Breaking Ranks 1

Just as there is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones, there is a time to close ranks and a time to break ranks.

New Christian Jews grew up with the law and though they could not live up to them, they had a difficult time leaving them behind.  The law was what the Jews “knew”- this living by the grace of God through Jesus Christ was all new to them.  They were breaking ranks with the old ways.   No longer did they have to bring their sacrifices to the temple for their sins, which were “tangible”… and made them feel in this sort control but now they had to trust in the “intangible”. 

In all honesty, churches in this age have the same problem.  They want “comfort” that is controlled by them. 

This past December my wife and I walked into a young man's hospital room whom we loved and appreciated.  Just by looking at his body you would have thought he was just sleeping.  Even the monitors in the room recorded a steady heartbeat but upon closer examination all brain function had stopped.

A life support machine gave his body the appearance of "life" keeping his organs and tissue viable for transplant.  

The church can be on "life-support".  It can look alive but spiritually "dead".  It can have the appearance of "life" with programs, events, bible studies, teaching and so on but "activity" doesn't necessary mean it's spiritually" alive "

Jesus said to the church of Sardis, "I know all the things you do, and you have a reputation for being alive- but you are dead." Revelation 3:1

 … the intangible is unpredictable, challenging, unorthodox and at times irrational in our understanding.  I am sure when Jesus told the man to fill the containers with water and pour some for the master of ceremonies, he probably thought, "How can water be mistaken as wine?"     

I was given a picture once.  The Spirit of God was like a beautiful wild stallion and He comes when we are still.

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

The Spirit of God cannot be tamed.  He does not fit or can he be contained nor does he feel welcomed by wayward hearts, lip service, man made customs and rules learned by rote. (Isaiah 29:13)

 He is the Spirit of God that must be FREE not shackled and directed by unreliable men!

This same stirring and restless should live in the believer!
 

For a people to live as GOD intends us to live, we must not only break ranks with the unjust ungodly rules, social norms, and sinful ideals of this world but religious mindsets.  

Ever hear, “That is the way we have always done it”?   

How about thinking and living too much in the past? What does this mean to the new Christian?!!!    How about compromising the word of God to appease the views of the world? Who is the church to reflect? God or the world?
 

Look at the beautiful cathedrals and church buildings in Europe where God’s people used gather.  Do you wonder why some nearly stand as empty shrines for tourist to visit and held religious ceremony?   
Why did they become to be this way?  What became law in their hearts? What encroached and infringed? What became censored?  How were they scrutinized? Were they persecuted?  Were they tamed by society? Did they compromise the word of God and in doing so... God became no one to honor or fear? 

When churches become like tombs, God becomes an absent “god” in people’s minds.  He becomes that “unknown God” that people give little thought to even when they walk through shadows of steeples that hold up a cross.  And the signs are obvious... a rot and decay of society... the suffering and loss of souls for lack of knowledge of God (Hosea 4:6).  The church building soon becomes just a social gathering place, a club for “Christians”.

Do we see this happening in America?

Comforts

A Christian church will die if:
1. It compromises to the ungodly pressures or thinks it's doing the world a service by agreeing with it's sin.   This is dangerous, laws are made in people's hearts and legislation and soon "anything evil" goes.  (Sin separates us from God.)

2. If it thinks it has "arrived".   It has experienced worldly success and soon sees no need for workings of Spirit of God.  It does what it feels is best without consulting God.

And just as the" law" did nothing for the Jews except to show their guilt of sin so are these so-called “comforts” that are like a plague to a church.

For as children of God we have heard these words, “The law kills but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

The “comforts” of man do little to sustain our spiritual house in fact I have found they actually weaken and brings instability into our life and those around us- for sanity and peace are gifts from God to those who trust and are guided by Him. 

 Colossians says," Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." 2:8

Root Bound

By Rebecca Brogan

Never claiming to know it all, I have assumed much in my life and about God and in that assumption lived out what I have assumed. 

