"Overcoming Plan-B " part 2

Dear Beloved:

            In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."  In this verse of scripture are the qualifications for overcoming the B-complex and becoming an A-plan believer.  Life is too short for us to be spinning our wheels and doing religious things, thinking we are pleasing the Lord.  Many of us are motivated by doing the things that impress men, but don't move the heart of God.  We have been called to God as our first and greatest ministry priority.  We must understand and embrace our call to come to the Lord and minister to Him before we can minister to man.  We too often get it wrong, because we want to minister to man first.  The first calling and ministry of our life is to the Lord.  Our level of ministry to the Lord will determine our level of ministry to man.  Ministering to man is really our secondary ministry and not our primary one.  Until we get the ministry unto the Lord in order we will not effectively fulfill our ministry to man.

     Saul was appointed and anointed king over God's people, but he never got his ministry to the Lord in order.  He pursued his own interest and tried to impress men, but he never got it right with God.  The truth is if we never get it right with God, we never will get it right.  Even though Saul was anointed and appointed king over the children of Israel, he was never in proper relationship with the Lord. He became a king in title only, but never in heart or spirit.  The scripture says, "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord and also because he consulted a medium for guidance."  This was so terrible and an abomination to the Lord who appointed him, called him and anointed him king over His people.  Yet he was unfaithful to Him who called him.  This is tragic, unacceptable and a very bad witness.  If you think that is bad, add the fact that he consulted a medium or evil spirit for guidance.  What a slap in God’s face and an insult to the Lord.  Saul never had the honor and respect of the people because he never honored or respected the Lord.  In I Sam. 13:14, the Lord spoke thru Prophet Samuel in telling Saul "But now your kingdom shall not continue.  The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."  King Saul was promoted by the Lord and then was demoted by God for not keeping what the Lord commanded him.

     The second condition to overcoming the B-complex and living according to the A-plan of God is "let him deny himself."(Luke 9:23b).  Self denial means to give up, lay aside, relinquish, release and willfully surrender your own will, rights, plans and desires.  This area is the number one problem and issue among believers.  Self denial is the most undesirable, unfamiliar, uncommon and unwilling thing to do.  This area separates more men and women from maturing and obeying God than anything else.  It is the most difficult, painful and unpopular thing to do.  It brings flesh under and allow the Spirit of God to rise and take control.  Luke 9:24 says, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."  King Saul never gained this revelation because he was so busy preserving his own life and doing his own will that he could not embrace the Lord's will. Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13)

Sharing Christ’s Love
Dr. James and Prophetess Sharon Randolph