This morning my thoughts are on a verse I heard quoted a number of years ago as, “I wisdom dwell with prudence and give knowledge of creative ideas and witty inventions.” (Proverbs 8:12) There was a time when many of the inventions which are now a part of everyday life were greeted with ridicule and skepticism. However, the dreamers persisted and
TOUCHED BY MY FRIEND’S INFIRMITY
This morning I read where a High School friend of mine had visited her brother last night only to find him resting peacefully dead in bed. He would have been 65 next month. He was now free of his demons (alcohol) and at peace in heaven along with her mother and son and she knew he would not suffer anymore.
In reading those words I prayed for her and others for whom his passing would be sad and heart breaking news.
And then I was touched by her infirmity. Her grief in losing her older brother. I never knew her brother but I knew her and I was saddened because I knew she was hurting. I have not seen her in years and may never see her again
TELL YOUR STORY
This morning as I was listening to one of my favorite speakers, Les Brown, he was telling how each of us has a story to tell. I hear these words a lot recently. “Tell your story. Each of us has a story.”
It is true. We all do have stories. Some of our stories are positive and uplifting and serve as inspiration to others and some of our stories may serve as warnings in hopes that others may not repeat our mistakes.
We are usually pretty quick to share about our favorite restaurant outing, movie, concert, vacation and other similar occasions. But sharing our life experiences is usually too personal. We may think no one wants to hear about our struggles, successes or secrets. But when you think about it,
REMARKABLE
This morning as I was preparing my breakfast cereal, Kellogg’s Mini Wheats Little Bites, I happened to read on the back of the box their “Colorful Clues” question: “How are Little Bites like a dry erase board?” Answer: “They’re both remarkable.” A play on the word “remarkable” causing me to think that the question could also have been, “How are WE like a dry erase board?” Same answer. “Both are remarkable.” Spelled another way is what I think is a better answer, RE -markable. Like a dry erase board humans due to varied experiences have been written on by others or our own self talk and life choices and events. BUT also, like the dry erase board we too can erase and re-mark our lives when we choose to do so.
Sometimes we need help in doing so. Which is the point of the following video I remembered seeing some time ago while eating my cereal.
Prompting this blog post.
It is a short video but it is truly RE-markable!
EVERY BLESSING OF GOD IS YOURS NOW!
In Ephesians 1:3 the Apostle Paul writes that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly in Christ.
When did God bless us? Who has He blessed? What has He blessed us with? Where are these blessings? When may we receive the benefits? How? (I do not have all the answers but these are some good questions to think about.) Read more…
WHINING CHRISTIANS
Recently read an article “Ten R
easons Christianity is Declining”. For me personally this is not true. I began my Jesus journey March 23, 1980. I have been a pastor in the same county for over 30 years and I say Christianity is not declining but there is an increase happening that makes it appear so.
WHINING CHRISTIANS!
“Christians” who are no different than the culture. They are not getting their way so they pull away and blame others. The pastor, the people or the program. Come on! Why should those who are not of Christian faith choose to embrace it as they look at all the professing drop outs. Yeah, I l know Jesus still loves you and you are going to heaven. Blah blah blah. You are just like the world you say Jesus redeemed you from. You know. In the world but not of it. But you are of it. You are just like it. You need your safe space. You cannot tolerate certain words and/or behaviors that make you feel awkward or embarrassed. So you pull away. Quit. Come on. Grow up! I know the church is full of hypocrites. But Jesus still attends. So don’t leave. Stay. There is always room for one more hypocrite. Show up and fit in. By the way, Internet or tv preachers are not your church. Learn from them. Live their solid biblical teaching if they are teaching it. But the real test. Live in the face of people. People just like you. People who have been hurt, who hurt others, having respect of persons, people who are critical, bitter, etc. People just like you.
I may get hurt or rejected or…again. Yes. You probably will. Jesus did. But He did not stay away as whining Christians do. He got in there and hung out with others. Even while knowing He would be BETRAYED by one. One He gave to and loved just as much as he did those who would eventually give their lives for his names sake.
Get over yourself. Show the world that Church is great and will prevail. Jesus said so. Quit your crying take up your cross and follow Jesus right into the midst of people who stink, curse, lie, deceive, etc. and don’t forget to go to those in the world too! You are redeemed but far from being perfect. Just like all the believers in Jesus Christ. The best way to being perfected is to be there and show the world the church is awesome in spite of the people who attend.
Christianity is not declining. Jesus is building the Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. In the process, remember the Church is not going to hurt you, it is going to kill you! Your life is as a filthy menstrual rag to God. Yuk! Come and die to self and live to Jesus. The Church will oblige you.
No! Christianity is not declining!
Whining Christians are increasing!
Unless you stop your whining today!
Remember: “Jesus can turn water into wine. He can’t turn your whining into anything!”
Now get to work. Jesus is coming!
THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER LANGUAGE Part 2
In Acts 1:4-8 Jesus tells His disciples they should remain in Jerusalem and “wait for the promise of the Father”, which He spoke to them about earlier. This promise of the Father would give them power they did not yet have and they would be witnesses unto Him all over the earth. Read more…
THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER LANGUAGE
In Mark chapter 16:17-18 when Jesus speaks about signs following people who believe the gospel He mentions signs or abilities which believers should be aware they are now able to do. These signs are supernatural as they could not be a part of one’s life prior to believing the gospel. Why, of all abilities God could have given to believers as Holy Spirit abilities did He choose these? My purpose in this teaching is to focus on only one of them… ”They shall speak with new tongues.” Why would God give an ability to speak in a language we could not speak prior to our becoming new creations in Christ and when we speak it we cannot understand what we are saying?
We see this happening in the Book of Acts on at least four separate occasions. We also learn from 1 Corinthians 14 we should recognize this to be a spiritual gift.
There are several interesting facts about speaking in new tongues.
- The speaker does not understand without interpretation.
- The hearer may or may not understand without interpretation.
- In one type of new tongues there is no speaking to man only to God.
- Speaking in tongues edifies, builds up or encourages the speaker without his understanding.
- Speaking in tongues helps us pray the will of God when we have no idea what His will is.
- New tongues are for both private and public speaking.
When we speak in new tongues who is actually speaking? Paul says that our spirit prays and our understanding is unfruitful. So where do the “words” come from? Acts 2:4 says the Holy Spirit gave them utterance or words to speak. If we do not understand what is said how can new tongues be profitable? It is only by faith in the word of God that we recognize the value and reality of speaking with new tongues. We can be confident that as we
speak with new tongues and pray
in tongues (notice the distinction) we are doing the will of God because the word of God says we are.
In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek. There are only three groups of people according to 1 Corinthians 10:32, the Jew, the Gentile and the Church. Jew and Gentile speak the “utterance” or language of their father’s nationalities. In the same manner the Church speaks the language of the ”nationality” they are born into, the Kingdom of God. This is why you cannot speak in new tongues unless you believe the gospel and become born again as a New Creation child of God translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13) What language did God and Adam speak? How did Adam learn to speak it? Over time or at the time he was created? Just a thought!
When our New Creation spirit born of God speaks in new tongues, how much death, negativity or unbelief do we speak? How about when we speak or pray with our understanding? Do you think we may speak any worry, fear or anxiety? (Philippians 4:6 Amplified)
In a room full of believers from all nations in the natural we would not understand one another speaking to God. Neither will we if all in the room are speaking in new tongues but we could all be preparing ourselves to profit the Church by speaking revelation, prophesying, knowledge or doctrine by interpretation having prayed in new tongues together. (1 Corinthians 14:6)
Jesus said when you
pray go to your closet. He also said speak
to all nations. (Matthew 6:6; 28:19-20) Making and understanding this distinction will help to clear some of the confusion concerning speaking with new tongues.
To make it simple:
Prayer in new tongues is for your edification. Speaking in new tongues is for the edification of others
.
My prayer language new tongue is
my spirit praying
and I edify myself. (1 Corinthians 14:4)
My speaking with new tongues is
the Holy Spirit giving me utterance
to edify others in their tongue directly or by interpretation. (Acts 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 14:13; 27)
Adam’s fall is having the understanding darkened by natural senses; why we must renew our mind by revelation light; Isaiah 60:1-2
Carnal or natural mind is enmity against God
Romans 8 we do not know how to pray as we should. Is this job a good one? Is something keeping this healing from me?
