Many end up there so long they become the same as those that lead and before we know it another group of backbiting, uncaring, manipulating, insecure believers are released into the world to attack those Christians who want to move on with God. To make matters even worse, this newly infected person soon starts to loose sight of the dream that God had once given them.

Let's look at another group. They go to an exciting, on-fire church. If you are one of these Christians, ask yourself the following questions.

•          Have you failed to react to so many messages that your heart has grown hard?

•          Do you feel that you have accepted a sermon just because you heard it?

•          Have you become a hearer only, and in all honesty, you are not a doer of the Word?

•          Have you become cold to those around you?

•          Have you become more focused on your own needs than the needs of others?

•          There is another group who are moved to tears at almost every message; they are always ready to worship; they are hardworking; but they never grow up. 

Friends, please finish reading before you send me e-mails. I have a very important question you need to ask yourself and God. I beg you to be honest with yourself.

Are you really saved? Are you sure? Why? How have you changed? 

Two Things Can Happen At Salvation

I am starting to understand that two things can happen at salvation. There is salvation that leads to healing, deliverance, freedom and maturity. There is also a salvation process that gets aborted. When this happens it causes the person receiving salvation to become, in a spiritual sense, deformed or retarded.

When the latter happens people always begin to justify their actions and actually begin to call good evil and evil good. This kind of person will go to great lengths to make something happen. They may get a word from God about His dream for them and off they go trying to make it happen, instead of allowing God to bring it to pass. As God gives us His plans, He will give us the steps to succeed as well. A sad things happens with this type of person. Not only do they justify themselves, but the dream never really comes true (or if it does it is a poor shadow of what it could have been if the person was not in rebellion).

What about you reading this booklet today? What group are you in? Are you maturing in God? Are you heading down the path, where like Jesus, your life is all about the Father and His desires? Or are you still putting your wants ahead of His?

I have had some people tell me that "It is too hard. I should not expect people to come to that place in this life. No one,” they say, “ever gets to the place where it is all about Him. That will only happen in heaven.

Besides," they say, "God understands — He lets me have my way in certain areas. He does not expect me to be 100% sold out in this life He knows I am only human. Anyway, I try." My answer is always the same — check your pulse. That type of logic cannot come from anyone who is sold out to Jesus. You better make sure you really are saved, because that reasoning is not from God.

Phi12: 14

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 

Phi14:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Friends, I strongly believe it is a very dangerous thing to hear the Word of God and continue to resist change in your life. It is just as dangerous to always blame others for your lousy attitudes and actions.

Some of you may be saying, "That's great, but I can't get free from sin in my life" or "I am having trouble heading down the path God has chosen for me". Friend, you can start down the path of God's choosing today by simply changing your confession. 

I believe that God wants to launch many of you into a new and powerful realm of service. But that can't happen till you take certain steps. First, you need to repent of your actions and you need to quit blaming things on others.

Some of you have been afraid to step out. You tried once, only to be beaten down by others. Some of you have never grown past the first step in the salvation process. You spend more time complaining or justifying than being honest with yourself. The problem is not others — its you!

Some of you are not team players unless you can keep the ball. You rush off to conquer new frontiers, but you never come to that place where it is more important for someone else to succeed than for you to make it.

I don't know why, but in Canada we have many, many people who are not only selfish but have really bought into the 'me first' philosophy. Some of you have said to God, "No, not today; maybe tomorrow". Others are upset for so many reasons; some continue to justify their lack of action because of hurt or abuse in their life. It is time to stop trying to justify our actions and allow God to heal us, deliver us, and even save us.

It all starts with being willing to repent. Don't allow the enemy to even suggest that you put it off until later. Do it now!

Pastors, we need to be real. Let us take that step of becoming transparent before our sheep. We need to encourage the sheep to do their part or the job God has given us will never get done. We cannot do it all ourselves.

We need to teach, equip and send out the sheep with the message of love and restoration. We must stand against and not allow the demonic spirit of slicing and dicing others all in the name of the law. I am not saying we should not stand against sin and its effects. We should and we need to challenge people to walk the way of Jesus, but let’s not lose sight of the truth that mercy triumphs over judgment. Let’s focus on taking the good news of Jesus to all.

One other group that God has impressed me to touch on is that group of believers who were not told the whole story when they got saved. They were told "Come to Jesus and everything will be roses. All your problems will fade away. Come to Jesus and you can be rich, you can have this or that".

Friends, while there are many benefits, most people, at their point of salvation, were never told the whole truth. You were never told about trials and tribulations that would come; you where never told you would be asked to forsake all and follow Jesus. You were never told about sharing the sufferings of Christ. They never read to you.

Phi13:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conform able unto his death;

 

The Bottom Line

The bottom line for every one of us is that we can have a new beginning; we can start fresh. It matters not so much where we have been or what we have been through but rather where we are heading. I know from first hand experience, God can turn even those terrible times around for our good. Let’s truly take the steps that make our whole life and everything in it, from the past to the present to the future, truly about Him. We can go forward to walk in the fullness of Jesus if we will turn from our old ways, quit with the excuses and take responsibility for our own actions. This is your opportunity to start down the road of maturity. There is nothing that will keep you on the right track better than a broken and contrite heart; one that cries out, "God; let Your will and purpose be accomplished in and through my life. God, I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. Save me. God, remake any and all spiritual areas of my life that are deformed Lord, whether it is because of false teaching or things that I have done wrong or even if it is something passed down from past generations in my family, God, I choose to repent. I ask You to make right what is wrong. O God, help me to be the person that You desire me to be. God, I am sorry. I am tired of doing things my own way. Help me to do all things Your way. God, I choose to turn away from all the rebellion and all the selfishness in my life. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen. "

If you have prayed this prayer, please drop us a line so we can pray for you and encourage you. If you have questions or need help in any way, I would like to help in any way I can. Please write me so I can stand with you.

You can become all that God has planned for you if you allow your life to be all about Him.

 

At Least That's The Way I See It

Roger