Chapter 1
God's Bible School
Luke 4:1-13
We see when Jesus received His call into ministry being full of the Holy Spirit He was led into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days.
God's primary training ground does not come in the classroom but in every day life. He trains us through allowing us to be tempted which is really just a test of His Word. Overcoming Temptation follows successful response with the Word to our tests. What level of responsibility God gives us is determined by how we handle temptation. We are called to be a living testimony of His Word, our ministry can only go as far as His Word is backed up with our lifestyle. We can receive a diploma or degree, but God will not promote us until we have passed His tests which means applying the Word to whatever situations we are facing.
Jesus was able to respond with the Word to temptation because He was full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our only power over the enemy. The Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance the Word of God. God's divine Word puts the enemy in His place. So when we study His Word we need to realize we are being equipped with weapons against the enemy.
The devil tempted Jesus first with his physical need. He will always go after where we are weak, the area in which we are most in need. Our relationship with God grows as we learn to trust Him. This comes as He follows through with what He has promised, but what brings forth His promise is faith. We must believe that He will supply all we need.
Many are those who give into temptation and follow the devils path because they don't trust God. A example of this is when Abraham used his reasoning and had a child with Hagar named Ishmael rather than believing God that Sarah his wife in her old age could become pregnant. Satan uses our reasoning as his top weapon to abort God's plans for our life that only faith can bring forth.
The second temptation Jesus faced was power and authority in the kingdoms of this world. We all want to be recognized, appreciated, respected, so it is easy to be tempted into seeking earthly fame.
The bible says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto us. The kingdoms of this world are enemies of the Kingdom of God. We must expect opposition if we are seeking to advance God's kingdom. If we try to become great in the kingdoms of this world we will have to compromise the truth. Money is the god of this world and worshipping money is the key to rising to the top. The bible says we cannot worship God and mammon. We may gain great earthly power but it will be temporary for God is shaking everything that can be shaken. So I would rather seek God's authority and power, His fame and glory, for that which is of the Kingdom of God is unshakable.
The third temptation Jesus faced was of testing God Himself. The Devil wants us the student to try to usurp the master. Where we test God rather than He test us. How do we do that? When we put our life in our own hands and believe God will rescue us. We take His grace and cheapen it, making it our license to get away with sin. Many are those who take advantage of the so called love of their parents. Living destructive lives knowing their parents will bail them out. We treat God the same we go to church and call ourselves Christians thinking we can do whatever we want and get away with it because of grace.
God is just and those who live unjustly will be disciplined because real love corrects. We can be forgiven through true repentance, which means a change of lifestyle, but we cannot get away with sin. We will suffer the consequences for living apart from God just like we see with the prodigal son, but if we return He will welcome us and restore us to His divine grace.
We can even get caught up in good works stepping out ahead of God so we can look good to man and believe God will just go along with us. Many are those that allow others to use them but not God. He will not be used and abused. Judgment begins in the house of God and that which can be shaken will be shaken. Our day of reckoning will come. It is never good to become the Lord's enemy. God has away to break us reminding us that we are nothing apart from Him. For He only uses those who have a broken and contrite spirit, to those He is well-pleased.
The bible says we are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices. What He used against Jesus He uses against us. What these temptations have in common is separation from God, which is what sin truly is. It is not so much what we do but who we do what with. Whatever we do apart from God is evil no matter how good it may appear. Satan is the master of disguise and he knows if he can tempt us away from God he can destroy us. For our only protection is in God.
So if we are going to be promoted by God into ministry we must face temptation and resist it through the power of God's Word. Each test we pass our testimony grows as our life now speaks of the truth. When I graduated from High School I was so excited to leave my home and live on my own. What I soon found was life was no longer easy. The hard life I had as a kid was so much easier than the challenges and responsibilities I now face.
