Proverbs 21:8, The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

Being restored to our former state is not the purpose of repentance. In repentance we will always lose something, most often our pride. He must increase and we must decrease. To retain the sense of guilt after forgiveness is simply to mourn over what was lost.

There is a strange feeling that we get when, for instance, crossing the desert, hearing an unusual noise coming from the car’s engine, and knowing something is out of sync. To feel guilty is to feel strange. We all know that feeling. We sense that something is wrong and needs fixing. We are created by Christ, held together by Him, and He is written throughout our being. To invite something that is anti-Christ into our being will make us feel strange in that His life is repelled by it. Sin is simply anything that is anti-Jesus, anti-Matthew 5, 6, and 7. This “strange” feeling will not leave us until we invite the sin out. In the Old Testament the sin was taken out of people and placed upon a ritual animal, thus providing a sacrifice for sin. There is a tendency to focus only on the sacrifice for sin, but the freedom from guilt is equally important and came at the point where the sin (the thing that was anti-Christ that we invited in) was taken out of the person; the Christ that holds man together stops fighting against the sin, and the former sinner has peace. To have all our sins placed on Jesus, to have the struggle of our being cease, and for Christ Himself to flow unhindered in us brings a peace that the world does not know. Any time we are sick of feeling “strange,” we can confess the sin, invite it out and on to Jesus, it will leave, the struggle will stop, and we will have peace.

Simple? Well, what about the person that goes on feeling guilty long after he has confessed the sin, invited the anti-Jesus thing out of his being, and, according to the authority of Scripture, has been forgiven? Why does the feeling of guilt hang around in some people? This lingering feeling of being “strange” has led many believers to the conclusion that they were not forgiven at all, that they are, in fact, castaways, that they have fallen from grace, and that they have crucified anew the Son of God. They begin to consider themselves analogous to Esau. Hebrews 12: 14-17, Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Now, this is an interesting passage in light of many others, such as I John 1:9-10, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. The mention of Esau is used to reinforce the difference between law and grace. However, many use Esau as an example of a man that had gone too far, so God was in no way going to receive him back. How can that be? Well, we stand or fall not in what we do but why we do it. Esau was not repenting because he felt “strange,” felt guilt; Esau was repenting because he had lost something other than the peace of God and wanted back what he had lost. His repentance was faulty. Repentance based on losing something other than the peace and fellowship of God is based in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Look at Judas, the betrayer, for example. Judas and Peter both denied Jesus and sold him out, one for silver and one for the comfort of his own flesh. Peter found repentance, for he had invited in something that was anti-Jesus, he felt very strange, could not stand to feel that way, invited it out, and received the forgiveness of Christ in his soul. However, Judas’ repentance was based in pride; he was so upset and obsessed with his poor performance as a man that he killed himself. Often guilty people commit suicide, and the root of that is always pride! They just cannot come to grips with their failures. If Judas could have gone back in time to undo his failure, he could have stayed in pride; his bad flesh could have remained hidden and his good flesh put on display. But Judas would still be Judas, not as interested in Jesus as in his own desires! When Judas saw that he was not ending up looking too good, he wanted to die. If he were fundamentally interested in Jesus, he could have failed and still had Jesus, just as Peter did. Judas could not come to terms with his failure. Pride! Esau wanted to go back in time, but what did he want when he got there?

In reading the Bible I cannot find that God says anything positive about man (with the exception of The Man). Do we think He is surprised by our failings? No, He is not, and therefore He has made a provision for them. When we have felt “strange” long enough, we can truly repent, the sin lifts, and His peace comes. However, it is no good seeking forgiveness so we can have something returned to us other than the full flow of Christ. Many look for repentance to have their image restored, to feel good about their flesh again, to undo a mistake that cost them financially, to be able to stand again in a place of self-righteousness, to avoid embarrassment or shame, or even to have emotional experiences, and all of this is done with tears. This simply is not the appropriate purpose of repentance. Did Esau want God and the joy of moving forward, or did he want the birthright and the ability to go backward? In Hebrews it is quite clear what Esau was up to; he wanted the inheritance, period. The purpose of repentance is not to go back and undo a mistake. The purpose of repentance and forgiveness is to go forward with a greater revelation of the love and peace of God. HAD ESAU REPENTED BECAUSE HE WAS FEELING “STRANGE,” HE WOULD HAVE FOUND RESTORATION. That does not mean he would have gotten his birthright back, but if the peace of God were the goal, he would not have cared. Esau’s heart was revealed. We are in this life for Jesus, not for any material or self-righteous attainment. If I lose all my self-righteousness, my possessions, and my image but retain the peace of God, then amen!

