I was in a local market recently and stopped by my favorite french fry stand (Brickers Fries) and talked with the owner. I have been stopping by Craig's booth for years and over time we have formed a great relationship. Anyway he like to introduce me to people that are at his stand and always announces to people to watch their language because Brian is a man of God. Pretty cool!
Anyway, he introduced me to another gentleman that was also a Pastor. I asked him about his church and he just hung his head and then gave me the following not so uncommon story. He was the retired Pastor of this congregation but had stuck around. He told me the church is mixed between members his age and a crowd in their 30's. He went on to say that the older crowd loved hymns and the younger crowd loved modern worship. They had come to an agreement to do the worship service with 50% of each style of worship. Well over the next year the crowd of younger folks grew bigger and they either forgot or ignored the request of sharing the style of songs and before you knew it there was a big controversy in that body. To make a long story short they could not as Christian brethren come to the grace needed to work this out and so the church split. Over 100 people left the church along with to my surprise this retired Pastor.
Can I say this without anybody getting mad at me??? Worship is not for YOU! Worship is something we present to the Lord and not because it feels good but because we get to. One day every knee will bow before the Lord willing or not in worship but for now we get the honor and privilege to come before Him and give back to him a part of the perfect love he has given us. The bi-product of that is feeling His awesome presence and being drawn into his Glory. If and listen carefully, if that is why you worship you worship amiss. Worship is about blessing God and filling your selfish soulish wants.
Style of music is selfish and soulish! Grow up church! It's not about you. I repeat. It's not about you! How you feel. How many fast or slow songs. How many new or old songs. How long or short it is. All of that is irrelevant to what you bring before the Lord. Stop giving the enemy a foothold into your mind and into the bride of Christ by having these evil desires devour what the Lord is and wants to do among us. Repent before your God for bringing division inside the very place of worship and repent before your church leaders for your attitude. Give worship and if you are in the house of worship the Lord has called you be faithful. It may mean a trip to the cross for your flesh but it will end the battle in you and the strife if any in your church.
In His Service.
Brother Brian
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
What is the Church Doing?
Our family had company over last night as we often do and we talked about many things. Can you tell me what your church is doing? That is my question. Many will answer back with times of service and the many programs that their church is keeping busy doing but what is the statement the "church" is sending to the community?
Television style ministries and copy cat cookie cutter churches and programs rule the day. But when you go to the street and ask a person that lives in the community what that church does you would be crushed to find out what their answer is. Most would say they didn't even notice that there was a church there. Most would say that they are turned off by the constant plea for money and empty promises from the pulpit that have no root in Biblical interpretation.
I tried to watch "Christian" television last night on 6 different channels and the biggest message that I heard was to send in money. 1 Timothy 6:3-9 tells of how many will be attracted to being church leaders but with the wrong motives. Jesus said that we are his workmanship created for the expressed purpose of doing good works. We are not saved by these works but we show that the same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead is alive in us and it quickens us to do the works of Jesus on earth today. What a concept!
What is your church doing to the least of these? Or does your church just pay attention to those that can support them with finances? What do the people around your church testify about you and the benefit of having your church in their community? Do they know you are there? Do they know you care? Let's stop playing church and start being the church.
In His Service and Under His Mercy!
Brother Brian
Television style ministries and copy cat cookie cutter churches and programs rule the day. But when you go to the street and ask a person that lives in the community what that church does you would be crushed to find out what their answer is. Most would say they didn't even notice that there was a church there. Most would say that they are turned off by the constant plea for money and empty promises from the pulpit that have no root in Biblical interpretation.
I tried to watch "Christian" television last night on 6 different channels and the biggest message that I heard was to send in money. 1 Timothy 6:3-9 tells of how many will be attracted to being church leaders but with the wrong motives. Jesus said that we are his workmanship created for the expressed purpose of doing good works. We are not saved by these works but we show that the same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead is alive in us and it quickens us to do the works of Jesus on earth today. What a concept!
What is your church doing to the least of these? Or does your church just pay attention to those that can support them with finances? What do the people around your church testify about you and the benefit of having your church in their community? Do they know you are there? Do they know you care? Let's stop playing church and start being the church.
In His Service and Under His Mercy!
Brother Brian
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Confusion is not from God
Did you know that the author and finisher of our faith is not a God that authors confusion? There is a great deal of confusion in the body of Christ today and that is a sad statement regarding the level of maturity in our leaders and congregations.
I was reading a sermon this morning from Smith Wigglesworth that was delivered to a bunch of church leaders in the 1920's. He was talking to them from a position of integrity of the walk he had been and still was living. He said that he does not read books other than the Bible. He said he never refers to himself while preaching. He said while others liked to tell stories about others and meetings they had in the past he only preached the gospel. He taught that the power was in the word of God and not anything in him that he could give except the truth of Jesus Christ.
Charles Finney was also a man of great integrity. He was so careful to not let man put him on a pedestal that he would shut down meetings when they got out of order. Today we have people chasing after a group of self proclaimed "special anointed" men and women to get something of them all in the name of Jesus.
All the while they say they are standing on the foundation of these men of integrity and are walking in and past their level of anointing. We have false teachings and glorification of angels, prophets, and such self promotion that confusion abounds. Error is even embraced as long as the desired outcome is reached in the eye's of the people. We have third heaven visitations and cultist manifestations and mind control and and men and women in leadership are flocking towards this like bugs to a night light.
There is a vacuum in leadership in today's church and an absolute drought of the word of God. You know we have no power to make the Bible say what we want it to! God has intentioned his word to be understood and in the manner he has ordained. In other words we can't manipulate the word to suit ourselves as if we are gods to ourselves. The word of God can not mean something today that it never meant when it was written. It can not have a different understanding than that of which the people who first read it understood it or better yet the first writers inspired by the Holy Spirit meant it.
Nobody can tell you what I really mean to convey in my writings but me. You can say, "Well this is what I think it means" but without talking with me about this blog you would make some wrong conclusions. Without having the teacher of all things reveal his word to you in study you can be deceived to believe a false conclusion and therefore have wrong application of the word of God in your life. That is confusion and that my friend is not of God.
Stop being fed from men and women falsehoods about the kingdom of God! We will talk about things that are in confusion and abound in the church today that are misunderstood and misapplied. They are anointing, glory, word of knowledge, power, worship, impartation, mantels, soaking, trips to third heaven, etc. We will explore the word of God and see what is truth and what is fiction. Stay tuned and God Bless your day.
