PAYING THE PRICE PART THREE

Philippians 3:7-11

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

 

Paul here is speaking about putting confidence in the flesh...things that one can do to feel worthy of God and of His salvation without faith in Christ's finished work on the Cross, without a resurrection.

One might ask, "So, what is the big deal about the 'going' and 'doing' for God?"

I have had many say to me after telling them all that the Lord had spoken to me to go and do, "That sounds 'exciting' - you've had many 'wonderful' experiences!"

I just shake my head in amazement that the ones making this statement......cannot understand....it is not 'exciting' or 'wonderful' in the sense that they mean it. To most to go to Bible college, to prepare to go to the mission field, or go into full time ministry, is an 'adventure' something that is to be coveted as a cruise to an exotic paradise, something 'fun' and 'frivolous'. I marvel at the misunderstanding in the church today that make these statements.

For only if they knew......the 'going' and the 'doing' requiring 'dying'. Dying to self, dying to ambitions for this world, and if need be 'dying' a literal death for the sake of Christ. That was one issue I had to face preparing to do the Lord's Will ....would I be ready to 'die' if need be for the cause of the Gospel? The house, the business, the fancy car, and the daily routine pale in light of giving up one's very life.

Paul gave up all he was to follow Christ because nothing he was, nothing he accomplished, or attained up to this point  -meant anything......in contrast of gaining Christ and knowing Him.....and the power of His resurrection; thus sharing His sufferings of being rejected and forsaken; and by worldly standards, being counted as nothing.

We can never gain eternal life by 'doing' or 'going' but because of Jesus' finished work on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead....we, by faith, can rise up and 'go' and 'do' at His bidding. We are nothing, He is everything and the more we lay down our lives and what we think we can or have accomplished 'for Him', the more He fills us with the knowledge of Himself and His Will for our particular lives.

After our trip to Mexico - and as we came back across the border to the United States - the Holy Spirit gave me a 'burden' much to my surprise....my own country. Although I was to go to another country.....for awhile....God brought me back here....and here is where I have ministered His saving grace and His Love for the world in the public school systems for over twenty years.

 I had a year of college to complete still on the horizon after my trip to Mexico. It meant moving to another location as the Lord had a plan for me to learn to 'preach'. At the previous college my major had not included these courses, at the new location it did......much to my dismay! All along it was if the Lord was taking me by the hand and leading me to a 'place unknown'. I didn't resist, but I was very apprehensive......preaching was not something I felt I would be formally doing.....I saw myself more a 'one to one' witness, but the Lord had other plans. Each sermon in each homiletics class was prayed over and I made a covenant with God that I would never - not even in these classes - preach anything He had not given me. I knew that no matter where I was - people needed a word from the Lord - the Lord would have something He wanted to say to them, He faithfully supplied the sermon's, but most importantly, the anointing. Lives were touched even in class and gave me....the confidence that God was indeed with me....to make a difference and to further, not only my knowledge and increase my dependence on Him, but to minister these to all I came in contact as well. From this point on I was asked to preach in various places....and in each and every place God had His way and I learned beyond the shadow of a doubt.....no one....absolutely no one.....should ever think....they have something they want to 'say' for God.....for God has something He wants to say...and without Him, we have nothing to 'say'.

In my last year of Bible college....all earthly things.....were sold or given away. The boys kept a few boxes each that were sent to their grandmother to keep in her basement, but by faith, one by one....all things were.....given up.

God would give me a dollar amount and I would not have the slightest idea what it was for, but in conversation with a potiential buyer - the item would be presented and the amount would match the offer. One by one, first the refrigerator, then the washer/dryer......bedroom sets and living room furniture....all went, each and every item prayed over - buyer sent and gone. The money was used to buy a pop-up camper....bills all paid, a May graduation and we were ready to 'go' by faith - to be led of God to be shown still further 'where' and 'how'.

Destination? At first Central America, but God had other plans.

Amazing Grace....this song has always meant so much to me as with all of God's children....

The verse..."Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come, Tis grace that has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home."

We traveled thousands of miles and to 16 states before we knew for sure where we would be going .....at least for a duration, to minister. The Philippines was God's choice and it was here I learned a lot of lessons that one cannot seem to grasp in the United States as keenly. Our comfortable society does not prepare one for 'hardship'. God open the eyes of the Church here to 'see' ....they know not the faith they think they have....nor the dependence upon Him that bought them with a price.

 

MKL

02-18-07