Individuality

In the trinity there are 3 but individuals who do not ever act independently of the others. They chose not to have individuality, but instead they exist inside the love they share. In John 17 Jesus prays that we may be one as He and the Father are one. This is a prime example of how we need to stop being so focused on me as an individual and come into the body of Christ so it can function as one instead of 50 million individuals.

In Genesis God calls the man and woman to become one flesh. They are no longer to be individuals but to become as one. Why is it that we constantly seek out our individuality in every aspect of our lives?

If we begin to forget our RIGHT to be an individual and start focusing on how we may best serve Christ and in so doing serve the His body of believers we will begin to become the bride He is seeking without spot or wrinkle.

Forgiven

37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001). Lk 7:37–38.

This woman who was a sinner did not think her self good enough to be at His head but bowed at His feet where we should all be. She then by her tears shows her repentant heart and her hatred of the life she is living. With the wiping of His feet with her hair and the anointing of them with oil she shows how much she loves Him with the love He has poured out into her heart with the forgiving of her sins. This is the perfect showing of what true repentance is and how a religious legalist misses the truth of the situation. How often do we miss the truth of a situation because we are to buys looking at the surface?

How Can a Man Serve a Master He does not Know?

There are many who say the serve God but have no clue who He is. They have no knowledge of His word and no idea of what He wants from them in life. If you do not take the time to get to know who God is how can you say you serve Him? If a son has never met his dad how would he know who his dad is and what his dad would want of him? In this same way how can a person, child of God, who has never spent time in prayer and never reads and studies His word for themselves know who God is and what He wants of them? This being true how can they, not knowing God, serve Him?

Who owns what?

John 17:1“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

Jesus prays for "Father" to glorify Him so He may Glorify the "Father." I wonder what our world would look like if God's people started living this prayer. Jesus prayer it, yes, but we can pray and live it out.  "Father" blesses us that we may be a blessing. Everything we "OWN" here on earth belongs to God and is His to do with as He sees fit.  How many of us have truly dedicated all we have to Him and asked Him to do with it as He wishes? Is it not time we give back to God what is HIs already?

Becoming Adam and Eve

God would have us know that He is just, indeed, and He will not condone sin. He has tried to make it overwhelmingly plain to us that through the blood of the everlasting covenant He is able to act toward us exactly as if we had never sinned.(A.W. Tozer, What Happened to Worship?: A Call to True Worship)

If this comment is true, and I sincerely believe it is since in Matt 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. We are called to be perfect which is how Adam and Eve were first created.

This all being true, the question comes to HOW do we obtain this? The answer is by giving up your right of choice completely each and every minute of every day. As it is stated in what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s prayer:

Matt 6:9 Pray then like this:

      “Our Father in heaven,
      hallowed be your name.
10      Your kingdom come,
      your will be done,

Note the bold underlined part, Gods will not yours, so give up your will and your right to choose and you will obtain what is stated above.

Miracles

It is truly amazing to give up your right of choice to your Heavenly Father and to watch as He unveils His truths with each passing day. There are so many hidden things that He has waiting for us to realize the truth of our sin lies within our constant exercising of our right of choice over HIs will. Adam and Eve’s sin was disobedient, yes, but the true sin came when they both chose to exercise their right of choice over His command. How many times a day do we do this? How many times each day do I say I want instead of Father what do you want? When the day comes that you stop saying I want and start, sincerely, saying your will be done is the day you begin to realize exactly what life is truly all about. That is the day that all the desires of your heart are truly given to you and the truths of His word are totally opened to you that you may understand completely what He has for you and for His people. I pray this day comes for you soon my brothers and sisters in Christ. Open your heart and let go of your rebellion and give into HIs will and know He IS your Lord. Make His will more important than yours and you will gain all the promises of the Bible instead of a couple here and there. May He richly bless you all the days of your walk with Him.

Sanctification

The day Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge they exercised their right of choice and in so doing they sinned against God and everything He created. When we exercise our right of choice today we do the same thing.

When we come to the place we can honestly say to “Father” I give up my right of choice is the day we come to the place He has longed for us to return to. This is called sanctification or entire sanctification. Once we give up our right of choice we give up the right to choose to not do Gods will and the right to continue to live in sin. This is the perfection the word speaks of.

