What Is Baptism All About?

"For sin shall not have dominion over you..." Romans 6:14 Romans was always my least favorite book in the New Testament because try as I might, I just could not understand it. But as time went on I didn't realize that it was being made alive to me, until suddenly realizing that I DO understand it now. Why? Because I've seen it worked out in my life. I've seen the demonstration of it. And it's astounding. I think the reason for the lack of the ability to understand it is actually quite simple. Most of us when we start out with the Lord, realize that there is no way on earth that we can overcome the weaknesses (sin) inherent in our individual makeup. Most of us try to overcome, but soon realize it's impossible. We might play games with ourselves, seeking to make a gain here or there, but whoever is honest with himself will know that he/she just can't do it. It's like a New Year's resolution. It just doesn't work long term. But that's where the Lord meets us. vs 3: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH?" There is a great truth in being united with Christ in his death. We go down into the waters of baptism which represents the grave, but it doesn't end there, that's only the beginning. vs 4: "Therefore we were buried with him through baptism INTO DEATH, that just as Christ was RAISED FROM THE DEAD by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE." I remember thinking back in those days, "if the power of sin (death) is so great that one cannot overcome it, then the power of resurrection must be even greater." vs 5: "For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection…" But I hardly dared to believe it because it seemed like asking the impossible. And of course ...it WAS. It's a supernatural thing, something not possible in the natural. It wasn't until long after, when I began to notice the changes inside, I was absolutely astounded because the POWER of what used to rule me simply was no longer there. I remember going over and over and over it in my mind trying to figure out how on earth that happened, then came to realize that I was seeing the absolute truth of the Word of God being demonstrated to me right before my eyes in my own soul. It was not New Year's resolutions. It was the power of God in the life of a believer. Does that mean that one who has experienced such a thing is sinless? No, only when we leave this earth will we experience the total deliverance, when "we shall all be changed." Only then will we "put on incorruption..." (1st Corinthians 15:53). Until then, the power of the resurrection is worked out in us even now, if we walk in total surrender to the Lord and allow him to have his way in our lives. We still have the CHOICE to do so or not. We still will hear the lies of Satan who seeks to destroy our walk with the Lord. And we still will be kept humble as we realize the areas that have not yet been changed. It takes time, a lot of time. But once that submission to the death represented in baptism has taken place, the POWER of the resurrection begins working - almost imperceptibly for a long while because one is born again as a babe. As the believer walks with the Lord he will suddenly begin to realize the changes that have taken place and is brought to his knees in utter and heartfelt thanksgiving; for that which was impossible to him was made possible through the power of the resurrection of Christ at work in him. This is not religion. Religion will NEVER be able to do this. Religion CANNOT produce this. The Scripture specifically says that the religion of "the last days" will be powerless. Men will be religious, but their religion will be useless: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the POWER thereof; from such turn away." 2nd Timothy 3:5 Friends, if your religion has not changed you on the inside, then your religion is powerless and the Scripture says "from such turn away!" This is not speaking of behavior, most religious people control their behavior outwardly. This is speaking of the inherent sin nature that rules you. Only if you are born again will you see that sin nature dying with Christ, and the power of his resurrection raising you to new life. More: Born Again -What Does That Mean?

Do You 'Counsel' God?

"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

Can Your Ministry Be A Work Of The Flesh?

"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.