OWNERSHIP

Concerning ownership, in Philippians 3:12, Paul says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

You can tell some things about a person by what they choose to own materially. You get to see what they value as either important or special. Some items they may need in their daily function or something may be acquired that is just nice to have around the home. We are all owners of Things & Stuff, the question really becomes - Do the Things & Stuff own us?

There are other Things & Stuff besides the material world to be concerned with owning or being owned by. Such additional considerations as attitude, word choice, fellowship choices and so forth are examples of non-material things to have control over or they have mastery over us.

Paul gives us three great steps toward a great mindset on Ownership in this Philippians 3:12 reference. 

1. Humble Thyself
2. Press On; Don't look back
3. Take Hold; Own God's Stuff

Immediately he places himself in a humble position by admitting he is still a work in progress, he says - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,". 

Then Paul encourages the church by exemplifying someone who does NOT stay stagnant but who goes forward in his journey of faith or "press on" for a certain purpose. This purpose is what I often miss in my life many times and desire to encourage you, along with Paul, not to miss out on today.

I believe many Christians understand humility and not turning back but going forward in life with Christ. However, when we finally recognize we don't know it all and are ready to move WITH God, I believe we often miss out on the ownership of the promises that have been secured through the high price of Christ Jesus. Paul tells the church in Ephesus and now us eons later - "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6). 

True, we did not purchase all the promises in and from God - we never could. Only one person could redeem us, restore us and "Raise us up with Christ and seat us with Him in the heavenly realms" - Christ Jesus! The Promises of God are part of His Gift to us, His Benefit Package to those who trust in Him. Our part is recognizing He will never be finished with us. Our part is continuing to appreciate His presence with us in the past, but press on to better things ahead. Our part is to realize our authority in Christ and take hold of God's Stuff that He has for us - Ownership.

HIS YOKE

Matthew 11:29-30

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Of all beings in existence, God has every right to be harsh and boastful. His yoke or plan for the lives of all under Him have every right to be hard and their burdens heavy. God does have a harsh side to Him, look at the judgments to come upon the world in the last days. God is boastful, read the Bible and you will see Him boasting of His Name - I Am - and His Son, Jesus, "This is my son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:7). God's harshness and boasting are Justified, He is Holy and Perfect in all His ways. However, Matthew paints another side of God for us - a gentle, humble farmer.

Just like oxen who have a collar or yoke around their neck for a farmer's guidance in the field, so too Jesus applies this thought to His followers or disciples. "Take my yoke" does not mean take my cross. Christ's mission, the Salvation of us all, was His alone. With Christ's mission completed and our cross or calling already taken up, what more do we need to take up? What is His "yoke"? Benson Commentary answers it like this - "Believe in and obey me: hearken to me as a teacher, rely on me as a Savior, and be subject to me as a governor." (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/11-29.htm) His "yoke" is His plan and lifestyle that He has for us. The way we yield to that plan and lifestyle is found in the second half of that beginning phrase - "and learn from me". 

Notice Jesus quiets our minds about our decision to take His yoke as He describes Himself in the next section of the verse - "for I am gentle and humble in heart,". Christ calms our fears of what kind of farmer or taskmaster will be at the helm directing us. In addition to taking His yoke or plan for our lives and experiencing His gentleness and humility, Jesus adds as a benefit - we "will find rest for our souls". 

That is all nice and good, but what about the yoke? What about the lifestyle or plan we accept? Jesus continued, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The yoke we take on, the lifestyle/plan we accept is an overcoming lifestyle or plan. Jesus told us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) He overcame everything so that we might find help in overcoming daily. 

The "yoke" and "burden" lastly mentioned in this passage are owned by Jesus. Jesus says if you accept my way of life, my teachings and be obedient to me then you will find my lifestyle or yoke to be "easy" and my challenges/requirements or burden to be "light". Notice the burdens we have are not non-existent and they may seem difficult at times, but compared to eternity they are light and momentary afflictions. Paul says it like that, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

Christ has acquired all victories for us. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Walking in His victories, learning of His ways, and finding rest in Him now becomes our journey of faith with Jesus - should we choose His Yoke. 

THE COUNSELOR

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) This verse and these pictures depict that at anytime in our lives, The Lord is a safe place to run to for anything - He understands. However, not only does Jesus merely understand, He has strength for us to endure the challenge(s) AND will be there to help at every moment along the way.

