Will We Rise to the Occasion?

Just for the record, it goes without saying that Oswald Chambers challenges me to judge myself. There is no doubt that Mr. Chambers, like David, is a man after God's heart, who will do all His will. I know I am not alone in what I am about to say, due to conversations I have had with other servants of God. So I share with humility in hopes of allowing others to discern, open up their hearts and encourage others as well.

There are times when God is stretching me to take the hard steps of giving sacrificially. I am not speaking of finances, which are not a challenge for me. I am speaking of energy, patience, perseverance and strength. The casting aside of giving in to being human and having limitations is a sacrifice. I now realize that the times I have to reach beyond what I can do to be His presence when I might not desire to is the point that He is trying to increase me...or more accurately, to increase HIM.

I pray that we acknowledge that when we come to this point we see the truth. The truth is that when we do not have enough of something to get the job done, we are to use that as an offering of sacrifice. We know that when we give a tithe God uses it to multiply and care for many. In Malachi 3:10 God says to test Him in this and we will see that He is God and He does not change, His will always provides and comes to pass.

I believe this to be true, I believe God is faithful and that Christ has risen for our redemption...indeed!

Candace

My Utmost for His Highest

By Oswald Chambers

All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . . —2 Corinthians 1:20

Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.

The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33 ). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.

Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.

Complete and Effective Dominion

From: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Death no longer has dominion over Him. . . . the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God . . . —Romans 6:9-11

Co-Eternal Life. Eternal life is the life which Jesus Christ exhibited on the human level. And it is this same life, not simply a copy of it, which is made evident in our mortal flesh when we are born again. Eternal life is not a gift from God; eternal life is the gift of God. The energy and the power which was so very evident in Jesus will be exhibited in us by an act of the absolute sovereign grace of God, once we have made that complete and effective decision about sin.

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8)— not power as a gift from the Holy Spirit; the power is the Holy Spirit, not something that He gives us. The life that was in Jesus becomes ours because of His Cross, once we make the decision to be identified with Him. If it is difficult to get right with God, it is because we refuse to make this moral decision about sin. But once we do decide, the full life of God comes in immediately. Jesus came to give us an endless supply of life— “. . . that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” ( Ephesians 3:19 ). Eternal life has nothing to do with time. It is the life which Jesus lived when He was down here, and the only Source of life is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even the weakest saint can experience the power of the deity of the Son of God, when he is willing to “let go.” But any effort to “hang on” to the least bit of our own power will only diminish the life of Jesus in us. We have to keep letting go, and slowly, but surely, the great full life of God will invade us, penetrating every part. Then Jesus will have complete and effective dominion in us, and people will take notice that we have been with Him.

Who Isn't Excited about a White Wedding?

For me, Oswald Chambers is utilized in such a way that I hear God speak to me in almost every devotional he writes. I see things differently, I understand them more deeply, I desire to look at my life honestly and I choose obedience passionately. The reason is through this I see how to freely live in this world. That inspires me to obey...to taste what He desires for me and to share as only He can empower.

I rember Billy Idols lyrics "It's a great day....for a white wedding". Hey little sister who's your superman, Hey little sister it's a great to start again.  That is what the white funeral is about isn't it?  A funeral isn't exciting in this world...but think of the white wedding!  Funny, I would never have thought I would be using Billy Idol to witness for God.....but He knew.  That is why He told us in Colossians 1:16 "He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers-- everything has been created through him and for him."

I pray if you do not already see this, that today you will see a glimpse, hear the Holy Spirit that is one with you on this journey and obey the simple piece that He is blessing you with ......just today!
With the love of our Savior Jesus Christ,
Candace

Do You Walk In White?

We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life —Romans 6:4

No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a "white funeral"-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a "white funeral," a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him.

Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being "baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3 ).

Have you had your "white funeral," or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, "Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God."

"This is the will of God, your sanctification . . ." (1 Thessalonians 4:3 ). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that "white funeral" now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you. - By Oswald Chambers Utmost for His Highest