It took me 16 years to come to this place. Through much pain and heartache, both my own and others have I finally come to the place I can write this from a stand point of knowing from experience. Many will disagree with this, mostly because they are afraid to totally give up their right of choice because they enjoy their indulgences and that’s ok for them. It’s not for me. I cannot live in mediocrity any longer.

If you are up to it, come with me on a journey of pleasing God in all your ways instead of when it does not take you out of your comfort zone!

Who Loves God?

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Matthew 22:37–40 (ESV)

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

To say “I LOVE GOD” is meaningless without following what He say to do.

Matthew 10:24 (ESV)

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (be humble)

Matthew 10:34–39 (ESV)

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Give up your life, everything and everyone you love(Jesus first))

Matthew 13:10–11 (ESV)

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

(Know and understand God’s word)

Matthew 14:15–21 (ESV)

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

(Trust in His provisions for you and your family)

Matthew 15:8–9 (ESV)

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

9 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

(Teach and worship in truth not for show)

Matthew 16:13–17 (ESV)

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

(listen for Gods voice and obey it)

Matthew 17:4–7 (ESV)

4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

(fear God)

Matthew 17:14–20 (ESV)

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

(have faith, pray and fast)

Matthew 18:1–4 (ESV)

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

(trust simply, obey simply, walk simply)

trust in God with all your heart and all your soul and obey His word.

The Flesh Dies Daily

In an over simplification of the Pauli Exclusion Principle, it states that no 2 things can occupy the same space. This being true, when we give our lives over to Christ either our flesh or His spirit must die in us. They cannot survive together in the same place. The only question is which one will survive, if it’s you then your sinful flesh will rule your life. If Christ survives, all the promises of scripture come to pass in your life.

God’s Compassion

Mark 8 ² “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. ³ And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.

There are 12 other places in the gospels that talks of Jesus compassion for people who are hurting and in each one is showing the compassion of the “Father” for all of us. IN Mark 8 He is feeding the 4000 because he is concerned of them passing out on the way home since they have been 3 days without food.

In Luke 10 ²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Jesus is showing the compassion of the “Father’ for the poor and the broken.

Given these examples why do we worry about any type of provision for our lives? Just in the Gospels alone we are shown repeatedly how He will provide for any and all situations that arise in our lives because He has compassion on His creation (US, Humans, You, Me, all of US). There is so much that “Father” wants us to see but we are blinded by what we think is going around us and we worry over these things, instead of concerning ourselves with the things of God. It’s time we all stop worrying over the pettiness of this world and start worrying over the things “Father” wants for our lives. Take the time today to seek Gods throne and what He would have you do for HIM instead of worrying over what you will wear or eat or getting hurt. He has compassion on all of us. Lean on Him and all is possible.

Fear of the Lord

To fear the Lord means to respect who He is, what He says, and what He does. It is not the cringing fear of a slave before a master but the loving reverence of a child before a father, a respect that leads to obedience. “The remarkable thing about fearing God,” said Oswald Chambers, “is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.(Be Patient, Weirsbe)

This statement being true can it then be said that not fearing God is the root cause of anxiety and depression? I personally believe we can fear God in certain areas of our lives yet retain our pride in other areas and in so doing we cause ourselves great emotional distress. Even though we love God and seek to follow Him have we truly given all to Him in reverence and fear as the word tells us to?

Power Prayer

When we pray who do we pray to?? Do we pray to a God who thinks we may or may not deserve what we are asking for?? Do we pray to a God who does not care about what we want or in many cases need?

Matthew 6:25–33 (ESV)

Do Not Be Anxious

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

If God knows our needs and already agreed to meet them why do we pray with an attitude of God probably wont give me this cause I do not deserve it? IN the very next chapter Jesus says:

Matthew 7:7–11 (ESV)

Ask, and It Will Be Given

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Look at all the things God promises to give!! Now we all know this is contingent on our relationship being perfect with Christ right??? WRONG!! Please show me anywhere in this passage that Jesus said so long as you are in perfect relationship with me.. None of us have this type of relationship cause we would have to be perfect to have it. The ONLY requirement is in Mat 6:33 SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD……. Seek to do Gods will before you think of yourself and He will happily add all these things unto you. You seek His kingdom in prayer and in your heart attitude. NOT in words. Once we do this then we must learn to forgive our pasts..yes I said we must forgive our own pasts cause God did the moment you sincerely asked.

