We have finally come to the last instalment in our Revival and Reformation series; how apt that it is the seventh instalment! In the Scriptures, seven is a very significant number which is often used in connection with God’s Church. I apologise for having delayed this message due to unforeseen circumstances which resulted in me going off on a bit of a “writing detour.”
Our previous message in this series was about being transformed by God’s Spirit. I have often heard people make excuses for why they behave a certain way. One of the most common excuses is : “I am sorry, but that’s just who I am. I am made that way and I can’t change.” To those who believe this, I pose a question to you. Why believe in a God who can’t change you? Once again, we try to put limitations on God.
In the Gospel of Mark, we find recorded three times Jesus’ words regarding what God can do. To the father of the boy possessed by a demon that His disciples could not cast out, He said: “If thou can believe, ALL things are possible to him that believeth.” When the disciples thought that salvation was unattainable after the rich man had walked away from Jesus, they said among themselves: “Who then can be saved?” “If it is so hard for the rich among us to be saved, is there any hope for us?”, they must have pondered. Jesus replied to them: “With men, it is impossible but not with God for with God, ALL things are possible.” Faced with His imminent death on the Cross Jesus ,in praying to the Father, said “Abba Father, all things are possible unto thee…” (Mk 9:23, Mk 10:27, Mk 14:36)
It is abundantly clear from the Scriptures that when we have done all we can and are at our wits end, frustrated and faced with failure, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD! Garbed in human frailty, you may not possess the strength to change yourself. The good news is that God is not asking you to change yourself! Don’t give up; you don’t have to accept second best for yourself or those around you who have to tolerate your character flaws. God can change you if you will just surrender to Him and ask Him to work in your life. Believe that He will complete the good work He has begun in your life, and WORK with His Spirit every day. The vicious cycle of shame and guilt, of hurting others and yourself doesn’t have to continue. You can end it by submitting to God’s authority today and He will grow His fruit in You. The world will see it and marvel at the power of God to transform lives. In this way, you can be a catalyst for revival in someone else’s life by testifying about how God changed you for the better.
You don’t have to give up in utter defeat. You are more than a conqueror in Christ. Let’s not blame God for the flaws in our character and our failure to deal with them appropriately. When God looked upon His Creation, He declared that it was “very good”. An unknown writer expressed it perfectly: “God does not make junk.”Like that demon possessed boy, God will help you face down the demons in your life if you engage actively with Him and work with Him in the process.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39)
