Taste and See

Powers of the World to Come

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalm 34:8

The following sermon from Pastor Zac Poonen talks about the importance of not settling in a religious comfort zone, but fulfilling our own personal destiny in Christ as a member of His Body.

• The Holy Spirit is a down payment on our future redemption
• Through the Holy Spirit, we can get a taste now of our full inheritance which we will receive later.
• The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to allow believers to taste the word of God and taste the powers of the world to come.
• There is a difference between looking at a picture of a great meal and actually tasting it. Do you really want to taste the powers of God or are you satisfied just looking at a picture of it?
• God has a personal plan for each individual's life
• If you don't search for God in all your heart, then you will not find Him.
• The Church will go through the great tribulation in the end times. It is so clear in Scripture, that one must be deliberately blind not to see it.
• Yet even persecution cannot hinder the building of the church, for the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it.
• If God can find you as a person who believes, then He will build His church through you.

Tennessee Women's Retreat

The Omega Church & Ministries Center is planning a Women's Retreat in the Smokey Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Purpose:

A time of fellowship and dedication to draw closer to the Lord as women come together in a spirit of Prayer, Praise & Worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

These are perilous times in which we live and we all benefit from taking time out to spend with the One whom keeps us daily.  He is our only hope and we need Him desperately.

If you're willing to meet Him, He's willing to make a way for you to come and meet Him.  What do you have to lose?  You have everything to gain --- Eternal Life.

Teens are also welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Logistics:

DATE:  Thursday, April 14th - Sunday, April 17th 2011
PLACE:  Timber Lodge, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
COST:   $175.00 per person for 4 days (meals and lodging included once in Gatlinburg)

Registration Info:

Please click here for registration details.  In this document, you will also find email addresses and phone numbers to request additional information.

Payments for the retreat may be made via donations to the Omega Ministries & Church Center by clicking here.  Simply note in your donation that the funds are to cover fees for women's retreat.

Grant Me Justice Against Mine Adversaries

Our God IS a Just God

"ALSO Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought ALWAYS to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).  He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man.  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary.  

And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or consideration for man, Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me.

Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says!  And will not our just God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?  I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find persistence in faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8

An atheist once contacted me saying that my God wasn't real because he had prayed long and hard to get to know God, but nothing ever happened.  Since no "God" ever answered him, he figured there was no "God".

I told him, the Scriptures indicate that those who seek God in sincerity will find Him (Psalm 34:18, 107:9, 145:18-19; Matthew 5:6; John 6:27; James 4:8).  He responded that he had sought Him.  I pointed out that this promise is not made to people who "have sought" (meaning they have since given up seeking), but to those who "seek" (continue doing so).

The man responded, "I have already done that and I am not going to waste anymore time waiting on your God to decide to talk to me."

I said, "That is fine, for such is certainly your choice.  However, while you are completely free to stop seeking, don't make this appear to be a deficiency on the part of the Lord.  You have chosen to disqualify your own self from the promise.  Finding such a pursuit futile may be your reason for not seeking, but that doesn't change the fact that the promise is still only given to those who seek. Every day you live is an opportunity for you to change your mind. Do with it what you will."

At the end of this conversation, I marveled at the sheer wisdom and brilliance of our Lord.  I used to wonder why we have to continue to seek, continue to pray, continue to ask, continue to knock...  I mean, why can't God just answer us after the first time we ask?

Yet, God sets up the Gospel in such a way so as it will not be the least bit attractive to the flesh.  He chooses that which seems like foolishness to the world as the vehicle for His salvation (I Corinthians 1:18-25, 2:14). He requires that drawing nigh to Him necessitates a denying of the flesh. 

So those who do not want to deny the flesh will be repelled by His message, while those of a broken spirit & contrite heart will be delivered by the same message.  The things which frustrate the flesh are the very things God uses to deliver us from it.

Consider the Scriptures from Luke 18:1-8 referenced above.  Jesus gives this parable as an example of how we should pray.  This woman sought assistance from an "unjust" judge.  She desired justice against her adversaries, and she was not going to give up until she had it.

How much more should we feel emboldened to approach the Lord our God with our petitions; knowing that - unlike this judge - He is just!  How much more will our loving Father move to answer us when we call upon Him?

