My spirit is heavy today...you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what's going on. You don't have to be super spiritual to realize what the enemy is doing. I've had Joel chapter 1 in my spirit all day and I'm afraid we're losing out, losing out on the blessings of God because we've let the "locusts" take everything we hold dear. "Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten." (vss 2-4)
The prophet Joel says that our enemy has us like "the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness..." He goes on to say, "It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white." We need to WAKE UP! People in our churches are falling for the tricks of the enemy and the enemy is eating away at them and the church. People are falling away to gossip and convenience, lack of commitment and busyness. They're falling away to soothsayers and evil schemes the enemy has conjured up. Joel continues to say, "The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the olive oil fails (vs 10). It's time to quit wearing our feelings on our shoulders and to quit listening to the enemy!
I'm calling EMERGE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY to a fast! WHO WILL JOIN WITH ME? "Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty." (vss 13-15)
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Chili
Yesterday I went to pick up my son from an event at the high school he will be attending and on the way back home we took a different exit off the interstate than normal because we were meeting my wife and daughter for lunch. As I was approaching the offramp, I could see ahead an image on the left side of the road and immediately I knew what it was, a person holding a sign. Well, I did what comes normal, I pulled right up to the light and didn't even look his way. But, I noticed something...my son was leaning toward the back of the truck in efforts to read the homeless man's sign. Guess what happened next? Yep, the Holy Spirit began to give me a "Whoopin"!
I've preached the scripture, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25:35) for years, but I found myself pulling off when the light turned green. I asked my son as I was pulling off what the sign said, "will work for food". I kept driving and arrived at the place we were meeting my wife and daughter. My son and I got out of the truck and walked in the restaurant and I had remembered my wife giving my son a $20 bill for the school event. I asked him if he'd used the $20 to which he replied that he had not. I asked him for it and I put it in my wallet. He looked at me with a questioned faced as if he knew exactly what I was going to do.
After we ate, my wife went back to work and my daughter, son and I went back to the offramp. As I approached the offramp I told my son to get in the back seat so that the homeless gentleman could ride up front. My daughter was a little apprehensive about the whole, put him in the truck with us, so she asked me, "What if he has a gun" to which I replied "Then we both will have one" or something like that.
Long story short, We took him to an establishment and I told him to order anything he wanted. Come to find out all he really wanted was a bowl of chili. It was 97 degrees outside! I ordered him more than he requested, gave him the change left over and sat with him for a few minutes. i had prayer over his chili, burger and fries. He then turned around and prayed for me. My heart felt good to show my son and daughter that knowing I would probably never see "Donnie" again, it is always good to listen to the Holy Spirit when He reminds you of scripture.
Donnie was hungry for chili and he didn't let a 97 degree day stop him from the opportunity afforded him. We must seize every opportunity afforded us to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the Kingdom of God! Thank you Donnie for allowing me to be humbled to listen to what I've been preaching and also to give my kiddos a teachable moment on how to be Christlike. Now when I order a bowl of chili I'll be thinking of the opportunities afforded me.
I've preached the scripture, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25:35) for years, but I found myself pulling off when the light turned green. I asked my son as I was pulling off what the sign said, "will work for food". I kept driving and arrived at the place we were meeting my wife and daughter. My son and I got out of the truck and walked in the restaurant and I had remembered my wife giving my son a $20 bill for the school event. I asked him if he'd used the $20 to which he replied that he had not. I asked him for it and I put it in my wallet. He looked at me with a questioned faced as if he knew exactly what I was going to do.
After we ate, my wife went back to work and my daughter, son and I went back to the offramp. As I approached the offramp I told my son to get in the back seat so that the homeless gentleman could ride up front. My daughter was a little apprehensive about the whole, put him in the truck with us, so she asked me, "What if he has a gun" to which I replied "Then we both will have one" or something like that.
Long story short, We took him to an establishment and I told him to order anything he wanted. Come to find out all he really wanted was a bowl of chili. It was 97 degrees outside! I ordered him more than he requested, gave him the change left over and sat with him for a few minutes. i had prayer over his chili, burger and fries. He then turned around and prayed for me. My heart felt good to show my son and daughter that knowing I would probably never see "Donnie" again, it is always good to listen to the Holy Spirit when He reminds you of scripture.