There is always more to learn some tests seem to take forever to finally pass and I know their is other tests still to come. Until perfection is reached God is not done with us. Satan will continue to be a puppet God uses to work the word into our life until Christ be fully formed.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
What Should Ministry Look Like? (New Series Introduction)
INTRODUCTION
The next journey I since the Lord leading me on is discovering ministry as He intended it. He wants me to make sure I am modeling myself after His Son and not by the traditions of man. For we are not called to our own ministry but to continue the ministry of Christ. It is not about what we can do for God, but what Christ can do through us. Our ministry is to be an extension of Christ and He is to be the one ministering through us. He wants us not to look to the body as the guide to successful ministry but to the Head which is Himself, the Commander and Chief, for we can only be the body if He is the Head. We are each to supply to the body what the Head gives to us for us to fully grow up into the image of Jesus Christ.
When something deteriorates and is being restored it doesn't look good, but upon restoration the beauty that was once is seen again. The Roman empire tried to conquer the followers of Christ through persecution but Christianity only grew. What nearly conquered Christianity was when it became institutionalized by Rome and became a state religion. Knowledge was taken away from the laity as scriptures were no longer allowed to be read. The Five-Fold Ministry became a religious heir-achy full of corrupt politicians called Priests seeking power and fame. Christianity was mixed with pagan rituals and man made traditions. Ultimately Christ the head of the church was replaced with man. Just like Israel had chosen man to replace God as King during the time of Samuel's leadership in which God gave them their wishes and provided Saul. The Kingdom of God was replaced with the Kingdom of Rome.
Just like God has restored the nation of Israel naturally and is also restoring them spiritually as many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their savior so is He restoring His church. God used Prophets in the Old Testament to call the nation of Israel back to Himself, restoration would follow with the law and all it's practices, so has God raised up Reformers who brought Revivals over the past 700-800 years who have been restoring foundational truths as found in Hebrews Chapter 6:1-2 and the governing offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher as found in Ephesians 5:22-23. Jesus is the fullness of God, He is the Glory of the church. When Jesus went to Heaven He distributed gifts upon the Church, the five-fold ministry, when these gifts work together, the saints are fully equipped for the work of the ministry. The body now has the knowledge needed to fully function as an extension of Jesus Christ on earth. The bible says Jesus is awaiting in Heaven for the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Church we are in the finest hour. The foundation has been reset and proper Government is back in place, now the stones which represent each saint can be put in their rightful place like Nehemiah did with the burnt stones in rebuilding Jerusalem. We are the spiritual stones that God is building New Jerusalem, His spiritual house, where His Glory can fill the earth.
The 1950's saw the restoration of the office of the Evangelist, the 1960's saw the restoration of the office of Pastor, the 1970's saw the restoration of the office of Teacher, the 1980's saw the restoration of the office of Prophet, and the 1990's saw the restoration of the office of Apostle. The year 2000-2010 was the Saints Movement, as the five-fold ministry was in place the saints were properly equipped for ministry. 2010-2020 is now the Kingdom movement where discipling the nations is the emphasis. God is increasing His government upon the earth. Everything that can be shaken as it says in Hebrews 12 is being shaken so the Kingdom of God which can not be shaken can come forth. Let us become a people that are unshakable, true citizens of His kingdom.
We must make sure therefore we are not building our own kingdom but His kingdom by making sure we are following the King of kings and not man. So come along on this journey with me as we go into the book of Luke and study the ministry of Jesus and into the book of Acts and study how the church began through the Apostles who were the mirror reflection of Jesus through the Holy Spirit bringing the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
The next journey I since the Lord leading me on is discovering ministry as He intended it. He wants me to make sure I am modeling myself after His Son and not by the traditions of man. For we are not called to our own ministry but to continue the ministry of Christ. It is not about what we can do for God, but what Christ can do through us. Our ministry is to be an extension of Christ and He is to be the one ministering through us. He wants us not to look to the body as the guide to successful ministry but to the Head which is Himself, the Commander and Chief, for we can only be the body if He is the Head. We are each to supply to the body what the Head gives to us for us to fully grow up into the image of Jesus Christ.