Sometimes, it can feel like our prayers to God are falling on deaf ears.  Yet when we draw back from God in frustration, it is not God who has failed, but we who have.  Do we have faith enough to continue believing? Continue seeking? Continue knocking? Continue asking?  Even at the expense of our own fleshly impatience and fears?  Or like the atheist, will we decide that we have trusted enough, have asked enough times, have sought long enough?  Will Jesus find true faith in us upon His return?

In another similar parable, Jesus says the following:

"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. " Luke 11:5-10

importunity: persistence in solicitation; to harass with persistent requests; to demand of someone insistently; to beg for persistently; request with insistence.

Here we see a request being made of a friend, not of an unjust stranger.  Yet, it was not the friendly relations which moved the man to provide for the need; it was the man's persistent asking. 

Those who really desire truth don't wait for others to bring it to them.  People who genuinely desire precious things don't just sit on the couch and challenge others to present it; they go seek for it.  Those who are in need of the bread of life don't just give up because the hunger within drives them to continue searching until it is satiated.

"Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee." Proverbs 7:15

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" Luke 15:8

Are we sincere before God?  Do we really desire to see the goodness of the Lord?  Do we desire Him with our whole hearts?  If so, then we will not give up until we receive it, and nothing will deter us.

"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD." Proverbs 8:34-35

There is also another important reason why we may feel like there is a delay in our prayers being answered: Satan and his unholy armies war against us receiving the answers to our prayers.

When Daniel was praying and seeking God in a matter, we are told that God dispatched the answer that same day (Daniel 10:12).  The angel told Daniel, "I am come for thy words."

What is it which empowered the angel to come to Daniel with an answer, fighting through the evil forces which stood in his way?  It was Daniel's words, his continuous prayers, his unfailing petitions to God; for over 21 days.  David was not even aware that there was a war in the Heavenlies due to his request, but he stayed before the Lord, seeking His face until He had gotten the answer.

Some may say, "Well, that is the Old Testament and that doesn't apply now."  Yet Scripture says that it does.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

We - the Christian, the believer, the disciple of Christ - wrestle still against powers of darkness.  Yet, we are promised to be able to stand when we put on God's whole armor.  We are guaranteed to have the victory!

The widow in Luke Chapter 18 prayed, "Grant me justice against mine adversaries."  Yet our adversaries are more than just the rulers of darkness and demonic powers.  It is primarily the weaknesses of the carnal nature in us which give place to these forces in our lives.

The flesh lusts against the Spirit; the two are contrary one to the other.  The biggest obstacle we face in serving God is our own flesh.  If we pursue the things of God only to the extent that we "feel like it", then we will always come up far short.  We must war against that in ourselves which seeks to direct us in ways contrary to God's ways. 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." II Corinthians 10:3-6

The greatest weapon we have against the enemy is our sanctification unto Christ Jesus.  Jesus said, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." (John 14:30)  When we are possessing our souls in sanctification and honor, then the light of Christ will fill us and we will walk in His power (Luke 21:19; Romans 6:19; II Timothy 2:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:4).  It is then that we are fit for every good work.  Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 30:41

Waiting upon the Lord causes those who do not truly desire Him to give up and turn away.  However, it also renews the strength of those whose hope is in Him.

Waiting gives us strength and hope for the journey...even while still seeking the provision we so desperately need from Him.  It tests our faith and lets us see whether we have enough as a mustard seed...or if it is smaller even than that (Matthew 17:20; Proverbs 24:10).  It gives us a chance to examine and prove ourselves to see if we be in the faith so that we can know for sure that Jesus will find such faith in us (Luke 18:8; II Corinthians 13:5).

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14

Wait upon the Lord and He will grant you justice against your adversaries.

You Are What You Eat

We Become What We Observe

As I was reading a devotion from Min. David Wilkerson today, it reminded me of something God had shown me before.  Min. Wilkerson wrote the following:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the  Lord."
(2 Corinthians 3:18).

We become what we observe! The focus of our  attention spreads its influence all through our lives.

What we behold with our spiritual eyes obsesses us — it takes over!  Paul chose to be obsessed with Christ; the Savior became the sole object of his thinking, his preaching, his doctrine.

This is a great spiritual truth which I am not sure many Christians appreciate.

"Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." Psalm 40:6-8

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." Hebrews 10:5-7

These two texts are about Jesus Christ.  In them, the phrase "My ears you have opened." in one verse is transposed with "a body hast thou prepared for me."  These verses confirm what Min. Wilkerson shared above, namely that we become what we observe.

