2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
In the course of dealing with Satan, the Accuser, we are brought to many kinds of trials. Because these trials cause us pain, suffering, and loss, it is often difficult to keep a hold on the big picture discussed in RO 8: 18 and 2 COR 4: 16-17. The point is that our suffering is much less than the glory that our loving Abba will reveal to us for having endured through it. There are some questions that we need to examine for a deeper understanding of what a blessing our redemption and endurance in faith really brings.
EPH 2: 20-22, “You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the Cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself. He is the One Who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. In union with Him, you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through His Spirit.” The fruit of our obedience to Him is being a part of a community of love which lasts for eternity. I can testify to you first hand that the very best part of my life began when I came to Christ and became a part of such a wonderful church community as I am. When Christ really is the Cornerstone in leadership of a church, its members grow in spiritual maturity, and God’s work gets accomplished. Even the least of the members, the ones the world doesn’t hold in esteem or give prestige to, is loved and held by the Lord as His special treasure. By His example, we who are this person’s brothers and sisters in Christ also think of him as our special treasure. When Satan shoots his evil arrows at any member of the Body of Christ, the others are there following Christ’s example and admonition of JN 13: 33-34, “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are My disciples.” We as a God-led church community can put our wagons in a circle around a member being attacked by Satan and render the enemy overpowered. We can do this because God is with us. Remember PHIL 4: 13, “We can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.”
This power imparted to us by our faith in and obedience to the Lord is part of the rich inheritance He gives us. Exactly how God brings this about is only as clear as the limits of human perception allow. That is because of what God tells us in certain Scripture passages, like JN 12: 24-25 for instance. “I am telling you the truth; a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die then it produces many grains. Whoever loves his own life will lose it; whoever hates his own life in this world will keep it for life eternal.” When I first read this as a new believer, it left me puzzled. Then, as I learned more about the word of God, I began to understand with the help of the Holy Spirit. Scientifically, the seed doesn’t die; it simply goes dormant until the weather conditions are right for it to germinate and grow. But what the Lord is trying to say here is that until we are ready to give our hearts over to Him and yield to His will for us, we can’t mature spiritually. Our arrogance, idolatry, human ambitions, artificial barriers erected, and willingness to allow Satan to have a stronghold in our lives are the things that block spiritual growth. RO 12: 2 is a wonderful cross-reference which sheds illumination on the Lord’s meaning. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world but let God transform you inwardly by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God-what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.” This is what is meant in JN 12: 25 by “hating one’s own life in this world” and thus, keeping it for life eternal. We must gradually let go of the things of this world in favor of the things of God. This must both be an attitude of the heart and an action taken.
I have just completed the “MasterLife” course written by Pastor Avery T. Willis. Truthfully, it was a lot of work. However, it was also a life-changing experience (one I don’t regret for a minute) that opened my eyes to how much it means to the Lord when we take an active part in not only doing His work but in training others to do the same. Pastor Avery calls this “discipling.” I know have a better idea of the pride Paul must have felt when he wrote to the Thessalonians in 1 THESS 2: 18-19, “We wanted to return to you. I myself tried to go back more than once, but Satan would not let us. After all, it is you-you, no less than others!-who are our hope, our joy, and our reason for boasting of our victory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes.” Satan hates it when we grow disciples who join us in doing God’s work and who are committed to Christ’s leadership in their lives. These are the people who shuck off Satan’s attacks and reject the unethical values of this world in favor of putting their riches in heaven. Satan doesn’t get his way when this happens. Instead, his attacks and efforts to challenge our faith become impotent. None of us should ever think that we are too unimportant in the Body of Christ to grow disciples. We expect our pastors, teachers, and leaders to do this. However, by the example of mercy, service to others, helps, parenting, or whatever seemingly ordinary tasks we do, we can inspire others-some of whom we don’t even realize we are inspiring. By encouraging each other to be diligent about staying in His word daily and having an active prayer life, we can help each other along the path to spiritual maturity. And in doing so, Satan and his followers are thwarted.
PRAYER: O Lord, You challenge us to put our suffering in Your perspective and bless us with the help of the Holy Spirit and Your word which show us how to do that. Where would we be without You? We would be in the darkness of a swirling vortex from which there is no escape, a vortex that leads to sure death and destruction in the lake of fire. Dearest Abba, You know that the only way we can be transformed inwardly by the renewal of our minds is for us to confess our sins, present ourselves to You, and willingly yield to and plead with the Holy Spirit to fill our empty spiritual vessels. You know that we must go through the refiner’s fire, so that our arrogance, idolatry, jealousy, pride, stubbornness, and unrighteousness can be brought to an end. The evil that we inherited from Adam no longer has to be trap for us in which Satan delights. Instead, by the death of Your Son on the cross, our freedom from evil is paid in for in full. It is You Who gives us the faith to repent and believe in Christ, and we are grateful beyond measure for that. We join in saying David’s words in PS 32: 10-11, “The wicked will have to suffer, but those who trust in the Lord are protected by His constant love. You that are righteous, be glad and rejoice, because of what the Lord has done. You that obey Him, shout for joy!” We praise You, O Lord, with the words of PS 36: 5-7,9 , “Lord, Your constant love reaches the heavens; Your faithfulness extends to the skies. Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; Your justice is like the depths of the sea. Men and animals are in Your care. How precious, O God, is Your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings…You are the source of all life, and because of Your light we see the light.” We dedicate our lives to You, Dearest Abba. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s message is about how we can put our suffering in God’s perspective. How warm and comforting it is to know that each of us is wrapped in God’s loving arms every day of our lives. It motivates us to spend time meditating on the great blessing to our lives that the faith He gives us is. That faith is worth being nurtured in both ourselves in others around us. He gives us the power to do this, because His love for us is so great. We can eagerly look forward to the day when Satan will be completely vanquished. To that I will testify. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn