Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a story.
Throughout history, man has created certain things to fulfill a certain purpose, such as the lightbulb, a vacuum, and even a sparkplug. Although it was never patented, certain historians have claimed that Edmond Berger from Togo, West Africa invented an early spark plug as far back as 1839, although the date seems to be disputed. A spark plug was made for a specific purpose. Electricity causes a spark to pass in between two electrodes which ignites a combustible fuel mixture. Most of our modern internal combustion engines require spark plugs to function.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
Spark plugs were created by man for a specific purpose, to make a spark. Although you might try using one to pound tacks into the wall, I think that most people would agree with me that this isn’t the purpose for which it was created. Men were created by God for a specific purpose too. We were made to preach, to serve and to love Him. What each of us need to do is to walk according to His purpose rather than our own, and when we do, good things are going to happen.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Moses is a prime example of a man who chose to walk according to God’s purpose rather than his own. After all, he could have been on the throne of Egypt with power, wealth and possessions, but he gave it all up, something that most people that claim to be Christian would never be capable of doing today. Moses wanted to serve God’s purpose for him and his life, and he knew that the reward of eternal life was a greater recompense than anything this Earth could ever offer him. Ever since he was born, God had a purpose for him in the future. Moses eventually recognized that purpose, and then obediently followed God’s calling. Just as Moses, God has a purpose and a calling for each one of us, but ultimately, you are the one who will have to decide if you are going to listen and walk according to that purpose. You are the one who has to decide if you are going to obey God’s will for your life.
God’s calling is revealed to us through Sacred Scripture, and it is through the teachings of His Holy Word that we understand what He wants us to do and to become. God’s Word teaches us how to please and to serve Him, and when we obey him from the heart, it is the proof that we love Him. God sees your loving obedience, and I guarantee you, that He will reward it, and good things will happen in the future because of it.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
In our carnal state, we really don’t want to do what somebody else commands us to do. For example, children might rebel against their dad. A wife may rebel against her husband. A student may rebel against a teacher or a principal in school. They even rebel against a judge in an Earthly courtroom. So you see, in the carnal state, we find disobedience and rebellion are common attributes. The sinful nature is filled with anarchy and it generally resists those who are in authority, even those who are over you in the Lord. To truly serve God from our hearts, we must learn to deny that sinful nature that is inside each and every one of us. This is a personal fight, kind of like a cage match so to speak, between you and the carnal nature. It’s a fight that we must battle each morning by the power of the Holy Spirit which is given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. We can become overcomers because God gives us the power to defeat all the lusts of this world, but we must first learn to deny our own sinful human nature and listen to the leading and guidance of the Divine Holy Spirit.
Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Many people practice self-denial each day and really don’t even think about it. In the last few years dieting seems to have become all the rage. Rather than reaching out for a pizza, some people will reach out for a salad instead. Rather than buying a candy bar, people will make the choice to eat an apple instead. All they are doing is denying themselves of their caloric intake. This example of self denial is similar to what we need to do in the Christian Life. We must learn to deny what we want out of life, for what God wants us to become. Moses did this, the Apostle Paul did this, Peter did this, and we must do this!
Acts 26:14-20 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Students are regularly asked in school what they would like to become in the future. Teachers will ask them what they want to do with their life after they graduate. As a Christian, the question that one should ask themselves is, what does God want me to become? God has a purpose for us, and it is found throughout His Word, in at times the callings for men and women are very different. The truth sets us free to serve the purpose of God, rather than living for ourselves. As He gave His life for us, we should lovingly give our lives in faithful submission and service back unto Him.
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
So, are you ready to do God’s will rather than your own? Are you ready to serve Him rather than the carnal nature? Do you want good things to happen in your life? God can certainly make them happen. What is required to receive these blessings is to love Him, and obediently walk according to His will. After all, we must walk in the purpose that He created us for, just like the reasons for creating,…..
……..The Sparkplug
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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(This study was edited for improvement)
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