We hesitate to think we deserve things because WE know what we were and what we think and what our desires are that we think no one knows about. God knows all of it. And yet He still called you into salvation which means to HIM you are worthy to be given all the things you need and desire within His will. What is His will?? Seek first the kingdom! It truly is that simple. So stop complicating it and start seeking Gods face on those things you need and desire right after you set your heart on what HE wants more than what you want.

Be All You Can Be

Ain’t it amazing how we allow those things we did, didn’t do and think we did to stop us from being ALL God called us to be. I know in my own life, I see what I was in days gone by and the mistakes I made and deep in my heart I often question why God would want me let alone to actually use me to be a blessing to others. Some things I have done were really bad, others were not so bad and some I think were bad others tell me where not bad at all. When I see all these negatives in me it restrains me from truly letting go so God can totally filly my heart so I can be all He called me to be.

I wonder how many others out there have the same problems?? How many people see what they were or the things they did and allow them to hold back from being all God called them to be. Are you one of them?? If so, please, ask “Father” to allow you to see yourself as He sees you. That you may see the wonderful blessing He has called you to be to those close to you.

God called us all to be a blessing to others. Its about time we all started living that life that He has set aside for us.

Take By Force

Matthew 11:11–15 (ESV)

¹¹ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

What does it mean to take by force when you are dealing with the things of God? Surely he is not talking about taking a gun or a sword and going and taking as He could easily wipe out the entirety of mankind in a single thought. SO what is Jesus talking about here? Me I think we need to go all the way back to Genesis to find out.

Genesis 32:24–26 (ESV)

²⁴ And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Jacob has the understand what it means to take by force. It is to desire God and to be blessed by God so much that you are not going to let God until He blesses you. To determine, in your heart, that you are going to be all God wants and you want all God has and no matter what happens, no matter how much pain you go through, you are not letting go till God blesses you with His presence and His touch.

In our society today of sitting down and letting the government do for me we do not understand this kind of desire cause we never have to fight for anything with this type of mentality. We think fighting is getting mad and shooting someone or punching them or whatever. “Father” wonders do you want what He has bad enough to truly fight for it? Are you willing to take His blessing regardless of the broken hip and the limp that you will have for the rest of your natural life cause of it? I can honestly say I am and I am seeking Him more and more each and every day. I pray you will come along with me on this wondrous journey of inspiration and blessing.

Sustained life and Godliness

2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

We are told that God supplies everything we need for life and for Godliness. Having read this, I asked what does that mean?? What does it take to sustain life?? How do you sustain Godliness?? So I set about studying this and this is what I came up with.

What do you need to sustain life?

air, water, food, a temperature that can be tolerated.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_you_need_to_sustain_life

This is wiki answer for sustaining life. I wish to add we need other people as well for a couple of reasons. First, if we are alone then eventually the human race will die out so life will no longer exist. Secondly, because God made us into a community just as He lives in community with the Son and the Spirit. With these five things we can have life and some happiness as well.

John 15:1–11 (ESV)

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15 clearly defines a relationship between the believers and God and it’s through this relationship that we sustain Godliness. Understanding that a relationship requires time spent with a person, in this case God, and constant work on maintaining it. I am certain there are no people out there who have been married long term that would tell you they never have to work on their marriage as well as there are no friends who been friends for years who never have to work on it. This involves hanging out and talking to the other person and listening to the other person as well as helping to meet the needs of that person. Likewise we must spend time with God and see what He needs from us. Yes, God does NEED things from you because of how He set things up within the guidelines for life.

Listed below is a list of 2 different types of people and the things that come about in their lives. The first one does NOT have a relationship with God. Regardless how many times a week they go to church or read their bible they do not know God.

The second one is a list of things that will come to pass in a person’s life while they are maintaining a true relationship with God. You can know you are sustaining Godliness by these two lists. Whichever one is present in your life shows the state of your relationship!

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Which one of these best describes you?

Craving is Lust

In Genesis the serpent created a craving in eve for the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This craving in ancient terms was lust.

In Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

It tells us how God responds to this lust and this is exactly what He did to Adam and Eve. He gave them over to the lust of their hearts and removed them from the Garden.  They chose to believe a lie instead of what God had told them. This is the same thing that is going on to this day. We, God's creation, chose to believe a lie instead of the creator. God's word tells us in no uncertain terms the result of this, yet we continue to do it anyway. How foolish we would think someone was whom we told if they let someone hit them with a 2x4 its going to hurt and possibly kill you and some one else came along and told them it was not true that the board would not hurt them and they let the person hit them with it. This is exactly what we do when we do not believe God and His word for our lives.

Wise as Serpents

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)Persecution Will Come16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Wise as serpents in this instant means be aware of the dangers that surround you. The spiritual attacks as well as the fleshly attacks that come from those around us and those we do not know as well. Do we see the dangers or do we see through rose colored glasses that do not permit us to see reality?

We are instructed to be aware of, or acknowledge the presence of the dangers around us. This being true, would it not be wrong or a sin to refuse to see those dangers and instead chose to only see the good without the negative in a person or a situation?

I think it is as wrong to see nothing but good as it is to see nothing but bad. Both are ways of only seeing part of the picture. Without the whole picture how can we know the right way to respond to someone or a particular situation?

Learn to see the entire picture without allowing the negative to prevent you from loving as Christ loved all of us. Be innocent as doves in this. Do this without judgement and without sin.

Why Do We Hurt Each Other

Why do people intentionally try to hurt other people? I understand that those who are hurt tend to lash out at others, but would it not make more sense to try to get help instead of causing more pain? Why do we make fun of those who are hurting who don’t dress like we think they should or don’t act like we think they should? What gives us the right to laugh at someone we don’t even know?

It has occurred to me that many times we tend to judge people by their dress or their walk or some other thing that is so minor and meaningless that it’s not funny. How do we know the story behind the clothes, or the actions? What do I know about any particular persons circumstances that permits me to be their judge and to ridicule them to others?

Would it not be better to seek out a relationship with that person and find out the real reason for them to behave the way they are? And then try to help them? Is this not what Jesus did and are we not suppose to imitate Jesus?

I wish God’s people would stop being so shallow and start being what they are called to be. I pray God grant each and every one of us the broken and contrite spirit His word speaks of, that we may bring healing to the lost and hopeless instead of judgement.

What’s More Important to You?

What’s more important to you? Your pleasure or someone else’s pain.

Is it more important for you to get that extra 10 minutes of sleep or do you use that 10 minutes to find some way to help someone who is hurting?

Is it more important to you to be able to have leisure time each day so you can do whatever you want or is it more important to you to use ur free time to seek out those who hurt and help?

These questions are questions that all Christians need to ask themselves every day. Sadly, most never ask it at all because we do not wish to see just how selfish we are when scripture calls us to be selfless! I wish I could say I spend as much time trying to help as I do on leisure.

Let’s look at it from another view point. Do I spend as much time getting to know God as I do watching TV? Do I spend my time seeking my pleasure or do I spend it in prayer and serious bible study. Look at the comparison, how much time a day do you spend watching TV?? 1 hr? 2 hrs?? Now, how much time do you devote to God?

Word Becomes Flesh

John 14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father

“Father” granted us the authority and power to DO everything Christ did and greater so I ask why do we NOT experience this in our lives today? There are many people who love God with all their hearts but there are none of the signs Jesus said would follow His people. Why is this?

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The answer to this question lies within us. Jesus lives in our hearts and He is the author of our faith.

John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth

If Christ lives in us, the word lives in us as well. If the word lives in us then as we begin to understand that it applies to “ME” it will become flesh through us and then the power and authority of God’s word will come to pass in our lives and the signs and wonders will follow us. Don’t you think it is time that we, God’s People, allow the word to become flesh in us so we may truly be disciples of Christ and walk in the full power and authority that has been given us?

God’s word tells us:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What would the world look like if God’s people walked in the power and authority given them by the Holy Spirit that is spoken of in God’s word? How many people would RUN to Christ and the cross if one of Christ’s disciples prayed and called down fire from heaven and it actually showed up? Personally I think there would be an instant revival of God’s people as well as an enmasse salvation taking place. Now think about this in context of ALL of God’s people walking in that power. Man that would be so AWESOME!!
This power is literally the power of God that lives in us. It is an active growing functional part of our lives and its time we begin to grow in it. This is the power in which Christ was talking about when He said we would do everything He did and even greater. This is the power that He spoke of when He said we would cast out demons, heal the sick, drink poison and not die…….