I was reading a sermon this morning from Smith Wigglesworth that was delivered to a bunch of church leaders in the 1920's. He was talking to them from a position of integrity of the walk he had been and still was living. He said that he does not read books other than the Bible. He said he never refers to himself while preaching. He said while others liked to tell stories about others and meetings they had in the past he only preached the gospel. He taught that the power was in the word of God and not anything in him that he could give except the truth of Jesus Christ.
Charles Finney was also a man of great integrity. He was so careful to not let man put him on a pedestal that he would shut down meetings when they got out of order. Today we have people chasing after a group of self proclaimed "special anointed" men and women to get something of them all in the name of Jesus.
All the while they say they are standing on the foundation of these men of integrity and are walking in and past their level of anointing. We have false teachings and glorification of angels, prophets, and such self promotion that confusion abounds. Error is even embraced as long as the desired outcome is reached in the eye's of the people. We have third heaven visitations and cultist manifestations and mind control and and men and women in leadership are flocking towards this like bugs to a night light.
There is a vacuum in leadership in today's church and an absolute drought of the word of God. You know we have no power to make the Bible say what we want it to! God has intentioned his word to be understood and in the manner he has ordained. In other words we can't manipulate the word to suit ourselves as if we are gods to ourselves. The word of God can not mean something today that it never meant when it was written. It can not have a different understanding than that of which the people who first read it understood it or better yet the first writers inspired by the Holy Spirit meant it.
Nobody can tell you what I really mean to convey in my writings but me. You can say, "Well this is what I think it means" but without talking with me about this blog you would make some wrong conclusions. Without having the teacher of all things reveal his word to you in study you can be deceived to believe a false conclusion and therefore have wrong application of the word of God in your life. That is confusion and that my friend is not of God.
Stop being fed from men and women falsehoods about the kingdom of God! We will talk about things that are in confusion and abound in the church today that are misunderstood and misapplied. They are anointing, glory, word of knowledge, power, worship, impartation, mantels, soaking, trips to third heaven, etc. We will explore the word of God and see what is truth and what is fiction. Stay tuned and God Bless your day.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Revival? Still Watching
I have been silent on the Blog for some time and have been very busy elsewhere. I have also been watching the "Healing Revival" taking place in Florida. My time watching this has not been one of great joy as many have been sharing with me in my circle. I have also been tired for some time since the 1990's and the Toronto and Brownsville movements trying to make sense of why God is good to us despite our willingness to get what he doing wrong.
Now don't hear me wrong here, I am not saying these movements of the past or what is happening in Florida is not of God but how we as the church react to it. Follow along with me if you will. I have watched over 20 hours of this event on God TV and I see a lot of God's love being poured out to His people. I also see, hear and feel lots of man's pride. My phone has been ringing off the hook from friend and family all over the country and they all have the same things to say that I find curious.
The focus of the reports I hear from past events and this one are focused on a person in leadership or gold dust and gold teeth and not the Love of Christ for His Bride! I was also at a leadership conference recently that talked about having new wine skins to contain the new wine that God wants to give. I heard also that we need not be defenders of what God has done so much as to leave room for God to do new works today. HMMMM???
Although I agree with these statements to a group of leaders who are mature I can also see that people will react how they want. There is a feeling of old Jewish Mysticism and 2nd century Gnosticism mixed in together here in the mass of people at these events. I don't look for gold dust or gold teeth but Salvation's as a true marker of the fruit of a revival. Charles Finney said that the power of God's presence would show up to bring conviction of sin and conversion to righteousness. I'm not set up to judge these current events or past events in any other way as to ask where are the conversions??? Isn't that the ultimate healing?
I have seen my share of God's healing power. I have to line up what God is doing today as with what he has done in the past. I have to discount the teaching that tells me that God would do something today or tomorrow that would disagree with the Word of God. Jesus healed people and did miracles to draw people to repentance. To look back at Toronto and Brownsville we should have seen a great influx of people into our churches and the facts are that church membership and attendance is down all over North America. I would say that whatever God is doing today in Florida or in your backyard let us not lose sight that we who are saved should look to be refreshed in these movements but for the betterment of our towns and cities and the lost. If all this is going to be is another feel good display of self absorbed self seeking what can God do for me events than count me out.
I pray that you join with me and pray that we respond to what God is doing in a proper way for his Glory. Amen!
Now don't hear me wrong here, I am not saying these movements of the past or what is happening in Florida is not of God but how we as the church react to it. Follow along with me if you will. I have watched over 20 hours of this event on God TV and I see a lot of God's love being poured out to His people. I also see, hear and feel lots of man's pride. My phone has been ringing off the hook from friend and family all over the country and they all have the same things to say that I find curious.
The focus of the reports I hear from past events and this one are focused on a person in leadership or gold dust and gold teeth and not the Love of Christ for His Bride! I was also at a leadership conference recently that talked about having new wine skins to contain the new wine that God wants to give. I heard also that we need not be defenders of what God has done so much as to leave room for God to do new works today. HMMMM???
Although I agree with these statements to a group of leaders who are mature I can also see that people will react how they want. There is a feeling of old Jewish Mysticism and 2nd century Gnosticism mixed in together here in the mass of people at these events. I don't look for gold dust or gold teeth but Salvation's as a true marker of the fruit of a revival. Charles Finney said that the power of God's presence would show up to bring conviction of sin and conversion to righteousness. I'm not set up to judge these current events or past events in any other way as to ask where are the conversions??? Isn't that the ultimate healing?
I have seen my share of God's healing power. I have to line up what God is doing today as with what he has done in the past. I have to discount the teaching that tells me that God would do something today or tomorrow that would disagree with the Word of God. Jesus healed people and did miracles to draw people to repentance. To look back at Toronto and Brownsville we should have seen a great influx of people into our churches and the facts are that church membership and attendance is down all over North America. I would say that whatever God is doing today in Florida or in your backyard let us not lose sight that we who are saved should look to be refreshed in these movements but for the betterment of our towns and cities and the lost. If all this is going to be is another feel good display of self absorbed self seeking what can God do for me events than count me out.
I pray that you join with me and pray that we respond to what God is doing in a proper way for his Glory. Amen!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Pearls before Swine?
Remember the Girgishite Spirit is about earthly matters so much that it can not contain the things of God's Spirit. What I am about to say will probably be deemed controversial and hateful but let me say my life is not aimed at either. I am writing this from many years of finding the resource of God's people and of the church wasted on fighting what we have not been called to fight. Therefore these resources have been wasted and frustration has battled individual Christians and the body of Christ.
OK Brian what are you talking about, you may be asking? Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). These are the words of Jesus. He knew in our compassion and eagerness to share the gospel that we would also get bogged down trying to save that one that is not ready for Him or should I say not ready to stop living a life devoted to anything but themselves. Again, the Girgishite spirit can waste and ruin a church's time, talent and treasure.
A dog cares not whether his meal comes from a holy alter of worship or the garbage pits of hell. A pig does not appreciate the value, beauty and time it took to make a pearl as it watches it thrown carelessly at its feet. Yet we lack the wisdom of when to pour out and when to withdrawal as exampled by Christ himself as he faced similar situations. Your life, time, energy, opportunities and abilities are God's pearls. They're His! Amen! You and I are merely His stewards overseeing His possessions (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 4:1,2; 1 Peter 4:8-11). Yet out of confusion of not understanding our limitations and the instruction's of God we waste them and fall flat, exhausted and ready to throw in the towel and settle for something less than what the promise of God is for us and our churches. Can I say something here? STOP IT!!!!
Jesus also said this: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 I believe we have been out of balance in this equation for to long. We have not walked in the shrewdness Jesus has said we could and all the while his prophesy of sheep being in the midst of wolves has overtaken us. We are not protected from the wolves if we are not obedient and trusting in Him in that time. Staying innocent as doves mean we may feel really bad when we have to walk away but we have used the wisdom of God not as an excuse to not do something but to let God deal with that person or that situation some more until it is ready for heavenly treasure. All the while we can feel safe that we obeyed the instruction of our Lord and remain innocent with clean hands.
Christian, if you are feeling low on batteries today let me suggest you go to the storehouse of God and renew your strength. Learn how to recognize the Girgashite spirit alive in someone that you may be dealing with that is draining you and pray for that heavenly shrewdness of how to expend the treasure of heaven. Have a great day in the Lord! Brian PS. Did I mention that many times these people are in our family or inside our church walls?? I'll write more on this next time.....
OK Brian what are you talking about, you may be asking? Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). These are the words of Jesus. He knew in our compassion and eagerness to share the gospel that we would also get bogged down trying to save that one that is not ready for Him or should I say not ready to stop living a life devoted to anything but themselves. Again, the Girgishite spirit can waste and ruin a church's time, talent and treasure.
A dog cares not whether his meal comes from a holy alter of worship or the garbage pits of hell. A pig does not appreciate the value, beauty and time it took to make a pearl as it watches it thrown carelessly at its feet. Yet we lack the wisdom of when to pour out and when to withdrawal as exampled by Christ himself as he faced similar situations. Your life, time, energy, opportunities and abilities are God's pearls. They're His! Amen! You and I are merely His stewards overseeing His possessions (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 4:1,2; 1 Peter 4:8-11). Yet out of confusion of not understanding our limitations and the instruction's of God we waste them and fall flat, exhausted and ready to throw in the towel and settle for something less than what the promise of God is for us and our churches. Can I say something here? STOP IT!!!!
Jesus also said this: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 I believe we have been out of balance in this equation for to long. We have not walked in the shrewdness Jesus has said we could and all the while his prophesy of sheep being in the midst of wolves has overtaken us. We are not protected from the wolves if we are not obedient and trusting in Him in that time. Staying innocent as doves mean we may feel really bad when we have to walk away but we have used the wisdom of God not as an excuse to not do something but to let God deal with that person or that situation some more until it is ready for heavenly treasure. All the while we can feel safe that we obeyed the instruction of our Lord and remain innocent with clean hands.
Christian, if you are feeling low on batteries today let me suggest you go to the storehouse of God and renew your strength. Learn how to recognize the Girgashite spirit alive in someone that you may be dealing with that is draining you and pray for that heavenly shrewdness of how to expend the treasure of heaven. Have a great day in the Lord! Brian PS. Did I mention that many times these people are in our family or inside our church walls?? I'll write more on this next time.....
Saturday, March 15, 2008
What Land??
The Lord said to Moses I have heard the cries of my people in the land of Egypt. Now what most people forget is that the Lord prophesied that he would make them a great nation in Egypt. He even said how long the time in captivity would last. The story of ancient Israel is a treasure for us today! There is such richness, such timely lessons for today and guidance for tomorrow.
I see the grace of God in the three lands of ancient Israel. Those lands were Egypt, the wilderness, and the land of promise. God in his love for us has given us himself in so many way's to show his grace it is mind blowing to me. His word is amazing! What a deposit of grace and what a gift to his Bride. Thank You Lord for revealing yourself to us through your eternal word.
Let me encourage you today in your pilgrimage as a child of God that you look for and appreciate the grace of God no matter which country you are currently in. You may not be fully out of Egypt or you may be in the wilderness but let me say that you can only move forward as you find and acknowledge the grace of God in your life. What good is God doing in your life? If you struggle with that answer then let me suggest you take some time for a talk with God. Renew a right spirit in me should be the focus of our prayer when we struggle to answer the above question. Create in me a new heart O' God and show me God the fullness of your grace in the land I am in. Have a good time finding God in the land you live in and he will provide wisdom for how long to stay in that land and when to move on out of Egypt or the wilderness.....But do not despise where you are IF it is a place God has you hemmed in to learn to find him and obey him and trust him. Remember the Hebrews were in Egypt to become a great nation! You have greatness inside of you ready to shine as you blossom into the plan and will of God in your life. Seek Him today and enjoy His Grace! Brian
I see the grace of God in the three lands of ancient Israel. Those lands were Egypt, the wilderness, and the land of promise. God in his love for us has given us himself in so many way's to show his grace it is mind blowing to me. His word is amazing! What a deposit of grace and what a gift to his Bride. Thank You Lord for revealing yourself to us through your eternal word.
