Just Jump!

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Yesterday, I wrote about living more in the ‘spirit’ than in the flesh. I’d like to continue with this a little further if I may. Seems that I have stirred up some greater destination that is drawing me in. I thought about going into something more familiar but it seems like I’m being drawn to a place that few choose as a place to live. If you’ll allow me, I’d like you to join me in my search for truth in a realm that is neither known nor seen. Sometimes, you just have to jump!

First I’d like to say thank you to my Father who sent me His Spirit to lead me into all truth. Regardless of the recent pressure to keep me distracted by this natural life, You continue to draw me to Yourself. I heard Your invitation yesterday to ‘come up higher’ and my heart responded, ‘I’m coming, Lord!’ I’ve never walked this path before, it’s such a peaceful place, that I wonder why there aren’t more people here. You explained it so well when you said, “This is a personal invitation that I extend to each one individually. The path I have chosen is specifically designed for you. You see no one else because it’s for you alone. You can expect to see things differently from here because you’ve stepped into another realm. It’s the place in which I dwell. It’s in this place where I give you a deeper understanding of me and my Word.”

You see, the secret place is a place you can step into from anywhere, any circumstance you’re facing and dwell there. It’s a place of confidence, not in yourself and your abilities but in God and His ability. Psalm 91, a favorite of mine speaks of this place. “I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.” He is our place to run to. When Jesus said, “Have faith in God,” He was speaking of resting in Gods ability to heal, save and deliver. No one else should or could take that place. When we place our trust in ‘us’, we are saying we don’t need Him, we can do it ourselves. God wants to be our defender, our deliverer, our helper. He wants to be our navigator, giving us direction around potholes, construction zones, dead ends and accidents. 

Perhaps you’re thinking, “God helps those who help themselves.” No, that’s self effort. God wants you to come to Him, ask Him then do what He speaks for you to do. It may sound crazy, just do it! If you resist the voice of God, you’re stepping into self effort again. Read the bible, God always gave instructions that sounded ludicrous! Those insane instructions, took men away from the logical and taught them to trust in the voice of God. I believe that’s why we are in the place we are today. We refuse to look ‘foolish’ in the eyes of man to follow the leading of the Spirit of God. ‘What will they think?’ seems to overrun ‘Have faith in God!’ Proverbs 14:12 says it this way; “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Doing things ‘our way’, the way of our reasoning, is death. It may be the way everyone else does it, but God has called us to be different.

Father, I know this is hard to hear and some may think I’ve taken a wild leap off the deep end of logic, but I really am tired of existing when you hold such an adventurous life for those who will trust in you. You’ve placed a hunger in me for deeper things and I don’t want to turn back now. These posts are for ‘The Remnant’, those who are dissatisfied on the wide path where everyone walks. These are Yours and they long to go deeper into the unseen and unknown. They’re excited to know the possibilities that lie ahead for them. As they respond to your invitation to leave this world, the known, and spend more time in the Kingdom you designed for them to dwell in, thrill them, chill them, cause them to laugh like little children again. Dance with them as only a father can. Take them on the path you made for them to walk and show them all you have waiting for them. Thank you! I love you Jesus and it’s in your Name I ask it. Amen

 

Where Do You Live?

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I have a question for you. What is more real to you; your spirit or your flesh? The reality of this question is that without your spirit, your flesh would die so in essence, both are real but one is seen and one is not seen. So, because your spirit is not seen, is it any less real than your flesh? I mean, we all have a brain (I hope), but we can’t see our brain, does that make it less real than perhaps our nose? We focus our attention on what is visible to the eyes but not on what is not visible. Does that make our spirit less real simply because we don’t think about it?

What if the unseen realm of the spirit is more real than what we see in this temporary flesh realm. Why do we spend so much time in a realm that quickly fades away (Isaiah 24:4). Why do we invest our hopes, passions and dreams in a realm that is here today and gone tomorrow? We worry about houses and lands, jobs and paychecks, food and comfort when they are all gone in a flash. These are merely conveniences that our flesh wants so it can be satisfied but do they really satisfy? Why do we pursue things that have no lasting value? It’s not like we can take them with us. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21;  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

So where should we be investing our time and efforts? Matthew 6:33 tells us; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Where is the Kingdom of God? Well, the Jewish leaders asked Jesus that question and listen to what he says in Luke 17:20-21; Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Wait a minute! So you mean I can’t see it? Does that mean that it’s in the spirit realm? Well, if the kingdom of God is within me, then doesn’t that make sense? 

So perhaps the more time I invest in my spirit, feeding it with the Word, nurturing it by meditating on the Word, listening, reading listening to the Spirit of God who is in me, then the Kingdom of God that is in me will be manifested through my life. God asked me this question awhile ago; “What is more real, your spirit of your flesh?” I said, my spirit! It’s the life giving force within me. This was His answer to me, “Until you spend more time in the realm of my Spirit and it becomes more real to you than the realm of your flesh, you cannot see the manifestation of my Spirit as you desire to. You must listen to my Spirit in you and obey my commands to walk in signs, wonders and miracles.”

What realm will you choose to live in? Will you constantly allow distractions to come and steal your joy and peace that only comes from God? Will you ignore the dictates of your flesh and trust the Maker of your body to keep it, clothe it, feed it, sustain it? Does not your Heavenly Father know what you have need of? Oh Lord, I surrender my flesh to you. I want to step out of the normal into the supernatural and I can only do that by trusting in you, by having faith in you. This day, my desire is to spend more time with you then with me, give more attention to your Kingdom then my own. In Jesus name. Amen

 

Trust is a One Way Street

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John 14:1-8 ERV; Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.  There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

 Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father too. But now you know the Father. You have seen him.”

 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.”

We’ve all read this before, but I love what Phillip said because it’s always been the cry of my heart, “Show me your face, God! It’s all I need. Just to see you, Lord, it’s what I want more than life.” I was always a little jealous of the disciples who walked with Jesus, talked with him, saw him do miracles, were there to witness so much yet even they didn’t know Him as the ‘Way’ until the Holy Spirit came and opened their spirit eyes to see. 

Verses 10-21; Jesus answered, “Philip, I have been with you for a long time. So you should know me. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father too. So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The things I have told you don’t come from me. The Father lives in me, and he is doing his own work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done.

“I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father.  And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son.  If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

“If you love me, you will do what I command.  I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.  The Helper is the Spirit of truth. The people of the world cannot accept him, because they don’t see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.

“I will not leave you all alone like orphans. I will come back to you.  In a very short time the people in the world will not see me anymore. But you will see me. You will live because I live.  On that day you will know that I am in the Father. You will know that you are in me and I am in you.  Those who really love me are the ones who not only know my commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make myself known to them.”

So you see that? Jesus said it twice, “And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son.  If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.” He wants us to know that all we need to do is ask. He wants us to live like he lived, love like he loved, do for others as he did for others. Heal the sick, raise the dead, give hope, show the Fathers love. Are we doing this? 

Check this out; “You will know that you are in me and I am in you.  Those who really love me are the ones who not only know my commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make myself known to them.” AHHHHH! Those who REALLY love him know and obey his commands. God loves them and makes himself known to them. So if we really want to know God, we must know Jesus, receive his Spirit of truth, do what Jesus said to do, no exceptions! The only way to satisfy the longings of my soul is to do what Jesus said.

