God Is an On Purpose God!

Matthew 27:17-18 (NIV)

So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”For he knew that it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.     

Acts 2:23 (NIV)

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

As I wrote this blog, I thought about the upcoming Passion Week, which is only a couple of weeks away.  This is the week that the World shares as a reminder of the Biblical events that took place from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday.  A time when Believers identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  However, today I want to talk about a different identity that I have, that is not as prestigious as the one that I have in Christ.  It is an identity that reminds me of just how much I am in need of a Savior. It is an identity that likens me to a certain man that the Scriptures call Barabbas. 

About a year ago I was reading in the book of Matthew and came across scripture that found Jesus standing before a Governor and an angry mob, who had been coaxed and given the responsibility of choosing whether or not he would live or be put to death.  The Bible says that the people were given a choice between releasing Jesus or a prisoner by the name of Barabbas, who had been found guilty of many crimes that were deserving of death. (Hold on to that point).  After being persuaded by officials, the crowd shouted,  "give us Barabbas!" This following their earlier praise of him being the Son of David, and a gift from God. Is that what I do? Praise him as Savior one minute and then choose the world the next minute? In choosing Barabbas they were choosing (they thought), to set the prisoner free; leaving Jesus to be put to death.  My eyes kept going back verse 18 where it said that they had made their decision out of "self-interest". Is that what I do every time I choose sin over the Savior? 

As I tried to read further, I was reminded of the struggles and strongholds that I had battled and sometimes still battle.  Sins that I had committed, out of "self-interest" as a result of my silent screams of, "give me Barabbas!"  ..."Oh my God", I thought. ..."Where did that come from?" Am I one of those people in the crowd who chose the Guilty over the Innocent? Who chose Wrong over Right? Who chose Death over Life?

Every time I refused to forgive... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

Every time I chose a relationship over my God... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

Every time that I looked to myself and my own will... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

I now realize that this scene was no accident! It had to be written into Scripture; it's characters, including the angry mob, all necessary for this story to be told. There had to be a Barabbas because one day there would be a "me".  It all makes sense now. The Governor, the people, the prisoner, deserving death, but is pardoned; the decision. It is clear to me that "Barabbas is me!" Barabbas represents that "self serving" part of me; that "self fulfilling" part of me; that part of me that would save my own life, as well as my own self-interest over righteousness!

Jesus allowed himself to be charged, although he was guilt free! He allowed Barabbas to be pardoned, because when he looked at Barabbas, he saw you, and he saw me!  He knew that he was about to bear the weight of sin...Not just Barabbas' sins, but our sins as well.  Do you see now? That crowd didn't set Barabbas free! Jesus set Barabbas free! They didn't have the power to set any man free! There would have been no point in Barabbas being put to death; because he would've had NO Redeeming Power on the Cross!

Like me, and like Barabbas; you have been guilty of many things in your past. Some may be guilty of something right now, but the same Grace that saw Barabbas, sees you! 

YES, you are guilty of all charges; YES, I am guilty of all charges! ...BUT THE CROSS!

YES Barabbas deserved death; YES we deserve death! 

...BUT THE CROSS!

Jesus knew that the majority preferred Barabbas over him THEN...and he knows that the majority prefers Barabbas over him NOW!  ...BUT THE CROSS!

It was God's deliberate plan that found Jesus at the mercy of the people. It was God's deliberate plan that pardoned Barabbas! It was God's deliberate plan that sent Jesus to Calvary! We no longer have to walk in defeat!  We no longer have to worry about the death penalty!  Because we are no longer guilty unto death. We are now a part of a redeemed crowd...And we have a new shout!! that says, "GIVE US JESUS!"  We no longer look to crucify him, but to Glorify Him!  NOW SOMEBODY SHOUT "GIVE ME JESUS!"

To Whom Have I Surrendered?

To Whom Have You Surrendered?

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from which cometh my help; my help cometh from the Lord...Psalm 121


Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in Every place.  ...2 Corinthians 14

During earlier war times, when a group of soldiers would come to the conclusion that they were unable to gain victory over their opponents, a white flag would be waved to signify that they were giving up the battle; throwing in the towel. It was a moment that signified that their strength and their hope had been exhausted. The scene was not a good one. The enemy had left some wounded....many dead. Hope had been lost. It was at that moment when  a once thriving company of soldiers would declare their "surrender".

To surrender: 

To surrender oneself to the power or authority of another; 

To yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand

My question for you today is, to whom have you surrendered?

Most of us have spent most of our lives surrendering to something or to someone. Mostly because we were tired of fighting or dealing with whatever or whoever we were dealing with. The feeling that there is no hope of a victory on the horizon has given us all of the reasons that we have needed to give up or throw in the towel. We have waved many white flags signifying that we simply are done with what doesn't seem to be working on our behalf.

 We have surrendered our hopes to hopelessness, We have surrendered our dreams to a mere thought. We have surrendered our joy to a life of discontentment, and we are beginning to see white flag after white flag, of those who are on the verge of surrendering their faith to faithlessness and disbelief.

Somebody has a white flag in their hand and they're saying, "I'm  going to give up the fight! I will never win!" 
...surrendering to defeat!
Somebody has a white flag in their hand and they are saying, "God didn't do it for me in last year and he won't do it for me this year either!" ....surrendering to faithless-nes! 
Somebody is already waving their flag, because life doesn't seem to be worth living! ...surrendering to hopeless-ness!

But, if you will just hear me out for just one moment; Your problem is not in your "surrendering", it is in whom or what you are surrendering to! We still have that old war mentality that tells us that we must give in to the enemy when in battle! That we must surrender to things that we have no strength or power to gain victory over! That we must surrender to Goliath! 

