2 Kings 2:9-15 – “And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So, he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  NKJV

Yes, LORD, give me a double portion of the double portion anointing!  Give me all that I can handle or all that You trust me with. Help me to walk completely surrendered to You and Your Purposes. 

Through the years, I have heard various ministers declare that the mantle of some previous giant of the faith had fallen on them.  Maybe it did, and perhaps it did not.  Was it the declaration of God or the desire of the individual to assume that position and rise to that acclaim?  If it was the declaration of God, the Elisha principle should be applied, and if it were the latter, it would become exposed for what it is flesh. 

I am convinced that Elisha’s heart in desiring a ‘double portion’ of the anointing of Elijah had nothing to do with personal ambition.  It was rooted in his desire to serve God and defeat the forces of hell as powerfully as possible.  In his life and ours, in receiving an anointing from God, you can count on the reality that that anointing will bring difficulties, tests, and trials. 

The anointing can take you where you do not want to go, cause you to go against personal preferences, and even cause you to find yourself isolated or rejected by many you had formerly depended on or associated with.  God’s anointing should be desired, as in Elisha, more than anything else in the world. Again, it is Never for personal gain or ambition but for service!

Elisha had served Elijah in an apprenticeship, and although he had a prophetic call on his life, he understood servanthood and service.  Elijah’s decree is most interesting.  He said, “…IF you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”  That highlights an important factor in God’s anointing, Vision, and Focus. 

Elijah instructed Elisha that Unless he maintained focus and was persistent in his determination and pursuit of the prize, it would not come.  Remember the words of our Lord, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”?  

Paul declared in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Focus is an absolute requirement; to remain focused, there must be VISION, and to have vision, there must be Commitment.  That singular commitment and desire to have God’s anointing was present in Elisha, and he never wavered from it.

God will not share His glory with flesh, and if you are seeking His anointing for self, even if you received it, that anointing would destroy you.  He was willing to lay down his “own mantle” to receive the “Double Portion Mantle of God.”  He exemplified the expression of John the Baptist when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  If we are to have God’s anointing, we also must have the Heart of our Lord, and as Paul said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.”  

God bless you as you enjoy His richness and presence on this beautiful day!

1 Kings 11:1-8 – “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites — 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.”  NKJV

In today’s political world, much is being said about sexual impropriety and lasciviousness, which is a problem.  Solomon, a man who began right and because of his desire to do good and serve, received the Lord’s blessing in incredible wealth, power, position, and wisdom.  However, in all his getting, he forgot to heed the Word and Warnings of the Lord and allowed his flesh to rule his life.  He made bad alliances in taking to himself many foreign wives who neither knew Jehovah God nor honored him. 

The Bible says Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart.  This had to be about more than physical attraction and sexual gratification.  It revealed a root problem in his heart far beyond simply the desires of the flesh.  It was about allowing the flesh to dominate, and, in my view, he allowed himself to become the ‘center of his universe.’   Adam and Eve did that in the Garden when they fired God as Lord of their lives and became gods to themselves.  Power corrupts.

God warned about bad associations.  That truth was repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”  Paul also addressed this in Galatians 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 5:6, telling us that “a little leaven leavens the entire lump.”  In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul warned to ‘not associate with immoral people.’  In 2 Corinthians 6:14, there is a clear warning about wrong relationships, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”  And we dare not forget the words of Psalm 1:1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”

Solomon knew well the directive in Leviticus 20:23, “Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”  Likewise, he knew the words of Numbers 16:26, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”  Solomon allowed the prize of his eyes and the cravings of his flesh to overrule his spiritual reason and became corrupted by the influence of unbelievers. 

The warnings of God through Moses in Deuteronomy 12:30 should have been heeded, “…beware that you are not ensnared to follow them after they are destroyed before you and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’”  Solomon’s wives followed other gods, and his love and devotion to them tugged at his heart and opened the door to his spiritual downfall.  It was his choice and demonstrated the power of the flesh if we do not maintain our focus on God. 