Pray in the spirit for wisdom and God’s will. Walk in peace that your steps are being ordered of the Lord.
PRAY WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
SING WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
1CORINTHIANS 14:14-15
AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER
Today the world in which we live is full of much pain, sickness, corruption, selfishness and such. These are indeed the very days spoken of in 2Timothy 3:1-7. In the world we can expect things to continue on a downward spiral but the believer in Jesus Christ does not have to live a down life. God will not be without a voice and demonstration of His love and power during such a time as this. The answer God has purposed since the foundation of the world is THE CHURCH…the many members of the Body of Christ united and being led and empowered by the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says that all authority is given unto Him in heaven AND in earth. He leaves the earth promising to return at some future time. How is His authority to be demonstrated on earth in the interim? THROUGH HIS BODY! The salt of the earth and light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16). This is possible because Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, far above all other power and might, authority and dominion in heaven, in earth and under the earth. (Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:10). This unlimited power over all authority is of God. God has instructed Jesus to be seated at His right hand until He makes the enemies of Jesus His footstool. (Hebrews 1:13) God is doing this work through those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and have become new creations in Christ who now live their lives cognizant that all things in their life are of God. We are no longer our own. We belong to God having been purchased by the blood of Christ and can now glorify God in our body and in our spirit which are His. (2Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13; 1Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:14)
How the will of God (salt) is done in the earth is through manifesting the Kingdom of God in the earth through faith in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 3:13-16; Philippians 2:13) The New Testament teaches this as “The Authority of the Believer”. A NT believer is one who is now born of God in righteousness and true holiness, recognizing that his old life has passed away and now ALL THINGS are of God. He knows by grace he is saved through faith and not of works. Instead he now manifests the works of Christ through faith in His Name.(Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; John 14:12)
What works are to be seen? (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1-2, 9) Works which no man can do except God be with him. (John 3:2) The works Jesus did. (John 14:12; Acts 10:38) Why must we have works? Jesus did, that’s why. He said if you cannot believe My words, believe My works. (John 10:37-38; John 14:10-11) When the Word of God is preached it MUST BE CONFIRMED AS PROOF THAT IT IS THE WORD OF GOD. (Mark 1619-20) No confirmation is just another dissertation to be intellectually accepted or rejected by the natural mind.
For the Church to be salt of the earth and light of the world we must SHOW AND TELL THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. (Romans 1:16-17)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER IS THE NAME OF JESUS! Only those who have the authorized right by being “in Christ” and are NOW in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son may use God’s power to enforce SPIRITUAL LAWS to demonstrate His power. (Acts 19:10-16) DO YOU?
EVERYTHING IS CHANGING
John 7:38-39
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living w
ater. (But this he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 13:31
“Therefore, when he (Judas) was gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.'”
In these verses from John’s Gospel we read of a change which could only happen after the death of Christ. The coming of the Holy Spirit. In Chapters 14-16 of John’s gospel, called by some commentators “The Holy Spirit Discourse”, Jesus explains some of what is about to happen and happen quickly. For proper understanding of His words in these chapters the reader must be made aware of a few other scriptures. Otherwise confusion or even worse, improper understanding of these important truths may occur.
First we must know that men today are three part beings. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse clearly identifies that we are spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body. Other scriptures agree to this truth but the point is clearly made here. Understanding not only three parts but the respective function of each one is important. To live in this earth we need a body. To reason, think and respond emotionally to life we need our soul or mind, will and emotions. Our spirit is the life source to both body and soul. When our spirit exits our body we are dead to this life. However,this life is not all there is. The spirit of man is eternal and will live forever somewhere. Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present elsewhere. In John 3:6 Jesus said: “That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit. He also said in John 4:2 that they who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in John 6:63 he says the flesh profits nothing.
Mirror o the spirit body without the spirit is dead everyone born of the spirit is like the wind. Unseen. but noticeable. Affected to have effect.