I have known Brother David Waterman (pictured above) for many years, I have found him to have such a passion for other to know Jesus. I asked David to share with us whatever God would put on his heart. David refers to the great, late man of God, Chuck Colson. One of the best examples to us all what it means to walk with Jesus! Thank you David for this message for such a times as this, it is deeply appreciated!IN A RECENT ARTICLE I WROTE, I ASKED THE QUESTION CHUCK COLSON ASKED OFTEN IN HIS RADIO PROGRAM….”HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?”
The answer to that question is the answer to how a Christian should live. During the height of the Jesus movement, there were millions of wrist bands and tee-shirts and necklaces with the Letters in caps and usually bold text, WWJD which is an acronym for, What would Jesus Do? I think that question became another empty phrase tossed around by people who wanted to appear spiritual after awhile. It was not being applied very often to life decisions after a time. But what if we did apply it? What if we applied it to Christian living in this day with our current events going the way they are? Let’s try that!
First in prayer, I like how Adrian Rogers explained it. When we3 pray the Lord’s prayer we are not praying for something that has already happened, but we are praying for the Kingdom of God to be established in the earth as it is in Heaven. And before I go any further, let’s clarify one thing. What is erroneously titled the Lord’s prayer by Christians is actually the disciple’s or believer’s prayer. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and He answered that after this manner they were to pray. Then gave the prayer which starts with Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy Kingdom come…. Let’s camp there a few minutes. But I would like to remind you that the Lord’s prayer is in Chapter 17 of John.
If your father is in Heaven and is a holy just and loving God who always stands for and does what is right, What are you His children to be living like if indeed you are His Children? God is Love. So much so that He sent His only Son to die for YOU so that You would not perish but have everlasting life. God is forgiving, when He sees real repentance He turns away from punishment and shows mercy and wipes the slate clean. God is compassionate, for when He sees His people suffer, He provides the way of escape and that even from the consequences of our own errors, mistakes and willful sin at times. God is just. He cannot turn a blind eye to deliberate willful sin and because someone has to pay for the sin, He is absolutely just and right in His punishing of evil-doers, and yet because He is loving compassionate and merciful, and provides THE way of escape which is Faith and dedication in and for the Lord Jesus Christ and God punishes someone, (Jesus) for what we should have been punished for. So He put our sins on Jesus and Jesus’ righteousness is given or imputed to us.
A televangelist once said about two months ago, that we do not serve God in order to be saved and do works to gain salvation, but we follow and serve and do the works of God because the Holy Spirit is in us and guiding us into all the works we were ordained to do from before the foundation of the world, and our motivation is not to serve or give to get, but we get the free gift paid for by Jesus in order to be able to give to others. In other words, we are not giving to get things and position and authority, we were given authority power and anointing in order to give. When our motives are right with God, they will be shown by our life to the world around us.
What would Jesus do? Exactly what you saw Him do in the gospels and through the church in Acts. How then should we live? As imitators of Christ, no longer walking in our own lust and selfish ambitions, but walking in the Spirit so that we can rightly discern the Truth and share it with a lost and dying world and encourage one another.
If you read the Gospels you find Jesus loving, compassionate, just, and merciful, and not telling people that they can continue in sin, but teaching that they can be free of it.
There are so many scriptures that come to mind already as I write. For sake of keeping this brief as I can, read John Chapter 17. Read 1st John and understand that there is very little wiggle room in this first letter of John to specific fellowships.
So in response to multiple people asking for my response to our current state and national and international relations, let me ask you some rhetorical questions that should trigger some real soul searching by each and every one of us.
Prayer, is it real with you? Or is it just repeating words by rote? Do you really mean and believe that God is your Father? If He is, are you living for Him and reflecting Him in all your behavior? Do you understand that He is not only God of Heaven but also of the whole earth? Do you really want His kingdom to come regardless of personal sacrifice and cost to you? Remember, Jesus said anyone following Him must take up their cross and follow Him, and where He is, there will be His servants also. So when He died and rose so the homosexual, the lesbian, or the drunk, or the thief or the murderer is living in sin, can now be delivered from the old life, transformed, renewed and set completely free from the condemnation of death, are you in agreement with that? Or are you lifting the finger and pointing out what they have to do to meet your standards?
Can you honestly pray for anyone God brings to your mind that the disciples prayer would be fulfilled, “your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”? Read Paul’s admonition about prayer.