Donnie was hungry for chili and he didn't let a 97 degree day stop him from the opportunity afforded him. We must seize every opportunity afforded us to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the Kingdom of God! Thank you Donnie for allowing me to be humbled to listen to what I've been preaching and also to give my kiddos a teachable moment on how to be Christlike. Now when I order a bowl of chili I'll be thinking of the opportunities afforded me.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
NO ONE ELSE WILL
"To learn, you must love discipline." Proverbs 12:1 NLT
In my devotion this morning, I was reading from a book that I received from my kids on Father's Day entitled, The Best of God is in the Small Stuff. It spoke about a word that we cringe at: discipline. I wanted to share part of the devotion with you today.
"The want of whatever it is to be bigger, better, or faster, equals material want. Does outward material things really make us happy? This is a question that we often hear asked in different circles of life. This question rears us to discover that outward material things doesn't really make us happy. So the next thing to do is tune inward. Along the way we decide that it's what's inside that counts. Consequently, many of us have embarked on an inward journey, seeking to simplify our lifestyles while increasing our joy. At least that's the goal, because that's what the simplicity gurus are telling us.
The idea of simplifying your life is a good one, but the problem is that we are attacking the goal with the same unbridled methods we've always used. The key is balance, consistency and perseverance, all of which come from one thing: discipline. We want it all, and we want it now, whether it's an abundance of possessions or an abundance of simplicity. But nothing worthwhile comes quickly and nothing worthwhile comes without discipline. Over life's long haul, discipline works in every dimension of your life: financial, physical, mental and spiritual. If you've ever tried to get rich quick, tried to lose weight by taking a pill, tried to get knowledge by cramming at the last minute, or attempted to get close to God by asking for a miracle, you know what it's like.
It's easy to get caught up in the trap of quick results when you focus on the results rather than the journey. The truth is, the joy is in the journey, in the daily discipline of growing in the details of your mind, body and spirit. The only way to bring abundance to your life - the kind of abundance that gives you joy - is to bring discipline into your life, no one else will." (The Best of God is in the Small Stuff)
In my devotion this morning, I was reading from a book that I received from my kids on Father's Day entitled, The Best of God is in the Small Stuff. It spoke about a word that we cringe at: discipline. I wanted to share part of the devotion with you today.
"The want of whatever it is to be bigger, better, or faster, equals material want. Does outward material things really make us happy? This is a question that we often hear asked in different circles of life. This question rears us to discover that outward material things doesn't really make us happy. So the next thing to do is tune inward. Along the way we decide that it's what's inside that counts. Consequently, many of us have embarked on an inward journey, seeking to simplify our lifestyles while increasing our joy. At least that's the goal, because that's what the simplicity gurus are telling us.
The idea of simplifying your life is a good one, but the problem is that we are attacking the goal with the same unbridled methods we've always used. The key is balance, consistency and perseverance, all of which come from one thing: discipline. We want it all, and we want it now, whether it's an abundance of possessions or an abundance of simplicity. But nothing worthwhile comes quickly and nothing worthwhile comes without discipline. Over life's long haul, discipline works in every dimension of your life: financial, physical, mental and spiritual. If you've ever tried to get rich quick, tried to lose weight by taking a pill, tried to get knowledge by cramming at the last minute, or attempted to get close to God by asking for a miracle, you know what it's like.
It's easy to get caught up in the trap of quick results when you focus on the results rather than the journey. The truth is, the joy is in the journey, in the daily discipline of growing in the details of your mind, body and spirit. The only way to bring abundance to your life - the kind of abundance that gives you joy - is to bring discipline into your life, no one else will." (The Best of God is in the Small Stuff)
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
In The Know
"Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord...All the while, you will learn to know God better and better." (Colossians 1:10 NLT)
Have you ever felt that God seemed distant or detached from you? Could it be because we seem to be waiting for God to come to us? An observation: this is backward!
God has given us His Word, His Son, and His Spirit. That is more than we will ever need in order to understand God (and certainly more than we can absorb in a lifetime). But the next step belongs us. It's up to us to read God's Word, to believe in His Son, and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost for those still stuck in tradition).
God is anxiously desiring a deep and meaningful personal relationship with us, but He won't force the issue. I believe the meaningful relationship comes when we desire that deep personal relationship with God! In order to know God better, to be in the know, we must approach Him. When Jesus taught about this principle, He presented the relationship as an invitation:
"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends." (Revelation 3:20 NLT)
God makes Himself available, but we must respond to His invitation. Take Him at His Word. Go to Him. Open the door of your heart to Him. You don't have to move to a monastery to know God better. You don't have to learn ancient Hebrew or memorize the names of the twelve disciples in alphabetical order. All it takes is a little bit of your time and attention - reading His Word and talking to Him. Start with a few minutes a day and grow from there.
God has already extended the invitation and He's waiting for us to respond. We don't have to call for an appointment.
