Comprehensive Care Rooted in Faith

Paul describes to us in Romans 8:28-30 the reason for and description of what it means to be “called according to His purpose.”  As we read, God is continually working through our experiences for our own benefit.  God foreknew us, and has a purposeful, significant meaning for our lives.  In part, God’s desire is more than having a mere acquaintance with us.  1 John 3:2 outlines that we are His children and predestined to be conformed in the likeness of His Son.  Relationship is critical but being in harmony in terms of contour in accordance with the image of God is central.  Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross was never plan B.  God, before time began, knew Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension would be required in order for conformation to be possible.  Mankind cannot mirror the attributes of God without the cross. 

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit provided a sacred grace filled gift to those who believed.  That special gift transformed the Law previously written in scrolls to His Word written on a believer’s heart.  The Holy Spirit is responsible for teaching and illuminating God’s Word in one’s life. The Holy Spirit, aptly named the Counselor, is solely responsible for such a transformation.  The Counselor provides understanding of what is written in Matthew 16:25 “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  If one is going to experience the joy filled life of the resurrected Christ, one must experience the Cross.  Victory can only be found in a way that Jesus modeled.  The Cross involved brokenness and suffering.  In like manner, we must come to an end of ourselves. 

Being born in an unregenerate state, we are preprogrammed to be self-centric pointing away from God.  This was a result of the fall as read in Genesis.  When one believes in an authentic genuine faith of Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross their identity is dramatically changed in an immediate metamorphosis forever.  Now regenerate, one’s position is eternally identified with Christ.  Knowledge of such a glorious event should bring peace and joy.  Positionally, Christians are adopted into the family of believers, but that does not mean one is Spiritually mature.  Why is it that we still experience times of stress, anger, frustration, and anxiety?  Many have been taught that after one becomes a Christian, one simply has to do their best to control their own sin until one day they go on to Heaven and are given glorified bodies.  In the meantime, just do the best you can.  Unfortunately, this has been the banner of Christianity in many churches for far too long.  Interestingly, the Bible teaches us something different.  Yes, Christians are unbelievably blessed in that our bad works have been replaced by His good Work.  Our unrighteousness for His righteousness by means of the Cross.  In a sense we have experienced the death of Christ; however, we are not simply just to experience His death, but also His resurrection.  God provided a way for us to turn over all of our burdens to Him, so we can walk in a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Matthew 11:28 reads “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  God did not intend for us to go through this life alone. 

Too often, Christians try to control their lives and circumstances by their own means.  This we know is futile.  Not only futile, but impossible.  This self-centric approach is the source of anxiety and depression in most circumstances.  To live in the resurrected life of Christ, we must come to an end of ourselves.  What does that mean?  The Bible states in Galatians 2:20 that we must crucify ourselves with Christ, and in Matthew 16:24 we must take up our Cross and follow Him.  How is that done?  According to Scripture, coming to the Cross results in one turning complete control over to God which is contrary to our will.  It is total surrender in the war fought out of one’s own strength.  Daily, we must pray in a brokenness and gratitude for Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.  Through that, we humbly pray for God to live His life through ours.  This requires trust and faith which cannot occur out of our own strength, but in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.  The treaty we are signing is unconditional.  Our life for His as demonstrated on the Cross.  Yielding ourselves to God and allowing Him to use us in a way that not only glorifies Him but sanctifies our lives.  Putting total trust in God, can be frightening.  God does not give us a spirit of fear.  Knowing that God is using our experiences to slowly refine us allows for a confidence and realization that He alone is responsible for directing and guiding our spiritual maturation process.  In time, our likeness to Him becomes more and more vivid.  It must be made clear that in order to have victory this must be done daily.  It is a continuous cycle of confession, denying oneself, and acknowledgement in the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.  This type of fellowship allows us to walk in the light as He is in the light.  Our minds are continually renewed and purged of dead works.  Praise be to God for His plan is perfect and we can turn ourselves over to Him as instruments of righteousness to His glory and for our benefit.