Never Your Way Again - Scott

Luke 14:27 - "... anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

I believe that we need a major revival across this land. But, revival will not fully come if we hold back. We can get 'that close' and miss the blessing by inches.

What do we value most? What could get in the way of total commitment?

Let me ask you a question that God has given for your consideration:

“What if you never got your own way ever again?”

It is contradictory to claim to be followers of the Master and then to demand our own way. The good news is that there is the assurance that we will not be denied our heart's desire according to God's will.

Have you been demanding your way? How's that been working for you?

I have seen God working in the congregation I attend. I believe we are on the verge of a great revival.

Many folks get cranky when something different happens. We often hear the 'Seven Last Words of the Church': WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE.

Some might admit, “Yeah, I'm sort of like that.”

Well, it's time to change.

From Macedonia and Greece, Alexander the Great subjugated the entire area of the Mediterranean. One day he received a report that one of his men had fled in the face of the enemy. Alexander wanted to speak privately with this soldier. The young man came to the great leader's tent. The general was almost ready to excuse the young soldier's impulsiveness. But then he asked him “What is your name?” The soldier answered, “Alexander, sir!”

“What is your name?”

“Alexander, sir!”

The General looked straight at the young man, straightened to his full height, and said firmly, “Soldier, you have only two choices. Change your attitude or change your name!”

What is our response?

Unwilling to give up the demand to have our own way, we can be very selfish. That's what got this world into trouble in the first place. The Bible is a record of individuals and nations that wanted their own way. The list is a long one.

What are the saddest words in the Bible? Here is my choice: “It takes eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh Barnea by way of the hill country of Edom.” (Deuteronomy 1:2 GNB)

If you’ve ever read the story of the Exodus (or watched “The Ten Commandments”) you will have learned that the people of Israel wandered for 40 years before arriving in the Promised Land. What the verse from Deuteronomy tells us is that the trip should only have taken eleven days. Selfishness and disobedience led to the Israelites taking a whole generation to make what should have been a trip of a week and a half.

The people wanted comfort, peace, and victory over others. They wanted God their way and either adopted the false Gods of other nations or created their own image of what He should be in order for them to get their own way.

Jesus clearly says we can't expect to have our own way if we want to know and benefit from God's way. All we have must be gladly yielded when Jesus asks for it. “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 GNB)

It's time to decide if we can be satisfied to never have our own way ever again so that God can revive his church. Is our legacy going to be 40 years of wandering or do we want to enter the Promised Land TODAY?

If God's way is what you really want, you will receive your heart's desire. He is waiting to bless TODAY.

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Robert Scott is a pastor and the author of ADVERTISING MURDER, LOST YOUTH and MURDER EXPRESS, titles in the Jack Elton Mystery series, Published by AVALON Books, New York