Walking through the open doorway to blessings offered by the Lord God.  That is what we picture ourselves doing, taking that sigh, as the smile spreads across our cheeks feeling somehow that the light has become a bit brighter.  Everything that we do or have done is seeking love, acceptance and authentic attention.  This world and the enemy would have you substitute that true joy with placebo, but there is no replacement for observing God’s generosity and care when His righteous blessings are bestowed.  We can go through years, nigh decades of misery and all of it is wiped away at that grateful moment of reward.  The only thing that the enemy may do to prohibit that blessing is magnify our personal and private fears causing us doubt and ample trepidation necessary to stop us from walking through the portico.  We must remember our victory may not be stopped only surrendered.

My sin is not just reward for righteousness, in fact it cannot be categorized as a reward at all.  There are those who will attempt to convince us that we deserve judgment for our continual sin and that we are undeserving because we do not find ourselves perfect, incapable of sin.  Do not diminish the glorious gift of grace we were given.  It is sufficient, the sacrifice paid in our stead, what Christ did completed the payment for all sin if only we will accept that gift.  I know emphatically that if the Lord intended me to be righteous at the moment I accepted the truth of His death, resurrection and ascension, then He would have taken me to heaven right then, for my tasking here would have been finished.  But, I am still here, suffering through my weakness, finding His strength, writing His Word upon my heart and standing in the face of tragedy, deception and fear.  My victory over sin is assured, I am no longer a slave to sin, nor am I driven by the fear of it.  My sanctification is now, my purification is now and fortunately will continue throughout the rest of my life on this planet.  The only way that the enemy may have any measure of impact in my life is to hope that somehow the powers and principalities offer up temptation and I do not seek Christ to aid me in resistance.  Again the enemy’s only impact in my life comes through my surrender to sin. I pray that the Lord protect me and deliver me from temptation by filling my mind with the thoughts of Christ.

We are not weak, though we may falter.  We are not strong though we may seem confident.  He is sufficient in all things, to humble my self reliance and fill me with adequacy.  I am meant for His Work.  Illusion is not truth and certainly we will suffer for the short term, but victory is not in the moment but eternity.  And though all things must and will pass away, some will remain, in the presence of Almighty God, shaped for permanency.  Lord give me what I need and take from me what I should not have.  Let Your Word and its Truth be the lamp stand that guides us to Your Promises.  Give us faith, greater than a mustard seed, the kind necessary to stand in the face of those circumstances which must shortly come to pass.  Deliver us and grant us peace in this life and the next.  Praise God in the Mighty Name of King Jesus.  Amen.

Wouldn’t it be simple, if your sin was my greatest problem.  Observing it, defending it, denying, decrying it, left free of my own conscience and self inspection, free to dally in your delinquency?  Never having to search the scripture or go the Lord in prayer, seeking forgiveness and direction.   Always knowing that every word I pronounce over your works or misdoings are rational, deserved and of divine introspection.  But your sin is my problem, in and only in two ways; first it offends God and I know you don’t want to do that, and second it cheapens the fresh start you were given when you were washed clean by the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus.  Other than that your sin should not concern me, unless of course we share the intimacy of accountability through which we would share the obligation of sharpening each other.   I love you but I hate your sin, as I hate my own.

This is not simple.  The Christian life in fact is tremendously complicated in that we are expected to make and live by choices.  The choice to serve sin or serve God, the choice to be faithful and walk a life of righteousness and truth or serve ourselves and the circumstances in doing whatever is expedient.  I used to dread each night, when the enemy would have access to my heart and mind, egging me to serve my own selfish wants and disobey what I knew to be right.  But the Lord did not give us the Spirit of Fear, but of Love, Power and of a sound mind, so now I cherish the ability to review my actions, be abhorred at the evil I still do and go to the Lord for discipline and reconfiguration.  I am just thankful that I do not also have a responsibility for your choices, for I cannot control myself, God forbid sway the actions of another.  His Word is sufficient.  I trust that it will produce the same growth in you if you choose to reside in it.  That is my only wish, that you remain close to the Word for it is the Power to transform our lives.

I want and I wish and I will and I wait.  Yes, the voices that drive each of us ring clearly and repeatedly in my head, with my only respite being the commitment to wait upon the Lord.  It ain’t easy to shut off those desires of flesh, eye and pride, that must be done through practiced prayer and patience in the Lord.  There is no short cut.  In fact I am willing to bet that if you see a short cut that you may be certain that the great deceiver is behind the perpetration of said illusion.  Life is it’s own meaning, and the living of it is the prize.  Through the embarrassment, the victories, the wounds, the successes and the blunders we arrive at the outcome.  Not a destination but still palpable, still real, still an achievement.  Run the race, rest, reward and everlasting fellowship with the Almighty lay beyond the finish.

Praise Him in His infinite patience waiting upon all the Earth to come to Him in honesty and truth.  You are the Awesome God.  Amen

Not kidding myself that anything I have said or will say provides any “new” information not previously covered in God’s Word.  But that is not what ministry, in my words is necessarily about.  I do not seek a ministry where my name becomes popular enough to positively impact the sales of my next book or seminar.  I do not wish to have a popularized ministry that brings people to my plateau, grotto or cave to tap my endless source of wisdom as some oracle.  This is the ministry of a child of the Most High God, reaching out to those in need, those seeking to share Spirit filled direction and a ministry devoted to showing people that Christianity is about Love, common sense, victory and reason.

We have been provided salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  This salvation is universal in that it is offered and intended for every person on the Earth that is the “grace” of God extending His offer to all.  However, although the offer is universal the acceptance is governed by very strict guidelines that are not “universally” inclusive, meaning; there are not many roads which lead to salvation but only one, and His Name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  That immediately sets up a complicated conflict by which men will attempt to manipulate that truth for their own power, to justify some inconsistent behavior or to somehow rationalize themselves out of the segment of mankind on the receiving end of God’s judgment.  I will not prattle.  I do not hold the keys to death and Hades, those have been “earned” by the works of the Lord Jesus on the Cross, where He laid down His life for humanity’s sake and took it back up of His own authority to demonstrate His sovereignty.

This is not the ministry of one man, this is a body of Christ, devoted to surrendering themselves to that authority.  This is a group of believers, so taken by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that they feel empowered to do the things which God has called us, reaching out to spread the seed of God’s Word to each and every plot of soil.  This is the “Path to Life”, that road by which every man must be tested, tempted and measured on his individual journey and growth in relationship and likeness to the Lord Jesus.  My words are not Gospel, but the story I tell is about how the “Good News” of Christ has so affected my life that I am led to do things I would not choose for myself.  I am called to share my testimony, my love for Christ and my love for His Church.  I am not called to judge any man, that right is reserved for “He who is without sin”, and last I checked there is only one man who fit that description.

I am a poor ambassador, a weak leader, a decent at best representative for the Lord Jesus, but I will still strive to do the work that is before me.  I may have poor capacity for love, patience, trial and explanation, but I will still labor into the night in my attempt to quiet one restless heart or lead one more person to the foot of the cross.  I cannot provide salvation, redemption or rescue for any person, especially those who do not wish to be led into the light, but I can be there to help them find the light switch.  My greatest strength is my realization of my own incapacity to do this work.  I am a sinner, in need of a savior and thank the Lord God that He has provided one by which we all may be delivered.  His Name is Jesus Christ, The King of All Creation.  The One true God, outside of time, who chose to step into His creation in order to provide a pathway back to righteousness.  We are all alone, perhaps we can be alone together in our knowledge, love and dedication to Christ Jesus.  Praise His Holy Name and let it be reflected in all that we do, say and believe.  Christ Jesus the King.