Do You Know the Will of God for Your Life?

“That you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 

What do you mean when you say the “Will of God?” Most believers perceive the will of God as a plan, a direction, a divine agenda that gives broad meaning to a person’s life.  On the other hand, missing the will of God leads to troubles and tragedy.  It means succumbing to obstacles, stymied by circumstances, defeated by enemies and failure to achieve goals.  To muddy the waters, the will of man directly opposes the will of God.  It works like this: God will not compete with man.  God only activates His will when given permission and faith.  Yet, the will of God is juxtaposed over against the will of man.  The will of God may be the simplest yet hardest choice you can make. The will of man may be the easiest, yet most complicated and confusing choice you can make. 

Most amazing to me is the inane obstinacy of people.  Hundreds walk in and out of church doors.  They sit in padded pews, give token worship and listen to sermons.  Yet, even though they have been ushered, as it were, into the very throne room of God, and even though they sit at the feet of Jesus, they decline to make one move toward salvation or acceptance of the Lordship of Christ in their lives.

If I had the power to flip a switch, push a button or pull a lever, you’d better believe that I would jolt every one of these immoveable people into action!  I’ve often thought of wiring each pew with the capability of giving a small, electric shock (not enough to hurt anyone, of course) that would at least get people to stand up or take a step to an altar! But, no amount of external pressure can make people commit their lives to Christ.  It must be a decision from their own heart. The only thing the preacher can do is present the gospel to people and give them the chance to surrender their lives to Christ.  Are you thinking, “If I knew what the will of God was for me in my life, I would gladly do it.”  Really?  

• It is God’s will for you to avoid eternal punishment. “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory.”  1 Peter 5:10 
• It is God’s will for you to repent of your sins. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted.” Acts 3:19 (KJV)
  It is God’s will for you to be baptized in Jesus’ Name.  Acts 2:38; 8:16-17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7; 22:16; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 3:17.
• It is God’s will for you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38; Ephesians 5:18.
• It is God’s will for you to have an attitude of gratitude. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
• It is God’s will for you have eternal salvation. “And the world is passing away, but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17.
• It is God’s will for you to have eternal life.  “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
• It is God’s will for you to overcome your human will. “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. Luke 22:42. 

Gethsemane represented the battle of the wills.  Because He was fully man—even though He was fully God—Jesus possessed a human will.  His humanity was sinless, supremely intelligent, learned, analytical, and far more accomplished than anyone who has ever lived, yet, He submitted His human will to the will of the Spirit. Why?  Because He knew that the will of God would take Him through the battle and give Him the victory on the other side.  This is where you slay your own will and embrace the will of God.  Nobody said it would be easy.  But it is right. Sacrifice your pride, your possessions, your future on this altar.  Boldly trade your will for God’s will.  His way is always best!

The Prayers of All the Saints

“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:4. 

The book of Revelation is a strange world. Beasts, vials, seals and trumpets, alien from anything we know about today, tear across its pages.  And yet, we find two mentions of something we understand in our world: the twice-repeated phrase of “the prayers of all the saints.” Evidently, what we do here and now is very much involved in there and then.

Why would there be a place in Revelation for the prayers of the saints? Could the sovereign will of God decree that the final fate of the world and its masses of people will be decided upon the quality and intensity of the faithful prayers of the church age?  

We do know that John saw seven angels and these angels had jobs to do.  The affairs of heaven are far more organized than we could imagine.  The devil certainly has his kingdom organized: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.

But our connection is the prayers of the saints.  Our prayers continually ascend to a holding or staging area where they are reserved for the end-time events.  That makes prayer supremely important.  We must not disregard our prayers and prayer life.  Look at the following list of the accomplishments of prayer: 

1.  Prayer is a fundamental part in the history of the human race.  When God formed the universe, he instituted the law of prayer as being just as fundamental as any other law of creation. 

2.  Prayer is the highest power in the gifts given to mankind.  The law of prayer outranks all other laws.  God will suspend the laws of nature in order to make way for the law of prayer.

3.  True prayer is immortal. It originates within the immortal spirit of man.  It is by prayer that we take hold of God, that we get visions and understanding from God.  Prayer is as complex as God himself.  It has a history that astounds the greatest mind among us. 

4.  The prayer of the righteous guides human events.  What would have happened if there were no prayer? Would Lot have been saved? Would Rebecca have been secured as a bride for Isaac? Would Jacob’s name have been turned to Israel? Would Jesus have escaped temptation? Would the church have flourished and grown in the book of Acts?