When something deteriorates and is being restored it doesn't look good, but upon restoration the beauty that was once is seen again. The Roman empire tried to conquer the followers of Christ through persecution but Christianity only grew. What nearly conquered Christianity was when it became institutionalized by Rome and became a state religion. Knowledge was taken away from the laity as scriptures were no longer allowed to be read. The Five-Fold Ministry became a religious heir-achy full of corrupt politicians called Priests seeking power and fame. Christianity was mixed with pagan rituals and man made traditions. Ultimately Christ the head of the church was replaced with man. Just like Israel had chosen man to replace God as King during the time of Samuel's leadership in which God gave them their wishes and provided Saul. The Kingdom of God was replaced with the Kingdom of Rome.
Just like God has restored the nation of Israel naturally and is also restoring them spiritually as many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their savior so is He restoring His church. God used Prophets in the Old Testament to call the nation of Israel back to Himself, restoration would follow with the law and all it's practices, so has God raised up Reformers who brought Revivals over the past 700-800 years who have been restoring foundational truths as found in Hebrews Chapter 6:1-2 and the governing offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher as found in Ephesians 5:22-23. Jesus is the fullness of God, He is the Glory of the church. When Jesus went to Heaven He distributed gifts upon the Church, the five-fold ministry, when these gifts work together, the saints are fully equipped for the work of the ministry. The body now has the knowledge needed to fully function as an extension of Jesus Christ on earth. The bible says Jesus is awaiting in Heaven for the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Church we are in the finest hour. The foundation has been reset and proper Government is back in place, now the stones which represent each saint can be put in their rightful place like Nehemiah did with the burnt stones in rebuilding Jerusalem. We are the spiritual stones that God is building New Jerusalem, His spiritual house, where His Glory can fill the earth.
The 1950's saw the restoration of the office of the Evangelist, the 1960's saw the restoration of the office of Pastor, the 1970's saw the restoration of the office of Teacher, the 1980's saw the restoration of the office of Prophet, and the 1990's saw the restoration of the office of Apostle. The year 2000-2010 was the Saints Movement, as the five-fold ministry was in place the saints were properly equipped for ministry. 2010-2020 is now the Kingdom movement where discipling the nations is the emphasis. God is increasing His government upon the earth. Everything that can be shaken as it says in Hebrews 12 is being shaken so the Kingdom of God which can not be shaken can come forth. Let us become a people that are unshakable, true citizens of His kingdom.
We must make sure therefore we are not building our own kingdom but His kingdom by making sure we are following the King of kings and not man. So come along on this journey with me as we go into the book of Luke and study the ministry of Jesus and into the book of Acts and study how the church began through the Apostles who were the mirror reflection of Jesus through the Holy Spirit bringing the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Kingdom Greatness
Chapter 12
Kingdom Greatness
I am in many meetings with great men and women of faith who have incredible stories. I get so inspired but at the same time I feel restless, impatient because I want to see the same. I live in a place of holy frustration. I desire to see more of God's kingdom advance. I want the people around me therefore to be obedient to God. I wish I could force people into following God. It is an okay place to be though because it is what drives me each day to do what I do. I just must remember that I can only do what God graces me to do and I have to trust the rest into His hands. My life is to pour into others what God has given me helping them be the great ones like those recorded in the bible. To be like a coach helping each player God assigns to me reach their fullest potential. It takes time to get others to believe in themselves and to trust in others. I know if I am just faithful over the little God has put before me He will increase and bring the greater.
What makes age fulfilling is stories that are gained that inspire greatness in those that are younger. When it helps them reach further than I have even gone I am overwhelmed with joy. God laid on my heart to name my first son Elisha which means the double portion of the anointing because what I am learning in my age I am able to pass down to his age and therefore he will be able to advance way beyond where I have gone.
