Consider the Lilies of the Field

Jesus continued his sermon on the mount, God’s revelation about living life in the kingdom of the King of Kings. Life in Christ is diametrically opposed to the kingdom of this world. The kingdom and kingdoms of this world will soon come to naught… they are here today and gone tomorrow. However, life in the spirit of the living God liveth and abideth forever. The things of this world will soon be past, only that which is done in Christ shall last.

In Matthew 6:24 and following Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Jesus said, you cannot serve worldly riches and God at the same time. The motto of the United States is “in God we trust.” There is irony in this American motto inscribed on our coins and currency. The irony is that most Americans trust in Money as their god instead of the Lord God Jehovah. The the great American dream is to pursue money and the things money can buy instead of pursuing God.

How do you worship God instead of material things? The pursuit of happiness is not in seeking the blessing, but in seeking the Blessor. Jesus continued in Matthew 6: 25 and 26: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

It’s easy to be distracted by the cares and the things of this life. Worry over the physical things that sustain our mortal bodies drive men to anxiety.. Doubt, worry, and fear separate our hearts from the pursuit of the Lord. However, as Proverbs says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. God is our sufficiency…. He is the one who provides all our needs.

God has given us the resources of this world and has called us to steward the things with which he has entrusted us. We’re called to administer with our hands the the material goods he has proved for us and then minister with a heart of love the relationships that he has called us to nurture. These things include: our work, our time, and our money. We serve with a heart of love our wives, our families, and our brothers and sisters within the body of Christ.

When our heart is set on the things of the world, when is enough enough? Worldly. things cannot satisfy…. There is a constant craving, an insatiable appetite and a continuous hunger for the material things that we cannot obtain…. The world says, “He who dies with the most toys wins”. However, from God’s eternal perspective, He who dies with the most toys…. Is dead. You can’t take it with you.

Despite the cares and concerns of this life, Jesus knows our every weakness. He also knows what we really need. Paul asked God three times to remove his painful thorn in the flesh. He said, Lord, I’ll serve you better without this constant suffering. The first two times God did not answer. The third time, God answered Paul’s prayer, but it was not the answer that Paul expected. However, this is one of the great lessons of life, learned only through suffering, pain and tribulation. God’s answer was, “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness… My grace is sufficient for thee.”

God is blessed when we endure the pain, the hardship and the testing with a singing spirit. There is nothing in this life that God can’t handle. God is the God of grace… he alone is our sufficiency.

Jesus said, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Live in the present… all you have is now. Our joy is in the Lord. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. A Sabbath day’s journey was the distance you could walk in one day according to Jewish law. The Christian’s journey is walking with the Lord one step at a time and one day at a time.

The concept of the “denarius” was a day’s wage. This was enough pay to keep a roof over your head, and to keep your family fed and clothed. It wasn’t enough to store up a “rainy day fund” for tomorrow. Jesus said, I’m your sufficiency for today…. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of the things for tomorrow. Your responsibility is to live in today’s day-tight compartment… Walk with me on today’s sabbath day’s journey. I am your sufficiency and your strength for today’s walk… todays Journey.

As Americans we are taught the pursuit of happiness. However, Jesus taught that joy in the Lord supersedes happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances… upon happenstance…. However Joy in the Lord is everlasting for he said, “I shall never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joy is not the absence of pain, rather, Joy is the presence of the Lord. According to Romans 8:35-39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In him we live and move and have our being… The Lord takes care of the sparrow and the lily of the field. Will he not therefore, also take care of you… as children of our loving Heavenly Father? He is our sufficiency in all things…

… that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

God’s Refining

Jesus led by his example…. He walked the talk and talked the walk. In Matthew 6 Jesus continued his Sermon on the Mount. After teaching the multitude about treasuring treasures in heaven instead of treasures upon earth. He continued, You cannot serve two masters, either you will love one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and mammon… the material things of this world.

Therefore take no thought… don’t worry about the things of this life. Is not life more than food and clothing? Consider the birds of the air and the Lilies of the field…. They toil not neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all his glory.. in his regal regalia was not clothed like either of these. Are you not much greater than they the sparrow and the lily? Will God not take care of your needs? Therefore seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

Seek God’s righteousness and not the righteousness that the world considers righteous. Righteousness is only in the things of God… the things of his Holy Spirit. For He who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

In Philippians 4:6-8, Paul said by revelation… be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks giving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace that passes understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The context of this verse is about joy and the love of God…. To rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. To let your moderation, your yieldingness with in love in things that are insignificant, be known unto all men.

The word supplication in Greek means “request for needs.” What is it that we really need? God is the God of Providence. He is the Jehovah Gireh, the All sufficient one. He alone is our sufficiency. He is our all sufficiency for all things according to His will. Ultimately all I need is thee. According to the hymn Be Thou My Vision, Thou art my best portion by day or by night… Nought be all else to me save that thou art.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul thought that his need was for God to remove his thorn in the flesh. He thought that he would be a better apostle for Christ without the pain. He prayed three times for God to remove this thorn. The first two times God did not answer. The third time, God answered Paul’s prayer, but it was not the answer that Paul expected. However, this is one of the great lessons of life, learned only through suffering, pain and tribulation. God’s answer was, My strength is made perfect in thy weakness… My grace is sufficient for thee. God is the God of grace… he alone is our sufficiency.

God will deliver us in the fire, through the fire or by the fire… for Tribulation, the pressures and trials of this world work patience when we endure the trial. Then patience produces experience… it reveals tried and tested Character. It proves God’s character within us. As the Psalmist said, the crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but God tests and refines the heart of man. That which is left after the refining is the true character of the spirit… the character and the qualities of God in Christ in us.

Pete recalls that after his baby son died shortly after childbirth he went to the recovery room with his wife. Suzan had brought her daily devotional Come Away with Me and they began reading. The day’s devotional said, I deepen you in the furnace of affliction and prove you in the refining fire of trial and tribulation. Lean hard upon me and I will deliver you through what this present moment seems like a wind of destruction. My restoration will follow…. I have you in my own intensive care. Therefore draw upon the resources of my grace. Then you will go through the trial with a singing spirit. Peace in the midst of the trial is in The comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Through the trial and tribulation, tribulation works patience and patience reveals the proven Character of God, and this experience produces hope… that the sufferenings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall follow. And the Hope of heaven maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

The world looks at trials and tribulations as problems…. However from God’s perspective these trials are opportunities to know the meaning of hope and the love of God. LIfe’s greatest lessons are learned through the furnace of God’s refining fire… then the dross and slag of the contamination of this world will be burned away…. What endures is the character of God himself, the fruit of the spirit of life in Christ…. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Through God’s refining fire, we can sing to the praise of the glory of His grace! For thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me!

That we may rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! Therefore, rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures forever….

… that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Pleasing God

The world reminds us that we are living in difficult times. The past few years have confirmed that the devil is alive and well on planet earth. There is trial and tribulation all around us. The devil tricks us into responding to the pandemic and pestilence with panic and pandemonium. In this world there is a lot to be mournful about. However, Jesus said, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. From Jesus’ perspective of the beatitudes, his blessed attitudes, the mourning is over the things of this world that have separated our hearts from God’s heart. Then with a heart of meekness and humility, we can turn our eyes from this world and instead focus on the things of the spirit of God.

The world teaches us that we have plenty of enemies in this world. The devil will convince us to separates ourselves into warring parties…. His purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy. His purpose is to divide and conquer. He does this by dividing warring factions into enemy camps. However, Jesus came to reconcile… to bring together that which has been separated. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, he is the one who brings us together, our hearts aligned according to the word and will of God. He has called us in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Therefore above all things put on charity, the love of God which is the bond, the tie that binds our hearts together in the bond of perfectness.

According to Ephesians 5:8-10 in the NIV, For you were once darkness, but now are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth and find out what pleases (is acceptable unto) the Lord.

What is pleasing unto the Lord? The word for “Pleasing” is the Greek word euarestos translated as “well-pleasing” or “acceptable” in the King James Version.

What is it that is acceptable unto God? In the Old Testament Levitcal law the priests offered sacrifices unto God for God’s acceptance. We think that to sacrifice means to give up something. However this is not God’s definition of an acceptable sacrifice. What are the sacrifices that are acceptable or well-pleasing to God? According to Hebrews 13:15-16, through him, then, we may offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to His name; and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

We are to offer sacrifices that are pleasing to God. These are the sacrifices of praise, worship in awe, reverence and respect from a heart of love. This is the essence of Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Our challenge is to do that which is well pleasing (acceptable) unto the Lord. We often pray for God to bless us. Our prayer in English is a quote from the Beatles’ song: Please, please, please…. Please me. We think that prayer is for God to please me. We think that prayer is a plead for God to bring about our own good pleasure. However, James says, you pray and you do not receive… because when you pray you ask for things that you may consume it on your own lust. Lust is anything that we love more than our love of God. Lust is an over-desire… anything that we desire over our desire for God.