Let me encourage you today in your pilgrimage as a child of God that you look for and appreciate the grace of God no matter which country you are currently in. You may not be fully out of Egypt or you may be in the wilderness but let me say that you can only move forward as you find and acknowledge the grace of God in your life. What good is God doing in your life? If you struggle with that answer then let me suggest you take some time for a talk with God. Renew a right spirit in me should be the focus of our prayer when we struggle to answer the above question. Create in me a new heart O' God and show me God the fullness of your grace in the land I am in. Have a good time finding God in the land you live in and he will provide wisdom for how long to stay in that land and when to move on out of Egypt or the wilderness.....But do not despise where you are IF it is a place God has you hemmed in to learn to find him and obey him and trust him. Remember the Hebrews were in Egypt to become a great nation! You have greatness inside of you ready to shine as you blossom into the plan and will of God in your life. Seek Him today and enjoy His Grace! Brian
Friday, March 14, 2008
Part III GIrgashite Spirit
Remember God has delivered us from the slavery of sin, our spiritual Egypt. But God has not saved us to die in the wilderness as were the complaints of the Israelites to Moses and by default God himself. How often can our natural senses of our sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell make us long for the wrong things of our old master. Even our faith is tested by that Girgashite spirit in our soul. (Mind, Will and Emotions) Remember that this is an earthly minded spirit that detests and even hates the things of God's Spirit.
I find that the tough economic times we all are facing with higher prices on things that we all need to live will turn our mind into trying to naturally figure it all out and how We will make it work. Gas is $3.25 a gallon for regular and groceries are up more than 20% from this time last year. Insurance rates are increasing and property tax's are up. Energy costs in the state of Pennsylvania are going up every year and in the year 2011 are going to increase more than 50% when the governmental caps are removed. All this and the dollar shifting to a value worse than ever in our history is enough to test our faith.
A person with a Girgshite spirit becomes uneasy very easily when these events unfold. This person will also run and try to figure out a way to stay ahead and work themselves into a frenzy till the crisis is over. You know if there is a test of our faith there is a way to stay in the perfect will of God through the storm. I know the American way is to work, work and work some more when we need money. I'm not saying that is not what God would want of us but to trust him in what to do and even what job we should have and what expenditures we should make would be a nice step in making him Lord and not just Savior. To have the gift of His peace in the storm and to let that peace guide our paths as we acknowledge our need for the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. Again the brother Hittite (fear) will be close by the Girgishite (earthly minded) spirit to keep you from victory in your soul.
Can I make a bold statement??? The Lord prayed that God's will be done, and His Kingdom come HERE on Earth as it is in Heaven....Right? We are also promised that we will rule and reign here with Christ....Right?? I hope you said yes! Now here is my statement. I believe we are called to rule and reign with the power and authority of Christ in OUR OWN LIVES HERE ON EARTH AS IT WILL BE IN HEAVEN! How? Defeat the enemies of your soul and give them no life as we have been learning about since this blog began. The enemies of Deuteronomy 7 need to go from our lives so we can rule with Christ. Digest that for awhile and give me your thoughts and comments. Don't run back to Egypt and your old master of being a slave to fear and relying on your own understanding. Increase in faith by praying in the Spirit! Seek out God's plan and seek the counsel of spiritual fathers in your life. You can do it! Brian
I find that the tough economic times we all are facing with higher prices on things that we all need to live will turn our mind into trying to naturally figure it all out and how We will make it work. Gas is $3.25 a gallon for regular and groceries are up more than 20% from this time last year. Insurance rates are increasing and property tax's are up. Energy costs in the state of Pennsylvania are going up every year and in the year 2011 are going to increase more than 50% when the governmental caps are removed. All this and the dollar shifting to a value worse than ever in our history is enough to test our faith.
A person with a Girgshite spirit becomes uneasy very easily when these events unfold. This person will also run and try to figure out a way to stay ahead and work themselves into a frenzy till the crisis is over. You know if there is a test of our faith there is a way to stay in the perfect will of God through the storm. I know the American way is to work, work and work some more when we need money. I'm not saying that is not what God would want of us but to trust him in what to do and even what job we should have and what expenditures we should make would be a nice step in making him Lord and not just Savior. To have the gift of His peace in the storm and to let that peace guide our paths as we acknowledge our need for the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. Again the brother Hittite (fear) will be close by the Girgishite (earthly minded) spirit to keep you from victory in your soul.
Can I make a bold statement??? The Lord prayed that God's will be done, and His Kingdom come HERE on Earth as it is in Heaven....Right? We are also promised that we will rule and reign here with Christ....Right?? I hope you said yes! Now here is my statement. I believe we are called to rule and reign with the power and authority of Christ in OUR OWN LIVES HERE ON EARTH AS IT WILL BE IN HEAVEN! How? Defeat the enemies of your soul and give them no life as we have been learning about since this blog began. The enemies of Deuteronomy 7 need to go from our lives so we can rule with Christ. Digest that for awhile and give me your thoughts and comments. Don't run back to Egypt and your old master of being a slave to fear and relying on your own understanding. Increase in faith by praying in the Spirit! Seek out God's plan and seek the counsel of spiritual fathers in your life. You can do it! Brian
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Part II Girgashite Spirit
So each day that goes by is a way for us to reflect and learn from what went right and what went, well, not so right. I am guilty of not walking in the spirit and letting that gentle voice guide me and instruct me in all things. The Girgishite Spirit can get our attention so focused on what we see around us that we become judge and King of what we take in. That my friends is a dangerous place to be!
How many times have we judged the Sunday service at church sifted through our earthly attitudes? That was a good service or that was a bad service or Pastor was good or Pastor had a bad day are thoughts we all have had. Worship was good or worship stunk. They did to many fast songs or too many slow songs or the music was to loud or to soft. I love this one...Other people just weren't joining in and doing their part! Hello? Who appointed us Judge and King?
Jesus said that a time is coming and is now that the Father is looking for people that would worship in Spirit and in Truth. So what part of who we are, (Body, Soul and Spirit) makes the call on what the outcome of the service was? The Soul is made up of the mind, will and emotions. It's in this part of who we are that the Girgashite Spirit attacks. We judge those things of our service by how our Soul responds forgetting that the service is not about us to begin with. The whole service is an act of worship or it should be. Our entire day is an act of worship or so it should be. Our entire life is an opportunity to serve the Lord of Lords in worship as we present our lives as living sacrifice to the Father.
