Becoming God Sufficient
There is no confidence in the supernatural, and (modern Christians) never expect nor seek the supernatural God to intervene in human affairs. Nor do they believe He will punish their unfaithfulness (see Jeremiah 5:12). As a result of modernity, we have simply lost an understanding of who God is... we think that financial provision can come only through a job, healing can come only through medicine, peace comes only through the absolute absence of stress, joy and comfort derive from possessions and modern conveniences. By no longer expecting the supernatural to intervene in our lives, we find ourselves living day-to-day mostly independent of God until something goes wrong. When our cisterns have cracked, then we cry out to the Lord. Michael Craven, Uncompromised Faith
"If you abide in Me and I in you, ask whatever you wish
and it will be done for you.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit." John 15:7-8
An epidemic of faithlessness has settled on the church but the source is not trouble, suffering, trials or sickness unchecked. The source sounds like a contradiction but hear me out. The heritage of Godly generations who actually believed and obeyed released the blessings of Heaven on our country and culture. But these blessings, once squandered and misused, have become a sort of curse in our culture.
With unprecedented wealth, immoral entertainment, a weak and paltry social gospel and good old American independence we have developed a doctrine of being a Christian without actually believing the Bible. Instead, you can intellectually ascend to the Word without actually living it out in daily life. You can "believe the promises" without actually experiencing any. You can claim faith but never experience the very words of faith that you claim.
This biblical relativism has become a cancer in the church. When we say we "believe" without being compelled to live out the Scriptures because circumstances change, we become what the church in the 10/40 Window label "Christians but not Believers." This shifting sand never allows for real world faith and the Bible becomes another good old story book instead of the living and active Rehma of God.
The antidote is so scripturally simple it is either missed or ignored. The problem is simply not doing it. Here is where to begin:
- Read the Word to find out how to live life. Stop making excuses for sinful finances, sinful morality, sinful behavior, sinful dress, unforgiveness, or not serving your spouse and others. Confess and change. God's promise is that He will give you the power to become what you are not. (See John 16:23)
- Stop pointing the finger at others (I don't need to define who "others" might be) and using another person's behavior as an excuse for not changing. God has called YOU to change. He has called YOU to be transformed. He has destined YOU to be "conformed to His image." It is His calling and not someone else's behavior that proves the miracle of "God's Spirit in me" to the world. God's promise is that He will change you... not circumstances, others or His will. He will use difficulties to shape you in His workshop. Charles Spurgeon said, "I have learned more from the fire, the hammer and the file than from anything else in my Lord's workshop."
- Memorize 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and remind yourself often that the battle is not against people but against the unseen enemy who will continue to rob, kill and destroy everything good until he is cast into the Lake of Fire (see John 10:10 & Rev. 19:20). The person who is so offensive to you is not the real problem. The hellish force that works to rob the blessings of God from you is the real culprit.
- Get to know the real promises. If you were not in church this past Sunday, you missed one of the clearest revelations of God's Covenant promises you can ever hope for. Jim Darnell's message is available by clicking the following link "Our Covenant God". Listen and believe God's true promises, not the narcissistic promises of a false gospel.
The good news is that the history of God's people follows the pattern of self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency. Without a doubt, one of the proving grounds of grace has been the constant wooing and discipline of our God who is love to the core. The coming generations will no doubt look with either indifference, disdain, or humility on the cross of Christ and we, today's church, hold the sway. If we choose to ignore our calling as light and salt then Eternity's gate will not be as sweet.
But if we choose to live with Eternity always in view, then God can and will give a testimony to us that will carry the days and the generations until the Lord comes.
And never forget... Maranatha!