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| Keeping God at Arm`s Length |
| By Pastor Jim Wandell |
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| Scripture Reading: James 4:7-10 |
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| When it comes to your relationship with Christ, just where are you? Some people have been saved for a long time, and their experience has caused them to be more learned and mature. Others are still fairly young Christians, but they are studying the Word, obeying the Lord, and working on a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. |
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| There are still others, however, that are saved but are keeping God at arm`s length, not permitting themselves to get closer to Him so that He can get closer to them. |
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| Keeping God at arm`s length means that they don`t allow God to be God in their life. It means that rather than turning their situations over to Him, they try running the show themselves. While other believers around them are seeking the ways and the will of the Lord, they`re not, simply because they like the way they are right now…nothing more, and no interference. I`m fine the way I am, and that`s that. Romans 10:2-3 has this to say about people like that, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God`s righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” |
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| A believer`s job is to repent, submit, obey, and commit. Repent and be saved. Submit to the authority of God. Obey the Word of God, and the authority that He has set over the Church. Commit your life to the service of the Lord in whatever capacity He calls you. |
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| Submit |
| In our scripture reading today, in James 4:7, the Word of God is very clear and to the point: “Submit yourselves therefore to God…”. We must yield to God`s authority in all things. We must turn our very lives over to Him. I think we all understand that part, but are we doing it and not just saying it? Is it just lip service coming from our mouth or is it truly what we mean from our heart? Are we being doers of the Word? |
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| Obey |
| Here is where some people have a problem…obey the authority that God has set over the Church. If you feel that you cannot obey the Pastor`s authority in the Church, then you have not submitted to God`s authority in all things. Hebrews 13:17 (AMP), “Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them, continually recognizing their authority over you, for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account of their trust (of the trust put in them to lead you). Do your part to let them do this with gladness (joy) and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you either.” |
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| Jeremiah 7:23, “…Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” Obey the voice (the Word) of God. Over the ages, there have been some who felt that they could interpret the Bible as they saw fit and choose to follow or not follow what they wanted. However, in II Peter 1:20-21 (Amp.) we read, “Yet first you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of any personal or private or special interpretation…for no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it to do so-it never came by human impulse, but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.” The Word of God is for all of us. |
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| Committed |
| Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” We are told to commit our way, ourselves, what we do, what we think, what we say, unto the Lord, and to trust Him and He shall bring IT to pass. Do you know what IT is in this verse? IT is whatever you need! This is just another example of us doing what we are supposed to do in the first place, and God blessing us beyond anything that we could ever ask or think! |
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| We are to be committed to God`s ways of doing things. Not our own ways, or what we think. His way is the proven way and the way that comes with benefits. Our way is our way and is not proven in any spiritual sense. |
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| We need to commit to serving the Lord. That means in our Church and in the Ministry. You cannot neglect commitment any more than you can neglect service. God is still totally committed to His children, but His children are not totally committed to Him. |
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| How close are you willing to let Christ get to you? Are you satisfied holding him off at arm`s length or do you want Him right up on you? Are you willing to submit, obey, and commit to the Lord today? Open your arms and hearts today and let Him come in and do the work that He desires to perform in you. |
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| Order this message by title on tape ($6.00). |
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| Scripture Reading: Luke 6:38; *Joshua 1:8 |
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| Where Success Lies |
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| The world measures success by the amount of “stuff” or material possessions they obtain. However, God measures success by obedience to His Word, giving, doing the Word, testifying of His grace and mercy in your life and walking in love. His measure of success is eternal. |
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| Our success doesn`t depend on others. We can`t look to how others measure success, but we must look to what God calls success. Your success lies within you. How successful you become for God depends on your willingness to spend time with Him and do His Will according to His Word. If you want real success, begin to seek God and do His Word. |
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| *“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then |
| you shall have good success.” (NKJV) |
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