Tag Archives: Church

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

A WORLD SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS NEEDS THE JOY OF THE LORD

happiness wordleA WORLD SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS NEEDS THE JOY OF THE LORD

Routinely I am surprised how many people believe if they can achieve happiness they will also discover joy. Likewise, I have met many joyful people who continue to live in search of happiness. Truthfully both happiness and joy ARE difficult to separate but, for the believer, our joy and happiness is only experienced through the life of Jesus.

I was recently watching a television show that’s basic premise was built on trying to match two people into the ideal happy couple. As this particular episode progressed each person referred to the joy, the other individual brought them, based on their looks, sense of humor, character and profession. Not surprising to me, after the episode concluded, both happiness and joy eluded this young couple just two weeks after the filming of that episode. Why? Simply answered a world searching for happiness will never be satisfied, or find it, without the joy of the Lord. But what is the joy of the Lord? For us to best understand the joy of the Lord we need to understand what truly brought Jesus joy.

The joy of Jesus was and is the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice, of Himself, to His Father. Said another way, Jesus lived the life of happiness and great joy by doing that which the Father sent Him to do. “I delight to do Thy will.” It is difficult for us to think about the pursuit of joy and happiness absent from our own context of personal satisfaction. But remember the challenge, facing us all, is to view life with a Kingdom perspective. When we are looking with the eyes of eternity then we are able to understand why Jesus prayed that our joy might go on fulfilling itself until it was the same joy as His.

Have you allowed Jesus to introduce His joy to you? Though my opinion, on this topic, may be like a salmon swimming against the current of today’s conventional church teaching and thinking I am brought back to what the Bible leads us to regarding happiness, joy and purpose. Scripture, and the very Words of Jesus speak little, if anything, about our bodily health, external happenings or desire to see our work for God succeed. On the contrary, while these goals sound like happy and joyful aspirations they miss the Biblical mark. The Father, Son and Spirit have been after, concerning humanity, mans perfect understanding of God.
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Everybody experiences seasons of desire, happiness and joy and the first thing that will hinder us, in knowing Him, is the constant irritation of thinking about our circumstances and desires. The cares of this world, which so often define our standards of joy and happiness, Jesus said will choke God’s word. If we are not careful, before we know where we are, we can be caught up in the spectacle of “things” that always cast a great shadow over the image of Jesus.

What everybody is searching for is true happiness and joy. The answer for the “great search party” is revealed by understanding the Father wants to reunite us, with Himself, and bring us to place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who the Biblical Jesus is. The happiness of the world is fleeting and passing quickly away. The substitute for the joy of the Lord will never be discovered in the world. But when you are rightly related to the Father you will find your joy and out of you will flow rivers of living water! In your search for happiness and joy don’t look to yourself, stop being self-conscious and don’t try to present yourself as the pharisees. Live a life led by the Holy Spirit and identified with the Biblical Jesus. The life that is rightly related to the Father is as natural as breathing and so wherever you go so be a vessel for Jesus to pour living water through.

That My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11).

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 Living, Inspirational, Motivational

“TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE HARD TO FIND”

true-friendship“TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE HARD TO FIND”

“I have called you friends.” (John 15:15)

Much of what is defined as friendship, today, is the farthest hope we desire to have, with people, from a Biblical world-view. Just yesterday I was getting a haircut and the stylist and I entered into a conversation on the topic of friendship. As an owner-operator not only does his clientele expect a certain level of service and attention likewise his employees are looking, to him, for leadership as well as friendship. While he does set aside time to “team build” he told me he is very careful in his selection of friends to the point where he has to make a distinction between his employees and close social friends.

Truthfully, I have very few friends and I am okay with that because I too have learned the bonds of friendship extend far beyond a visit to the coffee shop or an occasional movie and sporting event. This is not to say I am a hermit or I purposely avoid relationships with others. But what I am saying is I reject what the world, and at times, the church has forced people to accept as a working definition of what friendship is and is not.

Let me give you a personal example: A while back a Christian friend offered me a gift. At first this very generous gift sounded like a blessing but then he followed up his generous invitation with conditions. Can you see what is wrong with this scenario? You have heard similar stories of never letting family borrow money or never tell somebody,  “Pay me back whenever you can” unless you are prepared to end up on an episode of Judge Judy. Gifts are to be gifts, without conditions, and Biblical friendships are to be self-sacrificing not self-serving. If you receive a gift, given with conditions, it is not a gift. Likewise, if you are in a “friendship” that does not possess self-surrender then it will seldom endure.

