It makes my heart sad to see so many Christians, especially on FB, searching out evils in the body of Christ. Are we the church police? Are we Holy Ghost investigators? Is it our job to examine every church (we've never gone to), every preacher and teacher that is in the spotlight, every Christian musician and highlight where they may or may not be exactly in line with scripture? The last time I checked the Bible said to examine OURSELVES that we be in the faith. Yes, if it's YOUR OWN church it needs to be addressed according to the word of God. Yes, depart from those who are involved in obvious sin, restore such a one with meekness if we're able, but why go blast a group or individual all over the internet? Especially those we have NEVER made a single personal contact with. How is this bringing glory to God? How is this in any way helping those souls you believe are deceived? Stop looking for the speck in other people's eyes and remove the plank from your own because I can most certainly say that those who post and blast and gossip and slander these churches, preachers, musicians, etc. are not 100% in line with scripture themselves. If it were possible we would not need the blood of Christ. Let us not forget, "such were some of you," and even Peter denied Jesus three times yet was restored to do a great work in Him. We all have to answer for our own faults and failings.
Instead of hammering down and casting out members of the body of Christ, spend that time in prayer for a great awakening, for God's Spirit to move in the hearts of the blind that their souls might be saved. Be an intercessor instead of a mouthpiece for the enemy. If I spent half the time in prayer for people I even THINK are deceived as I do reading this garbage, how much more would the Lord's work be done?
I've heard so many defend their position of gossip (because that's essentially what it is). "We're not to point out sin?" or "Paul told Peter." or "Jesus did it in the temple." Yes, point out sin if it is in your life, your church, the people you are in contact with. Yes, address a brother to his face. Yes, address any anti-Biblical practices in your church. I don't think Paul went and told ALL the other disciples how crooked Peter was and to stay away from him. If you feel that strongly that someone is a devil, then do it according to the WORD! That's the only way. The internet is a gossip forum if that's what you allow it to be, despite how "good" you think your intentions are. Remember, there is none good except God.
People put so much effort into making these videos, arranging their blogs & websites, but how many laid one ounce of mercy for that soul they are blasting at the feet of Jesus? How many of you who instigate division in the body of Christ, take time out of your lives to pray for those you so obviously despise? Isn't it more important to take all that effort and energy and encourage people to be in their prayer closets, in the word, in the Spirit themselves so as not to be deceived? It's not our job to uncover every deceiver we THINK is out there. It's the job of the Holy Ghost to lead us each individually. We should be teaching how to be led by the Spirit and be a son of God instead of spreading fear of deception. In Christ is perfect love and perfect love casts out all fear.
When the time comes to make that decision, we don't really have each other to show us who is and who is not truly of God anyhow. Only those being led by the Spirit of truth will be able to discern such a thing. Otherwise, we're just leaning once again on another man's wisdom and that's the very thing we're instructed not to do.
Stop playing uber-spiritual and start DOING what God says. Be ye merciful for He is merciful, pray for those you despise, if you see a brother overtaken in a fault then restore him in meekness lest you also fall. As much as we think we're doing a service, the truth is gossip and backbiting will enter the kingdom of heaven no more than those deceivers you're trying to expose. Praise God each of our lives are not in the spotlight. Praise God His mercy begins anew every day. Praise God He has given us power to heal, deliver and restore. Praise God He has given us the Spirit of truth to lead us into all truth! Let us be wise in the wisdom of God and forsake the ways of the world.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sacrifice & Surrender 2
We are called to a life of sacrifice and surrender—a term that is highly overused and highly lacking in action. We are called to give up the things that we desire. When David says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Ps 37:4), I believe this speaks to a change in our heart’s desires. The more we delight in Him, the more He leads us to desire the things of His kingdom as opposed to the things of this world.
No matter what Jesus wanted in His person, His flesh—for we know at one point He asked the Father that the cup of sacrifice would pass from Him—He knew that ultimately the Father’s will must be accomplished. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). This is the life to which we are called—sacrifice and surrender.
The life of Jesus was a demonstration of so much more than what many choose to see. Many Christians openly embrace His character, striving to be vessels of His love, mercy, compassion, even to work miracles as He did. But how many openly embrace the sacrifice and surrender to the Father’s will that Jesus modeled? We want the fullness of the blessing of God, the fullness of the manifestation of the Spirit in our lives; yet, we don’t surrender or sacrifice to the fullest. We are to be conformed to the image of whole person of Jesus Christ, not just the attributes we deem acceptable or convenient.
Yes Lord, even if I have to live in poverty (for Paul clearly did); even if I have to be socially rejected, and amid the Christian community as well (for Jesus and all the disciples were rejected of the world AND the religious sect); even if I have to be hated and persecuted (for Jesus tells us we will be hated even as He was hated); even if my own children, parents, and siblings cast me aside, I will be obedient to Your word and the leading of Your Spirit. Even if I have to give up the American Dream, my every heart’s desire, I choose to be found worthy to follow You.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 10:37-39).
I choose sacrifice of the flesh and surrender to the Father’s will so I will be found a good and faithful servant. I choose the leading of the Spirit through the hardest (and most purifying) trials so I will be found a son of the Most High God. The righteousness, peace, and joy found in such a lifestyle stretch far beyond any temporal pleasure the fulfillment of the desires of this world brings.
Praise You my God! For You are true joy and peace, and in You there is hope forevermore! Hallelujah!
No matter what Jesus wanted in His person, His flesh—for we know at one point He asked the Father that the cup of sacrifice would pass from Him—He knew that ultimately the Father’s will must be accomplished. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). This is the life to which we are called—sacrifice and surrender.
The life of Jesus was a demonstration of so much more than what many choose to see. Many Christians openly embrace His character, striving to be vessels of His love, mercy, compassion, even to work miracles as He did. But how many openly embrace the sacrifice and surrender to the Father’s will that Jesus modeled? We want the fullness of the blessing of God, the fullness of the manifestation of the Spirit in our lives; yet, we don’t surrender or sacrifice to the fullest. We are to be conformed to the image of whole person of Jesus Christ, not just the attributes we deem acceptable or convenient.
Yes Lord, even if I have to live in poverty (for Paul clearly did); even if I have to be socially rejected, and amid the Christian community as well (for Jesus and all the disciples were rejected of the world AND the religious sect); even if I have to be hated and persecuted (for Jesus tells us we will be hated even as He was hated); even if my own children, parents, and siblings cast me aside, I will be obedient to Your word and the leading of Your Spirit. Even if I have to give up the American Dream, my every heart’s desire, I choose to be found worthy to follow You.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 10:37-39).
I choose sacrifice of the flesh and surrender to the Father’s will so I will be found a good and faithful servant. I choose the leading of the Spirit through the hardest (and most purifying) trials so I will be found a son of the Most High God. The righteousness, peace, and joy found in such a lifestyle stretch far beyond any temporal pleasure the fulfillment of the desires of this world brings.
Praise You my God! For You are true joy and peace, and in You there is hope forevermore! Hallelujah!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Jesus Will Keep Us
Jesus will keep us. We must remain in Him and He will remain in us. We are one as He and the Father are One. He will abide with us forever. However, we must turn from the ways of the world and surrender all we are to Him.
He is perfect. He is holy. We cannot be perfect or holy apart from Him. We must strive in Him. We will not make it on our own. Man is doomed to fail. The enemy is a snare unto our feet, but Jesus is freedom. He is a lamp unto our feet. He redeems and leads us into righteousness—His righteousness. The world, the enemy leads us into eternal darkness.
We must not be fooled by he who comes disguised as an angel of light. He is false; he is the deceiver. He is not God’s truth. God’s word is not in him. We must be led by the Spirit of God, by His truth. His word is truth and in this we are sanctified.
We understand much, but He is so much more. Our understanding is just the beginning. If we give our all to Him, He will open us up to His kingdom in a fullness that the natural mind cannot comprehend. The spiritual mind needs to grow, the spiritual knowledge, the spirit man.
We cannot waste our time on the pointless pursuits of this world. Christmas will come and go. Many will forget Him as they already do. The end is not yet, but it is near. We must prepare our hearts before Him. Surrender ourselves—our minds, our ways, our everything—and He will lead us on paths of righteousness.
Yes, He hears our prayers. In fact, where do we think some of those prayers come from? Man does not desire goodness or righteousness on his own. Man is wicked, is not mindful of our Lord. But He is mindful of us.
We have a beautiful future, a place in eternity with Him—if we continue in Him. We must abide in Him and His word. He will grow us. He will mature us. We don’t need any other Teacher. “Learn of Me,” He says. He will bring forth good fruit and lead us into everlasting life.
There is no life apart from Him. He is Life. He is Truth. He is for eternity. He is our Beloved and we are His. We should embrace what He sets before us. He will give us all we need. He will care for us. He will give us the words when we need them.
Trust Him! Put all your trust in Him. He will not fail us. He cannot fail! He is Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and earth. There is nothing apart from Him. All glory in heaven and earth is to the name above all names, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
He is perfect. He is holy. We cannot be perfect or holy apart from Him. We must strive in Him. We will not make it on our own. Man is doomed to fail. The enemy is a snare unto our feet, but Jesus is freedom. He is a lamp unto our feet. He redeems and leads us into righteousness—His righteousness. The world, the enemy leads us into eternal darkness.
We must not be fooled by he who comes disguised as an angel of light. He is false; he is the deceiver. He is not God’s truth. God’s word is not in him. We must be led by the Spirit of God, by His truth. His word is truth and in this we are sanctified.
We understand much, but He is so much more. Our understanding is just the beginning. If we give our all to Him, He will open us up to His kingdom in a fullness that the natural mind cannot comprehend. The spiritual mind needs to grow, the spiritual knowledge, the spirit man.
We cannot waste our time on the pointless pursuits of this world. Christmas will come and go. Many will forget Him as they already do. The end is not yet, but it is near. We must prepare our hearts before Him. Surrender ourselves—our minds, our ways, our everything—and He will lead us on paths of righteousness.
Yes, He hears our prayers. In fact, where do we think some of those prayers come from? Man does not desire goodness or righteousness on his own. Man is wicked, is not mindful of our Lord. But He is mindful of us.
We have a beautiful future, a place in eternity with Him—if we continue in Him. We must abide in Him and His word. He will grow us. He will mature us. We don’t need any other Teacher. “Learn of Me,” He says. He will bring forth good fruit and lead us into everlasting life.
There is no life apart from Him. He is Life. He is Truth. He is for eternity. He is our Beloved and we are His. We should embrace what He sets before us. He will give us all we need. He will care for us. He will give us the words when we need them.
Trust Him! Put all your trust in Him. He will not fail us. He cannot fail! He is Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and earth. There is nothing apart from Him. All glory in heaven and earth is to the name above all names, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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