Spirit of God who lives in us, you said you will lead us into all truth and it’s through loving Jesus and obeying what he told us to do, relying on Him in us, our hope of glory. So simple. Lay down our lives for His risen life. We walk in victory because He is victorious. Not in our own strength or ability, but in His. We fail time and time again because we try to do it ourselves but you made it clear that YOU are the way, the truth and the life. It’s through you. So I rest in what you’ve done for me. I ask that provision be mine today in every area of my life. Physically, emotionally, spiritually; provide for me everything I need to live my life so that it glorifies you. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

 

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I was thinking about times I’ve invited people to dinner and tried a new recipe. I almost never do that, simply because it stresses me out so. What if it doesn’t turn out? What if they don’t like it? I’ve always tried new recipes on my family or close friends first because I know they’ll be honest with me if they don’t like it. Walt usually says something sweet like, “It’s ok, but don’t make it again!” No, when I have company over, the only reason they wouldn’t like what I cook is if they’re just picky eaters. My recipes are tried and true.

Well, God also tests us to prepare us for what He needs us to do. He tests our heart, our character, gets rid of pride and selfishness, teaches us the importance of forgiveness. I was listening to a message the other day on Joseph and how God tested him and wrote these verses down from Psalm 105:17-19 NKV; He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. Verse 19 in NLT says it like this; Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

God gave Joseph a dream alright, but Joseph had what I like to call a naughty,haughty spirit. In order for God to use him, he had to go through tests to see how he’d respond to the pressures of life, to work out some serious flaws. Don’t believe me? Look at the young Joseph who unwisely told his brothers about how they bowed down to him in the dream, and compare that to the tested Joseph when his brothers found out he was alive and he wept and kissed them all (Genesis 45:15).

Perhaps you’ve received a dream or call on your life, a promise God has made to you and you’re wondering why it hasn’t happened yet. The length of time between the promise and it’s manifestation is determined by how well you pass your tests. God just doesn’t hand out diplomas and send you on your merry way. No, there are tests involved so that you learn the skills you need to accomplish those things God’s called you to do. If you have more confidence in your abilities than in God’s, you’re not ready. If you’re trying to open doors yourself by dropping hints, you’re not ready. If you can’t control your mouth, you’re not ready. If you’re still trying to be in control, you’re not ready.

Remember how I told you that I prefer to use tried and true recipes on my guests? Why is that? Because they’ve been judged, tasted and tested by the bestest. God will continue to send people to us that are hard to love until we learn to love them with HIS love. God won’t trust us with riches until we’re first faithful to bring him the tithe or tenth of our income regardless of how tight money is. He will test us first with what we have before he adds more to us. When we trust in Him and only Him, when our faith is planted firmly in His Word, when we’ve passed the test, we’ll receive our reward.

Father, please forgive me for my proud and haughty attitude, for thinking I was all that and a bag of chips when I was merely crumbs in the bottom of the bag. But thank you for using those crumbs to top off the great casserole of my life, baked to perfection and tasty to feed many. I will patiently wait on You and in the mean time, feast on your Word and be satisfied in Your Presence, worshipping your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Tried and True

A Little Faith in God is Greater Than a Lot of Faith in Me!

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Mark 11:22 GNV; And Jesus answered, and said unto them, Have [a]the faith of God. Footnotes: The faith of God is that assured faith and trust which we have in him.

All day yesterday, this verse kept circling my mind. Most translations say, “Have faith in God,” but I chose this translation simply because there are two lines of thoughts attached to it. 1. We must have the God kind of faith. That is faith that everything He speaks will come to pass. How many of us really believe that what we speak with our mouth will happen? If we did, we would pay closer attention to the things we say, for sure. But the God who created the universe, did so with his words. I’ve never heard anywhere in the bible where God was ‘only kidding’, or ‘don’t be so serious all the time!’ No, God has purpose for every word that comes out of His mouth. Matthew 12:37 says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

2. Have faith IN God. I believe that this 2nd line of thinking is that we are not to be overly confident in ourselves or our abilities. We are to firmly place our confidence in God, in His ability and not our own. We must remember that we are His servants, His ambassadors, sent to represent God in the world. We must know the powerful God who has sent us, that He is well able to back us up and provide for us everything we need, including the power behind His words. We speak the Word with confidence in HIM. HE backs up His Word. We don’t get credit; He does.

So we are to have the God kind of faith and faith in God all rolled up together. If we deviate from that path and place our confidence in anyone or anything other than Him, we lose our power and ability to be successful in the things He sent us to do. Shoot, I can’t even love others without Him. I have to pray daily for His love, His compassion, His mercy because I wasn’t born with nearly enough to make it through my day, let alone my life. God never created us to be self-sufficient but to know He is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul wrote; And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

He created us to rely on His grace (undeserved and unearned favor) for everything. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. That right there is the reason we must have faith in God, so that His strength, the strength of His mighty right hand shows the world who’s in control of us. No wonder Paul boasted in his weakness, he was showing the world that man holds no power to heal or deliver, save or set free. That alone comes through faith in God.

Father, I place my trust in you today. I thank you that you’ve tested me and tried me and that you continue to test and try me everyday. Each time I begin to trust in myself and my own abilities, you remind me to place my faith in the God who split the Red Sea and made a way where there was no way. You remind me that nothing is impossible to me if I have faith in You. I take one look at who I am in the mirror and know that everything you do through me is not me, it’s because I’ve chosen to have faith in You. I give you glory and praise, I honor you and all that you are in me. Let’s do this together, Lord. Give me this day what I need to your will in the earth. To You, oh Holy God, be the glory and praise. Amen

 

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Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

From the voice of God to your ears, spoken so long ago and yet still just as powerful today. God had just told Joshua to cross the Jordan river and possess the land of promise. What trust there must have been to take those steps toward the Jordan? Remember that Joshua, now 80 years old, was 40 when God split the Red Sea. He knew that if God gave direction to cross, He would make a way, even if they all had to walk on water. One thing Joshua knew was that NOTHING was impossible with God.

We need that kind of faith in God. We must know that God orders our steps and always delivers on His promises. We must be a friend of Gods, walking and talking with Him, listening and obeying Him. It must be about Him and His Kingdom, not about me and my four and no more, building my home, working for me and mine.  God wants our fellowship and service. He has plans that we must partner with Him to accomplish.  His Kingdom is about others, not about me. As long as my focus is outward instead of inward, I will succeed in all I do.

Let’s look at verse 11; “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’” After Joshua received his instruction from the Lord, he came into agreement with it and gave instructions to the people. So important here that we understand that it’s one thing to hear, it’s another to obey. He also spoke to the mighty men of valor, to arm themselves and pass before the people. Think about how empowering it is to know your troops are there to defend you. Listen to what those mighty men said to Joshua in verses 16-18; So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses.  Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”

Wow! I wonder how it would make our pastors feel if their leadership were behind their vision as these men were behind Joshua. Oh that it were legal to deal with rebellion by eliminating the rebels. I think back then they realized the importance of dealing with rebellion and keeping it from among the people. A little yeast affects the whole lump of dough and there is no way to get it out once it’s in except to throw it away and begin again. To know that there is only ONE leader in the church. ONE! and he answers to God for the vision and directive. We need to encourage and pray for our pastor, that God protects the vision and the visionary. That even if he commands us to go cross over Tampa Bay, we gather our supplies and get ready to go. We need to realize that He hears from God and trust the God in him to work out all the details.

So today, I pray for our pastors and leaders. I honor every man and woman in a place of authority over our churches, our cities, our nation. They answer to you, Lord. I will not murmur or complain about things that are out of my control.  I pray that you give them wisdom, clarity of vision and direction. We know that it’s always about your plans and purposes for our community and our nation. There is never anything that escapes your attention. You appoint who you will and direct them toward your goals. The end will always result  in your Kingdom being established in the earth. Forgive us for our rebellion. Forgive us for complaining. Forgive us for treating them as common or ordinary, for dishonoring our pastors and leaders. We pray that your had would continually be upon them, lead and guide them into all truth. Speak, Holy Spirit, in your still small voice and remove obstructions from their ears that they may hear clearly your decrees to them. Give them a heart to obey and give them mighty men of valor to stand behind them. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

You Want Me To WHAT?