It is learnt that cialis buy online people rush to do sex just after taking the drug for ED. Even young men love this medicine as it absorb faster in the bloodstream producing better results. cialis bulk The online shops assist in maintaining complete security while getting viagra pfizer 25mg http://www.devensec.com/sustain/eidis-updates/IndustrialSymbiosisUpdateAug_Oct2010.pdf the order and delivering the medicines at the patient’s doorstep. Men are supposed to be well aware that this remedy must not be over-followed or should not be taken without consulting together with General Physician or Urologist. no prescription viagra Earlier this month I titled a blog, You Don’t Get It and You Don’t Have to. But you Have to Respect it! and it’s about a person living and following the call of Jesus on his or her life. That blog, as well as today’s, started me to thinking about how many friends Jesus may have had. How many friends do you think Jesus had? How many people approached Jesus with words like, ‘I will if …’ or ‘Oh well, I suppose I must devote my life to God.’ It sounds like Jesus attracted many “friendships” that lacked the Biblical heart of self-sacrifice.

Have you ever asked, “Why do I have so few friends?” Or have you ever looked over your friend pool and really questioned how many are close and dear? Usually when we are lacking in true friendships we self-examine by saying, “Well, I guess I’m difficult to like?” But more than the “likeability factor” I have come to understand so few people are prepared to abandon themselves to the Holy Spirit, who is able to lead us into right friendships with others based on the joy and truth of Jesus. Honestly, I’m not nearly where I need to be and daily I am reminded how much “ugly me” still exists. But within the context of friendships, led by the Holy Spirit, I now see even my conversations scare people from wanting to be my friend. Certainly going to a movie can be fun or watching a sports event can serve as a relaxing break but the final aim of Biblical friendship is self-sacrifice and laying down our lives for our best friend, Jesus. Few friendships are prepared for that kind of intimacy and honesty.

Jesus stands as our best model of true friendship by setting the example of a life lived in self-sacrifice—“I delight to do Thy will, O My God.” Jesus knew how to go on, with or without, friends because His sacrifice, to the Father, brought exuberant joy. And so I ask myself, and you, have we ever yielded in absolute submission to Jesus? “If Jesus is not the lodestar, there is no benefit in the sacrifice; but when the sacrifice is made with the eyes on Him, slowly and surely the molding influence begins to tell.” (Chambers)

Beware of letting natural affinities delay your walk in Him. Or said another way, be careful of letting “friends” drain you intimate time with the Holy Spirit. Friends are exciting and can even serve as an impressive tally on your Facebook account but how many of these “friends” are built on natural affinities? Love for the Father is not sentimental; to love as God loves is the most practical thing for the believer. When Jesus said,  “I have called you friends.” It is a friendship based on the new life created in us, which has no affinity with our old life, but only with the life of God. This is why I reject what the world and even he church may call friendship and only desire to walk with those who are living a life in the pursuit of humility, holiness and absolute devotion to the Biblical Jesus!

Blessings – JOSHUA

Inspirational, Motivational

WHAT YOUR SPIRITUAL THERMO”STATE” SAYS ABOUT YOU

thermostateWHAT YOUR SPIRITUAL THERMO”STATE” SAYS ABOUT YOU

Much of today’s Christian thought, pulpit speak, blogs and written works seem to focus a great deal on “YOU.” After all “you” are important to God and He does care about “you.” This is all true, you are important to God and He does care about you but have you ever considered how concerned God is about the ugly side of “You?” The ugly side, of us all, is not the side that struggles with sin but the portion of us that tries to justify and persist living in violation of a Holy God.

This past week Jeannette and I had some amazing times of fellowship with other Christians, not from our church, and throughout the course of our conversations our friends expressed their overall dissatisfaction with their personal walk of faith. At the conclusion we left, in total agreement, knowing there needed to be a change and the change had to begin with us. In your home you have a thermostat that will read the temperature of your house as well as allow you to cool or heart your home to your desired level of comfort. Spiritually we too have an index that gives us a gauge as to where we are resting within the plans and purposes of the Father and the Kingdom. It is this spiritual index the Father uses to poll our coldness or warmth towards Him. And when we are indifferent to the Spirit’s prompting it reveals the ugly side of us.

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9) This illustration of prayer, that Jesus uses, is one of an obedient child asking for a good thing. Yet, if we have grown cold or indifferent, even when we go to the Father in prayer, we may ask of Him “good things” without giving thought to our ugliness. (cf. Matthew 5:45.) Oswald Chambers says, “Never say it is not God’s will to give you what you ask, don’t sit down and faint, but find out the reason, turn up the index. Are you rightly related to your wife, to your husband, to your children, to your fellow-students—are you a ‘good child’ there? ‘Oh, Lord, I have been irritable and cross, but I do want spiritual blessing.’ You cannot have it, you will have to do without until you come into the attitude of a good child.”

I have been guilty of confusing my defiance for devotion and my arguing, with the Father, for justification of what I believed He owed me. It was during these seasons of selfishness I discovered I was irritable to the Cross and not checking my own spiritual thermostat. In a short: the ugly me was showing through. Do you remember the story I told of the families Jeannette and I were spending time with? Knowing we were responsible to change the thermostat in our lives; Jeannette invited the wife, of this couple, to join her and several other women for Saturday morning prayer (beginning at 7:30 am). Do you know what her response was? “7:30am Oh, that’s too early!” A quick look at her own thermostat would have revealed she had become too comfortable with an “ugly me” spiritual climate for her life. Sadly, even given the opportunity, many talk about wanting to make the necessary spiritual adjustments but rather keep the status quo.
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Have you ever asked God to give you money, for something you want, when there is something you have not paid for? Have you been asking God for liberty while you are withholding it from someone who owes you something?  Have you not forgiven someone his trespasses; or have not been kind to him; or have not been living as God’s child among your relatives and friends? Such questions and situations challenge the ugly side of us all.

You are important to God! It is the ugly side of us Jesus desires to correct and this will only come through the washing and regeneration by His Holy Spirit. When we allow the Holy Spirit to adjust our thermostat then we, as children of God, will live and walk in His light and truth. Prayer, with most of us, has been turned into a pious platitude. When the thermostat is cold false humility and self-elevated spirituality become the emotional tricks we use, in a vain attempt, to create a mystical communion with God that gives us a temporary thrill. Naturally we are all good at producing fogs and mists that, to the untrained eye and lazy spirit, for a season can look as if God moving in our lives. If we turn up our spiritual thermostat we will see, very clearly, the ugly us. The Holy Spirit will reveal the broken friendships, debt, bitterness, unforgiveness, hate, and temper of mind that needs correcting. Until we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to change us it is no use praying, while trying to keep the “ugly me” alive. We need to commit to living in Spirit and by the Holy Spirit so our lives become the beautiful workmanship of His hands and our prayer life is one where Jesus says, “Everyone that asketh receiveth.”

Blessings – JOSHUA

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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”

Christian Apologetics, Inspirational, Motivational

FROM JEWELRY TO REAL IDENTIFICATION

“From Jewelry to Real Identification” 

For those of you who do not know me I’ll let you in on a little secret. I like to wear trendy jewelry. By trendy I don’t mean expensive. What I consider trendy is wearing five silver rings, on one hand, three rings on the other, two necklaces and a leather cuff, if “the mood” strikes me right. Well today I was in one of those moods and decided to wear a necklace that has more of a rocker feel than the life changing symbol is carries. What is the symbol? The Cross. At some point in time we have all owned a cross. Perhaps it is a cherished heirloom or a beautiful accessory but somehow the Cross has slipped into just another symbol, lost in a sea of logo’s and icons, for today’s popular culture consumption. But today I asked myself a challenging question, “What if the Cross moved away from accessory status and returned to a sign of true life, forgiveness and freedom?”

Oswald Chambers said it best, “We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through; we get through it only in order to get into it.” For the believer, in the Biblical Jesus, the Cross should stand for one thing and one thing only – complete, entire and absolute identification with Him!

Every year, when I re-read the Passion of Jesus, I am struck by how much time He spent praying leading up to the Cross as well as dying at Calvary. Are the Father and Son trying to reveal to us a truth about the power of prayer and true identification, of the oneself, with the Cross? I believe so.

“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Unfortunately, much of what we have been taught ,on prayer, is much like a “drive thru” mentality. Think about it: We make the line, place an order of what we want and then expect the order to be properly taken and given with our total satisfaction guaranteed.
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The purpose and power of prayer is not to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with the Father. Guess what? God is always speaking and answering every time, but not always in the way we expect. And when we do not get what we have asked for our spiritual immaturity shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Jesus in prayer and on the Cross. We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living testimonies of the Father’s grace.

Again Chambers asks an important question we all need to answer: “Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ’s life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord’s vicarious life become your vital life? “

I hope and pray “at that day” you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction between you, Him and the Cross.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Inspirational

GETTING LOST IN THE CASTLE AND THE SIMPLE WAY THROUGH

“Getting Lost in the Castle and the Simple Way Through”

Over the past few years theologian NT Wright has written a series of books titled: “Simply Christian”, “Simply Jesus” and “How God Became King.” Of course he has written many wonderful works but these three recent books stood out because their titles offered a simple approach to a complex God and faith.

I remember, as a young boy, visiting several great castles in England and Germany and I was always amazed by the inner workings of these massive fortifications. Each structure had their share of hidden passages, great walls, majestic works of craftsmanship and if one did not stay on the tour path you could get quickly lost. In much the same way our Christian faith reminds me of these great castles, and not from a negative perspective. Our ancient creeds, doctrines of faith, confessions, prayers and theological opinions have made for a rich and varied Christian faith without equal. However, if one does not stay on the tour path you can get lost in all of the hallways and side doors that, before long, may end up leading you outside of the walls of the castle. Today there are many who started, their journey of faith, behind the great castle walls and over time walked off the tour path managing to not only exit the castle but now try to tear the down the walls that once protected them.

So I turn back to NT Wright and his “Simply” series of books. Certainly there is great danger in dumbing down the Christian faith, to such a level, where it may appear to be a castle but is not any stronger than a house of cards. Likewise we also risk making this faith so complex that all of the gates, windows and doors remain shut to where no-one is allowed inside. While there are many doctrines, with the Judeo-Christian faith, that are complex and worth studying we also need to encourage each other to remain on the simple walking tour through the great castle of Christianity. This is what NT was attempting to convey through his “Simply” series. Yes, there are some hard and challenging areas we need to study and comprehend. But there are also some simple, not elementary, truths we do not need to overcomplicate.

Here are some “simple” questions worth asking: “Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in the way I live my life?” “Is He getting His wonderful way in me?” “Is God realizing that His Son is formed in me, or have I carefully put Him to the side?”
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Today we live in a generation of great clamor. We hear stories of people who claim they were failed by the Christian faith. We read stories of what Millennials want and desire. And we listen to panels of theologians and pastors saying, “I believe…” It seems like today everyone is clamoring and I ask, “For what?”

While debate is healthy and very productive it can also close many doors. While opinions and theories are intriguing they can also serve to add additions, to the great castle, that will aid people in getting lost and confused. So, in an age of “sound and fury” do we risk signifying nothing? (Shakespeare, Macbeth) I want to encourage you to ask, and answer, some of the simple questions. Said another way, stay on the “walking tour” before you get exploring too far. Once on the tour you will discover simple but life-changing questions like: “Is the Son of God praying in me or am I dictating to Him?” “Is He ministering in me as He did in the days of His flesh?” “Is the Son of God in me going through His passion for His own purposes?”

Oswald Chambers said, “The more one knows of the inner life of God’s ripest saints, the more one sees what God’s purpose is—“filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” There is always something to be done in the sense of “filling up.”

Blessings – JOSHUA

Inspirational, Motivational

THE LOUD VOICE OF GOD IN WHISPERS

Not long ago I was having a conversation with a fellow Christian and the question came up, “Have you ever heard God speak?” This fascinating question has been mulled over by Christians, in every walk of life, for generations and still we continue to ask as if there has never been an answer. While modern movie magic has gone a long way in making God’s voice as a big, booming, earth-shattering event, the voice of the Spirit can be so gentle, that unless you are living in communion with the Father, you never hear it.

In our marriage Jeannette and I communicate many different ways. Sometimes we have long running discussions that may last days or even weeks. Other times we just having passing one-liners which plant a thought that later require an action. In the same way we should live expecting the full spectrum of conversations with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Have you ever heard a person say, “I just had a check of the Spirit?” For me it can be a feeling, deep within, of peace or caution. Either way such an encounter becomes a prompting of how to act in that moment. In short: this brief conversation is a prompting, by the Spirit, of how to live in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes in the most extraordinarily gentle ways, and if you are not sensitive enough to detect His voice you will quench it, and your personal spiritual life will be impaired. His checks always come as a still small voice, so small that no one, but he or she who is in communion with the Father, notices them.

Oswald Chambers said, “Beware if in personal testimony you have to hark back and say—‘Once, so many years ago, I was saved.’ If you are walking in the light, there is no harking back, the past is transfused into the present wonder of communion with God. If you get out of the light you become a sentimental Christian and live on memories, your testimony has a hard, metallic note. Beware of trying to patch up a present refusal to walk in the light by recalling past experiences when you did walk in the light. Whenever the Spirit checks, call a halt and get the thing right, or you will go on grieving Him without knowing it.”
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Maybe you are in a crisis, a dry season or feel as if you haven’t head from the Spirit for far too long? Suppose God has brought you to a place of encounter and you nearly engage Him but not quite? The Father will engineer the encounter again and again but it will not be as it was before. If we are not discerning, of the Spirit, than we will miss the awesome opportunity of obedience to His will. But if you go through the encounter, listening to the Spirit, there will be a testimony of praise to God. “Never sympathize with the thing that is stabbing God all the time. God has to hurt the thing that must go.” (Chambers)

BLESSINGS – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Motivational

“FROM BIG WHEELS TO TRAINING WHEELS TO RIDING A BIKE”

“From Big Wheels to Training Wheels and Finally  Riding a Bike”

Do any of you remember big wheels? If so, then you probably owned one at some point in your childhood. If not, then the picture (below) shows you all you need to know and I can still remember pedaling all summer hearing the sound of pavement grinding underneath those large plastic wheels. Then, I experienced the training wheels phase of learning to ride a bike and though I can’t remember this time too clearly I am reliving it, in some ways, as I am teaching my daughter how to ride her bike. Eventually, she like I, and millions of others will learn how to ride a bike.

In our journey with Jesus we too have to learn how to mature from big wheels to training wheels and eventually riding a bike. Using God’s intended spiritual pedal system (the Holy Spirit) you begin to mature to a place where the training wheels are no longer necessary to hold you up and this is demonstrated in the life of Elijah and Elisha.

The great prophet Elisha who, in some ways, experienced more miraculous events than his mentor, began learning on the “training wheel” of Elijah. As a mentor Elijah was there to help, guide and instruct Elisha through his “training wheels” season because  it was necessary for Elisha to learn how to pedal. However, a time soon came when Elisha was ready to pedal on his own and he would have to let go of Elijah.

But why? Isn’t it better to always have Elijah close by? Wouldn’t it have been best for Jesus to stay with His disciples a little bit longer? It sounds like a flawless plan, perfect and without error but that is not the plan of the Kingdom. God’s plan for our life is not keep us pedaling on big wheels or training wheels but to prepare us solo bike journey (with Him). We would all say, “Something is wrong?” if we witnessed a grown adult, on a professional bike, still needing training wheels which is why God’s Kingdom intention is for you to let the Holy Spirit guide you in all truth and when you say, “I cannot go on without Elijah.” God says you must.

Oswald Chambers spoke of three alones every believer must face in their walk of faith. The first is the “ALONE AT YOUR JORDAN.” This is the place where there is the type of separation, and there is no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one can take the responsibility for you. It is at this season in life you have to apply what you learned when you were with your Elijah. “You have been to Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are up against it alone. It is no use saying you cannot go; this experience has come, and you must go. If you want to know whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be, then go through your Jordan alone.” (Chambers)
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 “ALONE AT YOUR JERICHO.” Jericho is the place where you have seen your Elijah do great things. “When you come to your Jericho you have a strong disinclination to take the initiative and trust in God, you want someone else to take it for you. If you remain true to what you learned with Elijah, you will get the sign that God is with you.” (Chambers)

 “ALONE AT YOUR BETHEL.” At your Bethel you will find yourself at commonsense’s failure and at the beginning of God’s perspective. “When you get to your wits’ end and feel inclined to succumb to panic, don’t; stand true to God and He will bring His truth out in a way that will make your life a sacrament. Put into practice what you learned with your Elijah, use his cloak and pray. Determine to trust in God and do not look for Elijah any more.” (Chambers)

We all face alone times in our life. It feels great when the company of friends, family and allies hold up your arms, co-labor with you and press toward the goal of the Kingdom. And yet, as wonderful as these times are, we need to remember they are training seasons preparing you for those alone times where it is just you and God. In those seasons the Holy Spirit is never far off and God’s silence should not be mistaken for His absence. It is the alone times we remember what God has done, for us, and promised to do. So, boldly get off your big wheels, or training wheels, and start riding your bike.

He is with you at Jordan, Jericho and Bethel…and He is with you now in your next season!

Blessings – JOSHUA