The Greek word for power is δύναμις dúnamis; (pronounced dunamis, the u is long)

Strong’d 1411. δύναμις dúnamis; gen. dunámeōs, fem. noun from dúnamai (1410), to be able. Power, especially achieving power. All the words derived from the stem dúna- have the meaning of being able, capable. It may even mean to will. Contrast ischús (2479) which stresses the factuality of the ability, not necessarily the accomplishment.

This is talking about the current presence of power which means we are capable of doing SOMETHING cause of this power. Christ gave us a list of things we would be able to do in Mark 16:17-18

Power - an entity or being, whether human or transcendent, that functions in a remarkable manner, power

With the power comes the authority to use it as well.

Authority (2:10)
Authority means rightful power. It is the right of a ruler to do what he or she wishes and to command obedience of others. Although the English word is not used, the concept of rightful power in the Bible is given to God alone. He is the ultimate ruler over all the heavens and the earth, over all humanity.(Holman New Testament Commentary)
This is speaking of the power that lives in us!!

AUTHORITY. The NT word is exousia, meaning rightful, actual and unimpeded power to act, or to possess, control, use or dispose of, something or somebody. Whereas dynamis means physical power simply, exousia properly signifies power that is in some sense lawful. exousia may be used with the stress on either the rightfulness of power really held, or the reality of power rightfully possessed. In the latter case, EVV often translate it as ‘power’. exousia sometimes bears a general secular sense (e.g. in 1 Cor. 7:37, of self-control; Acts 5:4, of disposing of one’s income), but its significance is more commonly theological.(The New Bible Dictionary)

Can you imagine the unimpeded power of God through us acting on earth today?? Or better yet can you imagine it working in YOU personally?? Can you see yourself walking up to the lame and God healing them simply cause one of His children is present. He did this with Peter:

Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

So again I ask why is this power and anointing present today? The answer is in Timothy:

2Timothy 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

How many have been given gifts they never use and in some cases don’t acknowledge they have? If we do not keep our gifts fanned into flames as Paul wrote then there is no way we can be used of God in His power and authority. If we do not believe God heals today and can heal through “ME” how can He use you to heal anyone? The power has been granted to us, it’s up to us to pick it up and to allow God to use us to perform His miracles as He sees fit. Want to see God’s power?? Then yield to His authority and acknowledge He has the power to do these things and you are willing to be the one used!

Acts 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things

Family

I wonder what the body of Christ would look like if we all acted like the family we are suppose to be? Always looking out for each other and helping when and where we can. From the moment of salvation we are all brought into a oneness with Christ that brings us all into a community or family relationship with each other. Why is it we do not act like it? Why do we treat each other with indifference and suspicion?
Jesus prayed this for all saints:
John 17: 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

When do we begin to live it out? When do we start to understand that our hurt is nothing compared to the hurt we are causing Christ through our selfish desires? When do we begin to learn that God knows our hearts better than we do and come to understand and trust He knows best?

Personally I think it’s time that we all come to realize the truths of scripture. That we all understand that we are family and family loves regardless of hurt. Family stands by one another regardless of faults. Family seeks what is best for son, or daughter, or mother, or father, not what is best for self. It’s time we return to this understanding and get away from our petty selfishness.

Are You Selfish?

Phil2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind cregard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Can you imagine how the Church would look if we followed this simple command? Stop and think about the people you know in Church and how they act towards each other? How many gossip?? How many do things for others simply to make themselves feel good? How many truly selfish people are there in God’s church today?
I know I was one of them for a very long time. I was very deceived into thinking I was doing thing’s for others when in reality I wanted the praise and adoration and when I did not
get it I would get upset and usually leave or cause some sort of turmoil.
Look at your own heart and see what God would show you about yourself. Do you do things from a selfish self center motivation or do you do things simply cause God said to do it this way and you are trying to please Him? This is not a question that should be responded to quickly as it takes time to examine your heart and come up with the truth of your motivations. As you search allow God to open your eyes to the truth of your heart. Yes, it’s going to hurt cause we do not like to see where we fall short, but it’s worth it.
The result of your allowing God to do these things is true peace and joy and true love instead of the façade we have used to deceive ourselves up to this point. I promise that you will not be sorry if you will do these things.