We live to please those we love. Who is it that you love most? The first and great commandment says, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…. With your very essence in everything that is in you.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, where your treasure there will your heart be also. We invest our efforts and our energy in the things and the people we love. Therefore, don’t accumulate things of this world, instead lay up for yourself treasures in heaven… through eternal investments with a heart to love and serve God above all.

In Ephesians 5 we were born into the darkness of this fallen world. Jesus Christ himself is the light of the world. We who have been born again of God’s spirit are his photo-multipliers… we are the lights in a world of darkness who reflect the light of Christ. The light eliminates the darkness. Light reveals and makes clear the truth of the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God… he is the revealed word of God made manifest.

Prior to receiving God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, we were blinded by the darkness of this world. Our fallen nature we inherited from Adam was the nature of sin and death. However, We have received new life in Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit. We were children of darkness but now we are children of light. Jesus Christ himself is the light…. He is the truth of the word of God made manifest. The Light of Christ illuminates the eyes of our spiritual understanding so we can see from God’s heavenly perspective.

Now that we have been born again of God’s spirit, we can live in the newness of life in Christ. As David said, Create in me a new heart O Lord. With God’s spirit born again within us, the desire of the new heart of God in Christ in us is to please God.

True prayer is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane…. Jesus prayed three times for God to remove the impending cup of God’s wrath… of taking upon himself the pain, torture, shame, beating, crucifixion and death as just retribution for the sins of the world. He prayed, if there be any other way, Please Father, take this cup of wrath from me. His ultimate prayer, however was “Not my will but thine be done.”

True prayer is not please, please, please…. please me. Instead the essence of prayer is the diplomatic French phrase: “S’il vous plait.” This means, “If it pleases you.” In other words, “Not my will but thine be done.” The blessing is not in seeking the blessing, instead the blessing is seeking the Blessor and in doing that which is well-pleasing, acceptable unto Him.

Here are some other verses to understand from the perspective of Christ’s eyes behind our eyes what it means to be well pleasing unto our Heavenly Father…

Psalm 147:10-11. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

1 Thessalonians 2:4. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

John 8:29. Jesus said, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Col 3:23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that the exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Psalm 69:30-32. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Our prayer is according to Psalm 19:14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

That we may be well-pleasing in thy sight O Lord, offering up continually a sacrifice of praise from a heart of love to thy honor and glory!

Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Treasuring Treasure

Solomon said in Eccleastes, there is nothing new under the sun. The devil is up his same old tricks. He has propagated the same lies ever since the Garden of Eden. However, the one true God is the God of new beginnings… when we are born again of His spirt, old things are passed away, he makes all things new.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set up a new attitude.. the beatitudes are God’s attitudes. According to Matthew 7:15-23 Jesus continued his sermon on the mount and warned the people about false prophets who did not speak for the true God:

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

God created Adam and Eve as three part beings… Body, soul, and spirit. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their spirit died that day. The mind is a part of the soul of man. This is where the will of man affects the reasoning and the decisions of life. Men usually base their decisions on feelings. However, feelings will deceive us…. Feelings are part of the wisdom of this world. This type of wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. If you’re in the darkness but think you are in the light, how great is that darkness. In Matthew 7 Jesus said, not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Even though you cast out devils and healed people in my name, I’ll say, depart from me, I never knew you.

Jesus had taught the multitude in Matthew 6 that the material things of this world are only temporary. Therefore do not store up treasures on earth. Instead treasure treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is it that you treasure… what in this life do you hold dear? What do you value most? The devil will distract you to value your feelings, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh. He appeals to the over-desires of this world… the things we lust for over our love of God… the things that blind us to the truth of the Word of God. Through the eyes of the flesh, men of this world think that the devil’s lies are true. The devil has convinced them that wrong is right and the righteousness of God is wrong. The devil’s purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy.

