IT’S TIME

By Rick Mathes

John 17:1 These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee,

There was a defining moment in the life of the Lord while studying the Book of Isaiah; it dawned on Him that the prophet was writing about Him. There was a time in the carpenters shop when He knew it was the right thing for Him to give His mom a warm hug and leave. And when His 10 day seminar for the Apostles completed He know that now was the time to lift from the ground and go home: mission accomplished!

What can we learn and apply from all of this?

First and foremost is the renouncing of the world. If you love the world more than Him, the love of the Father is not in you. You must always love the Creator more than the creation. He is a jelous God and He commands us not to love anything more than Him. This includes possessions, friends, family and even life itself. This requires an incredible commitment and faith in Christ.

Second is the faith that Jesus gifts us with. Let me define biblical faith. In short, it is believing beyond our grasp. True faith in Christ exceeds all the bounds of understanding. It begins where reason leaves off: beyond the end of the rope. Any faith you might have within your grasp is just extraordinary ability, an exercise in self-confidence. The abandonment of self into all Christ is is the ultimate spiritual service. It is the apex of grace without any work except submission and obedience.

Third is the self-sacrifice I alluded to in becoming exchanged in Him. It really is a metamorphosis: He died that you and I might live so you die to self and live in Him. You become a self-less Temple of God. You are standing on Holy Ground with every step you take.

Lastly it is time to search the Word for the knowledge of God we need to desire truth s we must have oxygen to breathe. It is only in doing spiritual push-ups tht we are strengthened and empowered to sow to the Spirit of God on the barren fields and dr deserts we find in religion and denominations that are infiltrated by Hell. It’s time for the Body of Christ to implode with the dynamite of Creation: a God-breathed revivl!

The Holy Spirit is just waiting for us to have the will and the faith to accomplish all the primitive church enjoyed in Him: it’s time”