Fueling Up

Are we everyday fueling up at the right refueling station so we can bypass the other stations?  We will fuel up with whatever comes if we don't fuel up and top off with what God has for us first.

And would it not be wonderful for those who missed their opportunity to fuel up or didn't have a relationship with God to receive your goodness and godliness that you received first thing from the Lord? 

We receive the life giving water from God which gives us conviction not to compromise to the opinions, ideals and world around us but be that salt and light God has called us to be. 

Dream September 27th, 2012

 

Dream September 27, 2012

 A Mother and Daughter.
I remember the dream starting with being seated in a comfortable humble home with a beautiful older woman who feeds us a delicious meal.   She has a beautiful daughter who seems coy and offish. She has to be encouraged to come down from her pedestal to be comforted.  They are not Americans. They both have dark brown hair and tan skin like I imagine Esther in the bible to be.  (Israel and Judah perhaps.)

House and Staircase.
I go into a house. It is in dismal repair.  Everything that was once updated has been reverted to pass ways of thinking and doing.   People covet others riches.   I saw no value in their coveted silver and gold that decorated their neighbor’s fixtures. It was junk in my eyes. (What the world sees as valuable is not valuable to me)

Later I am on a staircase and I proceed down the staircase to see that it has been cut off from its base.  One would have to jump downward a long ways to reach the bottom.  The only way to proceed is upward.  (Only way to go is God’s way.)

Red Horse.
Someone has a red horse.  It is here for a little while.  I loose track of it attending to some outside chores with my hands (I think it’s a yard or garden I am working in).  We go to look for red horse but it is nowhere to be found.  When we ask about the red horse we only receive rumors of where it went and people who don’t know what we are talking about and even joke about the red horse reducing it to a bicycle pedaled by man.  (Perhaps the red horse in Zechariah 1)

Beastly Men Dream

I had a strange dream of two beastly men.  They were enemies and constantly after one another until they find out they are brothers.  The older beastly brother is very controlling and is always wants to know where is younger brother is at.   People try to kill the older beastly brother but he doesn’t die.  His head continually grows back and the heads that are cut off have all turned to stone or marble.  There are so many heads of this brother that they are stored in every place imaginable in this mansion where the two beastly brothers live, I found this out while trying to hide from the beast.  The youngest brother can change his appearance and likes to be in the world unhidden.   They are protected by men in suits who stand far from them as if they afraid of them.   These brothers have something to do with the cities of this world that are literally crumbling into pieces.  It’s like someone had started construction but never finished the work.   It’s like the money for the projects either stopped, disappeared or the contractors took the money and disappeared.  Buses some automated and some not carry people.  The inner city roads that the buses travel are literally failing.  I find myself on a bus and I have to shout to the people to hang on because they are so involved in themselves they are completely unaware of the present danger.  The road is collapsing right under the bus.  The people quickly take hold of whatever they can as the back of the bus sinks and lands onto a roadway below it.  My wife and I helped people out of the bus.  Their homes too far away and nowhere else to go, these people crash in a stranger’s house as if it is a normal occurrence.  Men sleep in one room and women in another room.  I ask the woman of the house if there is a place for me to stay.   I could see she was visibly overwhelmed to come home to find total strangers lodging in her home.  Bewildered but kindly she tells me there is no room for her children, herself or me.   I then wake up.

I could not help but think of book Revelation.

Speaking the Truth as a Disciple of the Lord 1

What is a Disciple of Lord?
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Jesus says: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit it you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."  Matthew 16:24-27

Readers forget Jesus hadn't gone to the cross yet so this concept of carrying your cross meant to Jesus listeners "that the person carrying the cross was going to die."  They were on a death march to be crucified on the cross in which they carried.

Notice Jesus' words "You must put aside your selfish ambition, and shoulder your cross and follow me."   We as Christians know to put aside our selfish ambition is to deny what our flesh wants us to do and do what Christ has called us to do.

A person who isn't a Christ follower lives according to the flesh instead of the Spirit.  A person who shoulders their cross not only identifies with Christ but gains greater understanding and power to live according to the Spirit.  Life doesn't become some pointless cycle but a journey- to experience all that God has planned for us.

