Saturday, December 29, 2012

unified hearts

Genesis 11:6 (AMP)
"And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them."
Later today we will be attending our first staff meeting at our new church. As with any firsts there is always a bit of wondering of what's going to happen, not worry just wonder. Honestly I actually have a sense of anticipation I keep thinking about the staff meetings they had in the book of Acts, in chapters 1 & 2 they came together with a unified heart and the Holy Spirit came with power and launched them in a new direction. This happened again in chapter 4 "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."
So my prayer for today is that we all come together with unified hearts and that the Holy Spirit has His way and we have a great time of fellowship in the midst of it all.

Monday, December 10, 2012

fulfillment

The end of Genesis 11 has a part of Abraham's life that generally tends to be skipped over, but when you read it in conjunction with the beginning of chapter 12 it sheds light on the heart of the Father and Him making possible His promise and purpose for our lives.
Genesis 11:31-32 "One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. Terah lived for 205years and died while still in Haran."
You see Abram had been put on the path to Canaan by his earthly father, but for whatever reason he only went part way and settled. Unfortunately for Terah he died in the place where he settled, without fulfilling the vision he had for where he and his family was supposed to go.
Genesis 12:1-4 "The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran."
What I see in this promise that Abram received from Abba is that if you follow Me and go where I lead you not only will I bless you, I will bring you into the land that your father desired but could not obtain. I will bring you into your land of promise and destiny.
Lord God I thank You that You are a fulfiller of promises and You are not only the redeemer of our souls but also the redeemer of visions and goals that we are unable to reach on our own.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A season to make a stand

You know it seems like every year around Christmas the protests against public displays of Christianity and the birth of Jesus seem to increase. Unfortunately this isn't something new the first apostles came under attack for healing a guy in the name of Jesus. The thing is today many Christians hold themselves some pity parties and pick up offenses and essentially this gives the world a win and the church becomes ineffective.  What we need to do is follow the example set by the apostles. They stood their ground, refused to deny Christ, gave testimonies about what happened which turned into a worship party prayer meeting that so pleased Abba that He shook the house they met at and refilled them with His Holy Spirit.

So in this Christmas season we need to not stand down to those who complain and protest, but we need to stand up so they know that we truly believe in our Lord and Savior and instead of picking up offenses or retaliating for their attack we need to lol for opportunities to show them Abba's love and bring healing into their lives.

Acts 4:18-22 "So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years."

Saturday, December 8, 2012

no obligation

There are some things that tend to irritate me when talking to some Christians, you know the ones that walk around beating themselves up because they are horrible sinners and are unworthy of anything. In their eyes their previous sinful nature is stronger than the freedom they have received through Christ. What they don't realize is that attitude and teaching is not only contrary to Scripture, it is contrary to Jesus, Himself.  They in essence are denying the work He did on the cross.
Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,"

We need to remember that He gave us the ability to be "New Men" no longer obligated to our pre-Christ ways.  Sin only has as much power in our lives as we allow it. It doesn't. Mean we won't ever struggle or need to work through stuff, but when we recognize Jesus' victory over sin and death in our lives it makes it that much easier when temptation comes.
I also believe that religious leaders that teach contrary to God's work and word, that keep people chained to the si  side of the cross need to have a "rod and staff" experience  so not only their people but themselves can receive the freedom in Christ that He has provided.
It's time for the whole Church to get up and walk in the freedom and power that was intended for us. Thank You Jesus for providing the way.
Romans 6:16-23 "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Thursday, December 6, 2012

benefits of obedience

Anyone that spends time with me at some point will here me talk about the importance of our not only being obedient but being quickly obedient to the Father. Doing this brings us joy, keeps us from sin and helps us (including young people) to stay pure.
Psalm 119:1-12  "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, OLORD; teach me your decrees."

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Measuring up

It is sad and weirdly appropriate that this Scripture seems to be standing out on a Sunday morning. It is a harsh reminder for us to check our hearts and motives. When we are at church today we need to not compare ourselves to others neither putting ourselves above others nor to be jealous of others because of their gifts or positions. We need to remember that we are on a level playing field each with our own purpose and gifts. And there is One that we should desire to be like that is Jesus. We measure ourselves to Him not in a way that sets us up for disappointment and failure in our own eyes, but in a way that when we look down at the footprints in the sand we see that we are in perfect stride with Him we are going where He is and we are doing what we see Him doing. When we do this what others are doing doesn't seem to matter as much but what you will notice is the condition of their heart, you will see the hidden treasures that Abba has placed in them. You will be able to prophecy to those treasures and breath life into them and then you can watch and see the Holy Spirit do His work in them. What a gift it is to be able to see them grow and transform from the inside out!

James 3:13-18 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The B-I-B-L-E

One thing that I have noticed since becoming a Christian is that most Christians love anagrams WWJD, FROG and many others. When I was reading this Scripture this morning one of these anagrams popped into my head, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Then after I started thinking about I came to the conclusion that the anagram really does the Bible disservice. When I read that I think this is something that will just get us by 'til the end comes and if I figure out the basics I might make it through, kinda like I just got the Cliff notes. It is soooo much more than that. The Complete Guide For Everything Of Importance In Our Pursuit Of A Relationship With Abba And For Expanding His Kingdom By Following Christ, doesn't make a very good anagram and still doesn't explain the fullness of what it is we have available to us especially when we ask the Holy Spirit to breath on it and give it life as we read it.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.