A few weeks ago, while in prayer, God spoke to me and said, "I am calling My people to a higher way of living." (I've learned the hard way to listen and obey when God speaks. Though this was spoken to me I know that God has spoken this to others. And if you are one of God's people your spirit will agree with this.) Then the Spirit of God began to lead me in prayer for the raising up of people that would do and proclaim the will of God. As I prayed God showed me people all over the world who are being raised up for this purpose. People of different cultures, languages and ethnic backgrounds but unified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Who are God's people?
Simply answered, God's people are the Church.
Those who believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the Church. There are many that believe in God but not that God sent His only begotten Son. They don't have faith in Jesus Christ. We know "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..." (Hebrews 11:6) Who God is includes His Son and His Spirit. This is why God said in Genesis 1:26 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. I point this out because there are many people who subscribe to the belief that you don't have to change your sinful behavior because God loves you just the way you are. So they think there is no need for salvation. But I rebuke those thoughts in the name of Jesus.
Yes it is true that God loves us all but God has never neither will He ever love sin of any kind. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17
What is the higher way?
It is the way of holiness and righteousness.
God said in Leviticus 20:7-8 says Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
To sanctify means to set apart for a holy purpose and to free from sin. So in Leviticus we learn that we must set ourselves apart for God's use. This is initially done through salvation. But the work of sanctification does not stop there. Once we have found ourselves before Jesus on the cross and have confessed our sins there is still a daily dying out to our flesh we must do. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).
We also learn that we must keep God's statutes or commands. We must obey His Word, all of His Word not just the parts that appease our flesh. We can't claim to love God and not keep His commandments. (1 John 5:3, Ecclesiastes 12:13)
And the most important thing we learn is that although God commands us to sanctify ourselves its not we who do the work of sanctification. The end of verse 8 says, I am the LORD which sanctify you. So we find here that when we move in obedience and faith toward holiness and righteousness God will draw near to us and do the work. 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
How do God's people accomplish this?
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
So often Christians believe themselves to be holy when many of their actions and thoughts are contrary to the Word of God. If we would all allow the Spirit and the Word of God to permeate us through and through we might be surprised by what is found. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Its not a coincidence that in the same sentence God says my people and turn from their wicked ways. But perhaps some think how can we be God's people and have wicked ways? Wicked doesn't just mean idolatry or witchcraft. All sin is wicked and abominable to God and deeply grieves Him. So often Christians regard their sin as 'mistakes' and by so doing attempt to lessen its burden. Not so, as Paul wrote in Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death. There is only one way to pay for sin. Thank God for His grace and mercy and for the opportunity to get it right.
The other part of 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us if we humble ourselves and pray God will hear from heaven, forgive us and heal the land. God is saying not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to (Romans 12:3). And as we rearrange our thoughts in Christ we should pray for God's will. How much does the bible give instruction to pray? (Luke 18:1, Luke 21:36) As we pray we loose the hand of God to move in our lives and for His people. Its not that we control the hand of God, of course not. But prayer is the way we communicate with God. Ask, seek, knock! (Matthew 7:7)
God is waiting on His people to cry out to Him in prayer! James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much.
God wants so much to heal, restore, rebuild, renew, cleanse and deliver but that is predicated on God's people turning to Him in obedience.
I pray that there begins the greatest crying out to God we have known thus far. Let's cry out that others would cry out. Let's cry out for the Holy Ghost to rest upon the Church, to move and breathe freely. Let's cry out for purity in the Church, for holiness and righteousness and godly love to abound. Let's cry out for nothing less than the model that Jesus Christ was and is! We were made in the image and likeness of God the Father, His Son and His Holy Spirit. Its time for us to lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1).
Let's find ourselves in Unity, starting individually by mirroring ourselves in the Word of God!
God Bless and Keep you!
Phillip, thank you so much for your obedience in creating this blog. It has truly been a blessing to my soul. Many of the scriptures you have shared here really resonate in my spirit. The spirit is willing but the flesh IS weak. Oh how I need to turn from my wicked ways and seek God's face so that he can bring complete and total healing and restoration into my life. You are right that we minimize sin and categorize it as mistakes. It is a mistake to sin, but as you've said, the real mistake is in down playing the seriousness of sinning against God our father. He hates sin, but loves the sinner and I think we take advantage of his grace; using it as a safety net when we've decided to jump into sinful behavior. It really hit home when you stated that God's healing and restoration and renewal and cleansing is predicated by my willingness to do my part...turn to him in obedience. I am taking a class at my church right now that is lead by Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life). It's called Life's Healing choices and we are studying how to choose to live a life that will allow us to experience God's healing. It's all by choice. We have the free will to continue our lives as we lead them currently or really give up our own free will and submit to his. We need to relinquish out tendency to play God by controlling everything and allow/ trust him to really take the lead and be the head of our lives. Not to simply give lip service to that phrase, but to truly choose to live by his guidance daily in our walk. God has been revealing some awesome things to me (some of which I shared with you in my email) and your blog has confirmed that I am getting the right message. These revelation are real and being reinforced. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this journey. I hope to grow in Unity with you and all the others in this world who make up the body of Christ and are living for him truly. K
ReplyDeleteKarina thank you for your candor and transparency. I know that God is pleased. How happy it makes Him when His children hear His voice and respond in obedience. We all fall short in one way or another but its His grace that allows us to repent and move forward in Him. You bring up a very good point, "we take advantage of his grace; using it as a safety net when we've decided to jump into sinful behavior." Instead we should all be using the safety net of the Holy Spirit that can keep us from sin. Thank God for giving us another chance! None of us would be here without it. I know I would not.
ReplyDeleteThe class you are taking sounds really interesting. I like the title and its so true. Everything is a choice. We either choose life or death. God gave each of us the power. Another great point you made is "allow/ trust him to really take the lead and be the head of our lives." So many people feel like they are giving something up when they do this. In truth we don't lose anything we gain so much. God will not move in our lives unless we give Him the right to move. To do that we must recognize that we are nothing and can do nothing without Him.
I'm so glad to hear about what God is doing in your life! And I know there is so much that He has planned for you as you continue to walk in obedience. Thank you for taking the time to share. I believe you have helped many people with your testimony of God's work in your life!