STOP DOING AND REST IN HIM. That is hard as we always want to do our part to PLEASE HIM.
In summary, it is the effort to do our part by ourselves that equates to an act of disbelieve in Him. Effectively we are saying that He can’t do it for us, so we have to jump in and take control by ourselves. It is our very own effort to do it ourselves; leading the fight to overcome our challenges is a tell-tale sign that we do not trust that He can fight our challenges. Having to do it ourselves is having no trust in Him. Having no trust in Him is the same as having no FAITH in what we want Him to do for us. And the Bible in Heb 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Isn’t this ironic. It is because we want to PLEASE HIM, we show that we have NO FAITH IN HIM.
From the diagram above, I would like to stress that man will always want to do something for God. We want to show that we did it and we deserve to be rewarded by God with His blessings. It is very simple to jump into the “Do” mode but very hard to stop doing and rest in the presence of God. That is why the bible says, we need to LABOR to REST. LABOR and REST is the exact opposite of each other. But Paul chooses these two words to show that we need to put effort to enter into his rest. By default mode, our body is on LABOR mode. Heb 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
I know of an elderly mother who has worked all the way up in her career and at the same time, rushes home to take care of her family. Cooking, washing dishes, laundry, buying groceries etc etc. As she gets older, it is so hard for her to rest. She is always on the move. Now retired and her children are blessed, have engaged a maid to help her in her daily work. You can easily notice that she can’t get use to the presence of the maid. Initially, she still does her cooking, washing dishes, laundry, buying groceries. It takes time to adjust to rest and get the maid to do most of the work. When things get spilled onto the floor, her natural self is to get the mop and wipe it up by herself. It is only after several reminders by her children and forcibly taking the broom or mop from her, she eventually got use to LABOR TO REST.
We are king and priest. Can you imagine, as a King you give orders but only to see yourself carry out the orders yourself? Imagine if you order that a table be removed from your office, and after ordering the table to be removed, you look around and sees no one. Then you quietly move over to the table and carry the table out of your office. Does a King do such a thing? Give out an order and execute the very same order himself?
This diagram is a classic pictorial diagram explaining what is exactly wrong with our bible teaching in most churches today. They focus on the body to perform the work. They beat up every church member who cannot perform, forgetting that the very reason why they are in church is because they need help to overcome the challenges they are facing today. If they are pure and holy without any sin, they practically do not need to come to church to seek help. The reason why a mechanic shop is not as attractive as a show room, is because cars in the mechanic shop needs repairing. Needs a new timing belt, a radiator to keep the heat down, or a new fix of engine oil to ensure the engine runs smoothly.
But the very reason they cannot perform to the Church or pastor’s expectation, they are deemed to be sinners and scorned at. And at times ostracized by the church they attend. Do you see a mechanic shop turning away a car that needs a repair job?
And yet, the approach adopted by many churches and pastors are the very opposite of what God’s plan is about. Not surprising that our God said in Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith and in Jehovah. Mic 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor.
God’s economy is always the opposite. The last first, the weak strong, the poor rich, the poor are blessed, etc etc. It is the OPPOSITE ECONOMY. See Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last., Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. Mar 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
If you look at the above diagram, you see the solution proposed by the world and many churches today is to look inwards. Starting from yourself……….your own flesh to perform. No wander it is so difficult and you can feel that the burden is heavy. That solution is not from God. Remember, Jesus told us in Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
God’s solution is from inside out. Start from the position of strength. Start from the belief that you are CLEAN and RIGHTEOUS. Thus you only need to believe. Remember this approach is easy and not burdensome. Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
If you believe, you will start to bear fruit. Thus the fruit is from Him, and you only need to Rest, Confess His words and Believe. (IN short RCB= Rest, Confess, Believe) Each time you confess, your spirit rises up, and heal your body. The body will have Christ’s flesh in it. If it has more Christ’s flesh, it can overcome your old flesh’s desire, thus effectively your flesh is no longer your old flesh but new flesh. This flesh is from Christ, it behold Christ’s glory the glory full of grace and truth. See in John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Also see in 1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. To do this, it is to achieve a point where you no longer live but Christ in you that live. And how to achieve this point? Simple.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We are to live by faith in the son of God who loves me and gave himself for me.
That simple. But what does it really mean?
Yes it is simple. Again I would like to remind you that in Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. , it says his yoke is easy and burden is light. It exactly means that. We need only to see the extension in his words found in Rom5:17, 19 and 2Cor 5:21 and many more bible verse. But let's try this three first and you will understand what I am trying to get at.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
What does “He loves me and gave himself for me” mean? Many of us know that He came to die for us, He took our place of sin. He was sinless but was made to have our sins. In Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. If you can understand this, try replacing the words in bold in Gal2:20
Gal 2:20.... [+2Cor5:21]
Formula > Who love me and gave himself for me = [For our sake He made Him to be si who know no sin, so that in him we might become the rigtheousnes of God]
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, [For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God....2Corinthians 5:21]
When you combine Gal2:20 and 2Corinthians 5:21, you will than see the full meaning of why he love you and gave himself up for you. You will also see the meaning of leaving by faith in the son of God. You are to believe by Faith that at the cross, you are already crucified with Christ. You no longer live, but the SPIRIT inside you live and by believing in faith that He died for you to make you righteous. If you believe this and live in this by FAITH, you will achieve the break through you have been seeking in your life. You will begin to see the miracle powers to work in your life. Your Righteousness comes from HIM. He gave it to you in Rom 5:17, 19 2Corinthians 5:21. It is for free and you don’t have to earn it. You however have to believe by faith that you are righteous. This believing by faith is the first step you must take. This is the INSIDE OUT APPROACH(Start believing from your spirit and it will bear fruit outwardly in your body. It is not the worldly approach of OUTSIDE IN.(From your body work towards your spirit). God’s approach is the opposite of Man’s approach. Man’s approach of Outside In, is to get you started in doing 5 steps or 10 steps of cleaning yourself up. That itself is to insult the blood of Christ. That is to say Heb10:10 is not God’s word. That is to say, He did not clean you ONCE AND FOR ALL. If you believe Heb10:10 is from God, you should have not any problem believing that you are CLEANSED once and for all. You remain clean forever. Your spirit is not sinful. It is a perfect gift from Christ.
CONCLUSION: You start from strength. You start by believing that you are RIGHTEOUS. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not righteous. When you believe you are righteous, you will bear fruits of Righteousness. You will never see a plant unplug its root up, put on a pair of Reebok shoes and take up a “cangkul” to work on the ground to bear fruit. No brothers and sisters, the plant stand still. Resting in the LIGHT (CHRIRST IS THE LIGHT) of the sun and soaking up the minerals via the WATER (CHRIST IS THE LIVING WATER). And that is all a plant need to do, see the LIGHT and drinks up the LIVING WATER.
So brothers and sisters, I challenge you to rest in Him. Stand still and see the LIGHT and drink up the LIVING WATER. Stop working and stop insulting His BLOOD as a weak detergent that cannot clean your spirit.
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