Jesus did not tell His followers that they must do these things for the benefit of others as you might think. He instructed them to do these things...for their own benefit [complying with these directives, will speed us along the path of dying to self]. These are all things that require the power of Christ in us to be successfully accomplished. These are part of taking up our cross and following Christ. All the trials we face in this life; all that hurts us and brings suffering, is for our good. That we might come to know that in and of ourselves there is no good thing. That we might become totally dependent on Christ in us, to do anything of lasting value. All that is done of self is wood, hay and stubble, and shall be consumed at His appearing. The Word tells us that all our good works, our own righteousness, is a filthy rags. We must be clothed in His righteousness, not our own. There is one way to be clothed in His righteousness. That is by cementing our relationship in Christ. Learning what He said, and walking in it by His power. Have we walked in obedient compliance to all He has shown us? Is Jesus Christ Lord of our lives?

These are critical questions we must answer for ourselves. It is only by the operation of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds that we can be changed into His likeness. It is only by seeking after Him with our whole heart, that we gain discernment, to know what is of Him and what is not. There are many today who pray for God's judgment to come on others. Be aware, that His judgment is coming first to His own house, the Church. We are His tabernacle, not made with hands. Within our hearts is His dwelling place. We are His body in this earth.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Amplified reads: "So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another. Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

We do not belong to ourselves, to walk after our own desires. We are all parts of Christ's body in this world. He is the head. Just as our natural body functions from the signals it receives from our mind, so does Christ's body function in this world. We must be joined in perfect union to the Head...to function properly. Imagine what chaos there would be if our bodily members tried to act independently. Our mind wanting to go one direction and our feet another. We wouldn't get very far. So it is in the spiritual. We must be under the direction of Christ and the Holy Spirit to accomplish what Christ [the Head] desires to bring about. Do you suppose that our hands and feet always understand the reason our brain tells them to move? Of course not. Why then do we assume that we must always understand what God asks of us before we respond?

We are called and charged to walk by faith...not by sight. Disobedience brings correction and/or punishment. We see the wrath of God demonstrated throughout the Old Testament against the disobedience and rebellion of the children of Israel. Are we so foolish as to think that we are any different? Do we somehow think that because of the introduction of Grace we shall not be held accountable as they were?

2 Chronicles 30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness;

Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God:

Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.

Revelation 6:16-17 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

We need to know, that the wrath of God is every bit as real as the love of God. If we willingly choose to walk in rebellion, in disobedience to His Word; we shall be on the receiving end of His wrath. The choice is ours.

Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Hosea 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their doings.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Revelation 11:8 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Because we are living in an age when the fullness of things [evil as well as godly] are being manifested, we are in more desperate need of God's saving grace. Christians today are vexed and tormented by the growing manifestation of evil in the world just as Noah and Lot were vexed. The Word tells us in Luke 17:26-33 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

We are living in days like unto those of Noah and Lot. Lot's wife looked back at the evil city she was leaving, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife." The only way to overcome, to have the victory in Christ, is to walk in total obedience, allowing the Holy Spirit to work the necessary changes in our inner man. We cannot love God, and love the things of the world too. We can only serve one or the other. "Whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." We must decide for ourselves, whose servant we will be. Will we serve God, or our flesh? Whose approval are we after? God's or man's? There are three areas in our walk that are critical to our success: belief, obedience, and the fear of the Lord. We must believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. We must walk in total obedience, complying with all His directives to us personally. We must hold a deep and reverential fear of the Lord, lest we in any way disappoint or fail Him. The miracle of this is that God so loved us; that while we were yet sinners He gave Himself for us. All we have to do is love Him enough to willingly lay down our own life. To relinquish all of our own natural wants and desires, seeking first and foremost to please Him. We tend to project our ideas concerning God and heaven and spiritual things "out there" somewhere. Jesus said, Luke 17:20-21 ...the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We have been taught many things by men, things that are contrary to God's Word. If you want to know God, seek Him and you will find Him. Just be forewarned, that as you grow up in Christ, you may come across teachings you have received of men and accepted, that the Holy Spirit will correct. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

When we come to the place in Christ where even our thoughts are in compliance with His, this is when He can use us to reach a lost and dying world. The world doesn't need more religious programs or charismatic leaders. The world needs men and women who are dead to self, and led by God's Holy Spirit. Men and women who will be obedient and go where the Spirit directs them to go; say what the Spirit prompts them to say; and do what the Spirit prompts them to do; without consideration for how they might appear in the eyes of men.

When we get our eye solely on God, and off ourselves and others, we can begin to see as He sees. We can be used as a member of Christ's own Body. What God will do, He will do through His many-membered Body. We do not need to wait till we physically die, to be as He is. We should all be preparing in this hour. Preparing our hearts and minds, that when He chooses to use us we will be vessels through which the Holy Spirit may operate without hindrance. Yes, the Lord is coming back, in clouds of Glory, to establish His Kingdom on the earth. May we be so responsive to His Spirit now...that He may come in us.

There are men and women alive at this very moment in time, which shall see with their own eye's Christ's return. Our concern should be our standing in Christ, right now. Are we ready? Are we looking for Him? Are we clothed in His righteousness? Or are we content with the way things are? Do we fail to see any need for the Son of God; any need for change in the way things are? Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

What is it that we are willing to put our faith in? Who are we willing to follow all the way...to death?

Look at these words of encouragement Paul wrote to the believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:4-12 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have the ultimate choice. Whom will we serve? Our choices will determine how and what we receive at His appearing. May we be willing that our Lord might be glorified in us, and we in Him.