Spiritual Bankruptcy

In 2005, our government changed the bankruptcy protection laws. Like so many things it was a move away from the way God does things. Prior to 2005 if someone declared bankruptcy their debt was cleared. Now only 60% of the debt is cleared (if I understand the laws correctly). It amounts to a continuation of the kind of indentured servitude our debt based system has become, and now without recourse or relief. God's laws always included a way out. He created cities of refuge to run to and a year of Jubilee for the forgiveness of debt and release of servitude.

Truth is we, the people of this world, are spiritually bankrupt. We spend our life digging a hole for ourselves spiritually. We are born spiritually dead and spend our lives making one big mess. "Man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble." Like people who are truly bankrupt, people will often spend time trying to manage, denying the problem, shifting things around. . . but eventually the cold, hard truth with be unavoidable.

The good news is that we can declare spiritual bankruptcy. One simply must approach the throne of God, and in admission and surrender, admit our ultimate shortcoming. A suprise is in store for those who do! The first suprise is that you were never alone for "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." The second is that "if we confess our sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the rightous." The results of declaring spiritual bankruptcy are closer to our nations pre-2005 standard. . . 100% of your debt will be forgiven and you will be set free. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heay laden, and I will give you rest." The annointing will break the yoke.

Ours is to quit moving things around, trying to manage and deny the problem and just to declare it: "I cannot continue on my own. I cannot manage, I am bankrupt." Jesus said He came to give us life more abundantly. It has never been His will that any would come to the end of their rope and reach their grave in spiritual insolvency, but that all men would come to repentance - the ultimate declaration of spiritual bankruptcy.

2008 - Becoming Vessels of God's Pleasure

Our opening service of 2008, I preached a message entitled "The Four Vessels of Pleasure." I find four types of pleasure in the scripture. The pleasure of sin, which is for a season and which God takes no pleasure in. The pleasure of self, which is serving the flesh. Even when pleasing self is not sin, in the flesh we cannot please God. The third pleasure is pleasing man. This is more selfless that serving self. It is more noble and honorable to serve others, but it becomes a problem when it keeps us from pleasing God. In 2008, our church will strive to attain unto the fourth pleasure: Pleasing God. When a man's ways please God, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. . . . and at His right hand are pleasures for ever more.

There is no greater pleasure than to be in His presence, walk in the spirit and be used of God according to his pleasure. We want to please God, knowing that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added. . . Too often we start at the bottom. We please ourself, then others and we leave a little room for Jesus. The Bible warns that in the last days men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. We please God when our first thought is to please Him.

My mother once told me the way to real JOY was to put Jesus first "J" then Others "O" then Yourself last "Y". This is more than a cute little mnemonic. The older I get, the more I realize the theological accuracy, the ultimate importance of this.

Let's go forward in 2008, to be above all else a vessel of His pleasure!