173. On the Line

 

As I was listening to the message last night in Brookville, he spoke about the group of people that we’re called to. That made me think for a moment. Who am I called to? Some minister to those in prison, some minister to the addicted, some minister to children, to the homeless or to the helpless. As I prayed about it, I kept hearing the words lukewarm. I love evangelism, I am gifted well in deliverance and healing. Those things all work together in the way the Lord intends them to for my purpose. To bring others closer to Him. Yet to think of nailing down a calling on my life and what that looks like, I can’t help but feel that I’m called to shake up the church. To ignite the lukewarm christians and set them ablaze with the passion they have been missing all along. 

The other night as I was driving it was like the world faded away for a moment. I saw the yellow line in the road covered with people, miles long. On each side of the line, there were people miles and miles deep. They were all trying to get those standing on the line to pick a side. You could see the divide in good vs evil. One side had people who looked at peace, there were angels mixed within the group. They were smiling, singing praises and joyful. The farther and farther I looked from the line, the more pure and beautiful that group appeared. They were celebrating every person who came to Christ. They were glorifying His name. Those being saved were being cleansed right before my eyes. The moment they stepped off of that line was the moment that changed their entire lives. 

Then I looked to the other side. You could see anger and rage, jealousy, bitterness. It was an all out brawl to get to that line from the other side, let alone trying to cross it. People were fighting, screaming, even physically being drug back. Some were held against their will. Some were enjoying the works of the flesh. There was perversion, lust, drugs, money, gambling, drinking, everything this world makes you think you need. The deeper it got, the darker it was. I could easily see the demonic influence over that group. They didn’t care about the people 20 or 50 deep in that group. All they cared about was keeping those on the line from crossing over it. People would try to take a step and be immediately met with temptation, torment or physical pain. Some just couldn’t do it, even though you could tell they desired to. The pull of the flesh, of the demonic, of the physical comfort was too strong. 

That step crossing that line meant leaving everything they’ve known behind. Their friends and even their family, their comforts in drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling or idolatry. The gossiping, the competition, the desires of the flesh to control and conquer. None of it could cross that line. It all holds us back from our walk with Christ. 

I’m called to those on the line. To the ones on the fence. It’s the most dangerous place to be. The Lord Himself says that he would rather us be hot or cold. To pick a side, rather than to play with demons and pray for rescue over and over again. We can’t be of this world. We can’t be lovers of this world. We are about to be tempted big time as to where our provision is from. Is it from the world, or from the Lord? Where does our heart belong, does it belong to this world or to our Lord? Where will your souls end up? Will it end up burning in Hell for the world or will it end up burning in passion for the Lord and His kingdom? 

None of this, not one day of this life, has been about anything other than good vs evil. The Lord vs the Devil. Freedom vs free will. 

He gives us a choice. Yet I see so many blind to the freedom offered to them in their choice in the Lord. They think it’s judgmental, controlling, conservative, not any fun, they think it’s everything that it’s not. They chase after the supernatural aspects of this world because we all feel that supernatural pull. We all feel that there is more to this life. There is so much more.

When I was set free from depression, anxiety, demonic strongholds of addiction, anger, frustration, when I was healed physically and emotionally, those days and experiences I can’t forget. I can’t write off and I can’t turn my back on them. I can assure you that the supernatural that you’re seeking is in the power of the living God. I see people become so weak in the knees they can’t stand. I see people in wheelchairs walk. I see people in other countries get healed and walk out of emergency rooms. I see it all in the name of Jesus Christ. I see demons flee. I see darkness fade away. I see people’s lives transformed. I see it all in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Where are you in that group? Are you on the line? What’s holding you back? How deep are you in that crowd? Are you fighting the right fight? 

It’s time to pick a side. 

It’s time to come to Jesus. 

Revelation 3:15-22

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Romans 8:8 - So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Romans 8:5 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 8:13 - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Romans 6:12-13

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Galatians 3:26 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.