The Struggle is Over

Wherever you are, whatever you’ve been going through God says the struggle is over for you. You’ve been in this place long enough and your mountainside has been rough, the struggle is over for you. I am sitting here listening to this song, an immediate answer to a prayer I prayed this morning. This message is for you just as much as it is for me. In this time, in this season, we have to lay hold and believe this message. We need to remind ourselves that the trials and tribulations each one of us faces every day are only temporary. No matter what you are going through today, no matter how big the obstacles and fierce the battle may be there is and always will be VICTORY in Jesus!

To Much Is Given…

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)

I want to talk today about appreciation, about understanding what we have, and about what we ought to do and be because we have it. Some Christians act as if all they have to do after being saved is to sit on the sideline and wait for the next bus to heaven!

Being saved is more than just a Get Out of Hell Free card .

It’s not a chance card that advances us straight to heaven. We don’t collect $200. We don’t go straight to heaven, because God has a purpose for us, a role for us to play, in relationship with Him. We have a role, a service to do in ministry, and a mission in the world.  I heard a great quote today concerning Christian responsibility, “Jesus now has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, a new heart to love others with.”  What are we saved for? What is our purpose in this life? Many people profess to be saved, but they never really get a personal walk with the Lord and even refuse to learn what the Bible says on some issues. But with this blessing come responsibilities, there are obligations that come with our new opportunities. There are duties that come with our new calling. We have been saved to serve. When we think of called to serve, to be a minister, to ministry, to full-time service, we tend to think of the professional clergy – pastors, ministers, missionaries, or evangelists. But the New Testament makes it quite clear that all Christians are called to belong, to love, to serve, to follow Jesus, in every moment of the day and in every area of our lives. Regardless of our work and our career, at home or outside the home, every Christian is in full-time ministry, in full-time Christian service. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction.

What about you? How are you using the resources with which God has given to you? We were saved to serve, healed to help, blessed to be a blessing. We grow up to give out. Many of us (I’m guilty too) put our service on the back burner saying, ‘I need to get myself together before I do XYZ.” Has there ever been a time when your life was totally straightened out? A time when you’ve been completely problem free? You’ve been a totally good person? Will never be a time when you feel you have “arrived” and are totally clean and ready to meet Jesus? No, and why is that, it is because the Bible says “all have sinned” Romans 3:23. “There is none righteous” no, not one” Romans 3:10. We need to do more ministry, more service, get more practical experience of doing the Lord’s work, it stretches our faith, it develops our spiritual muscles.

Most of us go to work, get the job done with no excuses. Employers want people who can do the job they are assigned. Employers do not want people working for them who are long on excuses and short on doing what’s required.  So is God.  God is looking for growth and fruit in the lives of His people.  Sadly, sometimes when God is looking for results His people only have an offering of excuses. What about us?  What about me?  What about you?  What excuse will we use?  Let’s be men and women who are about our Father’s business and not excuse makers who always have a worthless excuse for not doing what we are called to do. When we accepted Christ we took a vow, a vow that promised to do His will. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 says,  When you make vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed–  5  Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. The Bibles says that it is better to never have said anything, then to say you’ll do something, and come back with an excuse.  Now, let’s  not be numbered with the few who make excuses, but go out and get the job done.