Monitoring Your Motives

“Mastering Your Motives” or “Monitoring Your Motives”

--For the most part, we do things without really thinking about why. Sure, we think about the how(s), when(s), and where(s), but the why(s) of our deeds are often ignored. Why we do something is called “motive”. The official definition for the word motive is “a factor inducing a person to act in a particular way”. There should be a conscious purpose behind everything we do and say; a particular intent that drives our actions. Nothing is more aggravating than talking to someone who has absolutely no idea why they are saying the things they are saying; they are talking heads, just talking to be heard. And although there are plenty of people like that–people who lethargically drift through life seemingly without purpose–there is always a motive behind people’s actions, whether they take the time to think about them or not.

--In most areas of life we can get by with ignoring our motives, but when it comes to our walk with God, there is no escaping it: they are vitally important. Our motives will determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell. Motive will determine whether God answers our prayers or not. Really, in the spiritual realm, our motives will determine everything.

--Let me get to the crux of the matter. The Bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Why? Because Colossians 1:16 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, AND FOR HIM:”

--Everything that exists (time, space, and matter) exists for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The heavens and the earth were created by Jesus and for Jesus. Revelations 4:11 states that even you and I were created for Jesus’ pleasure. 1John 2:12 tells us that our sins are forgiven, not for our sakes, but for Jesus’ sake. That’s right! God didn’t forgive you of your sins so you’d feel better about yourself; He forgave you of your sins because it pleased Jesus. This can only mean that everything we do in this life must be done in the name of Jesus and with Him in mind.

--Listen carefully. We must guard ourselves from humanism. Humanism is a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. You may say, “I don’t attach prime importance to human matters. I’m so heavenly minded I’m of no earthly good.” Well, let’s see about that. I know you want your husband, or wife, and children saved, but why? So your life will be better? So that your husband/wife will be kinder to you? So your child will respect you more? I’m sure that some of you are sick and want God to heal you, but why? Is it so you can feel better when doing your housework; so you can sleep better at night; or is it so you can be a greater soul winner for Christ? Is it so you can be a more effective soldier in God’s army? Now, I’m not saying that it is wrong to want to be healed in order to feel better in your everyday life, but it is wrong when that is your primary motive. Most people are doing nothing for the kingdom of God and, more or less, want God to heal them so they’ll feel better while continuing to do nothing for the kingdom of God.

--I am reminded of a story concerning two Moravian missionaries who were consumed by a great burden for a particular slave island. The slave master that owned the island and the slaves on that island hated Christianity and would not allow a preacher to come there. Two young Moravian boys sold themselves to that slave master in order to preach to the slaves on that island. They went knowing they would never see their families and loved ones again. They went knowing that they would die as slaves. Why do you think they did such a drastic thing? Is your mind thinking upon the slaves right now? Buckle your seatbelt! That’s humanism: a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters! Fortunately, those two Moravian missionaries weren’t humanists. As their boat sailed away, they called out, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” Their primary motive for surrendering their lives into slavery was their unwavering conviction that Jesus paid too great a price for those precious souls to allow them to die and go to hell. Their primary motive for selling themselves into slavery was their love for Christ, not their love for people.

--Why do we do the things we do? Why do we say the things we say? What motives are behind our actions? Humans can be the most selfish, self-centered creatures on the planet and it is motive that determines whether they are self-serving narcissists or selfless Christians living and breathing to please Jesus.

--Would you like to know why so many sinners come to the altar and leave exactly like they came? Motives. They come to the altar for no other reason than they want God to make their lives better. For them to get saved, they must see Christ and the manner in which they have rebelled against Him. Their hearts will have to grieve for transgressing His law. Their hearts will have to be more concerned about how they’ve trampled the blood of Jesus under foot than they are their own predicament. God is no spare tire! Christ will be Lord of all or Lord not at all! All for Christ!

--Please, ask yourself: Why do you pray? Why do you go to church? Why do you memorize the Bible? Why have you chosen the friends you spend time with? Yes. Ask yourself those questions regarding every facet of your life. Why do you do the things you do?

--If God will grant me the gift of brevity, I’ll quickly conclude this blog entry. Please, pay attention to the manner in which you pray. Do you spend most of your time worshiping God; praying for others; or asking God for blessings upon yourself? When you go to church; do you go with a testimony, a song, a piece of money, etc., to bless others, or do you go primarily to get blessed? Do you even think about it before you go? What was the primary subject of your prayers; the kingdom of God or your own personal welfare?

--The reason I write this blog entry–Lord, I pray it’s not humanistic–is Christ wants you. I also want you to draw closer to Christ. I want you to be blessed. I want your prayers to be answered. And in order for you to be truly blessed; and in order for your prayers to be answered, you will have to die to yourself. Your life will have to be wrapped up in Christ and what pleases Him. In Luke 14:26, Jesus said: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” You must die and live only for Christ. After all, He is worthy.

--What do you think will move the hand of God quicker: praying “God, save my husband/wife/child. Jesus died for them and they’ll be a mighty witness for you”; or “Lord, save my husband/wife/child. I can’t take this anymore”?