I enjoy growing trees and plants… and as they grow I have to put them in bigger pots so they don’t become root bound or pot bound.  Root bound or pot bounds means they don’t have enough potting soil left to give them the nutrition they need to grow because the roots have taken up all the space in the container or pot.

 “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:16-21

In a very real way God needs to take us out of the pot we have put ourselves into so we may grow in the fullness of Him not some varying degrees of Him or human rational of Him.   You see we can become pot bound in our understandings of God.  We can assume that just because we haven’t experienced anything different of God that “this” is the way it “is” or is suppose to be -not realizing outside the pot of our understanding is a universe God wants us to discover and experience and live in. 

ROMANS 1:21-23 "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures… ROMANS 1:21-23

We do not worship Buddha or the creation or worship some Hindu god but in what ways have we “professing to be wise, become fools, exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for something more suitable to man’s liking?

 ”You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me^.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’” MATTHEW 15:7-9

We claim to be wise in the things of God yet we deny the very things God wants us to know and experience and we ignore, do away with  and replace them with versions that we think are sound for this day and age.  We do so to make others and ourselves feel more comfortable yet estranging them and us of God and the things of God.   We claim God is the same yesterday, today and forever yet…some churches say God doesn’t have people work in the Spiritual gifts anymore…  

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17-18

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.⁹ The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”  1 Corinthians 12:7-11

What do you suppose a Pastor works in if he doesn’t work in the gifts given to him by God?

If he just works in “himself” … is his teaching done in Spirit and truth?

Jesus said, “ ….. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” JOHN 6:63

Jesus also said, “God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."  JOHN 4:24

For we know when a Pastor preaches it should do what?  His sermon should address the spiritual needs of God’s people.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

You are living what if not in Spirit and truth?

If it is raining outside and you say it is sunny outside – are you lying? If you are living in denial because of your want to sin does that mean you are not living in sin?

 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.   I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” JOHN 8:34-38

Ask yourself people of God: Do you have room for Jesus word in your hearts?  Or is it crowded and filled up with your own understanding?  Are you pot bound? Whose word do you go by- God’s or man’s?

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
¹² Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
¹³ With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.”   Psalm 119:9-16

Are you just living in your pot of understanding?  Are you doing so because you have not considered all God’s ways, have you not considered all his decrees? What He said would happen and what he had done from before we know as the beginning?  Are you neglecting some of His word?

Have we become comfortable in our own understanding of God that we unwelcome God fully in how he wants to work in His people?

 "Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief." MARK 6:4-6

Think about it?  I don’t think God is amazed of our unbelief but he wants to unbind us of the understanding and unbelief and plant us in the marvelous soil of His love.

Does God Challenge You? 2

THE UNTAMED GOD

It isn’t uncommon to hear about a pastor who experiences the gifts of the Spirit to be asked to step down or even leave the church. 

People filled with the Spirit have been asked to refrain from such actions or leave the church for far less… such as raising their hands during worship, speaking in tongues and even coming to the alter to pray… and it’s the alter for crying out loud.

Why do you suppose this is?  One explanation is no matter if we like to admit it or not, people like to control.  We like to stay away from anything that might make others feel uncomfortable or look “messy” or “out of place.”  We control for reasons from power to comfort to erroneous thinking.    And what we can’t control or doesn’t fit within the confines of our worldly doctrine or religious doctrine we want to get rid of.

JESUS CHRIST is LORD and SAVIOR.   He is the only way to heaven- to the FATHER. 

 Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”  JOHN 14:6

He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” HEBREWS 3:18

Does God do ANYTHING that is unorthodox in your understanding?

Ask yourself- Do you honesty think you know how God works? – Do you really have Him ALL figured out?  Do you think any man or woman has Him ALL figured out?

Thus says the LORD:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.” JEREMIAH 17:5-6

"Then Jesus told them, 'A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.' And because of their unbelief, he could not do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.   And he was amazed at their unbelief." Mark 6:4-6 

Is there also any root "Unbelief"?  Is there unbelief in the church?  Is Jesus, our LORD, not fully honored amongst HIS own relatives and own family (The children of God)? 

How have you and I excused, rationalized and explained away the things of God?

