“They shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat” (verse 18 NKJV). No work that produces sweat is acceptable to the Lord. But what does “sweat” signify?

We all know that the first occasion when sweat is mentioned was when Adam was driven from the Garden of Eden. After Adam sinned, God pronounced this sentence upon him: “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life…in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:19-19). It is clear that sweat is a condition of the curse. Because the curse rested on the ground, it ceased to yield its fruit without man’s effort, and such effort produced sweat.

When the blessing of God is withheld, fleshly effort becomes necessary, and that causes sweat. All work that produces sweat is positively prohibited to those who minister to the Lord. Yet today what an expenditure of energy there is in work for Him! Few Christians can do any work today without sweating over it. Their work involves planning and scheming, exhorting and urging, and very much running around. It cannot be done without a great deal of fleshly zeal.

Nowadays, if there is no sweat there is no work. Before work for God can be undertaken, there is a great deal of rushing to and fro, making numerous contacts, having consultations and discussions, and finally getting the approval of various people before going ahead. As for waiting quietly in the presence of God and seeking His instructions, that is out of the question.

Yet, in spiritual work, the one factor to be taken into account is God. He is the one Person to make contact with. That is the preciousness of spiritual work that is truly spiritual-it is related to the Lord Himself In relation to Him there is work to do, but it is work that produces no sweat.

If we have to advertise our ministry and use great effort to promote it, then it is obvious that it does not spring from prayer in the presence of God. If you really work in God’s presence, men will respond when you come into their presence. You will not have to use endless means in order to help them. Spiritual work is God’s work, and when God works, man does not need to expend so much effort that he sweats over it.

Hebrews 11

³⁵Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. ³⁷They were stoned^[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Notice The word Others. The first part of the chapter tell of the great men and women of faith that conquered, overcame, and were victorious. And here in verse 35 the writer of Hebrews gives another example of faith. Those who face the struggles in this life and lost theres. Those who faced the lions den and died to awake in eternity. We love the storied of faith that leads to nice ,prosperous, comfortable lives, but where is the ones who will have faith even though it may cost their life. These Others are not mentioned by name but the writer of Hebrews points out ” the world was not worthy of them”. God was the only one worthy of their presence. We lack that Other faith in todays christianity. Those who will say I will trust you Lord even if…

Lord Help Me to A Faith That Trusts Even IF

I know football is in the air. Man I love this time of the year, but no I am not referring to a receiver running a deep receiving pattern in a football game. Let me ask you a question. Do you feel frustrated in your life? Maybe you can honestly say that you are tired of common Christianity. Maybe it’s because you have been to shallow. That’s the state we find Simon Peter in this passage in the gospel of Luke chapter 5

“4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down^[b] the nets for a catch.”

 ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

 ⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

 ⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

   Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

Did you catch what Simon Peter said in verse 5 “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” To be honest I have felt like that at times. I have been working hard and yet have little to show for it spiritually. But I find Jesus’ call to me the same as for Simon Peter. “Go a little deeper!”

We are living in a world right now that is facing so much. And to be honest I believe we as a nation and personally are lacking spiritual direction. As I write this I have things at work that need to be better, I have things at church that need to be better, and things with my family. But in truth the answer is not me being a better worker, pastor, husband, or father in myself. Just like for Simon I have to hear the call of Jesus to go deeper. Look at what Simon Peter said,” But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  We all need to respond to the call of our souls to go Deep with Christ.

Here are some things for us to consider:
1. Being used of God is not necessary being deep with God
So many think that since they serve God in some form they are close to the Lord. We fall into the trap of being busy for God but losing an intimate relationship with Him. More than God wants me to teach Sunday school, give in the offering, sing a special, He wants my heart. It is easier sometimes to do things for God instead of be with God.
2. To get deep Go past the Message

We must be willing to be a seeker of the Lord outside of Church. We must go past the Sunday message “Amen’s”, and live a life devoted to everyday Christianity. God loves for us to go to Church, but God also loves it when we are alone. It is there: no choir, no preaching, no pews; just you and God. In solitude you will find the deep things of God.

3.  To go deep with God brings a deep repentance
Simon Peter in our passage says a similar phrase,” away from me for I am a sinful man.” 
A deep encounter with God will bring the worst out in you. But it must if you’re to stay deep. Have you ever seen a bottle sink? The air in the bottle must be pushed out with the water for the bottle to sink. I can see that so many are spiritually puffed up and God must push the air out of us if we are to get deeper with Him.
 
4. A deep repentance brings a deep calling
Isaiah received a deep calling of God on his life after his encounter so did Peter. One that would make Peter leave everything he had to follow Christ. I wonder if so many Christians are falling away because we are shallow in our callings. Our commitments are good as long as it is not uncomfortable. When the trials come there is not depth in our faith to make us stable and so we are tossed to and fro.
I ask you to join with me in a challenge: Go Deep!

Pastor Chris Whittingon Living Water Worship Center

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