--What do you think touches the heart of God more; what do you think would cause Him to be more willing to heal you; praying “God, heal me. I can’t take this pain anymore”; or “God, heal me so I can go into the highways and hedges to bring souls to Christ; to glorify Him in all I do”?

--Now, just saying these things won’t move God, He knows your true motives. Christ’s glory must be your primary concern. Christ’s kingdom must be the driving motive of everything you engage in. Not what’s best for you; what’s best for God.

--Monitor your motives. God may or may not move when you call out for yourself, but when you call out for Jesus’ sake heaven will come to attention.

David

Do You Desire a Desire?

Do You Desire a Desire?

To the American church:

--I have been a Christian since 1994 (approximately 16 years). I have preached the gospel for nearly 14 years of that time period. I have met many different people from many different walks of life and have preached in many different types of churches (independent Pentecostal, Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy, Assemblies of God, Baptist, etc). I am no authority on the subject of revival, but I do know that all of these denominations were started with a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit-a revival of religion. The same can be said of every true born again Christian: they were birthed into the Kingdom of God by a life changing encounter with The One. Unfortunately, the revival fires that birthed these great movements are now merely smoke and ashes; and most would be glad to have even that. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't congregations that are experiencing New Testament level manifestations of Divine power, but I will say I don't know of any, and if there are some, they are very few and far between.

--Some will say, "Well, I know of a church with 10,000 people in it. They have to be on fire with God!" No, they don't! People are attracted to personalities. You want proof? It was just today that I heard of a Jimmy Buffett concert that sold out in 6 minutes. 6 minutes! Is Jimmy Buffett on fire for God? Is he full of God? Of course not! (If you answered "yes" to either of those questions you may want to head toward Benny Hinn's website immediately). The truth is any charismatic preacher that will go light on sin and will hire some good musicians can fill a church with gullible souls! It also helps if they have good hair and an attractive smile like Joel "Smiley" Olsteen; a man that admits he doesn't think it is necessary to use the Bible during his sermons or books. Joel makes people feel good by smiling at them and telling them that they are good people. The end product? They stay exactly the same way they have been for years, if not worse.

--Dear reader, the sobering fact of it is there is no revival in America today. Why? What happened? These denominations (and nearly every Christian I know) did not continue doing the things that brought the fire of God into their lives in the first place. Preachers became silvered tongued orators. They quit preaching hell-fire and brimstone messages. They became politically correct in order to keep from offending lukewarm Christians who might withhold their tithe. Churches forfeited their all night prayer meetings. Fasting became non-existent. Their Bibles gathered dust. The concept of the traditional family unit became perverted (men were feminized, women masculinized, and children became head of the house). The end product is a church world full of unregenerate men and women who hate the holiness of God; an American church world that operates quite well with Jesus standing on the porch, knocking, wanting in; a church world that thinks they can build the Kingdom of God with the arm of flesh.

Ga 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

--I'd like to ask you to search your own heart. Can you remember when you first came to God? How your heart was consumed with passion and desire for Christ and the things which pertain to Him? How you sought God day and night for the baptism in the Holy Ghost? How you couldn't get enough of the Word of God? How it grieved your heart if you were hindered from going to church? How you wanted everyone to receive the same life changing experience that Christ gave you? How your heart overflowed with love toward everyone?

--Now, let me ask you if you presently find that these traits are no longer a part of your every day life? That you are simply saved by association? That you claim to be born again because you go to church and no longer smoke cigarettes? Do you find that the love, joy, zeal, and desire you once had is a thing of the past, a relic of days gone by? Have you become entangled with the affairs of this life? Entangled to such a degree that you go days without visiting your secret place of prayer? Days without reading the Word of God? Months without pushing the plate back? Years without winning a soul to Christ? Are you now doing things (sinning) that you one time would never do? Honestly, have you allowed the fire of God to die out of your life? Have you allowed troubles, trials, heartaches, pain, death, sickness, sin, or something else to get the best of you?

--The bottom line is this: are you on fire with God or are you lukewarm? Have you become apathetic and disconnecting from God? Honestly, are you walking in the Spirit?

For the vast majority of you, I know the answer to that question. So I want to ask you whether or not you still care that you are in this condition? Do you even care whether you get up? Do you no longer "feel like traveling on"? Tell me, do you have a desire to get up?

--If you are finding it hard to get up; if you are finding it hard to locate a DESIRE to get up; I want you to do something for me. I want you to pray that God will give you a desire for a desire. I know that sounds strange, but it's not. If you're not willing to do right, become willing to be made willing. God will come to you. He will help you. If you can find even an iota of desire He will place a divine spark in your heart that you can kindle into a holy inferno!

No matter what, you cannot stay like you are. You cannot stay lukewarm. Listen to what the Bible says about the lukewarm soul:

--Re 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

--You will be vomited out of the body of Christ. You are not going to leave here in the rapture! You must get concerned about your soul. Pray that God will give you a desire for a desire. When the desire comes, the rest will be much easier. You will find that God will send a great fire into your hearts. You must maintain that fire or it will go out, leaving you in the same condition you were in the beginning.

God bless!