Hebrews 11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Greatness does not come without a price. When I chose to live for God and He began to use me, people began to oppose me. Christians who had grown up in the church and were walking in disobedience were jealous that I was doing what they were supposed to be doing. My non-Christian friends who because of their sinful behavior felt I thought I was better than them responded aggressively, trying to convince me to compromise my righteous standard. Righteousness brings conviction, for sin and lies are exposed. People don't like to face reality, they don't like to feel wrong for what they do. They will convince themselves with whatever lie will keep them from believing the truth. All those in Christ will suffer persecution.
A good reputation follows those who through time remain consistent in their walk. Even though many of those who have opposed me have not really changed many have a different perspective and now show me respect. See many are those that start off well but end poorly. They do great things for God for a time but fall back into their old ways over time. The world is looking for justification for their sins and many are those who give it. Those who remain in Christ though will eventually baffle the minds of those who are observing them, and make it hard for them to resist the reality of truth they are witnessing. True Greatness cannot come in a moment but it is seen in a lifetime of decisions based on faith relying on God for one's own strength. Our response to persecution for the right we have done, compared to the world's response to prosecution for the wrong they have done is what sets us apart. When we don't retaliate but continue to love those who despise us the power of God is clearly made evident to the world. For we have an eternal perspective our temporary challenges don't move us because we have a hope that goes beyond this lifetime. So we see all things no matter how hard they are working out for our good in the end.
The biggest obstacle in experiencing God's greatness is our goodness, meaning settling for what we can do that is good and not going after what only God can do which is great. Most people settle once others around them are satisfied with what they have produced. God is never seen in what we can achieve, He is seen in only what He can do. Our God given mission is always above what we can reach. God makes the impossible possible, but He needs those who believe to manifest His greatness. There are no impossibilities to those who believe. Our ability to believe God will determine how great He becomes in our life. What we can receive from God is limited to our lack of faith. If we believe all things are possible then we have unlimited resources of supply.
Challenge: Let's repent for our lack of faith, for settling for good and not going after great. For setting our goals to our own possibilities instead of setting them under God's inspired impossibilities. As our faith now increases let's begin stepping out allowing God's greatness to be made evident as we now get added to the Great Hall of Faith.
Kingdom Greatness
I am in many meetings with great men and women of faith who have incredible stories. I get so inspired but at the same time I feel restless, impatient because I want to see the same. I live in a place of holy frustration. I desire to see more of God's kingdom advance. I want the people around me therefore to be obedient to God. I wish I could force people into following God. It is an okay place to be though because it is what drives me each day to do what I do. I just must remember that I can only do what God graces me to do and I have to trust the rest into His hands. My life is to pour into others what God has given me helping them be the great ones like those recorded in the bible. To be like a coach helping each player God assigns to me reach their fullest potential. It takes time to get others to believe in themselves and to trust in others. I know if I am just faithful over the little God has put before me He will increase and bring the greater.
What makes age fulfilling is stories that are gained that inspire greatness in those that are younger. When it helps them reach further than I have even gone I am overwhelmed with joy. God laid on my heart to name my first son Elisha which means the double portion of the anointing because what I am learning in my age I am able to pass down to his age and therefore he will be able to advance way beyond where I have gone.
Hebrews 11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Greatness does not come without a price. When I chose to live for God and He began to use me, people began to oppose me. Christians who had grown up in the church and were walking in disobedience were jealous that I was doing what they were supposed to be doing. My non-Christian friends who because of their sinful behavior felt I thought I was better than them responded aggressively, trying to convince me to compromise my righteous standard. Righteousness brings conviction, for sin and lies are exposed. People don't like to face reality, they don't like to feel wrong for what they do. They will convince themselves with whatever lie will keep them from believing the truth. All those in Christ will suffer persecution.
