Faith To Go!

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH  CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME”, PHIL 4:13

This verse is part of a letter where Apostle Paul encourages and reinforces the faith of a group of poor saints.  In his delivery, he testifies that he has learned how to be content in whatever condition he finds himself.  He knows the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life.  He has faced want and abundance with the same fortitude that comes from the Holy Spirit.

Almost two thousand years later Satan has deceived believers and unbelievers with a lie about Paul’s statement.  The lie is that you can do whatever you put your mind to and Christ will help you.  The lie is that you can live any way you want and when you need a little help just call on God and he will help you through it.

Christ is not in the business of promoting sin.  He is not in the habit of assisting the unrighteous and disobedient bent on rejecting his Lordship and Salvation.  Carnal/worldly Christians (usually false believers aka unsaved) fornicate, use drugs, lie, and steal then try to sprinkle they’re conscious with a few mis-used scriptures or come to a church service for emotional release.  What a waste.  Remember Simon the sorcerer in Acts.  Before meeting Philip he spent his time practicing sorcery and bewitching people.  When the gospel was preached Simon found religion but he didn’t find Christ.  When the Holy Spirit was received and characteristic signs and wonders were witnessed Simon tried to purchase the ability of the Holy Spirit.  Simon was immediately rebuked for his carnal and wicked heart.  All he wanted was to be in the center of the excitement.   Sadly, people who falsely profess Christ are only looking for a cheap imitation of the true fellowship Christ has to offer.  They look for emotional satisfaction without a spiritual connection.  They look for human rhetoric and religious interaction to invoke a sense of Godliness in their lives worldly lives.

This placebo religiosity breeds a weak and beggarly forgery of real Christianity.  Shout, get happy, talk about being too blessed to be depressed, or being blessed and highly favored and folks think you’re really a child of God.  But go through trouble in your life, get abused or mistreated and suddenly we transform from a child of light to a minion of darkness.  We can’t curse enough, gossip enough, and seek revenge enough.  We’re ready to call down fire from the sky to bring “righteous indignation” against heathen vermin.  We have no problem being mean, hateful, and bitter about our problems or mistreatment but prayer, forgiveness, and trusting God through our troubles – we’ll deal with that later.  Fruit of The Spirit – that for old folks and preachers.  Patience and long-suffering that’s for the other folks, I’m more than a conqueror.  All this hypocrisy is spiritually unhealthy and self-serving.

When Paul spoke of doing “all things through Christ” he was referring to the supernatural ability to be used for the purposes of God consistent with His will.  He was talking about depending on the Holy Spirit (fueled by a healthy knowledge of God’s Word) to rise above the petty, immoral, and selfish desires of the flesh that defile a man.  He was talking about the ability to love agape style, to serve humbly, and to give generously without seeking acknowledgment or reward.  He was talking about denying the flesh of sensual and sinful experiences in order to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can prove the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God in your life.  He was talking about not letting circumstances define your relationship with God.  That’s why in Romans he said, “I’ll let nothing separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

You can only do through Christ what Christ wants to do through you.  You can only be empowered with the supernatural ability for divine service and divine suffering.  If you aren’t looking to be used for divine purpose then don’t expect to call on the divine one to assist you.  If you, in spite of your lack of ability to see the future, are willing to let God place you on his potter’s wheels and mold you into a vessel for his honor and glory, then you will be able to “do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

The successful Church is not successful because of its wealth or has lots of members and programs. The successful church is successful because the members are born-again, studying the Scriptures, surrendered to the Holy Spirit, loving the each other, dedicated to discipleship, and engaged in evangelism.

Want to belong to a successful Church?  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the World.  Accept him as your Lord and Savior.  Be taught and study the Word of God.  Pray regularly.  Surrender your will daily for Christ’s will.  Put off the immoral – lustful – damning deeds of the flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of the spirit in you.  Love the Body of Christ.  Accept the path Christ has for you.  Serve where you’ve been planted.  Remember works are not to earn favor with God, they are to express love and gratitude for his gift of Salvation.  Support the gospel ministry at your church and carry the gospel where you go.  Encourage believers and not discourage them.  Obey and follow biblical leadership.  Capitalize on opportunities to witness Christ.  Financially support your local church congregation and help the poor.

If you model your life after this template, you will be well on your way to being a member of a successful Church.  Remember, Christ is the head of the Church and those who are born again are part of that Church.  If you are obedient to Christ then you already a member of a successful Church – the Church of  Jesus Christ.

John 3:3, “ 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, ^F7 he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 16:16 – 19, “ 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, ^F32 and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 28:18-20, “ 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach ^F55 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you there fore brethren by the mercies of God that your present  your bodies a living sacrifice unto God, holy and acceptable for such is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world but be  ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may be able to prove what is that good acceptable and perfect will of God.”

John 8:31, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

1 Thess 4:1-12, “1 Furthermore then we beseech  you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud ^F8 his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”