I've never seen a sacrifice dictate to how it should look or feel while it was being offered up. Isaac never said a word to Abraham as he put him on the alter. Jesus as he presented himself as the final atonement for you and me surrendered more than we could ever know or imagine to satisfy the wrath of the Father for our sins. We need to defeat this selfish attitude of the Girgashite in ourselves and our church so we can become the worshippers God is looking for. We can do it! What are your thoughts?? Let me know. Brian
How many times have we judged the Sunday service at church sifted through our earthly attitudes? That was a good service or that was a bad service or Pastor was good or Pastor had a bad day are thoughts we all have had. Worship was good or worship stunk. They did to many fast songs or too many slow songs or the music was to loud or to soft. I love this one...Other people just weren't joining in and doing their part! Hello? Who appointed us Judge and King?
Jesus said that a time is coming and is now that the Father is looking for people that would worship in Spirit and in Truth. So what part of who we are, (Body, Soul and Spirit) makes the call on what the outcome of the service was? The Soul is made up of the mind, will and emotions. It's in this part of who we are that the Girgashite Spirit attacks. We judge those things of our service by how our Soul responds forgetting that the service is not about us to begin with. The whole service is an act of worship or it should be. Our entire day is an act of worship or so it should be. Our entire life is an opportunity to serve the Lord of Lords in worship as we present our lives as living sacrifice to the Father.
I've never seen a sacrifice dictate to how it should look or feel while it was being offered up. Isaac never said a word to Abraham as he put him on the alter. Jesus as he presented himself as the final atonement for you and me surrendered more than we could ever know or imagine to satisfy the wrath of the Father for our sins. We need to defeat this selfish attitude of the Girgashite in ourselves and our church so we can become the worshippers God is looking for. We can do it! What are your thoughts?? Let me know. Brian
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Girgashite Spirit Part I
The tribe of Canaan that I see alive today in the church that the Lord warned us against and like the nation of Israel need to defeat are the Girgashites. Deuteronomy 7:1 lists them as the second nation that the Lord would hand over and prepare for defeat. The concordance defines girgashite as one who dwells in clay or earthiness.
Now I can tell you that nothing grows in clay except weeds and if you have ever planted in clay soil and have had good results let me know. So a person who's soul is attacked by this spirit is robbed of anything of God's Spirit as told to us by Jesus in the parable of the seed it can not grow. A person who is so earthly minded they are no heavenly good is another way of seeing a person under this spirit.
Have you ever been in a meeting at church or in a small group and the Spirit of the Lord was moving and then someone disrupted the moment by getting up and leaving? I've seen what seems like a marching band in a parade stand up and go out of the sanctuary when the Spirit moves. Some people get up to go to the bathroom. Others go and check on their children in the nursery or Sunday school class while others just get up and leave all together. Why? The Girgishite spirit can not accept the LIFE of God and His Spirit. Life other than what can be experienced through natural senses makes this person uncomfortable.
Today as instructed of the Lord we must totally defeat the enemy of the Girgishite in our lives and in our congregations. Now I am not a believer in giving any glory to the enemy or even focusing my prayers in that manner. Let me encourage you today to bring the word of the Lord near to you and get this scripture of instruction to take the promise into you and let God be God. What we have done in cultural Christianity is to cultivate an atmosphere of comfort for people in our services and not an atmosphere where the Spirit of the Living God is free to manifest and show up. Let me say that I am trying to have the Holy Spirit be my best friend here on earth and I want my best friend to be welcome in church. We let the spirit of the Hittite (Fear) determine how we deal with the spirit of the Girgishite (carnality) in our church to make them "Seeker" friendly.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM! There is a Holy and healthy fear of the Lord and that should be our only fear. This week drive out not only fear but the worries of this world and all earthly thoughts that would keep you away and separated from the move and power of God in your day and in your cooperate service. If you get uncomfortable when the Spirit of the Lord takes over or shows up fight the Girgishite spirit by letting God cultivate and break up the clay soil and add rich soil to your soul. That means staying still and not running away in your physical body or in your mind and let the things that removed you from His presence melt away. Have a great Lords Day everyone! He is highly exalted and worthy of all Praise. Amen!
Now I can tell you that nothing grows in clay except weeds and if you have ever planted in clay soil and have had good results let me know. So a person who's soul is attacked by this spirit is robbed of anything of God's Spirit as told to us by Jesus in the parable of the seed it can not grow. A person who is so earthly minded they are no heavenly good is another way of seeing a person under this spirit.
Have you ever been in a meeting at church or in a small group and the Spirit of the Lord was moving and then someone disrupted the moment by getting up and leaving? I've seen what seems like a marching band in a parade stand up and go out of the sanctuary when the Spirit moves. Some people get up to go to the bathroom. Others go and check on their children in the nursery or Sunday school class while others just get up and leave all together. Why? The Girgishite spirit can not accept the LIFE of God and His Spirit. Life other than what can be experienced through natural senses makes this person uncomfortable.
Today as instructed of the Lord we must totally defeat the enemy of the Girgishite in our lives and in our congregations. Now I am not a believer in giving any glory to the enemy or even focusing my prayers in that manner. Let me encourage you today to bring the word of the Lord near to you and get this scripture of instruction to take the promise into you and let God be God. What we have done in cultural Christianity is to cultivate an atmosphere of comfort for people in our services and not an atmosphere where the Spirit of the Living God is free to manifest and show up. Let me say that I am trying to have the Holy Spirit be my best friend here on earth and I want my best friend to be welcome in church. We let the spirit of the Hittite (Fear) determine how we deal with the spirit of the Girgishite (carnality) in our church to make them "Seeker" friendly.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM! There is a Holy and healthy fear of the Lord and that should be our only fear. This week drive out not only fear but the worries of this world and all earthly thoughts that would keep you away and separated from the move and power of God in your day and in your cooperate service. If you get uncomfortable when the Spirit of the Lord takes over or shows up fight the Girgishite spirit by letting God cultivate and break up the clay soil and add rich soil to your soul. That means staying still and not running away in your physical body or in your mind and let the things that removed you from His presence melt away. Have a great Lords Day everyone! He is highly exalted and worthy of all Praise. Amen!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Hittite Spirit Part II
I've heard it said that you can't make peace with an enemy who is not defeated. What you get instead of peace is a cease fire which let's the enemy regroup and attack another day. As Christians we have traded victory for a false sense of peace that later has bubbled back to battles and wars in our lives.
The wisdom of God in his instructions to the Israelites to defeat the Canaanite tribes totally and completely should be heeded by us today. Even in our own homes we want what looks like peace because we are battle weary and need a rest so we live in the land of "Compromise". Ever been there? I'm sure you have. It's the place the enemy of our soul gives us rest because we have given up the attack on his kingdom. I'm sure that is why Jesus said lukewarm commitment makes him nauseous.
