April 12, 2005 – I HAVE PREPARED A PATH FOR YOU, COME WALK WITH ME!
Every introspective man or woman, sometime in their pilgrimage on earth, will ask themselves, “Why was I created by God?” and “Do I have a special purpose?” These questions seem natural but the answers are awesome! Words are inadequate to describe God’s incredible plan for our lives. Matthew 13:17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see (the redeemed of the Lord) but did not see it, and to Hear what you Hear but did not Hear it. The apostle Paul explains the mystery that the world does not comprehend. Colossians 1:26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The Son of Almighty God indwells the blood-washed children of God. God gave us the most precious gift He could give us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because He has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Imagine – the Son of God is dwelling within us. Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the Head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. This explains “why” God created man. God the father is love and He needed to pour out His love on a righteous chosen people. The “purpose” of God is given in this verse: Colossians 1:20 and through him (God’s son) to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in Heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope Held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. God has won the battle over sin, evil, satan and all of his minions! He has redeemed us from the fall and through Christ we can do all things because His power and strength indwells us. For all eternity the saints of God will be able to walk in love and unbroken fellowship with the father because of Christ in us, the hope of glory! How blessed we are!
If we choose not to take Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are, in effect, rejecting God’s offer of love and reconciliation. John 12:48 there is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 for I did not speak of my own accord, but the father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
What does this mean for the child of God who has accepted Christ in his heart? It means all things are possible! We have received son-ship in the family of God for all eternity. Think of this – through Christ we have victory over all things! All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge dwell in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is “ask anything in His name” and the father will grant what we ask (as long as it is in the perfect will of God). We have the power of Almighty God in us and with us. As God’s children we have blessings and protection. Christ also sent the Holy Spirit (the power of God) to indwell us. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, teacher, guide into all truth, and the one who convicts us of sin, and He is the revealer of the intents of our Heart. The Holy Spirit endues us with power and gives us gifts to enable us do the work of God.
Choosing Christ, the son of God, means to choose an abundant (often even miraculous) life because all things are possible with God. All weaknesses become strengths as they are yielded to God. He recreates us in His image. Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The world loves to be made-over and it is the free gift of God to His children. The choice to live without following God’s laws and the direction of His Holy Spirit results in alienation from the blessings and gifts of God. Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. God is no respecter of persons and his love reaches out to all. Revelations 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who Hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
God is the master potter and we are His clay. Jeremiah 18:3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot He was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. God will recreate us into His image. He wants us to look and act as His children. The design He has for our life will bring blessings to us and to all those around us. If we, his children, do not produce the fruit of Christ in our lives, we need to check our own desires. Christ desires that we yield much fruit and we are to give ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. Jesus, who created all things in the beginning with God, comes and dwells within anyone who invites Him into his heart. Think of the potential that has been loosed within us by having Christ indwelling us. This morning I experienced a reminder of that from God. I had a major feeling of inadequacy to do a job that God had given me. The Spirit of God simply said to me, “you have the spirit of Christ within, ask Him for revelation and wisdom and your needs will be supplied.” I prayed and God did supply my need. I can draw on that endless source of wisdom, understanding, truth, and power anytime I have a lack because the spirit of Christ lives in me.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” If we have Christ within and He has all of us, then we will bring forth light to dispel the surrounding darkness. As Christ finished his father’s work, so are we to continue Christ’s work in this world. Without Christ we can do nothing that will count in this world or for eternity!
Christ is the vine and we are the branches and the father will tend our branches by pruning us and keeping us protected from the destroyer. John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. We must be glad for the shaping and pruning, because He is preparing us for the special calling He has on our lives. When we are totally yielded to God, we will know the calling of God on our lives.
It takes only one major wrong choice to alter God’s highest and best for our life. Be careful about the road-blocks you place in your own path! You are walking in the dark if you are not walking by the side of Christ and are not obedient to His words. Romans 6:21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! There is no fruitfulness in worldliness! Worldliness is a spirit; it is the spirit of the world and from satan. Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, Hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown.” Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who Hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures (THESE ARE MAJOR ROAD-BLOCKS,) and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good Heart, who Hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Many of you reading this message are forming barriers to our father’s perfect will in your life. 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost Here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful (in our lives). These things work against the righteousness of God and break our fellowship with the Lord and with the Father; from whom, comes every good and perfect gift. We will not achieve God’s highest and best unless we give our highest and best to the Lord by being obedient to His word and constantly remaining within His perfect will. When we are totally surrendered to the will of God, everything works together for our good.
The only way we can safely walk the path of life is by taking the extended hand of the Lord and walking by His side. Through Christ we can walk victoriously and we will Hear the Father say, “well done my beloved child, come, and enter into the place I have prepared for you.” Revelations 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and He will be my son.