Again…. Why do you suppose we do this?  Does it go against what we feel God should do or not do?  Are we fearful of what we don’t understand?  Are we more comfortable in the religious doctrines of man then what God wants to reveal and show us outside the doctrines of man?  Do we not have the faith?  Are we putting emphasis on us then on God?  

I was telling a brother in Christ about a present day pastor who suddenly began to speak in tongues from the pulpit.   He was just as surprised as anyone else but the leadership of the church told him to step down and leave the church.  After the pastor left, God told him to share the gospel in the streets but he was barely making any money… so he decided to go farm.   He and his wife both received visions telling him to go back and preach the gospel in the streets but he stubbornly refused.   God seeing the man’s stubbornness, sent an angel before Him that put a double edge blade to his throat and said, “You will do as the Lord as commanded you to do or you will die!”

This idea of God sending an angel to put a blade to someone’s neck challenges our traditional thinking of God.  We want to claim it is a lie or a trick of the devil because it doesn’t relate to our understanding of a “loving” God.  And yet we say we believe God is the same yesterday, today and forever but do we really believe it?  

What was the purpose of this pastor in God's plan?  What is just about the pastor or the people God wanted to save through the pastor's words? 

My brother in Christ wanted to dismiss this challenging idea but then the Spirit of God quickened inside of him and reminded him of Balaam.  

Balaam in Numbers 22:31-33 

 ^“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.

“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.  Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”

 

These challenging awakenings break the walls of our understanding about God.   We see just how little we know about the ways of God… We think we have Him somewhat figured out but we don’t.

This same modern day pastor was confronted in the streets by those practicing witchcraft.   They told him, “ If you don’t leave we will kill you…”

The man of God rebuked them and told them,” No! You will die if you do not leave”.

The next day those who threatened to kill him were either found dead or gone.    

This sounds like something out of the Old Testament but it is from this day and age yet God challenges our understanding and we want to disregard it. 

We read, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom” Proverbs 9:10. 

So what kind of rational do we characterize as fear of God/the Lord?  

Where on the scales of the human mind do you weigh the fear of the Lord?  What kind of “loving” bias do we think God has towards us when we read in his word, “God has no bias?”

 ^“For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11

Acknowledging God pt. 1

God has been talking to me about the focus of acknowledging Him.

First, is it the true God we believe in or just some diluted and watered down and version of God?  Is it just some of his attributes we believe in and not all of them?  It is easy to believe God is love but how about God that sends people to hell, even people we consider “good”?  We forget “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious stand.”  And “we are only made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” Romans 3:23, 22 

Second, there is a difference between “where” and “how” we acknowledge God.  Is it only in the head or is it in the heart as well?

Hope lives in the mind but in order for hope to be a steadfast convinced hope not a wavering hope, it must be combined with the faith and love of God that lives in the heart/soul.  Think, no one can genuinely truly praise God with no heartfelt praise for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.    

David says, “Praise the LORD!  I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.  How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!  All who delight in him should ponder them.  Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.  His righteousness never fails.  Who can forget the wonders he performs?  How gracious and merciful is our LORD!  He gives food to those who trust him; he always remembers his covenant.”  Psalms 111:1-5

The manner in which we acknowledge God will either bring honor to his name or not honor to his name.  Is He held up in reverence and respect in our life?

The way in which we acknowledge God will not only affect and impact our personal life but will affect things in the present and what’s to come- in a magnitude and scale that we can only imagine.   Some things most of us don’t even think about because we consider ourselves so…“small” when it comes to the scope and magnitude of the world at large but in reality our role is much greater then we can even grasp.   If we just live in God (that trust in God) then we will shine because we are trusting “in” the source of light. 

Jesus says: “I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12

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

The “quality” and “quantity” of acknowledgment we give to God in our lives will echo in positive and negatives ripples like a stone being dropped in a large quiet pond.   The positive and negative ebb and flow of the ripples are conditional on the acknowledgment that is given to God by the maker and receiver of the ripples.   If one meditates very little on who God is and what he had done and what he is capable of accomplishing then what do you thinking the quality of their mindset will be?

A marriage won’t last the difficult times if there is a lack of acknowledgment in God.   A lack of acknowledgment in God causes selfishness, compromise and acceptance of worldly ideals to creep in.   And before you know it, the gremlins multiply and take over.    

The lack of acknowledgment in God opens wide the gates in which sinful wants of the flesh and temptations by Satan are allowed to roost and play.  The effects are destructive and harmful.

Acknowledging God is a commitment and trust in God and that commitment and trust helps a couple endure many difficult times BUT if there is not commitment and trust in God by both husband and wife, the marriage will not endure and will fail.   A failed marriage will have negative affects on their children and these affects may even be passed down to their children’s children -IF there is no acknowledgement of God in those generations.   Acknowledgement of God brings about obedience in God and breaks the curses of the previous generations and brings about blessings.   

The current condition of United States is another example of acknowledging and not acknowledging God.  It was built on the principles and morals of God but has not only stopped acknowledging God for fear of a small minority but has taken down anything that has to do with the one true God.  Ten commandments, crosses, prayers and scriptures have been taken down from government buildings and presidential and war memorials.   This nation has continued to compromise in the principles and morals God has set up for a successful nation which the founding fathers of the United States wished for us to keep so it would remain strong. The founding fathers were Christian.  They would want their nation to continue acknowledging God so the freedoms they dearly cherished would be kept for … Their quotes can be found at http://www.wallbuilders.com

And since we (as a nation) have not acknowledged God, the freedoms God has given us- have now started to turn to curses.  The major lack of acknowledgement to God has allowed our government and individuals to twist laws for mere human sinful wants - resulting in a moral, ethical and financial decay and the break down of our nation.   

The book Deuteronomy, Chapter 28 in the bible says it “all” to what will happen to nations built on God and what will happen to that nation that stops acknowledging God.  

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 28:1-67.  Circle the things that United States used to do and what they don’t do and how it relates to acknowledging and not acknowledging God.   The unfortunate part is some people are too young to even remember when United States didn’t have to barrow money from other countries.   They don’t remember when the “alternative” lifestyle (gay and lesbian) was kept out of sight and view and considered shameful.   They don’t remember when abortion wasn’t spoken about as a common practice.  They don’t remember when United States used to “win” wars instead of give up.   They don’t remember when there wasn’t AIDS and HIV.   They don’t remember when United States wasn’t worried about terrorist threats.  They don’t remember when United States used to manufacture it’s own products.  They don’t remember when business used to be closed on Sundays for the “Lord’s Day” to go to church and spend it with family.  They don’t remember when God’s name was respected on television and not used as a curse word.    

See the affects of not acknowledging God?  Old fashion it is not but sinful and more sinful has this nation has become with little if any acknowledgement of the one True God – Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.

Listen, Obey, Trust

Recently I had a vision…. And I have got to say sometimes I am just slow at times with what God is showing me.

In the vision I am in a place where it is quiet and still. I am humbled, surrendered and submitted on the floor on my arms and knees - when a person appears before me. This person is wearing a shimmering yellow robe -and with every step a fog like haze perforates from the bottom of this rob. The haze is so thick that I cannot see the person’s feet. The robe mimics one of those essence lanterns you see Catholics holding during their different ceremonies, - that puts out smoke when they wave it back and forth. (I am not a Catholic so I don’t know what the lantern is called but I believe it is supposed to man made way to represent the Holy Spirit.) I look up at the person wearing the rob and it’s a man. He has long white shoulder length hair that is brushed out of his face and a perfectly trimmed white goatee and mustache. He looked as if he was waiting to speak. I call him Father. He looks into my eyes. His eyes are deeper then the depths of space. The man’s face then turns to a sphere of fire and shoots into the sky. A voice says, “He illuminates all the pages.” Then as quickly as the vision began- it ended.

The days following the Holy Spirit led me to the books John, Luke, and Matthew in the bible.

John 12:43 “For they loved human praise more then the praise of God.”

John 5:44 “No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from God alone.”

