The Old Testament records the life and trials of Abraham. While the patriarch had a special relationship with God, his faith was not perfect. Over the course of his life, he came to understand how important it is to obey--and how costly it can be to rebel. 

            Abraham learned the hard way that manipulating circumstances to gain a desired result can bring heartache. The Lord had promised him and Sarah a child, but the couple was still waiting for that blessing when they were elderly. Already in her 80s, Sarah suggested that Abraham get an heir by having a child with her servant Hagar. The result was jealousy, family strife, and a bloody conflict that still rages today between the descendants of Hagar's son Ishmael and Sarah's son Isaac. 

            Obedience will bring the Lord's best, but it requires waiting on Him. Abraham was already an old man when God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Genesis 15:5). This would not be fulfilled until he was 100 and Sarah was well past her child-bearing years, which meant that all the glory for Isaac's miraculous conception and birth went to the Lord. Jumping ahead of God had harsh, long-term consequences. But the good news is that the couple's mistakes could not prevent Him from carrying out His plan (Genesis 21:1-8). 

            The Lord has given us His Word so we might learn from the saints of old. Abraham's life teaches us that obedience is essential. When we place our trust in a sovereign God and wait upon His timing, we have nothing to fear from the world.

            Ask most believers if they would like to accomplish what the Lord has planned for them to do with their life, and they will say, "Yes!" To be the person He calls each one of us to be, we must surrender our will to His. That means telling God that we are willing for Him to do whatever He must to drive selfishness out of our life. He may send pain and heartache, because that is a sure way to get our attention. But as a result, we'll be wiser and more mature followers. 

            Surrendering our will to God's better plan clears off the throne of our life, enabling the Holy Spirit to take His rightful place there. Then, as He discards the junk from our life, we are transformed from the inside out. Our spirit undergoes three important changes. First, we begin to recognize when God's hand is at work. Second, we experience freedom from selfish pursuits or earthly attachments, like money and wrong relationships. Third, we understand and appreciate what it means to operate under His power and authority. In serving the Lord, we gain a confidence that we never had while serving self. What's more, others will see the effects of God's work in us. 

            A Spirit-filled believer knows how to love and be loved, maintain peace and joy even in hard times, and give others a second chance. He also wisely knows when to submit. Surrender is not an easy step. It requires courage and patience, as learning submission is a life-long process. But God's compensation--a Spirit-filled life that attracts others to Jesus Christ--is well worth giving up selfish pursuits.

Acts 6:3-4: "Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

Too often we place responsibility with someone (or a group) without providing the authority necessary to get the job done; or sometimes worse -- allocating too much responsibility and authority without proper direction. Both are formulas for disaster.The apostles have given us a textbook example of how to appropriately delegate: they gave the responsibility to solve the problem of food distribution; and the authority to choose the men to serve; along with appropriate direction (including the number of men to select -- "seven," and the qualifications -- "known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom"). This is truly a formula for success.

The next time you are considering delegating a task or responsibility, ask yourself, "What authority (decision making latitude), and direction or instruction do I need to provide along with the responsibility, to ensure a successful outcome?" The reverse is true when you accept a new responsibility, make sure you know what decisions you are allowed to make and also have a clear idea of what would be considered a successful result.

 Bookstores devote entire sections to "self-help" titles. However, the self-help concept is flawed, since people can do nothing to improve the fleshly nature. We can clean up our attitudes and actions temporarily, but lasting change is possible only through the Lord Jesus Christ. When His Spirit is living within us, we can be shaped into successful followers of God. 

 It's critical to realize that the Law wasn't intended for salvation. The commands given through Moses are designed to teach us what sin is and how mankind violates holiness. To lead a God-pleasing life, we must follow biblical principles, but doing so isn't enough to get us into heaven. The Law was created to drive us to the Savior for salvation; through it, we understand our inability to adhere to the Lord's rules without His help (Galatians 3:24). 

 Imbedded within the Law is a warning that sin's penalty is death (Genesis 3:3, 21; Romans 6:23). Christ is the fulfillment of the Law since He took our sin upon Himself and died. When we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, we're covered by divine grace, and His Spirit comes to permanently indwell us. 

  Using Scripture, God's Spirit challenges Christians to bring fleshly habits and thought patterns under submission. He illuminates the believer's mind with regard to biblical meaning and application. Therefore, the Word is useful for "teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). There is no self-help in the believer's life. We are to surrender to the work and way of God's Spirit.

 God's mercy is everlasting. Sometimes, though, a Christian becomes convinced that His forgiveness has limits. This usually happens when the person has repeatedly confessed a sin but finds himself returning to the habit anyway. Satan whispers that the Lord must surely be weary of this constant sin/admission cycle. As always, the Enemy lies. The truth is that a believer cannot sin his way out of God's grace, no matter how many times he confesses the same wrongdoing. 

 Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid our past, present, and future sin-debt. This means that no matter how great our offense or how often we sin, God's grace covers every transgression. He forgives as often as necessary. 

 Anytime I preach on this topic, a few people will ask if I am promoting grace as a license to sin. The Lord's mercy is not a "get out of jail free" card. His forgiveness is infinite, but that does not mean we can get away with sin. As a loving Father, God disciplines His children. He shows us where we have gone wrong and how we can correct our actions to return to the path of righteousness. 

 God desires that each of His children grow in righteousness and reflect the nature of His Son Jesus Christ. He understands that maturing our faith is a lifelong process. Sometimes we will make mistakes and fall into sinful patterns from which we must be restored. Our Father is pleased to draw us back into a right relationship because His grace in infinite. No sin will ever be greater--or more frequent--than His capacity to forgive.

            People have many different opinions about who goes to heaven. Some believe ethical behavior and moral character bring automatic acceptance by God. Others, while acknowledging they have bad habits and behavior, claim a self-improvement plan will gain them admission. A third group assumes they'll be disqualified from heaven because of poor choices that deeply hurt others. 

            None of this thinking lines up with the Bible. Scripture tells us that character and deeds do not determine our eternal state. Rather, the barrier between us and holy God is our sinful nature. Romans 5:12 teaches that Adam and Eve's sin caused all mankind to begin physical life dead to spiritual things and under a sentence of judgment. No amount of good works or moral behavior can change our unholy nature. Nor do bad choices make our nature worse. 

            Without direct help from the Lord, we would be a people without hope--we'd find the entrance to heaven closed and would face an eternity of separation from God. But the Father had a plan to deal with our corrupt nature so we could live with Him forever. He sent His Son as our willing substitute: Jesus took our sins on Himself and received the punishment we deserved. What we were helpless to do, Christ accomplished for us. Through faith in Him, we have assurance that we will live in God's presence forever. 

            Knowing we are heavenbound gives hope and meaning to our lives. Let's tell others about Jesus, the source of our hope.

Acts 5:40-42

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Previously, the Sanhedrin wanted to put the apostles to death for speaking the words of Jesus and preaching the good news of the resurrection. However, Gamaliel a well respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, had spoken persuasively -- recommending a cautious wait and see approach. The apostles were then flogged and set free. Encouraged by this event the apostles continued to teach and proclaim the good news.

The apostles had been jailed, threatened with death, set free by an angel, then re-arrested, flogged and warned again. Yet despite the hardship and pain -- they were rejoicing, proud of being "counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name". Instead of the shame and humiliation that usually comes from incarceration and flogging -- they were encouraged by these events.

This is remarkable to me as it isn't a "normal" human reaction to punishment. I like their perspective -- they counted themselves worthy of suffering disgrace. They didn't focus on the indignity or unfairness of the punishment. Instead they focused on the honor of sharing it with and for Jesus. But there is one more key to their "rejoicing" -- "they never stopped teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ." In other words, their focus was on the cross not on their hardship, and they never stopped.

