One of the greatest of the forces that seek to prevent our entering God's rest is our own self-will. The desire of the adamic nature to retain its own way is phenomenal to say the least. Someone said we would rather rule in the cardboard shacks of Hell than serve in the glorious courts of Heaven.

The truth is, we have not been created in such a manner that we can pursue our own path successfully. Life and eternity are complex issues. We do not know even our own name, having been assigned a name arbitrarily by our father and mother who knew nothing of our personality or destiny.

But God knows our name that really is our name!

Since God has planned our life from the beginning, knowing what alone will bring us eternal joy and peace, we are wise to drop our endless clutching of relationships and things and seek the mind of Christ. But then Satan, the world, our flesh and soul, and our self-seeking rise up and howl in unbelief.

We know nothing at all. Yet we adopt this plan or that plan in order to gain joy, not knowing God's plan for us. We do not gain the joy and peace we are looking for even if we succeed in becoming wealthy. But we still are determined to go our own way.

Being saved through the blood and born again by the Spirit of God is only the beginning of salvation. These two blessings mark our departure from Egypt.

After we leave Egypt we plod wearily through countless problems and pains.

Then Canaan looms before us. Will we surrender all that we are to Christ, counting our achievements as nothing more than rubbish, or will we cling to our adamic life, hoping God will carry us to Heaven in our untransformed state?

I think the Christian people are at this point of decision today. Will we give all to the Lord and pass from the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Pentecost to the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles, or will we remain in control of our destiny and attempt to please God with our dead religious works?

Many today are trying to follow what the Bible says without listening to the Spirit of God. Many others are trying to direct the Spirit of God by singing to the Spirit, invoking the Spirit, commanding the Spirit to come in power so what these leaders desire will come to pass.

It is never right to try to direct the Spirit of God. Directing the Spirit of God is the responsibility of Jesus Christ. We always are to pray to the Lord for more of His Spirit but we never are to command the Spirit ourselves. This is not scriptural. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. It is religious man seeking to maintain control of his destiny who is attempting to direct the Spirit of God.

To be continued.