A sermon Who Am I?

Who am I?

Why am I here?

How do I know?

A sermon by Steven R Eubanks

Words have Meaning!

We very often use words which we do not understand or know the TRUE meaning. Here is the problem: Words mean specific things in a time and culture. Over many years the words and ideas and meanings change with different languages, cultures, nations, and times. In any study of any subject we must know what the words meant to a specific people in a specific culture, time, and place. Over many years of use a word may have several meanings each associated with a specific use in a specific culture.

Example of word meanings:

LORD

Rom 10:9  That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11  For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.

The early Church gave true loyalty to Jesus as LORD. We have little idea of what the word “LORD” means. In fact that is part of why the United States was founded as a nation in the first place. Our founders left no place for men to take or be given the status of Lord as ruler of all the people. All power is seen to come from God to the people and the authority to rule is in the will of the people. We truly have no “lords” in the United States. This leaves us with a difficulty understanding what LORD means.

When Paul wrote of LORD, the people would follow a very successful leader or general victorious in battle as their ruler and Lord. The soldiers knelt as subjects before their Lord, bowled their head in respect before their Lord, swore by their position or weapon of battle their LIFE to their Lord, YES, it still means that today. Calling Jesus Lord means I give Him everything, My Life, all I have, all I dream of being.

Lord includes absolute surrender, commitment, and a yielded life it can mean no less.

Three words that have been misused to the point of causing a lot of confusion.

BODY -  SPIRIT -  SOUL

Body is the vessel we live in. It is dust and when we die it will return to dust.

Spirit is the part of a human that makes us different from the other animals; we possess the Image of God in us to know and fellowship with God.

Soul is only the animal life in all animals, Life and the instinct to preserve that life.

For many years, all people that wish to deny of ignore the fact that human kind is made in the Image of God to know God and fellowship with God; these people have mixed up the word and idea of spirit and soul. The words are often used as synonyms for Life and Knowledge, for living and the ability to reason and learn. To use them this way is to fail to understand what is said or to deny God. All animals have a soul, animal life and the instinct to preserve it, only MAN has a Spirit in the Image of God.

It is only Humans that have a spirit and it is made up of three parts, Reason (the ability to think, learn and know), Feeling (emotions, love, joy, peace, hate, jealousy), and the ability and right to make a choice (the image of God in man is the ability with knowledge of result to make a choice.)

Sovereign

Religion has resulted in the invention of a new meaning for the word "sovereign," which basically means God controls everything. Nothing can happen but what He wills or allows. However, there is nothing in the actual definition that states that. The dictionary defines "sovereign" as, "1. Paramount; supreme. 2. Having supreme rank or power. 3. Independent: a sovereign state. 4. Excellent." None of these definitions means that God controls everything.

It is assumed that since God is paramount or supreme that nothing can happen without His approval. That is not what the Scriptures teach. In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter said, "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This clearly states that it is not the Lord's will for anyone to perish, but people are perishing. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at" (Matt. 7:13). Relatively few people are saved compared to the number that are lost. God's will for people concerning salvation is not being accomplished. The Sovereignty Of God By Andrew Wommack

Think about this the Self-existent infinite sovereign God made finite sovereign man with a Free Will to FELLOWSHIP. They had to have enough in common TO FELLOWSHIP! What we need in worship is to return to that fellowship!

The teaching on this subject; apart from “everyone” having their own description of  “The Image”,  the teaching has been very poor and fails to show how wonderful God is. The Self-existent infinite sovereign God made finite man with a sovereign free will and moral responsibility. But, more than just free will “The Image” includes the moral attributes of God, holy, wise, good, merciful, loving, and sovereign. Man was made to fellowship with God.

We use words as pictures as figures of speech all the time. That is what was done when it was said that the Church is a mile wide and an inch deep.

The Platte River is the illustration; this river is a very shallow bog that drains the lowland into the Missouri river. It is said to be a mile wide but an inch deep so as rivers go it is of limited value. Yes it drains the land but is far too shallow for navigation of any kind. Useful commerce on this river is not possible. This Mile wide and Inch deep has been used to describe both Politics and Academics. However, it is saddest when it is used to describe the modern Church.

