Higher Ground

[Alleykat]

We're all sooooo desperately in need of a Savior[/b]...I don't care if we have been a Christian 30 years (I do that that I don't want to do....said that great Paul)...

Why do we forget this?

Accept the grace yet again.....you're gonna keep needing it til you die.....

Humbles you, if you're honest, and keeps you from being self righteous and judgemental....Lot of that goin on here I noticed....Oh well.....such is life

Jesus, Jesus ...more of Jesus.....

[Guest marvelann]

I've listened to the song, "Higher ground" by Stevie Wonder many times in the past few days. It just accurately reflects where I am right now.

Higher Ground, by Stevie Wonder

People, keep on learnin'

Soldiers, keep on warrin'

World, keep on turnin'

'Cause it won't be too long.

Powers, keep on lyin'

While your people keep on dyin'

World, keep on turnin'

'Cause it won't be too long.

I'm so darn glad He let me try it again

'Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin.

I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then.

Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest ground.

Teachers, keep on teachin'

Preachers, keep on preachin'

World, keep on turnin'

"cause it won't be too long.

Lovers, keep on lovin'

Believers, keep on believin'

Sleepers, just stop sleepin'

'Cause it won't be too long.

I'm so glad He let me try it again

'Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin.

I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then.

Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest ground.

I know there seems to be a lot of pseudo-spirituality in this song, but I view the lyrics as being very accurate in terms of the attitude that believers should have with regard to the world.

In this song, Stevie Wonder seems to be trying to say, "Look, everything that's going to happen is going to happen. The world is going to keep on turning the same way that it always has been turning. But you and I, we've been given a very special gift. We have a hope in something more eternal. It won't be too long until all of this is going to pass away. So what are you going to do with the gift that you've been given?

The last verse of the song goes, "Lovers, keep on lovin'. Believers keep on believin'. Sleepers, just stop sleepin'. 'Cause it won't be too long. This is an exhortation to those who are listening, rather than a factual statement of how things are in the other verses. The other verses are saying, "This is how things are," but this last verse is telling us what to do. If you are a lover of the Lord Jesus, then just keep on loving Him. If you believe in Him, and the eminent day of His return, then keep right on believing. But if you are a sleeper - if you do not know the mercy, grace, and love afforded to you by God in Christ Jesus -then you need to wake up. Because it won't be too long before He comes back.

I was on the boards all day today with a very heavy heart. I was struggling to write something, anything of value today. There seemed to be something constraining me. Not only can I not come up with the right words to bring encouragement and building up to the saints, I can't seem to type properly. Already it's taken me about twice as long just to type these few paragraphs as it normally would. And many of you saints know that I have a tendency to be very long-winded.

I guess right now I just feel like the direction this world is going is getting many of us off balance. The political and social turmoil of this age has many of us in bondage. As if it's not bad enough that money, lust, lukewarmness, and just plain wishy-washy doctrines have invaded the church with vigor in the past 10 or so years, and kept many of the saints in bondage, we have to contend with so many other distractions.

Children get trapped by "youthful lusts," after Paul's own words. Adults get caught up in "mature lusts," in my own words. Christians think that it's warranted, encouraged, and righteous to get involved in so many political and social spheres. Of course I would not prevent them from doing so. But there is a vast difference between knowing of something, and becoming so engrossed in that thing that it becomes your idol.

Children idolize some of the worse things imaginable, and so do some adults. But most adults don't stop to consider all the things that take the place of Christ in their lives. They confuse physical maturity with spiritual maturity. So they brush aside the notion that the nightly news, political commentaries, conspiracy theories, the so-called "vast left-wing (or right wing) conspiracy," etc. could ever be an idol - or even a distraction. But you talk to some folks and all they seem to be concerned with are the various issues, issues which they believe are "effecting the church." No one want to just talk about Christ anymore. You know the irony of this is that many Christians and some preachers are so caught up in talking about the issues that are affecting the church that they don't realize that they are affecting the church! Not in a positive way, but in a negative way. They are not anymore immune to these distractions than we are. In fact, I believe that many prominent Christian leaders feel that it is their commissioned duty to get involved politics.