Stubborn Christians

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Acts 7:51-60 ERV;  Then Stephen said, “You stubborn Jewish leaders! You refuse to give your hearts to God or even listen to him. You are always against what the Holy Spirit wants you to do. That’s how your ancestors were, and you are just like them! They persecuted every prophet who ever lived. They even killed those who long ago said that the Righteous One would come. And now you have turned against that Righteous One and killed him.  You are the people who received God’s law, which he gave you through his angels. But you don’t obey it!”

When those in the council meeting heard this, they became very angry. They were so mad they were grinding their teeth at him.  But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God. And he saw Jesus standing at God’s right side.  Stephen said, “Look! I see heaven open. And I see the Son of Man standing at God’s right side.”

Everyone there started shouting loudly, covering their ears with their hands. Together they all ran at Stephen. They took him out of the city and began throwing stones at him. The men who told lies against Stephen gave their coats to a young man named Saul.  As they were throwing the stones at him, Stephen was praying. He said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”  He fell on his knees and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for this sin!” These were his last words before he died.

As I read these verses this morning, I saw so many in traditional churches who have all but cut out of their bibles, any reference of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, refusing the work of the Holy Spirit because they just can’t control it. I’ve personally seen some become angry and adamant that those things passed away with the disciples, they’re not for the church today. Listen, my friends; if this is you, if you’re not convinced that the Holy Spirit is still at work in the lives of believers everywhere, you’re sorely mistaken.

God took me out of a traditional church, baptized me in the Holy Spirit with the utterance of tongues and I didn’t know anything about it. I was 15 years old, 2 1/2 years after my dad had died, angry at God, angry at everyone, trying to get lost in the world because I didn’t want to serve a God who took our dad away.  I was asked to go to a revival service where a woman evangelist spoke a message of a powerful God who wanted to do more than just save us from sin, but give us power to live a life for God. I wanted that! I didn’t want to run to the altar every weekend, confessing the sin I couldn’t keep myself from doing that week. 

Two weeks later, I knelt at an altar with my sisters and cousins crying out for more. When you come hungry before God, he will always feed you. Suddenly, it was like I was in a tunnel, I couldn’t hear anything at all for seconds, than my hearing returned and I was speaking in a language I’d never heard or learned. I wasn’t seeking tongues, I was seeking for more of God. Luke 11:13 says it this way; “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

The more I prayed in the Spirit, the bolder and stronger in my faith I became. I couldn’t read the Word enough. I couldn’t talk about God enough. I wanted everyone to know Him like I knew Him. Like Stephen in Acts, not everyone listened. Some were angry that I would talk about it, even family argued that it wasn’t of God, but you can’t take away from someone what they have experienced nor can you convince them that they have no foundation on their belief when it clearly talks about it in the Bible.

I can say this; it’s for everyone who will believe. If you don’t want it, God won’t force you to take the gift He offers. But I’d be careful what you refuse based on what you’ve been taught by man. It could be the very best thing that’s ever happened to you. If Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit as our helper, than we’d better understand that we need help! I need the Holy Spirits wisdom everyday. I can’t imagine where I’d be today without it. I, like Paul, pray in tongues everyday, but I pray in English as well. The only difference is this; I pray in tongues first because He knows how I should pray better than I do and I need His perfect will to be done in my life.

 

 

 

Bold Believers

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It’s amazing to me how quickly the church grew after the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 that gathered together and prayed. The day of Pentecost, 3000 were baptized and joined the ranks. That’s some huge church growth right there. I can’t even imagine how long it would take to baptize 3000 people. Dear Lord, I’d be tempted to grab the garden hose and pass it around. Then in chapter 3 of Acts, Peter and John went to the temple area, saw the cripple who was asking for money and gave him a hand up so that he walked. That riled the religious leaders and they had them arrested and put them in jail overnight. 

