Message
So many people want Jesus as Saviour but never surrender to Him as Lord. Saviour means He will save you from trouble. They want circumstances to change, but they don’t want to change.
God gives Christians two things - a new nature and a cross to crucify the old nature. – Francis Frangipane
The search for identity drives people to seek approval from all sorts of outside human sources. Every person seeks recognition & fears rejection. Many end up living a life of existence & survival rather than living on purpose, Gods’ purpose.
Identity is determined by the highest authority figure in your life.
We have the power of choice to choose that authority figure that will have the final say & influence over our identity & lives!
Without choosing a ‘captain of your ship’ you will float around aimlessly on the ocean of life, continually searching for direction & never really aware that’s you are even off course.
G McDonald – “I find that doing the will of God leaves no time for disputing His plans”
Character, like identity is a choice. Character is a combination of all your habits. Whenever we choose Gods’ way we build a brick into the wall of character.
“People don’t decide their futures, their habits decide their futures” – B Gass.
Here are two thought patters that keep people from surrendering to God & experiencing the fullness of the Fathers’ love.
Two thought patters 2 lifestyles – Luke 15:11 - two sons - one (Prodigal) chose the life of street kid, give me what’s mine, I’m leaving – want no responsibility. The other (elder brother) stayed home but had the heart of an orphan, always felt cheated & dissatisfied. The Father’s house is full of people with orphan hearts – never experience the Father’s love just live like “hang a rounds” Elder brother is in Father’s house but he resents the fact that the prodigal ‘street kid’ came come home & find forgiveness. See Luke 15:25-28,29
To be right with God often means to be in trouble with man – A W Tozer. Not everybody will be happy when you stop depending on their opinions & start honouring God as the highest authority in your life.
1. Orphan child mentality. – Constantly seeking approval & living in fear of rejection
Rejection sends a message that you’re not good enough. You might be human, but you don’t make the grade, you’re just not it, your best is not good enough...we don’t want you here... Orphan children sit in the orphanage waiting for others to rescue them. The message to them is - you were not worth the sacrifice, we couldn’t afford to keep you.
Millions of people have that thought pattern as adults. It all starts with a thought. Somehow you believed the lie of rejection. Then life is a downward spiral of heart ache & broken relationships and insecurity. In a world of disposable relationships and uncertainty is good to know that Jesus came to destroy that cycle of rejection when ‘orphan hearts’ are surrendered to Him.
Please take responsibility for your own actions and let God change you when you acknowledge that your identity is shaped by the negative in the world. Many want to blame the devil for the heart aches & fragmented relationships; however he is capable assisted by people. I humbly apologise on behalf of the ‘Christians’ who set a bad example – the pastor who folded and ran off with some ‘hot chick’ – the guys who always gave the appearance of a saint and then stole your pension fund... please don’t let the mistakes and failure of others keep you away from God!
Today begin to trust again, believe that God has your welfare at heart. God is not a liar, a schemer or a two face – He is Holy and He loves you. You can trust Him.
Orphans do anything to be noticed and accepted – no need for that, He loves you as you are. When your heart cries out – ‘please love me’ – remember God does! Psalm 94:14 – “For LORD will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance.”
2. Street kids - Street child mentality produces a lifestyle of lawlessness.
‘Nobody’s gonna tell me what to do’ – I don’t trust anybody, the world has betrayed me, authority is corrupt so I trust nobody - survival of the fittest! I’ll do what i want, take what I want don’t get in way. Consequences for actions – what consequences...?
Street kid mentality is always on the run or move, no real rest for the souls. Some of the most wealthy and affluent people live like this. They’ve not just ‘limed the ladder’ of success but trodden on many on what they think is the way up. It’s all a search for identity and reality. It’s lonely ‘at the top’ because its cost so many relationships...
When all abandon you and the empty reality of life hits you, alcohol 7 chemicals can only numb pain by never remove it. The hole in your soul has a label called home for Jesus!
Psalm 27:10 - My father and mother walked out and left me, but GOD took me in. (MSG)
In this world of disposable relationships remember God can be trusted! Clay is used to make pottery but until the potter finds it it will be trodden on by people. Remember the clay had value before the potter found it that’s why He went looking for it! The Master Potter takes what looks like throw away junk that others will trample and create a master piece out of it. You are His master piece! 2Co 4:7 -But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
3. Child of God - You? I don’t have to live like orphans & street children any more.
The Master Potter Jesus came looking for us because he created us to be His. God has no throw away kids or disposable relationships. Jesus came to earth and experienced rejection and loss so that we could be found - John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-
John 1:13 children born not of natural descent,[3] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
You never have to wonder if you are good enough. That’s why Jesus shed His blood to pay the full price to buy you back (redeem you). There is nothing you can contribute to your salvation except your sin. Humbling thought?
Rom 8:14- because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Rom 8:15-For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba Father."
Rom 8:16- The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (NIV)
When you surrender to be adopted by the Father into His family, your enemies are in trouble. The blood of Jesus washes your past away. You no longer have a past, only a future. Ask Him today! Grace is Gods’ love extended to us; please don’t play games with God’s love & grace. Live like a redeemed child of God.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy of life is men who are afraid of the light” – Plato
A little boy was sitting on a swing grinning from ear to ear. A man passing by asked him -“What are you so happy about my boy?” the little lad broke into an even bigger smile as he replied – “Because I’m my daddy’s boy!”
Being the Heavenly Fathers’ child is something to very happy about!
You are valued and loved by Jesus – more than you can ever imagine...
Riding for the Son
René
1 John 4:4
