If we choose to disobey God we are arrogantly taking the title "Lord" from Jesus and crowning ourselves as Lord of our life. Obedience is not optional. Either we will submit to His Lordship or we will be resistant and walk in pride, warning pride and arrogance are the prelude to our demise.
Proverbs 16:18, Daniel 4:27-33
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
"In His JOY"
Showing posts with label Submit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Submit. Show all posts
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
"Stop rockin' the boat, just leave"
Jonah 1-3
How do you handle direction? If God where to tell you to move to a different state, find a new job, or just some major change in your life how would you handle it? Would you consider where God is sending you, to whom He is sending, or maybe you would ask yourself "How does this benefit me?"
I look at Jonah, God give Him clear direction to go speak to a rebellious people but Jonah rejected that notion and went the opposite direction (Jonah 1:1-3). But God got His attention by giving Jonah the worst cruise experience ever and followed it up by making Jonah seafood (Jonah 7-17).
Jonah did relent and do what the Lord had directed him to do (Jonah 2). But it took God allowing that adversity in the life of Jonah for Jonah to change his mind and obediently follow God.
So I ask you are you following God? Has God provided you with clear direction and you have clearly gone the opposite way? Is God calling out of a corporate office and into international missions. Is God calling you out of the pulpit and into an office. Is God calling you to go a speak with your next door neighbor. Is God calling you to humble yourself and take a job that does not pay well. Or God may even be calling you to share Christ with your enemy. But I assure you God is calling you to do something but if you neglect to obedient to the call do not be shocked when He "rocks your boat", and much like Jonah, God does not "rock your boat" to take His anger out on you. No He is simply trying to get you headed in the right direction. He wants you to see the bigger picture. His callings for our lives have nothing to do with what we want, it has all to do with leading others to repentance that they may know Christ.
Jonah was to go Nineveh deliver God's Word, and their godly sorrow lead them to repent (Jonah 3:6-10). That is what God has called us to do. We are to reconcile others with God through Jesus and show them how live a Christian life (Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Now where He has chosen for us to do it is His Sovereign Choice, not ours. We have to get over being selfish and wanting things done our way. It's not about "you" or "me", it's all about Him and bringing salvation to those who need it wherever they are. Stay focused, you can do this.
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
"In His JOY!"
How do you handle direction? If God where to tell you to move to a different state, find a new job, or just some major change in your life how would you handle it? Would you consider where God is sending you, to whom He is sending, or maybe you would ask yourself "How does this benefit me?"
I look at Jonah, God give Him clear direction to go speak to a rebellious people but Jonah rejected that notion and went the opposite direction (Jonah 1:1-3). But God got His attention by giving Jonah the worst cruise experience ever and followed it up by making Jonah seafood (Jonah 7-17).
Jonah did relent and do what the Lord had directed him to do (Jonah 2). But it took God allowing that adversity in the life of Jonah for Jonah to change his mind and obediently follow God.
So I ask you are you following God? Has God provided you with clear direction and you have clearly gone the opposite way? Is God calling out of a corporate office and into international missions. Is God calling you out of the pulpit and into an office. Is God calling you to go a speak with your next door neighbor. Is God calling you to humble yourself and take a job that does not pay well. Or God may even be calling you to share Christ with your enemy. But I assure you God is calling you to do something but if you neglect to obedient to the call do not be shocked when He "rocks your boat", and much like Jonah, God does not "rock your boat" to take His anger out on you. No He is simply trying to get you headed in the right direction. He wants you to see the bigger picture. His callings for our lives have nothing to do with what we want, it has all to do with leading others to repentance that they may know Christ.
Jonah was to go Nineveh deliver God's Word, and their godly sorrow lead them to repent (Jonah 3:6-10). That is what God has called us to do. We are to reconcile others with God through Jesus and show them how live a Christian life (Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Now where He has chosen for us to do it is His Sovereign Choice, not ours. We have to get over being selfish and wanting things done our way. It's not about "you" or "me", it's all about Him and bringing salvation to those who need it wherever they are. Stay focused, you can do this.
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
"In His JOY!"
Saturday, February 9, 2013
"Are you King Herod?"
Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18
At the time of Jesus Birth, some wise from the east came to Jerusalem seeking to find Him. They desired to worship Him (whom they called King of the Jews) and inquired of King Herod (the king appointed by Rome) as to the whereabouts of the child ( Matthew 2:1-3). King Herod along with all of Jerusalem panicked at this news (Matthew 2:3). The king gathered his advisers around him and asked where the child was born, they told the king Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And even gave him the scriptural reference. They explained to the King that this child was to rule over the Jews and be Shepherd to God's People (Matthew 2:5-6). He then met with the wise men and told to go and find the child so he may worship him as well. Although his motives were to kill the child and stay ruler over Jerusalem (Matthew 2:16-18). The wise men however just wanted to worship Jesus and at the very sight of Him their hearts burst with JOY ( Matthew 2:9-12)!
When Herod found out that there was a new king and ruler of Jerusalem, he allowed his pride to get the better of him. He could not bow his knee to another king. He was unwilling to relinquish his power and authority to someone else. His pride blinded him to the truth. Jesus was not here to take his throne, influence, power, or authority. On the contrary Jesus here to give him eternal life and take away his sins (John 1:29, John 3:16). He concept of the purpose of Jesus was misunderstood and his advisers did a poor job of explain the purpose of Jesus. If he had accepted Jesus in his life, Herod would have come to know the same JOY! that wise men experienced when they worshiped Jesus. The awe and amazement of Jesus would have transformed his life and outlook. But pride brought all this to a stretching halt.
What about you? Are you refusing to accept Jesus because of your pride. Are you saying to yourself "Nobody rules me, I'm the boss of my life!" Funny how we will submit to people who pay us, people who have authority over us, or even people who we fear. But we won't submit to Jesus. All we are doing is recreating what Herod did and missing out on a "golden" opportunity. We must cast aside our pride and accept Jesus. It is a choice you will never regret. Stay focused, you can do this!
In His JOY!
At the time of Jesus Birth, some wise from the east came to Jerusalem seeking to find Him. They desired to worship Him (whom they called King of the Jews) and inquired of King Herod (the king appointed by Rome) as to the whereabouts of the child ( Matthew 2:1-3). King Herod along with all of Jerusalem panicked at this news (Matthew 2:3). The king gathered his advisers around him and asked where the child was born, they told the king Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And even gave him the scriptural reference. They explained to the King that this child was to rule over the Jews and be Shepherd to God's People (Matthew 2:5-6). He then met with the wise men and told to go and find the child so he may worship him as well. Although his motives were to kill the child and stay ruler over Jerusalem (Matthew 2:16-18). The wise men however just wanted to worship Jesus and at the very sight of Him their hearts burst with JOY ( Matthew 2:9-12)!
When Herod found out that there was a new king and ruler of Jerusalem, he allowed his pride to get the better of him. He could not bow his knee to another king. He was unwilling to relinquish his power and authority to someone else. His pride blinded him to the truth. Jesus was not here to take his throne, influence, power, or authority. On the contrary Jesus here to give him eternal life and take away his sins (John 1:29, John 3:16). He concept of the purpose of Jesus was misunderstood and his advisers did a poor job of explain the purpose of Jesus. If he had accepted Jesus in his life, Herod would have come to know the same JOY! that wise men experienced when they worshiped Jesus. The awe and amazement of Jesus would have transformed his life and outlook. But pride brought all this to a stretching halt.
What about you? Are you refusing to accept Jesus because of your pride. Are you saying to yourself "Nobody rules me, I'm the boss of my life!" Funny how we will submit to people who pay us, people who have authority over us, or even people who we fear. But we won't submit to Jesus. All we are doing is recreating what Herod did and missing out on a "golden" opportunity. We must cast aside our pride and accept Jesus. It is a choice you will never regret. Stay focused, you can do this!
In His JOY!
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