I marvel at the wisdom of the Bible and how when we seek its truth like treasure everything makes perfect harmonious sense. The fact that the first enemy of our soul and in the land were the Hittites. Remember they represent fear and terror. We find it easier to avoid things that we fear even if it is something we know the Lord is calling us to do. For me fear of the unknown has been an enemy in my life. I'm a creature of habit and get comfortable to easy when I live in the land of compromise. Peace only comes from God and not our mind and intellect's ability to reason our way back to comfort. Remember if happiness were a choice and within our ability to choose we as human beings would ALWAYS make that choice! Let me encourage you to not be satisfied until you hear the Lord say well done! Don't let fear stop you today from doing what the gentle voice and leading of the Holy Spirit wants to do in you and through you. We can get out of the land of compromise that is a spiritual dessert only through exercising our faith in obedience. Easier said than done, yes, but we have to make that choice! Go out and kick some Hittite butt today and let me know how God is preparing your enemy for defeat by adding comments to this entry. It's easy to do. Just click on comment below and when prompted log into your Google account. Don't have a Google account then make one free and then finish with your comments. Thanks and have a great day in the Lord! Brian
The wisdom of God in his instructions to the Israelites to defeat the Canaanite tribes totally and completely should be heeded by us today. Even in our own homes we want what looks like peace because we are battle weary and need a rest so we live in the land of "Compromise". Ever been there? I'm sure you have. It's the place the enemy of our soul gives us rest because we have given up the attack on his kingdom. I'm sure that is why Jesus said lukewarm commitment makes him nauseous.
I marvel at the wisdom of the Bible and how when we seek its truth like treasure everything makes perfect harmonious sense. The fact that the first enemy of our soul and in the land were the Hittites. Remember they represent fear and terror. We find it easier to avoid things that we fear even if it is something we know the Lord is calling us to do. For me fear of the unknown has been an enemy in my life. I'm a creature of habit and get comfortable to easy when I live in the land of compromise. Peace only comes from God and not our mind and intellect's ability to reason our way back to comfort. Remember if happiness were a choice and within our ability to choose we as human beings would ALWAYS make that choice! Let me encourage you to not be satisfied until you hear the Lord say well done! Don't let fear stop you today from doing what the gentle voice and leading of the Holy Spirit wants to do in you and through you. We can get out of the land of compromise that is a spiritual dessert only through exercising our faith in obedience. Easier said than done, yes, but we have to make that choice! Go out and kick some Hittite butt today and let me know how God is preparing your enemy for defeat by adding comments to this entry. It's easy to do. Just click on comment below and when prompted log into your Google account. Don't have a Google account then make one free and then finish with your comments. Thanks and have a great day in the Lord! Brian
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Living Part 8-The Hittites
So the first tribe we come to in Deuteronomy 7:1 are the Hittites. There is a teaching that say's there is an order of prominence in lists like this found in the Bible. In other words the significance of order gives more importance to the first name in the list as the more prominent or important. So take special attention to the spiritual enemy that is represented by the Hittites.
The name Hittite means sons of terror or fear. Fear will stop you from acting on what God has commanded or called you to do. I find it interesting that after Moses gave the nation of Israel this blueprint for acquiring the land of promise that we find God assuring Joshua in Joshua 1 verse 3-5 one again. In this encouragement God is giving Joshua the ultimate pep talk and in that he only mentions the land of the Hittites and not the others as we saw in Deuteronomy 7. Why? Fear will stop you in your tracks. Fear will cripple you from acting and even defeat you before the battle begins.
To enter into the full promise of God we have to let God remove all fear from us. Remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood and the unnatural fear in our life is not from God. God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.
Fear is actually faith in the power of our adversary the Devil and not of God. Anything that is not of faith in God is sin. The best encouragement I can give you is that the price has been paid for your freedom because the word of God say's where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom. Freedom from fear is yours and part of the promise of God as you tell the Hittite spirit that can come against your soul (mind, emotion and will) to go in the name of Jesus! Get rid of the squatter that is in your land of promise and defeat him by the blood of the lamb and power of his testimony. Have a great day in the Lord and be strong in the power of his might!
The name Hittite means sons of terror or fear. Fear will stop you from acting on what God has commanded or called you to do. I find it interesting that after Moses gave the nation of Israel this blueprint for acquiring the land of promise that we find God assuring Joshua in Joshua 1 verse 3-5 one again. In this encouragement God is giving Joshua the ultimate pep talk and in that he only mentions the land of the Hittites and not the others as we saw in Deuteronomy 7. Why? Fear will stop you in your tracks. Fear will cripple you from acting and even defeat you before the battle begins.
To enter into the full promise of God we have to let God remove all fear from us. Remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood and the unnatural fear in our life is not from God. God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.
Fear is actually faith in the power of our adversary the Devil and not of God. Anything that is not of faith in God is sin. The best encouragement I can give you is that the price has been paid for your freedom because the word of God say's where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom. Freedom from fear is yours and part of the promise of God as you tell the Hittite spirit that can come against your soul (mind, emotion and will) to go in the name of Jesus! Get rid of the squatter that is in your land of promise and defeat him by the blood of the lamb and power of his testimony. Have a great day in the Lord and be strong in the power of his might!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Living Part 7 The Puzzle
Ok, so here we go. Can you imagine being in this group of people who were getting ready to go and take the promise they have heard about for years and years? What would it look like? How soon Lord? What price? Can you imagine the excitement of finally doing something instead of wandering in the desert? I'm sure you can, as many of us have been wandering in a spiritual desert trying to force the promise on ourselves as if we had the power to it. If we had the ability within ourselves to be happy all the time wouldn't it makes sense that we would choose that? If we had the ability to walk right into the promise of God (we'll discuss what that is) on our own wouldn't we?
We have in my opinion been walking in our own abilities to long. Let me paint a picture of what I mean. Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle of 1000 pieces or more? Oh, the picture on the box is so cool and you start out with very good intentions to finish. Then a busy life takes you away and the pieces get put back in the box. This happens again and again until one day we say I'm going to get the puzzle out and this time I mean business. The ambition is there and after some time you notice some pieces are missing. You are clever and crafty so that is not going to get in the way of you finishing this puzzle so you get a cardboard box and a sharp exacto knife and make the missing pieces yourself. You even pain them and shalack them, place them in the empty spots and then present your finished puzzle as complete, frame it and display it for all to see. But when you look real close you can tell somethings wrong with the picture so you hide it or cover that part of the picture up. You shine a display light on the parts that look right and leave the others in the shadow. Hmmmm. Sounds like how we put our christian life of understanding together.
