When God starts to move his Spirit in a congregation, people are either going to get very uncomfortable or they going to embrace what God has to give them.
Religious rituals or methods don’t limit God but you …the things you accept limit you from seeing how God wants to interact in your life. How you view God may also limit how you accept or not accept God’s blessings.
I have learned it is better to accept what God has to give you and I then pretend that you don’t need any growth, any correction, any giftings, any word, any healing from God. Someone who wants to believe they are perfect and don’t need anything from God is fooling himself or herself.
Also the things God may have to give us may not even be for us but for someone else. Yep. As soon as I said that some of you starting thinking why would God want to use me to give a message to someone else? You aren’t alone. I am pretty sure Moses and my other prophets thought the same thing. In fact I am almost certain. The other thing that may pop up in your mind is, if I tell this person or even congregation what God wants me to tell them… they are going to think I am crazy! And what if I am wrong?"
Check the Spirit. Did you bring it up or did God bring it up? Is it your issue or is it God’s issue? Does it come from the mind or does it come from the heart and love of Christ in you? Are you being a legalist or are you the hands and feet of Christ?
People are afraid of God intervening sometimes because they are afraid of what God might tell them. God intervenes in our lives everyday… but we tend to not recognize it.
It’s hard to imagine that if God didn’t use a stranger intervene in my life ... by giving a message they recieved for me from God, I’d probably not be the person I am today. I would be struggling with hate issues, maybe divorced, and not caring about a lot. When God's words spoke to me, they broke the emotional and psychological chains that imprisoned me. They not only freed me but gave me a rivived spirit. It sounds funny but he made me new again.
We all need a refreshing of the Spirit in our soul. I think every week would be good… Hum? Joking aside, isn’t that what is suppose to happen every week?
We go to church to worship but we also go to leave our burdens and to let God work in our lives.
That is why we are called the body of Christ. If we don’t allow God to work in our lives then how can we possibly be the body of Christ? If we submit to God then he can work, move and minister in our lives. If we don’t allow God to work, move and minister to us then we are just a group of people that meet together in some building to hear some preacher or minister or pastor speak to us. We might as well stay home and watch TV...… Do you want that?
God is endless and beyond any expectation that we may even hold up to him. God is beyond our understanding and he sometimes works through our limited understanding to give us more understanding about Him and his love for us.
God wants to work, move and minister to our lives. When you sing in church don’t just sing the words but sing them to the Lord. If you feel Him lifting up your hands, then lift up your hands. If you feel like dancing then dance but do this for God not for the benefit of those who surround you. Spend time at the altar - that is why it is there. The altar is not there just to look nice and hold flowers and provide a nice looking space between the choir, musicians, pastor and the congregation. What could you be ashamed of by taking a step and going to that altar? The altar it is there for you and me.
We all have to move by faith in order for God to work in the body of Christ. We can only please God by faith.
Faith is not about fearing God to intervene in our lives.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
What Does Your Character Resemble?
With all that taken place this past week with the failed car bombs in England I am thankful to God that no one was hurt or killed. Why do these radical Muslims want to kill innocent people?
These individuals are well educated people, ABC news reported that they were doctors. Doctors are to save lives not take them away. Radical Muslims want to rule the world through whatever means -through terror, murder, political position, their wife's womb, etc. What is here that is so worthy having?
These radical Muslims are under the impression that they will get some reward by killing us but what do they truly represent when they do such acts and what message do they send to people who are not Muslim?
People's actions tell others who they are as people and if they represent Muslims then what kind of poster boy image are they sending to the rest of the world about Muslims? What is the character they represent?
Killing someone is a sin and if you practice sin then you are not free. You are a slave. You are tethered to chains that you can not brake and hell is your only destination without the help of the real Messiah, the real King of kings and Lord of lords. Let's take it John 8:21-59.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me and die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." 22 The Jewish leaders asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?" 23 Then he said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." 25 "Tell us who you are," they demanded. Jesus replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. F38 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is true." 27 But they still didn't understand that he was talking to them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me ? he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him." 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31 Jesus said to the people F39 who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?" 34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 "Our father is Abraham," they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. F40 40 I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!
46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father ? and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.
51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, 'He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true ? I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? F41 " 58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" F42 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
These individuals are well educated people, ABC news reported that they were doctors. Doctors are to save lives not take them away. Radical Muslims want to rule the world through whatever means -through terror, murder, political position, their wife's womb, etc. What is here that is so worthy having?
These radical Muslims are under the impression that they will get some reward by killing us but what do they truly represent when they do such acts and what message do they send to people who are not Muslim?
People's actions tell others who they are as people and if they represent Muslims then what kind of poster boy image are they sending to the rest of the world about Muslims? What is the character they represent?
Killing someone is a sin and if you practice sin then you are not free. You are a slave. You are tethered to chains that you can not brake and hell is your only destination without the help of the real Messiah, the real King of kings and Lord of lords. Let's take it John 8:21-59.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me and die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." 22 The Jewish leaders asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?" 23 Then he said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." 25 "Tell us who you are," they demanded. Jesus replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. F38 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is true." 27 But they still didn't understand that he was talking to them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me ? he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him." 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31 Jesus said to the people F39 who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?" 34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 "Our father is Abraham," they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. F40 40 I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!
46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father ? and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.
51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, 'He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true ? I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? F41 " 58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" F42 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
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