Long Walk Big Answer

"God, what is it we are missing about what Jesus tried to teach us?"

Jeremiah 10:23  "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps."

I just got back from a prayer walk at Glick Park.  It was cold but it is still a very beautiful day. My question to God today was, "God, what is it we are missing about what Jesus tried to teach us?"

All I can say is, that question must have gotten His attention because the answer just seemed to pour out to me as I walked. I think I need to start taking a tape recorder....no not because I can record Gods voice, but so that I can get all the info down so I won't forget it it by the time I get home.

Anyway, here is what came to me, take it any way you like. I personally believe it came directly from God.

We cannot become the Christian that God wants us to be by trying harder or by our own doing. That is impossible. Too many wanna be Christians are wearing themselves out and getting frustrated by trying to work their way into Gods favor.  Ain't going to happen that way. No way no how.  (God didn't use the word ain't, I did.)

The only way we will find our completeness in God is by allowing Him to fill us. He has to do it we cannot. It is all in His control.
So I questioned how do we do that?   (There I go again wanting to do it myself)  The answer, "We have to open every area of our life to Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Every area!

Ok That seems simple enough but how does that happen? You become a willing vessel for Him to work through. The reason we are so ineffective for Christ is because we keep wanting to do everything our way. It is human nature.
To have an effective impact for Christ in this world, we have to keep surrendering our will to His minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week .....

This minute I choose not to have lustful, hateful, revengeful, (you fill in the blank) thoughts words or deeds. Is this easy, no. So what happens is we  try to compensate out of guilt with such things as, "Well maybe I should go to church and put a few bucks in the offering plate, or maybe I should volunteer to teach Sunday School,  maybe then I will get closer to God!  Wrong!...You are not going to get closer to God by doing things out of guilt. When we approach being a Christian under those circumstances there will be no impact or reward. We must forget about what "we think" what "we want" what "we need" and instead "ALLOW" God to simply work through us. What ever He calls us to do.

When you see God working through someone you will see an effective ministry. A ministry making an impact in this world for Jesus and all that He stood for. Too many churches and ministries are trying to make an impact for God from their own efforts instead of allowing God to work through them.

We are extremely fortunate at Praise Community Fellowship because I see God working through people here and we are having an impact for Christ.  I pray that this message comes at the right time for someone struggling.  God does have a great plan for your life but YOU can't make it happen. You can only allow it to happen.  Pray, read the bible, pray some more, and live expectantly.   God will work through you!   Love, pastor Kent