April 8, 2016 - A. V. Rauf
Kingdom Business vs. Kingdom Busyness
Luke 10:38-42—Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Understanding that salvation is a free gift with eternal ramifications clearly confirms that there is nothing we as mortal human beings can ever do to equate what Jesus Christ did by dying on the cross for our sins.
Often we are so overcome with has happened in our lives there is a zeal to serve the Lord. Amen to that. I heard it said that our works “post-salvation,” are not the root of our obtaining salvation but rather the fruit of of it. Furthermore, what we do after we are saved does have eternal ramifications to a degree as well.
God’s entire purpose in calling us is to place us back in the position for which we were originally created––to be a “joint-heirs” with Christ ruling and reigning with Him over the earth during His 1000-year millennial reign.
Furthermore, another purpose of our salvation is not only an earthly mission (to be conformed into the “image of Christ” for a witness to others), but also to partake in the blessings of a future heavenly and glorious kingdom.
All believers will face the LORD at the Judgment Seat of Christ (also referred to as the Bema Seat of Christ )
For further understanding please see this link: https://bibleprophecyfortoday.com/2015/03/27/crowns-and-rewards/
That being said, so much seems to be happening in the Body of Christ that may not be Biblically correct. Arriving at a right doctrinal position and discerning things in a Biblical manner in times like this is becoming more and more challenging for many sincere believers genuinely wanting to know the truth so as to do what is right.
In the above mentioned verses we notice that Martha was so caught up in serving and being busy that she was troubled about many things. I am not in anyway speaking against serving the LORD, but want to make it clear that when it is His will, your serving Him will not be a burden. I have witnessed many saints of God so full of zeal, stretching themselves and serving in ministries here and there only to get burnt out and often doing at not taking heed to their primary minsitry assignment: home, family, etc. which has been neglected as a result. Often the enemy likes to attack when one is tired.
Rest and resting in the LORD is vey important. Especially in the times we are living in now. You cannot be so busy doing the work of the LORD that you forgot spending time with the LORD of the work. Get it?
Revelation 2:1-5—Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Turn the cell phone off. Turn off television and the media. Spend more time seeking Jesus through reading the Bible word, through prayer and meditation.
Psalm 46:1-10—-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Tumultuous times may be ahead but remember this: We have faith and we have hope.
Hebrews 11:1–Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the assurance. You cannot define Biblical faith unless you do it in light of hope, nor can you define Biblical hope unless you define it in light of faith. We think of “He hopes” as being synonymous with “He wishes”’. In the Bible, however, that is not the case; rather, hope in Biblical terms is a future fact.
We have faith in a future fact. Faith is the assurance of our hope – we are assured that it will happen. Religions and religious institutions cannot give people the assurance of salvation. This also includes unbiblical forms of Christianity. The enemy knows this.
Only the Lord Jesus can give us that assurance. But faith is the assurance of what we hope for. We don’t wish; We know. We have hope.
Romans 10:17—So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So how does faith come? It comes by hearing and by hearing, reading, speaking, meditating on God’s Word. This faith then assures what we hope for or what is a fact. This fact is in God’s Word.
We need to be like Mary and sit at the feet of the Messiah and truly hear and understand God’s Word.