Do Yourself a Favor
Inside every one of us there is a contest going on for the right to dominate. Is it going to be Jesus Christ, or will it be me who rules the day? In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” The word “deny” in this context means to say no to oneself.
Many years back when I was a very new Christian, I went to our church retreat and had some great one on one time with my pastor. We were out on the deck on a beautiful sunny day in Page Springs, Az when I said something regarding my rights. In an instant he shot back saying, “But Huck, you don’t have any rights. You gave them up when you came to Christ.”
Paul introduced himself as a bondservant and back in the day, these servants possessed no will of their own. Today our rebellious flesh wants to superimpose its will over God’s will. Choosing my will over God’s only slows down the growing up process. When we Christians ignore the will of God, a sense of conviction will set in until we surrender. This feels like being stuck in a spiritual mud hole. Have you ever seen these truck or tractor pulls where the sled slowly grinds these powerful vehicles to a stop? That’s what disobedience will do to a believer’s progress.
Until we’re brought to the place of total dependence on Jesus Christ, allowing Him to be the supreme authority in our lives, it is impossible to be an authentic disciple of Christ. The Holy Spirit looks deeply into our lives. When He puts a finger on known disobedience, a true disciple will address that sled that is slowing him or her down with repentance.
We do ourselves a big favor by walking in obedience, and keeping ourselves under the spout where God’s blessings are pouring out. For serious disciples, read Psalms 32 and 51, then follow David’s lead.
The World is Watching
Pastor Huck
Defining a Disciple
A disciple is a learner who is also a follower of Jesus Christ. There is a big difference between being saved and being a disciple. Not all people who are saved are disciples, but all people who are real disciples are definitely saved. Are you sure about where you stand regarding this? Many people will say they like Jesus, but they’re not behaving like Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:27).”
Jesus called His first followers from their fishing businesses, which indicates that sacrifices were expected. Their initial interest began with curiosity but after hearing Him teach, they were willing to be taught more. In Matthew 13 Jesus sent the multitudes away who had heard the parable of the tares, but His disciples were the ones asking Him to explain the parable. The only people Jesus explained the parables to were His disciples, who were eager to learn more.
Being a disciple involves more than being a great student of scripture. Discipleship means Jesus owns all the rights to my life, to do as He sees fit. True discipleship will shake up your former lifestyle and priorities. Author J. Dwight Pentecost rightly declared, “As long as a man pursues the affections of his natural heart, he cannot be a disciple of Jesus.” Paul wrote, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Col 3:2).”
True discipleship focuses on a moment by moment, day by day walk with Christ. It goes way beyond any Bible class, Bible study or program. A disciple is someone who grows in their thinking, speaking and behavior. This would describe the Christian who is honestly glorifying God with their life.
Ask yourself: How has my life really changed since receiving Christ? Do you think you could tell anyone how they too could be saved? These are marks of a true disciple.
Go therefore and make…
Pastor Huck
It’s Not Fixed
Your doctor may encourage you to get a physical or take a stress test, and the results may indicate internal problems. The physical itself does not fix anything. It only verifies that you’re healthy or not so much. After this recent election it would be wise for the average American Christian to get out of their lazy boy and embrace a sense of responsibility, to vocalize the gospel in this nation that requires a complete overhaul. It is ludicrous to assume mere humans can fix America.
Does it honestly take a rocket scientist to understand that men should not be competing in women’s sports, that budgets should actually be balanced, that we cannot continue spending money we do not have, or that men should use the men’s restroom? Hello! Christians need to stand up during this window of opportunity and call things as God see them according to His word.
The USA’s problem is a spiritual problem that can hardly be denied. Abortion was a front and center issue as liberals cheered the murder of babies at the Democratic National Convention Abortion Van. When they announced the number of babies terminated, the self-centered, thoughtless crowd cheered. That is a pagan response from this nation God has so abundantly blessed. Therefore, will all the Hollyweed elites and godless entertainers please hurry and scurry away, to the country you threaten to inhabit if your candidate is not elected? Just go. You only hinder the fixing of our backslidden nation.
Our nation has known great turbulence. Do you recall Jesus being asleep in the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:36-41)? He was in the boat with His apostles, but not in their fear. Jesus never gave us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Now is no time to hit the mute button on welcoming people to Christ. Our Nation’s beginnings may be removed from history books, but we still have a great commission.
But It’s Fixable
Pastor Huck
Do Yourself a Favor
/in Calvary Corner /by Huck KusnerInside every one of us there is a contest going on for the right to dominate. Is it going to be Jesus Christ, or will it be me who rules […]
Defining a Disciple
/in Calvary Corner /by Huck KusnerA disciple is a learner who is also a follower of Jesus Christ. There is a big difference between being saved and being a disciple. Not all people who are […]
It’s Not Fixed
/in Calvary Corner /by Huck KusnerYour doctor may encourage you to get a physical or take a stress test, and the results may indicate internal problems. The physical itself does not fix anything. It only […]
Get Divorced
/in Calvary Corner /by Huck KusnerIf the church in America would ever embrace hell robbing prayer, and stop elevating entertainers, cease from trying to combine Hollywood and holiness, and divorce its amusement with worldliness; I […]
Flourishing Faith
/in Calvary Corner /by Calvar_simple