1 Timothy 2
King James Version
1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Bear in mind this was written when Rome was persecuting and attacking Christians and the Church and thousands had already died for their faith. Speaking of praying for leaders, did you pray about their beliefs and their platform before voting, and then voted for the candidate most closely following righteous principles? Did you for example, see if your favorite candidate supported murdering babies in the womb or did you support candidates who stand for life? For it was God who declared that before a man was even formed in the womb He knew that man and ordained him. That man was Jeremiah. But we also were ordained to certain works, by God Himself, and we should be always following His leading in order to fulfill His will.
◄ Ephesians 2:10 ►
King James Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
As I said before, what our motivation is will determine our actions. If we are motivated by Love of God to work and serve in the kingdom, then our love for God and of God will be apparent in all we do. The proper motivation in God’s kingdom will always produce the Fruit of the Spirit in your life. Again, no wiggle room here, those who are of God will walk in the Spirit of God and be imitating Christ in their behavior.
◄ Romans 8:14 ►
King James Version
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
◄ 1 John 4:7 ►
King James Version
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
As I said earlier, read the first letter or epistle of John, it will be an eye opening time for some of you. Many people say they have e faith in God or believe in God. As it is written, the devils believe and tremble, but if we are children of God we will be living for God. Our lives will reflect who we admire, love and imitate. If we are imitating ?Christ borne out of our Love for Him our works will affirm Him and not deny Him.
◄ James 2:18 ►
King James Version
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
The Love of and For God was so strong in Jesus Christ that as He hung on the cross suffering agony and dying, He still thought of only others, in arranging care for His mother, welcoming a new believer in Him into the Kingdom of Heaven as that man also was dying on a cross next to Him, and He prayed for His tormentors. Amazing love, how can it be that He would die for me? Words from a hymn that we love to sing but don’t always live out. So what does His Love look like? Paul answered that question.
1 Corinthians 13
King James Version
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Does your life reflect these manifestations of your love for God and His Kingdom and a desire for His Will? What kind of fruit are you bearing? Remember, I asked what kind of fruit are you bearing? You can have gifts and even appear to be working for God and still hear depart from Me ye worker of iniquity, I never knew you!
Galatians Chapter 5 verses 19-26
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
So much of our behavior is accusing rather than encouraging of one another. Remember who you’re serving, Satan is the accuser of the brethren and Jesus as the Savior. Are your works reflecting Satan or Jesus. What kind of fruit are you bearing? Are you doing what you do for selfish ambition, promotion, wealth, or power over others? Is your desire one of self sacrifice so that others might Know Jesus Christ or are you showing a desire for wealth, financial security and position at the expense of all else and in contradiction to Jesus Christ asking you to take up your cross in following Him? When you see a professing Christian proclaiming to be pro-life for example and yet actively and often loudly proclaiming allegiance to candidates in elections who are clearly antichrist in their platform, are you praying, letting God lead your words and response and praying for the candidate in the bondage of Satan?
Look at 1st TIMOTHY CHAPTER 2 AGAIN, DOES IT NOW SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT? Or is it true in your heart that God is the LORD and changes not? If He is indeed Lord of your life, you will reflect that in every vote you cast, every speech you agree with, every action you take; for you will be living that desire that His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven, and His Will will be done in You as He desires it to be reflecting His Will in Heaven.
Many years ago a man taught me a little lesson about that verse. Listen to it as you pray it, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven….” Now think on this, You were made from the dust of the earth and to dust you shall return… Now pray that verse God’s way as Jesus pointed it out in our Disciples prayer, Our Father who art in Heaven, Thy Will be done in ME as it is done in Heaven……
And you won’t be ashamed to declare your faith in Jesus Christ if you truly love Him. I could write much more, but the Apostles presented what Jesus first gave to them, and since they did, we have sure knowledge, and an easy path, not hard to follow or comprehend in order to be saved and transformed. So when we read scriptures what is dead to the lost and dying people of this world, is alive to us and gives life as we read study and absorb His life into us.
Paul wrote in Romans chapter 1 that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and neither should you be ashamed.
I will leave you with a passage out of Romans that should really help you understand that we are no longer walking in a life subject and slaves to our old sinful nature, but now we are new Creatures in Christ and all the old things are being stripped away and we are being made now and transformed into new sons and daughters of God. If you know these things not just in your carnal mind but having realized them in Spirit and heart, your joy will be unspeakable, impossible to share in words and full of glory. You will understand what motivated the first century church to rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus Christ, and you will understand why martyrs to this day would rather die than to deny Christ and His Love in them..
Romans 8
King James Version
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