Any time we have a sense of feeling unforgiven even though we have confessed, we can ask ourselves a simple question: “Did I repent for the return of His peace, or did I repent to regain my lost ground?” Then we need to say, “I do not care about the attachments of the flesh or about the past; I invite out everything that is anti-Jesus. I recognize that even my desire to regain what I lost is anti-Jesus, and now I want You, Jesus, to fill the vacuum that has been left when my sin was placed on you.” You will find everything for which you are looking once you are looking for the right reason. We can tell if we are repenting in order to have something other than the peace of God return to us. It will be revealed if when the enemy reminds us of stupid things we have done in the past, our response is an ensuing sense of dread or fear. If God has forgiven us, why do we have the sense of fear and dread? Both of those have their roots deep in the fear of man or our own pride. We cannot stand to remember that we failed and are not better than others (pride), or we fear the loss of image. If we do not like the fruit, the solution is to lay an axe to the root. Invite out the fear of man, the embarrassment of failure, and the disappointment at a loss of standing. Let Christ come. Repent of both the initial sin and the pride that wanted Jesus plus something else. Actually, it is pride to think that if we went back in time, we would do better!

We stand in our why. Are we saying that we can stop doing something because our flesh got stronger, or are we saying we can stop doing something because we have moved up a gear in faith and believe what He says He has done for us? We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Action is to be based on His previous action. We are to walk sinless because His action makes such a walk possible. We live a very high life based on a work He has done. We need to take up our mats. The man in the Bible had to take up his mat, but his action was based on something that Jesus already spoke. Some can only say they will not look at porno if the why is based on the fact that Jesus has set them free. And if Jesus has set them free from one thing, then how many things are included after the one? One will lead to many. We should never vow that we will not do something if it is because we think we are strong enough to keep the vow, but if we have had the revelation of Him keeping the vow in us, then that is the proper order.

Romans 5:5, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

“God so loved the world.” Knowing what you do about the world, dwell on the thought that God loves the world, and you will be overwhelmed. We have all seen more than our share of wickedness, and yet He loved the world! Now, if God loves the wicked world, would it make sense that He would not love His own children? Not that we are comparing our righteousness to that of the world’s and coming out looking more deserving. We are just examining His love. The following are soul killers for a Christian: to believe that God hates him, is disappointed with him, has decreed that he has not measured up, or has had it with him. When we believe that God hates us, we shut down, withdraw, move into regret, wither, move into guilt, and become resigned. Messages that tell us God is upset with us bombard us through sermons that compare, accuse, spread guilt, condemn, and judge. We hear, “Will God know you? Will God say, ‘Depart from Me, for I never knew you’? Will you put your hand to the plow and look back?” Legalists work so hard to get a person in the faith, and then go into overdrive to kick him out. Simply put, we just will not approach a God we think is mad at us, but by avoiding Him, we avoid LIFE and the solutions to all our failures. See how important it is that we know that God does really love us and is not angry with us? That God entered into our humanity, lived in a fleshly body, and is not surprised by what we have done?

Let me warn you to believe that God loves you, or you will have to prove it through nightmarish experiences. He will withdraw His grace until you cry, “Uncle!” and admit that you make no contribution or have any hope of being loved. In that spiritual fetal position you will then hear Him say, “I never stopped loving you.”

I must know that He loves me. I must be able to get up after a failure and not believe that I need to work my way back to acceptance. I must have a God whose love is that big. I remember a blown day. (Actually, there are too many to remember.) I blew the meeting, I blew the message, I blew my temper, I blew my judgments; it was a completely blown day. I went to sleep with those two haunting fears I have when I am feeling at my worst: first, that I would wake up, and second, that I would make it through another day. However, in the morning I felt beautiful. I did not have a care. I did not have a hint of condemnation. I kept thinking how strange it was. Then I did the unthinkable and rationalized to myself that why, when I was having such a beautiful day, was I going to mention to God all of my failures from the previous day? Well, I did, and He said, “I do not want to talk about that. I love you. Let’s move on.” Yes!!! From the world we get the idea that if we fail, we are abandoned, cut off. This carnal trait of reacting is not to be transferred to the Father in heaven.

Matthew 23:2-10, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is Christ.”

India is mocked because of its caste system. Though illegal since 1947, I have found that in practice it is alive and well. The flesh of man enjoys the caste system. It is like bigotry in that it seems to be abhorred only by those who cannot practice it! Well, amen! As my Indian teacher says, “The world continues to be the world!” However, what about the Church? Should it be riddled with bigotry and a caste system of its own? It is, and you need have no doubt about it. The messages may not be overt (it would nearly be more palatable if they were), but the covert message is quite clear. Many in the “churches” have convinced those who join that they will never, in this life, arrive to a stature and standing that allows access into the deepest revelations of Christ. I do not just preach; I listen to heaps of preaching, and this is what I hear. Those who are single, those who have experienced a divorce, those who do not have children, those who have not been in “fulltime” ministry, and those who have rebellious children will never arrive as successful Christians. Blah, Blah, and more Blah! Many believe the deception, which simply put is that life with a small “l” translates into life with a capital “L.” There is a perceived disparity in life; for instance, that there is such a huge difference between those married to unbelievers and those married to believers, that those lacking marriage to believers are to take their rightful place in the sub-Christian caste. When it comes to life (with a lower case “l,” as in the world), there is a minimal difference between living with an unbeliever or a believer; however, when it comes to the thing of Life (with a capital “L,” the Life of Jesus within us), there is no difference. People who are successful in the world’s eyes–educated or having millions of dollars and prestige–are far more likely to commit suicide than those who have little. Jesus is using all of life—indeed, He holds all of life together–to teach us the things of the kingdom within us and the kingdom to come. He is not fighting divorce, singleness, and failure but using those to bring man to the revelation of Himself. If you fit into any of the above categories and have been led by man to feel inferior in your walk with God, please, please, do not let a Pharisee define your spiritual condition. God is using everything in your life to bring you to Life. Phil. 3:7-11, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” If you have had struggles, failures, and calamity in the things of “life,” do not let anyone tell you that it translates into a failure in “Life.” You have come to Him; you do not dwell in a lower level of the Christian life; you are blessed. Is the world living according to His standards? No! Not to worry: He is not fighting the world but using it. He has used it in your life to bring you to Him. Rejoice!

My second point is in regard to the “Christian Club,” which is how I have come to regard a building which houses the gathering of believers, as opposed to speaking of the corporate Church, the Body of Christ. Actually, the club reminds me of a cruise ship, where there is an activity for everyone, and the talk of the day may be how big the ship is compared to the bigger one with even more amenities soon to be sailing. There is so much going on that is not Biblical in the club, and it is interesting watching people get around that fact. They remind me of researchers at the university slowly starting to build a teaching based upon nothing. Next, something is added to the nothing, and inevitably there are additions to the additions of the nothing. The whole purpose is to distance themselves from the nothingness at the base and to appear to be logical and Biblical. The desired end result is a very “firm” teaching with strict “Biblical” rules for how “spiritual dancing,” “falling down in the Spirit,” “worship,” “inner healing prayers,” and “casting out demons” is to be done, still with no Biblical foundation. Then brother Mike comes along and asks the obvious question, “Where is this in the Bible?” Of course, in their minds every question was laid to rest long ago, and the “fact” that they are in the truth is proven by a multitude of experiences. The goal is to have enough positive irrefutable experiences to outweigh the dearth of evidence for those “manifestations” in the Bible. Again I ask for Biblical evidence. This is followed by blank stares, lengthy examples of “their experiences,” and, finally, sympathy for one like me who has not had the revelation. However, I kept asking, “But where is it in the Bible? Would Paul cheat us by giving no instructions?” Finally, we shift to a different topic, and they go on building the system with their experiences.

Is it possible that a club can transition to the expression of a Church? For a church is to be an expression of Life. It will make that transition when it no longer goes about the activity of creating Christians, but recognizes them. When it is no longer consumed with having every stick in place without a spark, but it is old wood drenched in water, yet ablaze. It will make that transition when the goal is lifting up Jesus, not just in word but in fact. This will be revealed by certain attitudes. It won’t have the attitude that another group is “doing” something that brings in more people, or the accompanying attitude that “we lost one.” It will not imitate anther branch but participate in the Life of its own branch. It won’t send out surveys to see what the people need, but will stand in the conviction that it already knows the need, and the need is Jesus. It won’t view itself as the machine that is the mechanism for coming to Christ. Pentecost killed religion; Church is any place and any time that the Lord comes “where two or more are gathered.” I remember in South Africa when He came in response to prayer and a slave girl’s reading. Jesus is silent about the strategy of making a “successful church,” because the plan of action was always to be connected with His Life. A machine takes strategy, but the Vine is Life, producing not plastic fruit but living grapes. Do I have a strategy? Yes! Go where the people are, lift up Jesus, and see what it is to which He witnesses. It has worked, if “worked” is the word people want to hear. It works in “dead” churches, “live” churches; it works over a coffee table or at a bus stop. I have never been limited by environment. If Christ were to be limited by the environment, then the environment is greater than He. The church today is full of formulas: sit, sing, sit, sing, pray. It is enough. Something could look like a club and not be. Something could look like a bus station and be a Church. Something could be invisible and be a Church. We must throw out our definitions, for we hear “Church life” and think “program in a big building,” we do not think “invisible.” Is the purpose of the program to touch the inner man’s needs, or is it calculated to touch the needs of the outer man and move the flesh? Could the program operate without Christ? Was Pentecost an expression of Christ, or did it create His coming? Is the Holy Spirit waiting for a program to act? Is the Holy Spirit waiting for me to act, or is the Holy Spirit waiting for me to receive Life and move and breathe, and then He will move me to where I need to be? It is interesting to look at Christian Companies; have they created a “Christian environment”? What is a Christian environment? What about the Church Company, the Christian Club? How does building an entertainment center for the youth balance with needs of the unemployed? Generally speaking, new curtains will never give way to someone’s cancer treatment payments; the bricks will be more important than the unemployed. How could the Church in China grow without any of the externals? Where do you see the early Church joking around in order to have something relevant? The Life they expressed was relevant. If, for argument’s sake, it is possible to move out of the Spirit and into the flesh, what would a fleshly program look like, and what would a spiritual program look like? How do statistics help? Are the statistics that we get relevant to the needs of the inner man? What avenues into a man’s heart are legitimate? Is what makes a strategy good or bad the goal? Which is easier to follow, the strategy or the Spirit? If we install a program, can we be creative, or does a program by its very nature kill creativity? If creativity is copied, is it still creativity? Why are there people who really do love God–and the Spirit witnesses to it—and yet are sick and tired of the club? We cannot say they are just trying to cause strife. If they could hear something about Jesus and how He works outside the box of religion, then even in the worst setting they would come alive. Where is there such a thing as a minister of music in the Bible? Why does a Church hire outside the congregation for its staff? Is there something wrong with making the statement that “We are the Church” instead of asking, “How are we to be the Church”? Are there more believers this year and last year because of the new programs? Amen, a Christian carpenter will hammer a nail pretty much the same way a non-Christian does. When we are looking at the club, we should go easy, for we do not know how God has led, worked, or brought people to this vision. Still, somehow the building has come to be the place of a seeker service for unbelievers, a fellowship of unbelievers, so that cannot be the Church. It can be a valid form of outreach; hundreds of places are valid forms of outreach. However, Jesus did not bring people in, but He sent the disciples out, and Church was the gathering of believers. What we call “church” is a transvestite, a method of outreach dressed up in clothes and called the “church.” It is confusing because the clothes do not fit what is underneath. A believer will often have trouble in this dating relationship.

I am seeing it clearly. How can I be bound and then required to do something? The moment I believe in Him for life in heaven, He binds me, so I must not be able to live the life on earth. Do you remember the Head, the man in the Amazon region without any limbs? He is the full image of Jesus. What can He do but rest? This is our inner life. We cannot perform; we cannot do it. I am sick and tired of beating myself up over requirements that I have made for myself; He did not make them for me, because He bound me. No more waking up full of self-hatred, regrets, and guilt; He never required those things out of a dead man. His death was for sin, and my death was for Life. The purpose of my crucifixion is so I will be forced to live on the earth the same way He did, in full dependence on the Father, doing nothing on His own, like the Head.

Isaiah 56:12, “And tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

This could be the lifelong verse of the procrastinator, who never enjoys the moment, for the moment is a constant interruption. Some might ask what is being interrupted. Well, whatever is happening is an interruption to what the procrastinator is “going” to do. Since the procrastinator lives in the fantasy world of thinking he will do in the next hour what has not been done in the previous months, he is always too busy to take time out for the joys of life. Yes, he really would like to hike, to read a book, to go bicycling, to go to the movie, or even to take a small vacation, but, alas! “There is so much that needs to get done.” In fact, so many things remain undone that are supposedly going to get done that the postponer is actually angry at the interruption and whoever brings it. “How am I supposed to get everything done if you keep interrupting me?” Again, the procrastinator would feel guilty taking any time out, because he is not doing the job he had planned. What is comical—sadly–is that the procrastinator does not actually get to the job. The exhaustion at the end of the day does not come from overwork but from falling into bed full of frustration and self-hatred, believing only that tomorrow is going to be different. A schedule is in mind. If everything goes according to plan, he will actually finish the task a few days early. But let’s not forget, “And tomorrow will be like today, only more so.” What is at the root of all this needless delaying? Just to mention a few, there is fear of failure, boredom, an unreachable standard, and inferiority. Any of these, coupled with self-deception, keep the procrastinator from getting started; he continues procrastinating until he must work night and day just to catch up. This time, he really cannot allow others to tempt him away from the job at hand, because he must isolate himself to get the job done. Try to get him on the phone, and he will not answer; he must get it finished. He is not rejecting others, but is merely the victim of his own procrastination. The end result is that a procrastinator does not enjoy life.

If you are afflicted with the tendency to behave in this manner, here are a couple of suggestions. Stop fighting the fact that you procrastinate, admit it, own it, and embrace it. Actually, you can make it work for you. Admit that you are not going to do the job until the last minute. Then go ahead and enjoy the interruptions that come in the meantime without getting frustrated that you should be doing something else. Second, take up the cross and deny the feeling of inferiority. Third, lower your standard. Remember that your 80% is like another person’s 110%, for most procrastinators are perfectionist Thinkers by temperament. Fourth, realize that you can take on much more work than you thought you could. You are actually only productive, at best, 50% of the time. So take on more work. Fifth, start enjoying life! You will never be a “disciplined” person as defined by the “disciplined.” You are what God made you.

I see that one day I will become irrelevant. I was at a Bible college when the elderly founder was speaking, and his message was as dead as Nelson. The students fell out of the lecture hall with glazed eyes, just happy the torture had ended. Fifty years ago this man was a great blessing to the Body of Christ. I related my observation to one of the other teachers, and he heartily but reluctantly agreed. I explained that I was not criticizing but making a point; this teacher had read the founder’s books, taken notes, and lectured the same material. So I asked him, “What was the response from your lectures?” He replied, “Oh they were great, and the students really understood it!” That proved my point. We must pass on to each generation the TRUTH for them to process, make their own, and then relate in terms that their generation understands. This is how the TRUTH remains relevant. This is also why no person should apologize for using an idea he has initially heard from another believer. Anyone who gets the witness has gotten the revelation, and this whole issue of copyright is foul in the Body. What one hears, what witnesses to a person, is given to him by God. He can rework it, spread it, and then the Lord will give more. Do not ever be bothered with the false guilt and the lying emotions that say we must be original. The drivel of original men is not of interest to anyone, but the word from an inspired man, the thoughts that God has given him, are of interest. If those words are copyrighted, then the one who does it is actually copyrighting the words of another (Jesus) and breaking the very law he is trying to saddle others with. I understand that a publisher wants things copyrighted in order to not be sued, but beyond that, give it a rest!

Romans 8:7-7: because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The flesh: that condition of being under the influence of something other than Jesus. The flesh, made from the dust of earth and always dragging the soul (mind, will, and emotions) into the things of the earth. The flesh: wanting a kingdom in the dust from which it came. The flesh, when exercising power over the soul, silences the Spirit of Christ within. Flesh is an amazing thing and brings us face to face with the fact that apart from Him, there is little that separates us from animals.

Positive or negative, it doesn’t matter to the flesh, whatever it takes to stay in control.

I often think of the flesh as an ice climber. Where I live there is a sport made of climbing up frozen waterfalls. It is dodgy business, and the climber must be careful to find a place for the pick and spiked shoe. A tough spot is at the top, where the water last flowed. At this point the climber must actually go up at a grade that slopes away from the surface.

Sometimes I pray, “Jesus, make me like that ice that is at an angle. The flesh is looking everywhere for a footing.” The flesh will have me thinking of being offended or those I have offended, of self-righteous acts and unrighteous acts, and of guilt or justification. Positive or negative, it doesn’t matter to the flesh, whatever it takes to stay in control. It insidiously uses anything to gain ground, and I am still amazed at what will keep the flesh ascending. However, it has trained me and worked for me, for now, as I feel its climb to control, I know that I have moved away from the Lord. I move back, let Him tilt me a little in His arms, and the flesh goes tumbling.

I went for a walk past a Chinese remedy shop. There were heaps of roots, pickled snakes, octopus, and more; a shark fin was nearly $300. I am staying in Chinatown. It goes without saying that I am the only Caucasian within a several-mile radius. Since I am not a part of this culture, I don’t know how someone should dress, eat, or act; I lack the cultural consciousness. I can’t enter into the conversations, so I walk and talk to God. I can’t live up to the status quo because I am not a part of this system. I can’t fit into the herd because I am not even in the herd. I can pretty much do whatever I like as an alien, and I am enjoying it! It is amazing how much freedom there is outside the herd and surprising how much our herd affects us. I can see that being among the herd is confining and being outside it is expansive. The wealthy Chinese passing by me in their Mercedes Benz’s stop to let me pass; they assume I am rich. They know I am an alien. Would that all men comprehended that we are aliens! “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). We are aliens, and there is much benefit in it.

I took my normal walk and prayer time. I saw some boys with the traditional Chinese dragon on their heads doing a very poor imitation and performance. Two other boys carry the large brass drum that is beat incessantly. The looks on the shopkeepers’ faces indicated they just wanted the boys to go away; some with that look of disgust actually took notice and paid them. Satan does a very poor imitation and performance, but he keeps making noise until we notice or even pay him, not with money, but with fear, guilt, condemnation, and obsessive thoughts.

I Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”

Flesh-stirring sermons are the easiest in the world to preach by just sitting back and thinking of a common problem that humanity has, particularly if it revolves around instinct, sex, self-protection, food, or unforgiveness. Such topics will pretty much hit everyone in the congregation. Then show Jesus as not having any of these problems and talk about a few saints that supposedly never had these problems. At this point, you are ready for the final plunge of the knife: “How can you be a Christian with these problems? You must change.” Then end the whole thing with a list of things they can do to change, a list that you have never kept yourself. In the end, you will get nearly the desired 100% response. However, there is another approach. Focus on and talk about Jesus, highlight the revelation that we can’t but He can, and remind the people that the commands of Christ are exactly His description of how He lived. Then move to a passage concerning the Christ who lives in us. End with a plea to rest, knowing that He understands our struggles, that there is nothing we have done to make Him reject us, and that He lived in a body and won the battle in blood. Explain the Way and what is not the Way. See if the hearts cannot be stirred toward Jesus, rather than guilt being stirred that makes people run from Jesus and the only possibility of such living. Remember that according to the parable of the sower and seed, three-fourths of your work is a complete waste of time. Relax and let God give growth to the seeds. Only a few may respond, but from those few you will see a 6,000 and 10,000% return, for they will not be acting like Jesus, but allowing exactly Jesus to emanate from them.

. You must lose your righteousness daily to be able to accept His.

There are many passages concerning the exemplary lifestyle of the believer. “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments . . . You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; you shall love your neighbor as yourself . . . sell your possessions and give to the poor.” “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.” The young man would have been even more disturbed had he hung around to hear a little more of Jesus’ teaching, for he would have discovered that his statement that he had kept the commands was a bit premature. “For if you think it in your heart you have done it!” In the end, who is guiltless? Can anyone stand the examination? I don’t believe so. This leads us to another thought. Did Jesus come to exclude men? It would appear so. However, He clearly teaches that He does not want to exclude, but to include. Yet, His—and often Paul’s–teaching does exclude. What is going on? Something simple! When you see that your own behavior and work have excluded you, cast yourself on Him and His behavior that includes. Yes, something must be cast away, and it is to be your efforts, so that you can cast yourself on Him. “How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:54) Things have to happen a certain way. You must lose your righteousness daily to be able to accept His. Take one Scripture in light of all others; never take it by itself. God is multifaceted; if He is putting you out on one count, it is only so He can bring you in on another. God is love! Admit what you are not and then, like Abraham, move out of works and into faith for your justification.