All too often when we are confronted with punishment or hardship, we stop doing the Lord's will. Not so in the apostles example.Things don't always go as we would like when we're in service to the Lord. Many times we have to adapt our plan as the Lord makes His will and intention known to us. Other times we have to be patient and wait on the Lord's timing. But there are also times when we, as in the apostles' example -- will suffer a disgrace for the Name -- and we just have to endure. However, if you have the apostles perspective you will be "rejoicing" that you have been counted worthy and you will continue on -- as the apostles did -- day after day never stopping!

What is your perspective when a hardship comes along? Do you rejoice and count yourself worthy of suffering? How do you handle hardship? Do you stop when the going gets tough? Do you need to change your perspective?

            When Satan was cast down from heaven, he was given dominion over earth for a period of time. Known as the father of lies (John 8:44), he opposes anything related to the Lord. Because we are all made in God's image, the Enemy seeks to thwart us. Under his rule, our world has become morally and spiritually contaminated. 

            We come into the world physically alive but spiritually dead and in rebellion against the Lord (Ephesians 2:1-2). Yet by trusting Jesus as our Savior, we receive a new nature and are adopted into God's family. Before salvation, man is enslaved to sin and unable to free himself. But through the Holy Spirit, believers have the power to say no to wrongdoing and yes to godliness (Titus 2:12). 

            Because of our new identity as children of God, we can't let ourselves become bound together intimately with unbelievers--we no longer share the same nature or purpose. Followers of Jesus are called to serve as His ambassadors, spreading knowledge of the Savior and living righteous lives. We're to put aside our own desires and instead embrace His. In addition, we must admit when we've sinned and then seek His forgiveness. And of course, we worship the heavenly Father through His Son. These concepts are foreign to someone who doesn't belong to Christ. 

            We are wise to choose as our most intimate friends and trusted advisors those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. How beneficial it is to receive counsel based on Scripture and to have role models who point us toward the Son.

Acts 5:33-39: When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men (Peter and John) be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Historically, these "men of Israel" had heard and experienced many accounts of being on the wrong side of God. One is the Book of Jonah. Jonah, as you probably know, was told by God to go to the city of Ninevah and preach repentance to the Ninevites. The people of Ninevah were enemies of Jonah and his people, so that was the last thing he wanted to do. He not only was fearful for his own life, but he also did not want them to repent -- instead he wanted them to experience God's full wrath. So he ran away. He jumped on a boat going the opposite direction of Ninevah. You are familiar with the outcome: God sent a great storm, then a big fish that swallowed Jonah and vomited him on the shore. During this experience Jonah finally agreed to do God's will -- although without joy. He went to Ninevah and preached one of the be! st sermons of all time -- so good in fact that the people of Ninevah repented. Jonah's story ends on a hill outside of town, as he waits and watches for the Lord to destroy the Ninevites. Jonah was ultimately angry and disappointed because the Lord chose to spare Ninevah.

The Sanhedrin are in this same place -- deciding to take a wait and see approach with the expectation that God will punish the followers of Jesus, believing that the Christian movement will turn to nothing, it will fail. Unfortunately, like Jonah, the Sanhedrin are so committed to their own agenda they are unwilling to allow God to lead in their lives. As a result they don't experience the joy of salvation. Instead they are left with the harshness of the lesson without the benefit God intended.

Jonah sat on the rocky ground and baked in the sun, angry at God for His forgiving nature. The Sanhedrin wanted to punish the apostles, in fact they wanted to put them to death -- but they were on the wrong side of God as well -- doing in great error what they thought was God's will. 

Some were ultimately transformed, but many were not. Which will you be? Transformed by the experience or stubbornly stuck in your expectation or tradition? Are you on the wrong side of God? What change of thought will it take to correct your thinking? Have you had an experience in which you resisted God's will? What do you think He was trying to tell you or get you to change?