Imagine a king in a magnificent and glorious kingdom. In this kingdom are all the riches and treasures you could ever dream of. It is a land of peace. Everyone loves one another, and there is no lack. One day the king speaks to his son, whom he dearly loves. He tells this son there is trouble in another land; a land far away, full of other people whom he loves as well. They are suffering terribly; drought, famine, poverty, sickness, and fear have taken hold of the land. These terrible problems have caused the people to do things they normally would not have done... and to lose hope. He asks his son to go to this land and help the people. He gives him everything he has at his disposal to use as a means to rectify the problems in that place. The son enthusiastically agrees to go to help the people of the far away land. He heads out on his journey; taking with him silver and gold, precious things, caravans of food supplies, fresh water, medicine, and valuable information from all the sharpest minds of his kingdom. Information designed to teach the people of the land to understand the cause of their problems, as well as valuable information on how to solve them.
Much time went by, and back at his home the king heard nothing from his son. He waited for a very long time, but when he still received no word from his son, he sent others to find him. They went to the distant land to find the kings son. When they arrived they found things to be worse than they ever imagined. The people of the distant land were in serious trouble. The condition of the people was worse than they had heard about, and all the people were very sick. They had no money for food, no medicine for the sickness that ran rampant, and no one seemed to have any hope or ideas for a brighter future. They found the kings son, and to their amazement he was curled up in the corner of a hut, in a village over-run with poverty, sickness, and despair. He had become one of them. When they approached him he was startled, and then began to weep, asking them why they had taken so long. “Why has my father done nothing? Why has he left us here with no hope of the future?” The messengers did not know how to respond, they simply said, "you had everything you needed...we thought you would have used the things your father gave you to help the people, and yourself. That's why you came here. We found all of the supplies and information in the valley on the other side of the hill. Why did you abandon them?”
Does it seem strange to you that the son would have abandoned the supplies and all the other things his father had given him as aide to the people? How could he have forgotten his purpose for going to the far away land? He didn't even take care of himself. He became like them. He had everything he needed to help the people, as well as provide for himself. Yet when the searchers arrived he blamed them, and his father, for having done nothing. If the father would have been there, what do you think his response might have been to the son?
As strange as this story sounds, the reality of it will hit way too close to home for most of us living as Christians today. The job the son went so eagerly to do, is the job assigned to every Christian today by our Father in heaven. Jesus said it is expedient that I leave so that I can send you a comforter, a counselor, a guide...the Holy Spirit. Jesus was to be the first of many brethren, implying there were to be others like him.
Much time went by, and back at his home the king heard nothing from his son. He waited for a very long time, but when he still received no word from his son, he sent others to find him. They went to the distant land to find the kings son. When they arrived they found things to be worse than they ever imagined. The people of the distant land were in serious trouble. The condition of the people was worse than they had heard about, and all the people were very sick. They had no money for food, no medicine for the sickness that ran rampant, and no one seemed to have any hope or ideas for a brighter future. They found the kings son, and to their amazement he was curled up in the corner of a hut, in a village over-run with poverty, sickness, and despair. He had become one of them. When they approached him he was startled, and then began to weep, asking them why they had taken so long. “Why has my father done nothing? Why has he left us here with no hope of the future?” The messengers did not know how to respond, they simply said, "you had everything you needed...we thought you would have used the things your father gave you to help the people, and yourself. That's why you came here. We found all of the supplies and information in the valley on the other side of the hill. Why did you abandon them?”
Does it seem strange to you that the son would have abandoned the supplies and all the other things his father had given him as aide to the people? How could he have forgotten his purpose for going to the far away land? He didn't even take care of himself. He became like them. He had everything he needed to help the people, as well as provide for himself. Yet when the searchers arrived he blamed them, and his father, for having done nothing. If the father would have been there, what do you think his response might have been to the son?
As strange as this story sounds, the reality of it will hit way too close to home for most of us living as Christians today. The job the son went so eagerly to do, is the job assigned to every Christian today by our Father in heaven. Jesus said it is expedient that I leave so that I can send you a comforter, a counselor, a guide...the Holy Spirit. Jesus was to be the first of many brethren, implying there were to be others like him.
Beloved, the ideas many Christians have that life here on earth is something to be endured until that day when we finally see Jesus and are completely transformed into His image in the twinkling of an eye, are in many ways erroneous. Yes on that day we will know fully the things which we do not know now, and yes we will put off this body of flesh for an eternal one, but the truth is we have a job to do while we are here on earth.
Brothers and Sisters we are a peculiar people, set apart by God, for God, to do with as He pleases. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, and it is time that the true sons of God step up and be counted. It is time for the church to go public. We are not to be conformed to this world. We are here to administer assistance to the sick and dying. We have the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in us, because on the cross of Christ there was a divine exchange that took place. Now having accepted the exchange we are to be adorned with all the gifts of the Spirit, and set apart as the chosen bride of Christ. We have been given authority in His name to do His work in the world.
We are to strengthen the weak by administering the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are to heal the sick. We are to bind up the injured by administering inner healing and deliverance from the oppression of the devil. And we are to evangelize, seeking the lost and bringing back those who have strayed away from God's protection. We are instructed and empowered not only to do these things, but also to prophesy and speak life into any situation that does not line up with the word of God. Poverty, sickness, disease, depression, strife, divorce, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellion, and any other ungodly spirit or aspect of the curse that rears its head is to be cut off with the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God. We are to disciple others and to be discipled ourselves, enjoying and exploring the measure and gifts of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to submit to one another in love.
Somehow many of us, as if leaving all of our provisions in the valleys of our lives, have neglected to administer (or really even seek to obtain) the provisions God has provided for us through the sacrifice of His precious son Jesus. My friends, let us consider the question asked by the writer of Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit: "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"
We are just travelers passing through, heading to our eternal destiny with our heavenly bridegroom...looking forward to the "well done", and a seat at the table upon arrival.
Somehow many of us, as if leaving all of our provisions in the valleys of our lives, have neglected to administer (or really even seek to obtain) the provisions God has provided for us through the sacrifice of His precious son Jesus. My friends, let us consider the question asked by the writer of Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit: "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"
We are just travelers passing through, heading to our eternal destiny with our heavenly bridegroom...looking forward to the "well done", and a seat at the table upon arrival.
"...ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it..." Joshua 1:14, 15
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