The infilling of your sweet spirit, and the consciousness of you presence. I was removed from the vain way of life without you and placed into your kingdom.

But, I have seen your power to heal and deliver and save. I have moved in your compassion to help those in any affliction. You word has been my source of motivation. And this I have found; I am not able to do your will in my own strength. You have taught me faith, and by this I hold to your word.

This I have learned; my enemies are to strong for me. My own desires and natural mind and the interests that I have are deceiving me. The things I have seen in you, and the wisdom that you have are far from a reality in me. Yet, I know that this is what you have called me to. To view all the wonders of your love and then to look at my own life is a disapointment to me. The good that I would do, I don't, and the evil that I don't like I keep doing. Lord, deliver me out of all my own ways. The strenght to do this is only in you. The things that plauge me are of my own making, and I in myself have not the power to change.

I long for the days of your glory in me and the life you have given me. The plans and the purposes that you have for me are my hope. Yet, I in my impatience run off ahead of you. In my own devices and thoughts to try to work out my life in the "arm of the flesh". By my own power and knowledge, to fail again. How useless is the wisdom of man. And the heights of his strenght is folly. The councel of man is foolishness, and his plans a waste. When will I learn to lean on God. To wait for His direction and timing. To follow his plans, and not my own.

This only I know; what the Lord does is eternal, and nothing can be added to it. Lord show me the way that you have chosen for me, open my eyes to see, and my ear to hear. Inspire and direct me with the joy of your presence. And let me bring you glory and pleasure in chosing to save me. Turn all my mistakes into good, and let me live out the life that you have for me with joy and hope and cause me to be faithful to finish my course.

A New Day a New Way

In our example of Paul, we have a mandate to both witness of the Lord's grace, and to manifest the witness of the Spirit. Paul in his defence of his gospel said;

"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done- by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." Romans 15:17

The proclaiming of this gospel is to be in power not just words. There are many who can preach, with years of study and the finest of education. Many have a good heart for God. They are well trained for ministry duties. Others have a gift for turning a catchy phrase, or speaking skills. For the most part they love God and are glad to preach and to teach and lead the people of God.

The problem is there's no power. The Spirit never shows up. Except in a quiet way where He is not allowed to express the great love and joy and power of God through his people. If indeed one was to move into the Spirit realm and start to co-operate with the Spirit, he would be removed or told that is out of order. Such is the state of most of the present day church. Order is rule of the day, but there is no; "let all things be done."

With out the testimony of the Spirit only half of the work is done. The result is that it's ineffective and comes short of what God intended. So most preacher look for ways to spice up their sermons. Or programs of other men that seemed to have some value for one thing or another. Or search for obscure meanings in little ways of saying the same things. How pitiful.

The Spirit is available to all the Lord's saints, preacher or minister or to the pew filler. The least as will as the greatest. Both for the body and the leaders. Here is the way that the Lord will accomplish His work in the earth. He will have a people who will yield and listen to the Spirit. A church that will hear from God, and speak those things into the world of unbelievers. A church that knows the power of God to heal, deliver, and prosper His people. There is a day coming and now is when the Lord's Spirit will rule in our midst. And lives will be changed, bodies will be healed, and the people will say; "we have seen great things today, and they will all be astonished."

God is Involved

This is to set the record straight. When I was growing up we all went to church, every week, all year round. In all this time God was represented as a loving creator. The truth of the word, as they knew it, was preached. But the realities of any benifit of God was always; "in the here-after". Never was He expected to do or answer prayer for anything in this life, but for the here-after. This was my preception of the life with God; "for use in the future".

As any young man, I was alive now, and wanted to find joy in this life. I also wanted to have romance and love and a wife and family. Good employment, good home, and a happy life. Meaningful existence, plenty of friends, and the joys of being alive. Happy in my work, life, and family.

Since I wasn't taught that God was involved with any of this I persued all these in my own way. The interests that I had were my motivation. The method for there attainment was happenstance. There was no wisdom or understanding. The only requirement was that I thought this the best way to go in what-ever I was after. Whether a girlfriend, or a job, or a career. All of this effort, and all of my attainments, fell way short of my expectations. And all attempts ended in failure.

In short I wasted the first 30 years of my life. Then I found God. I was amazed at what I found. That God really intended to live with me "IN THIS LIFE". That He wanted to help me and direct me in all the areas of life. What a wonder! He would prosper me, He would bring me friends and loved ones. He would give me health and vitality. He would cause me to live in joy, and assurance, and peace, "NOW", not only in the sweet bye an bye. And if I made mistakes, He was with me to help straighten them out, and set me back on a sure course.

So now the record is right. If anyone wants a good life, with the things that have been provided by this loving God. Go directly to Him. Don't pass on the one who knows how it all is supposed to work. He alone knows what you need, what you want, and what you were made for. For this is the mystery that I have found. God cares, and "WANTS TO BE INVOLVED" with you in the life He has given you. He can take you to greater heights, to the best place, to where no-one but you can occupy. And you will Be Blessed!