A disciple of Jesus Christ never forgets to see their "need" for Jesus Christ in every moment of their day of their lives.  They submit to God's authority and majesty and follow humbly behind God.  I say "behind" God because he prepares the way for us.  And we forget who we are called to be in Christ if we get lost in ourselves and try to control the direction of our life with our own selfish wants and ambitions.  We lose the power of God to work in our life because we are trusting ourselves and not God.

Having this "cross" illustration helps me understand that as we grow a deeper trust in God/ Jesus Christ and mature in his love - we don't just lose our life but gain a deeper relationship with God.  And having this relationship with him will supernaturally let us glorify him because we will be "in" him.

Don't Lie, Speak the Truth.
Pardon my redundancy.  I am going to repeat some things I posted in the last posts as God is continuing to build and expound upon these words he has given.

“Therefore putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.   Be an angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:25-28

Telling the truth to your neighbor can be tough, it's even tougher if we are going about it in the wrong way.   Even telling another Christian what they are doing is wrong can be rough.

Note: Take careful care approaching and addressing those still young in Christ especially in "clothing".   Sometimes those young in Christ need to see what is appropriate and what is not by what is modeled by their peers.  (I am not talking about dressing in suit and tie or dress down to your ankles.   I dress in cargo shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.)  If what is inappropriate continues - those close to that individual and even a leader need to gently encourage them to find something more appropriate in their wardrobe.  Maybe even a good shopping opportunity!  

Reasons Why We Don't Want to Speak the Truth to Someone:
1. We don’t want to hurt their feelings.  
2.  Out of fear of conflict.
3.  Afraid to lose them as a friend.
4.  Afraid their heart won’t be receptive to what we need to tell them.
5.  What we say will have little or no affect.   They simply don't care.
6.  Because we really don't care all that much for them.... if that is true, check your spiritual vitals with God. 

Three things come to mind in speaking the truth with your neighbor.   They are a doctor, Jesus' approach to the woman at the well and Queen Esther.

A doctor would not tell a patient that they didn’t have cancer or some other kind of sickness out of some fear of how they might react.   A doctor would tell them the truth - of course a good bedside manner would certainly help and that is where Jesus and Esther come to mind.

How is Your Bedside Manner?

Jesus/God the great physician, how did Jesus approach the Samaritan woman at the well? (John 4)
He was humble.  He related to her water situation and how Jews and Samaritans worshiped the same God and then he presented the truth about himself and her life.

How did Queen Esther deliver the bad news to her husband, King Xerxes, that the man he trusted, Haman, was going to kill the Jews, which also meant he could kill her family and her?   What were the things she did to earn the king’s respect and a listening heart? Haman was an evil man and if she allowed anger and fear to get the best of her she wouldn’t be able to function or speak up to save her people or herself. 
 

Esther sought God who knows all hearts.  She prayed, asked for prayer and fasted so she might find favor in the king’s sight when she approached him without invitation.  Granted an audience of the king she wasn't self-righteous but humble.   She wasn’t hasty in her "immediate" request.  She was patient and respectful towards the king and even to Haman.  She showed a genuine interest in the king and what was important to him as king.  She was generous.  The king seeing goodness and godliness in her asked of a request from her “twice”.   Talk about God opening a door so she may plead for her people and herself.   She presented a beautiful banquet of all her goodness and godliness by her actions and she reaped favor for her and her people by the goodness she sowed.  Goodness and godliness she could not have given if she didn't trust God.  She trusted in God which produced godly actions.

When you disciple someone and share the Lord with someone you and I are stimulating something within that person.   How we live and how we deliver the truth to someone will make an enormous difference in how they receive what we are saying.   What we sow is what we reap.

Speak the Truth in humility and love and compassion for that person to whom we speak. Pray for the souls God will have you speak to in this life.  Pray that when you speak, the words will be from the Holy Spirit.   Some will except the truth you speak about God and needing Jesus and some will not but there will be no denying that what you speak is powerful.    We are to love the person but hate the sin.

Are you a thief?

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were seal for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:28-30

Are you a thief and don’t know it? A thief is one who steals. A thief doesn’t do what is good… he steals what is good.  God says, “You must not steal.”  
         

After God made me take a real good look at this passage, it made want to watch my mouth even more and want to speak only good things about others and into and over people’s lives.   I would easily robe someone of right thinking and stimulate negatively by what I said or did or even stood around and agreed to.
 

You know that saying “If you have nothing good to say…say nothing at all”?

