Bert's Good Stuff

A large number of missionaries from 50 different societies were asked to state what problems chiefly claimed their attention in the past year. The 233 replies revealed something remarkable! It wasn’t persecution, discomfort, or material loss–but the lack of quiet time, not enough time for Bible study and prayer, and the “crush” of over activity and busyness choke out time with the Lord. One wrote that “we do not believe that God is in control...and try and run the work ourselves.” These are full time, dedicated missionaries who have not learned how, in an overcrowded day, to secure time for the quiet hour with God. And most believers have the same exact problem today!

I ask, “Why is that?” Andrew Murray has an answer with which I totally agree: “the failure of the church as a whole to enter into the abundance of the life that is in Christ and to teach the fullness of His power....the indwelling Holy Spirit.” The leadership of the church today is not emphasizing, and rarely even mentioning, the absolute necessity of being controlled by the Holy Spirit; and thus are forced to try and do the work of God in the energy of the flesh. The result is frustration, burn out, discouragement, proliferation of ‘programs’ of all sorts, and the lack of personal quiet time, Bible study, prayer, and accountability as revealed by the above study.

So “the church” sends out very sincere people to do missionary work without the equipment vital to the task. The “senders” are in the same boat, and thus do not support the ‘sent ones’ in the continuous prayer and finances needed..

“Without being filled with the Spirit, it is impossible fo an individual Christian, or a church, to ever have or work as God desires.” A. Murray

“If we look alone to ministers, if we look alone to Christ’s disciples to do this work, we shall be disappointed. If we look to the Spirit of God and expect it to come from Him and Him alone, then we shall honor the Spirit and the Spirit will do His work.” D. L. Moody

Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing.” —but we keep trying.

bh March 31, 2007
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Bonus thought: “Tension (stress) develops when you have an inadequate [concept of] God..”

FAITH                  

The most important thing about you and I in 2007 will be what we believe. What
you believe about God and His Word is the most important thing about you! Most of us trust God for very little, and suffer much. Hebrews11 reveals what faith does, and gives lots of examples of incredible things happening in ordinary people's lives simply as a result of their believing God. Belief causes behavior !!

          'Faith' is of no value whatever unless it is in the right thing! Millions of people have faith....in themselves, in Buddha, in Allah, in good luck, idols, machines, people, weather, and the like. Its not 'faith' that matters, it's the object of faith....i.e. it was GOD who did all the things mentioned in Heb 11. He never fails...all those other things do! Faith in the wrong thing (even if 'strong') is utterly disastrous! [Have you been there?]

          I want 2007 to be a year that I place the full weight of my faith in what the Sovereign God of the Universe says. He cannot lie, and never fails. I plan to believe Him when He tells me He hates pride. I want to believe that "all things work together for good," and that I "can do nothing without Him-but I can do all things through Christ," and that He never leaves me, that I have everything when I have Christ. That if I seek Him first..all the other stuff will be added. That the fruit of the Spirit will happen in my life if I 'walk in the Spirit.' That without faith it is impossible for me to please God, [I do want to please Him.] That I will 'bear much fruit' if I abide in Him. I want to believe everything God says, not just what I like or 'understand.'

And...if we believe God, we will also obey Him...in everything.....if so, 2007 will be GREAT YEAR!

Bonus: go to http://www.northpoint.org/messages
It is a message by Giglio, at Andy Stanley' church..You will really enjoy it.             Trust me. 
In that site; scroll down to 3/5/06 FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.  Then click on either the "Real Player" or "Windows Media Player" for the audio:  Be ready to take notes!

Who Is In Control?

BODY LIFE (1979) and AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY (1996) - are two books by Ray Stedman I just finished reading, and recommend to everyone! A statement from the latter: "Nothing from us, everything coming from God!" That is the secret of secrets-the secret of true fulfillment, satisfaction, and success."

And from BODY LIFE (a book about 'the church') ..."the early church did not see its calling as one of fighting injustice and oppression or demanding its 'rights,' but saw its mission as one of reflecting God's holiness, ...by demonstrating relentless love to everyone." We would agree with that, wouldn't we?!! But what is not clear is how to do that. And the answer is, we cannot!

It has always been God's plan that His people should live by faith. That simply means we believe what God says....and behave accordingly. We can't please God any other way! AND, God's plan is for us to be indwelt by His Holy Spirit, so that Christ Himself lives His life through me! I can't do it. Only He can reflect God's holiness and demonstrate God's love. That is what Ray Stedman means in the statement above--"Nothing from us, everything coming from God!

It is my conviction that most of us have never grasped the enormous importance of "faith" and "being controlled by the Holy Spirit." Without faith we cannot please God (not at all), and without the Spirit's daily continuous control, we cannot live the Christian life (not at all).

There are only two 'control' options; the Holy Spirit, or the flesh. If The Holy Spirit is not in control (by my consent) then my flesh is...and the flesh cannot please God, and the flesh profits nothing. (Jesus said that in John 6.63)

So the question is, "Who are you giving the control of your mind and life to...today?"