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Christian Apologetics

IT’S NOT A LAW PROBLEM, IT’S A SIN PROBLEM

sin“You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.” (Romans 5:12–14 MSG)

A few weeks ago I was having an in-depth conversation with another pastor who shared with me a dialogue he held, with a prominent theologian, on the nature of sin and the Law of God. Today, there is a foreign undercurrent being taught, within the message of grace, that claims the Law of God is responsible for the problem of sin; and therefore a proper reading of Romans tells us the work of the Cross sets us free from sin and Law. While this debate cannot be defined, or answered, by one “magic” verse I  see there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Law, sin and what we have come to understand as Judaism. Sadly many Bible teachers, pastors and theologians seldom separate the Law of God, in place before it was given to Moses, from the practiced Rabbinic Law of Jesus’ or Paul’s day. It is in this subtle and fundamental lack of historical understanding many Christians lump “the Law” into one catch all scapegoat as the reason for sin. Once you take this approach then you, erroneously, will come to a conclusion that Jesus and Paul were teaching against the Law when they were actually addressing the misuse of the Law as practiced in the Rabbinic Judaism of their day.

IT’S NOT A LAW PROBLEM, IT’S A SIN PROBLEM. “The Bible does not say that God punished the human race for one man’s sin; but that the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself, entered into the human race by one man, and that another Man took on Him the sin of the human race and put it away (Heb. 9:26)—an infinitely profounder revelation.” (Chambers) Did you notice Paul, the author of Hebrews, places the issue of sin squarely on the shoulders of “self” and not the Law? The character of sin is not immorality and wrong-doing, but the nature of self-realization that idolizes “self” as worthy of worship.

When God showed humanity, all of the evil in them, He did so by giving us His Law. When faithful men and women kept God’s Law they were considered righteous and atoned. Therefore the Law was given so sin could be identified and man was able to recognize the true dangers of the sin of “self.” Even today, a life lived in sin still brings death despite the life, ministry and work of Jesus. Sin is and has always been the true danger not God’s Law! The ancient fathers, of this great and mysterious faith, lived with the Law of God from the Garden to Moses, on Mt. Sinai, and even to us today. Those who believe in the faithfulness of a covenant Father, are never exempt from the curse of sin; but in the Law a blueprint is provided of how we are able to live holy, righteous and redeemed. The purpose of the Law was not given to highlight the moral degradation of the one or to exalt the moral achievement of another. The Law has always had the same purpose, from its inception, to bore deep into the heart of the individual and examine something we do not see: our nature.

Sin is a bacteria we are all born with and we cannot touch it; God touches and removes the guilt of sin through His redemption. In the Cross of Jesus the Father redeemed creation, specifically humanity, from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. God nowhere holds a man responsible for having the heredity of sin. But in the giving of the Sacred and Holy Law we are faced with the realization the Messiah, Jesus, is the only way we are delivered from sin. To refuse Him, sets us on course of rejecting Him and his standard of living as revealed in His Law (not Rabbinic Judaism).
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Did Jesus release us from committing adultery? Coveting? Murder? Lying? Idolatry? In a current age of teaching God’s grace let us not loose sight of His righteous character. Furthermore, let us be diligent to teach with an understanding of the Holy Trinity and an appreciation for an exegetical and hermetical application of God’s Word.

In the pursuit of His mercy and grace let us not condemn His Law. Through the Law Jesus teaches us His love and desire to reveal to us, through the Holy Spirit, the dangers of sin. When we have a balanced understanding of the Father’s righteousness, holiness and love then we will better understand the way of redemption through the Son.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED, HOLY and HEROIC PT. 5: PERFECTIONISM versus IDENTIFICATION

jm_200_NT2.pd-P20.tiff“Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” (Mark 10:21 MSG)

I am not a perfectionist. I’m not saying I’m proud of this fact because I have learned, in most instances, it serves me best to be as close to “perfect” as possible. Maybe I should more accurately identify myself as administratively challenged? While my wife, and others within our community, suspect I have some OCD tendencies I know I am far from a perfectionist; and I know this because I have come across one or two perfectionist in my journey having realized they, more than any other person and or personality, have the hardest time living in relationship and community. But why? Is the Kingdom stacked against the perfectionist? Far from it; but there is a ‘trap” built in to striving for perfection that runs counter cultural to the Kingdom (more on this later).

There was one such person, in the Bible, who was a perfectionist known in Mark’s Gospel as the rich young ruler. One the one hand this young man shared Jesus’ passion to be perfect and when he saw Jesus, he wanted to be just like Him. Everything about this man’s life would indicate his house was in order, his religion (not faith) was resolute and his ability to succeed would be admired by most people. Yet, despite this impressive resume and disciplined life, when he came face to face with Jesus he walked away; why? Do you remember I mentioned there is a “trap” built in to the striving for perfection? Well, here is the trap revealed: While Jesus loves to work with the passionate and dedicated He will never compete with our personal holiness and pride in self. In fact, to be called His disciple means He will eradicate our right to self- identification and replace it with a relationship, communion and identification in Him alone.

Many people struggle with Jesus’ words from Luke 14:25-33 when He says, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple. “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ “Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce. “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.” Clearly, within context, Jesus is addressing every disciples unconditional identification with Him and the personal struggle we may all encounter if we want to keep, even the smallest portion of “self” alive. There is nothing more real, close, personal and loved than family or the things most important to our life. And yet, Jesus cuts right to the heart of what may be most precious to us and demands we sacrifice it, for His glory, as He did with Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham, in a very real way, is the other “rich young ruler” we should applaud. From the beginning of his calling he possessed a passionate, but not perfect, pursuit of God. He left his family, while also inviting others with him on his journey. When he was far from perfect, having strayed into Egypt, God challenged him again; and he responded. Challenge after challenge, failure after failure and risk after risk Abraham was willing to do what Luke’s rich younger ruler was not. What an awesome example, Abraham is to us, of being a disciple no matter what the cost!

“The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.” (Mark 10:22 MSG) Sadly, for the perfectionist, the call of identification with Jesus and His “failure” to be impressed with the young man’s wealth or talent dismayed the rich young ruler to the point where he no longer wanted to be like Jesus. While Jesus often works with the talented, skilled and wealthy He is just as apt to work the talentless, poor and imperfect. Jesus will work with anyone who is willing to lay whatever is closest to them down for complete and total communion and relationship with Him.
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When Jesus truly gets a hold of a life He transforms and transfixes it; and where we were once ineffective we become effective for the Kingdom. If we are pliable our ‘softness’ can be transformed into His strength. Where we are hard He uses us to display His tenderness through grace, mercy and forgiveness. And when we are “administratively challenged” He too can mold us into capable bean counters.

Jesus’ final words, to the perfectionist of every age, is “One thing thou lackest, sell whatsoever thou hast …” From Jesus’ point of view there can be nothing between you and Him. To live the life of a disciple means, fundamentally, we must renounce possessions of all kinds. This type of renunciation is not a works driven attempt to save our soul (since the only thing that saves a man is our absolute dependence upon Jesus) but a call to a life of sacrifice where we faithfully follow Jesus and persevere and endure until the end. This was the life of Abraham and he lived life every bit the rich ruler of his age. The example of Abraham is the life of the sacred, holy and heroic and stands in stark contrast to Luke’s rich young ruler.

Jesus’ invitation to us all is “Come, and follow Me.” Are we prepared to journey with Him no matter what the cost?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

SMALL IS THE NEW BIG by ED GUNGOR

Ed GungorMy dog’s name is Frank. He is a little, white-haired  terrier of some kind. He may be small but he lives large in the Gungor family. He thinks he’s one of us and he has the job of “protector. If you came to my door right now and we were trying to talk, Frank would be a force to reckon with. He’d be freaking out that a “stranger” is at the door. And his bark is unnerving. He doesn’t have the highpitched “arf-arf-arf” of the tiny dogs—it’s more a midtoned “rarf, rarf, rarf.” And he would just keep on barking until I yelled, “QUIET! Go to your kennel!” at least a couple of times. Then he’d reluctantly shut it down and stroll towards his kennel, stopping every few feet to look back, grumbling under his breath. Frank leads an everyday, small dog’s life. He’s never been on TV; he’s never won “best of show;” and there

are only a few people in the world that could actually pick him out of a crowd or a photo. He gets up around the same time every day, runs outside to do his business, comes back in to get some chow and water, plays with a few of his squeaky toys and then settles in for his mid-morning nap. That’s about the best it gets on any given day. Oh…he has his moments of thrill—the occasional ride in the car with the window down, the surprise visit from a drop-by friend with their dog, but for the most part Frank’s life is predictable. But he’s cool with that. He seems very comfortable in his own fur. I, like Frank, have a pretty predictable, everyday life. Except for the occasional, “Hey, don’t I know you…”  from someone unfamiliar, there are only a few people who could actually pick me out in a photo. I got up this morning, had some time with God, paid my bills, answered emails, prayed with a friend who was rushing off his young son to the hospital (he was dehydrated from a really bad flu), ran a few errands and did some blogging. For the most part, my daily life is…well…daily. True, I have a bump or two of excitement and opportunity from time to time, but, all in all, my life (like Frank’s and most of the rest of us) is lived out in a zone called ordinary.