The one to whom you have your ears attuned to hear is the one whose spirit your body is prepared to receive.  The one for whom your ears are "opened" is the one whose "will" your body is being prepared to obey.  You are being conformed into the image of that upon which you meditate.

There is a children's song echoing this truth which goes something like, "Be careful little ears what you hear.  Be careful little eyes what you see."   Yet, this is not just a message for children.  What are we putting before us each day?  What are we listening to? Watching? What are we feeding our souls?  This tells us what we are being changed into.

If we are focused on the world (and the things in the world), then we will be conformed into the image of the world.  If our eye be single on Jesus Christ, then we will be transformed into the very image of the living Son of God.

Is there some sin which easily besets you?  Some vice from which you struggle to be free?  Some temptation you find it hard to overcome?  Find comfort in the inspired words of Scripture:

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." Psalm 119:9-16

How can we cleanse our ways?  By staying in God's word and taking heed to it.  Remember, we cannot change ourselves, but the power of God can!  We need the washing of the water of the word continually.  God has promised to cleanse us from wicked desires and replace them with His own desires so that we will begin to long for that which is pleasing to Him...and He will perform it as we submit to Him! (Psalm 37:4)

We are being changed from glory to glory as we behold the face of God in the mirror of His word.  Don't be discouraged and don't give up.  It is the voice of the Accuser which brings condemnation (Romans 8:1; Revelation 12:10).  Also, don't try to accomplish this walk in the power of your own fleshly efforts.  Look to Christ and let Him complete the perfect work He has begun in you.  As my pastor has often said, "Do the mechanics."  Study, fast, pray, and meditate on Him.  He is more than faithful to do the rest.

The Dogs, The Evil Workers, The Concision

ALL Flesh is Grass

"BEWARE of dogs, BEWARE of evil workers, BEWARE of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Philippians 3:2-11

In the text above, Paul identifies "dogs", "evil workers", and those of the "concision" of whom the Body of Christ needs to be aware.  Paul doesn't use flowery terms to describe these individuals, nor is he mincing words.  His language indicates that he finds such persons to be a real threat to God's people in terms of their spiritual development and to their ultimately "winning Christ".  Yet, we find those of the concision on virtually every street corner in every city in the nation.

concision: a cutting up or off; mutilation.

circumcision: The surgical removal of part or all of the foreskin.

"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." Deuteronomy 10:16

Instead of cutting around the heart to remove that which defiles, the concision mutilates you, cutting you off from the very life of God.

Contrasted against these evil workers are those who - like Paul - are of the circumcision.  The Scripture tells us one major difference between these two groups of professing believers:

Those of the concision have their trust in the things of the flesh.  Their salvation is the product of who they are and what religious works they perform.  Contrarily, those of the circumcision have their trust in the Spirit of God.  Their salvation is the product of Jesus Christ alone.

What does it mean to glory in the flesh?  Paul names a couple of examples people boast in, falsely believing that such makes them more spiritual before God: 1) Their earthly heritage, position, & education or 2) Their keeping of the law.

Even today, there are groups battling over claims of being true "Hebrew Israelites" as if this is some token of authenticity of their faith.  Likewise, many in the churchworld believe they are more 'spiritual' based on being connected to the supposed 'men of God' in the church or having deep knowledge of religion and the original languages of Scripture.  They put confidence in being part of 'ABC' or '123' ministry, where Paul says in another text, "Is such not carnal?" (I Corinthians 3:4)

Another predominant way by which the concision attempts to cut off believers - according to Paul - is the law.  Paul says that such boast about being a keeper of the law and even argue about who is more blameless in doing so.  They trust in their own abilities to be righteous and struggle most of their lives to accomplish by the flesh what can only be performed by the Spirit of God.

Both of these things (trusting in one's earthly position or one's efforts to keep the law) are labeled by Paul as trusting in the flesh!  They are both ways by which dogs, evil workers, and those of the concision seek to ensnare those in the Body of Christ.  Yet Paul says all of such is dung.

Why?  Because anything which has its foundation in human qualities or human performance is of the flesh.  Man cannot procure his own salvation and neither can he add anything to it.  In fact, the minute he tries to add something to it, it brings a stench in the nostrils of Almighty God.  ALL of our righteousness, all of our good works - even lawful works, is like filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6).

This is why the primary character trait that comes through in such persons is pride.  They are puffed up because their confidence about God is based entirely in themselves and in their works.  They have attained to their "own righteousness" rather than submitting to the righteousness of God.  As long as we believe that we bring anything to the table, then we will never be able to be led by God's Spirit.  Instead of generating life in others to draw them to the Lord, we will draw people only to ourselves and our personalities as we cut them off from Him.

