Efforts & Proving Ones Self Pt3

Jesus says "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

Teach and do good acts but not under some kind of religious thinking. Let the peace of Christ seat you in a position to receive from the Spirit of God. There you may be able to teach, help, build up, and answer the cries of God’s people.

Doing things in the flesh is like trying to water a garden blind folded. People come to church not to be just educated but to be encouraged and uplifted and to see God meet their cries and needs. They come for nourishment. They come seeking direction. They come seeking how to apply the word to their life. The word of God is living and breathing but it means nothing if it does not pertain to the needs of His people. God’s word should always be administered in love or it means nothing. If I spout out scripture that doesn't address the needs of God's people, it is just as good as a dry stale cracker because the power of God isn't giving, instructing and directing them.

Examine these scriptures in their contexts in the bible.

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit will give you what?

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” John 14:10

Who is doing the work through you? You or God?

“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.” 1Thessalonians 1:5

What you say by the power of the Holy Spirit will address and give assurance to God’s people.

When a person continually feels they have to prove themselves they are not free. Jesus says” So if the “Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36) but if we doubt or forget the life giving message of Christ and who we are in Christ then we are a slave to whatever comes.

Christ makes room for his peace in our heart and that peace allows us enter into fellowship with him and minister to the needs of others. Proving yourself and human justification only robs you of that peace. We become only hearers of the word and not genuine doers of the word.

If we are too busy doing and proving ourselves- then we don’t develop a relationship with Christ who allows us to have peace. Proving ourselves is based on us and because we don’t have peace within ourselves we don’t see or hear the needs of others - and even if we do see and hear the needs of others they tend to be pretty shallow in perspective. We may even hear God’s voice but teach and do with no real genuine love for others and their well-being.

When proving ones self to others -even going to church becomes some obligation. we go not to receive a message from God but to uphold some relational that you are a Christian.

If you are in a garage does that make you a boat or car? If you are in a library does that make you a book?

What makes this idea? What makes this idea that if you are in "church" you are a Christian. Further, what makes this idea that if you miss church you are sinning?

I have observed that you don’t go to church for a couple Sundays or Wednesdays, people start forming an opinion that you are slipping and it doesn’t matter what your actions are or not. You could have the most loving actions in the world but because you didn’t come to church you are judged and looked down upon. Hum? A person can be totally faithful to Jesus yet others perceive him/her has a hit and miss folk, church hopper, lazy, loner or hippie. I wonder if Jesus was ever perceived as any of these?

I don’t know if people know they do this or not but when people form prejudices in their mind they are forming a bias and in forming a bias they are making some form of judgment. This judgment makes them feel obligated to carry out some kind of form of punishment or prejudice. Most likely they will withdraw from that person, such as withdrawing fellowship with that person. The people being judged don’t carry out some standard in judger’s mind or in their little group so they disassociate themselves like Peter did with the Gentiles.

I am not going to go all apologetics on you but I want us to really think how much we are embracing the saving gift of the gospel.