Thoughts from Pete’s Message June 9, 2017

We Are the Plan

Pete’s wife Suzan has been blessed with a praise report this week. After 17 doctor visits in 25 days, Pete and Suzan finally received the results of her PET scan… there are no new cancers. The blood clot in her lung has disappeared. She still has challenges with her double vision and she will receive corrective glasses on Monday. They are encouraged for what the Lord is doing in their lives. They are grateful for Suzan’s prayer warriors who are carrying her through this ordeal. Pete and Suzan are t most thankful for their Lord Jesus Christ and that despite good news or bad news, the ultimate good news is the good news of the gospel: that Jesus Christ himself is the solution to the issues of life.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans are. We do not know the destinations in this life, but he does. He did not call us to reveal his plan. Rather he called us to BE his plan. Our challenge allow God to “come help himself to our lives.” He will continue to write each new chapter in the book of our lives. We are his epistles, written not with ink or in tables of stone, but written in our hearts. Whatever the “problem du jour” God says, “I’ve got this.” Our challenge is to trust God for wisdom to walk according to his will for our lives. As men of God, our freedom is to choose to walk one step at a time in fellowship with Him. Our goal is to “choke in the dust of those in hot pursuit of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians chapter 5 is about the Influencers’ vision. We see thousands of men not as they are but as they will be, making Jesus Christ Lord of their lives. Men who make decisions in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ in full view. Men secure in their identities in Jesus Christ. Men who are free in Christ committed to free others in Christ. Men who are alert, focused, and prepared, standing firm in the faith. Men dedicated to influence their world for Jesus Christ, becoming just like him. Men standing together with their band of brothers, faithful to the end to hear their master say, “well done my good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

We need men with ministries within the body of Christ. Men in whom the spirit of the Lord resides for He has called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21:
For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

These verses summarize Influencers’ vision:
We see thousands of men, not as they are but as they will be in Christ.
Men who are seeking after righteousness.
Men hungry to grow in Christ.
Men who have been set free in Christ and who are dedicated to set others free.

We are new creatures in Christ according to verse 17. New Creatures are those whom God the creator has created with the newness of the spirit of life in Christ. Our calling is to be men who want to become just like Jesus. This starts with the love of Christ which compels and motivates us to action to follow him after him. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. This is the spirit of rejoicing in the Lord. It starts with denying myself, taking up my cross and following him. To walk with Christ we must crucify the old nature to walk in the newness of Life.

Purpose is the aim, goal, object, or end to be attained or achieved. What is the one thing that you cannot compromise? What is the one thing for which you give your life? “Sanctification” or “holiness” according to the Word is to be separated for the purpose intended by the Designer. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has prepared in advance that we should walk in them. The purpose is that the love of Christ compels us to die to self in order to live for Him. As King Solomon said at the end of Ecclesiastes, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear (love, reverence, and respect) God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Men of this world seek for power and selfish influence. They don’t understand the biblical concept of servant leadership. Jesus said, he who is chiefest among you shall be servant of all. Jesus also said, “the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my father.” The greater works is leading others to salvation through Jesus Christ.

God reconciled us to himself through the supreme sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, we were reunited with God because Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Because we have been reconciled through Christ he has given us the ministry of reconciliation and has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.

The challenges and trials of life are opportunities to prove the power of God to deliver. He is working in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. The spirit that we have been given is to serve our Lord by serving those whom he has given us to minister the word of reconciliation. Those whom God has called will receive us as God’s epistles, his love letters known and read of all men. We may not understand what God is doing in our own lives to influence others for Him. God has called us to plant and water the seed of the Word of reconciliation even if we never see the harvest.

Our purpose is to be secure in the calling wherewith he has called us. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which he’s committed to me against that day of righteous judgement. Our confidence is in him and the power of his gift of the Holy Spirit.

God will reveal to us the shortcomings of others so that we will know how to pray for them. For God’s desire is that all would be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. He has called us for this purpose: to reconcile others unto him. God didn’t call us to develop a “plan of action.” Rather he called us to be his plan. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Our purpose and our plan is to “pray ye in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” In other words, give ’em Heaven!

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael