Rebellious Idolaters

During chapel on Tuesday I received a revelation from the Lord that taught me what it looks like to give God all the glory. ALL the glory, even the small bit of glory that you reserve for yourself (the glory you use to feel good about yourself, to stand on; the things that give you work or value or credibility) ex:

- I helped start that ministry

- I mentored/discipled that student

- I gave that awesome talk

- I put on that event

- I went on that mission trip

- I planted that church

- I lead that powerful time of worship

- I facilitated that small group

Often when we see the fruit of our labour flourishing we want to claim credit for ourselves. We forget that its GOD who plants seeds through us and its GOD who makes them grow; we are just the tools. 1 Cor. 3:6 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” There is no where to boast except in the cross of Christ (Gal.6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”) which has allowed us to be in the POSITION to be used by God. 2Cor. 10:17 “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord"

So why do we do this? It’s so silly but it happens continually in my life; and while I can feel bad about it and ask God to forgive me; if I haven’t come to a place of gospel centred repentance where transformation occurs….nothing has changed. The only thing that has changed is behaviour modification, aka: learning how to train yourself better to hide your selfishness from others or convince yourself that you really aren’t as prideful as people think you are. You learn how to justify your motives better.

We need to recognize our condition!

Most of us know the promises of God; we know that he is worthy of all the glory; we know that we are just instruments and yet our lives reflect a heart condition that is contradictory to these truths. We are CHOOSING to hear truth and not respond. We are choosing to hear and know what we ought to do and yet make the conscience decision not to do that. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” and through these promises we can “escape the corruption in the world” and yet I choose to look to the things of this world to fill the needs of my flesh. I look to my friends to fill my need for security, I look towards my mentors to give me approval, I look to the people I mentor to feel loved and valued and take every path OPPOSITE of that of the Life-Giver: Jesus Christ himself. Once I’ve regained my composure (after feeling broken) THEN I come to God and ask Him to renew me. This cycle of knowing truth and yet choosing to fall down and get back up by our own means outside of God demonstrates one thing: we are in rebellion. We are choosing to ignore what he has for us. We are literally making ourselves enemies with the God of the universe……ya about that. And it gets worse…

Finding worthy or value outside of God = idolatry. Anything we place before God is idolatry. So from my analysis so far, it looks like we are rebellious idolaters…..awesome.  

As rebels, its time that we lay down are arms (surrender) and put our idols on the alter so that God can burn them up. God wants to move in unshakable power in our lives; he wants to pour out abundance and goodness in us: but are we creating enough space in our lives for God to move?

Jesus didn’t say give up everything and then go on mission trips, start churches, teach bible studies etc….he said come and follow me. There is no plan or instruction, just follow me; go where I’m going. This can rattle us because we like to have objectives, goals, and things to measure our success with. But there are none; just ruthless trust.

Are you ready to dive into the unknown purposes of God? To burn the bridges, destroy the boats, go ALL IN!!! God is beckoning you to join him on this exciting adventure he has waiting for you. Right now God is saying “I DARE you to give me everything. I dare you to trust that I am going to provide and then some to the things you are trying to find outside of me. Stop being a rebellious idolater! I dare you to take me for my word and to remember the ways I have showed up in your life; to remember the ways that I have redeemed and healed you. To remember who I am and not lose focus.

Today I’m praying that we would pray for gospel centred repentance: that we would not take lightly the power of the cross; that the weight of COSTLY grace would burn in our hearts, and that we would have a mature view of the gospel. Thank you Jesus that you have rescued us; thank you Jesus that you have redeemed us; thank you Jesus that you are enough.

It’s time to die to ourselves and make Jesus LORD; the original gangsta, the boss of our lives. Where we give up control and say Jesus YOU now sit on the throne of my life.

When this happens, then and only then are we able to pray the dangerous prayer: “Father, I am ready to be MARKED and set aside for the unknown purposes of God; here’s everything”