The next day, the entire Jewish high counsel came together to question Peter and John. Lets pick up in Acts 4:7-12; They made Peter and John stand before all the people. They asked them over and over, “How did you make this crippled man well? What power did you use? By whose authority did you do this?” Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and you older leaders,  are you questioning us today about what we did to help this crippled man? Are you asking us what made him well? 10 We want all of you and all the people of Israel to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You nailed Jesus to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well. He is able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus!  Jesus is ‘the stone that you builders thought was not important. But this stone has become the cornerstone.’  Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him!”

Ok, lets back the holy truck up here; we’re talking Peter, the one who denied Jesus 3 times to a teenaged waitress, HE said all this to the Jewish high counsel? The same ones who were responsible for killing Jesus? What just transpired here? How did that even happen! I’m thinking it had something to do with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit back in Acts chapter 2 verse 4. What else could be responsible for giving him not just boldness, but wisdom in speaking to the leaders. I mean really, this is an uneducated fisherman and we all know how foul mouthed those fishermen could be. Have you ever watched Wild Tuna? Seriously, can you imagine any of those men standing before any counsel saying anything of value? Verses 13-14 says; The Jewish leaders understood that Peter and John had no special training or education. But they also saw that they were not afraid to speak. So the leaders were amazed. They also realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They saw the crippled man standing there beside the apostles. They saw that he was healed, so they could say nothing against the apostles.

They could say nothing. How many times have you seen that happen? They basically gave them a stern warning not to talk about Jesus anymore to anyone. Listen to Peters response in verses 19 & 20 because this cracks me up; “What do you think is right? What would God want? Should we obey you or God?  We cannot be quiet. We must tell people about what we have seen and heard.”

There were at that time nearly 5000 believers, from the 120 in the upper room to 5000. Now look at us! Millions of believers around the world who talk about Jesus, who are not ashamed to be labeled ‘Christians’ even if it cost us our lives. The church is still growing and will continue to grow until Jesus returns for us. We have a choice to focus on how bad our society is, our government is, our world is, or we can focus on the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation.  Let’s be vocal today. Let’s not be intimidated but bold in showing that there’s a better way. 

Father, we love to be your witnesses to others, to show your amazing grace and love, to be filled with your goodness and giving nature. Help us to represent you well to others that they may be drawn to You. It’s in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

 

 

Sometimes Collisions Are a Good Thing!

Last night we heard a young woman from our church as she spoke of the supernatural power of God colliding with us and what that looks like and what it means for us, the church. I’m going to attempt from memory, to give you the highlights with my own twist on it because it was such a revelation.

She began by describing an auto accident, two cars at a high speed, going toward each other and colliding. The first thing we notice is there is death. The second is that it looks messy and the third are the onlookers or as I call them, rubberneckers, who slow down traffic just to gawk and give their opinion of what happened. This is how things look when the spirit of God hits us; first the Spirit of God supernaturally gets our attention by colliding with our natural. Secondly, there is death to our flesh, our dream and goals, our plans and agendas, Thirdly, people begin to talk about us, giving their opinion about what’s happening, what’s going on.

Acts 9 tells about a man named Saul (whose name changed to Paul, author of most of the new testament) when he had a collision with God. He had been trying to stop the ‘Jesus’ movement by arresting, killing and persecuting these new believers. Upon getting permission to go to Damascus and do the same there, he collided with the Spirit of God. Lets begin with verses 3-9: As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”  “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”  The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!  Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

How many knows that God never leaves you the way you are? He didn’t leave Paul that way either! Let’s continue in verses 10-16;  Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.  The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.  I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”  “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!  And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Wait, for a moment I thought I read that Ananias questioned God. Oh yeah, he did! You see, I believe that God has called us to speak to some unlikely people who will be instrumental in this last day revival, this collision of the Spirit and flesh  Last night I met a couple from Michigan who sold everything they had and came to this city, no job, no family, no logical reason for being here. They JUST moved down and God had them go to a certain phone store to get their phones turned on. The person working was our youth pastor who just happened to follow the prompting of the Spirit and ask them if they found a church yet. After inviting them, they came Sunday and was back again on Wednesday night for our Atomic Warfare Prayer.

I couldn’t get this couple off my mind last night. As I lay in bed asking God what could I do to help them, He pointed out to me that this couple was drawn by the Holy Spirit the same way Walt and I were. We collided with a couple who are linked with us for Kingdom purposes that we don’t even fully understand yet. I’m blown away! It pays to obey! You see, God is waiting to collide with us, each of us, to place us in the right place at the right time to reach someone, to encourage someone, to build His Kingdom on the earth.

We can’t look away because it makes us uncomfortable. We can’t turn our backs because we don’t have much. When God asks me to give, I don’t see my lack, I ask what I can give. It may not be money, it may not be food, it may be just inviting them for fellowship, offering to babysit, taking a moment to talk. We can’t be so caught up in our own problems that we overlook opportunities to build Kingdom. God help us!

Going to prayer on Wednesday nights isn’t always convenient. Sometimes we just plain don’t feel like going, I know I didn’t last night. I was struggling all day because I didn’t get much sleep the night before, I felt like my body was fighting off something. When Pastor Carmen said she was going to give me the night off from praying a portion of the Atomic Warfare Prayer last night, I thought, this would be a perfect opportunity to stay home and go to bed, after all, I didn’t feel well. But I recognized that voice! My response was, ‘Get behind me Satan! I’m going to the house of the Lord to pray because if you’re fighting THIS hard to keep me from going, must be God has something amazing planned out.” Had I stayed home, I wouldn’t have met and talked to this couple as we were walking out the door.

I hope this encourages you to keep colliding with God. My internet wasn’t working this morning so I couldn’t blog. I decided to do it from work for the same reason I decided to go to church last night. When the devil fights that hard to keep me from doing something, I fight back. Resistance is a good thing when you’re fighting the enemy, it is NOT however, a good thing when you’re resisting God.

May I Never Fit In!

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You know how it is when you just don’t fit in? According to Jesus, we’re not to fit into this world. We may be in the world, but we’re not of the world. John 17:13-14 ERV says, “I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world. I say all this so that these followers can have the true happiness that I have. I want them to be completely happy.  I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them, because they don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world.”

Jesus continues with his prayer in verses 15-19, “I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One.  They don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world.  Make them ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth.  I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world.  I am making myself completely ready to serve you. I do this for them, so that they also might be fully qualified for your service.”

I love that Jesus prayed this over us. He was thinking of us way back before he gave his life on the cross, each one of us. He asked the Father to keep us safe from the Evil One and to make us ready for service through the Word of God. So, he was praying protection and preparation over us. What a beautiful prayer. I like to personalize it, you know, put my own name in there. “I am not asking you to take Sandy out of the world. But I am asking that you keep her safe from the Evil One. Sandy doesn’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. Make her ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth.  I have sent Sandy into the world, just as you sent me into the world. I am making myself completely ready to serve you. I do this for Sandy, so that she also might be fully qualified for your service.”

I make this my prayer today, that I be ready to serve you, full of your Word. That you glorify me through your Son, my savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving me, redeeming me, comforting me, communing with me this morning and throughout my day. May your voice be the only voice I hear, the only one I obey. May your Name be lifted up that all who see me may see you and know you. You’re not far off, you’re at home with me. Someday, I will see you face to face. Someday I will know in full what today I only know in part. Someday I will sit at your throne and sing Holy! A song you never tire of, the song of truth will ring out and the world will know that you who have created us all is Worthy!