The Anvil
by Jeff Johnson
In a barn sat a large heavy block of iron. Its top was flat and smooth and on one side stuck a cone like shape. A man saw the unique piece of iron sitting along side the road at one time and thought it would be useful somewhere around his farm so he brought it home and set it his barn. It had sat there gathering dust until one day a new owner of the barn began using it to rest his saddle on after ridding his horse. This continued for sometime until the barn began to settle unevenly and needed to be propped up by something underneath one of its back corners. The owner of the barn looked around and saw the strange block of iron. He thought the block of iron was exactly what was needed to make the back corner of the barn level again. The owner of the barn jacked up the corner of the barn up and set the large block of iron under the corner and then slowly let the barn’s corner to rest on the iron block. The large block of iron sat there for sometime again until the barn burned to the ground in an unfortunate accident. Now another man had seen this block of iron in the ashes of the barn and took it. This same man owned a house on a large lake. Eventually the man became very wealthy and bought a large boat but the dock he had wasn’t big enough so he built a larger dock and used the large block of iron as a dock anchor for his big boat. The iron block sat there many years tied to one boat after another. The wealthy man that owned the dock then went bankrupt. Eventually the dock began to rot and fall apart sending the block of iron to the lake bottom. It sat there with no particular purpose in the dark depths.
There then was a long harsh drought at the lake. The lake level dropped drastically exposing the iron block. Four young men seeing it sticking out of the muddy muck brought it to the lakeshore. There they rinsed it off and scrubbed it down. Needing cash, one of them got the idea to sell the iron block on ebay. They all agreed.
A man who worked metals saw the block iron on the Internet. It reminded him of a block of iron he had made for a particular purpose. It somehow found it’s way off the back of his pick-up. He had never forgotten that block of iron for it was perfect for what he made it for. With the sweat and blood money of life he bought the block of iron. When the man saw it he shook his head, it was his block of iron but he could tell it was used for a lot of things it wasn’t intended for. He brought the iron block into his shop. Placed it on a hard rock of stone and said, “Now I’ll show and remind you what you were intended for.” He took black rod of steel out of a glowing orange burning furnace and laid it on the flat smooth surface of the block of iron. The end of the hot redden rod radiated. The man hammered the rod with his heavy steel mallet and as he did sparks of unstable metal retreated to the ground below. Back and forth from mallet to furnace, the rod began to flatten and soon took the shape of a blade of a sword. When the man was done shaping the sword with his mallet, he baptized the blade of metal in a bath of water. The bath filled with hot bubbles and then discharged a cloud of steam vapor. Immersed in water for a while the blade cooled. The man then took the blade out of the water and looked back at the block of iron and smiled, “You see you were born to build with me.”
The man then went to a moving sharpening stone and as the two worked together, the blade became sharp enough to show a reflection of the master.
What do you allow to define you? Is it the possessions you own? What you dress like? Is it your friends you hang around with? Is it your current job? How others treat you? How you feel about yourself or what emotions you feel?
What do you allow to define you? When you allow something to define you, you are being controlled by that something.
The Spirit of God had our pastor say this statement. You see if it makes sense to you.
“Fear not man (that includes yourself) who can destroy your body but fear He who can destroy your soul in hell.”
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they can not touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him then a whole flock of sparrows. If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.”
We often fear things that don’t really matter when it comes to our soul. If we allow people or things to control our lives and not God to guide and direct our lives - we are on the path of destruction but if we fear and/or highly respect God and He will save our soul and give us peace no matter what comes.
Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Matthew 6:21
When we put things higher then God and hold onto things (even worries and anxieties), and/ or leave God out of our thinking - we are allowing those things to control us.
Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn’t life consist or more then food and clothing?” Matthew 6:24
Jesus continues in Matthew 6:31 “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
Matthew 5:3 Jesus says “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.”
In simplicity, God made you. Life started by Him and begins with Him. Your real purpose and life are in Him. He defines you and without Him you are lost.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Sharp Words That Get To You
When the other children woke up next morning (They had been sleeping on piles of cushions in the pavilion) the first thing they heard- from Mrs. Beaver- was that their brother had been rescued and brought into camp late last night; and was at that moment with Aslan. As soon as they had breakfast they all went out, and there they saw Aslan and Edmund walking together in the dewy grass, apart from the rest of the court. There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and- there is no need to talk about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I’m sorry," and everyone said, "That’s all right." And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again - something ordinary and natural- and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," said Aslan.