His accessibility is instant because of the great price He paid with His life for our redemption. There is no other person that restored our fallen relationship with Father God. Therefore, there is no other person we should pray to, through and in the name of than Christ Jesus. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Timothy 2:5). The next move becomes ours - "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) 

Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, not only comes alongside us in our troubles but He lives within us. He is our Great Partner in life that is ready, willing and able to help us with anything, even in the times when we are helpless and/or do not know what to pray. Romans 8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

The Greek word for "help" in this verse has the idea of partnership or cooperation in the removing of an obstacle. "It tells us that the Holy Spirit literally becomes one with us in the task of removing every obstacle. In the midst of our weaknesses when we are inadequate to get the job done, the Holy Spirit says, 'Let me grab hold of that hindrance with you and you and I will push against it together until it is moved completely out of your way.'

In this way, prayer becomes a twofold partnership between you and the Holy Spirit. When that really becomes a revelation to your heart - when you realize that your prayers are not something you're responsible for alone - it will forever change your prayer life." (p.911, Sparkling Gems From the Greek 2, Renner).

The Dynamic Duo back in the day was Batman and Robin, but they cannot touch The Dynamic Duo that each of us make up with God. By staying in His Word and continuing with the calling He has for our lives - believers will benefit tremendously when we give ear, both of them, to our Refuge, our Strength, our ever-present Help in time of need - The Counselor.

THE PURSUIT

Walking into any room, my desire is to introduce or display Jesus Christ without any words if possible. If you had "spiritual glasses" on - I would want you to see Jesus walk-in with me and speak through me in any given situation. My body, His atmosphere. I would want you to know and experience me as a Heavenly scent and light in your midst. 

I desire to ooze with The Holy Spirit. I want every pore, every word selection, every behavior and every thought to be consumed by God's Presence. I crave there to be no option for people but to experience the overflow of God in my life. My hope is for the people that surround me to get saturated with all the goodness and presence of Christ. If those that surround me know Him as their Savior, I pray they receive encouragement and whatever they need. If those that surround me do not know Him as Lord then perhaps the atmosphere I bring will lead to the sharing of my testimony and The Gospel. 

Ah, to be able to command a room at the very entry of it. I don't mean to portray a haughty or arrogant disposition, but one of such great, Christ-like character that people notice Christ in me as a delightful, respectable heavy Spirit upon my body anywhere I go. I believe the more I find ways to keep close to Christ and abide in His Word daily He will grant me this Commanding Presence.

His Commanding Presence in me begins by abiding in Christ, the True Vine (John 15:5). It is not enough to be "religious". My life must reflect my beliefs, teachings and songs I sing. There is awesome power behind those who have lived what they speak about. This is the authority Christians have with their Testimony. This is the Power Christians have because of Christ's blood. This is the Presence that Christians have continually available to their lives. Revelation 12:11 confirms this by stating - "They triumphed over him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

2 Corinthians 2:16 says, that believers in Christ Jesus should have a "Heavenly Scent" about them that is so pleasing that it draws all people to them.

"To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?" 

I also believe, as Matthew 5:15 says, that believers should be a light to the world and especially within their own household.

"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." 

However, I desire to radiate more of God's Presence in my life SO THAT others may take notice of the difference, inquire and consider a change themselves.

I have shown God's compassion in my life through aiding after Hurricane Katrina, a mission trip to Ecuador, a mission trip to Puerto Rico and help in my own state down east after Hurricane Florence. I also sing in the Lord's service and teach when the opportunity arises. Still, I have this nagging inside of me that I could do much more. I don't think that will ever go away and my quest is to go on to the next big thing that God has for me that would satisfy this goal.

Saint Francis of Assisi once said, "Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words." However, I choose the double-barrel method - words and actions. I use both as you can see. I serve with my Calling of Worship/Teaching and I show compassion by going on mission trips to help others. In addition, I blog or write or type my thoughts on what the Holy Spirit is teaching me in a given season of my life. I believe we should use every tool and weapon at our disposal for God's Glory and the extension of His Kingdom. I pledge, with God's help, to continually pursue His presence and mark over all that I write, say, think and do so that His Presence will be the commanding force in my life wherever I go. Amen.