Never, never, allow the flesh to rule you; instead, heed the cry of Paul in Galatians 5:16-26, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” 

Make a decision of heart and conscience, as Joshua declared, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”   

God bless you as you faithfully follow the Lord!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Let me ask, “How many of you have been tempted?”  “How many have been tempted in any area and failed or succumbed to the temptation?”  I am sure everyone has, and when that resulted, you were probably flooded with guilt, or you shrugged it off, saying, ‘Well, I’m only human.’

Temptation is something that every human being encounters.  It does not respect age, gender, position, or ethnicity.  There is nothing we can do to prevent temptation from attempting to rear its head, and that head is sometimes quite ugly.  It comes! 

I have used an illustration about a teenager being left alone at home for years.  The car was in the driveway, and the keys were in a bowl on the kitchen counter.  Temptation!  The young man said, “Dad, while you were away, I came very close to breaking my promise that I would not drive the car.  You left the keys on the kitchen counter, and I even carried them in my pocket for three days fighting temptation.”  The father responded, “Son, there is nothing like the temptation to show you what you will do if given the opportunity.”  Temptation can be viewed from several perspectives, and we usually view it from only one, the negative.

• TEMPTATION FROM THE DEVIL’S PERSPECTIVE…

It is an opportunity to defeat the purpose of God.  Truthfully, he can only succeed in tempting us in those areas if we have something in common.  In John 14:30, Jesus told the disciples that the devil was coming, but he had no claim on Jesus.  Jesus told them that there was nothing in Him that belongs to the devil; therefore, the devil had no power over Jesus.

• TEMPTATION FROM MAN’S PERSPECTIVE…

It is a severe test and an attempt to destroy faith and commitment.  Man views it as a bad thing!  Man sees temptation only in the light of it, pulling and tugging at his own evil thoughts, bents, and wishes. 

James 1:13-15 declares, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

• TEMPTATION FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE…

Is that it can be and often is a valuable and vital service in the lives of men.  It shows three things about us:  what we are, where we stand, and what we will be in the future.  

Temptation is a factor in both the psychological and spiritual growth process that every human being must go through ‘IF’ they are to become mature individuals capable of living a full, meaningful, and victorious life.  In that light, Temptation’sreal purpose is Always to trigger a choice and provoke a definitive stand or action!  Consider the illustration of the teenager and the car keys again, if you will.

The keys presented a temptation that forced him to make a very difficult but vital decision.  He had to obey or disobey.  To disobey would be to commit an act of irresponsibility that would make it easier to do similar things in the future.  To obey would help create a pattern for mature and wise decisions in the future and make it easier to resist temptation and produce victory and liberty. 

Temptation could be called a dividing line between innocence and awareness.  Temptations come and always present a lesson to be learned.  Our choices in temptation demonstrate whether the lesson has been learned or must be repeated, “The Wilderness Principle.”  How many times did Israel take another lap around the mountain?

For example, we teach children not to cross the street alone, but temptation comes into play the moment the child has the opportunity to disobey.  There is no one around to see, the street beckons and promises intriguing adventure.  The response to temptation will determine if the child can be trusted to play near the street or if more supervision and training are required.  Thus, how we face temptation affects every area of our personal life.

May the Lord help us to realize and learn the lessons rather than becoming stuck in an almost perpetual process of repeating or “making laps around the mountain.” 

God bless you richly as you face today with confidence and boldness in Jesus!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Another passage I will suggest is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  I have learned and believe there are some explicit promises in God’s word that we can expect as a part of our Spiritual Inheritance in Jesus.

            GUIDANCE – – The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. (John 16:13)

            INSTRUCTION – – The Holy Spirit will teach us God’s Truth.  (John 16:13)

            PROVISION – – God will supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

            COMFORT – – We will never be left comfortless. (John 14:18)

            DEFENSE – – The Battle is not ours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

We are told that when we do not know how to pray as we should, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for and through us.  God’s word informs us that people are defeated and destroyed because of a ‘lack of knowledge’ or ‘understanding.’  We have the incredible promise that ‘IF’ we walk in the Light as He is the Light, we can ask what we will and expect an answer. 