How do we identify those of the concision?  What exactly is it that they do and why are their ways so deadly?  Better yet, how do you get free and stay free in the liberty in which Christ has called you to walk?  Listen to the following message from Pastor Gary Price as he teaches on, "Beware of the Concision".

Seeking After Righteousness

Self-righteousness, The Righteousness of the Law, or The Righteousness of Christ

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness..." Matthew 6:33a

There are all types of righteousness to which we can aspire, but there is only one kind that God desires in His children: the righteousness of Christ.

Do you want to live according to what is right in your own eyes or in the eyes of other people?  That is self-righteousness.

Do you want your outward works to appear righteous while you indulge your inner thoughts, appetites, and emotions without restraint?  That is the righteousness of the Law.

Do you want to truly be holy as God is holy?  That takes the righteousness of Christ.

Which do we really desire in our hearts?  With which are we satisfied?

Self-righteousness

A prominent mark of the unbeliever is not simply that they are going about doing evil or cursing God; lots of unbelievers do many good works.

The foremost mark of the unbeliever is that their life is governed by what is right or wrong in their own eyes.  This is the lie that Satan sold Eve in the Garden of Eden.  They would become gods, able to determine for themselves what is good and what is evil.  Self-determination was man's first sin.

Scripture is filled with references of why man should not follow what seems right in his own eyes, how the heart of man is deceitfully wicked, and that man's wisdom is not God's wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-7, 28:26; Psalm 118:8; Jeremiah 10:23, 17:5-9; Isaiah 55:9; I Corinthians 2:5).

When man disregards God's words and justifies himself according to his intellect or his feelings, such is self-righteousness.  In the New Testament, these are depicted as the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Although they were the religious leaders of His day, Jesus said that they were self-righteous unbelievers and hypocrites (Luke 18:9-14; John 3:12, 8:19-55; 10:25-26).

Being "right" in their own eyes blinded them to the righteousness of God (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32).  As a result, they strived to appear more "holy" than others.  Their own opinions became the standard of what was Godly and they quickly condemned others by their personal standards of righteousness.  They needed the accolades of men to replace the approval of God and inwardly hated those who walked in obedience to Him.  This is why Jesus said:

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20

Is your "righteousness" grounded in your thoughts, impressions, and ideals about life?  Is it based upon you always being "right", even preventing you from admitting error or asking forgiveness?  Is it validated by the praises of men?  Does it lead you to live your life as if others "owe you" something?  Is it drawn from comparing yourself to the "righteousness" of others?  Then your righteousness has not exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees.  It is self-righteousness.

The Righteousness of the Law

According to the Scriptures, there is also a type of righteousness that can come from keeping the law.  There were people in the old covenant who kept God's law blamelessly and were even considered righteous because of it.

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Luke 1:5-6

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." Matthew 19:16-22

"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Philippians 3:4-6

There is a certain kind of righteousness that comes from keeping the law.  However, it falls short of justifying man before God because - as the rich man notes above - this type of righteousness centers around what man can "do" to obtain eternal life (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16, 3:24).  This is why Paul above notes the righteousness coming from the law as having confidence and trusting "in the flesh".

Unlike the Pharisees and Sadduccees, these individuals were not unbelievers, but those who sought to serve God.  Even today, many who seek to fulfill the righteousness of the law desire to fully serve the Lord, but do not understand that such righteousness has already been fulfilled in those who believe (Romans 8:1-4).

There is nothing man can "do" to redeem himself.  As Jesus responded about the rich man above, with men salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  What man cannot do through works - even righteous works according to the law - God Himself accomplished in the person of His Son Jesus. 

Individuals could attain the righteousness of keeping the law blamelessly, but these efforts could not perfect their inner man (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 7:19).  Zacharias was righteous in his obedience to the law, but he still struggled with unbelief.  The rich man walked in all the commandments of God, but still had covetousness in his heart.  Paul was blameless in the law, even while he was persecuting the church.  No matter of keeping the law - even blamelessly - could produce the inner righteousness necessary to be reconciled to God.  Such could only come by God Himself, and not human effort.

Under the righteousness of the law, God's favor is earned by what we do versus what Christ has done.  Under the righteousness of the law, one's foremost concern is breaking God's rules, not God's heart.  Under the righteousness of the law, the motivation is fear of God's punishment rather than appreciation for God's mercy.  Under the righteousness of the law, sin is taken to Mt. SINai to be worked off through performance instead of taken to Mt. Calvary to be covered by Jesus' blood through grace. 

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. " Romans 10:2-4 

To borrow from the words of Jesus, "Wilt thou be made perfect?"  Then do not settle in striving for a righteousness based in human effort which does not perfect.  Rather, submit to the righteousness of Christ and be made whole (Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-22; Philippians 3:9; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 11:7; I Peter 1:1).

The Righteousness of Christ

The righteousness of Jesus Christ is embodied in the fact that He never did His own will, but the will of His Father.  Jesus didn't just do what seemed right in His own eyes.  Neither was He content in just obeying the letter of the law.  Jesus sought to please God in all things and at all times by living as a continual sacrifice to the Father...well before the cross; that is where the righteousness of God rests.

There is a message I heard from Pastor Zac Poonen which perfectly explains this critical difference where he expounds on the following texts:

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." I Corinthians 6:12

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." I Corinthians 10:23

Essentially, the text above illustrates three levels of living.

1. Live unlawfully - This is what unbelievers do.  One does whatever they want to do with no regard for God's words. This is the lowest form of living and produces self-righteousness. 
   
   
2. Live lawfully - This is how many believers live.  A person feels justified by outward works; doing that which is permitted or not doing that which is forbidden.  The main concern is that their activity is 'lawful'. This is the righteousness of the law.
   
   
3. Live profitably - This is where disciples of Christ are called to exist.  The concern is not just "is this lawful", but what would the Spirit have me to do?  What is profitable?  The fruit of this is the righteousness of Christ.

The whole-hearted believer may not do that which is sinful, but neither are they satisfied for that which is simply lawful.  They seek the heart of God for only that which edifies.

It may be lawful to eat a particular meal, but perhaps it is more profitable to spend that time in prayer.  It may be lawful to watch a certain TV show, but it may be more edifying to study God's word.  It may be lawful to go to a party, but maybe it is more expedient to spend some time ministering to your neighbor.  It is not sinful to eat, to watch a TV show, or to socialize at a party, but what is the Spirit of God leading you to do at that moment?  Jesus never did what He wanted to do; only what the Father commanded Him to do.

Being truly led by the Spirit of God means to seek God's direction in all things regarding our inner and outer life.  Such is the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).

Blessed Are They

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."  Matthew 5:6

Self-righteousness, the righteousness of the law, or the righteousness of Christ?  Which do we truly desire?

The following message from Pastor Poonen on righteousness may make you uneasy.  It might make you squirm as he puts his fingers on what it means to walk in the righteousness of Christ.  Yet I pray that it revives within your hearts a desire to be completely transparent before the Lord and to be made more like Him: http://ravensministry.com/audio/Austin_2011_2.mp3

What is Your Christianity Worth?

Finding and ABIDING in the Rest of God

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Matthew 11:29-30

The following message from Pastor Zac Poonen is very encouraging, at least it was for me.  In this sermon, He is teaching on what it means to rest in God:  In part, this addresses:

• Being Ambassadors for Christ means that we are not citizens of this world.  
• Most Christians are just playing the fool with Christianity.  The evidence is that there is no growth.
• Growing in grace only happens as we perceive our lowliness before the Lord.
• When people give you honor, don't forget that if they knew you as intimately as you know yourself, they would not give you that honor, but would give it to somebody else.
• You become a true worshiper when God's opinion is the only one that matters.  Then you will always be at rest.
• The Scriptures describing the true rest of God (Matthew 11:28-30) are followed up directly by Jesus being questioned by the religious leaders about breaking the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14).  This contrast is to show that they did not understand what the Sabbath really was. 
• It is when things are not going well that you know whether you are at rest or not.  So thank God for the little shakings, for such gives us the opportunity to check our foundations.  Is it on the rock or on the sand? 

I admit that resting in God is something He is dealing with me on as well, and has been for the past few years. Being removed from caring about the praises or criticisms of others.  Retaining God's peace in the midst of the trials of life.  Being a true worshiper of the Lord where we can stand individually accountable before Him, walking in the liberty of His Spirit, knowing that we are "accepted in the Beloved."

Yet, God is faithful and He is able to do abundantly more than we can think or even ask.

Challenges may abound, but the grace of God abounds even more!