As long as we maintain our own way, even our Christian way, we are part of the adamic creation and subject to the Law of Moses. Since the Law of Moses results only in condemnation, we are in no position to overcome the accuser of the brothers. The accuser can be overcome only by Jesus Christ living and working in those who freely and cheerfully have given over their own life to the cross so Christ may live in them.

The Charismatic churches are at this fork in the road today. Either we are choosing to die that Christ may live, or we are "putting on our administrative hat," as one minister expressed it, and attempting to direct the gifts of the Spirit, the Spirit of God, and the angels.

We either are seeking to command the Presence of the Holy Spirit so our ministry will be glorified, or else we are waiting patiently for the Lord Jesus to perform His own works. Either we are doing the work and asking Jesus to bless us, or else we are looking to the Lord constantly for His will that we may perform it faithfully.

Right now make this decision in your mind: "I will die so Christ may live"; or "I am going to go forth and believe God will bless my efforts."

If you are spiritually ambitious this will prove to be a difficult choice to make.

The problem is in our mind. Either we wait and seek the Lord's mind or else we study, analyze, and reason what needs to be done in the Kingdom.

Either the Lord is going to build His Church or we are going to do it with His "blessing."

Either we are going to take the gifts the Lord has given us and attempt to heal a lost and dying world or we are going to wait until God tells us what to do.

This is the fork in the road we Evangelicals are facing today. What path are you going to take?

I made my choice nearly fifty years ago. I have had some small fruit, but only as the Lord has directed. The church my wife and I pastor follow all the normal routines, with pageantry added that is not found in many assemblies. But fundamentally we have no program we are trying to put over, no agenda. Each service is held before the Lord, especially what word is to be preached.

We do have a long-range vision that we hope will be realized some day. But since we are not positive this is what God wants, we are not trying to bring it to pass with schemes and human effort. We want our assembly to be a place where the Lord can come, sit down, kick off His shoes, and rest a spell. Then when He is ready to tell us what to do we are ready to obey. How does this sound to you?

To be continued.