 The Church seems to be ever widening as a social platform and to meet the wants of people. But, is even more shallow in the truth that really effects life. As people deal with the daily problems of life it is natural for them to ask “Is there More?” All of life depends on the answer to “Is there More?” Life has a place for a wide social base that includes everyone. But, TRURH demands a depth that has meaning. There is a natural craving in the hearts of people for a depth of truth; a Church that is an inch deep will not work. There must be more! All people ask the inescapable questions of life:

Who am I?

Why am I here?

How do I know the depth of truth?

We must learn from the depth of understanding we must be honest in where we look for truth. The natural world will just make up answers and call what they want truth. Simply put we need to know what the Bible says. We must pursue the truth with the right intentions. The teachers of the Law loved knowledge for knowledge sake, and frequently missed the point and certainly missed the person of Jesus Christ. Knowledge became their pursuit and it resulted in pride.

Learning but not LIVING leads to a shallow life every time. When we look to Bible and only teach the illustration, we will surely miss the point being made by the writer. When we look to the Bible and only repeat what has been said for 2000 years do we really go deeper in to TRUTH? We were made in the image of God to fellowship with GOD. A Christian relationship with God is Real, Beautiful, and all consuming.

Who am I?

Psa 8:3-5  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;   What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor.

This is not only a rhetorical question but it answers itself. The question explains the relation and fellowship of God and man.

Who am I? I am the highest Glory of God’s creation made in His image with all I need to truly relate to and fellowship with GOD. Do not let others tell you otherwise.

Unfortunately we have a problem in the Church with vulnerability which is closely tied to fear of Being Judged by others. Thus many of us remain guarded and struggle to develop deeper relations in a community that will allow us to speak out ask questions and learn together. If we are to truly know what it means to be the Highest of God’s creation and to know why I am here, that is to fellowship with God, we must also understand; just as Adam and Eve were tested in the Garden to see if they would obey God or not.  People are created in the image of God with the ability and right to make decisions on their own. The TEST is will I decide to obey God? Temptation to do evil is a different subject based on ones theology, If you believe and teach that people are able to "DO IT YOURSELF" then any “choice” to do what God said DO NOT do is a temptation to evil. But, Think for a moment, God made people for fellowship with Him and gave them the right and ability to make choices to fellowship with Him to Love Him to Obey Him. OR NOT!!  I will offer and I believe “It is a Choice God made us able to make.” of myself, but a free choice to “with knowledge of result,” Choose to Love, obey and fellowship with GOD. OR to choose to live life our own way. IT IS A CHOICE.

If you understand the choice, a free choice God gave us the Ability to make with the Knowledge of result and the Right to make ourselves, you can see it is not my way only but a clear choice to do as I please, Live for God or Self.

 Depravity is REAL and it is a choice to say no to God.

The test is always Will I obey God or do what He said not to do. Think about it there is no evil in eating fruit from that tree EXCEPT God said do not do it. Except it was to disobey God, He said not too.

Again we teach the illustration and miss the point.

Jas 1:13  μηδεὶς.. πειραζόμενος λεγέτω ὅτι………. Ἀπὸ θεοῦ…πειράζομαι·

………..No one    Being tested      let say because..    From God     I am tested...

 ὁ γὰρ θεὸς         ἀπείραστός   ἐστιν κακῶν, πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς    οὐδένα.

…for  God  is not Tempted.  .by    evils….....test     of Himself no one.

Please note the words for tested πειράζομαι·  and tempted ἀπείραστός are not the same.

There is a lot in these verses on testing that we miss if we teach the illustration or a theology with which we start.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endures test: for when he is tested, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.

The point here is that there are many times in our life just intermixing with people and life when we come to a point that we must make a choice. We must use a God given ability and right to make a choice to OBEY GOD. God did not tempt or try to trick us, it is just a choice of how will I live. Life and living requires us to choose God or the world. It really is just that simple. It is not total depravity it is a free choice to do right, but, all too often people choose to do what they want.

There are testing’ in life caused by just living and interacting with other people. We are faced with a choice Do I obey God and live a right and holy life or do I do as the world allows and follow others in what is popular.

Do not say God TEMPTED me God is not tempted to evil and God does not tempt or test us just to see what we may do. We have a free image of God choice as we live life to choose God or the world, IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY!