Please understand that I believe the Bible teaches that it is imperative that both the motive and request are wholesome and pure.  If we ask anything According to His Will, the Bible informs us that IT IS DONE!  Therefore, it is incredibly important for us to know the following:

• The Will of God. 
• The Principles by which He works.    
• What God Desires to do IN us.

That is no small undertaking, and without His help, impossible!  Temptation is one principle that affects us significantly in our walk and warfare and is often overlooked or completely misunderstood.  I refer to it as the “Wilderness Principle,” and in that, we must become aware of the following:

• The Purpose or Work of Temptation.
• How to Receive God’s Promises.       
• How to Stand Steadfast During a Problem.  
• How to Enter into God’s Provisions.

Again, that is no small undertaking; without God’s help, it is Impossible!  The Bible teaches that God’s desire for us is Conformity with the Person and Image of Christ Jesus our Lord.  He wants us to know, enjoy, and live what I call Full Salvation and Complete Deliverance. He wants us to enjoy His Abundant Provisions daily and continually walk in Victory, pulling down strongholds. 

Life is a process that begins in infancy, progresses through adolescence, and to fullness in adulthood.  Our Spiritual Life and Walk involve numerous tests and encounters that help develop our character and give us a mark, a barometer, or an identity point that enables us to recognize where we stand spiritually.

Hosea 4:6 informs us, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge….”  That is a powerful truth, for if we do not Know God’s Will, we cannot Do God’s Will.  If we do not understand what He is doing, we may resist and rebel when we should be resting and learning.  But, if we understand the Principles of God, we know what to look for and what to do.  Victory comes from understanding and obedience. 

Thus, we have the exhortation of James “…count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations….”  Honestly, that is not difficult; it is impossible Without some understanding of the Purpose of Temptation in our lives and without the careful guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

I dare not stop there but will pause in this devotional and pick up in the next more on Temptation’s Purpose and Function in the believer’s life.   

God bless you richly as you embark on this leg of Life’s Journey. 

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

We are repeatedly directed to Trust in Scripture.  Psalm 37:3 instructs us, “Trust in the Lord.”  Isaiah 26:4 directs us to “Trust ye the Lord forever….”  Then in 1 Peter 6:17, we read, “Trust…in the Living God….” 

The immediate question for me is, “What is there in God that is specifically to be depended on or trusted so completely that we can roll our entire souls and eternal destiny upon?”  Let me offer the following thoughts hoping they will encourage your hearts.

• We are to Trust God’s Self-Existence, Independence, and Eternality.

He is!  He was and is before all things.  He is totally without dependence upon anything outside Himself.  He is eternally existent.  HE IS!  We must learn to trust that reality.

• We Can Confide in and Lean upon His Dependability and Infallibility.

We read in:

John 14:6 that He is Truth. 

Numbers 23:19 tells us that He is not a man that He should or could lie.

Romans 3:4, we find that God is truth and every man a liar in comparison. 

Therefore, if God declares it, it is true and trustworthy, forever settled in heaven.

• We Can and Must Depend on God’s Omnipotence.

God is without limit in power, and there is nothing He cannot do.  Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all the ages, world without end. Amen.”  Not only is God able He is active and involved in our lives.

• We Can and Must Trust with Great Hope in His Expressed Love and Availability.

There can be no better passage to anchor that than John 3:16. God is not only love by nature, but He consistently and continually expresses that love to us and makes that love unceasingly available to us.  Therefore, we are to Commit (galal) our way unto the Lord; Trust (batach) also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5).  We are to roll our way or lives and our cares upon Him, run to Him for refuge and He will bring it to pass.  He Is Trustworthy!

Trust forms a basis for Faith but is not faith in and of itself.  Trust is a basis of reliance, faith, and hope.  Faith is the assurance that God will do what He says and is who He says He is.  Trust is an inner confidence that patiently waits for God’s time and action.  In that sense, we need strength in Faith and Trust to move into that realm God has designed and desired for our lives.   

Trust is the confidence that God will do what is best because of Who He is, even without a specific word from Him.  Trust is a key ingredient for mature victory, producing faith.  God is not a man that He should lie; if He says it, He will bring it to pass.  Therefore, Trust Him in all things and at all times!

May the Lord richly bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Him!

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

Let us consider the matter of Trust and how it relates to Faith and our Christian walk.  I would like to briefly consider the “Five Separate Words” translated as Trust in Scripture.

• Galal (To Roll.) – – Psalm 22:8, “He trusted on the Lord.”

It speaks of Christ in the hours of His crucifixion, and David wrote, “He, Christ rolled Himself on the LORD.”  He Trusted or placed His full confidence in the Father.  This is the confidence of complete and total dependence.

• Chul (To Wait or Stay Upon) – – Job 35:14, “Therefore trust thou in Him.”

This confidence exhibits patience borne out of that confidence and trust.  Elihu said to Job, “Wait for Him.”  Trust, be patient, and Wait on the LORD—one of the most difficult tasks we are ever assigned in times of difficulty and uncertainty.

• Yachal (The Hebrew word for HOPE) – – Job 35:15, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him….”

Even in the face of death, Job refused to relinquish His confidence in God and affirmed that even if it meant death, He would die trusting God’s character, nature, power, and promises.

• Chasah (To Flee for Refuge) – – Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt though trust….”

God is our strong tower or refuge in the time of storm.  He is our shelter and our rock. If we cannot trust Him, what can we trust?

• Batach (To Confide in or Lean on) – – Used in multiple places and is the most commonly used word, Trust.

Therefore, Trust seems to be a rolling of our needs upon God, followed by a patient waiting for Him to act in His want and time.  It is Hope even when things seem hopeless, and it means to flee to God and His Promises for refuge when doubt and fear make a frontal assault on us.

David and Isaiah are both correct!  The difference is not in that they Trusted. It is WHEN they trusted or got around to trusting.  David trusted after fear had made a frontal assault and was gripping him.  Isaiah trusted before fear took control.  There is a difference, and it illustrates another powerful reason to study the Word of God, pray, and develop a deep relationship with the LORD.

Trust is somewhat inherent in our natures, for we are made in the Image and Likeness of God.  We could not live without some level of trust.  For example, we sit in chairs without thinking of them not holding us up.  We flip the light switch expecting lights to come on in our homes.  We turn on the ignition in our automobiles, trusting it to start and become our conveyance to where we wish to go.  Trust is a part of life.

Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 1:9 that we should not trust ourselves but God, and he instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded or trust in uncertain riches, but in the Living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 

Dwight L. Moody suggested the following:  Trust self and be doomed to disappointment.  Trust friends, and they will leave you.  Trust money, and you will have it taken away.  Trust reputation and some slanderous tongue will blast it.  Trust God, and you will never be confounded in time or eternity. 

There is more to communicate, so I will pause here and pick this up next time as we consider my final words on the matter and activity of Trust. 

God bless you richly as you embark on today’s wonderful journey into the realm of the unknown in life.

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

In these two passages, we have the words of David in Psalms and the words of Isaiah, and they reflect two different conditions and perspectives at a particular time in their lives.  Both passages address “fear” and “trust.” 

It is good that David could say, “In the time I am afraid, I will trust….”  But I would suggest that the perspective from which Isaiah spoke is superior when he says, “I will trust and not be afraid….”  I do not mean to diminish the faith or commitment of either of those men but seek to point out that there is the good and then the better in our faith relationship with God. 

Charles Spurgeon said, “All who get on board heaven’s train will arrive in heaven, but those who follow the mindset from which David spoke will ride ‘third class,’ while those who follow Isaiah will ride ‘first class.'”  Again, not to diminish the faith or commitment of either but to point out the difference in perspective.

Trust is not and will never be a product of ‘fear’; it is a preventative of ‘fear.’  I recall some years ago hearing an illustration that has benefited me numerous times in seasons of difficulty. 

There was a commercial airliner flying in a violent storm.  The passengers panicked, and even the flight attendants reached for the airbags.  The passengers were in a state of panic and terror.  Some were crying, some were cursing, and a few were praying.  Everyone was in a state of total disarray except one lady in 1st Class.  Someone noticed she was unmoved by the storm and asked WHY?  She calmly replied, “My husband is the pilot and is well qualified to get us to the airport safely.”  She Trusted!

Another story I have often related is one reportedly about Stonewall Jackson and his sister-in-law, who were crossing the river below Niagara Falls. In somewhat of a panic, his sister-in-law began to question the boatswain. Finally, Stonewall took her by the arm and said, “Unless you feel better qualified than the boatswain to ferry us across the river, sit down, be quiet, and TRUST HIM.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines TRUST – – Assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something and lists confidence and dependence as synonyms.  Isaiah said, “I will have assured reliance on the character, strength, and truth of the Almighty God and therefore will not be afraid.”  In the general usage of scripture, Faith is “Trusting in God’s Testimony.”  It is receiving all God has revealed and resting in that revelation.

Let me give you something to muse on.  Faith is not an Old Testament word.  It is used only twice in the Old Testament, but Trust is used over 140 times, yet Hebrews 11 credits many Old Testament characters with having faith and powerful faith.  The Old Testament does not speak of their faith but their trust.  Therefore, we understand that they were men and women who exhibited Complete Reliance on God, which affected their attitudes and actions.  That is a powerful revelation we all need to grasp, for it can be liberating.

Someone once told me, “God said it, so that makes it true.”  I said, “No, God said it because it is true.”  I am not trying to split hairs, but I believe there is a difference, and when we realize that what God says is true because it is true, we can Totally Trust what He says.  We must develop unrelenting confidence in the person, character, nature, power, and promises of God.  Trust is what we need to propel us to the realm of faith that moves mountains.

I want to address more on the matter of Trust but will pause here and pick up next time considering five separate words translated trust and hope to inspire confidence in each of our hearts.

God bless you richly as you venture forward into the unknown of this day!

Colossians 2:8-10 – “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  NKJV

Let us return to yesterday’s concluding question, “Is there an answer?”  God is the answer! However, the outworking of that is much more inclusive and expansive.  It is my observation and belief that many churches that could bring healing and resolution for many of today’s problems are not doing so. 

That is partially because they have allowed themselves to become overburdened with busyness or become so frustrated that they have essentially given up trying.  It is a sad indictment or realization that, too often, the entity that is supposed to be God’s Glorious Church has frequently turned the problem over to the world to deal with Symptoms when we are the only ones with a real Solution!

It is not the outside of the cup that is important but the inside.  It is not the exterior but the interior or the heart that is important.  But if we are asserting there is an answer, what is the problem?  

I believe there are several problems in the Church not taking the battle to the devil and breaking down the barriers, walls, and chains the forces of hell have placed upon lives, communities, homes, churches, and nations.   I have talked with pastor after pastor and church leader after church leader, and a consistent theme is “Lack of Vision.”  It is not that there is no vision, but there is no corporate or identified vision that people can rally around. 

Another issue is Fear.  In today’s politically correct world, with the threats and accusations being hurled at churches, believers, and ministers, too many are operating out of fear, and timidity has taken control.  There is fear of the PC world, but there is also hesitancy because of fear of failure causing many to be unwilling to venture beyond the known and safe.  The fear of rejection is a powerful tool used by the devil, and it can produce paralysis, which is tragic.

I have also discovered that with the availability of information and the power of technology, some have allowed it to replace anointing.  There was a time in the church when ministers dared not ascend to the pulpit without knowing they had heard from God, and when they spoke God’s word, the anointing opened the door for holy conviction. The demonstration of God’s power was present powerfully. 

I am also fully aware that there have been those who have misused the gifts God has given and become manipulative for their own purposes.  That is a problem with the heart, not the gift. 

I have also realized that we have relegated training to institutions rather than men of God making disciples and, as Moses of old, training people to function according to Ephesians 4.  We need to inform, but we also need to give a practical place for people to develop their gifts and callings in God.  Where better than in the protective shelter of the local congregation under the watchful eye of the leaders whom God has appointed, called, and released?

Our society appears to have fallen prey to the mentality of consumerism, and that is impacting the church negatively.  Through advertising and technology, people are conditioned to ‘shop around’ for the best deal or that which is most pleasing or interesting.  That has spilled over into how people find a local church to become planted in.

I do not know where I saw this questionnaire, but it has validity.  I believe it was a questionnaire that a pastor presented to his congregation, and I offer it to you for your consideration.  Pastor, if you choose to use it, feel free to do so.

Honestly Evaluate Your Fellowship or Church: [Rate each category 1-10, with 10 being the best possible and 1 being the worst.]

• Is it genuinely open to the Holy Spirit?
• Do the Bible teachings presented stress practical daily living?
• Is there a healthy emphasis placed on relationships?
• Is the church still rigidly encumbered with flattering titles, or is there an openness to informality?
• Does the church understand the family, its problems, and needs?
• Do the members share their faith through their words and deeds?
• Does the church recognize and value the ability of both men and women?
• Does the church place a high value and emphasis on Worship?  (Not just singing songs but worship).
• Is the church diverse or open to diversity without compromising its core principles?
• Is the church action-oriented more than program-oriented?

What is the score?  Here is the key given for them to evaluate the local congregation:

65 or Less – – Dramatic improvement needed.

66-80 – – – – – -Not too bad.

81-100 – – – – -People will miss the NFL pre-game show and arrive early to get a good seat.

Obviously, he placed a bit of humor, but the message is impossible to miss.  We can either become rigidly religious or pursue righteousness.  We can focus on symptoms and miss the disease or problem and direct our focus, efforts, and energy wrongly, or we can move beyond symptoms and address the root problems.

Many believers want to be invested and active in The Glorious Church Jesus declared He was building and is now building.  My prayer is, “LORD, I want to decrease so You can increase in my life, and I want to move from simply being religious to being a living, breathing manifestation of You!”

God bless you as you enjoy this day in our LORD!

Colossians 2:8-10 – “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  NKJV

Before I venture into this and explain what I am talking about, let me ask that you read:  Colossians 2:8-3:2 and Ephesians 4:11-16and then continue reading what I am going to write.  I ask that because I believe that those, and many other passages, are vital foundations upon which I hope to build my thought in the hopes of inspiring, encouraging, and helping some break free of what I can only call the “religiousness of religion or the religious” which is often nothing more than a rekindling of the mentality and philosophy of the Pharisees and Secularist. 

The fix I am speaking of is not drugs, albeit Karl Marx said, “religion is the opium of the people,” usually translated as “religion is the opiate of the masses.”  Sadly, for some who profess to be followers of Christ, Marx’s definition may be more accurate than we care to acknowledge.  While I understand what many are saying when they decry religion, I believe it is not religion but the ‘religiousness of the religious’ that is a more significant problem. 

Spiritually, our world is at war!  Tragically, that is often also a description of the condition of the flesh in the interactions of man to man and nation to nation.  In the church today, I am not sure that we always realize where the real battlefield is or what the real battle is. 

I have become convinced that we, too often, focus on symptoms and believe them to be the disease or the battle.  The only consistent result is frustration, disappointment, despair, disillusionment, and defeat.  That is not the Church Jesus described in the Gospels that He was building. We have problems in the world today, but making war on symptoms will not solve the problem. It will only frustrate our purposes.

Jesus declared in Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.”  That is truth and being fulfilled powerfully through technology, but let me ask a probing question.  “What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?”  

I am not trying to get into a lengthy debate over an issue that has divided much of the church today but to suggest that the Gospel of the Kingdom focuses on LIFE, not symptoms.  It is the Life of God that is to be lived in each of our hearts.  It is more than salvation and going to heaven when we die. It is about LIFE NOW!  The words of John in 1 John 4:17 ring in my mind as I write, “…because as He is, so are we in this world.”  AS HE IS, not was or will be, but IS, and that is IN THIS WORLD right now!

