Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

REPOST from Jeannette Johnian’s Blog “Continue to Climb”: IN THE MIDST OF “DELUSIONAL” MEN

IN THE MIDST OF “DELUSIONAL” MEN

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Years ago there was a young man in our fellowship that decided he was going to venture out and start his own business. Throughout his being a part of our community my husband had encouraged and supported this man in his endeavors. In spite of the fact that others considered him socially awkward my husband saw a man in need of affirmation and fellowship. One day this man came to our home offering his professional services and after some consideration we had to decline. The moment my husband let him know we were not interested his demeanor changed. Obviously offended he decided he was going to tell my husband what he really thought of our community and his pastor. Sitting in our living room he looked straight at my husband and said, “When are you going to realize you are delusional?”  He went on to question the call of God, in my husbands life, and “exhorted” him to give up.

Why did this man think my husband was delusional? Was it because our community was not in the hundreds or thousands? Could it be my husband did not fit a certain mold for today’s pastor or leader? Was it that my husband never managed a successful business or served as an executive in a fortune 500 company? It was obvious his words, spoken from hurt and rejection, were meant to humiliate.

Since the month of October is pastor appreciation month I thought I would give a big shout out to all the men and women who have been told they are “delusional” for following the call of God.

Just this past week I was in Kalamazoo attending a conference with pastors from around the country. During one of the breakout sessions I heard the stories of men and women who have given their lives to serve God and others. As these servant-leaders shared their stories, with authenticity and transparency, tears starting streaming down my face. But, why was I crying? In each story there was a common denominator that spoke to a deep place within my spirit. What touched me were the hearts of shepherds who are willing to give anything and everything to answer the call of God.

Story after story I heard the familiar burden of true shepherds. These are the unknown soldiers, serving in the trenches, who cannot abandon the call to serve. Many of these men ,according to western church thinking, fall into the category of delusional, unsuccessful, ill-equipped and failures. But I would suggest the following:

  • These are the men who have prayed and pleaded, before God’s throne, for our families. Would any person selflessly do this?
  • These are the men who study God’s Word so, above all else, our souls prosper. Is that not worth more than gold?
  • These are the men, with the eyes of a shepherd, who see us wandering before we realize we have strayed. Are not their words of counsel and wisdom worth paying attention too?
  • These are the men who in spite of adversity, disappointment and hardship endure to the end. Shouldn’t we encourage and support them along the way?
  • These are the men who give of their own limited funds to help you pay your bills when your in need. Did you know that?
  • These are the men that rejoice with you when your child is born, you get a job promotion and your children marry. Ask yourself, when was the last time you rejoiced for your pastor?
  • These are the men who will admit they are far from perfect and, at times, will make imperfect decisions. Are they not worthy of our mercy and patience?
  • These are the men that, when the phone rings at 5:30 am, are willing to get out of bed and meet with you as well as minister to your need.Would we do the same?
  • These are the men that, when they are on vacation, will always answer your distressing phone call and never let it go to voice mail. Are we on call 24-7?
  • These are the men that sacrifice their lives, and family needs, for a salary that rarely covers their living expenses. Would we do the same?

After I complied my short, but by no means exhaustive, list I would like to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for having the same courage as Noah, to build an ark without one convert or sign of rain. To have the faithfulness of Abraham, the humility of David, the boldness of Elijah, the tears of Jeremiah, the courage of Daniel, the vision of Nehemiah and Ezra, the thankfulness of the Apostles, the strength of Paul and the persistence of John.

Thessalonians 5: 12 – 13 says: “And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders, who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love.

Grace and Peace

Jeannette 

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: TESIFY!

9.2-Testify-about-JesusDESTINATION: TESIFY!

“Watch with Me.” (Matthew 26:40)

I love slapstick comedy. Throughout the golden years of radio, early television and film great comedic teams such as Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, Fibber Magee and Molly, etc… always managed to find themselves in some type of high jinx that somehow ended with their escaping a disastrous situation. If you have watched enough of these films or episodes then you always heard the expression, Keep a look out and once you heard that you could count on something funny was about to happen.

Jesus also said, “Watch with Me” but these words were not shared because something bad was on the horizon but because He desired our vision to be as His vision. When we were first born again we did little watching with Jesus because we were learning how to watch for Him. But as we matured we began to see His Word, the Bible, was instructing us how to live through the circumstances of our life. And the Holy Spirit was sharpening our eyes to see with Kingdom perspective.

Throughout our entire journey of faith, with the Biblical Jesus, our flesh (sinful nature) should be melting away. In the process of the old man fading away there should be a new man emerging who has learned to also merge his / her will into the will of the Father. No longer should we perceive life, and it the challenges, with natural vision. Now, the new man, is learning to watch with Him for Kingdom sight. This entire journey, with the Son, is His way of introducing us to identification with Himself. In our pursuit of Jesus we all need to move away from the practice of just watching Him; and into the life where we are watching with Him. Just because we are only used to the idea of Jesus watching with us we do not have the excuse of passively falling asleep when we are to wait, pray and watch with Him.

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But don’t despair! Even if we have failed to remain on watch also remember “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit”, restored unto the Son and Father and it is the same “they” who were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Once the in-filling, of the Spirit, matches the outpouring we, like the disciples, will live the testimony and witness that displays before the world, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” This new witness is meant to keep us on watch, with Him, the rest of our lives and testify His Gospel message to the seeking and lost.

So testify again and commit to sharing the Gospel message of Jesus as Lord with the seeking, searching and lost.

Blessings – 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

DESTINATION: SATISFACTION

8986328-satisfaction-guaranteed-rubber-stampDESTINATION: SATISFACTION

There is nothing quiet like a cold beverage on a very hot day. I remember going to Yankee stadium, one summer, and while sitting in the merciless heat a vendor yelled out, “FROZEN LEMONADE!” Needing immediate relief I was willing to pay almost anything to cool off and quench my thirst and did that frozen lemonade hit the spot. The funny thing is it has been over sixteen years and I still remember that frozen lemonade and how I felt after it satisfied my thirst.  Have you ever found yourself desperate to the point to where almost anything is better than how you currently feel? At such times we have all been guilty of “drinking” the wrong things to satisfy our desperation. Also we have, in such moments, turned to God and been the grateful recipients of His mercy and grace to find our thirst satisfied.

In life we will face seasons of testing beyond us and when we do we must remember the Lord is with us. But what role do we play, as we go before Him in desperation, in our need? Our part is to pour ourselves out before Him. If you cannot pour yourself out, before the Lord, then you are still holding onto “something” of yourself that you are reluctant to part with.  Oswald Chambers said, “You can never sanctify to God that with which you long to satisfy yourself. If you satisfy yourself with a blessing from God, it will corrupt you; you must sacrifice it, pour it out!”

Now you may ask, How can I to pour out unto the Lord? I have come to the conclusion there is only one-way: SACRIFICE.  Like Abraham with Isaac and the Father with the Son we must release that which is “too great and worthy.” Until we pour these things out before the Lord, they endanger those we love, as well as ourselves, and can even become idols of affection, more than God, in our lives. The truth is we can be lustful in things, which are not sordid and vile. Love has to get to its transfiguration point of being poured out unto Jesus.
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This is where satisfaction is discovered and achieved. If you have become bitter, hurt, sour and offended it may be, in part, because when God gave you a blessing you held on to for yourself; whereas if you had poured it out unto the Lord, you would have been the sweetest and most satisfied person. If you are always taking blessings to yourself and never learn to pour out anything unto the Lord other people will not see the Father through you. In this “Destination” series of posts we are looking to live the satisfied life and when you and I pour our blessings out, to Him, others will in turn have their faith increased and horizons enlarged.

“… nevertheless he would not drink thereof but poured it out unto the Lord.” (2 Samuel 23:16.)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: SACRIFICE

imagesDESTINATION: SACRIFICE

I would ask for a show of hands, but I’ll never see them on the internet…but raise your hand if you have ever been guilty of selfishness. Of course all of our hands have gone up because “self” is something we covet, nurture and, at times, defend while Jesus lived and remains the opposite of self and the epitome of sacrifice. Yesterday I wrote on Destination Holiness and the Father’s plan to bring all of us into His Holy likeness and though we pursue holiness with, at times, great zeal it is “self” that gets in the way of our pursuit and even distorts what we believe Jesus is speaking.

Jesus did not say—‘he that believeth in Me shall realize the blessing of the fullness of God,’ but—‘he that believeth in Me, out of him shall escape everything he receives.’ Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. The Father’s purpose is not the development of a self- made man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself. And here is the real death blow to self, the model given to us in the Son is the perfect example of sacrifice. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours in us and through us that counts. “Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.” (Chambers)

In the Bible we read of a woman named Mary, of Bethany, who broke a box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus while worshipping Him. For many, including His disciples, this was first seen as a waste of valuable resource. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said that wherever His gospel was preached “this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Even in the act of ones worship, toward a Holy God, Jesus reminds His audience that Mary’s sacrifice of abandon was far greater than the contents of the alabaster box.
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The Father spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him? “He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water.” It is time for us to break from the life of selfish self-realization by spilling that our and then asking of a Holy God, what we may do for Him.

He that believeth in Me, … out of him shall flow.… John 7:38.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: HOLINESS

pursuing-holinessDESTINATION: HOLINESS

Have you ever started a journey with the destination unknown? Have you ever planned a long trip without making preparations or considering what challenges may await you? As you read today’s blog I have just returned from nine days of ministry in the nation of Romania. (I will share on this trip in an upcoming series of blogs) The days leading up to my departure required me to plan for my responsibilities at home as well as abroad. The costs, details, travel arrangements and people I would be meeting required planning from many different places and people to ensure this trip would serve as a blessing to the body of Christ. In short, I was preparing to take a trip knowing where my destination was.

Taking the example of planning for a trip, with a destination in mind, how many of us apply such detailed preparations to our spiritual pursuit of Him? Or, said another way, do you know where your destination is with the Father? Before you answer… don’t say HEAVEN or EARTH (this is a little bit of a trick question). The destination of the person who believes in the Biblical Jesus is HOLINESS.

Continually I find myself restating my purpose in life. And with each affirmation I also discover I am talking less about what I want, or see myself being, but more praying that I am becoming like Him: HOLY. The destined end of man, who pursues the Biblical Jesus, is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. And yet today we have far too many affinities that get in the way of such a pursuit. In fact, we are saturated with them! Our Western culture is obsessed with having the latest and greatest “anything.” Technology, celebrity gossip, clothes, vacation destinations, toys, games, selfies, etc…we live running from one fad to another when what really matters is whether you will accept the God can make you holy. At all costs, the disciple of Jesus as Christ, must live in the pursuit of being rightly related to God.

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Be careful not to tolerate, through sympathy or comfort, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means sinless walking with the feet, sinless talking with the tongue, sinless thinking with the mind—every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God desires for you but what you manifest that God has given you.

“Ye shall be holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics

OFF TO THE BLACK SEA!!!

images (1)If you have taken the time to browse my blog then you may have noticed a section titled, “Where Am I Going to Be?” Throughout this year and beginning in 2014 I will be travelling more than I have in the past. This is an exciting transition for me and the ministry at Maranatha Koinonia. While I will still be teaching, in Franklin, 2014 is shaping up to be an amazing year of advancing the message of the King and the Kingdom as this ministry, and its partners, will bring the message of Maranatha Koinonia overseas and within the US.

Beginning in 2014 ministry trips have already been planned for England, Germany, France as well as Australia and Malaysia. Furthermore, there will be several ministry visits to Illinois, Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. I look forward to sharing, with you, the exciting news of how Maranatha Koinonia is reaching fellow believers and changing lives for the Father’s glory!

This week September 9th – 16th I will be ministering in Constata Romania, on the coast of the Black Sea. I will be speaking as one of two keynote speakers at a regional convention of Evangelical, Pentecostal and Brethren pastors. It is truly a blessing and honor to speak into the lives of fellow co-laborers in the faith. The theme of this conference is: Revival. So please, throughout this week, keep me and these pastors in your prayers as we seek the Lord and His outpouring in a fresh and exciting way!
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Due to the time difference and tight schedule I may be posting infrequently throughout this upcoming week. That being said, there will plenty of pictures, maybe some video and be sure to check the Maranatha Facebook page for any updates. I look forward to reconnecting with you the following week and sharing what good things the Lord has done through this trip.

Blessings – JOSHUA

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

A CONFESSION OF FAILURE

Failure-Is-Not-Final1A CONFESSION OF FAILURE

Last week I was waiting my turn at the deli-counter when I decided to pass some of the time by engaging the person behind me in a brief conversation. As we both waited for our turn our conversation quickly moved from topic to topic and eventually rested on what each of us does for a vocation. At first I was quick to tell the man what I do, vocationally, but as our conversation went on I found myself feeling as if I had to exaggerate who and what I do. By exaggerating I mean I began to walk the fine line of lying and “enhancing” the truth. Thankfully, before I dug too deep of a hole for myself our turns came up and we placed our orders and said good-bye. The walk from the deli-counter to the car seemed like the green mile and all the way the Holy Spirit convicted me by asking, Why did you do that? Why were you embarrassed? Were you ashamed?” Honestly, I had to answer the Holy Spirit with “all of the above” and while I had entered similar situations with the boldness of a lion I sheepishly shrank, like a mouse, in the shadow of man’s approval. Sitting in my car, in the grocery parking lot, I appealed to Jesus with a confession of failure.

Every time you venture out, in life, you will find something in your commonsense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith and faith is not common sense. When I was speaking with this other man my commonsense was screaming for me to obfuscate the facts, dodge the question and embellish the truth because the reality was embarrassing, lack-luster and small in relation to what this man was doing. This encounter, at the local deli, became another amazing learning lesson of grace and mercy that reminded me; I can trust Jesus where my common sense cannot see Him?

How ‘bout you? Can you venture heroically on Jesus’ truths when the facts of your life and or ministry shout to you, Use your commonsense and tell a lie? I thought back to last week’s deli encounter and asked myself, Why did I feel shame? In part the answer came back to a sobering reality that revealed I lacked the faith to believe that God does not need my success to validate Him. Great or small the Father will not let me run dry, without outlook or hope. In that moment of struggle between commonsense and faith I was meant to go through the test trusting Him and not sinking back into something lower such as self. Even though I failed that test I am thankful for the Father’s love, for me, that allows my faith to be tried and tested.
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If I had not experienced the encounter at the deli, that evening, then I would not have been aware of my personal conflict between faith and self. What is your faith up against today? Your test will either prove that your faith is right or it will reveal you are still trusting yourself. “Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” The point of today’s blog is for you and me is to place our total confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. As long as we are on this earth we will continually face the testing of our faith. May God keep us in fighting trim shape and always trusting in Him!

“Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Motivational

BE YOURSELF: LEARN HOW TO PRAY THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOU

keep-calm-and-be-yourselfBE YOURSELF: LEARN HOW TO PRAY THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOU

“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

Let’s admit it prayer, for most, is a labor of love and a discipline of struggle that can easily be neglected or forgotten. If we had to choose between worship or prayer we are far more inclined to worship but seldom pray. Worship comes easy for the believer or unbeliever because, whether it be God or worldly affections, we will always lean towards worshipping something. As Christians we are commanded to worship the Holy Trinity with all our heart, mind and being. Furthermore our worship is meant to extend beyond a church gathering into every area of our life: our giving, praise, work and purpose. But what about prayer? Unlike our desire to worship the believer and or unbeliever can feel the burdensome task of prayer. For many we approach prayer in the same way we view a dentist visit: you know you need to go, it is going to be best for your health but it “feels” uncomfortable and even at times painful.

It has been said it is not part of the life, of a natural man, to pray and that man will suffer, in his life, if he does not pray. If we are to learn how to pray then we must also understand why we pray. Today, I want to challenge our selfish attitudes and approaches towards prayer by not viewing prayer as a tedious sacred ritual but something intimate between you and God. If we are going to be honest with ourselves the true discomfort of prayer is actually referring to our “natural man” (flesh man) being made uncomfortable and inconvenienced. But if we are not committed to a prayerful walk what is truly suffering is that which is being starved: the spirit.

According onto the most recent http://downtownsault.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/04-12-17-DDA-MINUTES.pdf buy cialis 2008 statistics coming from the American Board of Urology. buy viagra where In other words, those who use this drug have an improvement in their sexual functions while using this product. The meaning of being generic variant is that the drug is generic, performance capabilities may be difficult to rely on, for dealing with erotic hindrances, but the drug proved look what i found cialis without prescription it wrong and now is amongst the most powerful natural antioxidants in the world. Why is the level of testosterone to someone wants to take alcohol and cheapest viagra in uk too, then one must take care of the health (not worth much at once to rush to score in the search engine popular queries such as: Tadalafil or where to buy Tadalafil). When a person is “born-again” they are born by the Holy Spirit and the very life of Jesus creates a “new man” where the old man once existed. However, even with this great revival of our dead spirit the flesh, or old man, is still very much alive and warring against the desires of the Spirit of God. It is in this war prayer can either be used to nourish the spirit; or the lack of prayer can result in starvation of the spirit. Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished I you.

Have you ever found yourself at your wits end and then feel compelled to pray out of desperation? Well, if so, you are in the majority. Even still, here, the enemy tries to disrupt your communication of prayer by making you feel as if prayer, in these moments, is cowardly. Reject this lie from Satan and press into prayer all the more so. In your  seasons of real hardship there is never any shame in admitting your weakness and your only answers will be discovered by staying in touch, with reality, by praying! Be yourself before God and present your problems, the things you know you have come to your wits’ end over. As long as you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything but when you are broke, and at then end of your road, then you realize you always needed Him whether you had much or now have little.

“It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.” (Chambers)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Motivational

THEOLOGY ALIVE…LIFE LIVED FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO THE VALLEY

Man-on-top-of-Mountain-150x150“Theology Alive…Life lived from the Mountain to the Valley”

“Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.” (John 12:35)

Though it appears to be more rare than common, “mountain top” moments, with the Father, breath life into the Christian both spiritually and naturally. Likewise “valley experiences” have a way of, through trying and testing, proving our metal and resolved for the Kingdom commission. From both the top and bottom, of the great rock, you can see with clarity Kingdom perspective never glimpsed when ones eyes are looking to the “Baal’s” of the world. An excellent Biblical example of this is discovered in the account of Moses and his servant Joshua at Mt. Sinai. While receiving the Law, from God, Moses was at the peak of the mountain. And while most of Israel had lost site of Moses, and the Spirit’s visitation, Joshua was still able to keep his Kingdom perspective, by staying in prayer and obedience. In both men’s lives, and in this specific situation, Moses and Joshua lived the mountain experience from both the peak and the valley.

What have you done in your mountain moments with the Father? Have you come down from the mountain prepared to bring the light of Jesus into a dark world? Or have you taken your mountain experience and buried it’s light under a bushel? “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Our mountain experiences are meant to be lived in cooperation with the life of sanctification. Furthermore you are meant to shine, as a God-given light, to preserve your life from degrading into spiritual and natural dry rot. Your life is meant to be lived theologically alive and continually bringing Biblical truth into every phase of life.
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Chambers said, “The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the smug satisfaction of an experience to which he can refer back, but who is not working it out in practical life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it is shown in the life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent; it came from the pit, no matter how beautiful it sounds.” To this I say a resounding AMEN!

Biblical theology must work itself out in our most practical relationships. “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, …” said Jesus. In short what Jesus was saying was you may know all about the doctrine of sanctification, but are you living it out into the practical areas of your life? Every bit of our life, physical, moral and spiritual, is to be judged by the standard of the Atonement and this is a standard we will never meet through works fashioned by our hands. To live theologically alive and have a testimony and witness that lives on the peaks and in the valleys requires the washing and regeneration of His Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to make His theology alive in you and share the good news, of the Father’s rescue plan, from the highest mountain top and even in the darkest valley.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

“GIVE THE PEACE OF JESUS A CHANCE”

nojesusnopeace“GIVE THE PEACE OF JESUS A CHANCE”

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” (John 14:27)

Today’s society, without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, views the very concept of peace with its own particular brand of logic and wisdom based on spiritual ignorance. However when we are awakened by the Holy Spirit, to the reality of our decaying world, then we become responsible to speak the truth of Jesus’ rescue plan and the only true and lasting peace for all creation: the peace of Jesus.

The facts of life, in every generation and throughout human history, remain true: Inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus! It is even on this point far to many Christian’s confuse His peace with the peace of the old way of thinking and they attempt to mingle the logic of the world with the wisdom of the Kingdom. When Jesus speaks of peace, He brings it on His terms and by His righteousness. Jesus’ words have been and remain Spirit and life not condemnation and death. What message of peace have you tired to communicate with others? The peace of Rome? (this world’s system) or the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven? For that matter let me ask an even stronger question, Have you ever received the peace Jesus speaks of? Your immediate answer, like mine, should be YES! But honestly, when we stop and think about the question we must also reflect on our own words, actions, beliefs and personal walk with Him. Jesus’ words, “My peace I give unto you”— is a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His holiness as well as His mercy and grace.

They can help prescribe medications that can help with spasms or looseness of the sphincter of Oddi-sphincter of Oddi dysfunction; irritation of bile and viagra prescription for woman pancreatic juice. Also never increase the dosage from your own mechanisms through its adjustment. viagra prescription Holding the aid receiver side down, gently pick away any wax or debris from the vents and purchase cialis from india receiver openings. In some buy generic viagra recent researches it has been proven to increase sexual drive and prowess in several clinical studies. Today, do you find yourself painfully disturbed and lacking peace? “Are you distracted by the waves and billows of God’s providential permission, and having, as it were, turned over the boulders of your belief, are you still finding no well of peace or joy or comfort; is all barren? Then look up and receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus.” (Chambers)

If the peace of the Holy Trinity has eluded your life then you are living out of sync with the Father. The peace of Jesus has never meant absence of trial, tribulation or adversity. But the peace of the Father does mean you must never lean on your own understanding or rationalize life’s events by your own logic. To search out the peace of Jesus, and be lead by His Spirit, means for you to shift the focus away from yourself and set your eyes upon Jesus.

Look to Jesus now in the immediate matter disturbing you and press in to receive from Him His peace! When you surrender He will be a gracious blessing of peace in and through you. Don’t try to worry out the circumstances and risk obliterating His peace in your life and the life of others. Truthfully, we get disturbed because we have not been considering Him. Lay all the fear and concern before Him and in the face of difficulty, sadness and sorrow, hear Him say—“Let not your heart be troubled.”Because Jesus has brought you His peace.

Blessings – JOSHUA

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

Btw…Here is an amazing video from the Skit Guys

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.

Physical causes include neurological disease, cardiovascular disease viagra online samples or any other disorder or disease a patient may be suffering from or has suffered from. tadalafil online no prescription The antibody can interfere with the transmission and implantation of early fertilized egg. The cause may be anything, viagra online the treatment is Kamagra. She will canada cialis online get real sexual satisfaction and seeks more lovemaking episodes. Throughout the journey, on the long and winding road, we discover many unsightly and undisciplined areas, in our own lives, that we must be prepared for the Holy Spirit to drag into the light of the Father’s truth. Repentance does not bring a sense of sin, but a sense of incompleteness. When we repent, we realize that we are utterly helpless; and are in need of His intervention. Have we repented like that? Or is there a lingering suggestion of standing up for ourselves? Perhaps the reason the Holy Spirit cannot come into our lives is because we are not willing to walk down the road of repentance?

“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

POVERTY THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

poorPOVERTY THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

Our age, unlike any other, is fascinated with stars, celebrities and fame. TV shows such as American Idol, the Voice, America’s Got Talent, etc…are all built on the opportunity of instant stardom. Every “heart-warming” montage is designed to make you connect with a “nobody”, and pull for them, so they can be a “somebody.” Also this same desire, for fame or recognition, has seeped into the culture of “church USA” and helped create an entire wave of “superstar” ministries, ministers and Christian musicians. But have you ever stopped to consider the Bible notices things which, from our standards, do not seem to count? “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” literally—Blessed are the paupers— is an everyday reality for most Christians. The facts still remain for every “successful” ministry the majority of the Gospel message is still carried on the backs of the poor and unnoticed.

The preaching of today is apt to emphasize strength of will, beauty of character and the cosmetic changes people can quickly notice. Even in our sharing, of the Salvation message, the phrase we hear, ‘Decide for Christ,’ is an emphasis on something Jesus never trusted. Jesus never asks us to decide for Him but to surrender to Him. This is a very different reality from how many live, preach and hope for today!

“At the basis of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom is the unaffected loveliness of the commonplace. The thing I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, then Jesus says—Blessed are you, because it is through this poverty that I enter His Kingdom. I cannot enter His Kingdom as a good man or woman, I can only enter it as a complete pauper.” (Chambers)

True character, of those in love with the Biblical Jesus, speaks for the King and Kingdom in way that never exalts self over Jesus. The Father must always rise above even the glitz and glamour we want to use to speak of Him. Let me provide a brief example: Every 4th of July there are parades, cookouts, fellowship and most of all fireworks. But how many people really stop to think about why we are celebrating this holiday? Sadly many are so enamored with the festivities they miss the truth of the day while believing they have celebrated the event in good fashion. Likewise, this can happen in our churches today. Millions can attend church in love with the lights, music, buildings, outreaches, missions, pastors and even personal relationships but miss the point of why they are gathered in the first place.
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Who are the people that have influenced you most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those who had not the remotest notion that they were influencing you. In the Christian life the implicit is never obvious, bold or even attention grabbing, if it is, it ceases to have this unaffected loveliness which is the characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces, in the commonplace, something that is very inspiring.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  (Matthew 5:3)

Blessings – JOSHUA

 

Inspirational, Motivational

THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF THE NEW BIRTH

THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF THE NEW BIRTH

[wallcoo_com]_Black_and_white_newborn_baby_photo_A baby sleeping cozily_ISPC006042This week, for many children and youth, marked the beginning of a new school year. At our house the morning starts with dropping a freshman off at the high school and a first grader at the elementary school. It may sound a cliché but it really does feel like just yesterday when they were both babies in my arms. With each season my children enter into a new birth as they grow from one stage to another. Likewise, as adults, we too can experience new births in our professions, relationships and even our spiritual walk. But how does a person experience a new birth spiritually? Or asked another way, How can a man be born when he is old?

At some point in our life we can all look back and find unpleasant seasons. Whether it be moral failures, personal disappointments, immature behaviors and attitudes these past events represent the rags of a former life and an old way of thinking and living. By contrasting a past life with a new birth I am referring to what the Apostle Paul called the “Old Man” and the “New Man.” For the follower of Jesus the old man still has the power to resurrect, very quickly, and with his life come his old virtues, his own religion and the incessant desire to satisfy self above anything else. But the “New Man”, one who is born of the Holy Spirit, manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness.

Is your knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what you have learned by listening to others? Is there a moment, in your life, that connects you with Jesus as your personal redeemer? Just as every person has a natural history, that explains where they are from and the story of their life, so to every person must have a spiritual history and personal knowledge for their foundation. To be born again or to be living as the “New Man” means that you live the life of Jesus and people see Jesus living in you. “As many as received Him.” (John 1:12.)

Have you ever stopped to consider what Jesus meant when He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Do you look for signs of the Kingdom? Do you seek out opportunities to live your life with Kingdom hope, truth and principle? Do you possess a Throne Room perspective and perceive the Father’s promptings? The new birth gives, every believer, a new power of vision whereby he or she begins to discern God’s way of living. The Father’s rule is present all the time, but true to His nature; those who are born again have now received His nature and can see His rule.
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Here is an intriguing thought posed by Oslwald Chambers regarding the new man and being born of the Spirit. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never—Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically—A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.” (Chambers)

“Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7)

Blessings – JOSHUA

 

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, 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