Sunday, September 30, 2012

GETTING SAVED IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Too many have gotten it into their heads that inviting Christ into their hearts is the end of the Christian walk, that once they walk the aisle, say the prayer and get dunked in the baptismal, its all over, and they should go back to living exactly how they were before.

But the opposite is the case. Getting saved is the BEGINNING of the Christian walk.
Now comes the part about sanctification, being set aside for the work that Christ needs done, being set aside and living on a different level than unbelievers. You are supposed to be WALKING IN GOOD WORKS that were prepared for you beforehand (Eph 2:10). Works dont save you, the blood of Christ does, through faith. And Faith without works is DEAD (James 2:14). Continuing in the same sin that we were in before we were saved, failing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and prophetic words from the Godly men around us, Heb 6:6 calls this deserting Christ. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God. Thats powerful stuff. 

Each day the Bible calls us to crucify our flesh, seek to grow closer to the image of Christ, be perfect as God is perfect (Matt 5:48), to meditate on things that are beautiful, good and pure. For note, that is exactly the opposite of worldly music and TV. Men of God dont waste time on foolish things as we did when we were not mature (1 Cor 13:11), because we realize that the time is short, and the time wasted on foolish things is another soul going to hell that we didnt reach but were supposed to, another destiny step missed, another opportunity to be studying and learning.

Fill your mind with the things of God. Theres nothing wrong with watching a football game or whatever, but would a man of God waste more time on football that what he was in the Word for the day? Would a man of God become the next Billy Grahm by playing video games, watching more TV that he was in the Bible and praying for the day? 

If we never miss an episode of our favorite show, but dont think a bit about missing a day in the Word (or a week, or a month), if we can spend 6 hours catching up on our show, but would never consider spending an hour in prayer and worship, WHAT ARE WE TELLING GOD? What are our priorities? Which one is more important to us? If we always fill our minds with fantasy and false TV shows, but would never consider a regular monthly/weekly fasting schedule before God, why would it surprise us that we never walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, teach and disciple other men, see the unseen world, pray with power against demonic forces, operate in the 1st Corinthians 12 spiritual gifts, lay hands on the sick and see them healed, or lead people to the Lord on a regular basis?

Instead, we go on filling our mind with crap, and saying that none of these things ever happen any more.

And we miss out on them when they do, because they are happening to men who push further into the mysteries and deep things of God, that we can ever imagine doing. 

Its time for men to make a committment, step up, and signal God that they are ready to leave weakness behind, and walk in power.