5.  What about unanswered prayer?  There are multitudes of prayers that appear not to have been answered in this life.  These prayers build up.  There is a residue of such prayers that have never lost their power.

6.  The depth and power of our prayers depends upon the spirit of sacrifice put into our prayers.  After the priest offered the sacrifice on the brazen altar, he went to the golden altar and offered incense.  The incense offering was accepted based on the sacrificial offering. 

In 2005 during the war in Afghanistan, an Afghan went back to persuade people to turn against the Taliban.  Instead, he found himself trapped by Taliban fighters.  It was said that he radioed frantically to the US forces for help but received no answer.  The US forces finally arrived, but too late.  He was in hostile territory and the enemy was in charge.  Be aware that you tread in hostile territory.  It may seem that there is no response to your prayers and that the enemy is closing in on you.  The difference, however, is that you know who owns the kingdom.  You know who has the ultimate power.  In the end, all the glory will go to God.

Pray on! Satan has no defense against righteous and persistent prayer!

What Do You Want to Know About God, and Are You Willing to Learn It?

“But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 

Most of us marvel at the panoply of knowledge that swirls around us in our world and the complicated information structures that exist.  Knowledge grows today in geometric proportions.  Think of the exhaustive knowledge that a brain surgeon must master before he/she is prepared to do surgery.  Or, how much does an airline pilot need to know before being entrusted with a Boeing 747?  Think of the array of disciplines represented in a university curriculum today—from higher math and physics to language arts; from cognitive psychology to astronomy; from marketing research to early childhood education; from Aristotelian logic to architecture.  Each of these disciplines requires four to seven or even twelve years of life.  Students can only pick one option, and then the heavy demands cause many to eventually drop out.  

Jesus handpicked his disciples on some basis.  I’ve often wondered why he chose certain of them.  It is unclear how they were evidently willing and able to leave what they were doing for three and a half years and follow Jesus everywhere he went.  Matthew 13 reveals the inside track about their relationship with Jesus and what he demanded of them before he would take them any further.  “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21. From that time forth…Here is the law of process at work.  The disciples were not ready to go from the level of novice to doctorate in discipleship until they had a firm understanding of the identity of Christ. 

Jesus asked, “Do you really know who I am?  Have you looked beyond My exterior to see My true identity?”  Here, Jesus was leading them in baby steps to the principle of oneness.  He hints at this through the expression of “I Am,” a clear reference to “The Great I Am.”  Much later, Paul captures the essence of Christ’s deity in his archetypal passage to Timothy. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory,” 1 Timothy 3:16. Meanwhile, unless and until the disciples knew who Jesus was, they were unqualified to take the next step. 

Then, bumbling Peter makes a sophomoric move. “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” Matthew 16:22-23.

The process of learning involves failure, embarrassment, reproving and sometimes rejection.  Notice that Peter did not answer Jesus back after he had been rebuked!  This is where they learned about taking up their cross and following Jesus.  Then came the Mount of Transfiguration experience where they learned subordination and the final exaltation of Jesus.  “When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Matthew 17:8. Contrast these developments with the Jews at the beginning of the discourse.  They wanted a sign, but were not willing to subject themselves to Jesus, deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him.  

Jesus has a lot to teach you.  It’s a tough curriculum.  Are you up to it? “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Philippians 3:10. Let me paraphrase: “That I may know Him…and that I may be willing for him to teach me!”

What Do You Say to Death?

“So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death.” Revelation 6:8.

Talk to Death. 

just sit down and talk to death
it’s known to teach you time again a something
not of this earth that something not of this earth.
12 o’clock time for bed say no to waking up again
feeling not of this earth that’s not of this
earth brings all comfort to no reason never
know where you go what if the intangible
that something to earth not of earth
that something all comfort no reason some reason -Prong, industrial metal rock band. 

What do you say to death? Do you say, “You’ll never touch me? I’ll escape your clutches? Do you say, “I’m afraid of you? I don’t want you to hurt me?  Do you say, “I want to see what you are like? Or, do you say, “Take me out of my misery? Where are you taking me? Not now?” 

Jesus saw Death coming. Not in the stinging whip. Not in the crown of thorns. Not in the faces of the Jewish leaders. Not in Pilate’s handwringing. Not in the screaming mob. Not in the soldier’s hammer and nails. Not in the splintered cross. Jesus saw Death before Calvary. “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4. “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37. 

What did Jesus say to Death? “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:18. The Resurrection and the Life did not fear death. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25-26. 

What do you say to all of life’s problems; to sickness, pain, injury, disease, war/violence, addiction, alcoholism, tragedy, loss of job, and worldwide turmoil? Death will not win! “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.  His tomb is empty!

What do you say to your own death? Death. Burial. Resurrection.  This is the ultimate answer this side of heaven: “Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.

What Demas Didn’t Know About This Present World

“For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10 

Paul surrounded himself with fellow laborers; people who shared his life in the gospel. Demas was part of the team.  Imagine them rolling out a map and charting their course. Imagine breaking new ground for the gospel! Hear the exciting talk of establishing churches and witnessing great miracles! Taking the truth where people had never heard of the name of Jesus before. No doubt, Demas was initially swept up into the visionary excitement that drove the Apostle Paul. 

But Demas had an itch that he wanted to scratch.  He saw the giddy laughter, the fine colonnaded homes with marble porticoes.  He heard the talk and the music.  The fashion, style, pleasure, excitement. Intellectual stimulation, career opportunities, wealth, fame, approval, acceptance—all of this fascinated him. Demas became so awestruck, so captivated by everything that was “out there” that he made a critical decision:  Demas forsook Paul because he loved this present world. 

You always gravitate towards whatever or whoever you love. An irresistible pull, a subconscious or even unconscious draw, a mandated motion beckons you on. You can chart the course of Isaac and Rebecca, or Jacob and Rachel and see the unmistakable pattern; You can trace the movements of Samson and Delilah or David and Bathsheba and you will see the same, familiar drama unfold.  Be careful what you love; you will go there and live…or maybe die. Be careful who you love; those are the arms that will embrace you…or they might crush you. Be careful whose roses you accept…they will lay claim to your heart.

Demas had expectations of this present world. Fulfillment:  I’ll be the man I never was; Happiness:  Everyone looks so happy, they’re having so much fun; Security:  They know who they are; they know what they want; Love:  I can see love written all over their faces.  Irresistible allurement.  But, if we love, don’t we want someone to love us back?  It matters if someone loves us. 

What Demas didn’t know:  That this present world wouldn’t love him back! Hey, Satan! I gave you my virginity.  Why are you rejecting me? I threw away my morals and my reputation for you. You don’t even care. I hurt my parents, my pastor and my friends for you. And now you laugh at me. I sacrificed my dreams and goals for you. Why are you kicking me in the teeth? This is how the world operates: First, you come in search of whatever turns you on…It’s that mirage…that elusive dream…that shadowy figure just ahead, out of reach… Always then, never now. Always coming, never arriving. Always promising, never fulfilling. Always asking, never giving. Come on… I know you took a drink, but that’s not enough.  You’ve got to do more. I know you smoked one, but that’s not enough.  There’s the rest of the pack. I know you fooled around sexually a little, but you gotta do more… But the world never loves you back; it only asks for more and more and more. This is why your pastor, your youth leader, your Sunday School teacher keep preaching at you.  They know the nature of the beast.  

Does God love you back?  Not really. Surprised?  Jesus doesn’t love you back because he loved you first. God always takes the initiative in love. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8.  “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.” 1 John 4:18-19

Free Speech

• I have a confession.
• My microaggression
• Is largely a creation
• Of some academician.
•  
• I have discovered
• That words I have proffered
• Angers only a wafford
• At heart who’s a coward.
•  
• Words are not guns
• Disputes are not won
• When debaters run
• To censor someone.
•  
• If speech is not free
• Then I can foresee
• That democracy
• Will no longer be.
•  
• So speak your mind
• However defined,
• If I’m not aligned,
• We’ll both be fine.

Unconditional Surrender

“And though I surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV 

Surrender means to give up.  Yield. Capitulate. Wave the white flag. In warfare, a soldier has not surrendered until he lays down his weapons and comes out with his hands raised.  Until he does that, he is fair game to shoot to kill. In the war on Afghanistan, the U. S. forces bombed the enemy lines and possessions incessantly for six weeks.  Finally, hundreds of Taliban troops streamed out of their stronghold.  The relentless bombing demoralized them.  Their only option was surrender.  Yet, surrendering is hard to do.  It goes against everything within one’s self.  For these militants, it meant giving up their resolve.  It meant eating their boastful words. It meant losing pride and respect.  It meant their god had failed them.  Superior military forces eliminated all other options. Surrender happens: 

When you recognize that you have lost to a superior force and further resistance is futile.  “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your Power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.’” Psalm 66:3. Anybody in doubt only has to think about the attributes of God. 1. He is big, all-powerful and indestructible. (Omnipotent.) 2. He knows everything there is to know. (Omniscient.) 3. No one gets away from Him. (Omnipresent.) 4. He owns everything.  (Sovereign) 5. He will never change.  (Immutable.) 6. He will live forever.  (Eternal.) 7. He controls everything. (Absolute authority.) 

When you relinquish possession of something.  Some foolishly try to hold out, keep back, fudge a little, alter the terms.  “I’m going to make God think I’ve surrendered, but I have a knife in my pocket.  I’m going to surrender some things, but not everything. I’m sure that God doesn’t care about these little details. Surely God doesn’t expect me to just become a new person, does he?”  Equivocation never works with God. 

When you abandon all rights to something. Acceptance with God means a non-negotiable surrender to his terms.  Every time someone has tried to change the terms, they got in trouble. Pharaoh reneged on everything God instructed him to do. Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Saul didn’t obey the command of God to slay all the Amalekites.  

When you yield to a strong belief or emotion. We are living on God’s turf.  He sets the conditions for acceptability. Here are a few of his terms:1) The soul that sins, shall die. 2) The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 3) Except you repent, you shall perish. 4) There is no other name, under heaven, given among men by which we are saved.  5) If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 

President Ulysses S. Grant said to Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army, “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” His initials, U. S. Grant, came to stand for “unconditional surrender.”  But, the context of surrender to Jesus Christ must not be fear, but love.  In fact, love without surrendering is an impossibility. Without love, surrender means nothing to God. Surrendering your life to God because you love him means everything. 

“All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.”

Two Miles to Bethany

“And he led them out as far as Bethany.”  Luke 24:50 

It all started at Bethlehem; it all ended at Bethany. Both places saw miracles, angels, crowds of believers. Bethlehem was the beginning; Bethany was the ending. Bethlehem was the first hope; Bethany was the final glory. The two locations were close to each other physically, but how far from Bethlehem to Bethany really? We could ask the surveyors, the road builders. But why not ask the one who walked the road in question? How far?  How far from a great beginning to a grand finale? How far from an honorable mention to the grand prize? How far from an also-ran to the championship? I submit that Bethany is beyond the good. To do well is good.  To go beyond is great! 

Take the case of Samson.  He compromised his power.  In the lap of Delilah, he became spiritually blinded to the source of his strength.  He actually thought that he—himself—was the one who was responsible for his own abilities, strengths and achievements. But, there is a very telling scripture that describes the condition of Samson after he lost his hair.  “When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.’ So, the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ So, he awoke from his sleep …but he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.  Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.” Judges 16:18-22. 

Samson finally got to his own Bethany, but his Bethany was beyond his dungeon!  Bethany is always farther than you anticipated, farther than you wanted to go, farther than the flesh appreciates. Something must die on the road from Bethlehem to Bethany.  Bethany is beyond the sacrifice—maybe the sacrifice of your most prized possession!  “That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.” -Thomas Paine. 

How far is it to Bethany? “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5: 41.  In mileage, Bethany is somewhere between one and two miles from Bethlehem. If you only go one mile, you will never get there. At the end of the first mile, Jesus was a great teacher, a miracle worker and a leader of men.  One mile would have been enough for an also-ran.  If he came to seek, but not save, one mile would have been enough.  If he touched someone, but didn’t transform that person, one mile would have been enough. He was all of those things at the end of the first mile. But, at the end of the second mile, he started a revolution! The second mile made him the Savior The second mile made him the victor over death, hell and the grave. The second mile made him the ransom for mankind.

You cannot get to your Bethany of Glorious Ascension unless you are willing to go to your Gethsemane of Complete Consecration and Calvary of Ignominious Crucifixion.  Some are more than willing to have a nice building, a place for weddings, baby dedications and funerals, to just be nice people, good citizens, have reasonably happy lives. You can have all these things at the end of the first mile. But, if your life is to count for more, keep going.  This is not the challenge of the also-rans. It is the challenge of the champions. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.