Next verses

Luke 8:15 “But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.”

Luke 8:18 “So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”

Next verse

Matthew 15:8 “The people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far away.”

Later the Holy Spirit urged me to go and read those verses again and that is when I discovered that the root of Matthew 15:8 came from Isaiah 29:13-14.

So like uncovering a great secret I turned there:

“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more then human laws learned by rote. Because of this, I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding.”

I was then lead to Isaiah 6: Where it talks about the Lord wearing a rob that had a train that filled the temple and their were seraphim angels that covered their faces and feet and they sang, “Holy, holy holy is the LORD Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundation and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke. After Isaiah’s guilt was removed and his sins were forgiven the Lord asked, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?” Isaiah then answers “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.”

There were not seraphim angels/ or beings in my vision and I did not see the Lord’s train fill the temple but I did see a robe and I did see smoke which is sometimes the evidence of the Holy Spirit. Not just in the spiritual realm but also in how he manifests himself in the realty in which we physically live at this moment.

I have been asking the Lord to send me for sometime. Sometimes we are afraid to ask God to send us because of “where” he might send us. Others ask to be sent hoping to be sent to some foreign land but he sends us to a relative, a neighbor and even the church we attend instead.

Messages to your own church can be difficult especially if the messages doesn’t seem all that encouraging or uplifting but corrective in nature. I have found more often then not a message from the Lord even if it is a corrective one is better received then receiving no message from the Lord at all plus a corrective message given in the Spirit of love in Jesus Christ roots deeper in the mind and heart then not spoken in the Spirit of love in Jesus Christ. And even if they reject what you say by the Spirit- they aren’t rejecting you but God who had you speak it. I find sometimes it’s better if the majority “stays away” after a message I give from the Lord because then I don’t get lured in by human praise and my neutrality stays intact and rooted in the Lord where the Lord esteems me/ not man esteems me. I feel very uneasy when people want to give me praise and not God who gave it to me to say. This last time I even started to quiver after I gave it realizing the mighty source in which it came.

When a message is given usually there are also two or more people to confirm what you say is true. Example: God gave me a message, I obeyed God and spoke it and he confirmed the message was on track because the sermon our pastor followed with had to do with what I shared and then a brother in Christ had gotten the same message as well from the Holy Spirit.

The message had to do with being still and quiet and submitted and surrendered before the Lord and making a greater effort to spend with the Lord because he loves us. We should put no one or anything in front of the Lord in all occasions- good or bad. God puts no one in front of us so we should not allow or put anyone in front of him. Give honor to God. Keep your eyes on the Lord’s love for you and you will be able to love each other, as you should in the unity of Christ's body but if you fail to keep your eyes on the Lord then it will be impossible to have unity in the church body.

Of course this led to our young adult bible study about letting God use us as willing receptacles. God knows if our heart is receptive and willing or not. He knows if we are just giving lip service or if we truly trust him and want him to work his mercy, grace and love through us. For Jesus says “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he sent.” John 6:29

There is where the fullness of Christ is woven into our soul. Believe the Lord is Lord of your life.

Believing in the one he sent (Jesus Christ) not just in your mind but your heart as well helps us to not just listen to the Holy Spirit but to obey and trust him with the task he is going to “partner” with us in doing. Believing is doing. Maturity happens when we begin to understand in our heart. This kind of knowing of Jesus as Lord of our life will surpass even our heart knowledge because God’s love, wisdom and power surpasses anything we could know. And yet this is only possible in Jesus Christ- where can we live and experience God’s love, wisdom, and power that is beyond anything we could understand or imagine as we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Paul says the same thing here:

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:16-21

For we are just the vessels and he does the work through us so we learn to not to depend on ourselves but depend on Him who enables us to do what we thought at first as not possible for us to do or experience.

God (Father, Son -Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit) is our ultimate source of love, encouragement, praise, refuge, strength and certainty. We must listen, obey and trust him in all things.

