Can You Stand?

We are in a spiritually healthy place when our thoughts, words, and deeds are moved by faith in Jesus Christ.  In this day of relativism and theological revision, it is imperative Christians ground themselves in the Word of God to know truth from error.  Error is not always obvious and requires discernment through the Holy Spirit.  As someone who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God to be taken literally whenever possible, the scriptures form my theology.  Even though God and His Word have not changed, I have changed over the years.  My understanding has expanded as I have worked to put the scriptures into practice by faith.  After being justified by faith in Christ, the sanctification process has been embraced in varying degrees in my life.  This means change, a transforming work of being moulded more into the image of Jesus.  This means a change of heart, mind, and life for the better!

I cannot stress the importance of living our lives according to scripture.  Our theology must come from the Bible, not from worship songs.  There is a song that God has used to minister to my heart by Matt Maher called, "Lord I Need You."  It well illustrates the cry of my own heart, the recognision of my complete inability to do anything without God.  At the risk of sounding pedantic, there is one phrase in the song that has never set well with me.  It goes, "Teach my song to rise to you when temptation comes my way, and when I cannot stand I'll fall on you.  Jesus you're my hope and stay."  In Christ we find the strength and power to overcome all temptation, for He was tempted in every way yet remained without sin.  Sin becomes a temptation because of the wickedness in our own hearts (James 1:13-15).  The part where I take issue is with the phrase, "...and when I cannot stand I'll fall on you."  I have been thinking:  is this good theology?  I believe I understand what the artist is trying to convey, but I cannot see how it is biblical.

Because I am a flawed human being still in the process of sanctification, falling is more than a likelihood:  it is a certainty.  As I have heard a wise man say, we are all only one bad decision away from a fall.  In a physical sense, people skilled in balance and walking fall all the time:  a high heel failed, ice underfoot, because of advancing age, loss of balance from kicking something, or being pushed over!  We will fall.  I get that.  But the song implies there are times when we "cannot stand" when temptation comes.  In our flesh this is true.  However, the scriptures command us to stand with the assurance God has provided all the strength for us to stand no matter the circumstances.  It is written in Ephesians 6:10-15:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace..."  Christians are told we can stand in the evil day and withstand even the direct assault of Satan himself because it is in God's strength we stand.  Is anything too hard for God?  We are to put on the whole armour of God with our feet firmly fixed upon Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone.  From this spiritual vantage point, when we walk according to faith in Christ we cannot be moved.  We can always stand.

In one sense, God never commands us to do what we cannot do.  But here is a paradox:  not one thing God commands us can we do in our flesh.  We cannot love others, humble ourselves, or truly forgive from the heart in our unregenerate state.  We cannot stand when we have given place to sin or choose not to walk in faith.  But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  No man can stand on his own, but in Christ Christians can and will stand.  Perhaps the line would align better with the scriptures to say, "...And I'll stand because I trust in you.  Jesus you're my hope and stay."  I am so grateful for the truth of God's Word, and for the love God has revealed to all through it.  May we all stand strong in the LORD and in the power of His might!

I Need Revival - Do You?

I have heard many people speak of revival over the years, and often it sounds something like this:  "What we need is revival."  "Do you know how long it has been since there was a true revival in our nation?"  "Wouldn't you love to take part in a revival?"

As I have been thinking about "revival" in the last few days, there are a couple of misconceptions I feel important to clear up.  Revival starts with God's people, not with the world.  Revival carries with it the idea that something was once alive and has stopped breathing, or the heart has ceased to function, and revival is necessary to continue living.  When we see the deeds and hear the words of those who fear not God, revival is not what they need initially:  they need regeneration, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, to be born again!

For all the times I have heard people lamenting the lack of revival, not one time have I heard someone say, "I need revival."  This is the point:  revival does not start "out there" somewhere, but takes place in your own heart.  True revival starts with you.  Yes, you.  The wonderful thing is revival is not something to long for but never grasp, but a promise fulfilled when we meet God's conditions!  Isaiah 57:15 says, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  You want revival?  God has given you His word that you may have it.  The question is, do you really want it?  Are you willing to repent and humiliate yourself before God in complete surrender to Him?

Let's not pray for others to receive what we are unwilling to seek for ourselves.  God promises to revive any of His people who are humble and contrite before Him.  He is holy, and therefore we must confess our sin and repent in humility.  If we being evil give good gifts to our children, how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to all who ask Him?  When God revives you, He will cease to be contained within you and spill out in fountains of Living Water.  Jesus has offered abundant life, free from dry tributaries and stagnant ponds.  Humbly come to Jesus Christ in faith as you came to Him at the first, the One who shouted to all, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink!" (John 7:37-38)  The devil loves it when we wring our hands over our lack and neglect to receive ourselves what God has freely provided.  Aren't we called to walk by faith and not by sight?  Let's break up our own fallow ground and prepare our hearts because it is high time to seek the LORD!

To pine for the revival of nations and not to be revived ourselves is folly.  Revival of nations begins when God's people seek and receive the revival according to His promises.  I need revival.  Do you?  It's not a one-time thing.  Let us believe, humble ourselves before our God in repentance, and receive.

Whose Approval Do You Seek?

Our identity dictates whose approval we seek.  Growing up, I was raised in a home by both my parents.  Because I identified Mark and Darla as my parents and I was their son, when they gave me tasks to perform I needed to ensure the end results met their standards.  I might have thought the bathroom was clean enough, but their approval is what mattered.  If I cleaned a window for half an hour, time spent did not grant me their approval.  Should the glass remain smeared and streaked, it would not be acceptable.  I sought the approval of my parents so I could move on to something fun!

If our identity is in Christ, it is imperative we seek His approval and walk in the way that pleases Him.  History proves God's people often lose sight of their identity in Him.  It is often written of the children of Israel and certainly applies to God's people today, that they did what was right in their own eyes.  Though God brought them out of bondage in Egypt with a mighty hand, it was not long before they wandered from Him.  Jesus has purchased us with His precious blood, but the flesh has a way of forgetting we are not our own.  When we live seeking our own approval or the approval of others, we have lost sight of our identity and much more still.  Consider only some of the implications of living for the approval of anyone but Christ:

• We will fall far short of God's plan and purpose for His glory in our lives.
• We will not experience on earth all we could of Him, and remain devoid of His power.
• Our lives will be marked by dissatisfaction instead of contentment.
• We will be unable to be who God designed us to be.
• It will be impossible for us to accomplish the good works God created us to do.
• We will be hamstrung, paralysed by the opinions of others.
• Our reward in heaven will be significantly diminished and we will suffer loss.
• If you do not seek to do God's will, it may be you have not been born again or saved!

One aspect that marked the life of Christ on earth is He always did the will of the Father who sent Him.  He said in John 5:30, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."  As the only begotten of the Father, Jesus identified Himself as God's Son.  He did not seek the approval of men to gain their sympathy or to win their allegiance, but sought the approval of His Father.  Jesus said these sobering words in His teaching to those who followed Him in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  How important it is, therefore, that we would do the will of the Father in heaven, living for His approval alone!  Otherwise, we might disqualify ourselves from the abundant life on earth or in heaven God offers us.  It is by grace we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves.  No man can earn heaven through working for it, but it is God's love that compels us to work.

Whose approval do you seek?  Your life will provide the answer!

Rest for the Weary

"No rest for the weary," goes the cliche.  Now wait a moment, Mr. Cliche maker.  Clearly when coining your phrase you did not consider the words of Jesus when He said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  No amount of physical rest will eliminate weariness or the certainty of future aches and pains.  But rest for the soul!  Life has a way of sucking the "life" right out of us.  When our souls become weary of the drudgery of life, the emptiness of religious activity, the pain of rejection, fear of uncertainty, weighed down with guilt and shame due to our sin, Jesus bids us come to Him.  The life Jesus offers to all who receive Him is abundant for eternity.

The words of Jesus are ironic.  When we think about rest, we likely do not associate it with carrying a yoke.  The yoke Christ speaks of was a piece of wood customised to fit around the necks of oxen and attached to a plow.  It's a huge amount of work, pulling a plow back and forth across a field all day long.  That's why farmers employed oxen to do it!  Jesus does not offer us a sedentary life devoid of labour or responsibility, but He will provide rest for our souls.  He offers us peace that passes understanding on earth and eternal rest in heaven in the presence of the Father with exceeding joy.  God created man to do good works, not seek perpetual leisure.  It is only after we are yoked to Christ in relationship by grace through faith that we can taste and see how wonderful rest for our soul is.

Instead of seeking to secure our earthly future, the wise seek to invest in the eternal realm.  Once we are born again through the Gospel by the Holy Spirit, our aim is to enter into the good works God has prepared for us to do through His power.  Galatians 6:9-10 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Life is hard.  Even the bodies and minds of Christians grow weary.  The cure to our weariness is found when we tap into the strength supplied by the Holy Spirit, looking unto Jesus for direction and inspiration.  Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

When weariness hits, remember to consider Christ.  As a born again Christian, it is His yoke you have volunteered to bear.  He will be with you forever, for He has promised never to leave or forsake you.  The rest He gives is completely unlike the mirage of "rest" found in this world.  Be strong and courageous.  Has He not commanded you?  He will be faithful to do it!