Tag Archives: Repentance

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

A LITTLE INSIDE BALL: A SECULAR GOSPEL OR A TRUTHFUL GOSPEL?

imagesA LITTLE INSIDE BALL: A SECULAR GOSPEL OR A TRUTHFUL GOSPEL?

In honor of the upcoming World Series I want to borrow an expression often used to explain what happens behind the scenes during a game. The expression, a little inside ball means you are going to reveal some secrets that are known only to “insiders.” So here is an already well known perception: within the church USA there is a growing concern in the gap between the community of faith (Christians) and those they desire to reach (the un-churched, seeking or searching). Now this may not be much of a secret, to you, but the real inside ball is the growing disconnect the church has within itself in sharing the Gospel message with the world they seek to reach. (More on this later)

For over thirty years, especially beginning with the “Jesus Movement” of the 70’s, churches experienced exponential growth and influence within a culture experiencing social and spiritual disillusionment. During this precious outpouring many men and women learned how to engage their culture and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, a harvest was reaped during those seasons of uncertainty and spiritual decline. The years that followed saw the rapid expansion of churches, ministries and the birth of the mega-church across the United States. By the 1980’s the American church was engaged in world missions (especially within Communist nations) as well as providing a strong counter balance against the popular culture that resisted the revived church ethos. Though there have always been liberal approaches to theology and ministry, during this time,  there was little debate on what kind of Gospel message was shared with the world.

By the 1990’s another social shift occurred as skepticism and cynicism increased with reports of moral compromises and financial scandals that rocked the church. By the late 90’s, though largely un-recognized, the church USA’s voice and influence was waning. By 2000, and especially following the aftermanth of 9/11, the church seemed less equipped and unable to aide a nation in need of repentance and restoration to Jesus. While many churches were filled during those immediate weeks following 9/11 many of the same churches were empty months later. In an attempt to reconnect with the changing culture much of the church shifted their approach, creeds and doctrinal roots in favor of a Gospel that was more “in touch” with Generation X, Y and Millennials. So, has the church managed to influence the culture following this purposeful shift? (More on this later)

Here I would like to boldly acknowledge I am not writing this post as an outlier within the Christian culture. This post is not meant to criticize a church, denomination, pastor and or a specific approach to ministry. Truthfully I am very much a part of the church culture that lives disconnected from society and acknowledges I am trying to find a way to reach the seeking, searching and lost. I was raised in the 80’s, experienced the changes of the 90’s and live with the results of the 2000’s. As a pastor, I have often tried to appeal to people, who have lived their spiritual formation through the “church mill”, only to discover their past hurts and offenses have hindered their ability to engage in a healthy spiritual community. Likewise I too have failed, at times, trying to push people into a failing pattern that was incapable of helping them mature, grow, reconcile and live restored. It has always been my sincere hope I could provide something “better”, that could reach people, only to realize I also needed to change.

But what do we change? Or better asked, where do we begin to change? Should we change our doctrines? Perhaps our worship styles or physical exteriors? I would add (and this is my opinion) changes in décor and clothing can be made to be respectful as well as sacred. This same principle can be applied to worship and the way we conduct ourselves in public ministry. But can we apply the same approach to doctrine? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This must remain a non-negotiable but not for the purposes of trying to keep tradition and religion in a place of esteemed honor. Earlier, in this post, I asked has the church managed to influence the culture? Sadly the answer is no. A 2009 survey, from the Barna research group, revealed the American Christian culture believes less about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible and even Satan than ever before. Even more shocking was the belief that almost half of the Christian’s surveyed believed the Bible was the same expression of truth equivalent to the Koran or the Book of Mormon. For all of our churches, ministries and Christian based entertainment it is apparent the ancient doctrines of our Christian faith are unknown or not believed and the result is a ‘Christian” nation without an identity.

