Chuck Bridges Blog

This past Sunday God once again honored us with His powerful presence! Our series leading us into this week’s Easter celebration is called ”Give It UP” and we saw so many people “Giving UP” things in their lives so that they can live in reckless abandon to the CALL of God on their lives. On Sunday we had two replicas of OT altars where burnt offerings were sacrificed to God in the sanctuary. At the end of both services these “altars” were filled with cards where people wrote things they wanted to “Give UP” for God. I was blown away by the response!

In Genesis 22 we read about the sacrifice God told Abraham to offer on Mt. Moriah. Can you believe that God told this incredible man of faith to actually kill his own son and offer his body as a burnt offering? That’s exactly what happened. Even more amazing is how Abraham did exactly what God told him to do, never wavering in his faith that God would take care of everything. Abraham had a willing heart, a listening ear, and a resolve to let nothing keep him from obeying every WORD of GOD!

I can’t help but wonder what could happen in our day if Christ-Followers trusted God enough to obey His Word! God blessed Abraham mightily because of his complete obedience. I believe He is once again looking for people who will obey His Word no matter what anyone else thinks or says. God is going to use those who choose to DO what He says to accomplish great and mighty things for His Kingdom. This world is in desperate need of a God-sized movement unlike anything ever before experienced!

I can’t wait to see what will happen in the lives of those who sacrificed what God told them to “Give UP.” This week we are going to literally burn these cards trusting that the smoke will rise up from the altar and be pleasing to our Lord! He longs to release anointing power on those who can be trusted as “conduits” so that people in our world can really see who God is and what He wants to do in everyone’s life!

If you are looking for God’s best for your life, understand that it can only be found by giving away your life. Even those who have asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord need to continually “Give UP” things that keep us from complete surrender for His service. The greater our assignment, the more significant is the sacrifice that God will require. As Jesus often said: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever gives up his life for my sake will find true life… The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” These paradoxical statements remind us that the way to Resurrection Victory is to “Give It UP.”

That’s what Jesus did! It’s what we must do.