As I study the Book of Acts and the First Century Christians, I realize that what they had would be and is called radical today, but it was the norm of the Christian life, and that norm has not changed.  It could be called Traditional Christianity, and if that is true, what would you call what we have today or what most have today? 

They turned the world upside down with their religion or Christianity!  I argue that what we call Radical Christianity is actually Normal Christianity, and that kind of Christianity is always innovative and captures the hearts and minds of people.  It does not do so with entertainment but with truth, life, and power.

Inside and outside the realm of the Church or Christian circles, our world is ravaged by divorce, betrayal, child abuse, addiction, battering, and many inadequacies.  Many within our churches are ensnared by some destructive sin or thought process, beaten down by rejection, wounded like caged animals, and filled with despair. 

The problem is of epic proportions and demands the question, “Is there an answer?”  The immediate and obvious answer is, “Yes!”  The answer truly is in God, but there must be more to the pursuit of a remedy if we are to become the Church Triumphant that Jesus spoke of that the very gates or powers of hell would not be able to resist. 

I want to say more on this matter but will pause here and pick this up next time as we focus on the War, Warriors, and Warfare in which we can pull down strongholds and see the captive set free, the blind eyes opened, and true deliverance comes in lives spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and in every way.

God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey in Christ!

Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”  NKJV

A pressing question we should ask ourselves is, “Am I truly committed?”  Are we committed in our finances?  Are we committed in our attitudes?  Are we committed in our actions?  Are we willing to DO whatever Jesus asks us or commands us to do?  Are we willing to BE whatever God wants us to be?  Are we willing to GO wherever the Spirit of God directs us to go?  Is the LORD truly NUMBER ONE in our lives? 

I have long believed that we have had enough preaching about Who God is and an incredible amount of preaching about who we are in Him.  Knowledge is lacking if it is not applied, and knowledge of God and who we are in God is not complete without and until we come to a place of TOTAL COMMITMENT!  Grace is Free but not Cheap.  We are not called to membership in a church but to be committed disciples and members of the Body of Christ.

It is the expressed desire of God to come into our lives and enable us to live out His will in our lives daily.  I talked to a person some time ago who expressed a fear that God would ask Him to do something he could not do.  That is a tragic error in thinking, for the Bible is expressly clear that God is not asking us to DO what He would DO, but He offers to come into our hearts and live His life through us.  His grace ‘enables’ us to fulfill His purposes.  It is not us but Him. 

Remember Paul’s explanation in Philippians 2:13, “…for it is God who works in you both to will and do His good pleasure.”  Therefore, it is imperative that we totally commit ourselves to Him, not just believe in Him.  I would suggest that what we need to do is follow the prescription of Scripture and ask Him to fully possess and enable us not just to DO but to BE what He desires.  We must ask Him to come in and live His life through us.

When we make that commitment and receive the LORD as Savior and LORD, we will find Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory.  We will find peace and joy that the world cannot give, take away or explain.  I will not sugar-coat the issue but will openly tell you that if you make that commitment to God, you will find sorrow and suffering; trials and difficulties will be familiar companions in your life.  Jesus warned us that the world would hate us and we would have tribulations and trials.  Christianity is not the absence of problems, but it is having the heart and mind of Christ so that we can respond to problems as God responds.  Suffering is a reality in this world. 

I have learned the truth and reality that God sometimes gets angry, and when we commit ourselves to Him fully and totally, we will know His anger in a very real and personal way.  John tells us in 1 John 3:8 that one of the major purposes of Jesus was to “destroy the works of the devil.”  I get angry when I see the works and deception of the devil.

The Gospel is not simply that we go to heaven when we die.  The Gospel is much more than that.  The Gospel is about living a life where Jesus in the here and now comes into our hearts and begins the process of removing those things that are not harmonious with His word, will, and way.  What we need today is a Jesus invasion that will transform us into something quite other than what we have been in the past.  My prayer is, “Lord, shape my attitude, mold my will, and direct my life so that who I am and what I am is pleasing in your sight.”

God bless you as you go through this day in Christ!