Stop waiting to get to heaven…Bring heaven on earth

God has not separated you to show what a wonderful man He could make of you, but to reveal His Son in you.

"For the love of Christ constrains us." 2 Corinthians 5:14

Paul says he is overruled, overmastered, by the love of Christ. For those of you who attended the combatives training at Extreme 2009, you know what it means to be held in a grip; held as in a vice. This is how we should view our linkage to the love of God; we are held by the constraint of our experience. I encourage you to experience God. Purposefully choose to spend time with Him. Dare to have a meaningful relationship with the creator of the universe. The one thing that should hold you, even when there is hopelessness like the feeling the ancient mariners felt when they reached the nothingness of the horizon, is the love of God. "The love of Christ constrains us" - when you hear that note in a man’s voice, you can never mistake it. You know that the Spirit of God is getting his unhindered way in that life. Let that be said of you.

Jesus said - "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Not witnesses to what Jesus can do, but "witnesses unto Me." We should take everything that happens as happening to Him, whether it be praise or blame, persecution or commendation. No one can stand like that for Jesus Christ who is not constrained by the majesty of His personal power. The battle of good with evil is not an even match. God has beaten satan. Our hero is not going to be conquered. However, for many around us, this last sentence is wholly dependent on how we live life. As men, our greatest fear should not be that we would be condemned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. In other words the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end if we do not bring these into the atmosphere as we engage life. Live in confidence. Work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated. So when the time comes to boast of the great things you have done…remember it is not you who did the great thing but Christ within you. When we get to heaven; before we one our mouths, will God see me, Bruce, or you John, or you Seth…I pray not. I pray that God will see Jesus. Jesus is the only one worthy of entering Gods presence. So just like you cannot show up to Challenge without having practices your sit-ups and push-ups…you can not show up to heaven without having practiced your Jesus. Paul says he is gripped by the love of God, which is why he acts as he does. What makes you act the way you do? It is said, “You have not lived until you have found something to die for”. There is only one thing worth living for, one thing that bears fruit in this life. Desire to be used to persuade men of the judgment seat of God, and of the love of Christ. Men, I encourage you to always leave the impression of the holiness and of the power of God, never of our personal holiness.

Living for God
1 Peter 4
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Dads, I speak to you as a fellow dad. We have experienced a life of abuse and worry. Take encouragement that Christ has also and much more. Because we are joint heirs with Christ, we will also share in the glory to be revealed. But let us not wait for that day. Let us reveal God’s Glory here, now, on earth. How? Dads, lead the way for your family and friends and co-workers. God has placed them in your realm of influence. Serve them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. Do not be greedy for money, but eager to serve. Do not lord it over them, but be an example to them.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are in authority over you. Be respectful of those who have “been there and done that”. All of you, conduct yourselves with humility when dealing with each other, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[Proverbs 3:34] I know that it is hard growing up. There are many pressures in life. Life is full of uncertainty. This is why God gave us parents and folks who have “been there and done that”. When is doubt, give all your worries to Christ. He truly cares about the struggles you are going through.

Be self-controlled and alert…better yet be spirit-controlled. Your enemy has already be defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ. However he is still trying to take down as many weaklings as he can. So it is your turn to use the word of your testimony. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith. Be aware that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of challenges. You are not alone. Link arms and go into the fray with the mind set that you are more than a conqueror. Do not do life alone.

I pray that God, who called you to his eternal glory, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Help me praise Him for displaying His power forever and ever.

Meditate on Psalm 119 all of it, specifically 9-10…do not stray!

Challenge Program Director Bruce Stansbury