Pages 138-139 "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" By C. S. Lewis
What is in the past let stay in the past. Think about that for a moment. If you are holding onto the past you will always be stuck emotionally in the past.
Colossians 3:13
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
Edmund was spoken to about his actions. As Christians, we all know when God has corrected us on something in our lives. We can feel it inside our soul. And it isn’t our business to know what God has said to others just to us. We should just to be glad that God is working in each of our lives.
Proverbs 3:11
"My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
Third party evolvement. If you didn’t hear it come out of mouth of the person who spoke it then it wasn’t for your ears to hear. A third party, meaning well or not meaning well could easily manipulate or misunderstand the content in which something is spoken by someone else. If someone has said something negative about you then let it be his or her idle word against your silence in Christ.
(Remember it is not our silence, you and I want to stand in because our silence has a tendency to breed thoughts and emotions that lead to sin and a poor representation of Christ.) We want to stand in the silence of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies."
Matthew 12:35-36
"A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I will tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
Luke 6:45
"A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."
Matthew 5:11-12
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
Here's a hand to get back onto the ROCK of Christ my friend.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and- there is no need to talk about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I’m sorry," and everyone said, "That’s all right." And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again - something ordinary and natural- and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," said Aslan.
Pages 138-139 "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" By C. S. Lewis
What is in the past let stay in the past. Think about that for a moment. If you are holding onto the past you will always be stuck emotionally in the past.
Colossians 3:13
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
Edmund was spoken to about his actions. As Christians, we all know when God has corrected us on something in our lives. We can feel it inside our soul. And it isn’t our business to know what God has said to others just to us. We should just to be glad that God is working in each of our lives.
Proverbs 3:11
"My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
Third party evolvement. If you didn’t hear it come out of mouth of the person who spoke it then it wasn’t for your ears to hear. A third party, meaning well or not meaning well could easily manipulate or misunderstand the content in which something is spoken by someone else. If someone has said something negative about you then let it be his or her idle word against your silence in Christ.
(Remember it is not our silence, you and I want to stand in because our silence has a tendency to breed thoughts and emotions that lead to sin and a poor representation of Christ.) We want to stand in the silence of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies."
Matthew 12:35-36
"A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I will tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
Luke 6:45
"A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."
Matthew 5:11-12
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
Here's a hand to get back onto the ROCK of Christ my friend.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Letting the Chains Fall Off
We are spiritual vessels - if we want to admit it or not. We are vessels made to hold the things of God. We have a choice to live in freedom and obey Christ or do evil. We practice and fill ourselves with evil, we will soon find ourselves in chains.
"You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Galatians 6:7-8
Imagine a foam cup. The same kind of foam cup people carry coffee in around the office or juice at birthday party. Take the same foam cup and pour some acid or gasoline in it and it will melt and decay right in front of your eyes.
We are the same way. We seek and fill our souls with the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - we stay in great shape. We have peace and feel free but if we fill our soul with doubt, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, sexual immorality (to name a few) we are going to harvest the consequences of decay and even death.
I could say "Don’t doubt! Don’t do this and don’t do that! But it wouldn’t do any good.
Jesus says "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. John 14:23-
While we were growing up, we showed our love and respect to our parents/ caregivers by listening and obeying them right? God isn’t any different. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is here to "convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. The world’s sin is unbelief in me." John 16:8. God will punish and correct His creation just like any caring loving parent or caregiver would and does. He wants all his creation to live in freedom by not doing what is evil but doing what is good.
If people don’t want to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior then there is no reason to obey Jesus. There are some that want to believe but doubt has shackled them to a ship heading in to it’s last sunset. For those I say pray, pray that God will release you from that doubt and give you encouragement to believe that Jesus is KING! But for those who don’t want to believe and don’t want live as Jesus told us to live, I feel sorry for them because they will only reap decay and death. And it will be their choice and no one else’s.
