Obedience by Faith PASSIVE CAN BE ACTIVE
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets. Heb. 11:32.
In surrendering to God's control, some are afraid that their individuality and personality will be destroyed. They are afraid that they will become puppets. What we need to understand is that there are only two possibilities for who is to control our lives--God or Satan--never us. And which is more likely to end in the destruction of our individuality and freedom? The control of God or the control of Satan?
God does know how to preserve our individuality, even as He controls us. He is the One who created that individuality to begin with. If there was ever a stubborn person it was the apostle Paul. Before he came to Christ, he was stubborn for himself and his own ideas. After he came to Christ, he was stubborn for God and His cause. Before Andrew came to Jesus, he was quiet and retiring. After he came to Jesus, he was still the same, but always quietlybringing someone from the sidelines to Jesus.
Are you worried about becoming a passive instrument in the hands of God? Didn't you ever sing, " 'Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er being Absolute sway' "? Did you mean it? Or are you bothered by the word passive? Just don't forget how active passive can be!
Jonathan was apparently out of his mind. He took his armor-bearer and went climbing up a mountain to wipe out an entire enemy army by himself. But he was being controlled by God. He was a passive instrument in God's hands. And the enemy went running.
Gideon went to war with pitchers and candles. He had sent home 95 percent of his army, keeping only a handful. They attacked, and the enemy fled. He was being controlled by God.
Moses led more than a million people from bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. Joshua, under God's control, led the people of Israel on to possess the land. Paul traveled from one city to another, starting either a revival or a riot wherever he went. The control by God will make us the most active we've ever been. But we are still simply instruments on His hands. Are you willing for Him to control you today?
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets. Heb. 11:32.
In surrendering to God's control, some are afraid that their individuality and personality will be destroyed. They are afraid that they will become puppets. What we need to understand is that there are only two possibilities for who is to control our lives--God or Satan--never us. And which is more likely to end in the destruction of our individuality and freedom? The control of God or the control of Satan?
God does know how to preserve our individuality, even as He controls us. He is the One who created that individuality to begin with. If there was ever a stubborn person it was the apostle Paul. Before he came to Christ, he was stubborn for himself and his own ideas. After he came to Christ, he was stubborn for God and His cause. Before Andrew came to Jesus, he was quiet and retiring. After he came to Jesus, he was still the same, but always quietlybringing someone from the sidelines to Jesus.
Are you worried about becoming a passive instrument in the hands of God? Didn't you ever sing, " 'Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er being Absolute sway' "? Did you mean it? Or are you bothered by the word passive? Just don't forget how active passive can be!
Jonathan was apparently out of his mind. He took his armor-bearer and went climbing up a mountain to wipe out an entire enemy army by himself. But he was being controlled by God. He was a passive instrument in God's hands. And the enemy went running.
Gideon went to war with pitchers and candles. He had sent home 95 percent of his army, keeping only a handful. They attacked, and the enemy fled. He was being controlled by God.
Moses led more than a million people from bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. Joshua, under God's control, led the people of Israel on to possess the land. Paul traveled from one city to another, starting either a revival or a riot wherever he went. The control by God will make us the most active we've ever been. But we are still simply instruments on His hands. Are you willing for Him to control you today?
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