Nugget 21
Sold Out
April 1985
For some time now, the Lord has been stressing the responsibilities and sacrifices that accompany the call of the Lord.
Very early experiences with the Lord made it absolutely clear that only a complete separation from the ways of the world could put one in a place that would delight the heart of God, and cause one to enter into His secrets and be a part of His function in the earth.
ABRAHAM, though referred to as a friend of God, could not fulfill his role before God in Terah's house, because Terah did not overcome his idol worship, and the ways from which man had departed from God since the fall to that time. God, therefore, commanded Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country... and from THY FATHER'S HOUSE, unto a land that I will show thee." Many people in our time take this in the natural, and reject their parents in such a way that it breaks their parents' hearts. They do not realize that such an action does in fact open the road to rebellion. The light of God's presence in one's life should shine first in one's own home, then radiate to others. One might not be able to bring his family to the Lord, but LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. They need the testimony of Jesus. Yes, God intended Abraham to leave physically, which he did, but took his father and nephew with him, which meant that that family spirit went with him. Abraham was part of Terah his father. One can see the result of this, that Abraham could not move on until he settled the Terah question - until Terah died (no matter that God provided a better way for man's deliverance and perfection). In all this, Abraham did not lose sight of God's promises to him - the possession of the whole land. There was no satisfaction in his soul in the places where he travelled, though he kept moving on and hoping. The great test of Abraham's faith came at mount Moriah: the offering of his son Isaac. He could not see the two things working together - to be made the father of many nations and to offer up his only son - BUT HE BELIEVED GOD - he was sold out to FAITH IN GOD.
DAVID, a shepherd boy, remained a shepherd boy until he learned to be courageous, how to be tender, how to care for his flock, (to) be watchful over his sheep, risking his own life for their safety. He could then believe God for the slaying of Goliath, for the deliverance of Israel. He cheered Saul's heart with his musical skill, talent and spiritual power, not thinking of the hatred that Saul had for him. He was a man SOLD OUT to serve the God of Israel faithfully, and to be a shining light to the people of his generation. In the image of David, the people looked and hoped for their Messiah, who should come to deliver them and sit on the throne FOREVER. See Matthew 1:1.
DANIEL was taken captive from Judah to Babylon, but God was with him, and he was raised to power. He believed God for his deliverance, therefore was undaunted in his faith in God, even in the face of hungry lions. Do not forget that some people today are worse than hungry lions, but God does deliver those who trust Him.
There are so many others in the scriptures who walked in their integrity and trusted in the Lord. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7.
The people who made the Lord their only hope experienced deliverance from their enemies every time. In spite of the devastating circumstances they faced, they died with that hope of meeting face to face with their Messiah as David cried, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell." For this reason, Jesus Christ indeed had to go to hell and lead "captivity captive," praise God.
In the New Testament, Jesus accomplished man's salvation in His atoning death, making the salvation of man obtainable by faith, so that man must abandon the reliance in his own effort. Whosoever believes on Him shall not perish. Faith and trust are Christian attributes. All Christians should be sold out to Christ, because He establishes not only FAITH, but THE POWER to accomplish. Some, however, are not willing to pay the price. How sad that there are so many who accept the free will offering of salvation through the blood of Jesus, yet are not willing to forsake the world and its attractions to lay hold of the eternal blessings. It is like the contract of marriage which necessitates forsaking all other men and cleaving to your husband, or forsaking all other women and cleaving to your wife. In most of the marriages of this century, honesty and integrity are not the main ingredients, resulting in broken homes and great disasters. Even so in the Christian world, not many are willing to relinquish the striving after the reliance on the world and one's abilities, to rely totally on FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
One who is a believer and called of God is not his own, he is God's. To believe means to commit one's self decisively, not only as a past but a continuous action. Believing will take a person out of himself into Christ. Of course, the Holy Spirit in the believer is God's mark of ownership, which is the earnest of our inheritance; which guarantees the forthcoming of the final ETERNAL LIFE.
Paul saw the need of counting all things as dung to win CHRIST. Because he was SOLD OUT to Christ, he was able to run the race, to finish his course, and to look forward to what was laid up for him when he came face to face with the Messiah.
Although the term "price to pay" is sometimes used by us (Luke 14:28), it is not such a difficult thing as it might seem, because that which is gained far exceeds the investment.
One certainly cannnot be used of God satisfactorily, unless that life is laid down completely and made ready for the Master's use by fire. Total commitment. NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE, words of Jesus Christ Himself. The disciple is not greater than his Lord.
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