~excerpts from The Best of God is in the Small Stuff.
Have you ever felt that God seemed distant or detached from you? Could it be because we seem to be waiting for God to come to us? An observation: this is backward!
God has given us His Word, His Son, and His Spirit. That is more than we will ever need in order to understand God (and certainly more than we can absorb in a lifetime). But the next step belongs us. It's up to us to read God's Word, to believe in His Son, and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost for those still stuck in tradition).
God is anxiously desiring a deep and meaningful personal relationship with us, but He won't force the issue. I believe the meaningful relationship comes when we desire that deep personal relationship with God! In order to know God better, to be in the know, we must approach Him. When Jesus taught about this principle, He presented the relationship as an invitation:
"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends." (Revelation 3:20 NLT)
God makes Himself available, but we must respond to His invitation. Take Him at His Word. Go to Him. Open the door of your heart to Him. You don't have to move to a monastery to know God better. You don't have to learn ancient Hebrew or memorize the names of the twelve disciples in alphabetical order. All it takes is a little bit of your time and attention - reading His Word and talking to Him. Start with a few minutes a day and grow from there.
God has already extended the invitation and He's waiting for us to respond. We don't have to call for an appointment.
~excerpts from The Best of God is in the Small Stuff.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Firm Place
Ezra 9:8,9 says, "But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia. He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem." (NIV) Notice what the verse says about a firm place in his sanctuary. The NKJV translates the firm place to be a "peg" which is in reference to "claiming a stake". You can do a study of the events that happen in the book of Ezra and also Chronicles about the temple of God and how God has commissioned Ezra to be His prophet to lead His people in this time, but God has shown me just a small part of the scripture that speaks volumes to me this morning.
As referred to earlier, a "peg", or a "firm place", God wants us to know that we have a "stake" in His Kingdom as followers of Jesus Christ. This means that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17), this means that we are "risen with Christ just as He is risen from the grave" (Colossians 3:1). We have a stake in something that is eternal. We have a hope in something this morning that no one, nobody, no circumstance, nothing - can take it away! You see, Ezra was a prophet of God that was humble before the Lord because of the sins of the people. In the same chapter in verse 5, it says that Ezra fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord and prayed. This shows me of a posture that we as Christians need to be at all times, on our knees in prayer with a "humble heart and turning from our wicked ways and hearing from God" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
I believe with all my heart that if we have a need, that if we have lost loved ones that need to be saved, that if we have a "thorn in the flesh" we can take a "stake" and humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting then we will see the hand of God move in a mighty way. Join with me today and be like the prophet Ezra and get in the right "posture" and be "humble" and claim the stake and blessings that God has for His children.
As referred to earlier, a "peg", or a "firm place", God wants us to know that we have a "stake" in His Kingdom as followers of Jesus Christ. This means that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17), this means that we are "risen with Christ just as He is risen from the grave" (Colossians 3:1). We have a stake in something that is eternal. We have a hope in something this morning that no one, nobody, no circumstance, nothing - can take it away! You see, Ezra was a prophet of God that was humble before the Lord because of the sins of the people. In the same chapter in verse 5, it says that Ezra fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord and prayed. This shows me of a posture that we as Christians need to be at all times, on our knees in prayer with a "humble heart and turning from our wicked ways and hearing from God" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
I believe with all my heart that if we have a need, that if we have lost loved ones that need to be saved, that if we have a "thorn in the flesh" we can take a "stake" and humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting then we will see the hand of God move in a mighty way. Join with me today and be like the prophet Ezra and get in the right "posture" and be "humble" and claim the stake and blessings that God has for His children.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Appointed
"Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1: 4,5) We find in the scripture that Jeremiah was called to do a work from the highest authority, God Himself. Jeremiah had doubt at first, "I cannot speak for I am a youth" (vs6), and the Lord reassured him of the appointment by telling him "Do not say I am a youth, for you shall go to all to whom I send you and whatever I command you, you shall speak...For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." (vss 7,8)
I like the way the NIV puts verses 17-19 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land ... They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you" The Message Bible translates it this way: "I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture...they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way."
God has made all of us as "iron pillars", "immovable steel post", "solid concrete block walls" by His power, by His authority, and by His appointment. I believe that we don't realize sometimes just how much power and authority that we have and that we have all the tools to defeat the enemy when he comes against us. God wants us to be the people that He has raised us up to be and not fall by the way side. The Bible says that in that great day there will be some that fall away. What's going to cause them to fall away? Will it be because they forgot about being a "fortified city, an iron pillar?"
I want to take authority today on the appointment that comes from the Lord: to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We have been empowered by the Holy Ghost to overcome the enemy when he tries to cause us to fail and we have power to overcome him in this spiritual warfare that is raging around us! "Get yourself ready" today to carry out the appointment that God has given you as an individual and seek revival for yourself and let it spark a revival in someone else!!
I like the way the NIV puts verses 17-19 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land ... They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you" The Message Bible translates it this way: "I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture...they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way."
God has made all of us as "iron pillars", "immovable steel post", "solid concrete block walls" by His power, by His authority, and by His appointment. I believe that we don't realize sometimes just how much power and authority that we have and that we have all the tools to defeat the enemy when he comes against us. God wants us to be the people that He has raised us up to be and not fall by the way side. The Bible says that in that great day there will be some that fall away. What's going to cause them to fall away? Will it be because they forgot about being a "fortified city, an iron pillar?"
I want to take authority today on the appointment that comes from the Lord: to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We have been empowered by the Holy Ghost to overcome the enemy when he tries to cause us to fail and we have power to overcome him in this spiritual warfare that is raging around us! "Get yourself ready" today to carry out the appointment that God has given you as an individual and seek revival for yourself and let it spark a revival in someone else!!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
God's Will
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1,2). As you read on in this chapter it explains how to be an imitator of God, verse 17 says to "Understand what the will of the Lord is". How do we communicate and cultivate the will of God in our lives? Prayer, fasting, reading God's Word and fellowship with the Spirit!
I Thessalonians 4:3 says "It is God's will that you should be sanctified". A little bit about sanctification for a moment...I remember a conversation during one of the holidays in times past where my mom told us when she stopped smoking ... she said, "You know when I stopped smoking? When I got sanctified!" You see sanctification will allow us to live a holy life before the Lord because it causes us to not want to do the things that we used to do and that are sinful! Verse 4 goes on to say "that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God...". Verse 7 says "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." If we are to understand the will of God in our lives we have to be sanctified, we have to live pure, holy lives before Him!
Why should I fast, pray and read my Bible? So that "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ... give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" (Ephesians 1:17-19). In other words, "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him - endless energy, boundless strength!" (the Message Bible)
In my prayer this morning I asked the Lord to sanctify me! All of me! Yes I did this a long time ago too, but I believe that you can't out ask God! Do you need to "understand the will of God in your life"? Talk to Him!
I Thessalonians 4:3 says "It is God's will that you should be sanctified". A little bit about sanctification for a moment...I remember a conversation during one of the holidays in times past where my mom told us when she stopped smoking ... she said, "You know when I stopped smoking? When I got sanctified!" You see sanctification will allow us to live a holy life before the Lord because it causes us to not want to do the things that we used to do and that are sinful! Verse 4 goes on to say "that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God...". Verse 7 says "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." If we are to understand the will of God in our lives we have to be sanctified, we have to live pure, holy lives before Him!
Why should I fast, pray and read my Bible? So that "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ... give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" (Ephesians 1:17-19). In other words, "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him - endless energy, boundless strength!" (the Message Bible)
In my prayer this morning I asked the Lord to sanctify me! All of me! Yes I did this a long time ago too, but I believe that you can't out ask God! Do you need to "understand the will of God in your life"? Talk to Him!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Jesus' Compelling Love
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." The word compel in the original language carries a sense of being driven on a course from which you cannot deviate. No other options exist. There's no other course possible. Paul's attitude toward following Jesus was right on course. We see that Paul followed Jesus, not just because of his own love for Jesus, but for the love Jesus has for Paul. This is why we should follow Christ, because His love compels us!
Christianity is a course that should not be deviated from no matter what the cost or circumstance. Notice what else Paul says in this scripture, "because we are convinced." Conviction! The love of Christ compels us with nothing less than conviction. I believe that conviction is not only for the time that God is calling us unto Salvation, as Christian people we are being convicted everyday so as to live a life full of blessings! Don't turn a deaf ear to the convicting Spirit of God because he just wants us to draw close and grow in him!
This compelling love from Jesus should radiate in our lives so that we live a transformed life in Christ. Our transformation through the love of Christ should cause an unbelieving world to see the glory of God in our actions, talk, business dealings, friendships, etc... Let's follow Jesus fully today and let His compelling love run through our hearts! God Bless!
Christianity is a course that should not be deviated from no matter what the cost or circumstance. Notice what else Paul says in this scripture, "because we are convinced." Conviction! The love of Christ compels us with nothing less than conviction. I believe that conviction is not only for the time that God is calling us unto Salvation, as Christian people we are being convicted everyday so as to live a life full of blessings! Don't turn a deaf ear to the convicting Spirit of God because he just wants us to draw close and grow in him!
This compelling love from Jesus should radiate in our lives so that we live a transformed life in Christ. Our transformation through the love of Christ should cause an unbelieving world to see the glory of God in our actions, talk, business dealings, friendships, etc... Let's follow Jesus fully today and let His compelling love run through our hearts! God Bless!
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Fragrant Worship
I'm excited about what I feel in the air in these days to come. I sense a moving of the Holy Ghost across this land and I want to be a ready and willing vessel that can be used to reach someone for the Gospel of Christ! I like the passage of David's writtings in Psalm 145 where David said, "I will exalt you, my God the King. I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (vss. 1- 3 niv) The NKJV says that "His greatness is unsearchable" (vs 3) that means that God's greatness is beyond our understanding! We aint got it all together yet! I know that isn't proper english but it's whats in my spirit, we aint got it all together and we need to do what David did and learn how to praise the Lord daily - for ever and ever and then we will learn how to "humble ourselves" and seek God's face and He will teach us new and great things!
Paul said that "we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15) Whether people accept God's salvation and live or they refuse it and perish, we have to be a fragrance of Christ to God and to all those we come in contact with. We as children of God, need to learn how to get wrapped up in worship! We need to learn how to put things aside - bills, jobs, relationships, sickness, family, etc... and allow God's Holy Spirit to transform us into the people of God that He's intended for us to be! We need to WORSHIP GOD with our daily living and in the sanctuary!
When we stop looking on the outside appearance of man and begin to see the heart of God in them, then we can be transformed ourselves. So what if someone leading worship has a few tatoos on their skin or their hair is long or maybe they have a few piercings! Who are we to judge? We are not God! We are to worship the God that created all of us to be unique in our own ways and for the glory of God to be shown in our lives!
Paul said that "we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15) Whether people accept God's salvation and live or they refuse it and perish, we have to be a fragrance of Christ to God and to all those we come in contact with. We as children of God, need to learn how to get wrapped up in worship! We need to learn how to put things aside - bills, jobs, relationships, sickness, family, etc... and allow God's Holy Spirit to transform us into the people of God that He's intended for us to be! We need to WORSHIP GOD with our daily living and in the sanctuary!
When we stop looking on the outside appearance of man and begin to see the heart of God in them, then we can be transformed ourselves. So what if someone leading worship has a few tatoos on their skin or their hair is long or maybe they have a few piercings! Who are we to judge? We are not God! We are to worship the God that created all of us to be unique in our own ways and for the glory of God to be shown in our lives!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Mind Game No More
Have you ever been talking with someone about Salvation and they make a comment like this one, "I can't seem to forget all the things that I've done wrong" or "I feel in my heart that something has changed, but in my mind I can't seem to forgive myself." As I was reading the first chapter of Colossians this morning, I was drawn to verses 21 & 22 "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - "
Paul says that we have the assurance, through Jesus Christ, that we are NO LONGER ALIENATED from God. When I look at the word, alienated, I automatically think of "outerspace", "the far-side", "a great distance away", etc... Once we were, as sinners, a long way from God and distanced from God, but through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection of His body, we have been made "heirs" with Christ and have the presence of God IN US!
I think a lot of Christians today fight the "battle of the mind" and allow the devil to trick them into believing that they are not forgiven. The battle of Salvation has already been won through Jesus, all we have to do is believe that He was and IS and is to come! John 14: 6 tells us of Jesus being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Whatever circumstance you may be going through today, Jesus is the WAY. Don't let your "mind" tell you any different. A lot of the times we let the struggle in our minds dictate our lives, but the bible says that we are to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God in spiritual acts of worship and to not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by renewing our minds" (Romans 12: 1,2). We can win the battle in our minds by letting God transform us from the inside - out! I have come to know that when I am "mindful" of God's ways, my struggle with temptation, bad attitude, fleshly motives, etc... decrease because I believe what Paul said to the church at Ephesus, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4: 22-24)
Let's strive to have the "mind of Christ" each day and to live a life that is pleasing to God. Remember, that Jesus paid our sin debt and all we have to do is receive and accept. Our minds may remember "the evil behavior" but God has forgotten our sins and given us a renewed life in Him! May God Bless you today!
Paul says that we have the assurance, through Jesus Christ, that we are NO LONGER ALIENATED from God. When I look at the word, alienated, I automatically think of "outerspace", "the far-side", "a great distance away", etc... Once we were, as sinners, a long way from God and distanced from God, but through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection of His body, we have been made "heirs" with Christ and have the presence of God IN US!
I think a lot of Christians today fight the "battle of the mind" and allow the devil to trick them into believing that they are not forgiven. The battle of Salvation has already been won through Jesus, all we have to do is believe that He was and IS and is to come! John 14: 6 tells us of Jesus being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Whatever circumstance you may be going through today, Jesus is the WAY. Don't let your "mind" tell you any different. A lot of the times we let the struggle in our minds dictate our lives, but the bible says that we are to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God in spiritual acts of worship and to not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by renewing our minds" (Romans 12: 1,2). We can win the battle in our minds by letting God transform us from the inside - out! I have come to know that when I am "mindful" of God's ways, my struggle with temptation, bad attitude, fleshly motives, etc... decrease because I believe what Paul said to the church at Ephesus, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4: 22-24)
Let's strive to have the "mind of Christ" each day and to live a life that is pleasing to God. Remember, that Jesus paid our sin debt and all we have to do is receive and accept. Our minds may remember "the evil behavior" but God has forgotten our sins and given us a renewed life in Him! May God Bless you today!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Solitary Confinement
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Mark 6: 30-32 (niv)
As I was reading this passage of scripture I noticed that before the event of feeding the five thousand could happen, Jesus encouraged the disciples to get some much needed rest and nourishment. They had a physically demanding responsibility lying ahead of them and with all that they had already done, they were not in "shape" to press on. So, they went with Jesus, to a solitary place. They had a job at hand, but needed some quiet time, in a quiet place where they could have fellowship and be nourished and refreshed!
How are we when it comes to being nourished and refreshed? I take this passage this morning and call it to be for me, as to my needing to be refreshed in Spirit, to get alone with God and allow Him to nourish me and feed me! Webster's dictionary defines nourish as - to provide with food or other nutriment necessary for life and growth; to foster the development of; to keep alive: maintain.
It is of great importance, that I allow God to nourish me for the necessity of life and growth in this Christian walk. Life eternal and growth in the Spirit. We must allow God to foster the development of our Christian lives with some "solitary place time." We must put ourselves in a position to be maintained through the power of the Holy Spirit for the nourishment of the power of God. We have a physically and Spiritually demanding responsibility before us to live our lives as vessels for the Kingdom of God and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Are you getting the refreshing nourishment that you need to do your part? Find your "solitary place time" today with God! Be blessed in the name of the Lord!
As I was reading this passage of scripture I noticed that before the event of feeding the five thousand could happen, Jesus encouraged the disciples to get some much needed rest and nourishment. They had a physically demanding responsibility lying ahead of them and with all that they had already done, they were not in "shape" to press on. So, they went with Jesus, to a solitary place. They had a job at hand, but needed some quiet time, in a quiet place where they could have fellowship and be nourished and refreshed!
How are we when it comes to being nourished and refreshed? I take this passage this morning and call it to be for me, as to my needing to be refreshed in Spirit, to get alone with God and allow Him to nourish me and feed me! Webster's dictionary defines nourish as - to provide with food or other nutriment necessary for life and growth; to foster the development of; to keep alive: maintain.
It is of great importance, that I allow God to nourish me for the necessity of life and growth in this Christian walk. Life eternal and growth in the Spirit. We must allow God to foster the development of our Christian lives with some "solitary place time." We must put ourselves in a position to be maintained through the power of the Holy Spirit for the nourishment of the power of God. We have a physically and Spiritually demanding responsibility before us to live our lives as vessels for the Kingdom of God and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Are you getting the refreshing nourishment that you need to do your part? Find your "solitary place time" today with God! Be blessed in the name of the Lord!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Voice
1 Samuel chapter 3 tells of the calling of a young man named Samuel. Samuel was staying with Eli (the priest) and was awakened by a voice calling out his name. Samuel went to Eli to see what the call was all about. Eli told Samuel to lay back down because he had not been the one to call out his name. After about the third time of Samuel's awakening to the voice of the Lord, Eli recognized what was going on and sent Samuel back to bed, but this time instructed him to call on the name of the Lord for He was the one doing the calling. See, the Bible says that Samuel didn't know the Lord yet - in other words - he had no relationship with the Lord and in having no relationship with Him, he had no knowledge, or recognition of His voice or fellowship with God. Eli, being a priest, practiced having a relationship with God, therefore, had a recognition of the voice of God.
