The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Mystery of the Gospel, continued

For anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:10—NIV)

I am not speaking of passivity, laziness, or indifference when I ask if we dare to let go and let Christ build His own Church. I am referring to a fervent Christian who seeks God daily, who reads his or her Bible daily, who is a worker in a local congregation if possible. I am speaking of devoted Christians!

But the seeker must look to Jesus Christ for every issue, every decision.

Look at the problems in our country: abortion, sexual perversion, murder, child abuse, gangs, self-seeking politicians, drugs, adultery, unequal opportunities for whatever reason.

We could give our life to any one of these causes. And some people do just this. But we accomplish little of value in the Kingdom of God until we hear from Jesus what we are supposed to do!

Today we have put the head of man on the Body of Christ. There are ambitious plans to "save souls" or bring denominations or races together or present the Gospel to every person. Are they worthy enterprises? Undoubtedly! But have the leaders actually heard from Jesus? And if having heard do they continue to hear or does the movement become self-perpetuating, the assumption being that Christ desires it to continue.

How many denominations and movements of our day would shut down if they heard from Christ?

But back to us as an individual. If we would enter the feast of Tabernacles, the booth, the house of God, the rest of God, we must go to the Lord continually concerning every detail of life. Nothing—absolutely nothing—is to be taken for granted just because it seems like a good thing.

This is what it means to hang on the cross. Once you make up your mind to think, speak, and move by the Head, Jesus Christ, you may go for twenty years without any apparent success or fruit. Do you see what I mean? How many ambitious Christians are willing to trust Christ that He will build His Church if we listen to Him and not charge out in our own wisdom and strength?

The ambitious will look at you on the cross and say, "Come down from there. If you are a true Christian, come down and show us what you can do." Meanwhile they will continue with their particular work and produce outstanding results.

But there is a Bible principle here. More are the children of the barren than the married wife. Many of the greatest moves of the God described in the Bible were done through people who had spent years of barrenness as they waited on the Lord for His promise.

There is Ishmael and then there is Isaac!

I think this business of getting the Head of the Body back on the Body is critical today. There are Evangelical plans galore to build churches and save souls. But often the fragrance of Christ is missing.

I heard Pat Robertson preach once on "no sweat." He was referring to the linen garments of the priests—that the priests were not to wear clothes that would make them perspire. Robertson told of the fantastic accomplishments of his ministry that were performed by the Lord as Pat followed along without perspiring.

To be continued.