I have to admit that I am not remotely innocent. I have let so many things become great distractions from Christ. These issues surely weigh heavily on my mind, and they trouble my spirit to the uttermost. So much so, in fact, that I begin to lose contact with the Savior to whom I owe my very life! I have become so weary, so bone weary of these things that I fall into despair at times. It is at these times that I seem to be the most keen of the Lord's asking, "Where are you?" like He did with Adam in the garden.

When we take a step back and see what the church is today, can we say that it is anything like the first century? The saints then were just filled with Christ. So much so that they had the audacity to proclaim the Lord's victory in the face of certain death, and they had the boldness to speak the truth to those religious hypocrite who killed the Lord. Remember our brother Stephen?

When we examine the situation in the church today, can we rightly say that this is what Paul invisioned for us when he wrote his epistles? These letters written by the hands of a man who had been tortured by Jew and Greek alike, who had been scoffed at, rejected, scorned, insulted and humiliated, have only one single purpose and goal: That is to establish and build up the Body of Christ. But instead of using these letters for our building up we are using them to tear down, to tear apart, to divide. The Lord Jesus grieved over Jerusalem. How much more then does He grieve over the churches today?

You know, someday we are going to reach that higher ground. That is our hope. Heaven and earth will pass away in the blink of an eye. But what about right now? We can reach a "higher ground" right now. We can rise above all of these idols and act like the rightful inheritors of the promise given to a man called from a nation of idols. As children of Abraham, as inheritors of the promises of God in Christ Jesus, we can become more than that we have been called out from.

Saints. Where are you?

Much Grace,

~O

This is my first time. but I am feeling like I am in limbo right now. I'm wondering what should I be learning from this experience.

[quieth3art]

I grew up in the Methodist church and the one we went to was very large. My family attended "religiously". My grandfather was a deacon. As a child, I loved that church and all the people in it. If only we could look on all of life through the eyes of a child.

When I was 9, I moved away with my family. We never attended church together again. As a young adult, I attended churches here and there, mostly Baptist. As a young mother, I faced the responsibility of my children's religious education alone. My husband never claimed to be an athiest, but he refused to attend church. It was so hard to maintain any kind of faith throughout those years. I certainly didn't follow the Word as closely as I should have. But my children had a strong foundation and I'll brag all about them somewhere else. I attended Baptist churches all over the country with my children as my husband was military and we moved often - Missionary Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Southern Baptist and plain old Baptist. Through the eyes of a child, there was wonder in God's presence no matter what the church was named.

Once my children were grown and my husband long gone, I attended an Assembly of God church for awhile. There was something going on in the church that prevented them from welcoming newcomers - they told me later there was a problem amongst the leaders. I did not care. It certainly was not my place to interfere. I was there to hear the Word and to give praise to my Lord and Savior. AG churches can lift up some praise now!

I have heard so many people say that they do not go to church because they are tired of "Sunday Christians." I say it is not my place to judge what others choose to do with what they hear on Sunday. This argument of denominations losing God to man is a new one to me, though. I contend that any argument or excuse that keeps us away from God, His house and His Word is not just a division; it is a sin. I can rarely control what others do (how humbling it is to admit that), but I can certainly control what I do. I now attend a wonderful Baptist church of moderate size and an extremely welcoming congregation that just oozes with the love of the Lord and each other. I go to hear His Word from those who are better educated in it than I. I go to sing His praises. I go to fellowship with other believers. If I feel that someone there is not doing all that they should or could be doing for the Lord, I pray for them and myself, after I lecture myself about being judgemental and controlling.

Then while driving down the road, someone cuts me off and I think ugly things about them before cutting myself off. Or someone falsely accuses me of something and I yell back rather than turning the other cheek as Jesus commanded. I catch myself impatient with my loved ones, angry at a slow store clerk or frustrated at a rapidly approaching Christmas that I am not prepared for and have difficulty affording because of commercialism. Life slams at us from every direction all day long every day. I am human and weak. I need my church, my bible and my faith to just get through - much less to think about reaching that higher ground. I don't have the energy to argue the semantics of a song. If any song inspires someone to reach for higher ground with the Lord, regardless of it's origins, then God Bless it! And who are any of us to judge how another gets to the "finish line"... as long as we all get there! I can only do my own best to fulfill God's will for my life and pray for others that they are able to do the same.

