You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith! This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire.

 

Proverbs 6:6-11, “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. NOBODY HAS TO TELL IT WHAT TO DO. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. SO HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LAZE AROUND DOING NOTHING? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest.” (MSG)

What can an ant teach me?” I hear you ask. You would be surprised.

Ants, fall into the successful category and can teach us how they succeed time and time again.

1. Ants are driven by purpose

By purpose, I mean having a clear long-term objective or goal which shapes everything you do. For example, one ant’s sole job description is to find food for the colony. This is his purpose, and all that he inputs this time and energy into, and so it compounds his chances of success.

2. Ant’s work as a team

Ants are team workers and work together to achieve something great. Likewise, for you to achieve something substantial in life, you must align yourself with others who can help propel you to another level.

3. Ants have time to rest and a time to work

Ants must work with the natural seasons. So, in summer they gather their food and in winter they hibernate to conserve energy because of the lack of food. You need to know when to stop.

Burnout is when you have come to the end of yourself and suddenly give up and withdraw from all kinds of work. You have simply had enough. For this not to happen you need to schedule periods of rest, especially after the completion of a major project.

4. Ants think big

Now ants can seem like one of the most insignificant insects on the planet because of their size. But the colonies they build and the contribution to their society are extremely significant and great.

What big dreams do you have for your future? Pursue those. No matter how small you think you are, you should always pursue something bigger than yourself.

5. Ants prepare ahead of time

Ants prepare their food in Summer because they know that there will be a time when there will be no food to find in wintertime. So, they are constantly preparing for a season that is yet to come upon them. It has a stark contrast with human behavior. When we should be studying, we are watching TV and when we should be working, we are on Facebook communicating with friends. Your priorities can sometimes be driven by what you feel like doing and not by what the most important thing to do is.

The only way you can maximize any given moment is by preparing for it. If you think ahead to that meeting, conference, or event and work backward, you will then be able to prepare adequately.

6. Ants carry workloads they can handle

Although they are small, ants can handle up to one hundred times their weight. They know their limitations. All too often we say ‘yes’ to things that we can’t do and take on responsibilities that we struggle to fulfill. All we need to do is know our boundaries and never venture beyond that point.

7. Ants serve one another

Living for just yourself is a lonely existence. Serving people goes that one step further and asks, ‘what can I do for you?’ You start to live beyond yourself and purposefully contribute positively to others.

When few ants in a colony are infected by a fungal disease, they spread the disease throughout the colony, by licking it off one another, with each ant receiving as much of the disease that their individual immune system can fight off effectively.

Far too many of us are sitting around wasting time waiting for someone to come along and tell us what to do next!

Whatever We Do—Or Neglect to Do For That Matter—Always Catches Up With Us Eventually! 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, “Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually, there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you will be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You will not get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it does not, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.” (MSG)

I reiterate we are accountable for what we DO and for what we leave UNDONE! Saint’s, God’s Inspection of the Work You have Done, or Left Undone, is Coming and You WANT to Pass His Test! Therefore, No More Hesitation, Laziness, or Procrastination, Get Your Works in Order TODAY! Luke 9:62, “Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You cannot put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (MSG)

Those who procrastinate end up like the man in playwright James Albury’s verse: “He slept beneath the moon, he baked beneath the sun. He lived a life of going-to-do; and died with nothing done.” Do not let this be descriptive of your life and legacy!

Paul writes: “…God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…” (Romans 12:6 NLT). 

Knowing your ability is one of the keys to understanding life’s assignment. However, you can only plan and prepare for so long, EVENTUALLY, YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE SOME ACTION, TAKE SOME INITIATIVE AND BECOME WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MADE TO BE!

Notice 2 things about taking the Initiative:

1…TAKING INITIATIVE CLOSES THE DOOR TO FEAR: Although none of us wants to admit it, we all have fears. The question is, are we going to control them or allow them to control us? Norman Vincent Peale said: “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different actions or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.” To have any chance at getting what we desire, we need to work for it. Nothing is as discouraging or draining as hanging on to an Uncompleted Task. The longer we let things slide, the harder they become. And the hardest work is often the accumulation of many easy things that should have been done yesterday, last week, or last month! So how do you get rid of a difficult task? JUST DO IT! Stop talking about it and become it! Turn the blueprint into a building! It is time you Step out of Fear and Walk by Faith! Truth is, once you become engulfed in doing it instead of talking about it, you will find yourself too busy to focus on fear! But standing still and just looking at it will always give you the anxiety that it cannot be accomplished! So today, determine to send your resume in for that job. So, what you do not qualify, they may be looking for some new blood to train and shake up the office. After all, what is the worst that could happen, they tell you no!? Surely, that will not stop you from breathing and continuing with life. Listen: If you have got a pulse, you have got a purpose, so get to producing it! You do know that you do not have forever, right?! So, go back to school, learn to drive, apply for the job, go after the grant, start the business, move out of state, etc.…whatever you plan to do, know that you only have a limited time on earth to get it done, so start Today, since Yesterday is Gone, and Tomorrow is NEVER Guaranteed to Come!

2…TAKING THE INITIATIVE OPENS THE DOOR TO OPPORTUNITY: People who take the initiative and work hard may succeed or fail. But anyone who does not take initiative is Guaranteed to Fail! So, today ask God, “Is there a decision I should be making? Is there a problem I should be solving? Is there a project I should be starting? Is there a goal I should be setting or striving toward? Is there an opportunity I should be seizing?” Solomon writes, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB). It is better to be 80% sure, and start than to wait until you are 100% sure, because by then the opportunity may have passed you by, never to return. So today, DETERMINE TO TAKE SOME INITIATIVE! Remember This: Doors Do not Stay Open Indefinitely! Think about it, when you come home, you enter the door and close it behind you! You do not leave the door open indefinitely! Likewise, supermarket doors close, business doors close, school doors close, office doors close, bank doors close, restaurant doors close, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Lord & Taylor, Payless, and even most Laundromats and 99 cent stores all close! No Door Stays Open Indefinitely! So, while you have the opportunity of an open door, Walk Through It Before It Closes…For Good! That position may not be available tomorrow; that grant and scholarship may not be offered next year; that mortgage and dealership flyer may not come in the mail again; the chance to travel may not happen again! Write that book on that topic before someone else does; record that song today; even go out on a limb and tell that person how you really feel about them, today! Are you getting this? Open doors of opportunity do not stay open indefinitely! So, find your courage, take heart, and go for it! Take Initiative Now!

The Bible says this: “…Steep yourself in God-reality, GOD-INITIATIVE, God-provisions. You will find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Do not be afraid of missing out. You are my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.” (Luke 12:29-32 MSG). However, please understand that you can only pray, plan, and prepare for so long, EVENTUALLY, YOU HAVE TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND ACT!

You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith!

God Showed Joseph Eleven Stars, Moon & The Sun Bowing Down Before Him, But Never Showed Him the Pit & The Prison. God Promised the Israelites The Land of Milk & Honey but Never Told Them About the Desert Experience. God Will Show You the End from The Beginning but Will Never Show You the Process to Your Destination. So, Whatever You Are dealing With, Stay Focused Your Destination Is Far More Important Than What You Are Going Through.

May you no longer miss the fruits of divine connections because of insecurities.

So TODAY, DETERMINE TO WALK BY CONFIDENT FAITH AND PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT! WHY? BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD PROMISED: “That’s right. If you diligently keep all this commandment that I command you to obey—love God, your God, do what he tells you, stick close to him—God on his part will drive out all these nations that stand in your way. Yes, he will drive out nations much bigger and stronger than you. EVERY SQUARE INCH ON WHICH YOU PLACE YOUR FOOT WILL BE YOURS. Your borders will stretch from the wilderness to the mountains of Lebanon, from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand in your way. Everywhere you go, God-sent fear and trembling will precede you, JUST AS HE PROMISED.” (Deuteronomy 11:22-25 MSG).

SO PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT AND KEEP WALKING BY FAITH! TAKE SOME INITIATIVE, FOR THE PROMISE IS ALREADY YOURS!

Another reason we never get started is that we focus on tomorrow INSTEAD OF TODAY! But the only time over which you have any control is the present. James writes: “Look here, you people who say, ‘tomorrow we are going to a certain town…We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog—it is here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:13-14 NLT).

The idea of tomorrow can be very seductive, BUT THE PROMISE IT HOLDS IS OFTEN FALSE AND UNFLATTERING! SO, NO MORE PROCRASTINATION ABOUT TOMORROW, TODAY TAKE SOME INITIATIVE!

One of the last obstacles between Israel and the Promised Land was the River Jordan. But God had a plan. He told the priests carrying the Ark that when they stepped in the river, the waters would rollback.

There are 2 important lessons here for you:

1…NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU QUIT HOLDING BACK: You cannot wait for everything to be perfect! You cannot wait until all your fears subside! You must take the initiative now! Overcomers understand that Momentum is your friend! As soon as you start moving forward, certain things become clearer and easier. And when the momentum gets strong enough, many of the problems take care of themselves. Maybe you have heard the story of a tourist in a small town who asked an old man, “Can you tell me something this town is noted for?” After a moment’s hesitation he replied, “Well, you can start here and go anywhere in the world you want.” That is true of you too. Where you finish in life is not determined so much by where you start, AS BY WHETHER YOU START! If you are willing to get started, there is no telling just how far you will go! SO, STOP HOLDING BACK AND TAKE SOME INITIATIVE! You Can Start Right Here and Go Anywhere! The priests had to carry the Ark and step into the water! In other words, They Had to Move Forward to Attain the Promise! YOU HAVE TO DO LIKEWISE! SO, PICK YOURSELF UP AND GET TO STEPPING! YOUR PROMISE IS WAITING FOR YOU!

2…YOU MUST BE WILLING TO PERSEVERE: The Jordan River did not dry up the moment the priest stepped into it. God dried it up 26 MILES UPSTREAM, so they had to wait till all that water passed by (See Joshua 3:14-17). Why did God do it that way? Because He sees the big picture! God planned an opening wide enough for not just one or two, but for MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE TO CROSS! So, trust God, and take the initiative! Just by your obedience to God and trust in Him, you never know the opening your initiative has set for many others to walk through as well! Your Perseverance Is Not Just for You! So, take some initiative, and get to stepping, there is a multitude waiting on you to make a move!

 TODAY, DETERMINE TO TAKE SOME INITIATIVE AND GET MOVING!

The word ‘initiative’ is defined as: “the ability to act independently and with a fresh approach; the power or opportunity to act before others do; a new development or fresh approach to a problem; to do something without being prompted by others.” Sounds a lot like the ants do not you think. “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. NOBODY HAS TO TELL IT WHAT TO DO…” (MSG) This year is the year where you start to walk by faith. This is the year where you start to focus on fulfilling your vision. It is not the year that you repeat past failed behaviors of waiting around to see what someone else is going to do first. No! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire by Your Initiative to Do the Same Thing!

Another key to hold onto is that initiative is developed by the independent act of approaching something in a fresh way. This means, while you are sitting here waiting for someone to tell you what they have always done, God is waiting for you to use your brain and think of what has not been done already! Take a Fresh Approach! We need no more clones in the church. Ask God to give you initiative that keeps its’ eyes on the future, not on the past; eyes to see what can be done, not on what has already been done. This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative!

Let us Go! Here are a few quotes I have shared in my reading for today.

 “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“A lot of people never use their initiative, because no one told them to.” (Banksy)

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” (Arthur Ashe)

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” (Milton Bene)

“Prolonged idleness paralyzes initiative.” (Author Unknown)

“It doesn’t matter if a million people tell you what you can’t do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God, that’s all you need.” (Tyler Perry)

You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith! This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire by Your Initiative to Do the Same Thing!

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 Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

Whether You Make It In The Door To Be With The Bridegroom, Or Have The Door Slammed In Your Face; Whether You Invest By Using What God Gave You Or You Waste It; Give God Your Worst & Receive Curses, Give God Your Best & Receive Blessings. Your Choice

 

Jeremiah 48:10, “Cursed is the one who is HALFHEARTED in doing the Lord’s work…” (CEB)

If it is one thing that bothers me at times, it is having asked someone to do something, and they do it, but do it, half-heartedly. The term “half-hearted” is defined as “without enthusiasm or determination; feeling or showing of little interest; to give lukewarm support to.” And what does God think about “lukewarm people “? Revelation 3:15-17, ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm (SPIRITUALLY USELESS), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],” (AMP) The Message Bible says it like this: “I know you inside and out and find little to my liking. You are not cold; you are not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You are stale. You are stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” (MSG)

So, do you still want to serve God halfheartedly and lukewarm?

Question: How do you give “spiritless” servitude to a God who is Spirit?! John 4:24, says, “GOD IS SPIRIT. Those who worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT and in truth.” (NLV) I reiterate, how do you give “spiritless” servitude to THE Spirit, when you are supposed to be led by His Spirit? Galatians 5:18, 25, “…But if ye be LED OF THE SPIRIT…IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT…” How do you give “spiritless” servitude to THE Spirit, when you are supposed to be LED OF THE SPIRIT, LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT? Perhaps, if we stopped being so WHOLEHEARTEDLY led by the Flesh, living in the Flesh, and walking in the Flesh, we could finally stop HALFHEARTEDLY serving in Spirit…Selah…

Let us look at John 4:24 in a few translations:

“God is Spirit, and those who worship God MUST be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.” (CEV) – The word “MUST” is defined as “to be obligated to; should; expressing insistence on something that should not be overlooked or missed.”

“God is spirit, and it is NECESSARY to worship God in spirit and truth.” (CEB) – That word “NECESSARY” is defined as, “required to be done, needed, must be, inevitable, basic requirement”.

In essence, in our service, no matter what the form, when it is to God, it is a necessity to have it done wholeheartedly in the Spirit, something that should not be overlooked or missed because it is our basic requirement. God has always given us His absolute best, in fact He gave us His Heart (His Son, His Sons Blood, His Sons Life) so, how do we dare serve Him halfheartedly?

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That is the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (John 4:23-24 MSG) Nothing about that sounds fleshly or halfhearted!

There is an interesting story that is told about Queen Victoria. She loved being able to go out and be by herself, without being recognized, so she could mingle with ordinary people. And to keep from being noticed, the Queen would “dress down.” On one of her walks, it began to rain, so she knocked on the door of this cottage and asked to borrow an umbrella. Well, not recognizing the Queen, the elderly woman who answered the door lent her a beat-up umbrella, instead of her best umbrella. She did that because she was not sure she would ever see the umbrella again of course. Well Queen Victoria left thanking the woman and promising to return the umbrella. The next day a royal messenger returned the lady’s umbrella. And he said to the woman, “The Queen asked me to return your umbrella.” The elderly woman was heard to say, “Oh, if I had only known who it was, I would have given her my best. “

Listen to these sobering words, from our text in Jeremiah 48:10, “A curse” – oh, a curse – “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work.” WARNING! Do not be lax! Do not be lazy! Do not be careless in doing the work of God! Why? Because THERE’S A CURSE PLACED ON ANYONE WHO IS! This is how strongly God feels about those who serve Him and His work in a half-hearted manner!

In other words, God places a curse on anyone who serves Him and His work in a manner that is: SLACK, NEGLIGENT, HALF-HEARTED, SLOPPY, LAX or WITHOUT CARE! The work of the Kingdom means so much to God that He will place a curse on anyone who gives decreased effort, inclined to be lazy, lacks proper care and attention, foolish, weak, or careless in it! That ought to terrify many of us who have not been giving God our absolute best!

See, sometimes we give the Lord what is easy for us to give Him, but the King deserves our best. Think about it: No one in their right mind would serve an earthly king dinner on paper plates, plastic silverware, bowls, cups, and discount store napkins! Why not? Because that is not what you serve a king! And certainly, our KING is deserving of much better than any earthly king! Yet, we will not serve an earthly king on paper and plastic, but our KING we serve with watered down worship; procrastinated praise; and perfunctory prayers! We bypass bible study, and we are so busy checking messages on our phones that we pay little or no attention to the Message coming through the microphone in the sanctuary! We sing songs with no emotions, and dance for show. How does God get any honor out of any of that? But we are first to cry out “He’s Our King of Kings!” Well, if He truly is, then serve Him as a King should be served!

If truth be told, a lot of people are frequently lax doing the Lord’s work. That is why a strong word is probably needed here. Some of us may have been financially lax with the Lord’s work; we have been careless with the money He is provided for us. We have become careless in tithe and offering, careless in the benevolent offering, careless in the financial support of the work of the Lord. We have become undisciplined with our paychecks. When the truth is, you do not need more money, you need to learn how to budget and effectively manage the money He is already provided you. Stop wishing for More when you are wasteful with Less. Clearly there has not been full integrity in the way funds have been taken care of. But money funds the work of the Lord. We cannot afford to be careless with it publicly or privately. In the House of the Lord or in our own personal Homes!

Another truth, some people are lax with their time. A lot of time gets wasted in the service of the Lord. Let us be honest about it. We need to be doing every task as if it were a royal task, because it is.

Ephesians 6:5-8, “Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Do not just do what you must do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, YOU’RE REALLY SERVING GOD. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.” (MSG).

In other words, never be lax in giving your time to the work of the Kingdom. Whether you serve in the pulpit, at the door as an usher, on the choir, as a musician, as a janitor cleaning out the pews, serve in the manner you would if you were serving a King…because you are! There is no big and little work in the Kingdom, just work to be done. So, let today be the day you decide to work…wholeheartedly for the Lord!

Now, with the many social media networks (posting, snapping, liking, tweeting, scoping, streaming etc.…), and all the things that are out there to distract us during the day and night, at work, home, and church, it is so easy to waste God’s precious time. But what we must remember is that we are working for the King of kings, therefore, giving 100% however big or small it is, is an Obligation not an Option! Whether it is in or out of the spotlight, we have got to realize time is of the essence and too precious and costly to waste. It often amazes me that we are quick to say, “we’re living in the end times…and these are the last days…” and yet we carry on as though we have all the time left in the world. If indeed these are the end times and last days, shouldn’t we serve like it? Look like it? Act like? Behave and conduct ourselves like it? Preach, teach, and pray like it? And most importantly live like it? If there is not much time left, shouldn’t we get this right, like right now?!  No more carelessness with our time, for one day, our last night will indeed be our LAST night.

Not to mention it is possible to be lax with the quality of our work for the Lord, settling for mediocrity. But the King should always be represented by excellence don’t you think?

Numbers 18:29 says that we “must offer as the Lord’s portion, the BEST and holiest part of everything we have.” As is my custom, let us view this in a few translations:

“Out of all your gifts, you shall present every offering due to the Lord, FROM ALL THE BEST of it, even the sacred part from them.’” (AMP).

“Make Sure That God’s Portion Is The Best and holiest of everything you get.” (MSG).

Are you getting this? Whatever you do for the Lord, whatever you give to the Lord, “Make Sure That God’s Portion Is The Best And Holiest Of Everything…”

Not Second-Best, Not Used, Not Less Than, Not Mediocre, Not Left-Overs, Everything You Do And Everything You Present Must Be The Best!

Let us tell the truth, in a terribly busy world and our terribly busy lives the King often gets our leftovers, our leftover time, our leftover energy, our leftover talent, our leftover finances. And that is wrong! We forget this is not work for the church or for some Christian organization or for the people around us or the people we report to. This is for the King! This is the King who bought you back with the life of His Son! And someday we will stand before this very same King and we will offer Him the work we did for Him. I hope you will make it work that Jesus will be proud of and you do not have to be ashamed of, or in the words of 2 Timothy 2:15, “…CONCENTRATE ON DOING YOUR BEST FOR GOD, WORK YOU WON’T BE ASHAMED OF…” (MSG)

And why should we offer God our BEST work? 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, “We are God’s coworkers, and you are God’s field, God’s building. I laid a foundation like a wise master builder according to God’s grace that was given to me, but someone else is building on top of it. Each Person Needs To Pay Attention To The Way They Build On It.  No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  So, whether someone builds on top of the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, or hay, each one’s work will be clearly shown. The day will make it clear, because it will be revealed with fire—The Fire Will Test The Quality Of Each One’s Work.  If anyone’s work survives, they will get a reward.  But if anyone’s work goes up in flames, they will lose it. However, they themselves will be saved as if they had gone through a fire.” (CEB)

Therefore, we need to evaluate the work we are doing for the Lord. We need to pay attention that we are giving Him our all and our best because the day is coming when we will be tested and graded, and unlike school when you get a failing or passing grade, this grade affects you eternally. There is no make-up, it goes through the fire, and either it survives or burns, sounds a lot like our souls. Which is why this is so vital that we handle this appropriately, carefully, and cautiously.

We have all heard the term “what’s the worst that can happen?” Well, in this case, the WORST that can happen is not giving God your BEST!

Lastly, remember the story above, the woman would have given the Queen her best umbrella had she known it was the Queen making the request. However, for you and me, we have no excuses, no one to blame, we can do no finger pointing, because we know exactly WHO is making a request of us. And certainly, we will not be able to say in the end, “If I had only known it was for the King, I would have given Him my best.” I assure you, by then…it will be far too late! Just ask the foolish virgins who missed out on God’s best because they gave Him their worst! Do not let that be the final chapter in your life’s story.

From this day forward, determine to always give God your Best in All things!

1 Corinthians 10:31-33, “So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you—you are eating to God’s glory, after all, not to please them. As A Matter Of Fact, Do Everything That Way, Heartily And Freely To God’s Glory. At the same time, do not be callous in your exercise of freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who are not as free as you are. I try my best to be considerate of everyone’s feelings in all these matters; I hope you will be, too.” (MSG)

Proverbs 3:5-12, “…Honor God with everything you own; GIVE HIM THE FIRST AND THE BEST. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over…” (MSG)

Remember: Whether we give God our best or worst; whether we are hot, cold, or lukewarm; whether we keep the oil in our lamps on high or low, full, or empty, IT IS ALWAYS OUR DELIBERATE CHOICE. BE SURE TO CHOOSE WELL!

Matthew 25:1-13

THE STORY OF THE VIRGINS: “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom did not show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He is here! The bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him!’ “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’ “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’ “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked. “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we are here. Let us in.’ “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’ “So, stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.” (MSG)

Matthew 25:14-30

THE STORY ABOUT INVESTMENT: “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money. “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’ “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It is criminal to live cautiously like that! If You Knew I Was After The Best, Why Did You Do Less Than The Least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who will not go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’” (MSG)

Matthew 25:31-46

THE STORY OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS: “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what is coming to you in this kingdom. It has been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here is why: I was hungry, and you fed me, I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink, I was homeless, and you gave me a room, I was shivering, and you gave me clothes, I was sick, and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You are good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’ “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’ “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.” (MSG)

Whether You Make It In The Door To Be With The Bridegroom, Or Have The Door Slammed In Your Face; Whether You Invest By Using What God Gave You Or You Waste It; Whether You Enter Eternal Doom, Or Eternal Reward, The Decision Is Always Yours To Make! Give God Your Worst And Receive Curses, Give God Your Best And Receive Blessings. The Choice Is Always Yours To Make! Choose Wisely!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

“God, Church & Hell Are All Real. People Claim They Love God, But Is God In Them? The Real Heights Are When You Delve Into The Depths Of Despair To Help Someone Who Cannot Help Themselves!

 

Genesis 11:1-9, “Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.  And as men traveled in the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and made their home there.  They said to one another, “Come, let us make blocks and burn them until they are hard.” They used blocks for stone, and tar to hold them together.  Then they said, “Come, let us build a city FOR OURSELVES, with a tower that touches the heavens. Let us make a name FOR OURSELVES, or else we may be sent everywhere over the whole earth.” Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built.  And the Lord said, “See, they are one people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do. Now all they plan to do will be possible for them.  Come, let Us go down and mix up their language so they will not understand what each other says.”  So, the Lord sent them everywhere over the whole earth. And they stopped building the city.  So, the name of the city was Babel because there the Lord mixed up the language of the whole earth. The Lord sent the people everywhere over the whole earth.” (NLV)

Key Verse: Genesis 11:4, “Then they said, “Come, let us build a city FOR OURSELVES, with a tower that touches the heavens. Let us make a name FOR OURSELVES, or else we may be sent everywhere over the whole earth.” (NLV) 

Louis Sullivan, the inventor of the modern skyscraper, said, “The tall building…should be a proud and soaring thing that makes a powerful appeal to the architectural imagination.”

Well, today, many believers embody the same spirit of Pride and Self-Sufficiency that is represented in the lofty towers that make up our cities. Unfortunate as it may be, many Bible toting, Scripture quoting People of God are Focused on Personal Perfection MORE THAN Pleasing the One Whom They Call Their “Personal Lord and Savior”.