It’s easy to say nothing at all.  It’s easy to complain.  It's easy to drop connotation.   It’s more difficult to find something good to say.   It’s more difficult to look out for people’s best interests instead of our own.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

This is very important! Think about it! Does what you say tear down or build up.   Does it give God glory or does it not.   Those who don't know any different will follow in your negative opinion and follow you in your sin.  Follow you in presumption and opinion instead of fact. How about when you  give hurtful information that doesn't need to be heard about what others think of them?  That is not building up.  What we sow will either steal from or gift the receiver of our actions.  People's minds who aren't constantly seeking and submitted to the Lord will meditate and feed off your words and actions- so what actions and words are you feeding them to build them up in the knowledge and glory of the Lord? 

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

Not only is our negative actions a total disregard for God's word but it is a sign of doubt and unbelief.  It is proof the word is not in our heart only in our mind.  If we knew better we would see we were not just disobeying God's word but treating the blood of Christ, which saved us from hell, as if it were common and unholy.  God's blood!  That should really make us shudder.
 

You and I cannot please God unless we have faith.  What we speak will determine what we believe in our heart.     Do we really believe God’s word when we murmur and complain and speak negatives about others?   Don’t let Satan put those negative things into your mind and you speak them without thinking.  Speak them not understanding the consequences.  Speak them not realizing what it will do to the person to whom we speak.  Satan is the thief you are not.  He is the destroyer you are not.  You are to be a child of God who refuses to let the world corrupt you.   That is what you were called to be and he (God) has given you, as the body of Christ, the power be that as you submit to his authority and love.

A righteous person lives by faith.  We are to trust God and walk humbly with God and live in the truth, the way and the light.  Curses and blessings are not right to come out of same mouth.   We are to walk in and pay attention and take heed of what the Spirit is saying.  We are the body of Christ not the body of some other identity.  We are to act differently then the world.  We are to draw from God’s unlimited resources to do what is right because what is in the vine should come and bear good fruit on its branches. We should be mindful of the present and the future.

What do you say to or about your siblings in Christ?  What do you say to your neighbor? 

Do you say and stand up for what is right or do we fall into the flesh?  Do we have fear your neighbor's response more then we fear God?  If no stands up for what is right who will?

We are to tell our brothers and sisters the truth especially if they are not being reverent towards what God's word says..  We are to humbly tell our neighbors the truth   We are to speak good things over people and into people’s lives.  We are our brother’s keeper, liability partner and we are to speak and warn each other of the righteousness we are to live not as religious sand paper full of abrasiveness but in love and humility. 
 

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. “ Galatians 6:1-3

What are we stimulating in those around us.  Are we edifying and imparting grace?  The same grace God has given us?

Renewed Out of the Status Quo

“You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it useful again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.   You are a light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” Matthew 5:13-14

You know how some people need their coffee in the morning.  I need God’s Spirit to renew me every day.  It’s like opening the windows first thing in the morning and letting God’s Spirit to blow out all the stuffy stench.   God’s guided word in the morning is a breakfast that isn’t too heavy and isn’t too light but keeps me going and focused throughout the day.   For me just living in the status quo is no encouragement at all.  I might as well be an electric car trying to fill up at a gas pump.

We only draw the warmth, goodness and boldness of God when we are in God’s light not the status quo of the world.  The moon would not be visible at night if it wasn't in the path of the sun's light would it?  We have to determine what we are going to stand in.  Is it going to be God's love, mercy, and power or darkness?

Jesus says:

“If you are thirsty, come to me!  If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” John 7:38

Obviously if we aren't trusting Jesus then the water of the Holy Spirit isn't going to flow out from within.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Luke 6:45
  
Belief/Faith, not doubt, keep the lights on in the glowing city.   When we humble ourselves and put God first and he lifts up our soul.
 

We look and anticipate God to direct our heart.  (After all he is the author and perfecter of our faith.)   Then as we receive, our hearts will be keeled and steered by God even in the dark storms of life.  Our hearts, knowing his heart, won’t want to turn wayward to useless things and ventures because they will be secure and satisfied in God with a healthy dose of respect.  We will know God’s heart and we will be all that God wants us to be.     

Be Angry and Do Not Sin

This is a testimony for God's work to be known.  Who will know unless someone says something.  This is not to bring attention to myself.  I want people to know God is real and he speaks to us in supernatural ways.

A clear audible voice I hadn’t heard from for some time spoke this morning as I was in bed.  I say audible because sometimes God just speaks where we hear him as if his words were our own thoughts and sometimes he speaks to us where we hear a voice.  The tender voice said, “Be angry, and do not sin.” 

The thing was… I wasn’t angry in the angry "sense" of the word even though I have been stilling feeling off and on God’s hurt and disappointment for the church's in America. 

I began to wander if this word was some warning for later.  I thought, “Should I expect some situation where I might become angry later? No… I can’t do that for that would just build up some kind of anxiety and expectation for something that may not even happen."

"Maybe that word wasn’t for me at all but for someone else," I thought.  

So I went to my bible to find this verse, “Be angry, and do not sin.”

Psalm 4:4 “Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.”

"Well.... obviously I wasn’t being very still now if I was letting my thoughts run but at least I was now meditating on it, I thought.

Ephesians “4:26 “Be angry and do not sin: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

Well I wasn’t angry or bitter and I wasn’t letting my mind go down some dark path of judgment for others so where does this piece of the puzzle go?  Be still remember… be still.

Anger can be a bad thing….  where anger turns to malice.  “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language,” Colossians 3:8

And anger can be a good thing….  Where you are not glad about injustice, immorals, evil, sin, vices, wickedness, wrong.  This type of anger furthers our conviction to not compromise and to do what is right.  “It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” 1 Corinthians 13:6

I examined both passages to see what stood out.  What was the Lord speaking to my heart?

These were the lines that stuck out:

“How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame?  How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah. But know that the LORD has set apart Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call Him.  Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.   Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.   There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’   LORD, life up the light of Your countenance upon us.  You have put gladness in my heart, More then in the season that their grain and wine increased.  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:2-8

“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.  Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.   Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for the necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.   And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32

I am to speak the truth and what is necessary without malice, I am to say, “O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame?  How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?   God will only hear those who are godly, those who offer, exercise and live in sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the LORD.   God’s light will be upon and in them and they will have a heart of gladness.  God will make them sleep in peace and make them feel secure.  I am to say what is necessary to edify the church and impart grace to the hearers to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, even as God in Christ forgave me.

You and I are to hate the sin but love the person.  We are to speak the truth to people in love remembering what God has done for us.

The Body Of Christ Jesus

The last few weeks or maybe even months it seems like God has been showing me how the church is supposed to be and where it has fallen short.  Actually it’s more then that but that is the nice way of saying it.   He has actually and figuratively, for our benefit, has drawn a line in the sand to show us what side of the line we are standing on and where our faith and love measures up in his eyes and if we have found ourselves on the wrong side of the line we can make a change.

I am not here to judge or convict but encourage you in Christ and share those things God has laid on my heart.  Hopefully these words I share stimulate us both so they don’t just swim around in our minds or some fog to be lost but go to our hearts.   I am sure no matter our maturity in Christ we all need to continue to draw from God and let that knowledge fill out hearts to overflowing.  Then when things start to get more difficult we won’t lose hope because we just had the mind knowledge but we will persevere because we had the knowledge of God working already in our hearts.

Let’s start here:

“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him.  For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.  Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.  Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.   There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.   Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who trample on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy.  Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.  For we know the one who said, ‘I will take vengeance.  I will repay those who deserve it.’  He also said, ‘The Lord will judge his own people.’” Hebrews 10:23-30 (NLT)

God wants us to take him very seriously and question how we treat Jesus and his blood by our actions.

When I read Hebrews 10:24-25 in the AMP Bible I couldn’t help but see this needs to be one of major focuses in the church today.    

²⁴ And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,

²⁵ Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. (AMP)

This is understood, as you and I are to be loving disciples to each other in the body of Christ.

 

We are disciple.  We are to share.  We are to be liability partners.  We are our brothers and sisters keepers looking out for each other’s spiritual well being.  We in Jesus Christ are to be healthy loving spiritual family of all ages and backgrounds, using our spiritual gifts in helpful deeds and noble activities.  We as the family of Christ are to behave differently then the world behaves.

The family of Christ: is to love one another as God defines love. God’s people will speak in love and the truth.  We are to warn, urge and encourage one another.  Sometimes the truth is hard to take but it’s easier to swallow if spoken and given in love and humility.   

“Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  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. Colossians 3:12-13

“And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

As individuals in the family of Christ: we are to think of others better than ourselves, which allows people to open up in honesty and integrity and sincerity and unite in Spirit and focus.   We are to not speaking negatives into and about someone.   We are to not speaking curses over someone else’s life and to speak goodness and blessings instead.  You speak to a brother or sister in Christ about God and what God is teaching you and they share with you what God is teaching them and it stimulates and stirs up and reminds each other how we need to live in Christ.   God’s people aren’t to pretend they know all the answers or are perfect but live in Jesus Christ who is love and the answer.  God’s people have stories and testimonies of God working in their life.  These stories and testimonies are to be shared and reflected on.  What God showed them and what God showed them after they wished they had trusted and listened to God in the first place.  God’s people are to be humble and approachable. God puts us together with our brothers and sisters in Christ so we can strengthen one another in his love 

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?  Any comfort from his love?  Any fellowship together in the Spirit?  Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?  Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another and working together with one heart and purpose.   Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others.  Be humble thinking of others as better than yourself.   Don’t think only about your own affairs but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.” Philippians 2:1-4

“Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.  Surely, my brothers and sister, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?”  James 3:9-11

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.  What’s more, you are his holy priests.  Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. “1 Peter 2:5

As the family of Christ: we are to put away selfishness for the gain of knowing Christ better and to help those around us to know Christ better.

“But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.”  Romans 2:8

As the family of Christ: we are to not gossip, murmur and complain about each other for there is no honoring Christ when you do such things.   We are accountable to God for what we say or say in return. We stay out of the affairs of others unless we are asked to listen to situation by the individual in the situation.   God’s people are not to take sides and prove strength for the case of division but put God first seeking the cause for harmony amongst siblings in Christ Jesus.   

“For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response.  I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.” 2 Corinthians 12:20 

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:10

“Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.”  Galatians 5:26

As individuals in the family of Christ: we are to deny or die to our selfish ways - to find and save our life is to live in Christ.  We depend not on our selfish human understanding but on Jesus who gives us life and life more abundantly.  Through Christ one has life and eternal life.  

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.   And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” Matthew 16:24-27

“Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right by trying to keep the law.  For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’ Galatians 3:11

“I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  I say it again- it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19:23-24

The family of Christ: isn’t to compromise with the world concerning the things of God.

Jesus told them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to Father except through me.” John 14:6

“Salt is good for seasoning.  But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer.  It is thrown away.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” Luke 14:34-35

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.   Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires.   Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.  God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.  But now is the time to get ride of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.  Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.   In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.”  Colossians 3:5-10

The family of Christ: is to reflect Christ and his teachings.

“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  These teachings promote a godly life.” 1 Timothy 6:3

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.   This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not ourselves. ” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105

The family of Christ: listens to and recognizes Jesus’ voice.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”  John 10:14-16

"My sheep recognize my voice; I know them and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.  So no one can take them from me.  The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30

The family of Christ: has the power of God working within them.   God helps them endure and manifest his attributes to them as they look to and trust him.  God’s people live in and are guided by the Holy Spirit. God’s people are profitable in God.   Not material wealth but spiritual wealth.   God’s people will always give God the glory and praise.

“As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.   He called us to receive his own glory and goodness!  And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises.  He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.  So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life.  Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence.  A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.  Knowing God leads to self-control.  Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.  Godliness leads to love for other Christians and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.   The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge or our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or at least very shortsighted.   They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.  So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.  Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away.  And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:3-11

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5

The family of Christ: believes in prayer.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength from his Spirit.”  Ephesians 3:16

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6

“I urge you, first of all, pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1

“In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” 1 Timothy 2:8

“Are any of you sick?  You should call the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

A Word of Warning

Churches that fall under social norms of societies have given up their Christian convictions to win human approval.   This process has only gained them the world and a foothold for the world to continue to push its fleshly wants and agenda upon them. 

Jesus is the only way to heaven.  There is no other way and those who say there is are not Christians.   I don’t even want to imagine the terrible fate that awaits such people.  I cannot even imagine the souls they have doomed to hell by their lies of false hopes.  God bring those souls to the truth in Jesus Christ before it is too late.

“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.   In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.” 2 Peter 2:1

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”  Colossians 2:8

“For the time is coming when people will no longer listen to the sound and wholesome teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3

“And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God said: ‘I will live in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them,’ says the LORD.  ‘Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  And I will be your Father and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18   

“Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God.  Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison. “ Hebrews 12:15

Addressing Hurt

Hurt that is not dealt with properly can solidify into a wedge.   It then can be driven downward by the splitting maul of our emotions and divide.

I believe the best comforter in hurt is God for no one understands you better then he does.  He can minister to you in ways people just can’t minister to you.

I believe hurt heals with the “choice” to forgive.  That choice to forgive puts us in a position to draw from Christ to forgive others and even ourselves.

Forgiveness starts with a “choice”.   This choice then manifests through God into forgiveness.  You and I have heard some horrible stories of victims forgiving those who hurt them and the world can’t understand this because forgiveness doesn’t come from the world’s point of view who screams out for revenge and continues the cycle of hate but this understanding comes from God who manifests that forgiveness in the person who chooses to forgive. 

I believe one of the reasons people don’t forgive is because they don’t know whom to go to help them forgive – who is God.

I believe another the reason people don’t forgive is because of pride.   They are afraid if they forgive someone they will look weak in their own eyes and other peoples.   Pride is the same reason why people don’t come to Christ.  Pride is why they will continue to hurt … because they won’t give it up for the power of forgiveness.   Hurt that isn’t given to Christ turns into something much worse in a person’s soul.   It turns to all kinds of hate, resentment and even guilt. 

People in this world think it looks “tougher, bolder, deserved,” to hold onto hate but in truth hate the easy way out.   Think if God used that excuse and justification on us… none of us would be going to heaven because He would not had sent Jesus Christ for our sake. 

 “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.   He had done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us…..”  Romans 3:23-25

People’s pride makes it so they love the sin of hatred more then coming to God to manifest the power of forgiveness in their life.  They love the sin more then they love God.  They love the approval of people more then the approval of God. 

I can’t help but think of Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian, who is thrown into a dirty dismal Nazi concentration camp where her beloved father and sister die in the hands of the Nazis.   She later encounters a few of those former Nazis in her older age and she chooses to forgive them. And the choice to forgive manifests forgiveness in her in an instant and both are healed of those past evils and injustices.   

I think of the victim of rap that forgives her rapist.

I think of the parent who forgives the drunk driver for killing their child.

I think of the child who forgives the parent for being absent or abusive.

I think of the husband or wife who forgives the cheating spouse.

I think of Stephen who while he was being stoned prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” and then he died.  Acts 7:59

Then I think of God who has forgiven our sins because his son’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins which made it possible to come to God, become a child of God, and learn to live “in” God’s love and Spirit.

When we don’t give our hurt to God but carry it, what does hurt turn into?  What is produced?

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. “ Matthew 6:14-15

Hurt that is not dealt with properly will turn into something that will torture and torment you.  It will stick you in invisible self-created prison.  Your body will be free to roam but your mind and heart will be chained… stuck in that prison cell you created by not dealing with your hurt properly.  Some of the obvious chains of the mind and heart are the want to withdraw, to go some place not be hurt anymore, a low self-esteem, denial, depression, anxiety, fear, anguish, being continually defensive and so on.     

People try to cover up hurt with sexual immorality, drugs, impure thoughts, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, out bursts of anger, self-ambition, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, division, and other kinds of sin. 

Hurt - if not dealt with properly will not allow you to function properly and will not allow you to draw from God’s goodness. 

Christ Jesus is our comforter when it comes to hurt.  He is our burden bearer.   He is our source of comfort and where we can appropriately work through the hurt with him.  In Christ he reminds us of what we should do and the proper mindset we should have so when it is time to address the person who has hurt us, we can do it in a godly manner.

Sometimes just addressing the situation with Jesus we get over the hurt or offense like a little child who so easily forgives.

Through Jesus we may see our fault in the situation.   We may see where we might have jumped to presumption and conclusions of our own.   We may see the reason we were hurt was because we didn’t mind our own business and got involved in the affairs of others, which only added fuel to the hot flames, which were then spewed onto us.   We maybe able see something from that person’s point of view and understand why they acted the way they did.   (It wasn’t us but something affecting their mind and heart which caused them to suddenly act so grossly and ungodly.  Hurt people hurt people.)  Sometimes we may never understand why people act the way they do.   We could kick the bushes to find what spills out but why?   Sometimes it better we don’t know and just continue to live our life in a godly manner regardless of what goes on around us.