Making God More Then A Resident. (Mercy & Grace)

We all should understand, to know who God is, we have to develop a relationship with him and then we develop an understanding of who he is as The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“Who are you God?” Ever ask yourself that question. Just knowing that he provides, protects and manifests himself in amazing ways seems a little shortsighted and inadequate to me. Do you want to know who your Father in Heaven is? Do you want to know whom your creator is -who created you for a specific purpose? Do you want know his heart and why his actions? I want to know his heart. The blessings are nice but if your parent gave you a bike for your birthday and you were estranged from that parent would that gift mean anything to you if you didn’t have a relationship with that parent?

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

God gives sunlight and rain to the “just and unjust alike” but since many of his chosen creation are estrange from him, the “gift” of sun and rain and anything else means nothing to them.

What is God’s heart? Who is the Giver Himself?

You marry for love or for money? You have faith in God because of his gifts or because of who he is -which is love.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16

In the same line of thought: You put your trust in things or the maker of all things.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19

Where should our treasure and hope be?

Why would we give our soul, our focus, our heart, and thought emphasis to a world that doesn’t value us for us? The world did not create you so it doesn’t care as long as it can use you and abuse you and drop you when you are no longer useful to it. God is the one cares about you. He doesn’t want to be some estranged giver that just gives gifts. He wants us to know Him.

Who is our Heavenly Father? What are some of his attributes?

God’s esteeming love, mercy and grace are a good place to start.

Grace

God’s free and unmerited favor toward sinful humanity.

(Grace happens when we turn to God because we don’t highly regard our own fleshly efforts because they often lead to sinful lusts and behaviors (pride, arrogance, boastfulness, greed, envy, fighting, deception, gossip, hate, vengefulness, unforgiveness, shortsightedness, etc.) Grace has nothing to do with our own ability to achieve anything BUT trusting God do the work through us. It is surrendering ourselves and focusing on God where He empowers us to do the right things.

Mercy

Forgiving; compassion; withholding of punishment or judgment our sins deserve.

(God knows our weakness and the fist full of fleshly solicitations offered to us in the midst of circumstances -so we turn to God’s mercy. Mercy is drawing/ turning to God for help. It takes us to admit our weakness for us to receive his mercy. Think: Can we receive God's mercy if we don't turn to God? Knowing his faithfulness and how we should act as His children we seek God's mercy. God's mercy and grace go hand and hand to empower the Christian soul.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Esteem

To value or appreciate.

(God values and appreciates us)

Knowing and walking in these things we understand God is for us not against us.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:31-37

Do you ever think about how God can see our potential in us when we cannot see that potential in ourselves?

“For when we were still decrepit, lost sinners- enemies- He sought us out. He saw in us what only His love could see. He saw treasures in the midst of corruption, sin, and depravity. He purchased as precious what many considered worth little or even worthless. He saw beyond our state and saw what only His grace could produce.” (John Bevere from the Drawing Near page 22)

“People with good sense restrain their anger, they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.” Proverbs 18:11

God doesn’t do anything that he doesn’t ask his children to do. When God overlooks our wrongs, he restrains his anger against us -does he not?

God sees us even more deeply then our sins. More deeply then the human mind can really comprehend and/or understand. He sees our potential in his mercy and grace. ( I must add, in order to receive his mercy and grace is you must turn to Him and accept His Son (JESUS CHRIST) who had paid the price for our sins with is own life and in doing so has given us eternal life and relationship with the Father which allows us to avoid sin and corruption. In accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, He give us His Holy Spirit which changes our heart so we no longer live to do those sinful and corrupt things we used to do before we came to Christ.)

People mistake God's mercy and grace... thinking that gives them and accuse to sin but that is wrong. God’s mercy does that give us a right to sin- for only when we understand the true meaning of God’s mercy -we see mercy as away to turn from sinful motivations to God. Sinful motives are all so readily available to us but through God’s mercy and grace we can overcome the sinful urges and naggings in and around us. But if we have no reverence for God we will continue to fall into and practice sinful behavior caused by sinful urges and naggings in and around us.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“He will show you a way out” - It’s not us. So be careful to whom you are listening to. God is faithful but we cannot remain faithful to God or anyone else without God’s mercy and grace. And if we only intellectualize these attributes of God then what kind of relationship do we have with God? Brothers and sisters in Christ... you are the temple of God but even thought He may live in the same “temple” as our soul- ask yourself how much time do you spend with him?

To those considering coming to Christ Jesus: I have met several individuals on this pathway of life who have told me they won’t set foot in God’s house because they need to fix themselves up or straighten themselves out first and I have had to tell them that God already knows how messed up we are so what difference does it make if we think we are straighten up or not. Plus to what standards of “straightened out” are we going to compare ourselves too? God is the only one who can transform us. Just think if a Christian makes a mess of their lives when not surrendering to God in different situations, - a person who thinks they have to fix themselves before coming to God will always be estranged from Him. Come as you are and let Him transform you into the person He created you to be.

God says: “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,” Ezekiel 11:19

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” Romans 12:2

If God was not a merciful God how could we come to him to be saved? How could we go to him for help? How could we ever change our way of thinking and doing things?

Ever notice how a child picks up similar behaviors as their parents? They stand or sit or talk like their parents. And those children that don’t spend time with their parents pick up the behaviors of their peers, which can be positive or negative. It is the same way with God and us. The more we get to know our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ- the more we pick up his characteristics and attributes.

“Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness.” 2 Peter 1:6

In college I had a roommate. His name was Obie - short for Obadiah. I occasionally called him Obi-wan. Living with Obadiah I got to know him not just as a student attending the same college but also as a friend.

In a way- our heart is our mobile dorm room and God doesn’t just want to be our roommate- He wants us to know him.

We seem to intellectualize and componentized our relationship with God to the point we put up a room divider up in our heart.

Born-again Christians know what God’s words mean by God’s Holy Spirit but do we take time to understand the reasoning and meanings behind the words? We understand the words but do we obey them? Just because we are familiar in God’s words doesn’t mean we really respect them and grasp them. We can be knowledgeable in God’s word but if all we have is familiarity and no fear respect or love for God’s word then we will fail wisdom and deceive ourselves.

“These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far away.” Matthew 15:8

“For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:19

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded. “James 4:6-8

“Yet when we lose the fear of God we reduce Him down to our level….”(Drawing Near by John Bevere page 93)

Do we know God for the Holy God he is?

Do we know his mercy? Do we know his grace? Do we know his esteeming love? Do we know his heart? Do we know him? What does our fruit portray about our relationship with him?

Are we just doing the talk and the motions of religious activities? Is God attending, participating, welcomed and involved in all the facets and aspects of our life? Jesus is the head of the body but he cannot be the head of us if we don’t make Him the head.

I have had to ask myself this question: “Is God invited and is God guiding and participating in this venture on my side of this activity.”

I may write this blog but if I do it to empress people then it worthless. I write this blog because God is teaching me something and if I can share that knowledge with other Christians great but my true treasure is in the heart of what God is teaching me not to broadcast my Christianity. I am excited about what God teaches me and I want to share it others.

If we are doing something “just” because everyone else is doing it then why are we doing it? If your heart isn’t in it for God and/or God isn’t directing you personality to do it then why do it?

Ask yourself: “Is my love for the Lord evident in my reasoning for participating in this faith-based activity- no matter how good intentioned it may be?”

I remember as a child going to my grandparent’s house. Their love made it feel like their house was my 2^nd home. Same should be true about our activities we do in the Lord’s name.

Is God at home in our heart or is He observer/ visitor?

“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Ephesians 2:7

Jesus Christ at home in our heart affects us in everything we do.

"As for me, God forbid that I could boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, my interest in this world died long ago, and the worlds interest in me is also long dead. It doesn't make any different now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. My dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Galatians 6:14-18

From having peace beyond human apprehension and understanding -to loving others- to be empowered by God's grace, to turning and drawing from God's mercy, to seeing you as God sees you, to forgiving others to being faithful, to having hope, joy and more... Christ must be welcomed to be more then a resident. Our eyes and hearts must look humbly upon God's rightfully Holy place and there we will experience a closeness with God.