Throughout Scripture, we find line upon line of truth burrowed deeply within the context of eternity’s 
Word to us. It’s our Salvation. It’s our Hope. It’s our Guide. It’s our Light. It’s our Rhema. It’s our Healing. It’s our Prophecy. It’s our Strong Tower. It’s our Refuge. It’s our Sword of the Spirit.
In all of its instruction, in the layers of revelation that it offers daily; it seems that there is a progressive move away from the absolutes of its instruction and the canons of its New Testament Christian principles and practices.
Too often in our society, we focus on a loving God whose tender mercies are continually pursuing us; even while participating in sins, we hope that His love covers us. The Bible is certain in its sound against willful, stubborn sin. “But if ye will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out” Num. 32:23. The Prophet Ezekiel said, “…so that in all your doings your sins do appear” Ezek. 21:24. Isaiah also wrote, “…your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” Isa. 59:2. And Jeremiah penned, “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you” Jer. 5:25
Was it not Paul’s instruction to Timothy “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the people of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Tim. 3:16.
It breaks the heart of God to see one of His confessor's betrayed by self-indulgent sin. It saddens me to see good-willed, good-hearted people arrested by flesh, surrendering their convictions borne of God. It's the mightiest whose convictions are often felled by a momentary lapse with living flesh.
Right now, I believe the world is begging for authentic Christians who not only live what they preach, but are willing to die for what they believe. How can we harshly judge those misguided pagans of other lands who willingly give their life for their gods? While these poor souls willingly die with a sense of purpose (albeit a hellish assignment); many professing Christians find it difficult to live on purpose with God’s indwelling power!
God-birthed convictions are never easy! They never come to us with interest in our comfort! They do not ask for our permission nor do they seek our safety! God-birthed, God-given conviction is only accompanied by one thing ~ the acrid smell of our own dying flesh upon the smoldering altars our own hands have built. It’s the oldest of committal services. We give ourselves up, until the groanings of our flesh are silenced with the saber of God’s spiritual Shekinah piercing us until it consumes us with His radiant glory!
It’s a modern tale spun on ancient heresy that offers an individual: a Christianity without a Cross, a believer’s blessing without personal responsibility, a birth without pain, a new life in Christ without the death of old self. Simply, a resurrection and Pentecostal blessing without the soul-travail of our own Gethsemane!
May I be so bold as to extend to you a personal challenge? Rise up and become the guardian over the fires which conquer your flesh. Do not extinguish them, but allow your desires for the things of God to become the bellows which intensifies the fire of personal consecration. May the flame of our convictions burn brighter. May the heat of our calling sear much deeper. May the fervor of our love burn with such brilliance that the world will say of us, “we know they are His disciples; they are steadfast and unmovable.” I Corinthians 15:58
Hope to see you at Consecration’s Altar, where you should confront the pungent, acrid smell of my flesh dying to His glory….and together we will sing, "To be like Jesus, To be like Jesus; on earth I long to be like Him!"