Now, it is one thing for the “World” to act in such a manner, but when the “Church” behaves in such a manner it Delivers a Critical Blow to the Conduct that is Called “Christ-Like”!  And as People of God, we are Never Called to Compromise or Conform! Romans 12:1-2, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Do not become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You will be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (MSG)

“God, Church and Hell are all real. People claim they love God, but is God in them? They go to church to play church. But if you go to hell, will you still be playing?” (Author Unknown)

I do not think we are fully aware of the dangers of “playing church”. We can pretend all day long here on earth, but there comes a day of reckoning, and God is not going to ask about who and what you pretended to be, but who you really are and what you really did! 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, “But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that is what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later, we will all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us because of our actions, either good or bad.” (MSG) You must get yourself together in this life because the afterlife is too late! When you play with church, and play with your soul, you are playing with your eternity! Today is the day we take off all the masks and stop with the pretense and get real! It is time to work on we, instead of simply covering up an ugly construction site of sin and foolishness. We have pretended to be healed, whole, saved and delivered for long enough. It is time to get ourselves right before that last trumpet sounds! This is NOT a dress rehearsal! There are no shows and curtains in heaven waiting for you to come out playing a character instead of possessing Character! 

But what you will have to embrace is that once you have pretended for so long, the real you get lost! And people become comfortable and familiar with who you have pretended to be all this time. So, it will not be an easy or quick process to unveiling the real you! But if you are to please God, it is a must!  

Well, the builders of the tower of Babel shared a key aspect of Sullivan’s vision of the tall building: PRIDE! And they had one purpose: TO BUILD A NAME FOR THEMSELVES! They wanted to claim glory that rightly belonged to God Alone – but after all, they ‘were worth it’ too, right?

However, the longing to climb higher than God did not begin in Babel. Before time began, Lucifer said, “…I will RAISE MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD; I will SIT ENTHRONED ON THE MOUNT OF ASSEMBLY, on the UTMOST HEIGHTS OF MOUNT ZAPHON” (Isaiah 14:13 NIV). And to this day, we still have people who are doing whatever it takes to raise themselves up to sit enthroned amongst the assembly and be treated as Kings & Queens of the utmost heights of elevations, promotions, titles and positions, rings, robes, and royal seating in the sanctuary!

So, you see, it did not begin with Babel, BUT it did not end with Babel, either.

Here is a little history for you. The pyramids of Egypt proclaim the power of the rulers buried beneath them. Many lives were lost in the building of the pyramids, “collateral damage” to the princes who built them. Often Egyptian slaves were killed when their masters died and were buried alongside them. But just as the Egyptian kings sacrificed everything to their own legacy. The rulers of ancient Egypt were not all-powerful – they died the deaths of mere men. So, do not you dare be deceived, your soul will not be saved by flawless skin or the perfect career any more than the towering mountains of stone raised over the mummies of kings saved them!

People of God, it is one thing to have pride in yourself, your appearance and even your accomplishments. However, you must never let your pride get out of control. Do not be like those who attempted to “BUILD FOR THEMSELVES” and “MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES”! Truth is, it is Not About You! Your Talent, Gifts, Skillset, anointing etc.…are for the Building of the Kingdom of God, Not a Personal Cathedral to You! Building a Legacy is not about Your Name being left behind for generations after you to talk about! A Legacy has Purpose; It Has Action! Legacy is for People who have Done Something! Your name on a building is useless if what you Did was not useful! Let your work speak for you, it has a loud and powerful voice that will not and cannot be silenced! 

However, you must put in the work! And that work is not FOR you, it is FROM you! It is to build a better generation (not so you can take credit for it) but simply because you care about what the Lord’s heart desires. Every time Jesus came into a person’s life (even if it was briefly passing through it) their life was made better. They were made better. If you want your name to say something, let it say Character; Integrity; Sincerity; Excellence; Modesty; Dignity; Help; Support. Let your name say something about what you Do for Others (that you look for no recognition or credit for). 

The best handiwork is when your left hand does not know what your right hand is doing! “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.” (Judy Blume), We can put our hands to better use, as in touching the lives of others and leaving that as our legacy! Egos and pride have had us to focus on ourselves long enough!

Also, be careful not to lose yourself trying to find yourself in places God never intended you to be! Hint: lofty, high places certainly is not it! If you want to really find yourself, just locate the places your God has been (after all, you were made in His image and likeness). Remember, He dwells in Humility; He hangs around the Poor and Meek; He lends a Helping and Healing hand to those who are hurting and struggling. He is aiding the bound to become free; He is feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. He is providing shelter for the homeless and a protective hedge for those under attack. 

Believe it or not, the real Heights are when you delve into the Depths of despair to help someone who cannot help themselves!