Last week I met with a couple of church “doctors” who were spending some time with me and helping Maranatha Koinonia through a series of ministry transitions. During one part of our conversation one of the “doctors” turned to me and said, “The reason the church is failing to reach people is because the church USA has failed to realize America is a secular nation.” As our conversation continued the reality, that became evident (and here is the inside ball), was if the church will not share a truthful Gospel, to a culture in search of truth, then all we have given society is a secularized Gospel.
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Many of my ministry peers have tried to make Jesus simple in the hope this would appeal to the majority of people. In a very real way Jesus is extraordinarily simple. But there is nothing simple in the dedicated life of one who follows Jesus.  Admittedly we, in the church, tend to complicate things with tradition and religion, and while some tradition is rooted in ancient creeds, and faith, there are many practices that are rooted in complicated routines. Today, we live in a world that claims to make life simpler; but for all of the simplicity life has become more complicated and confusing. Here is a simple truth: God has revealed a simple genuineness, especially in a world of competing ideas, faiths and philosophies, through a Biblically truthful Gospel and Jesus. Too often I see people try to make Jesus someone of their own ideology or use the excuse living as a Christian is too hard. To this I politely counter by saying, religion is complicated but a relationship is simple. Jesus has not invited a seeking and searching world to join a convoluted and complicated system of controls and manipulation. Jesus has invited the seeking, searching, hungry and lost to enter into a simple relationship by which we will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into a healthy community of faith with the Father, Son, Spirit and Church Universal.

Here’s the point: Jesus is simple! This is why He says to come to Him as a little child.  But living a lifestyle of the world, and for the world, is complicated. To live a secular Gospel or a Truthful Gospel is the great question facing the church USA and the people we seek to reach. The reason we can not compromise the ancient creeds and doctrines, of our faith, is because they are rooted and born by Spirit of God. In an increasingly secularized nation do we really want to reach people with just a secularized Gospel or do we want to share a simple but truthful Gospel? Here’s the inside ball: The church will fail, Jesus’ Great Commission, if we do not influence and reach the un-churched with the simple, Biblical, Gospel Truth. Much like the cultural and spiritual convulsions of the 70’s we are again experiencing the same changes. While we know the Holy Spirit desires to pour out, and revive our dry lands again, I seriously wonder if the church USA really wants Him to pour out and begin His revival within our houses of worship?

As I mentioned earlier I am every bit part of the problem as well as part of the solution. While we may make some “surface” changes, to reach the searching, seeking and un-churched, we can never change the heart of our ancient faith that remains the same yesterday, today and forever.  For all of our ministries, church numbers and influence I am still reading, daily, of a nation sinking further into moral decay and spiritual blindness. What will take for the church USA to stop sharing a secular Gospel and a complicated man- made religious system? When will the church USA return to a simply Christian lifestyle, a simply Jesus faith and truthful Gospel creed? Let it begin in my house….let it begin in all of our houses.

“The simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

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 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)

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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 Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: HIS!

keep-calm-you-belong-to-jesusDESTINATION: HIS!

Have you ever thought about who holds the deed to your life? Is it you? Is it fate? Is it God? Maybe another way of asking the question is to answer, who do you belong to? For the person who is still asking such questions you have probably experimented with several possible solutions only to discover these conclusions are unsatisfactory. If you are a Christian you probably answered something like, “Well I belong to God…but I am my own person.” I have personally taken a lot of time considering my destination and deed and come to the conclusion the true disciple of Jesus is one, whom the Holy Spirit has revealed, and therefore, you are not your own. Honestly to say and live in such a reality, ‘I am not my own,’ is to have reached a great point in Kingdom perspective. The true nature of a person, in love with the King, is one of deliberate sacrifice of “self” to “another” in sovereign preference, and that “other” is Jesus!

Without the Holy Spirit the very life and purpose of Jesus is obscure and easily dismissed as a wisdom teacher among other guru’s or moral activist among other social pioneers. But when the Holy Spirit illuminates your understanding, with Kingdom perspective, then you see Jesus in a new understanding and revealed light. The life, revived by the Holy Spirit, takes the person of Jesus and removes him from “just another good teacher” to a real and tangible solution to all of your concerns, cares, worries, fears, sins, hopes and joys. Think carefully on how Jesus sent His disciples…Jesus never sent any of the disciples out on argument of, “Once you follow me life is without adversity.” It was not until after the Resurrection, when the disciples had perceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was the Son of God. Jesus then sent His disciples out as Apostles telling them to ‘GO!’ and preach the message of the Kingdom of God.

In the 1970’s movie Jesus of Nazareth there is a classic scene of the disciples talking about miracles and what people are saying about who Jesus was. It was in this moment Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” the look on the disciples faces was shock, stun and horror. Finally Peter looked at Jesus as said, “You are the Christ.” What was Jesus’ response? (Loose paraphrase) Flesh and blood didn’t tell you this…it was revealed by the Spirit. The message of the Kingdom has often been defined to be many things but in brief the message of the Kingdom is the message of the Gospel. Go! Preach the good news of repentance from sin, Jesus is Lord and forgiveness and freedom from the slavery to the old man (the sinful nature).  

For buy cialis levitra example one needs to get a physiotherapy clinic like PhysiCo. Warning! : Your doctor may want you to have http://appalachianmagazine.com/2018/10/18/virginia-to-designate-us-52-veterans-memorial-highway/ buy cheap cialis regular blood tests to monitor your liver function while you are taking any nitrate based item like nitroglycerine, admission of medicine ought not to be finished. Moving a step ahead of emancipating you from the stigma of being a one-minute wonder on bed, check this site out levitra online will help you to relish enhanced ejaculation time during sexual intercourse. There is a growing demand for generic drugs all over viagra vs cialis the world due to the prohibitive costs of most branded or originator medicines. “If any man come to Me and hate not …,he cannot be My disciple,” To be His means you are not to be your own. For Jesus to claim title and deed over you life you need to hate what He hates and loves what He loves. “Any one of the relationships Our Lord mentions may be a competitive relationship. I may prefer to belong to my mother, or to my wife, or to myself; then says Jesus, you cannot be My disciple. This does not mean I will not be saved, but it does mean that I cannot be ‘His.’” (Chambers)

Our Lord makes a disciple His own possession and when He does so He becomes responsible for him. “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.” The mystery or sacred secret of the believer is—I am His, and He is carrying out His enterprises through me.

So be entirely His! “Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me.” (John 17:6)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

RE-THINK MINISTRY: WHAT ARE YOU IN IT FOR?

re-thinkRE-THINK MINISTRY: WHAT ARE YOU IN IT FOR?

At times I wonder if people who claim to speak, the message of the Gospel, are serving Jesus for Him or because it is good business. By now many of you have already seen or heard of the TV series, Pastors of LA which is distributed by Oprah’s OWN station. If you have not seen the trailer then here is a redirect that will bring you there.

Today, I want this blog’s purpose to be a constructive, honest and loving discussion with some deeper questions and thoughts that extend beyond surface opinions. After viewing this trailer I had a series of mixed reactions. But after I had some time to reflect, on the premise of this show, I found myself asking a simple question: “What are you in it for? The business of YOU or HIM?”  “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not …but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19, 20) Any minister (and I am hesitant to use terms such as “great” or “small”) will testify they responded to the call of God and therefore they are in the ministry of serving the Gospel to people. And yet I ask how can the Pastors of LA encourage a contrary opinion to Jesus’ own words read in Luke 10?*

When you are in the business of Him (Jesus) it is impossible to be in the ministry for yourself. Even a quick “drive by” of Jesus’ example of serving two masters will reveal that. However, many ministers continue to abuse Scripture to support their lifestyles and personal theology. Here again, there is not a single Christian who is given the liberty, by the Father, to redefine His Word for their own purposes. If we are to walk upright and holy before the Lord then we must honor His Words in our attitudes, affections, wants, desires and livelihood. In effect Jesus says, in Luke 10, don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me. Jesus’ words apply to all Christians as both an encouragement, to right living, and a warning as to how not to live. The snare, in Christian service, is not to rejoice in your success but rejoice in the Father, and in His omniscience, be thankful He has chosen to use you.