Hurting People

Why do we walk around putting on a façade? People are always acting like they have it all together when in reality none of us do. Those who are hurt lash out at those they love and in some cases those they don’t even know. All that happens is hurt leads to more hurt. The few minutes of pleasure from whatever your action leads to years of guilt and heartache for you and the one you hurt. Is it not time we all stop being fake and start being real? Are people capable of being real with one another instead of the façade that is their life? What makes us think we are so special that we can harm anyone we chose just because we hurt? Christ went through far more than any of us will ever endure and He did it so we could be real with Him and with each other.

Christians are the world’s worst about beating up those who fall into sin and in doing so they cause more pain than is already there and in most cases cause the person to sin even more. Will “Father” hold us accountable for that person’s sin because of our words or actions?

James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious qand does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s rreligion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: sto visit torphans and widows in their affliction, and uto keep oneself vunstained from the world.

This pretty clearly tells me that He will hold it against us! Can you stand up to those things you use to Judge others? I can’t! I can only pray that God allows me the grace to see my pride and arrogance so that I may repent and know that He is God.
Paul tells us all:

Phillipians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from flove, any gparticipation in the Spirit, any haffection and sympathy, 2 icomplete my joy by being jof the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from krivalry or lconceit, but in mhumility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you nlook not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

Please, take time to stop and see what you are doing to those you speak to. See if you are lifting them up with you speech.

New Wine

Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

All wine connoisseurs know that the longer you let wine age the better it gets. And as it ferments, if it’s in an old wine skin, it will burst the skin from the gasses it produces. Where as a new wine skin is flexible and capable of expanding to contain the gasses. When you make new wine there is uncertainty as to how it will come out. Some times its bitter, sometimes its sweet, sometimes it does not ferment right. So it can be a strange experiment in making new wine.
This is symbolic of us as we get stuck in our comfort zones and refuse to let go of the old to follow God into the new things He wants to do with our lives and our churches. If God poured the new into your comfort zones then it would literally destroy you on the inside because your comfort zones cannot contain what is produced by what God pours into you. So God has to make us new as a new wine skin so we can expand to contain the blessings He is going to pour into us.
Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom wevery family3 in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to xthe riches of his glory yhe may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit zin your inner being, 17 aso that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being brooted and cgrounded in love, 18 may have strength to dcomprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and eheight and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ fthat surpasses knowledge, that gyou may be filled with all hthe fullness of God.
The question is do we remain in our comfort zones because it’s easy or do we step out through the fear of the unknown and follow God? Do we remain inside our comfort zones and stay in the same old humdrumness that we been in for no telling how long or do we open our hearts up to God to be made new and receive the blessings God has ordained for our lives?
I petition all of you to open up and allow God to pour in the new wine and to bring you out of the comfort zones that is your life and let it become His life so that His true will may be done through you and those around you.
May God richly bless you and fill you with all His goodness and new things.

Forgetting the Past

Phil 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: nforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for othe prize of the upward pcall of God in Christ Jesus.

One of the things that has held me back from accomplishing all the things God wanted for me was me beating myself up over the things I had done in the last hour or the last week or however long it happened to be. I was pouring guilt onto myself because I did not toe the line. This is legalism at its worse. So many of us hold ourselves to legalistic laws that we set based off something someone said or a scripture we took out of context. We need to remember Paul’s words in these verses and forget what’s behind because it’s forgiven and move on towards the goal that is the call of God in Christ Jesus. This has been the single hardest thing for me to grasp in the 15 years I have been a Christian and it was not until just recently that I finally realized what I was doing.

Does this describe you too? If so remember, Christ forgives as soon as you repent, no exceptions. If you continue in the legalism of beating yourself up for not getting it right then you are holding yourself accountable to the law and putting Christ’s death into a done for nothing category. It’s time to let it all go and to understand your forgiven and that God knows all about YOU and all you have done which is why He sent HIS Son to die on a cross for you. Again, forget the past and get back to running the race.