In closing, I understand the commercial ad “Because, I’m Worth It”. But that is a motto for the World! When it comes to Believers, our Motto is more like “Because, He’s Worth It!”  

So, what do you take pride in? What keeps you from glorifying God? Has your focus become self-absorbed? Have you become self-glorifying? If so, the solution to the problem is simple: Whatever is keeping you from God, give it to Him for His glory! Let your relationship with Jesus be the source of your significance. 

The Word of God does not lie, when you humble yourself Before God, He Will Lift You Up! However, a high ego will bring you down mighty low! 

“…Come, let Us go down and mix up their language so they will not understand what each other says.”  So, the Lord sent them everywhere over the whole earth. And they stopped building the city.  So, the name of the city was Babel because there the Lord mixed up the language of the whole earth. The Lord sent the people everywhere over the whole earth.” (NLV)  

Do not allow your pride and ego to steal your voice! There is so much for you to speak into the lives of the current and future generations that you cannot afford to let your ego ‘babble’ your purpose. These were a people that were sent by the Lord everywhere over the whole earth. But what purpose did it serve them since their language was mixed up and served nothing of value to themselves or to those generations to come. You have an opportunity to be sent to all the corners of the earth. In fact, you have that as a command!

Acts 1:7-8, “He told them, “You do not get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you will get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses IN JERUSALEM, ALL OVER JUDEA AND SAMARIA, EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.” (MSG) 

Matthew 28:19-20, “Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave His charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train EVERYONE YOU MEET, FAR AND NEAR, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (MSG) 

Mark 16:14-16, “Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, He appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen Him raised up. Then He said, “GO INTO THE WORLD. GO EVERYWHERE and announce the Message of God’s good news TO ONE AND ALL. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.” (MSG)

You can either maintain your ego and cause God to send your babbling, unproductive self all over the globe, or you could humble yourself and cause God to send you all over the globe fulfilling His Will and Purpose, however, the choice is always YOURS! You can have a global ministry that takes you all over the globe filled with purpose, or a global ministry that takes you all over the globe and it is pointless.  

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” (AMP) So, what are you going to allow your ego to use your words for, death or life? Because as you go day-by-day in your work for the Lord, you will daily have to make that decision. And your ego or humility is the determining factor as to which it will be. 

There is nothing wrong with building, but it must always keep God in proper perspective with every brick! Proverbs 16:3, “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His Will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” (AMPC) 

The danger for the people in our text was that they were focused on building for themselves and they failed. Just think of what you could accomplish and succeed at if only you would keep the Lord as your tunnel vision focus?! Remember, no matter how the Lord chooses to use YOU, it is always about HIM! Do not let your ego rob you of a great work you can accomplish for God. There are people who have need of you and all that God put in you. Do not let your ego be the roadblock that keeps you from going forward into a fruitful destiny. Keep the Lord at the center, and everything else around you will fall into place and, “…so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Instead of “…and they stopped building the city…”  

Reflection Questions:

1. What kind of “towers” have you built? (your business, your career, your talents, your ministry etc.…) Who really gets the glory from your labors, you, or God?
2. If you had to be truthful with yourself, would you honestly say you are Selfless or Selfish?
3. How would you honestly handle working hard behind the scenes, and yet never having your name come up in the credits?
4. When is the last time you did something good for someone who still has no idea it was you?
5. If there were only 3 things that someone would be able to share as your legacy, what would those 3 things be?
6. If you were to be known for a specific Fruit of the Spirit, which would it be and why?

Psalm 86:8-10, “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord. And there are no works like Yours.  All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord. And they will bring honor to Your name.  For You are great and do great things. You alone are God.” (NLV).

Proverbs 18:10-12, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The man who does what is right runs into it and is safe. The rich man’s money is his strong city, and he thinks it is like a high wall. The heart of a man is proud before he is destroyed, but having no pride goes before honor.” (NLV).

Matthew 23:12, “The person who thinks he is important will find out how little he is worth. The person who is not trying to honor himself will be made important.” (NLV)

“The man who thinks he can live without others is mistaken; the one who thinks others can’t live without him is even more deluded.”  ~Hasidic Saying

“When someone sings his own praises, he always gets the tune too high.”  ~Mary H. Waltrip

“People that put themselves above others will fall longer and harder.”  ~Gina Lindley

“When science discovers the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to find they are not it.”  ~Bernard Baily

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org