The Holy Spirit is to convince our family and friends of their need for Christ in thier lives. He can be blunt as a sword or soft and gentle. He can soften any heart because he created it. Our loved ones won’t however be able to receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit however until they chose to follow Christ and are open to his spiritual giftings.
Jesus says this: "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17
"In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy." Acts 2:17
You know when Jesus left and the Father of Heaven sent the Holy Spirit it was the beginning of the last days. We are living in the last days. And in the last days things are suppose to get worse not better. However wouldn’t you like to be reassured and have peace knowing God is with you and is taking care of you?
Jesus says "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace of the world." John 14:27
To have peace from God is to be FREE! Free from the bondage that only wants to destroy us. And it is only in that freedom that we can see what is most important in God’s plan for others and ourselves.
"For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
So I advise you live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." Galatians 5:13-24
Dark spiritual chains can be put on in a hurry if you allow yourself to lead instead of the Holy Spirit.
Friends, Family, Christians Brothers and Sisters – come to Christ. Get rid of those chains that so easily want to entangle and entrap you. Friends/Family if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior– do so. Let God raise you up and direct you so you will inherit eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Let Him be your strength, encouragement and peace for all your days ahead. Trust in Him. Christians Brothers and Sisters, if you haven’t already, ask Jesus for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you so you may grow to the full expression of Christ that God wants and intends for you to be and WATCH THE CHAINS COME OFF! Thank You Jesus! Thank you Father! Thank you Holy Spirit!
"You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Galatians 6:7-8
Imagine a foam cup. The same kind of foam cup people carry coffee in around the office or juice at birthday party. Take the same foam cup and pour some acid or gasoline in it and it will melt and decay right in front of your eyes.
We are the same way. We seek and fill our souls with the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - we stay in great shape. We have peace and feel free but if we fill our soul with doubt, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, sexual immorality (to name a few) we are going to harvest the consequences of decay and even death.
I could say "Don’t doubt! Don’t do this and don’t do that! But it wouldn’t do any good.
Jesus says "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. John 14:23-
While we were growing up, we showed our love and respect to our parents/ caregivers by listening and obeying them right? God isn’t any different. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is here to "convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. The world’s sin is unbelief in me." John 16:8. God will punish and correct His creation just like any caring loving parent or caregiver would and does. He wants all his creation to live in freedom by not doing what is evil but doing what is good.
If people don’t want to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior then there is no reason to obey Jesus. There are some that want to believe but doubt has shackled them to a ship heading in to it’s last sunset. For those I say pray, pray that God will release you from that doubt and give you encouragement to believe that Jesus is KING! But for those who don’t want to believe and don’t want live as Jesus told us to live, I feel sorry for them because they will only reap decay and death. And it will be their choice and no one else’s.
The Holy Spirit is to convince our family and friends of their need for Christ in thier lives. He can be blunt as a sword or soft and gentle. He can soften any heart because he created it. Our loved ones won’t however be able to receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit however until they chose to follow Christ and are open to his spiritual giftings.
Jesus says this: "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17
"In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy." Acts 2:17
You know when Jesus left and the Father of Heaven sent the Holy Spirit it was the beginning of the last days. We are living in the last days. And in the last days things are suppose to get worse not better. However wouldn’t you like to be reassured and have peace knowing God is with you and is taking care of you?
Jesus says "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace of the world." John 14:27
To have peace from God is to be FREE! Free from the bondage that only wants to destroy us. And it is only in that freedom that we can see what is most important in God’s plan for others and ourselves.
"For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
So I advise you live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." Galatians 5:13-24
Dark spiritual chains can be put on in a hurry if you allow yourself to lead instead of the Holy Spirit.
Friends, Family, Christians Brothers and Sisters – come to Christ. Get rid of those chains that so easily want to entangle and entrap you. Friends/Family if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior– do so. Let God raise you up and direct you so you will inherit eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Let Him be your strength, encouragement and peace for all your days ahead. Trust in Him. Christians Brothers and Sisters, if you haven’t already, ask Jesus for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you so you may grow to the full expression of Christ that God wants and intends for you to be and WATCH THE CHAINS COME OFF! Thank You Jesus! Thank you Father! Thank you Holy Spirit!
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