Monday, October 14, 2013

"Get Up!"

      As mentioned in Saturday's message, I believe that if we could audibly hear the Holy Spirit in our present existence, "Get Up!" would accompany "Show Up!" as one of His primary utterances to us.

    "If we confess our sins, He if faithful to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

    We do God nor ourselves any favors when we wallow in the mire of unbelief and disobedience.  Our spiritual enemies tempt us to punish ourselves, causing us to forget that the Lord Jesus Christ has already borne the wrath of God for our sakes.  Certainly, a place exists for "godly sorrow" when we sin (II Corinthians 7:10).  Such mourning, however, must immediately prompt us to remember that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20).  We look to the Christ of the cross, where He died for our sins.  We look to the Christ of the empty tomb, where His resurrection raised Him to be our living Redeemer.  And we look to the Christ of mediation, remembering and affirming that "He ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25).  "Get up!" declares the Spirit of God through the pages of the Word of God.  We must respond in faith, choosing to believe in the forgiving, cleansing efficacy of our Lord's sacrifice for our sins.

    No sin of any measure or degree compares with the redeeming and restorative power of God.  Indeed, we add sin to sin when we disbelieve the truth of "There is forgiveness with Thee" (Psalm 130:4).  No excuse exists for any waywardness on our parts.  Moreover, no excuse exists for failure to avail ourselves of our Lord's ability to raise us up if we fall.  "Get up!" He would say to us in such times.  We must respond in the faith that lifts us to our feet and sets us back on the path of righteousness...

"I will arise and go unto my Father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven."
(Luke 15:18)
"The father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him.  And put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it.  And let us eat and be merry.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again.  He was lost, and is fount."
(Luke 15:22-24)

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