The battlefield is for the minds and hearts of men. In this spiritual battle Ephesians 6 says…. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are not of the flesh. Instead they are spiritual (empowered by the spirit of God in Christ in us) for the pullling down of the devil’s spiritual strongholds. How do we fight back against the spiritual powers of the darkness of this world? We do this by casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Jesus Christ is the truth of the word of God made manifest. He alone is our standard for truth.

Man’s attempts to justify the lusts of their flesh, and the desires of their evil hearts are futile vain attempts to rationalize sin. Sin separates our hearts from God’s heart. Those who lust after sin run away from God. According to John 3:19…. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

However the next verse says that those who love God and treasure treasures in heaven, run toward God: But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Those convicted of the lies of the devil attempt to cancel those who speak the truth of the Word of God. How do you respond to those who attempt to enforce the cancel culture? Paul said to Timothy, refuse foolish speculations. Don’t get discouraged by the lies propagated by those who are controlled by the god of this world whose eyes he has blinded lest the glorious gospel of truth should shine unto them. For the Lord’s bond servant must not strive… he must not be quarrelsome. The battle is not against flesh and blood… it’s not against the people whom the devil uses as his mouthpiece. The battle is against the devil and his lies, deception, and accusations. Therefore do not retaliate and recompense evil for evil. Instead counter the evil with gentleness, kindness, mercy, love and grace. As Paul said in Romans 12, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The light is That which illuminates, makes things clear, and reveals the truth. The light of Christ illuminates the truth of the Word of God and dispels the darkness of the devil’s lies.

The job of the Holy Spirit is to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. Before a person can repent, he must be convicted of the sin, the missing of the mark of truth. We are called as light-bearers… let your light (of Christ) shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. For those whom God has chosen, the light will defeat the darkness of the devil’s focus on sin, guilt, shame, and having missed the mark of Christ. Then when a person comes to Christ with a heart of repentance, turning from sin and unto the Lord Jesus Christ, a broken and a contrite heart, God will not forsake.

It’s easy to focus on sin… on guilt and condemnation. How do you turn from sin?… Sin is missing the mark. The Greek word for sin is “hamartano.” It’s made up of two words, “missing” and the “mark.” The emphasis of this word is not on the missing but on the mark. The devil focuses on missing. How do you not miss the mark? You aim at the mark instead of the missing. Therefore set your affection on things of God…. Treasure treasures not on the things of this world but instead treasure treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also…. As Paul said, “I press toward the mark of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus”….

…. In treasuring heavenly treasures we also press toward the mark of Christ so that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Lord Give us Men

Jesus set up a Standard that is above the standards of this world. To enter into his presence and to become his discipleship is on God’s terms not ours. His recruiting methods were contrary to the World’s. He did not appeal to the sin nature we inherited from Adam. His terms of discipleship were not acceptable to most men.

According to Mark 8:34-38, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The people had asked Jesus, what is your plan? He said, those guys over there…. He pointed to a despised tax collector and lowly Galilean fishermen and said, “those guys who are looked down upon by the world. They are the plan.”

He said, “take up your cross and follow me.” The cross is the symbol of death. In order to follow Christ, his non-negotiable term is to die to self. We must give up our selfish selves in order to follow him.

It’s not about the cost, it’s about the value. What is it that you love? You value what you love. The first and great commandment is to love God above all. The first of the Ten Commandments says, thou shalt have no other God’s before me, including the god of self. The Aramaic text says, “thou shall have no other gods between your face and my face.” To be a follower of Christ nothing shall come between you and God.

Many say they are committed to following Christ. However Jesus would not commit himself to them. He knew what was in the heart of man. He knew that they wanted to come on their own terms, not God’s. Oswald Chambers said, “When Jesus bids a man come, he bids him come and die.” We must forsake our selfish selves in order to approach God’s throne of grace with a heart of meekness and humility. A true disciple hungers, not for the things of this world, but for the righteousness of God through Jesus’ sacrifice for sin on our behalf.

Jesus did not say, “you have to do the right thing”… he simply said, “follow me.” He led not by eloquence of speech, but by his example. He said, “I always do my Father’s will.” He said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Their lives were wrapped up in their fishing business. However Jesus implied, “when you follow me you will catch men in stead of fish.” He called his disciples to cast a net into the world to catch those God has prepared to become captive to the Lord. Either we are slaves, captive to sin and the sin nature we inherited from Adam or we by the freedom of our will become captive to Christ.

Jesus said, “unless you hate mother, father, sister, and brother, you cannot come follow me.” Compared to every other relationship and the things of this world, you need to love me and hate everything else compared to your love of God.

