"Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out!"
Romans 11:33
The pride of man fancies himself something far more than he really is. The pride of man keeps him from God because to acknowledge that there is a God, a creator of the universe - that of necessity would suggest that if God created me, I must be accountable to him. And mankind bristles at the thought of being held accountable.
"And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light
and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed."
John 3:19
The wise man realizes the truth that he is accountable to God and surrenders his life to him. He thinks it ends there, but oh that is only the beginning, for that man will go on to learn how unsearchable are the ways of the Lord, how deep, how beyond all human reasoning. As he continues to walk in surrender he begins to experience the wonder of God working things out in his life in a way far different, far superior, and far more joyful than anything he would have experienced on his own under the guidance of his own "wisdom."
This has to be experienced to be understood. Not until a person begins to walk in this adventure will he ever, ever fathom the depths and delights and joys of following the One whose ways are unsearchable, but which are all designed to bring God's best ...for those who are willing to surrender their pride and who have surrendered all to him.
"For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become his counselor?
Or who has first given to him
and it shall be repaid to him?"
Romans 11:34-35
After knowing God this way, the very thought of "counseling" God becomes comically absurd.
Even so, many believers who know God only come to him with their suggestions - and that would be laughable if it weren't so sad and so empty.
I frequently remind myself of the story of my salvation, how God had to go before me to set up the circumstances, and how I had to be in the right place at the right time, with no idea what was about to happen. When I think on this, it dispels any notion I might have of suggesting to God how he might do things. In every story of my many years of walking with him, in every single story he went before me to set up the circumstances to make the story work. That is awesome! It establishes my trust in him and reminds me of my place before him.
Friend, if you have been telling God how he should do a thing concerning a problem in your life, sit down and think about this. He is GOD. You have the right to bring your problems to the Lord, but you do not have the right to suggest to him how you want them solved. And once you learn that thoroughly and cease all "counsel" to God, once you let HIM do the counseling, you will find much to your amazement that he knows exactly how to conduct things in ways you never, ever imagined. And as you watch him do that, your heart will swell with wonder and absolute delight. And THEN will come to pass the saying:
"DELIGHT yourself also in the Lord,
and HE shall give you the desires of your heart!"
Psalm 37:4
"There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus…"
This verse is often quoted, but most often it stops there. Read the rest of the verse:
"...who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Romans 8:1
One can quickly discern those who are in Christ Jesus, versus those who walk in the flesh. When one is "born again" he is so filled with the Spirit of God that everything in his life centers around love of the things of God. Not the love of religion, but love of the truth. This is not by effort, it's not even by his will, it is the natural manifestation of the Spirit of God within.
It is a beautiful thing to see a person born again, to see his entire soul being infused with the Spirit of God, changing his whole outlook, so changing the person that the Lord is on his mind all the time. You can't talk with a born-again person without that person starting to speak of the things of the Lord in the very first few minutes. It's his whole life now. The Spirit of God fills every nook and cranny of his being. If this is not the case in anyone who thinks he's in the Lord, then that person must seriously examine whether he has actually been born again or not.
Those who claim to know Christ but who don't really, that becomes very obvious soon into the conversation. Maybe they're involved in some kind of ministry, some good work, but Christ is not dwelling and alive within. They'll eagerly talk about what their ministry is accomplishing, but you won't hear them talk about Christ himself. If a pastor, he'll tell you numbers, how many are listening to him. He'll tell you how many services he has to conduct on Sundays. If it's an author, you'll hear repeatedly, "...as I said in my book..." The focus will be on himself. The love for Christ, the passion, the desire for intimacy with him, is simply not there. Their focus is on what they're doing, the things they're doing "in the flesh," because it's obvious they're not doing them in the Spirit. You can't have the Spirit of God and not be totally in love with the Lord. Can ministry be a work of the flesh? Absolutely. And you will know that man by his FOCUS.
"For those who live according to the flesh
SET THEIR MINDS on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit."
Romans 8:5
Anything that is not done under the direction of the Spirit of God is flesh. The things done may be good things, but they're being done under the direction of the man's own soul, to gain respect, to gain popularity; in other words, the focus is on himself.
Here is an appeal to anyone who is active in some ministry or other. Examine yourself to see whether what you're doing is for yourself, or for the Lord. Examine yourself to see whether it is under the direction of the Lord, or whether it is your own soul striving to find "self esteem" through your works, to gain respect from people, rather than to honor the Lord by walking in total surrender and obedience before him. And should you see that it's all about you rather than all about him, spend some time before the Lord in prayer and repentance, and let him direct you in getting your heart right before him. It might be that you've missed the very first step, that of being born again in the first place.
"Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of Christ,
he is not his."
Romans 8:9
Let the Spirit of God so fill you that all you ever want to accomplish is only that which he wants to accomplish through you, to glorify God in all that you do, and in all that you are, while yourself being ONLY the tool.
"On that night God appeared to Solomon,
and said to him, 'Ask! What shall I give you?'”
2nd Chronicles 1:7
If the Lord came to you and asked what you would like him to give you, what would you ask? Think about it a long time before you answer, because it will reveal the true state of your heart.
Solomon had just been made the King of Israel, and as a king he could have asked a multitude of things, great wealth, continuous victory over his enemies, the admiration of the people, many loyal servants, success in all he desired to do, and oh so much more. He was the king, and would have been justified in asking these things. But listen to what he asked:
vs 9-10:
“Now, O Lord God, let your promise
to David my father be established,
for you have made me king over a people
like the dust of the earth in multitude.
Now give me WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE,
that I may go out and come in before this people;
for who can judge this great people of yours?”
What did he ask? He asked to be equipped to carry out his ministry rightly before God. That would require wisdom and knowledge. His only concern was being able to rightly rule over God's people.
And listen to God's response to the deep humility of this man:
vs 11-12:
"Then God said to Solomon: 'Because this was in your heart,
and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor
or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life,
but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself
that you may judge my people
over whom I have made you king,
wisdom and knowledge are granted to you;
*AND * ...I WILL give you riches and wealth and honor,
such as none of the kings have had who were before you,
nor shall any after you have the like.”
God absolutely loves humility. He loves humility so much that it is his delight to pour out blessing on any son or daughter who will surrender himself/herself to him and seek above all to be equipped to carry out their call and fulfill the mission he has set before them. This is the very heart of God. Nothing could please him more.
"But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you."
Matthew 6:33
Unexpected to that person will be the blessings God will add to the one who has such a heart. He surprises them and delights them and fills their hearts with joy. Oh if only all believers knew the secret of happiness, if all believers only understood what pleases God - and set their hearts to that alone. How many blessings are forfeited by the whiners and complainers who weary God with their never-ending complaints!
Brothers and sisters, take a good look at your heart toward God and ask yourself if your ATTITUDE is pleasing to him. Does God simply have to put up with you? Will you never seek to know what pleases him, and understand that in pleasing him your joy will come? If your heart is less than surrendered, pray and ask for grace to come to an attitude change, ask for help to bring before God an attitude that will delight him. It doesn't come naturally to us, we are proud and self-seeking by nature, it has to be sought after.
Go aside, take some time alone with God, and ask him to show how you can change your attitude before him and please him. THAT will delight him!
