Over the last 5 months, God has really been convicting me to not settle for anything less than the fullness of all that God has for my life. I have found no greater joy than I have when I selflessly surrender my will and life to His leading. I have been putting into practice all that I have been learning over the years and its awesome to see how faithful He is.
This is what I've learned.
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
Matthew 11:12 (NIV)
When Christ became the Lord of my life and I was born again into the family of God I have seen that I was not merely joining an audience where I was to gather once a week to hear about God, I was joining an army. I no longer just go to church to be fed, I go to be led. The minute I became a Christian I was sentenced to death row by satan and his minions as I drew the line in the ground crossing over from death to life.
My culture has done no justice in portraying Jesus as He rightly is. It has merely painted the picture of a puny God Man who died for me but has no power. In the name of Jesus there really is Power to break down the strongholds of the enemy that sets the captives free and He really does break the chains of sin and death in this life.
The enemy knows that Jesus is a powerful King and that in His name I have authority. His time is limited and he knows that even he will have to bow down and confess that Jesus is Lord. So what does he do, he belittles Jesus every chance he gets and has the mind set that if he's going down he's taking everyone with him. If I don't stand firm in my faith than I will not stand at all as he will be content with making me into a lukewarm pew warmer who sometimes wonders if there really is a God.
When I gain ground I have to know how to hold it.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
When God chose me He enlisted me to be a part of His royal army, to go and take the Kingdom wherever I go and to love the hell right off of people. He calls me to pick up my cross and follow Him daily and not to leave the expansion of the Kingdom to the "professionals". The One who knows Everything about Everything lives inside of me and I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength. I have found power in my weaknesses as it makes me rely fully on His strength. There has been more fulfillment and joy in a moment following in the steps of Jesus than this world could ever provide.
Even though the war is already over there is still a battle going on, a battle for souls and if your not gathering than your scattering.
I don't want to settle for a life that doesn't radiate the Glory of Christ in all I do and all I am. I want to live a life that matters, a life that doesn't settle for the petty things of this world that get burned away with the chaff. I want to constantly pour out to bring Him glory, to live a life worthy of hearing, "Well done my good and faithful servant" at the end of my days. Pray for me that when I hear God say, "Who will Go?" I wont hesitate to answer, "Here I am, Send me!"
True Faith reveals itself by our actions, Pick up your Cross and Follow Jesus, The Kingdom is at hand.
-Robert
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
