Righteousness and the Holy Spirit

One thing you can usually count on with someone who hasn't been in Christ for very long, or gone very far down the narrow path of holiness: They're always wanting to DO something important. Another is they're always wanting to BE something important. Also they are always wanting to "make a difference." What is it? The foolishness of youth, and of inexperience and a lack of knowledge. Jesus dealt with people having this itch when he was here: "Then said they unto him, What shall WE do, that WE might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This IS the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (Jn. 6:28,29). Sound like too simplistic of an answer? The truth always does. In fact I remember the day long ago when the holy Ghost impressed the following words into my spirit: "The revelations of God disappoint pride." That's right, the holy Ghost showed me that anyone who is looking for great things is going to be disappointed if they truly hear from God. Again, the reason is because God is just too simplistic to satisfy man's proud motives and ambitions that he wants to carry over to the spiritual realm, where he is so anxious to "make a difference." You want to make a difference? I can tell you with authority from heaven that there is only ONE difference that can BE made, and that is to submit your will to God and let him have HIS way in your life; so he can dwell in you fully by his Spirit, that he might be seen of all that are around you (Mat. 5:16; Jn. 15:5,8-10). In the culmination of more than three years of the greatest works of God this world has ever seen, Jesus gave us this one commandment: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (Jn. 13:34). If it is not enough for you to be filled with divine godly love, and give that to everyone around you, then maybe you should look for something else to do with your life (Mat. 7:12; Rom. 5:5). Because you could spend your life "trying to do something for God," and waste all of your time if you miss the whole point, which is simply to remain pure from sin and full of God's holy love. Jesus really rubbed off on John, who referred to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," because he was ultra simplistic as well. He spoke continually of that same divine love, and gave us simplistically powerful instruction for what it takes to be prepared and ready to be raised from the dead at the Lord's second coming: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (I Jn. 3:2,3). Oh I just love it my friend! The pure simplicity of God's truth, unmixed and unfiltered. If your aim is higher than "attaining unto the resurrection of the dead," you are aiming too high and need to come down some (Philip. 3:8-15). All who have this nervous zeal to have to "do something" just haven't learned enough or experienced enough yet. Those who have learned and experienced enough do not have that problem. They have rather a quiet contentment and confidence that knows God will do what he wants with them when and how he feels like it. Isaiah knew about this conficence: "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not" (Isa. 30:15). And those who have learned God know that they will be ready at his call, being already well trained in being led by the glorious "Spirit of truth" that Jesus sent back to purify and lead those who truly believe in and follow him ( Jn. 16:13; Acts 15:8,9; Rom. 8:14).

Elijah was a man who knew God's will and what God wanted from him. Here is what his experience and knowledge of God had him wanting to "do:" "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (I Kin. 18:4). The apostle Paul was also a man well acquainted with the "works of God," and he gave us the following: "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire TO DEPART, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philip. 1:23,24). So Paul went against his own grain to choose to stay alive and work in the ministry that God had placed him in. He also expressed the following sentiment at another time: "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). The truth of the matter is, those to whom GOD appoints special responsibility in the work of HIS ministry, are looking for LESS responsibility and "doing." Where so many get the idea that "the great commission" was to any and all who even THINK they believe on Jesus, really baffles me. Jesus told HIS TWELVE APOSTLES, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15). For people to take it upon themselves that he was speaking to them, is simply to be lifted up in pride and worldly ambition. Trust me friend, if GOD appoints you, deems you fit and ready, and wants you to go to all the world and preach his gospel, HE will let you know it personally. Any other route will not be a matter of being SENT, but rather that YOU JUST WENT! As it is written: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT?" (Rom. 10:14,15). What I say, I say by personal experience and knowledge. God both appointed me and anointed me to preach his gospel, and that has been confirmed by prophecy many times over. Not only so, but a divine gift for that ministry was imparted to me by prophecy and the laying on of hands in September of 1983. And God has confirmed both his gift and my ministry by never letting any of my words fall to the ground, and that covers many venues and ways of his word being distributed through me. And I can tell you after many years, much labor, and many spiritual battles and wars; that my greatest joy is to simply feel the glory and splendor of God's preserving love and peace residing in my soul, spirit, and body. And that has nothing to do with age, as I am not old. And yes, I am ready and willing for whatever he would have me to do in addition to the work I am presently doing by his will and for his name sake, simply because I am his servant at his beckon call. But if he chooses to simplify it all the more, and make the load lighter, I am willing to go that route as well. Let me just say my friend, that it is a beautiful and wonderful thing to just do, or not do, whatever God may or may not have in mind for you. The utter assurance of knowing that God is with you and upholding you and what you ARE doing because HE PUT YOU IN IT, is the only sensible and blessed place to be. That can ONLY be the case when God has himself appointed you, and sent you to do what you're doing for him. To "love righteousness, and hate iniquity," is the greatest of all doing, and that is where the real confidence, peace, and rest is at (Heb, 1:). The testimony that I often give people is simply that I could sit right where I may presently be at that time, for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy because of what I feel inside and WHO I feel with me. I don't know about you, but for me it just doesn't get any better than that. Amen.