A True "Christian" Life, Justification

A time of preparation

I'm going to go out to become a Pastor. I'm going to be an Evangelist. Uh, I'm going to be like Cain in the old TV Series, were the lead Character, simply roams the earth, helping people and getting into adventures. But here is the thing, are you prepared?

God seems to have a very specific pattern of training, especially for those He wishes to put into a leadership position. First, He calls you to accept a Plan and Purpose that HE has for you. It is HIS Plan not yours. Second, He is going to justify you, or prepare you, to do whatsoever He needs.

First, He usually separates you from your old life, in order to mold you into the Creature, or NEW Created Being, that He wants you to be. Congratulations, you just died to the World and was re- or Born Again, or yet another way of saying it, you were just ADOPTED into the Family of God. This mythical, magical, conceptual, idea of an all powerful, all knowing, Creator of the Universe, is now your Daddy. If you want to have the best of what your new Daddy has, you cannot continue to live as you once did. Sorry. You cannot hang out all day and drink, or do drugs, or pursue sexual relations, or even work two jobs, where you no longer have time for anything else, and expect to grow in God..

Next, there is usually a time of solitude. God often brings Leaders into a time of solitude in order to speak to them without other distractions. Paul was sent to Arabia for two years for a time of solitude. Joseph spent years in the solitude of Prison. Moses spent 40 years in the Desert.

This is also where, if you are looking, you will find the Gifts that God wants you to have. Remember, Not all of us are Teachers. Healers, Prophets, ETC.

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." {1 Corinthians 12:1-6}

It really goes back to the fact that God created you for a reason. He foreknows who you are and who you will be. He knows your Strengths and weaknesses. He is not going to put a recovering Alcoholic into a Bar. Or someone that is gifted as a Healer into a solitude type of Job. It goes on to say this..

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." {1 Corinthians 12:8-11}

The Spirit? Who? The Holy Spirit,, God, "dividing to every man severally as he will." If you are a Square Peg, you can try as hard as you want, but you are never going to fit in that round hole.. Sorry. But God knows you are a Square Peg, He knows where the Square Hole is. He is going to make sure you are ready to fit.

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." {1 Corinthians 12:12-14}

It goes on to talk about how one Body needs feet, hands, eyes, ears, etc. And that not all are the same, yet, all together, we are ONE Body. Totally relying and depending on each other so the body runs smoothly. Operates the best, to serve Him and to benefit others..

Now I do not want to scare you, but I do not want you to be ignorant either. There is another common
Characteristic of God's Preparation for Leaders. It is discomfort. Yup. Discomfort. The setting in which the Preparation takes place, is usually is not a place of Coziness and Comfort. Abraham traveled through the difficult Deserts. David lived in Caves fleeing Saul. Paul was frequently Persecuted. Seriously look at Paul..

Put in prison over and over. Faced death over and over. Received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. Beaten with rods 3 times. Stoned one time. Shipwrecked 3 times. Spent a day and night in the sea. And was in continual danger from robbers, and even his own people. Paul was always in danger in the City, in the Country, at Sea, from those he thought to be Brothers. Often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked. {2 Corinthians 11}

That does not really sound like Saturday morning Cartoons while sitting on your Couch eating a bowl of Cereal now does it? So why? Because Reality is far harder and far scarier than most people realize. Most people live in their happy little Houses, drive their happy little Cars, and live their Lives in a happy little Bubble. Most have no idea what Reality actually is.

You see, before you became Adopted, you belonged to the Devil. He did not care about you. He already owned you. But once you left??? Now you are a problem. Now you are a threat. The truth of the matter is that there is a War being fought, right now. Right now, you are on one side or the other. Oh desire to participate is irrelevant. Either you accept Jesus and are Saved, and you are fighting on the Winning Side, or you chose not to, and you are still a Child of the Devil...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." {John 3:16-18}

No sorry, there are not other ways to be Saved. There is one. Either you accept Jesus, or you are "condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Remember, it was the Religious Folks, not only Religious, but the Rulers of the Synagogues, the Leaders of Religion, that Jesus called Children of the Devil.

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." {John 8:44}

They thought they knew everything, but without accepting Jesus, they knew nothing. God is not about Religion, He is about Relationship. He is not concerned about how much you know about this or that ty or ism, but how close you are willing to get to Him. Are you willing to step out? Are you willing to stand up? Are you willing to allow God to prepare you for what HE has in store for you?? Are you sure?

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..