Who am I? I am the highest of God’s Creatures made to have dominion over all the created order and to serve and fellowship with and yes, worship the one true GOD. God made us with the ability and the authority to choose to obey Him OR NOT. Moreover, this is where the real depth of the Spirit comes in. The Spirit urges us, leads us, and comforts us in many different ways. At times the spirit may move boldly and quickly and at others He may whisper only when we are still and quiet. It is possible to be committed to Bible study, live in a Bible community and yet, be completely void of any Spiritual vitality or Depth. Are you running the race of Life and feeling a little malnourished. The answer is to “check your in box.”  In silence, Reverent, Peaceful Quiet read your Bible and Pray. Then quietly wait for God to speak to you through the Spirit. YES, the Spirit speaks, IF you listen. It may possibly be in a sermon, or a word from a friend. It may be a verse we prayerfully read. Then HE may just speak to you, that is thrilling beyond description, but to hear we must be quiet and listen.

So far we have seen:   The modern social church tries to be wide enough to be everywhere except Deep into God’s fellowship, obedience, understanding and The Word. People were made with a Choice to obey and fellowship with God or not we need to by design be deep in the relationship and fellowship with God. From this relation with God comes deeper understanding of ourselves, Who am I becomes clear. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. The only understanding of scriptures and relation to God comes in and by the Guiding Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, we must at times be still and quiet and let the Spirit teach and guide us.

II.  So what is the problem with the Church that makes it so shallow. How can we deal with such a problem? 

Is it possible that we will never know or understand “Perfect” if we are always to focus on EVIL. I have come to think, if we are to be Holy, complete to the end, lacking in nothing, Perfect,  We must focus on knowing God, seeing His majesty, longing to fellowship with the Father, not seeing evil in everything. Paul said in Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Holy and Perfect is not about seeing and knowing sin or what is sin, what it is in every form. Holy and Perfect IS totally committed to Fellowship and service for obeying God.

This is a good example of teaching the illustration and totally missing the point. The error the wrong we do is to disobey God. The evil and sin we may list as a result of that is the symptom, the effect or result of Disobeying God. Sin is the result not the reason!

In order to understand a problem such as this we must start at the foundation of the idea. Over the years many people have added their thoughts and culture and often error to what is to be called “Religion”. But religion is Man reaching up to a higher power to explain what nature and logic do not understand. AND, if the god they call on is “The All” a god so eminence that people cannot know him, THEY HAVE THE WRONG GOD.

True Holiness is in the Spirit, it is God revealing Himself to mankind in love and mercy.

There is now and always has been two ways a person may choose to go.

God created the world and space, and time, and MAN because He Wanted too. He was making a creature for FELLOWSHIP. A creature that could and by a free choice would, choose to love and fellowship With Him. Because Adam and Eve had a right and the ability to choose, Satan stepped in to deceive them and try to get the obedience and fellowship for himself. Satan tried to be as God but failed. But, he did not give up. He is still trying to be as God, to be the object of worship. Yes, Satan is alive and real and still going about the earth to deceive and accuse people.

PLEASE CAREFULLY PAY ATTENTION HERE!  To focus so much on evil is to fall for Satan’s deceit. To focus so much on evil is to think about and focus on the opposite of GOD. We must not allow Satan’s lie to keep us from the truth. Satan says you are so evil you cannot know God and be good or perfect. But that is Satan’s LIE.

If you have thought that the way people in our time think is new or different, you are wrong. The problem has always been people thinking moral right is “What I want right Now”, and moral wrong is “Anything that keeps me from what I Want”. People try to live as close to the world as they can get. How close to the world can I stand and still be called a Christian. When all of your focus is on how close to the world can I live, you are concentrating on the world. You are concentrating on what is evil and how close to evil can I live. It is hard to see truth, it is hard to see Jesus. There is another way, a better way. When I was growing up we sang a hymn.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s a light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

In the study of psychology and counseling there is an idea that goes way back in time. “You are what you think”   When I was in school one of my teachers had a plaque on the wall that said,

“Think what you want to be and you will soon be what you think!”

There is a long list of Bible verses that teach this idea “You are what you think”. My favorite is:

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Think on these things - Let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them, so as to become them. Think what they are; think on the obligation to observe them; think on the influence which they would have on the world around you.

When the good master went away and left the servant in charge he was given great power and responsibility and he was told.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

This statement of Jesus has become somewhat of an idiom in Western culture and is found, paraphrased, in Uncle Ben’s words of wisdom to Peter Parker in Spider-man:

                       “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The idea of “to whom much is given, much will be required” is that we are held responsible for what we have. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and benefit others.

The Good Master has gone away, the suffering servant that came as a man will return in Power beyond what we understand, The question is will HE find us watching for HIM?    Will we be ready? 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,

When He comes what will we have done with what he has given us?

This list is a little different from the ones we often see,

But He has given us SO MUCH!

1.   Grace, Jesus work on earth and the BLOOD of Calvary.

Eph 2:8 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

2.   Holy Spirit indwelling believers.

We have in Christ the indwelling Power of the Living God.

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Romans 8:9

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

2 Corinthians 6:16   Ezekiel 36:27   2 Timothy 1:14   Acts 6:5   Ephesians 5:18   Romans 8:11   John 16:13  1 John 2:27 John 14:17

3.  We are Priest of the Most High GOD.

A royal priest hood to make sacrifices and offerings to HIM.

1Pe 2:9 

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

4.  We are New Creatures.

Old things and sins passed away and remembered no more, all things are made new in Christ.

2Co_5:17 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.

Psa 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

There are several passages in the Bible that indicate that God forgives and forgets our sin. Isaiah 43:25 says, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. ”Hebrews 10 explains how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for sin was a once-and-for-all sacrifice. Unlike the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, in which sacrifices were continually made for sin, Jesus paid for sin once. His payment was complete. Hebrews 10:14–18says, “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

5.   Adopted into the family of God.

Romans 8:15

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!

Galatians 4:6  Rom_8:23  Rom_9:4  Gal_4:5  Eph_1:5

6.  WE are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus.

Rom 8:17  and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

7.  We are the temple of God Indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

1Co_3:17  If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

1Co_6:19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

How much was given? What is our responsibility?

Peace, Joy, faith, hope, adoption of sons, Temple of God, Indwelling Holy Spirit, Priest of the Most High God, Gifts – we have the Power of the Living God (what ever we need to do what He calls on us to do we have from His Spirit in us)!

What have we done with what God gave us?

Php 3:10 - 15  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;  11 if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. 12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13  My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, 14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15  Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect,{justified Innocent } be of this mind.

We so often teach the illustration we miss the point!  The “servant” was to meet the needs of his fellows. The illustration is of food, but that is spiritual needs as well as physical. The evil servant says “My master is taking his time in coming, and shall begin to beat up the men and the women servants and to eat and drink and get drunk“ this is more than just food but well-being.

We to whom Much Is Given must also live our lives so others can see Jesus in us. It has always been the office of a Priest to teach, guide and minister to the people. We are to be the example both in this life and in “Watching for That Glorious Returning”.

Heb 5:10 Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

A priest by birth, a priest sanctified to God, a priest from the people, and a priest as the spiritual teacher for all, this is the King and priest by birth order of Melchisedec. Why was this Old Testament man selected? Maybe it is because he was both priest by birth and a king.

The point of this discussion, and the many things to say, and hard to be uttered is this priest hood. The fact that Christ is our high priest is not hard to follow, God said it. What that means to us in daily life seems not to have been widely seen. Christ is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, that is by birth. When we look beyond our self and see the wondrous Grace of God, and with the simplest Faith reach out to Him, the one who paid sins price with His own Blood, on that old rugged Cross, we are born into the family of God.

It is a birthright with eternal life and eternal responsibility!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Rev 1:6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The spirit of adoption making us the children of God and joint-heirs of Christ is the new priesthood. It is the adoption into the family of God. There is much that has not been included in what it means to be a Christian in the teachings of the church. Part may have been because it was hard to say and we are weak of understanding. But, in the history of the church, a good part of the problem is telling the Christian story in a way to help those in leadership positions control the masses of people.

How do you tell someone you are a child of the king, heir to rule with Christ, a member of the heavenly family, you are a Priest under the High Priest Jesus Christ. You may go directly to the Fathers side with your petitions.

Then tell them I am in charge and will tell you what you need to know and do for the church. I will tell you what the scripture says and all you must do to be saved. 

The failure to teach the truth about the Priesthood of the Christian is a choice of the leaders in the church to control people and the same grasp for power that lead to both the Reformation and the Enlightenment.

First, the priest hood was by first-born birth, responsible for leading the people to God.

Second, is a tribe of Israel chosen by God to replace the birthright.

The third, is the High Priesthood of Jesus and our adoption into the family of God.

1 Peter 2:4-5

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Revelation 1:5-6)

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10

10 And have made us kings and priests to our God, And we shall reign on the earth."

Revelation 20:5-6

5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

We are adopted heirs to the wonders of God. These verses say Jesus made us kings and priest unto God. We need no one to take our cause to God. We have the adoption of sons, the status of His family, and may go to God on His promise and blood.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing…

This new birthright and our place in it along with our relation to Jesus Christ our High Priest is the heart of “many things to say” and of which we cannot allow ourselves to be “dull of hearing”. Much of the problem in our present time comes from the church not teaching the true position and responsibilities of the Christian.

We have a responsibility to go tell others the wonders of God’s grace. If there are suffering and hard work, the toil is nothing compared to the love of God, and even this suffering has a promise.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

We have a responsibility, Every Christian has a responsibility, to support the Church and learn the truth from the word of God and to share this truth with others. We must learn what we can of what the world is saying and the errors that confront the Church. How else can we ever seek to teach the truth and correct errors if we do not know what they are?

The birthright with Christ carries with it a great responsibility.

How Shall they hear if the Priest of this age of grace fails to carry the message?

Our position in the family of God carries with it a Great responsibility, we are the Priest of Grace the messenger to tell the world about Jesus. The next verses are not so often read but they tell us of that responsibility.  

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a messenger? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?     Romans 10:14-15

Christ said “You must be Born again,” and as such we are new creatures in Christ.

We have a birthright responsibility to tell others the wonderful story of the Gospel. We are the Priest of this age, the Priest of Grace, to tell the world about JESUS is our Responsibility. If they do not hear they will not be saved, and that is an eternal loss. WE are to live a new life dedicated to God to spread the Gospel.

We have failed to stand, to be heard, and to teach the truth. We have allowed the liberal humanist to establish the standards of debate, and once in power, they are hard to move.

Have we chosen to follow the easy path in our busy lives?

Have we let others claim the authority to say, “Live any way you want to”?

Could we stand with the martyrs and face the wild animals or torture for Christ as our Lord?

Who can face death with Polycarp and say, “Eighty and six years He never failed me I will not deny Him now”?

When the need is great who will stand in the gap?

The church today has lost her way and can’t seem to stand where the stand matters.

Yet we are responsible as heirs to heaven, Priest of Grace, We must take a stand.

 What Do I Owe Jesus?  

We often speak of Tithes of 10%, and a gift to meet special needs. We may even get to Church AND Sunday school, or Prayer meeting and Bible study, some even go to evangelistic outreach. Look at all we do for Him.

What Do I Owe Jesus?   The wealth of the universe “That Debt” could not repay!

He in love stepped from eternity and across time and was born a man. Totally GOD ( the second person of the Trinity, existing for all eternity,  Became, Totally a man just as we are. The man had a beginning with birth, died on the cross and was rewarded and seated with God in heaven.)

He lived as a man, learned a trade, taught us to know Him, and paid a debt we could not pay.

He is, He must be, my all, my all in all, life and Lord, Master and FRIEND. Lord and Master, yet wants to commune with us and be a true friend. We owe Him ALL. 

The Question is not “What Do I Owe HIM?”  

The question should be:

 In that deepest private personal place of thought and hope,

"What would I withhold from Him”?

This view of a Christian is beautiful, breath taking, exciting, there is victory in knowing Jesus.

How do you make this work and not seem proud?

How do you access the power of God?

By choice I give my all to Jesus, a bondslave to serve Him. Life is not about me and what I want. I give my wealth, life, position, and Faith to the savior, He is my all in all I only live to serve Him The more I yield to Him the more His Power can flow through me.

Who am I?        A bondslave of Christ Jesus!   δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

The twenty-first century Christian needs some first century Living Reality of Christian Life. Mr. Wesley was accused of ”experiential theology”, the educated of the day made fun of him basing any part of his “theology” on having lived it. Yet the only way to know it is to live in Christ.  The problem in the Church today is “we are so busy we fail to stop to worship, pray, or just be still and let Him speak to us.”   To know Him is to understand His word. To know Him is to hear Him speak. If you have studied scripture long I am sure you have read a familiar passage only to have some new truth pour over your soul and thrill you with God’s meaning. This is God speaking to you through scripture. But, we have to listen, be quiet and listen.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, all the more will be demanded.