He said, “if you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed… and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Freedom is not in following the things of this world… family, friends, material possessions, reputation, worldly honor, or selfish ambition…. Freedom is known only through knowing the truth as a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ. To know him is to know truth for Jesus said, “I am the way the truth, and the life… no man comes unto the father but by me.”

There is no security in the things of this world. The only security is in the Word of God made manifest in Christ. This is why missionary Jim Elliot said, “he is no fool who loses that which he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.”

The greatest danger in life is not failure to succeed in our ambitions. The greatest danger is to succeed in things that do not matter. Everything in this life will soon be passed, only that which is done in Christ shall last. What endures? Everything we accumulate in this life will come to naught…. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. The only things that endure are the things of the spirit of God in Christ…. God himself is our eternal portion… Jesus said, “Do not covet the things of this world. They are only temporary… here today and gone tomorrow. Though this world will pass away, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When we have our vertical relationship with God in order, then our horizontal relationships with others will be blessed. The greatest blessing is not in seeking the blessings but in seeking the Blessor.

How shall we then live? What as men of God shall be our purpose, our calling and the fruit of our labor?

When Pete was called to minister to men he penned this prayer.

Lord Give Us Men…
…Men with stout hearts and fire in their eyes. Men who fear nothing but you, and who owe nothing to anyone but acts of love.
Lord give us men.
Men who are willing to live and die for you, who name the name of Christ and live for His glory.
Lord give us men.
Men who know your voice and whose greatest delight is to do your will. Who are slow to anger, quick to listen, and eager to forgive.
Lord give us men,
Men who love their wives and honor you in their homes; Who are living epistles of salt and light to all they know and meet. Men whose sacrifice, service, and love are renown and who are known to have spent time with you.
Lord give us men!
These kinds of men! For the world is desperate for them.
Lord give us men,
Men of faith and action, who have eternity in their hearts and only you as their focus, passion and reason for living. Men of whom the world is not worthy.
Lord, these men are few, but they know that you use ordinary men to do extraordinary things through your power. That you use foolish men to shame the wise; weak men who because you become strong.
Men who are known more for their availability than for their ability. Men who choose to decrease so that you may increase.
Lord to me this seems like an impossible request, but these are the kind of men you make when they give their lives in total abandonment and absolute trust to you.
Lord let me be a man like this among men like this.
Lord let me be that man. —Pete McKenzie 2006

May this be our prayer too,
…Lord, that we may live to the praise of the glory of thy grace.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Disciples: Lord Give Us Men

To get to know Jesus Christ we need to approach his throne of grace with meekness and humility, recognizing that we are poor in spirit and mourning over the sins that have separated our hearts from God’s heart. We must approach him with a hunger and thirst for righteousness. To become a disciple of Christ starts with a heart of repentance, recognizing our need for a savior from our sin nature that has blinded our eyes to the glorious light of the gospel of truth.

Then when we come to our Lord Jesus, we will able to see from his heavenly perspective instead of the world’s perspective. Jesus continued his teaching on the sermon on the mount…. You have heard from the Pharisees, that you should repay evil for evil… an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. However, Jesus said, bless them that persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. As the Apostle Paul said, in order to follow my Lord, I’m crucified to the world because in my flesh there is no good thing. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the live that I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus said, In this world you will have tribulation… mental pressure, heartache, testing, and temptation. But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The abundance of life is not in the the pain and suffering of this world. Neither is it in the abundance of worldly things. Instead the abundant life is in the presence of the Lord. Despite the turbulence of the world around us, in his presence He will deliver us through the storm, in the storm or by the storm.

Discipleship, becoming a disciplined follower of Christ is on God’s unilateral terms, not ours. Following him is non-negotiable. Whosoever wants to come on God’s terms may come. The first unilateral term to becoming a disciple is, “come and see.” The second is “come and learn.” The third term is “come and do…. Jesus said, Walk with me, come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus said, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. The cross symbolizes dying to self…. For in Christ my life is not my own. My life is hid in Christ with God. Then Jesus said, whoever wants to save his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it. For what good is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul? Life on earth is but a nanosecond in eternity. This life on earth will soon be passed, only that which is is in Christ shall last. As Missionary Jim Elliot said, he is no fool who loses that which he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.