But I hear God saying, YOU HAVE GOT TO change position! You are facing the wrong direction! You are too busy waving your flag of surrender at the enemy, but I need you to be waving your flag of surrender at ME!! The enemy will take your surrender and defeat you with it, but I will take your surrender and give you power to have victory!!
Change your position!! You need to be waving your flag at ME! I am the God of restoration! I am the God of hope! I am the God of Victory! TO WHOM ARE YOU SURRENDERING? To whom are you surrendering your children to? To whom are you surrendering you marriage to? To whom are you surrendering your finances to?

I need you to wave those flags of surrender! And watch God begin to do a new thing in your life! 

 Those flags of your past...Begin to wave them, and watch God begin to speak power to your future.  Wave those flags of independence, indicating to God that, this year, that "I can't do this on my own; I want you walking beside me!" 

Wave those flags of unhealthy habits. Let God know that this year, you are moving out of the way! Make a bold declaration that you only want what God has for you! 
Don't allow your battle wounds and fear to stop you from waving your  flag of surrender to the Lord! 
You may have limped into 2017, but God is still here! there's "protection" in your surrender!  
 ...2016 may have claimed must of your strength, but go ahead and wave that flag! God says that I am offering you power for your surrender!

God gave me this word because we have been waving our flags of surrender in the wrong direction! Surrendering to things that cannot see us through! Surrendering to that which can not sustain us! He's saying that we have got to change positions so that we can see Him! 

For most of us we won't see change until we change our positions with God! 

Satan thought that he had blacked your eye beyond the ability to see God, but if you still got one good eye left in 2017, and you can lift it to the hills from which cometh your help...you will find that your help ....STILL comes from the Lord!  

 Now start waving those flags and find power and refuge as you surrender to the God of your Salvation!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Trusting In the Sufficiency of God's Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So many of us have experienced a year that has been full of trials, hardships, pains, and perplexing circumstances. This has left some at the end of their rope, while others are still trying to recover from the many blows that the enemy has thrown. Some that seem to never go away…thorns in the flesh, if you will. Some of us may be counting the days that are left in this year, while anxiously looking forward to next one; hoping that it might bring a little more joy and cheer; a few more hallelujahs; and a lot more favor!

But, let’s go back for just a minute, before you break down 2015’s door! How do YOU think YOU did this year? We have preached, sung songs, read devotionals, quoted scriptures, and found ourselves on a prayer line faithfully; we have decreed and declared, cast out, rebuked, bound, and loosed, all in the name of Jesus, but where has this year left us? They say, “It’s not what you been through, but how you went through” right? Well, how are you? Did you make it through unscaved? Did you barely make it through? Did you trust God more this time than the last time? Did you trust him less? Where has this year left you?

I have had a tough past few years…from losing my job in 2010, to losing my bank account, to losing my home, having to take a $7.50/hr job, to recently living in a hotel for a month and a half. Oh, and not to mention my strained marriage, and the passing of my grandmother and the our beloved 1^st Lady at my church! I can tell you right now that it was by God’s Grace that I came through all of that….Perfectly!

Now, some may say, “did she just say that she came through Perfectly?” Well…yes, I did! And I’m going to tell you how!

 I have learned the difference between the sufficiency of Self and the sufficiency of Grace!

Let’s look back at 2 Corinthians 12:9, where it says that my Grace is sufficient for you. The word sufficient means that there is ENOUGH of whatever is needed for a purpose.  So, what God is saying here is, “look, whatever you are going through, I am ALL you need to handle this! I am able to produce and provide whatever it takes for you to make it through your problems! I AM GRACE…AND I AM SUFFICIENT FOR YOU!

Now, let’s talk about Self Sufficiency: When you are self-sufficient; YOU are able to produce or provide whatever it is that is needed for your own circumstances. In other words, YOU are self-supplying! YOU are indeed ENOUGH of whatever is needed for YOUR circumstances. Let me just talk about myself! It means that I am ENOUGH of whatever is needed to handle all that life throws at me! I am my own sustainer…my own sufficience!

I learned a long time ago, that there was a flaw in my sufficiency! I learned a long time ago that I was indeed DE-FICIENT and could not provide half of what I needed to make it through life’s journey! DE-FICIENT!...meaning that in and of myself, I am lacking what is needed, and have nowhere near ENOUGH of what it takes to do anything on my own! And if I fail to provide enough of what is needed…something is left “wanting”...I began to see God’s efficiency and my de-ficiency!

My so-called efficiency left me with faults, but His was faultless! Mine was flawed, but his was flaw-less! Mine, left me “wanting”…still needing! But his was ENOUGH! Mine left me “impaired” (or in worse condition), His re-paired and made me better! My efficiency left me “unsound” BUT GOD! He came that I might have the spirit of a “sound mind”….My efficiency left me weak in my inability, but God’s efficiency told me that because of HIS efficiency…because of HIS Grace…my weakness is made strong!

You see God’s grace IS sufficient and His sufficiency IS PERFECT! So, in these past few years, I have learned to keep my eyes upon him at all times, and I am living proof, that with God, you don’t just go through! …..You go through perfectly!

Reflection:

I had to learn that when God said my grace is sufficient, he wasn’t just trying to be cute with his words. He was letting Paul know, that, “hey, I know you going through, I know it’s tough! But I have absolutely positively ALL that you need for this storm, for this wilderness, for this season! I realized that there was no way that I was better off, doing things my way than doing it God’s way! And so I trusted Him every step of the way. Even through of tears of discomfort, I trusted in his outcome! I felt safe in efficiency of His grace. So, although your circumstances may not be perfect…God’s sufficiency IS perfect, the work that he’s doing in you IS perfect, and the purpose that it is to accomplish…IS perfect!