A good reputation follows those who through time remain consistent in their walk. Even though many of those who have opposed me have not really changed many have a different perspective and now show me respect. See many are those that start off well but end poorly. They do great things for God for a time but fall back into their old ways over time. The world is looking for justification for their sins and many are those who give it. Those who remain in Christ though will eventually baffle the minds of those who are observing them, and make it hard for them to resist the reality of truth they are witnessing. True Greatness cannot come in a moment but it is seen in a lifetime of decisions based on faith relying on God for one's own strength. Our response to persecution for the right we have done, compared to the world's response to prosecution for the wrong they have done is what sets us apart. When we don't retaliate but continue to love those who despise us the power of God is clearly made evident to the world. For we have an eternal perspective our temporary challenges don't move us because we have a hope that goes beyond this lifetime. So we see all things no matter how hard they are working out for our good in the end.
The biggest obstacle in experiencing God's greatness is our goodness, meaning settling for what we can do that is good and not going after what only God can do which is great. Most people settle once others around them are satisfied with what they have produced. God is never seen in what we can achieve, He is seen in only what He can do. Our God given mission is always above what we can reach. God makes the impossible possible, but He needs those who believe to manifest His greatness. There are no impossibilities to those who believe. Our ability to believe God will determine how great He becomes in our life. What we can receive from God is limited to our lack of faith. If we believe all things are possible then we have unlimited resources of supply.
Challenge: Let's repent for our lack of faith, for settling for good and not going after great. For setting our goals to our own possibilities instead of setting them under God's inspired impossibilities. As our faith now increases let's begin stepping out allowing God's greatness to be made evident as we now get added to the Great Hall of Faith.
Kingdom Greatness
Chapter 12
Kingdom Greatness
I am in many meetings with great men and women of faith who have incredible stories. I get so inspired but at the same time I feel restless, impatient because I want to see the same. I live in a place of holy frustration. I desire to see more of God's kingdom advance. I want the people around me therefore to be obedient to God. I wish I could force people into following God. It is an okay place to be though because it is what drives me each day to do what I do. I just must remember that I can only do what God graces me to do and I have to trust the rest into His hands. My life is to pour into others what God has given me helping them be the great ones like those recorded in the bible. To be like a coach helping each player God assigns to me reach their fullest potential. It takes time to get others to believe in themselves and to trust in others. I know if I am just faithful over the little God has put before me He will increase and bring the greater.
What makes age fulfilling is stories that are gained that inspire greatness in those that are younger. When it helps them reach further than I have even gone I am overwhelmed with joy. God laid on my heart to name my first son Elisha which means the double portion of the anointing because what I am learning in my age I am able to pass down to his age and therefore he will be able to advance way beyond where I have gone.
Hebrews 11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Greatness does not come without a price. When I chose to live for God and He began to use me, people began to oppose me. Christians who had grown up in the church and were walking in disobedience were jealous that I was doing what they were supposed to be doing. My non-Christian friends who because of their sinful behavior felt I thought I was better than them responded aggressively, trying to convince me to compromise my righteous standard. Righteousness brings conviction, for sin and lies are exposed. People don't like to face reality, they don't like to feel wrong for what they do. They will convince themselves with whatever lie will keep them from believing the truth. All those in Christ will suffer persecution.
A good reputation follows those who through time remain consistent in their walk. Even though many of those who have opposed me have not really changed many have a different perspective and now show me respect. See many are those that start off well but end poorly. They do great things for God for a time but fall back into their old ways over time. The world is looking for justification for their sins and many are those who give it. Those who remain in Christ though will eventually baffle the minds of those who are observing them, and make it hard for them to resist the reality of truth they are witnessing. True Greatness cannot come in a moment but it is seen in a lifetime of decisions based on faith relying on God for one's own strength. Our response to persecution for the right we have done, compared to the world's response to prosecution for the wrong they have done is what sets us apart. When we don't retaliate but continue to love those who despise us the power of God is clearly made evident to the world. For we have an eternal perspective our temporary challenges don't move us because we have a hope that goes beyond this lifetime. So we see all things no matter how hard they are working out for our good in the end.