But here too is another point of caution. Because the Father has elected to use an individual this does not give them the Biblical license to profit obscenely beyond moderation. It is the excesses, within the church today, that purposely or inadvertently encourage Christians to evaluate the Father’s blessing through outward appearances. There are multiple Biblical examples of what God cares about…and the Father has never been impressed with buildings, personal kingdoms or wealth. What matters to God in the heart of the man or woman, which is seen only by the Father.
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You and I should never measure  “success” with a natural perspective. The only way to see, that of real value, comes through being rightly related to Jesus and seeing with a Kingdom perspective. It is essential every believer keep their relationship right with Him and whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, you will be in His position to have rivers of living water pour through you and refresh others. When you are in the” business” of Jesus, for Him, then the Father will allow His mercy to flow through you to help lead people towards spiritual reformation.  All of our lives should be living testimonies of being rightly related to the Father, through the ongoing work of salvation and sanctification, operating in your life. Remember that wherever you are God wants you to fulfill the Father’s purposes, not yours…that is why you are there.

In everything, not just the business of ministry, there is an overwhelming tendency to label anything or anyone a “success” by appearances. Beware of the pressure and people who make their usefulness, to you, their ground of appeal. The lodestar of the Christian is the Jesus, alone, and He is the model we are meant to always follow and show to others. It is the work that God does, through us, that counts. Not what we do for Him. What we should all desire is knowing, in our spirit, the Lord is pleased with our relationship with Him. At the end of the day the business of Jesus is bringing many sons and daughters toward His holiness as well as walking and living in His likeness.

Blessings – JOSHUA

*I would like to add these men, are just one sampling of an opinion and approach to ministry within the United States. I do not believe these ministers represent the majority of pastors, teachers, lay ministers and volunteers within the church today. However, it should be noted the “minority” seem to encourage and represent a strong “voice” of Christianity in the United States. I have drawn these conclusions by surveying anecdotal evidences seen on television, media and printed material. 

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

download (1)“THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD”

If you ever followed the Beatles music one of their most cherished, and last number one, single was “The Long and Winding Road.” Lyrically it is a sad and melancholic song with an evocation of an as-yet unrequited, though apparently inevitable, love. Later Paul was quoted as saying, “It’s rather a sad song. I like writing sad songs, it’s a good bag to get into because you can actually acknowledge some deeper feelings of your own and put them in it. It’s a good vehicle, it saves having to go to a psychiatrist.”

The purpose of today’s blog is not to make good theology out of a Beatles song. But for some reason I have always connected the idea of the long and winding road to the Christian’s walk of faith which, of course, will lead us to the door of Christ. I, like many of you, have walked on some deeply personal “roads” where all I am left with, at the end of the journey, is Him. Truthfully, until we all face these bends in the road we will also never fully appreciate and understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever said, “I am at the end! I cannot do a thing?” If so, then you also know “It’s not over and He is able.” The Father, Son and Spirit have always accomplished marvelous works, on behalf of the believer, that no one else can ever do.

Here to I want to insert another reality regarding the synergistic relationship we have with the Holy Spirit. As the third part of the Godhead, He (the Spirit) is holy! Are you prepared for a Holy intervention from the Spirit? Are you living a life prepared for His outpouring? The Spirit, and for that matter the Son and the Father, will not pour out as long as the unholy is still touching the holy in our lives. And yet, there are those who still beg and plead for an outpouring knowing, full well, there are unclean and un-dealt areas deep within their lives. As lovers of Biblical truth we cannot live our natural walk as if it is somehow separate from our spirit life. We were designed as a “wholly unit” and to live as a “holy unit” unto God.

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“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” John does not speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience, but as a work performed by Jesus, “He shall baptize you.” And like the Beatles song the long and winding road, that is lived with the Holy Spirit, is leading you towards an inevitable love (Jesus). As you continue to stay on the journey always take time to check and, if need be, recheck your life and make sure you are living within the lanes where the Holy Spirit is doing everything.

I indeed baptize you with water … but He … shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Btw….Just in case you never heard the song, Enjoy! “The Long and Winding Road”