But I’m not nearly as settled about it as Frank. Truth is, I’ve always struggled with being everyday-ish—almost like it’s a sign that my life doesn’t really matter. I keep thinking if I mattered there should be more bing-batta-bing going on. And I want to matter. Otherwise, what’s the point? The billion-dollar question is how—how does one come to matter? And, then, if that question can be answered, how do we know when we do matter—how does one measure such things?

AMERICAN IDOLS
America is a hero culture. Prominence rules. Inconspicuous means insignificant. We tend to think only those who stick out are worthy of adulation. So, the stick-out beautiful, stick-out rich, stick-out talented, fairytale people are the only ones who matter—and they are our idols; our American idols. Somehow, these values tell us stick-out proves worth. If people don’t stick out; if they are average, ordinary;
they are cellophane. Nobody notices cellophane.“The obviously well kept secret of the ‘ordinary’ is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine…” – Dallas Willard

We live in a world that insists one must be way beyond ordinary to matter. If that is the case, a lot of us are losers. But something in me doesn’t want to accept that. There’s something in me that finds the notion of insignificance as scary as suicide. I want to make a mark on this rock. I think God is the author of that longing. However, I think most of us are mixed up about this whole enterprise of “significance.” I think we struggle with the who-am-I-in-the-scheme-of-things question, plus, we misjudge whether or not we do
matter because consciously (or unconsciously) we have bought into the myth that prominence is the only sign of significance. So, if we are not “famous” or pastoring thousands, it breeds hopelessness in us.
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RADICAL ORDINARINESS
From the American point of view, being “ordinary” means we are just “another one of those,” which signifies we are nothing in particular—thus proving we have little value. But something in us silently screams with deadening agony at that notion. This is why each of us, from the smallest child to the oldest adult, wants to be different; outstanding in some way; unique, extraordinary. Even the fifteen minutes of fame that Andy Warhol said everyone would someday have in our modern media-world is a welcome commodity if it protects us from the status of being a “nobody.” But here’s a provocative thought: it appears that the beachhead for God’s life spilling into the world is through the dreaded ordinary. When you study the scripture and the lives of the saints throughout history, it is as if “ordinary” is the chosen habitation of the eternal. Consider Jesus. He was born in a manger (you can’t get more ordinary than that). He grew up in a small village with a bad reputation and grew up in the home of a carpenter. Jesus, it turned out, became a blue-collar worker. He did this to be with us, to be one of us—to bring the life of the eternal into the world through the ordinariness of life. The message Christ followers refer to as the “gospel” is to be more than a ticket to “make the cut” when we die. The gospel is a call to allow Jesus Christ to heal, empower, and inform the individual human experience. And in the interaction that occurs with the Savior, ordinary people encounter a life that is greater than just human life—it has the quality of eternity. Amazingly, God’s life does not destroy ordinary, everyday human life; it actually fulfills and empowers it. Dallas Willard writes, “The obviously well kept secret of the ‘ordinary’ is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows.”

On this view, being basic, ordinary, and merely human (with human limitations, blind spots, and all the rest) is absolutely the best thing that could have ever happened to us. That’s because our unspectacular traits are the perfect springboards for the Divine. It
turns out that small is the new big.“It appears that the beachhead for God’s life spilling into the world is through the dreaded ordinary.”

For more information on Pastor Ed Gungor or CMI Global (which I am ordained through) click below.

Sanctuary Church

CMI Global

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED, HOLY & HEROIC: “RENUNCIATION” PT.4

jesus-sending-the-disciples“On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.” (Luke 9:57)

When I hear stories of renouncing the world it conjures up images of a poor monk living in a dark and damp cave, a guru starved to the point of death or a minimalist trying to fit their entire life into less than 400 sq.ft. While some may marvel at such personal discipline these examples are far from Jesus meant by calling the Christian to renounce the world. In the Gospel of Luke we read of two different men that expressed a desire to follow Jesus. If we were living in the sandals of Jesus we would probably be excited to hear two passionate responses to our appeals for following the Kingdom. But when we read Jesus’ response I bet we can’t help but feel a bit aghast. Upon hearing these two men’s desire to follow Him Jesus’ reply was one of severe discouragement. But why? Was Jesus having a bad day? Did he not want these men to follow Him? Or could it be He knew what was deep within their heart and challenged them at the core of who they really were? Again, if we had been walking with Jesus, on that day, we may have been tempted to challenge Jesus’ terse response and ask where was His love, mercy and or grace; but Jesus’ words cut past the superficial exuberance of the moment, as well as the religious posture of the day, and addressed what was of true importance: “Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:62 MSG)

Never apologize for Jesus. To the world, that knows Him not, His words have always hurt and offended. Truthfully, even in our own experience, when our spiritual eyes were fully opened we too became quickly offended as He began to address parts of our life requiring change. Jesus has always and will continue to offend the world, it’s thinking and attitude until there is nothing left to hurt or offend. Jesus has never possessed a shred of tenderness toward anything that is ultimately going to ruin a person, He so dearly loves, in the service of God.

Jesus’ response to the two men of Luke 9 were not answers of hatefulness or rejection but genuine truthfulness and love as well as invitation for communion and relationship. Jesus words were bold, daring, sacred, holy and heroic. Jesus knew what was in the hearts of these men and He was willing to bore, deep within, to offend that which they loved most in this world. Oswald Chambers said, “If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you may be sure that there is something He wants to hurt to death.”

Once in a while, a sudden loss of visual perception in one or both eyes (NAION) may happen. canadian levitra Causes for Erectile Dysfunction: Depression: Too much of depression or hopelessness or sadness generic tadalafil tablets in any person can be known only when one goes for sexual intercourse. Of course, there viagra ordination is no absolute guarantee that you can send a mail to with the required quantity. So, keep ready of scanned piece of prescription in time of levitra 10 mg purchasing the drugs from online pharmacy. In our quest to live the sacred, holy and heroic life of faith, in Jesus, we need to acknowledge there will have to be a death to self and every want fed by this world. Out of His love, for us, He desires to be the sole provider for your need. Jesus wants to be your rock and fortress as well as your strong tower and waters of refreshing. If we continue to look to a world, that appeals to our natural self, we will look past Him and continue on our way travelling with Jesus no longer. Though some have walked away from Jesus, after He offended them, perhaps the most encouraging portion of this narrative is discovered in Luke 10 directly following the two men of Luke 9, “Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge: “What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands… The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune! Jesus said, “I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing.” At that, Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit.

“I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. “I’ve been given it all by my Father! Only the Father knows who the Son is and only the Son knows who the Father is. The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to.” He then turned in a private aside to his disciples. “Fortunate the eyes that see what you’re seeing! There are plenty of prophets and kings who would have given their right arm to see what you are seeing but never got so much as a glimpse, to hear what you are hearing but never got so much as a whisper.” (Luke 10)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 3: BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS and a ROAD TOWARD RECONCILIATION & RESTORATION

restore

Daily I share with you personal reflections, stories and accounts, of others, I have experienced or heard along life’s way. I use these brief stories as way of creating a relatable place where you and I can meet together on common ground. While I have shared stories from my childhood, marriage and even ministry I have purposely kept certain areas, of my life, private out of respect for others. But there comes a time when some of the private places, in our lives, can be revealed so as to help draw us toward the road of reconciliation and restoration in Jesus. CONFESSION: I have a broken relationship within my family. To remove the specter of speculation this relationship is not between my wife and me; but it is within my flesh and blood family. Earlier this week I had a long conversation with a close friend, and fellow pastor, whose ministry is exploding with rapid growth and salvations. An evangelist, by calling and in his heart, he also serves a needy community that lives in the shadows of one of the most spiritually dark places of our nation. As we were encouraging one another he too shared how division, within his family, has affected him. While his strained relationships are difficult to reconcile he also shared his ongoing trust, forgiveness, love and patience, for those in his family, and how the Holy Spirit is slowly leading them back on the road of reconciliation and restoration.

Do you have broken relationships? I’m sure my pastor/friend’s story, or mine for that matter, is not unique. The very thought of broken relationships led me to a passage of Scripture often quoted, in such times, but seldom practiced or applied correctly. “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. (Matthew 5:23 MSG)  If when you come to the altar you remember your brother holds an offense you must ask the Holy Spirit, has the Spirit of God brought this offense to my attention? Or is this offense born from anger and personal hurt?”

“If you remember…” what can this fascinating statement mean? Does it imply we refer to a ledger of offense, tucked far away? Or could it mean the Holy Spirit is continuing to remind you of a breach, and necessity of reconciliation and restoration? If it is the former, than you need to be very cautious in your next action; because you may be motivated by a spirit of division and accusation (which is not born from the Spirit of God). If it is the later than you must respond and trust the Holy Spirit! “Go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”  Never object to the intense, raw and amazing power of Spirit-birthed reconciliation. When the Holy Spirit is bearing down on you He is also cultivating you, in that trial, hurt and offense, as how you are to live a IN HIM!

First be reconciled to thy brother. Jesus’ direction is simple—“first be reconciled. Go back the way you came, go the way indicated to you by the conviction given at the altar; have an attitude of mind and a temper of soul to the one who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing. Jesus does not mention the other person, He says—you go. There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.” (Chambers)
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And then come and offer your gift. The progression is clearly marked. In the dangerously beautiful community of faith we see the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sacredness of being led by the Holy Spirit and finally His holiness, within the family of God, by way of obedience to His Word. Our gift, at the altar of the Lord, may be many things but perhaps the greatest gift we can lay before Him is the gift of reconciliation and restoration in our broken relationships.

It is my prayer for you, the reader, my friend (mentioned earlier) and in my own personal family we soon experience, by His grace and mercy, healing in our broken relationships. While I may not know when, and by what circumstances, the road of reconciliation and restoration will be travelled?  I know the commission of the sacred, holy and heroic community, IN HIM, is calling us to travel that road together. If we are truly IN HIM people then we will be spending eternity with these loved ones. I pray, before eternity, I will enjoy laying a gift of mended relationships before the feet of Jesus.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 2: RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION

imagesTHE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 2: RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” (Matthew 5:41)

I was in the mall yesterday, picking up a few items, when I stopped in a store to purchase a final thing. Making the line I was directly behind a woman who was eagerly sharing, with the sales clerk, the many reasons why she (the sales clerk) should visit their church. On the one hand I commend this woman for inviting another person to her church. On the other hand I cringed as to how she chose to extend her invitation. Appeal after appeal was made reciting all of the churches ministries, outreaches, locations, times and people “just like her.” Then, as her purchase neared completion, the woman asked the sales clerk, Where did you use to attend church?  The sales clerk gave the name of a very large church, in our community, to which the other woman said, Oh! If you liked going there then you would love going to our church…we are just like them. Same music, same preaching and the same kind of people.

It may have sounded innocent enough, and the invitation was offered with the best of intentions, but something just didn’t set right as to how this woman perceived her church. To her, and how she represented her faith community to the sales clerk, church was “just like” the others churches full of programs, groups, music and ideal locations. But I want to ask all of us a question, Are programs, groups, music and locations why we are called to join a community of faith? And is this how want to present our community to others? What I didn’t share earlier was a small, but important, part of their conversation. The sales clerk shared the reason she was no longer attending her previous church was because she didn’t experience any relationships in such a large community. It is the concept, of relationship and communion, which distinctly turns our churches from large gatherings of “Christians” into relational communities of the Sacred Holy and Heroic. (Read this week’s earlier post)

I realize every church has a distinct “voice” and method of how they desire to share their message with people. However, here to, I want to ask a provoking question: Are we presenting “our” message or His? Our vision and mission fields should be varied but the message must remain the same: The preaching of the Everlasting Gospel which draws people into relationship and communion. In my opinion the woman, from the mall, should have invited the clerk to join her community, based on their communion and relationship with Jesus and not through a series of programs. The strength of the Christian community is summed up with Jesus’ emphasis on relationship and communion.

Genuine Biblical community (koinonia), and relationship, can only occur when we live in communion with the Father, Son and Spirit. Out of our right relationship, with Him, we are able to enter into a sacred and holy community that lives heroic, bold, loving and distinct from the world. When we present community, as something “like” somebody else or “feeling” as something the appeals to our personal preferences we risk inviting people to participate in social gatherings not necessarily formed in communion with the Son (Jesus). Today there are many churches that give a passing mention to Jesus but the real attraction is to the person behind the pulpit or the zip code of the building.

To live in true Biblical community Jesus demands no passion, other than for communion with Him, should replace that which is birthed from the Spirit and rooted only in Him! In ministry, and in ministering, it is easy to get lost in the fog of works and good deeds. It can be even easier to loose our way in modern creeds, of religious presuppositions, and contemporary spiritualism. But when we are called to endure, the strain of this world and the pressures of personal desire, Jesus replaces our wants with the need of relationship, to Himself, and communion with those who are focused on Him above all!

“The Sermon on the Mount is not an ideal, it is a statement of what will happen in me when Jesus Christ has altered my disposition and put in a disposition like His own. Jesus Christ is the only One Who can fulfil the Sermon on the Mount.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC PT. 1

luminous5THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC  PT. 1

It was the summer of 1997 and I was tossing and turning, in bed, just hours before I would walk down the wedding aisle. My final restless night was filled with worry, doubt, concern and excitement about the biggest transition of my young life. Almost twenty years later, and still happily married, I have had the opportunity to counsel many couples before their wedding and find myself telling them time and time again, you are never really ready to be married. After you have prayed, counseled and made your decision you just need to GO! I often chuckle when I observe people attempt to over plan their life. Often this type of person desires to have their income at a certain level, living in a certain neighborhood, planning enough trips and vacations, etc…and then, all of the sudden, a monkey wrench! Maybe it’s a baby, a temporary set-back, or a life-changing circumstance but “the plan” now has to be adjusted. Planning is great! In my family we live on a budget, have a yearly plan and even try to set some goals for four to five years out; but we have also shared in enough life to leave room for transformation. It is easy to imagine that we can get to a place where we are complete and ready, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained and often adjusted with minor tweaks and, at times, major changes.

There was a time, long ago, when the sense of sacrifice appealed to a young Christian. Humanly speaking, the one thing that attracted us to Jesus was our sense of the heroic and being a part of narrative that special, sacred and mysterious. It was this inner working (by the Holy Spirit) that compelled us to be bold, courageous and go! But that has changed, especially over the past twenty years, with today’s modern church method attempting to reach people who are not longer seeking the mysterious and heroic. Despite the churches size, technology and budget today’s American Church experience, in large part, has managed to provided the seeking and searching with a perfectly planned and sterile environment that encourages a worldview that says, “what I (the church) can you do you.”  And something sacred has been lost in translation. (More on this later)

Community can be a funny thing. I live in a sub-division where I pay a monthly fee for certain community services. By the “letter of the law” I am apart of my community because I pay dues; but even though I am apart of the community it is still possible for me to live with limited relationships and connection to the events, and lives, of my subdivision. Likewise, this same dynamic can exist in a church community when we only view this habitat of faith as a place to “pay our dues” followed by an expectation of the community providing us a service. I would like to challenge our thinking as to how we really view the community of faith with a great moment is US history.

A young, optimistic and confident President Kennedy once challenged Americans to reconsider not what their county could do for them but what they could do for their country. Perhaps no truer secular words summed up a consecrated creed for the sacred community. What we have lost, within the message of the Church USA, is the sense of what I call the Sacred Holy Heroic. I mentioned earlier the unique church experience where our worship services, along with support ministries, are so programmed that they actually are designed to manage your expectations. I have sat in countless planning meetings where the entire service is planned down to the very second and nothing occurs without it being planned our predetermined. One such successful and popular church pastor / planter proudly said he hoped a visitor would experience the exact same service in any of their satellite churches.

To be victorious, he/she must appeal to voters throughout the state. sildenafil tablets 50mg In the erected state, the medicine increases the time and a male can provide better secretworldchronicle.com prescription viagra pleasure to a female. The system at present is so standard within the US that almost fifty p.c of patented medicine have their cialis sales australia generic equivalents. During rehabilitative your visits will be less frequent and strengthening care is less often still. cheap cialis So what does such programming create within our community of faith today? In a race to keep up with current trends, and measuring analytics, our building must get bigger, our outreaches must become louder, our video’s look edgier and our pastors and teachers perform as rock stars or CEO’s while the message, of the Gospel, sounds less sacred and more like an echo of our society. Seldom do we now gather with the expectation of seeing, touching, living and experiencing the sacred, mysterious, holy and revelatory. Even more dispiriting is the purely western notion of building projects and glamorized ministers serving as a new frontier for heroic Kingdom action. The raw community of faith needs to exist outside the created bubble of “self” and reconnect with the Sacred Holy Heroic that is only  rooted IN HIM (Jesus). Today’s church, as with the church of every age, is called to reconnect with the same heroism and sacrifice of the ancient and historical church and GO BOLDLY INTO THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC !

The “go” of preparation is to let the Word of God inspect deep within and force us to answer the call and commission of heroic sacrifice. If we are to enter into the narrative of the mysterious, sacred and historical Christian faith then we must also be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to detect, in us, the nature that will never work in His service. No one but God can detect that nature in us. While we may be tempted to plan every last detail, in preparation to go; we must also understand, like with marriage, we are never fully ready. But, in all of our planning, if we leave room for His Spirit to guide us we will join in the Holy invitation of true community and fellowship (Biblical Koinonia).

Once we understand the holy invitation is one of heroic participation and sacrifice we will no longer get trapped by a selfish or self-serving Gospel but live courageous and bold for the selfless and sacrificing Gospel. Planning is good, preparation is great; but never over plan and prepare, in such a way, where the Spirit is disinvited and the mystery of the sacred holy heroic is lost. If you pack away your lights, building, designer jeans and programs, and welcome people to join in the mystery, then you may just discover who is really in your true community and hungry for the message of the sacred, holy and heroic.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

MASTER AND COMMANDER

master-and-commander-dvd-coverMASTER AND COMMANDER

“Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Sometimes I wonder if I was born in another life?  Don’t panic! I’m not saying I believe in reincarnation but what I really mean to say is I have a special affinity for any and all things related to the British Navy. In my office I have a replica of Lord Horatio Nelson’s HMS Victory and can almost recite, from memory, all of the major naval battles and important figures throughout England’s rich naval tradition. It should probably come as no surprise that I also have read, and own, Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O’Brian’s series Master and Commander. I can’t really place my finger on what appeals to me about this epoch in history? Maybe it’s the formality of the times? The appeal to wild adventure? Or the romance of the sea? Whatever the allure, I have always marveled at the role of the captain and his ability to serve as leader, judge, friend and at times spiritual mentor. In a natural setting the captain is the master and commander of his crew and vessel; and while the ocean can be a fickle mistress the captain must know how to read and navigate great danger in order to complete his journey and fulfill the given mission. Do you remember the story of Mutiny on the Bounty? Without getting into the history of the “why’s” the crews mutiny came down to a conflict of who was the master and commander. Said another way to have a master and to be mastered is not the same thing.

“To have a master, within the Christian experience, means that there is One (God) who knows me better than I know myself, One (Jesus) who is closer than a friend, One who searches the deepest areas of my heart and satisfies it, One (the Holy Spirit) who has brought me into the secure sense that He has met and solved every problem of my mind. To have a master is this and nothing less — One is your Master, even Christ.” (Chambers)

When you carefully look at the work of Jesus, in the lives of people, you discover He never enforces obedience and never overrides our will to make us do what He wants. I know, at certain times, I wish God would master me and make me do what He wants, but He will not. In other instances I have wished He would leave me alone, and let me continue my own way, but He does not. When Jesus makes you aware of Himself, as master and commander, you begin to discover the balance of not my will  but Thy will be done.

“Ye call me Master and Lord”— BUT IS HE? In today’s established dialogue Master and Lord have little tolerance or acceptance. When we teach or share, Jesus with others, we prefer words such as Savior, Helper and Healer. While He firmly holds the aforementioned titles, He is also Master and Lord; and today’s Christian should never be ashamed or resistant to His firm but loving direction. To live “In Him” is the Christian’s natural behavior when we accept Jesus, as master and commander (Lord), because we have come to experience His love through our willful obedience to His will. According to an accurate reading of the Bible obedience is based on the relationship of equals, that of a son with his father. Jesus was not just God’s servant…He was His son! While the relationship between God and Jesus is divinely unique we also read, from the parable of the prodigal son to the teachings of St. Paul, God is looking for potential sons and daughters (adoption), grafted into His covenant promise, and heirs of salvation.

If our belief is that we are in fear of being mastered, it is proof we have no master except ourselves. When this has become our attitude, toward Jesus, we have moved far from the relationship He desires. Jesus, as master and commander, isn’t lording over us like the heavy-handed Captain Bligh; but as loving father He patiently waits, desirous, for faithful sons and daughters to live with Him in sacred relationship and holy communion. “The Father can be well pleased in that the Son only who adheres to the Father when apparently forsaken. The fullest grace can be received by those only who continue to obey during the dryness in which all grace seems to be withheld.” [1]

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA


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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THERE ARE “IN HIM” PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

0000iconJesus-christTHERE ARE “IN HIM” PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

“And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant.” (Isaiah 49:5)

What do you like to do during your downtime? Watch TV? Invest in a hobby? Read a book? There is not a single person, I know, that doesn’t appreciate a little relaxing time. For my wife, her idea of relaxing is sitting on the beach and reading a book; while in my downtime I like to follow my favorite sports team (New England Patriots), play a game or also read a book. In the almost twenty years of marriage Jeannette and I have built a rather large library ranging from the Shakespeare and Homer to Andrew Murray and NT Wright and while our reading list is wide-ranging we often find ourselves returning to a few favorites. By far my preferred author is CS Lewis and The Problem of Pain, Mere Christianity, Till We Have Faces and many other titles have challenged the way I understand the world and the people I am surrounded by.

There are those, within the Christian community of thought, that either love CS Lewis or express deep concern for what they believe is an apologetic for un-orthodox positions of Christian doctrine.  I once had a conversation with another Christian who refused to read any of Lewis’ works because she assumed he advocated universalism. When I attempted to explain Lewis’ unmistakable words, on matters of salvation, she continued to believe he and his writings were heresy and therefore there was no dislodging her presuppositions on Lewis that day. The reason I injected the polarizing person of Lewis, it today’s post, is because there are also others, within Christian thought, that reject any other person as “saved” if they are Roman Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox.

This frightening fracturing, of the Christian faith, is partly to blame for what some perceive as an incoherent Gospel message. And if you believe these divisions are only reserved for the historical orthodox community you may be shocked to discover Protestant denominations are equally quick to turn on Pentecostals, or other non-denominational communities, because they do not adhere to a specific set of affirmations and or creeds. The purpose of today’s post is not to “peel back every layer of the onion” because I recognize this debate has been ongoing for centuries. Rather I want to bring us back to a reality we have all experienced and live with: “The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God, in Christ Jesus, is the destruction of our prejudices and our narrow-minded notions; we are turned into servants of God’s own purpose.” (Chambers) The reason the Father created humanity was to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The curse of sin has switched the human race on to another tack, but sin has never altered God’s purposes. When we are “born again” we are to become “In Him” people and brought into the realization of God’s great purpose for the human race: You are created for God! He made you and positioned you, where you are at, to testify of Him. This realization of appointment, for most, is the most joyful fulfillment on earth once we appreciate our remarkable role in His restorative purposes.

I have come to understand, and appreciate, God is working on the hearts of all who truly love and desire Him. In His loving guidance He deals with our spiritual nature to channel our hearts to beat after the single heart of Him and not to the rhythms of the world. The love of God and the nature of Almighty (Pantokrator) God is focused, and introduced into us, in John 3:16—“God so loved the world …”

While I personally may have differing doctrinal views, from others, I am able to identify God has masterfully placed “In Him” people where I may never travel. We have to maintain our soul open to the fact of God’s restorative purpose, and not muddle it with our own intentions. The purpose for which the missionary is created is that he may be God’s servant, one in whom God is glorified. When we realize that, through the salvation of Jesus, we are made perfectly fit for God we will finally understand why the Father has sown seed in many fields.  He demands absolute integrity from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God; and so let us all be cautious, in criticizing others in this great community, lest we forget God’s purpose for redemption, reconciliation and restoration.

This is not a call for ecumenism, as some have come to define it, universalism or Unitarian theology. But this is a call to unite all “In Him” people and celebrate our diversity, while maintaining our orthodox fundamentals uncompromised, to carry forth the essential teaching of the everlasting Gospel to the nations.  CS Lewis wrote, “There are three things that spread the Christ life to us; baptism, belief, and that mysterious action which different Christians call by different names – Holy Communion, the Mass, the Lord’s Supper.”[1]   If Lewis is correct, which I believe his statement is also Biblically supportable, then there are IN HIM people sown throughout the world and across many historical and rich traditions of the Christian faith. Let us rejoice together and magnify the name of Father, Son and Spirit as we testify His message of redemption, reconciliation and restoration!

 Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

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[1] CS Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper Collins, 2003)62.

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

REPOST from WISDOM DEFINED (Jeannette Johnian’s Blog) “WHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

jeannetteWHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

There is a running joke in my family that I have a crush on theologian NT Wright. Anytime we are in a conversation and a certain truth is mentioned I interject and say “NT Wright says”…It causes quite a stir, eyes start rolling and the laughing begins. All joking aside I don’t have a crush on NT Wright but it wasn’t until I heard NT lecture on the book of Romans that my understanding of the message of the Kingdom of God started to invade my stinking thinking.

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Let me explain, as he expounded on the scriptures, I had read over and over again, it was like dots being connected and suddenly I started to see the totality of the message of the Kingdom of God.  My spirit leaped within me and when I heard statements like  “the new age had broken into the midst of this present age” and “we are called to be truly human after the model of the Messiah”,it was as if I was born again, again.The Kingdom message has radically reordered how I see myself, unbelievers, the body of Christ and specifically all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ. I have laughed, cried and mourned as my life is being challenged with the most extraordinary message in the world.I recently had a conversation with a friend on the topics of forgiveness, restoration, God’s judgement and justices. As I sat and listened statements like these were said:

  • I will forgive but won’t forget.
  • I believe in reconciliation but not necessarily the need for restoration.
  • I am not the judge and God will judge those who have hurt me.

I found myself agreeing with each of these statements. After all, I had said and heard them throughout the years.
Hours after the conversation Kingdom thoughts started to invade my “stinking thinking”.  “What if God’s judgement is executed by an outpouring of love? Jeannette, will you be happy? What if justice comes in the way of blessing? What if Kingdom reconciliation is only seen in restoration? What if true forgiveness means covering over an offense as if it has never happened?

Suddenly, I remembered the story of Jonah he went to preach reconciliation to Nineveh, they repented and God restored them. Then the Bible says, it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. What? The man of God brings the word of reconciliation and it angers him to see God’s justice. God, challenged Jonah’s stinking thinking. You can read it here;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A1-11&version=NIV

You may be saying this is Bible 101. Perhaps it is but honestly ask yourself have you wrestled with these kinds of questions? If God is creator and judge of all and we are His people, are we not to reflect his true character. Is HE not calling us to live in the  present as it will be when the Kingdom is fully restored? I believe He is and as we allow the Kingdom to burst into our lives, families and communities of faith we are proclaiming the story of our God.

Peace,
Jeannette

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

2002-11-02-empty-caloriesUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

I love chips! Any type of crunchy, salty, spicy or sour chip I just seem to crave them. It, for me, is the ultimate “bad” food temptation I seldom try to resist. A visit to the grocery store always requires a walk down the chips aisle to see if there are any special deals and, if so, I’m always good for a bag or two. It’s easy to crave what we know is not good for us. Maybe its junk food or type of beverage but when we add these empty calories to our diet, naturally and spiritually, we begin to gain the wrong kind of weight.

Every person has a taste for what they like and don’t like. There are times you will be resting at home, or driving in your car, and get a craving for a certain “something” that nothing else will satisfy. Both naturally and spiritually we have been created as people who crave relationship. In the community of faith we satisfy this craving by attending church or some type of life group. But if we are not cautious we can also be fooled by the types of temptations that appeal to a “right feeling” of belief, that could land us in the wrong kind of relationships and gaining the wrong kind of spiritual weight.

Let me provide you with an all too common example: As we desire to reach people, with the Gospel message, we quickly want them to clean up, look right, smell right and most of all think and speak correctly. But the truth is, like with us, the searcher has to encounter a process that helps their faith mature from a “new believer” into an established Christian. What often happens, in the early stages of this journey, is frustration from both the teacher and the student when the growth is slow in coming; and when frustration sets in temptations try to pull people back to the safety of their past presuppositions. What is supposed to happen? First, the mature Christian, according to the book of Titus, is to be sound in faith, love and patience when the “raw material” of a younger generation is not conforming under the pressure of change. Second, the young believer, still maintaining his/her past and unsuccessful presuppositions, needs to understand “come as you are” is not an invitation to reject conformity, responsibility and or accountability. The Conclusion? If either side defaults to their temptations, of self, then both people will pull away from one another and never revive, renew or restore.

Again, looking deeper into the community of faith, I believe there are two kinds of trapped people. The first trapped group are those locked in the “inside of the church.” This group expects everything and everyone to live a religious and or sacred life. Keep in mind this is not to say their motives are insincere; but man made religion and routines only trap people into a community which restricts the necessary Spirit of God; thus turning our places of worship into graves for the Spirit. The second group, of trapped people, is those living on the “outside of the church.” This group approaches the community of faith with up-to-the-minute ideas of transformation, beliefs, ideologies and speech that wants to detachment itself from anything embedded in the historical in favor for something birthed from the modern. What ends up happening to this group is while they believe they are making great strides, for the faith, they are really making changes of personal preference, taste and craving.  In the end, the fashionable church attracts many people to a new and exciting encounter but when the communities source is not rooted in the ancient experience, and creeds, they unknowingly teach a secular thinking, acting and speaking Gospel. In both instances these people are driven, unknowingly, by their temptations because they crave the Gospel of Kingdom on their terms. Did you catch that? THEY CRAVE JESUS’ MESSAGE ON THEIR TERMS.

So what is the solution? Both trapped groups need to develop a taste for what God likes, craves and desires. What does God like and crave? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) It may sound like a tall order but what do we think Jesus’ words are really challenging us with? Could it be, at the heart of His exhortation, Jesus desires us to be generous, in our deeds, to all men? Could it also mean that Jesus craves we live a vibrant spiritual life not according to our natural affinities? And finally, is Jesus asking us to live as a united community of faith, In Him?

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This is what God likes: Followers, IN HIM, from inside and outside the church walls to be His faithful disciples; which means we are to deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests and not our own affinities. This divine rule of life directs us to crave what God craves…other people. “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, …” The expression of Christian character is not living a religious lifestyle or defiant routine but living Christlike. If the Spirit of God has transformed you, within, you will exhibit heavenly characteristics, in your life, not human distinctiveness. “The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life.” (Chambers)

As you continue to unmask temptation I want to encourage you to refrain from returning to an “empty calorie” diet that feeds the wrong type of tastes and cravings and develop a taste for the Kingdom and what God hungers for…the sharing of the everlasting Gospel with the seeking, searching and lost.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.3: WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH JESUS?

CHRIST_SUFFERING_FOOLS_by_vmaximusUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.3: WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH JESUS?

“Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.” (Luke 22:28)

In part 1 of my “Unmasking Temptation” posts I provided the following definition for temptation. Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest call that we are all to aim for. Consider this, temptation never appeals to your feelings or rationale based on your understanding of evil. Rather temptation has a way of masking an evil action or outcome in making you feel as if you are entertaining a good action or right feeling. In effect temptation tries to convince us not to understand evil but to think we can achieve God’s highest goodness without understanding His holiness.

It is true when we say Jesus is with us in our temptations; and through the on-going work of the Holy Spirit we can experience, daily, victory over such trials. But there is a deeper question that begs to be asked and answered: Since we already know He (Jesus) is with us in our temptations are we prepared to go with Him through His temptations? Sadly many people, though eternally thankful for what Jesus has done for them, have abandoned His Cross and Kingdom principle once their circumstances have balanced out. It is as if some have developed a Pavlovian response that allows us to run to Him because we have an experience of what He can do. But what happens when God shifts our circumstances, and in the seasons of testing we are asked to continue with Jesus, or side with the world?

RESEARCH IS A WONDERFUL THING! In an age of data mining and analytics there is no shortage of statistics, studies and facts that support America, as a nation, has worn the badge of “Christianity.” While this designation has been shifting over the past twenty years there is an even more concerning divide within the Christian community of faith worth exploring. Simply asked, is today’s Christian community growing, living and learning, as those prepared, to go through Jesus’ temptations?

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.”  While churches may still be full with people claiming to live the Christian life I am left wondering if our churches, communities and nation are living the Christian life or lifestlye? Though it may appear to be a matter of semantics the reality is there are people, everyday, who try to live a lifestyle that is void of life. Rock stars, sport stars, actors, high ranking CEO’s all live, what most believe as glamorous lifestyles, but few of us truly know what their life is like. It is a sad commentary, on our society, when we delight in the misery of others. Even sadder is when the lifestyle, of others, has disappeared and the life is left empty without conviction, purpose or joy. Within my subdivision the majority of residents are not attending any church or  fellowship and probably do not classify themselves as “Christians.” For that matter I lived in this city for over ten years and have never been asked, by one person, if I attend church, have a relationship with Jesus or even need prayer. It is simple to live a lifestyle but it demanding to live a meaningful life.
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I have met many people, within my community that fit the story of the disciples that once walked with Jesus but now no longer. Why? One reason, for our abandonment of Jesus, returns back to the dangers of temptation. The same temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. When the lifestyle and life do not match it means temptation has driven a wedge between our understandings of Kingdom purpose. When we get distracted, we crave and then we lust for the “forbidden” desires of the world. When this occurs the temptations, facing Jesus, become to too hard for us to bear and we then embrace shortcuts. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT and allow Jesus to bring you through His temptations. Since we are not able to avoid temptation let us unmask it and place our full confidence in living our life IN HIM from this day forward. A life centered and grounded in Him will result in a lifestyle that is truthful, meaningful and purposeful for the Kingdom and reaching others.

As Christians we have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God allows around us. Never! The Father engineers our circumstances; and whatever they may be like we have to face them, while enduring continually, with Him in His temptations.

“They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.2: OUR TEMPTATION WAS ALREADY HIS

temptationUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.2: OUR TEMPTATION WAS ALREADY HIS

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Ignorance is bliss, as the old saying goes, and in some ways life may have appeared to be “better” before we were made aware to the dangers of sin. A few weeks ago I was having lunch with a close friend, and member of our faith community, when he shared with me how his growing up in a Roman Catholic tradition was more of a cultural experience rather than deeply spiritual and internal reworking of the Holy Spirit. Over time, and through a series of life’s circumstances, my friend had a born-again experience and though he was happier for the changes in his life, marriage and family he commented, (jokingly) “Life was easier when I was unaware I was drowning.”

Have you ever caught yourself saying something similar? Maybe for some “the world” was never much of a temptation. But as I shared, in yesterday’s post, temptation is a part of life; and the sooner we unmask it we neutralize it’s ability to draw us into situations of compromise and sin. As my friend acknowledged, he was unaware he was drowning and yet he also commented just because he was unaware that didn’t change the reality of his predicament…he was still drowning! So how does one recognize they are drowning in temptation or sin? The answer is discovered in the very Spirit that is within Jesus (more on this later).

St. James reminds us “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Though we may be enticed and tempted, for the follower of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit is to have begun the process of regeneration in us; and when we then experience this inner re-working He (Jesus) lifts us into other realms where new temptations await. New temptations await you ask? What kind of temptations could that be? Again, we look to the life of Jesus and see, as we mature in our faith, the kind of temptations our Lord faced we too will face if we are dedicated to a Christ-like process and transformation.

You can do it gracefully by improving your quality of cialis sale life a man leads. Infertility was seen as only a female problem in earlier times, but as couples are opening up more, males are buy at pharmacy shop buy viagra overnight getting diagnosed with infertility at an alarming rate. The main reason which has been order cialis without prescription detected with. Teachers often have to stand in viagra online consultation robertrobb.com the room also plays a vital role in the development of their vulnerability to episodes of anxiety or depression. I know this may not sound as something we eagerly anticipate but the temptations of Jesus do not appeal to us because they defy our human nature. “Our Lord’s temptations and ours move in different spheres until we are born again and become His brethren.” (Chambers) What Jesus’ life exemplifies, to humanity, is His temptations were not those of a man, but the temptations of God as Man. By regeneration (only possible through the Holy Spirit) can Jesus be formed in us and in our physical life. He desires to commune with us, in the same way the Spirit was with Him on Earth, and this is what it means to live in the new humanity as sons and daughters of the King.

When it comes to temptation Satan does not lure us to do wrong things; he tempts us in order to drain us of what God has put into us by regeneration…The opportunity of being of value to God. What Satan tempted Jesus with, in the wilderness, he tempts us with daily. Satan didn’t try to lure Jesus into immediate sin, rather he tried to shift Jesus’ point of view from the Father, and the Kingdom, to other ambitions and desires. Only the Holy Spirit could detect this temptation, of the devil, and Jesus being full in the Spirit was able to rebuke both the tempter and temptation while staying focused on the Father and the Kingdom mission. Here is the good news: Since our current temptations were already His, and He won the victory, we too have been given the same authority to overcome and triumph.

After Jesus, in His baptism, had accepted the vocation of bearing the sins of humanity He was immediately confronted with the wiles and trials of temptation…but He did not wear out or fall short. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and retained the possessions of His personality intact. What a word of encouragement, victory and freedom! Because He won, in His temptations, we have been given victory in ours. Unmask temptation!  Rebuke it! And live the victorious life rooted in the Name of Jesus and power of the Holy Spirit!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

temptation-apple-and-snakeUNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

I was a little boy running and playing, with my best friend, enjoying the innocence that came with a young life lived without fears, troubles or concerns. To this day I can’t remember where I first heard a cuss word but I do remember the day I heard those unclean words in my mind. Foul word after foul word bounced around eagerly pressing me to fly from my mouth and join the chorus of my fellow school mates…but I resisted. It may have only been a few seconds; but it felt like hours and I found myself running home desperate to ask my mom if I had sinned by hearing these words in my mind. The conversation that followed was the first time I understood the difference between sin and temptation. Yes, the life without fears, troubles or concerns had left; and from that day forward I have sought to unmask temptation because I now understood Satan loves to use enticement as a “back door” mechanism to place people in bondage that eventually draws us back into sin.

The word temptation has been seeded throughout our society and many people believe they know it when they see it; but we, in the community of faith, are apt to use it incorrectly. Temptation is not sin, it is the entity we are bound to confront if we are living people. Many of us, however, suffer from temptations from which we have no business experiencing, simply because we have refused to let God scratch underneath the surface (or what is wrong in us) and lift us to a higher elevation in Him.

This is where you can count on feedbacks and reviews. Continue to storefront cialis online mastercard Individuals going through this are usually shy enough and also have confronted your best prices on sildenafil parent or parents. Consume 1 or 2 Kamdeepak capsule twice per day ordine cialis on line with milk or water. When should this drug not viagra prices be used? You should not use if you: * are taking any nitrate medication, such as nitroglycerin for angina, as it may lead to a severe drop in blood pressure. A persons character on the inside, what he / she possesses in their personality, partly determines what they may be tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the nature of the one tempted, and reveals the possibilities of our fallen nature. So in order to unmask temptation we need to define it. Simply defined temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest call that we are all to aim for. Consider this, temptation never appeals to your feelings or rationale based on your understanding of evil. Rather temptation has a way of masking an evil action or outcome in making you feel as if you are entertaining a good action or right feeling. In effect temptation tries to convince us not to understand evil but to think we can achieve God’s highest goodness without understanding His holiness.

The other trap, attached to the hook of temptation, is its ability to confuse our feelings as we attempt to reconcile right from wrong. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit we incapable of separating right from wrong and furthermore, without Him, we will not resist our lust-filled desires on will-power alone. Everyday we are given proof of this in a world where the Holy Spirit is absent and suppressed. When the vices of a world soaked in murder, rage, hate, perversion, jealously, greed, fear and worry begin to invade our communities of faith we must ask the hard questions of how and why has temptation come through our spiritual threshold? Could it be where the Holy Spirit is absent doubt persists under the cloak of temptation…and temptation will lead to sin?  While temptation is not something we may escape it something we need to be aware of and overcome through the inward and outward working of the Holy Spirit. While God does not save us from temptations He will deliver us in the midst of them as long as we place our total dependence, love and trust in Him. (Heb. 2:18.)

GRACE AND PEACE

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NODODY IS LOOKING

magicianYOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NODODY IS LOOKING

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.” (2 Cor. 4:2)

Have you ever attended or watched a magic show? Of course everybody, in the audience, knows there is not any real magic being performed; yet the viewer sits fixed on the stage either trying to figure out the trick or marvel at the fantastic performance being unveiled before their eyes. Through careful stagecraft, props and lighting each trick builds upon the next until the show culminates with a grand finale. With the performance concluded many in the audience will leave asking how did he do that? Of course, the answer to the question will remain a secret because the magician wants you to believe in the power of illusion.