The biggest obstacle in experiencing God's greatness is our goodness, meaning settling for what we can do that is good and not going after what only God can do which is great. Most people settle once others around them are satisfied with what they have produced. God is never seen in what we can achieve, He is seen in only what He can do. Our God given mission is always above what we can reach. God makes the impossible possible, but He needs those who believe to manifest His greatness. There are no impossibilities to those who believe. Our ability to believe God will determine how great He becomes in our life. What we can receive from God is limited to our lack of faith. If we believe all things are possible then we have unlimited resources of supply.
Challenge: Let's repent for our lack of faith, for settling for good and not going after great. For setting our goals to our own possibilities instead of setting them under God's inspired impossibilities. As our faith now increases let's begin stepping out allowing God's greatness to be made evident as we now get added to the Great Hall of Faith.
Kingdom Greatness
I am in many meetings with great men and women of faith who have incredible stories. I get so inspired but at the same time I feel restless, impatient because I want to see the same. I live in a place of holy frustration. I desire to see more of God's kingdom advance. I want the people around me therefore to be obedient to God. I wish I could force people into following God. It is an okay place to be though because it is what drives me each day to do what I do. I just must remember that I can only do what God graces me to do and I have to trust the rest into His hands. My life is to pour into others what God has given me helping them be the great ones like those recorded in the bible. To be like a coach helping each player God assigns to me reach their fullest potential. It takes time to get others to believe in themselves and to trust in others. I know if I am just faithful over the little God has put before me He will increase and bring the greater.
What makes age fulfilling is stories that are gained that inspire greatness in those that are younger. When it helps them reach further than I have even gone I am overwhelmed with joy. God laid on my heart to name my first son Elisha which means the double portion of the anointing because what I am learning in my age I am able to pass down to his age and therefore he will be able to advance way beyond where I have gone.
Hebrews 11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Greatness does not come without a price. When I chose to live for God and He began to use me, people began to oppose me. Christians who had grown up in the church and were walking in disobedience were jealous that I was doing what they were supposed to be doing. My non-Christian friends who because of their sinful behavior felt I thought I was better than them responded aggressively, trying to convince me to compromise my righteous standard. Righteousness brings conviction, for sin and lies are exposed. People don't like to face reality, they don't like to feel wrong for what they do. They will convince themselves with whatever lie will keep them from believing the truth. All those in Christ will suffer persecution.
A good reputation follows those who through time remain consistent in their walk. Even though many of those who have opposed me have not really changed many have a different perspective and now show me respect. See many are those that start off well but end poorly. They do great things for God for a time but fall back into their old ways over time. The world is looking for justification for their sins and many are those who give it. Those who remain in Christ though will eventually baffle the minds of those who are observing them, and make it hard for them to resist the reality of truth they are witnessing. True Greatness cannot come in a moment but it is seen in a lifetime of decisions based on faith relying on God for one's own strength. Our response to persecution for the right we have done, compared to the world's response to prosecution for the wrong they have done is what sets us apart. When we don't retaliate but continue to love those who despise us the power of God is clearly made evident to the world. For we have an eternal perspective our temporary challenges don't move us because we have a hope that goes beyond this lifetime. So we see all things no matter how hard they are working out for our good in the end.
The biggest obstacle in experiencing God's greatness is our goodness, meaning settling for what we can do that is good and not going after what only God can do which is great. Most people settle once others around them are satisfied with what they have produced. God is never seen in what we can achieve, He is seen in only what He can do. Our God given mission is always above what we can reach. God makes the impossible possible, but He needs those who believe to manifest His greatness. There are no impossibilities to those who believe. Our ability to believe God will determine how great He becomes in our life. What we can receive from God is limited to our lack of faith. If we believe all things are possible then we have unlimited resources of supply.
Challenge: Let's repent for our lack of faith, for settling for good and not going after great. For setting our goals to our own possibilities instead of setting them under God's inspired impossibilities. As our faith now increases let's begin stepping out allowing God's greatness to be made evident as we now get added to the Great Hall of Faith.
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