I live my life by the scripture that say's in all things gain understanding. In other words I would have called the manufacturer of the puzzle to see if I could have bought the missing pieces or if the puzzle was available in its entirity for purchase. Why did I go this far to make a point? Every word in the Bible is there for a reason! Amen! We have skipped over things that have been hard to understand or boring to read. We have skipped them sometimes because we thought there was no value there and like the missing puzzle pieces we have filled in the blanks with our own understanding created with our own abilities with our own hands. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things we for whatever reason have taught ourselves with books and teachings of man or just left that part of the puzzle blank. Either way we have to do better church.
Scripture like Deuteronomy 7:1 that lists names we can't read are easily often skipped over instead of saying Holy Spirit teach me. The dreaded he begets and listing of the tribes are often not looked at let alone studied and taught. Let me encourage you today to take the puzzle off the wall and remove what was not made from the manufacturer. Holy Spirit of Truth teach us and show us your ways! Amen! Don't be discouraged when things are not working as you thought they should. Let's re-focus on what God has really said and be obedient to His word and then let God be God. We can't make a thing happen as if we were little gods. I'm sorry that is what the TV preachers have taught but it is wrong! I'm sorry you are walking in disappointment but trying to make God work in the way and manner you or somebody who taught you thought up will never work. We will see what God said is his promise and how to receive and keep that promise. Hang in there! You will make it!
We have in my opinion been walking in our own abilities to long. Let me paint a picture of what I mean. Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle of 1000 pieces or more? Oh, the picture on the box is so cool and you start out with very good intentions to finish. Then a busy life takes you away and the pieces get put back in the box. This happens again and again until one day we say I'm going to get the puzzle out and this time I mean business. The ambition is there and after some time you notice some pieces are missing. You are clever and crafty so that is not going to get in the way of you finishing this puzzle so you get a cardboard box and a sharp exacto knife and make the missing pieces yourself. You even pain them and shalack them, place them in the empty spots and then present your finished puzzle as complete, frame it and display it for all to see. But when you look real close you can tell somethings wrong with the picture so you hide it or cover that part of the picture up. You shine a display light on the parts that look right and leave the others in the shadow. Hmmmm. Sounds like how we put our christian life of understanding together.
I live my life by the scripture that say's in all things gain understanding. In other words I would have called the manufacturer of the puzzle to see if I could have bought the missing pieces or if the puzzle was available in its entirity for purchase. Why did I go this far to make a point? Every word in the Bible is there for a reason! Amen! We have skipped over things that have been hard to understand or boring to read. We have skipped them sometimes because we thought there was no value there and like the missing puzzle pieces we have filled in the blanks with our own understanding created with our own abilities with our own hands. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things we for whatever reason have taught ourselves with books and teachings of man or just left that part of the puzzle blank. Either way we have to do better church.
Scripture like Deuteronomy 7:1 that lists names we can't read are easily often skipped over instead of saying Holy Spirit teach me. The dreaded he begets and listing of the tribes are often not looked at let alone studied and taught. Let me encourage you today to take the puzzle off the wall and remove what was not made from the manufacturer. Holy Spirit of Truth teach us and show us your ways! Amen! Don't be discouraged when things are not working as you thought they should. Let's re-focus on what God has really said and be obedient to His word and then let God be God. We can't make a thing happen as if we were little gods. I'm sorry that is what the TV preachers have taught but it is wrong! I'm sorry you are walking in disappointment but trying to make God work in the way and manner you or somebody who taught you thought up will never work. We will see what God said is his promise and how to receive and keep that promise. Hang in there! You will make it!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Living Part 6 Here we Go!
When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. Deuteronomy 7:1-5 NIV
Moses who now was 120 years old was giving final instructions on how to go posses the land of milk and honey;the land of promise from the Lord. Remember Moses was not just the deliver of Israel but also a prophet of Yahweh. So these were not just his thoughts of what to do but as spokesman for God he was giving God's strategy. The land was inhabited with different tribes of Canaan. There are seven of those tribes mentioned here but my research shows a total of 12 tribes. We know that the number 7 stands for perfection so the importance of the words here are pointed out with an explanation point to the early reader knowing that by only mentioning 7 they were to listen carefully. Why?
Remember a guy named Noah? Noah was found to be righteous before the Lord and was used as we know to save humankind. In other words he was the Lords anointed! The Bible is full of lessons of how we are to respect and treat the Lords appointed ones. Noah's son Ham sinned before the Lord by bringing shame upon Noah by pointing out his faults and bringing attention to others of his nakedness. That is another lesson for another day but as the Lord's appointed he was inspired of God to curse his son Ham for his actions. This sin was also a generational curse that was placed upon Ham's youngest son Canaan which has been better known as the Canaanite curse.
So now the land that Moses refers to above as the land of promise was inhabited by tribes of Canaan. And God was now going to deal finally with their generational sin as he commanded the nation of Israel to defeat them and drive them out. There is actually a spiritual meaning to each of these tribes and for us to learn them and to defeat them today is as important as it was then. Read the scripture above again as it will be the basis of the next several posts. We will learn what God wants us to defeat in our lives and in his church so we can live in the land of promise. Get ready for a great ride and to start defeating the foe that keeps you from living life to its fullest. Have a great day!
Moses who now was 120 years old was giving final instructions on how to go posses the land of milk and honey;the land of promise from the Lord. Remember Moses was not just the deliver of Israel but also a prophet of Yahweh. So these were not just his thoughts of what to do but as spokesman for God he was giving God's strategy. The land was inhabited with different tribes of Canaan. There are seven of those tribes mentioned here but my research shows a total of 12 tribes. We know that the number 7 stands for perfection so the importance of the words here are pointed out with an explanation point to the early reader knowing that by only mentioning 7 they were to listen carefully. Why?
Remember a guy named Noah? Noah was found to be righteous before the Lord and was used as we know to save humankind. In other words he was the Lords anointed! The Bible is full of lessons of how we are to respect and treat the Lords appointed ones. Noah's son Ham sinned before the Lord by bringing shame upon Noah by pointing out his faults and bringing attention to others of his nakedness. That is another lesson for another day but as the Lord's appointed he was inspired of God to curse his son Ham for his actions. This sin was also a generational curse that was placed upon Ham's youngest son Canaan which has been better known as the Canaanite curse.
