Author: Charlie Brignac

Satan loves to keep us tied up in activities that we take on without even looking for God’s perspective. Under Satan’s trickery, we take on tasks, jobs and even ministries that we know we are capable of handling and that we know will likely bring us success.  And often, we will be successful by the world’s standards.

But God is looking for the opportunity to have His glory, and not our capabilities, reflected in the things that we do.  He is looking for a renewal of our minds so that we make choices by seeking His counsel through prayer, the reading of His Word and the advice of spirit-filled men and women.  Making choices in this transformed way will take us beyond our capabilities and our imagination.  Our accomplishments will then be for His glory and our success will be measured by the standards of His kingdom.

The guaranteed formula for our personal defeat is to cast ourselves against Satan, against sin or against our own flesh. Carnal man will lose this battle every time.

The guaranteed formula for personal victory is to cast all of our cares upon the Lord.  Through Him, we have victory in everything.  The process of sanctification, which will signify our ultimate victory, comes as a result of us giving up our own ability to compete and placing the battle in the hands of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The living water provided by Our Savior is available to all people as a constant flow.   The flow cannot stop nor will it ever stop.  The abundant fount of Jesus Christ is eternal.

This living water is also available to pass through us as vessels of Our Lord’s love.  When we put our trust in Jesus and submit to His calling on our lives, the living water flows freely through us on to others.  On the other hand, when we turn to the world for our direction, we hinder the productive flow that the Lord intends for us to share. 

Rest assured.  The well of water never goes away.  The eternal reservoir is always ready to be tapped.  The Lord waits patiently to release His abundance through His children when they turn to Him in obedience.

As Christians, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, our demeanor is engaging to the observer.  Without even being aware of it, our smiles or kind words delivered somewhat casually can become  day changers, or even life changers, for the receivers of the acts of kindness.  

At times, our acts of kindness are delivered to the receiver purposely.  Often they are not.  They are simply representative of the gift of living water that is passing through us as obedient and submissive vessels. They are the reflection of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all peace, comfort and healing, that is shining through to those that need Him.  

Before accepting Jesus Christ as Our Savior, we are not able to see the way, the truth and the life that is in Him.  Our sin nature blinds us to who He is and the salvation plan that He offers.  It is only by the aid of the Holy Spirit preparing our hearts that we are able to receive and submit to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

When we take the step of salvation, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to continue to be our helper.  The Holy Spirit will take us through the process of becoming disciples of Jesus.  We will learn to accept Our Lord’s teachings and share them with others.  We will grow spiritually and develop an intimate relationship with Our Savior.  We will be prepared to meet Our Lord in heaven.  

When we get to heaven, we will finally fully understand the perfect nature and depth of character of Our Blessed Hope.  With our sin nature completely removed, all of His Glory will be revealed to us.   

All successful companies have sales personnel that stand up to established standards for representing the company’s goods and services.  The one standard that will be found in each of these companies is that the sales personnel must have a full understanding of their products and be able to present the products in an exemplary fashion.  

Other standards are likely to include codes for appearance and behavior and a requirement to always exhibit a passion for the company and the products in the marketplace.  And then, to insure that all the standards are met, each sales person will have a manager to train them, motivate them and monitor their performance.

As the representatives of the greatest product of all times, the Good News, our standards are basically the same.  We have several huge advantages in the marketplace.  1) There is no other product that delivers like ours.  2) Our manager is the infallible Holy Spirit that dwells within us. 3) Our reward program is the best.

We are mere vessels on this earth.  Whatever we receive from The Lord needs to be poured out into the world.  The healthy vessel has a constant stream flowing from it.  

To restrict or dam up the outflow from the vessel is to damage the vessel in some way.  The vessel that receives without allowing for an outpouring will fill to the point of being unable to receive more.  If the stream from the vessel stops completely, the vessel will become stagnant and will no longer be useful.

By faith, we receive Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior.  When we receive Him and He dwells within us, we become vessels from which living waters flow from our lives out to others.  If we stay in submission to Our Lord and do not let our old selves interfere, the flow will be continuous.

The flow can manifest itself in many ways.  It can be a trickle or it can be a flood.  It can range from the smallest, unseen act of kindness to a massive outpouring on a grand stage.  But it can also be greatly restricted or stopped completely, if we begin to rely on ourselves rather than relying fully on the power within us.

Absolute holiness is the final product.  We will become absolutely holy when we go to meet the Lord in heaven.  Until that glorious day, we can expect to experience periods of holiness when our behavior is a reflection of the Holy One that lives within us.  On the other hand, we can be certain that we will suffer through times in which we will be led by our flesh.  Our behavior will not be holy.  We will move toward the darkness – the standard of our flesh.  

Fret not, the atoning blood of Jesus Christ puts us in perfect union with Our Heavenly Father, the seat of all holiness.  We can live in triumph knowing that we are holy.  We can manifest holiness here on earth.  For indeed, He is holy.

Being rightly related to Jesus Christ is the only place of complete joy.  Ironically, our constant attempts at finding happiness in worldly things and activities create our greatest obstacles to finding peace in the Lord.

Our steadfast focus on gaining happiness from the things of the world blinds us from seeing, understanding and accepting what God has to offer.  God’s offer is simple.  We are instructed by His Word to give up our old lives in the world and surrender to His Son.  Then the joy that the Son has from the Father will be in us and our joy will be complete.