We find we have to love people who hurt us again and again like pagan or corrupt tax collectors or else that hurt will eat away at us and make us hateful and resentful towards them.    They won’t admit fault.   They won’t admit speaking negatives behind our back to others.  They won’t admit thinking the worse of you.  They won’t admit they did this or that.   We love them, forgive them but there is some restraint from now on when it comes to those individuals.  We don’t allow them in that tender sensitive place in our heart and instead we place Jesus there- where he should have been from the very start. 

I guess we wouldn’t see where we need Jesus in all the different places in our heart if the hurts never came.  So in a strange way we can be grateful to those who have hurt us because they have made us stronger in Christ Jesus.

When someone’s trash falls out of his or her garbage truck and lands in our driveway you and I have a choice in how we are going to deal with it.   We can either make that trash our own or give it Christ.

You can't be given authority over your hurt unless you submit and give the authority you think you have for your hurt to Christ.   Jesus says, "And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.   Nothing will injure you." Luke 10:19

Hurt heals with the choice to forgive.  That choice to forgive puts us in a position to draw from Christ to forgive others and even ourselves.

Idenitifying With God in Your Heart

The moving of God amongst God’s people isn’t without a sense of urgency.  This sense of urgency isn’t without a real sense of heartache.  This heartache is not of the people but of God, which He has given some of us the blessing and opportunity to share with him his pain.

Some may think… it is impossible to feel what God feels… but is it?  Some may say, “God is God and why would God share his heartache?  I mean isn’t he above hurt and pain and sharing his feelings?”

My answer is:  “Why would he not share his feelings? Why would he not share his heartache?  Why would God who gave us feelings not have feelings himself?”  God shares with us his joy, mercy, grace, love, patience, kindness, strength, hope, wisdom…  Why would he not share his heartache?

Imagine, if you will, being able to feel the same current of happiness as someone else verses just hearing about that someone’s happiness.  Would you not be able to sympathize, understand, and identify with that person more on a personal or intimate level? 

Does God not understand us? Does God not know what we are thinking and know the contents of our heart both good and bad?

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

“And so the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine.  They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.’”  Isaiah 29:13

Are we not Christ’s body? Does His Spirit not live within us believers? Are we not to know his heart?  Are we not his branches, branches that are connected to the vine? What is in the vine should come to its branches, should it not?

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.   Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.  Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”  John 15:5.

 The branches are to be attached to vine.

“So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it.  But now it was mildewed and falling apart.   The belt was useless.  Then I received this message from the LORD:  The LORD says: This illustrates how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.  These wicked people refuse to listen to me.  They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship idols.  Therefore, they will become like this linen belt- good for nothing!  As a belt clings to a person’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me,” says the LORD.  “They were to be my people, my pride, my glory- an honor to my name.  But they would not listen to me.” Jeremiah 13:7-11

The Christian branches are to live in Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life - to be his pride, to bring glory and honor to his name- to know his heart.  We cannot do that if we don’t listen to God, go as business as usual and follow our own desires and worship the things of this world.

The branches are to experience God’s heart.   Experiencing God’s heart is not just for our own benefit but is to share with those God puts us in contact with.

Think of all the prophets who spoke with heartfelt conviction of God.  They had this real sense of what God was not just saying but feeling as well.  They didn't just go out into the streets saying in their head knowledge, "The LORD says....." They had a true genuine conviction to say what God was telling them to say because they were given a taste of what God was feeling.

I hope this makes sense: We can believe something is true and believe it with no real great genuine sense of conviction.   

Great conviction is when we identify with God and because we identify in a very personal way with Him, we don’t just say what we are given but say and do what God has laid on our heart with power and true genuine conviction. 

Faith in his type of knowledge becomes a very personal thing - a partnership- a wonderful friendship that strengthens our relationship bonds with the Lord.  His relationship with us becomes real and manifested in our life in every way.  And as long as we stay in this relationship with the Lord we will remain strong in our faith to the end because we are not depending on ourselves in any form or fashion but God’s loving relationship. 

Paul writes: “I can never stop thanking God for all the generous gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.  He has enriched your church with gifts of eloquence and every kind of knowledge.  This shows that what I told you about Christ is true.  Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.  God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Seek God/ Jesus Christ and know his heart for you are his branches.