1 John 5:11-13 says….. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

There are four responses to the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The first is outright rejection. This response says, I’m my own master, I’m the master of my own destiny. The second response is a tepid response…. Those who attend church as casual Christian’s but never make a commitment to follow Christ. The third is those who think they are saved but have never confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. They attend church and may be involved with giving and serving. They say he’s Lord but don’t really mean it. They have not committed their lives by accepting God’s gift of salvation on his terms and following Jesus Christ from a heart of love.

The fourth response is to accept God’s gift of salvation by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised him from the dead. Christianity means “I surrender all.”…….. To confess Jesus is Lord means to agree with God’s word that Jesus is Lord and that I am no longer lord over my own life. Lord means owner…. All that I am and all that I have is yours Lord. Contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is not who we are but WHOSE we are.

In God’s divine transaction, we have been bought with a price. The price was the precious innocent blood of his son Jesus Christ. Those whom he has redeemed from the sin that separated us from God…. Those who accept God’s gift by confessing Jesus is Lord and believe God’s power in the resurrection receive his precious gift…. life of the spirit… eternal life in Christ.

Peter had to learn a hard lesson to realize that he was powerless in his own ability. He had told Jesus, even If the whole world forsakes you, I will not forsake you. Then Jesus said, Peter, before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me thrice.

While Jesus was being questioned in the court of the high priest a girl at the palace courtyard said, “I recognize you as one of his followers.” Peter swore, I am not one of Jesus’ disciples.” Then someone said, “I can tell by your accent that you are a Jesus follower. Peter responded cursing, “I know not the man.” Then the cock crowed and Jesus’ eyes met Peter’s. Peter went off and wept bitterly. Thank God for breaking our hearts for what breaks his. A broken and a contrite heart, the Lord will not forsake.

When we turn our hearts to the Lord in repentance, Romans 10 says, he who believes on the son of God shall not be ashamed. Even though the devil and his followers try to shame us and ostracize us, as the Apostle Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it us the power of God unto salvation.

Jesus said, follow me. He did not ask his disciples to do anything he himself did not do. He didn’t say, do what I say. Instead he said walk with me. To deny oneself is to say yes to Jesus Christ. To look unto Jesus is to press toward the mark of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. Then when we walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Those who chose to follow Christ have eternity in their hearts. It’s only by God’s grace and mercy that he has called us unto himself. Thank God that we can say and rejoice with the Apostle Paul…. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which He’s committed to me (and I’ve committed unto him) until that day (of righteous judgement.)

There are always more to and better ways to follow in the footsteps of our Lord…. It starts with a heart of love…. God’s love in that while we were yet sinners, he gave his only begotten son as the righteous payment for our sin nature. By grace, he has called us from the darkness of this fallen world into the glorious light of his gospel of truth…. That because of his love for us, we can chose to love him above all.

Loving God above all is the requirement for following in the path of righteousness. Then when we walk in the first and great commandment, to love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, soul, mind, and strength… we can live in the liberty where with Christ has set us free. Our liberty as his disciples is to follow him and serve others from a love.

What kind of Men is God calling? Pete wrote this prayer when God called him to start Influencers in Orange County:

Lord Give Us Men…
…Men with stout hearts and fire in their eyes. Men who fear nothing but you, and who owe nothing to anyone but acts of love.
Lord give us men.
Men who are willing to live and die for you, who name the name of Christ and live for His glory.
Lord give us men.
Men who know your voice and whose greatest delight is to do your will. Who are slow to anger, quick to listen, and eager to forgive.
Lord give us men,
Men who love their wives and honor you in their homes; Who are living epistles of salt and light to all they know and meet. Men whose sacrifice, service, and love are renown and who are known to have spent time with you.
Lord give us men!
These kinds of men! For the world is desperate for them.
Lord give us men,
Men of faith and action, who have eternity in their hearts and only you as their focus, passion and reason for living. Men of whom the world is not worthy.
Lord, these men are few, but they know that you use ordinary men to do extraordinary things through your power. That you use foolish men to shame the wise; weak men who because you become strong.
Men who are known more for their availability than for their ability. Men who choose to decrease so that you may increase.
Lord to me this seems like an impossible request, but these are the kind of men you make when they give their lives in total abandonment and absolute trust to you.
Lord let me be a man like this among men like this.
Lord let me be that man. —Pete McKenzie 2006

May this be our prayer…that as disciples of our Living Lord we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael