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Deliver the hard message

 

MercyMe – Even If

 

The big idea from Ezekiel that I am picking up today is that sometimes God calls upon us to deliver the hard message– the message that is difficult to deliver. Perhaps we must confront a friend or admonish someone. A part of what it means to live the disciple’s life is having the courage not to put off these responsibilities when they come. Ezekiel is a good example of someone who was willing to deliver the hard message.

And he said to me, “Son of man,[i] stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. – Ezekiel 2:1-3  ESV

So what is the hard message about being or not being a disciple?

This was one of my readings today.

 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. – Hebrews 6:4-6  ESV

It would seem that the Hebrew writer is giving me a pretty hard message. It would seem that holding Jesus up to contempt could be my crime. By contempt – meaning that I would be nailing Him to the cross again.

“they tear him out of the recesses of their hearts where He had fixed His abode and exhibit Him to the open scoffs of the world as something powerless and common” [BLEEK in ALFORD].

As a disciple of Jesus, I abide in Him, hear and obey His voice. There is not a falling away to the point where the branch is dead and needs to be broken from the tree. Imagine if I were though. Even so, if I became like the fig tree that did not produce fruit, God’s grace can reclaim even such a hardened rebel. The impossibility is more in line with me knowing once the power of Jesus’ sacrifice and then rejecting it, I could feel that I have past by hope, except by a miracle of God’s grace.

This hard message reminds me everyday to be walking in all the experiences God has given me and to not cease in abiding in them. By abiding in them I will not fall away.

 

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A part of the body

 

I am part of the body of Christ, of which He is the head. As a follower of Jesus I get to serve and lead as an equal member with other followers of Jesus.

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. – 1 Corinthians 12:28  ESV

The Holy Spirit is crucial in giving tasks and sharing gifts with individuals so they can function fully as a disciple and disciple-maker. There are so many gifts that allude to “words” given over a person in order for them to be encouraged or to receive insight into something they would not be aware of. It is a way God binds us together to form a whole.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11  ESV

I love this – God has freely gifted His people. Gifts used for building up and growing the body of Christ. All of us play a unique part – in other words – we are all gifted differently. It is only when I unite myself with other followers that my giftedness, shared in love, can help reach out and disciple a lost world.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 12:4  ESV

I know that it is difficult to tell the difference between those who really are following Jesus from those who possess a deceptive spirit. Paul’s opening address on the work of the Spirit among followers of Jesus is an encouragement to me to stay vigilant and to discern the Spirit among those I come alongside.

Now concerning[a] spiritual gifts,[b] brothers,[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 12:1-3  ESV

All of this continues to remind me how important it is for me to walk and to be in the presence of God on a daily basis. I want to be under His care and protection, to be in His grace, to enjoy knowing that He is watching me. It is here that I find my joy, where I stand right with Him, where I can be sincere in my service and my worship.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    the upright shall dwell in your presence. – Psalm 140:13  ESV

This is why I can come to Him each morning in prayer – to seek Him and know how to walk before Him. To be a healthy part of the body of Christ.

 

 

 

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