When someone calls you on the phone that you haven't spoken with in quite a while, you may not know or recognize that voice. When your spouse, child, sibling, or best friend calls you on the phone you have no doubt who you are talking to without even asking! That's the way we ought to recognize the voice of God!!!
We have to be able to hear God when He is calling our name. He calls our name when He has a mission for us to do, when He has a plan for our life, when He wants to fellowship with us, when He wants us to be effective in the Harvest for His Kingdom, etc... There are many reason that God calls out our name and we have to be like Eli and recognize the voice of God in order to act upon the calling!
When someone calls you on the phone that you haven't spoken with in quite a while, you may not know or recognize that voice. When your spouse, child, sibling, or best friend calls you on the phone you have no doubt who you are talking to without even asking! That's the way we ought to recognize the voice of God!!!
We have to be able to hear God when He is calling our name. He calls our name when He has a mission for us to do, when He has a plan for our life, when He wants to fellowship with us, when He wants us to be effective in the Harvest for His Kingdom, etc... There are many reason that God calls out our name and we have to be like Eli and recognize the voice of God in order to act upon the calling!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Polished and Ready
I Thessalonians 4:7 says, "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." This scripture reminds me that I can't live my life, and it be pleasing to God, without living it with Him.
The Message Bible reads this way - "God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful-as beautiful on the inside as the outside." The word unkempt used in the Message paraphrase of this scripture is intriguing to me. There are several definitions of this word such as: (1) not combed: example:unkempt hair, (2) uncared-for or neglected; disheveled; messy: example:unkempt clothes; an unkempt lawn. (3) unpolished; rough; crude.
When I look at these definitions and compare them to how I'm supposed to be living for the Lord, holy and beautiful, I find some areas in my walk with the Lord that are "not combed", "uncared-for", "neglected", "unpolished", and "rough". Every day of our lives we are to be pleasing to the Lord in our walk, talk, thoughts, actions, etc... How can I live a holy life if I'm leaving some things uncared for in my life. If my prayer life isn't where it needs to be, then I've neglected the talks with God that's going to be needed to polish the rough edges in my life.
Lord help me today to live holy and accepted to you! Help me not to neglect the things in my life that will bring glory and honor to You. Cause me to be polished and ready for Your work today so that someone else may see the fruit of Your Spirit and want to live a life that's holy and beautiful to You.
God Bless you today!
The Message Bible reads this way - "God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful-as beautiful on the inside as the outside." The word unkempt used in the Message paraphrase of this scripture is intriguing to me. There are several definitions of this word such as: (1) not combed: example:unkempt hair, (2) uncared-for or neglected; disheveled; messy: example:unkempt clothes; an unkempt lawn. (3) unpolished; rough; crude.
When I look at these definitions and compare them to how I'm supposed to be living for the Lord, holy and beautiful, I find some areas in my walk with the Lord that are "not combed", "uncared-for", "neglected", "unpolished", and "rough". Every day of our lives we are to be pleasing to the Lord in our walk, talk, thoughts, actions, etc... How can I live a holy life if I'm leaving some things uncared for in my life. If my prayer life isn't where it needs to be, then I've neglected the talks with God that's going to be needed to polish the rough edges in my life.
Lord help me today to live holy and accepted to you! Help me not to neglect the things in my life that will bring glory and honor to You. Cause me to be polished and ready for Your work today so that someone else may see the fruit of Your Spirit and want to live a life that's holy and beautiful to You.
God Bless you today!
Monday, April 29, 2013
God's Glory
"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
I'm reminded today of the daughter-in-law of Eli found in 1 Samuel chapter 4. Eli's daughter-in-law had given birth to a son, Ichabod. The name Ichabod has a meaning of "The glory has departed, or left" and he was named this because the Ark of the Covenant of God had been taken from the people of Israel. So often in our lives, we put ourselves into situations to where we're not walking in the glory of God. Sometimes, we allow ourselves to be mislead by what we subject our thoughts and actions to, that we don't give room for the glory of God to be welcomed into our lives.
We don't have to walk in "yesterdays" achievements. We don't have to continue on the same beaten path because it's always been the thing to do. I believe God is calling us to a greater standard than what we've been living and it's time to pray for a replacement of the spirit of Ichabod and accept the spirit of Immanuel, "God with us!" We have, for so long, let men's opinions and sinful ways dictate our blessings and outcomes of our situations instead of desiring "more God" in our lives. I believe, in my own spiritual walk, that I need to pray for the spirit of Immanuel in my life, everyday! It's when we put our total trust in God for our lives, that He truly blesses us with His glory!
What an awesome "revival" the church will experience when we start letting God work in our services, our lives, our work, our homes, etc... I pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we can experience the Glory of God in our churches like they did in the early church in the book of Acts. Why aren't we "adding to the church daily"? Maybe because we've been walking in the wrong spirit for too long. Let's expect the glory of God to be a refreshing breath of energy in our church services and subsequently revival will happen!
I'm reminded today of the daughter-in-law of Eli found in 1 Samuel chapter 4. Eli's daughter-in-law had given birth to a son, Ichabod. The name Ichabod has a meaning of "The glory has departed, or left" and he was named this because the Ark of the Covenant of God had been taken from the people of Israel. So often in our lives, we put ourselves into situations to where we're not walking in the glory of God. Sometimes, we allow ourselves to be mislead by what we subject our thoughts and actions to, that we don't give room for the glory of God to be welcomed into our lives.
We don't have to walk in "yesterdays" achievements. We don't have to continue on the same beaten path because it's always been the thing to do. I believe God is calling us to a greater standard than what we've been living and it's time to pray for a replacement of the spirit of Ichabod and accept the spirit of Immanuel, "God with us!" We have, for so long, let men's opinions and sinful ways dictate our blessings and outcomes of our situations instead of desiring "more God" in our lives. I believe, in my own spiritual walk, that I need to pray for the spirit of Immanuel in my life, everyday! It's when we put our total trust in God for our lives, that He truly blesses us with His glory!
What an awesome "revival" the church will experience when we start letting God work in our services, our lives, our work, our homes, etc... I pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we can experience the Glory of God in our churches like they did in the early church in the book of Acts. Why aren't we "adding to the church daily"? Maybe because we've been walking in the wrong spirit for too long. Let's expect the glory of God to be a refreshing breath of energy in our church services and subsequently revival will happen!
Consistent Christians
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15,16 NIV)
I was sharing at church yesterday about being empowered to live a consistent Christian life. As I was preaching the Lord reminded me of a baseball game I'd attended last week my son played in. You've all been there. The umpire behind the plate calls a pitch that definitely is NOT within the strike zone, a "strike". Then just a few pitches later, a pitch that's thrown in the same area of the, NOT within the strike zone, the umpire calls a "ball" this time. Goodness, at least be consistently bad! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the respect level for this umpire has diminished for not being consistent.
I began to use this illustration to refer to our lives. Sometimes we're on a spiritual high and nothing can penetrate us. Then the next moment, we've been flattened like a nail pierced tire on the side of the interstate. Or maybe there's the one that knows to do good but doesn't. Or maybe there's the one that lives for the Lord today but knows they have full intentions of not living for Him tomorrow. No wonder Christians have lost the respect of others just like the inconsistent umpire behind the plate. At least be consistently bad behind the plate or consistently good behind the plate.
We need to have consistency in our relationship with Christ. We must learn to start each day with prayer and devotion to the Lord. Maybe if we get into the habit of prayer and devotion each day, our walk with Christ may start to be consistent. We may start seeing a pattern of consistency in our prayers being answered, our attitude being joyful, our relationships with others being fruitful. Let's start trying to live consistent Christian lives so that when people speak of Christians today, the respect factor for what we believe in will be upheld instead of diminished.
I was sharing at church yesterday about being empowered to live a consistent Christian life. As I was preaching the Lord reminded me of a baseball game I'd attended last week my son played in. You've all been there. The umpire behind the plate calls a pitch that definitely is NOT within the strike zone, a "strike". Then just a few pitches later, a pitch that's thrown in the same area of the, NOT within the strike zone, the umpire calls a "ball" this time. Goodness, at least be consistently bad! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the respect level for this umpire has diminished for not being consistent.
I began to use this illustration to refer to our lives. Sometimes we're on a spiritual high and nothing can penetrate us. Then the next moment, we've been flattened like a nail pierced tire on the side of the interstate. Or maybe there's the one that knows to do good but doesn't. Or maybe there's the one that lives for the Lord today but knows they have full intentions of not living for Him tomorrow. No wonder Christians have lost the respect of others just like the inconsistent umpire behind the plate. At least be consistently bad behind the plate or consistently good behind the plate.
We need to have consistency in our relationship with Christ. We must learn to start each day with prayer and devotion to the Lord. Maybe if we get into the habit of prayer and devotion each day, our walk with Christ may start to be consistent. We may start seeing a pattern of consistency in our prayers being answered, our attitude being joyful, our relationships with others being fruitful. Let's start trying to live consistent Christian lives so that when people speak of Christians today, the respect factor for what we believe in will be upheld instead of diminished.
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