Peace,

~L

[Exavier]

I admit that I like the message that is in the Stevie Wonder song, but it does seem to lean towards reincarnation, perhaps not in the Christian sense of being "risen with Christ".

This thread troubles me, to see so many conclude that the beloved bride of God has so many..holes. weak points.

I'm from the UK, and I'm Church of England by type. I'm really glad that our Church only preaches the Gospel "as is" and isn't making a grave error to say "we must worship like this" or "you must have done all this".

I have heard so many people say that they do not go to church because they are tired of "Sunday Christians." I say it is not my place to judge what others choose to do with what they hear on Sunday. This argument of denominations losing God to man is a new one to me, though. I contend that any argument or excuse that keeps us away from God, His house and His Word is not just a division; it is a sin. I can rarely control what others do (how humbling it is to admit that), but I can certainly control what I do. I now attend a wonderful Baptist church of moderate size and an extremely welcoming congregation that just oozes with the love of the Lord and each other. I go to hear His Word from those who are better educated in it than I. I go to sing His praises. I go to fellowship with other believers. If I feel that someone there is not doing all that they should or could be doing for the Lord, I pray for them and myself, after I lecture myself about being judgemental and controlling.

I agree so much. Christ isn't just a sunday feature. He longs for all of our days.

I wish that there were something I could say to truly impact this thread, but I am not as full of grace as I have ever been of late.

[Guest]

[i am so Homesick, I can hardly stand it.

Amen!

I'm wondering what should I be learning from this experience.

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

He Is So Worthy!

[cjrose]

[i am so Homesick, I can hardly stand it.

Amen!

I'm wondering what should I be learning from this experience.

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

He Is So Worthy!

I am so Homesick, I can hardly stand it, so true so true

patience

trust

obedience

Jesus! Praise Jesus!

I am so unworthy....

yet, He is ever faithful in His abundant merciful love!

[hupo]

I was on the boards all day today with a very heavy heart. I was struggling to write something, anything of value today. There seemed to be something constraining me. Not only can I not come up with the right words to bring encouragement and building up to the saints, I can't seem to type properly. Already it's taken me about twice as long just to type these few paragraphs as it normally would. And many of you saints know that I have a tendency to be very long-winded.

Indeed a heartfelt cry, Ovedya,

Lord, arise and shine on Your body, even as it struggles with writing, with trying to encourage, with the building of saints.

Lord, I pray you abide by your servents here on earth. I pray you gather us under Your protective wings.

I ask that you carry us when we fall, support us when we are too weak to stand.

Lord, in Your precious son's name, I ask......

When we examine the situation in the church today, can we rightly say that this is what Paul invisioned for us when he wrote his epistles? These letters written by the hands of a man who had been tortured by Jew and Greek alike, who had been scoffed at, rejected, scorned, insulted and humiliated, have only one single purpose and goal: That is to establish and build up the Body of Christ. But instead of using these letters for our building up we are using them to tear down, to tear apart, to divide. The Lord Jesus grieved over Jerusalem. How much more then does He grieve over the churches today?

He grieves over His children, over His churches, Over His body......

He grieves for every lost child. He rejoices at every "prodigal son that comes home"

He gave us so much. He gave us His very life !!

We need to realize how much grace God has shown us even when we didn't know Him.........

You know, someday we are going to reach that higher ground. That is our hope. Heaven and earth will pass away in the blink of an eye. But what about right now? We can reach a "higher ground" right now. We can rise above all of these idols and act like the rightful inheritors of the promise given to a man called from a nation of idols. As children of Abraham, as inheritors of the promises of God in Christ Jesus, we can become more than that we have been called out from.

Saints. Where are you?

We are all here Ovedya but making a choice for Yeshua is not a one-time thing. We need to do that every day, every moment, every waking instant of our lives....... We need to make that step of Faith, again...and again....

We cannot do this in our own power and we need to recognize this....

We need Yeshua for this too...... like most other things in our lives........

I can but pray for guidance..........

[viajero]

I read this following article about 10 years ago, and it change my whole direction. I truly thought I was going in a certain direction which seemed right, at least that's what many teachings were saying. But I distinctly remember reading this one day (after several readings), when it just hit me. My prayers were very much, "Lord, what do You have for me, what do You want me to do, where do I fit, where is Your place for me, I want to serve You.

Over the years, I thought I really was following Him and living unto Him. But then I saw; everything was for me, for what God could do for me and through me. It is not God for me, it is me for God. I was going my own way in God. God has a great purpose and a plan. I need to fit into His Plan and His Purpose and move with Him in the way He is going, then then I am walking in His will, and my life will be unto His Glory. And however he sees to carry that out in my life is up to Him, I am the clay, He is the Potter. As Madam Guyon once said "Abandonment is a matter of the greatest importance in our progress; Abandonment is the casting off all selfish care, that we may be altogether at the divine disposal." Method of Prayer

It was a complete 180 deg. turn. I was attached to things, I was attached to works, and in some way, trying to earn my salvation. I had to cut off everything, and begin to find out what was Christ's, and what was man's. I remember one day sitting reading the Bible praying, I turned around to look at my book case (one of a couple), it was full of only (good??) Christian material, when I had the thought, "Man's teaching". Some of those books cost a lot, and I had them for a long time. But God was still doing His "removing of those things that are shaken . . . that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Heb.12:27. The thing with being on "Higher Ground", is that there aren't as many people there, but that is the way of following Christ, "forsaking all". When Jesus says "he who does not forsake . . ." Those things mentioned, are indicative of things we hold very close to our hearts; "Mother, father, houses, land (even your own country) children, bretheren". It is the heart He wants, not things. If and when, according to His will, He wants to take those things from your life, can He? But this is in order to gain more of Him, and live on "higher ground"

Christ Our Life

by T. Austin-Sparks

One of the main objects of the Holy Spirit is to get believers really identified with Christ as the risen and exalted Lord, and to make His risen life real in their experience. As the age moves toward its consummation - the manifestation of Christ - two features will become increasingly evident. On the one hand things, men, movements, institutions, organizations, etc., will predominate and draw multitudes after them, and will attach the crowds to themselves. On the other hand, with a growing disappointment and disillusionment over these, a minority will turn to the Lord Himself to find Him alone as their life. Three elements will inhere in all this. One is the unmistakable development of the principle of Anti-christ; that which will definitely supplant Christ, or intend to do so. The second is the alternative to the whole Christ in man-made Christianity, an imitation life born and carried on by its own momentum. The third, a deep and genuine quest for reality, truth, and inward knowledge of the Lord Himself. In the first case it will be naked worship of man in human power: a tremendous overflow of humanism, the wonder and glory of man. The third will be Christ altogether as the life. If the Christian is attached to some thing, such as a teaching, a tradition, an institution, a movement, or person, the end will certainly be a limitation of life and eventually confusion and disappointment, perhaps worse. The New Testament makes it unmistakably clear and emphatic that the destiny of all is to be "Christ all and in all." We must learn that a true work of the Spirit of God is to attach everything to Christ Himself. He, Christ, must be the life of our spirit, the "inner man," so that we are strong in the Lord: not in ourselves, nor in others, nor in things. We shall have to survive adversity by His strength within alone. Christ will have to be the life of our mind. Perplexity will find us without the power to explain and understand, but the Spirit will teach and lead. Christ will need to be life for our bodies. There is such a thing as Divine life for the physical body. Not always does the Lord choose to heal the body, but He does always want to be its life, even in suffering, to fulfill His purpose. It is the Lord Himself, and for this to be so, it often has to be against a background of natural inability. The power of His resurrection is the law of union with Christ from beginning to end. Days of terrific pressure are upon the Lord

[Sconzy]

Surely the Holy Spirit is by you all the time.

What an inspiration....

[Guest Dancing_For_God]

I know exactly what you mean! I love that song and how it is so true. Also, kind of random, but I choreographed a dance to that song.