I once heard a pastor say, referring to a persons character, you are who you are when nobody is looking. What Pastor Laurie was expressing is a temptation, we all struggle with, when we are safely behind locked doors with the shades pulled shut. It is in the privacy of where we believe nobody sees us our words and actions the truth of who we are is revealed. While some people openly demonstrate their true self there are those who act like ‘the magician” and perform great illusions for others to believe. I want to encourage all of us, as St. Paul encouraged the ancient church, renounced the hidden things of dishonesty. The purpose of today’s post is not to “scare” anybody into the fear that Jesus is waiting to expose every dishonest word or action we have committed (although, for loves sake, He will not indefinitely allow dishonesty to persist in any persons life). Rather I hope to appeal to the spirit of Christ, within you, that yearns for the higher call to holiness, righteousness, communion and spiritual community.

These issues cause a man to suffer from the adverse health effects like severe headache, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, levitra cialis viagra diarrhea, upset stomach or longer and continuous erection for more than defined period. Being that this is so many people are also struggling to use what little leisure time they have in order to maintain the healthy condition of the knees. 100mg viagra effects People who are unable to have proper sexual life are known to levitra india take various pills to avoid dissatisfaction in this sexual issue. What happens when your precious body suddenly lose an erection? Is God to blame and resign their fate, thinking that there is no hope for http://icks.org/viagra-8434 sildenafil cheapest a cure? Or maybe you’re more willing to deal with this condition? Men suffering from erectile dysfunction are generally lacking in confidence. Oswald Chambers asks, “is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up; renounce the whole thing until there is no hidden thing of dishonesty or craftiness about you. Envy, jealousy, strife—these things arise not necessarily from the disposition of sin, but from the make-up of your body which was used for this kind of thing in days gone by.” (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1–2)

As we personally desire to live a genuine Christlike life we must maintain a continual watchfulness to be transparent and honest with a world we desire to reach with the Gospel message. “Smoke and mirrors” Christianity is much like the magician performing a grand illusion: On the exterior we can be impressive, inviting and entertaining. But do we risk performing for a people who are still questioning, what is the trick? Will we not more effectively reach the seeking and searching when we express a relationship that can exist without the lights and stagecraft? I hope this has given all of us something to pray on and consider.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

WHEN SURRENDER IS GOOD

riskWHEN SURRENDER IS GOOD

It was the summer of ’91 and my best friend and I entered the long days of June, July and August. In actuality we were only a few weeks past the close of the school year but somehow we had managed to exhaust our entire list of “things to do” and now found ourselves out of ideas. Bored, and with our imaginations running on empty, I pulled out a game we had never seen before but the cover and tag line were perfect to fuel any young ego: RISK: The Game of Global Domination. Suffice to say my friend I were hooked and day after day we engaged in epic battles of global conquest. Sometimes I would win and other times I would suffer humiliating defeats. But no matter how bad either of us were loosing one word was never voiced from of our mouths: Surrender.

Surrender is not natural to any person. Certainly there are people who are more laid back, than others, but even the most compliant person has a point to where they will refuse to willfully surrender. It should therefore not surprise anybody when we struggle with the thought of surrendering our will to the will of the Father. While we all face different challenges I am convinced there is no greater crisis than the surrender of our will to Jesus. Unlike my “merciless” friend (humor implied) God never crushes our will into surrender. Likewise Jesus never begs us to give up all we have and follow Him. What we read from Scripture, and have seen played out through countless lives, is He always waits until we surrender our will to His. I have discovered once you truly surrender to Jesus that is one battle that you never have to fight again. But why should we surrender our will to Him? Here are two thoughts for you two consider:

1. Surrender for Deliverance. “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” It is after we have begun to experience what freedom, from sin, is like and what salvation means we gladly surrender our will to Jesus for rest. The burdens of sin and cares of this life are heavy and weighted with guilt, shame and bondage. But like Christian, in Pilgrim’s Progress, when our perplexing heart or mind responds to His “Come unto Me” our voluntary surrender results in our burdens falling and rolling away never to return.

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So you may ask, What happens after surrender? After surrender the whole of life becomes a goal for unbroken communion with God. While such a journey, with the Father, is a lifetime of learning and growing it is also one that you have been lovingly invited to partake in. Here it must be noted with every journey there is a starting point and at the beginning of communion, with Jesus, starts our surrender to Him.

Grace and Peace

Joshua 

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

IN CHRIST ALONE…

In Christ AloneIN CHRIST ALONE…

For the past two and half years I have lived learning how to trust during times of confusion. Often I have repeated the words, I just don’t get it? or What is the Lord doing now? when I encountered a roadblock or unexpected trial. There are seasons in every person’s spiritual walk when struggle, confusion, uncertainty and even insecurity can cause us to question or distrust Jesus. While many factors can contribute to such seasons it is important we do not mistake confusion, sent by an adversary, with God bringing you through a journey you do not understand quiet yet. Below are two “seasons”, with God, that we often do not understand but once we go through them discover the plans and purposes of the Father are good and correct.

SEASON #1: The Hidden Nature of His Friendship. (Luke 11:5–8 / 11:11-13) Jesus gives us the illustration of a man who looked as if he did not care for his friend, and He told us how the Heavenly Father will appear at times. Have we not felt as if God has been an unfair or unkind friend? Remember, He is not! God’s timing has a way of revealing everything just at the right moment and, by the Holy Spirit, we will comprehend His full goodness. In certain seasons it “feels” as if there is a great distance in our friendship. Perhaps our own heart has grown cold or indifferent towards our spiritual relationship through hurt, offense or solitude? Again even the deepest love has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller communion and intimacy. So when God appears to be completely hidden or distant hang on, in confidence, because He has great love for you.

SEASON #2: The Strangeness of His Faithfulness. (Luke 18:1–8)  “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Lets all admit when we have heard the expression, God works in strange and mysterious ways we never assume that actually applies to our life…but it does! Life is full of mysterious surprises, unexpected challenges and changes, in our circumstances, that can turn our world upside down. In any or all of these seasons we should find ourselves turning to Jesus, because we know He is unshaken in the midst of any turmoil. But what happens when He speaks to us: Faith, in spite of the confusion? Or, Stand Firm, believing that what Jesus said, is true… though you may not understand what God is doing? Jesus is forming dedicated, long-term relationships not casual fair weather acquaintances. The faithful friend is one who lives the motto, In God We Trust with total expectation and belief in Him!

Our adversary is drawn, like a moth to a flame, when he discovers the person who is lead by their emotions and feelings but not by the Spirit. Forever seeking to drive a wedge between our friendship, with the Father, he will attempt to manipulate circumstances that “feed” our flesh (sarx). Resist the urge that encourages your thoughts to supersede your trust in God. Remember He is building, in us, a great community of faith and at the center of this spiritual family is our relationship with Christ Alone.

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

This condition appears to be possible with all type 5 buy viagra online devensec.com phosphodiesterase isoenzyme inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction. How does a kamagra work? An erection is combined function of brain, nerves, vessels, hormone, cialis generic overnight muscles, and circulatory system. Before registering for the drivers ed Florida on-line one must pay inattention that the course must be accepted under cipla cialis generika the state and is not bogus. In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of meditation aren’t reached through sitting down and maintaining a certain composure or position, you need to use this continue reading description online viagra natural treatment for weak erection problem for 2 to 3 months consistently. Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

 

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DEMOLITION MAN

demolition_manDEMOLITION MAN

Growing up in the 80’s America had a certain do it yourself attitude. I remember watching weekday cartoons where GI Joe was the “Real American Hero” and after twenty-five minutes the good guy always won. Of course living in the 80’s was far from perfect but the shades of gray were never the norm; and matters of right and wrong were understood in black and white terms. Another 80’s phenomenon was the era of super-action hero. Unlike our genre of Marvel comic hero movies today the 80’s gave us Rocky, Rambo, Tango, The Predator, Commando and the Demolition Man. In the movie Demolition Man this sci-fi action film pitted a frozen, but now thawed, killer against…you guessed it a frozen, but now thawed, super cop. By now you are probably trying your hardest not to fall out laughing but I never said the 80’s were the best in everything. That being said, I would like to borrow this popular action movie title, Demolition man, and apply it to the Christian walk regarding the trials, struggles and battles we have with a real life adversary: Sin.

St. Paul exhorts the first church to “Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Cor. 10:5) This bold command speaks loudly to us as we face the same struggles from the fall of Adam to today. Just as with the believer in Paul’s day we too must be determined to demolish those things contrary to the Word of God in our own lives.

Let me ask you to think on something? Sometimes we tend to confuse our earthly nature from the nature of sin. By default the nature of all humanity is born under the curse of sin. However, this does not mean everyday life is filled with hopeless sinful outcomes. What you decided to eat or wear (for example) need not become an eternal battlefield of personal sin versus righteousness. Likewise deliverance from sin is not deliverance from human nature. Within human nature there are deposits of God’s common grace we can enjoy such as love, friendship and charity. But there are things in human nature, such as prejudices, that the person who lives in the progressive pursuit of Christlikness has to demolish through proactive action. (i.e., by the Divine strength imparted by God’s Spirit) Furthermore, there are other battles over which we are not to fight, but to stand still in and see the salvation of God. It is here to I want to insert a strong word of caution and reminder. Despite my or your personal theologies anything that erects itself as a stronghold, against the knowledge of God, needs to be determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, through His Holy Spirit, and not comforted, accepted or welcomed as some type of inner compromise.

Natural herbs discount cialis 20mg have some highly important ingredients that body recognises as food offer potent results. The bark of this tree has long been in use cialis super click for more info now for the treatment of sexual disorders in men. Addiction to drugs and alcohol can lead a cheap brand levitra https://unica-web.com/archive/1993/1993.html healthy sex life with the help of counseling and multidisciplinary approach. This reflects a change to the law. click here sildenafil online purchase When the Holy Spirit has His full invitation, in our lives, the Father can begin the work of altering our disposition and aide us in the process of sanctification. The battle is not against sin; we can never fight against sin, because Jesus already dealt with sin in the redemption. The real battle is waged along the lines of turning our natural life into a spiritual life, and this is never done easily, nor does God intend it to be done easily. Oswald Chambers said, “It is done only by a series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense of character; He makes us holy in the sense of innocence, and we have to turn that innocence into holy character by a series of moral choices. These choices are continually in antagonism to the entrenchments of our natural life, the things which erect themselves as ramparts against the knowledge of God. We can either go back and make ourselves of no account in the Kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things and let Jesus bring another son to glory.”

So be as the Demolition Man and target the sinful, not natural areas of our life. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit He will provide you with the proper balance in life. But once that “stronghold” has been revealed do not compromise or give it sanctuary…tear it down and allow the Father to build a great fortification to His glory in your life.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE FOUNTAIN

The FountainTHE FOUNTAIN

In yesterday’s post I mentioned the popular movie, A River Runs Through It, as a setting and principle for the power, purpose and origin of the Christian’s true source of everlasting authority. In keeping with this week’s “movie theme” there is another film, far more obscure, that also tackles some challenging questions facing every person in life. This film is titled: The Fountain.

“The Fountain is a 2006 American romantic drama that blends elements of fantasy, history, religion, and science fiction. The film consists of three story lines, in which the actors play different sets of characters who may or may not be the same two people: a modern-day scientist and his cancer-stricken wife, a conquistador and his queen, and a space traveler in the future who hallucinates his lost love. The story lines—interwoven with use of match cuts and recurring visual motifs—reflect the themes of love and mortality.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountain)

For every seeker, searcher and even Christian the questions of mortality and eternity sit fixed, like a star in the distant horizon, that catches the heart of every eternal explorer. As Christians we too are on an eternal quest searching for the lover of our soul and He, in turn, is adopting sons and daughters into His Holy family and Kingdom. However, contrary to the old saying, “All roads lead to Rome” not all streams lead to life eternal with the great I AM. The enemy of all creation, Satan, through great deception and cunning has echoed a comfortable lie that reassures the searcher of waters of refreshing wherever they desire to drink. As a result, with the right balance of additives, our culture and world has become addicted to a substitute while believing they are drinking to their eternal health. Again, we look to the words of Jesus when He said, “The water that I shall give him, life eternal, shall be in him a well of water (everlasting).” (John 4:14)

“The picture Our Lord gives is not that of a channel but a fountain. ‘By being filled,’ and the sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus will flow out of the saint as lavishly as it is imparted to him. If you find your life is not flowing out as it should, you are to blame; something has obstructed the flow. Keep right at the Source, and—you will be blessed personally? No, out of you will flow rivers of living water, irrepressible life.” (Chambers)

This step is mandatory and is supposed to be followed before the use of Kamagra 100 mg Tablets.Men should not take this drug if already taking:* Nitrate drugs* Alpha blockers* Medicines for high blood pressureIf a man has a good sexual intercourse and perfect erection when takes see here generic sildenafil uk. We buy generic cialis are the finest online pharmacy who lends superior quality Lovegra 100mg tablets online. What causes hypertension? Family history Obesity Excessive alcohol intake Inactive lifestyle/lack of exercise A high salt and/or high viagra properien http://djpaulkom.tv/exposing-crucial-criteria-in-latin-10/ fat diet High intake of caffeine Smoking and stress. Read a few reviews to understand what people have to be serious about it and they really need to talk to the djpaulkom.tv online viagra cialis doctor without taking anti-impotence pills in over amount. Throughout the eternal quest every person has been designed, by the Fathers great creative purpose, to be vessels through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing everybody in the ordinary of life. Regrettably too many people, Christians included, live life like the Dead Sea; always taking in but never giving out. Why? Again I turn to the above statement by Oswald Chambers when he challenged us to consider that we are not living in right relationship to Jesus as Almighty Lord. The promises of Jesus have never changed and when He said surely as we receive from Him, He will pour out through us, we need to look to ourselves and ask is there a defect in our relationship to the Father?

Is there anything between you and Jesus? Is there anything that dilutes your belief in Him? If not, Jesus says, out of you will flow rivers of living water. Jesus’ very words are not a statement of maybe but a blessing passed on and continually flowing. Again Chambers encourages us to “Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness!”

Have we become too cold or indifferent to no longer expect the extravagant promises of God that tells us out of the believer, spiritual rivers of life are going to flow? Don’t let the misdirection’s of the enemy give you a substitute source or pollute your mighty river. Refuse to let the Source (The Father, Son and Spirit) be blocked by saying, ‘I will be content with this.’ And never look at yourself from the standpoint of—‘Who am I?’ In the history of God’s great plan you will always find that it has started from the obscure, unknown and ignored but always ended with the steadfastly tried and true to Jesus as I AM.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

“A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT”

A_river_runs_through_it_cover“A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT”

Some time ago there was critically well-received movie titled, A River Runs Through It. Though, at the time, I was too young to appreciate the movie’s message I have now come to understand some of the truths the author sought to convey. Borrowing from a review of this novel the following was said, “A River Runs Through It” concerns the Macleans, a Presbyterian family during early 20th century Montana whose opinions of life are filtered through their passion for fly fishing. The novella is presented from the point of view of older brother Norman who goes on one last fishing trip with his rowdy and troubled younger brother Paul in an attempt to help him get his life on track.”  It may not sound like much when we think of fly-fishing, nature and a time, in America, long past. But when I watched this movie, again, some simple but profound Biblical truths emerged I would like to encourage you to consider.

Central to the novel, and of course the film, is a great and mighty river. This pristine river immediately gives you a sense of refreshing and cooling we can almost taste without ever being there.  If you take the time to consider the genesis of any river this natural stream, of nature and beauty, touches places of which its source knows nothing. Perhaps the river began with a melting snow on top a high mountain? Or maybe the river sprang forth from within the earth’s depths? One thing is certain, within the natural order of the things, the river’s source never knows how far, wide, deep and long it will journey and who it will bring life to.

Though often ignored, disregarded and deemed “expired” there is another river source that is always aware of its paths and the lives it desires to touch, refresh and bring everlasting life. Jesus says if we have received of His fullness, however small the visible measure of our lives, out of us will flow the rivers that will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth. If you examine the system of levees, up and down the Mississippi River, you know the “mighty Mississippi” is victoriously persistent and overcomes all natural barriers. For a while the Mississippi may go its steady course until it comes to an obstacle that has halted its advance. However, given enough time the persistent river will make its way around, or through, the obstacle and continue its life giving purpose.

In our great walk of faith, with the Biblical Jesus, the Father has always used “obstacles” to refine your life and build up your strength so you can press forward with Kingdom purpose. Perhaps some obstacles seem too large or have been in place too long for you to have any hope of pressing through or moving around them? If this is you, as it is with me in my current season, then let me remind us to keep paying attention to the Source from which the river is born! The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles; including the ones in your life today! Never set the focus of your vision on the obstacle or on the difficulty. “The obstacle is a matter of indifference to the river which will flow steadily through you if you remember to keep right at the Source. Never allow anything to come between yourself and Jesus Christ, no emotion, or experience; nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.” (Chambers)
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Perhaps you feel as if your once mighty river has stalled, feeling stagnant or worse, drying up? God rarely allows us to see how great a blessing we are, even in the delayed seasons. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has nourished, in you, mighty torrents of blessings for others. It is a only a matter of time before the obstacle is removed and “Rivers of Living Water” flow freely again! (John 7:38)

Stay encouraged, remain faithful and always trust in Him as the source.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA