Do any of you think you ever trust in your own plans in place of God?
Could you honestly say that you trust what the Lord is doing in your life
right now? Or do you have a false sense of security that everything in
your life is under control simply because you are keeping a careful watch
over all your circumstances yourself? Got it all under control, do you?
Well, we're going to read about some folks today who tried that very thing
too. Perhaps you'll discover some personal similarities to these people
as we begin reading about the events that took place after Christ was
crucified...
Matthew 27:62-66 (KJV)
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief
priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember
that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will
rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the
third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say
unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be
worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your
way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure,
sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
So the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate about the "deceiver",
did they? That's what these so-called religious leaders thought of Jesus,
that He was nothing more than a dead deceiver? That's not a very nice
thing to say, is it? It's not even a very nice thing to think about Jesus.
Nor is it a very nice thing to believe about Him at all!
Yes, that's what things were like back then… In the same way, I wonder
if folks today respond to Christ as if He were nothing more than a deceiver,
someone people can't trust, someone we need to keep our eye on because
we just don't know what 'trick' He might be getting ready to play on us?
What do believers think about the One who died for them? Is that what
you and I really believe about our Savior? If not, then how come we have
such a tight hold on our own plans all the time? How come we keep such
thorough guard over all our affairs so that nothing shifts in an unpleasant
direction? How come we are on the lookout for the slightest threat that
the Lord might rearrange our personal agenda?
Psalm 127:1 (KJV)
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except
the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
I believe we are guilty, ladies! We treat Jesus Christ like He is nothing
more than a con artist simply because of the different negative experiences
we may have suffered, namely those particular times when we've been "taken
for a ride" so to speak. Perhaps another Christian let you down somewhere
along life's way... Now you are going to be certain that nobody (even
God?) will pull the wool over your eyes! We fight against the Lord with
our own plans, not realizing in the process we've tried to "make the sepulchre
as sure as we can", just as the chief priests and Pharisees did! We've
joined them in sealing up the stone, sealing up our hearts to the Lord's
will and now we are setting a watch against His authority and right to
our lives...
Ephes. 4:30 (KJV)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the
day of redemption.
Watches are supposed to be set against enemies! Is God your enemy?? If
you treat Him like He is sneaking around and poking His nose into your
affairs, you must think so! Ladies, if we're truly born again, we've been
crucified with Christ, amen? But what about the next day, what about after
our death on the cross with Christ? What about when we remember His Word
as did the Pharisees and the Chief Priests? What then? God’s promises
should build our faith, not increase our anxiety. Regrettably, at the
first sign of God changing things and resurrecting a new life within us,
we're standing guard and ready to fight against His control! Nevertheless,
it is impossible for human policy to supersede heaven’s power… Such a
watch is vain and unprosperous…
Job 9:4 (KJV)
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself
against him, and hath prospered?
The devil is hard at work trying to cause us to believe that we can't
trust Christ; that we can't accept Jesus ways as truth. Satan doesn't
want us to focus on the "new life" and believe that it is good for us,
or even believe that it is possible. He prefers defeated Christians to
triumphant ones. Nevertheless, if we focus on this new life available
to us in Christ, we will become victorious over the devil and his lies,
and Satan does not want that to happen at all! He wants the truth covered
up; he wants the tomb guarded. Know why? To keep the resurrection power
from shining forth and glorifying God! Yes, Satan wants to prevent other
people from seeing that you and I are risen from the dead, to prevent
others from knowing that Jesus IS still alive, for then they might come
to be saved! Ladies, we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength
or as our own bosses. It is only as God's resurrection power works in
and through us that we can do His will and glorify His name. To stand
guard against the mighty power of God is sheer folly!
Proverbs 21:30 (KJV)
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Today's lesson is going to be brief and to the point. What foolish, fleshly
attempts to control God and your own life do you need to repent of today?
What man-made precautions are giving you a false sense of security that
everything in your life is under control? In what areas of your life have
you been unwilling to fully trust Christ? What personal plans have you
been clutching onto, unwilling to let go of? If you claim to be a Christian,
is there proof to your testimony of a resurrected life or have you been
opposed to dying to self? Have you been treating the Lord like He was
a deceiver and not a loving God?
John 7:12 (KJV)
And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some
said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