So now the land that Moses refers to above as the land of promise was inhabited by tribes of Canaan. And God was now going to deal finally with their generational sin as he commanded the nation of Israel to defeat them and drive them out. There is actually a spiritual meaning to each of these tribes and for us to learn them and to defeat them today is as important as it was then. Read the scripture above again as it will be the basis of the next several posts. We will learn what God wants us to defeat in our lives and in his church so we can live in the land of promise. Get ready for a great ride and to start defeating the foe that keeps you from living life to its fullest. Have a great day!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
In Memory of Mom
To take a self-indulgent break from the theme I think is OK since after all this is my blog. I am a creature of habit that can be stubborn to change. I was feeling a bit down today and when I got home I turned on the TV and one of my mother's favorite movies was starting on TCM. It was showing without commercials so I settled down and watched.
The movie was Fiddler on the roof. If you are not aware of this movie it is about the traditional Jewish family life in a small village in Russia's era of change from rule of the Czars. Of coarse this had much sentimental value to my mother and myself as her grandfather my great-grandfather told us stories of the old country and the difficulties of that time. The music of the fiddle represents tradition and to me the suffering of the Jewish people for centuries. So I find myself crying from the start of this movie all the way through and it is a long movie. If you know me crying is not one of my traits. Self examination is! So why am I crying?
I deduced that my tears are coming from the pain my brothers and sisters have endured for years. I know the history of my people and wonder how we are still alive today. All the invasions of ancient Israel and the dispersion of the people. The rape of our women and slavery and brutality of conqueror after conqueror. Then having been labeled Christ Killers we were blamed for everything bad under the sun in Europe and the atrocities of Germany, Russia, Spain and even the great land of America. As sad as all those events were and still are that was not why I was crying.
I find that my body was telling me Saturday is my mothers birthday. That is also the same time of year in which she died a horrible slow painful death from cancer. It will be the 10th year without her and I find myself still missing her. How foolish it may seem for a 41 yer old man to be crying at a musical and missing his mother but that is the reality of my day. I see so much of my mother alive today in her grandchildren and even in me. I hope if you are reading this and are touched in some way that you take the time to call your mother if she is still alive today. If you are like me and have lost your mom take comfort that Jesus said that he would not leave us as orphans! I hope that I can honor her memory with the way I live and share what she had given to me with all those that will listen. So if you see me in the next few day's and see a tear still in the eye you'll know why.....Miss ya Mom! Love, Brian
The movie was Fiddler on the roof. If you are not aware of this movie it is about the traditional Jewish family life in a small village in Russia's era of change from rule of the Czars. Of coarse this had much sentimental value to my mother and myself as her grandfather my great-grandfather told us stories of the old country and the difficulties of that time. The music of the fiddle represents tradition and to me the suffering of the Jewish people for centuries. So I find myself crying from the start of this movie all the way through and it is a long movie. If you know me crying is not one of my traits. Self examination is! So why am I crying?
I deduced that my tears are coming from the pain my brothers and sisters have endured for years. I know the history of my people and wonder how we are still alive today. All the invasions of ancient Israel and the dispersion of the people. The rape of our women and slavery and brutality of conqueror after conqueror. Then having been labeled Christ Killers we were blamed for everything bad under the sun in Europe and the atrocities of Germany, Russia, Spain and even the great land of America. As sad as all those events were and still are that was not why I was crying.
I find that my body was telling me Saturday is my mothers birthday. That is also the same time of year in which she died a horrible slow painful death from cancer. It will be the 10th year without her and I find myself still missing her. How foolish it may seem for a 41 yer old man to be crying at a musical and missing his mother but that is the reality of my day. I see so much of my mother alive today in her grandchildren and even in me. I hope if you are reading this and are touched in some way that you take the time to call your mother if she is still alive today. If you are like me and have lost your mom take comfort that Jesus said that he would not leave us as orphans! I hope that I can honor her memory with the way I live and share what she had given to me with all those that will listen. So if you see me in the next few day's and see a tear still in the eye you'll know why.....Miss ya Mom! Love, Brian
Living Part 5
Deut 6:18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said. (from New International Version)
So the Lord has promised not only salvation to us and freedom from our old life but a new life that goes well. Remember in an earlier post I pointed out that many Christians get stuck in viewing God through the circumstances of their lives. The other point I want to bring up is that we only invite God into the life we have made without remaining in his commands and ask him to bless that life. Then when that does not work and the mess we made becomes a hardship we get disappointed with God and not ourselves. Then we tend to fall into an Adamic pattern of hiding and withdrawing from God and the church he has put us in to redeem us and restore us once again.
Remember I was hurting inside while looking at the empty faces in the restaurant the other day? The Lord brought a thought to me that saddened me more and that was that most of these people go to church and still are stuck in bondage. The scripture above shows us that if we want the benefits of God we must obey his word and instructions for living. The Lord wants a relationship with us that is 24/7 and not just us fitting him into our busy lives or using him as a rescue 911 service. Jason Price who I hang around a lot these day's asks people who are dissapointed or have even given up on God, "Have you really tried God"? He goes on to say when you were doing drugs did you just try them or do them?
Before we can cross the river Jordan and live in the land of promise we need to stop trying God and start doing God. Let me encourage you today to break up the old way of viewing God and what you want from him and how much time you spend away from him. Invite the Holy Spirit to be with you today in all things and to be in continual attitudes of prayer and worship. Invite God into your entire life and not just the time before breakfast and an hour on Sunday. IF that is a strange thought for you and you have no idea how to even start let me say all things start with prayer. Have a nice talk with God and leave time for hearing back from Him. You were designed and created to abide in God and when that is not a reality we are also designed to feel empty. When you feel empty don't try and fill your life with the wrong things but spend more time looking at your life up to now and see what God wants you to do. Don't be like the Israelis in the dessert complaining about the provision of God and finding themselves desiring the meat of their old masters. My prayers are with you!
So the Lord has promised not only salvation to us and freedom from our old life but a new life that goes well. Remember in an earlier post I pointed out that many Christians get stuck in viewing God through the circumstances of their lives. The other point I want to bring up is that we only invite God into the life we have made without remaining in his commands and ask him to bless that life. Then when that does not work and the mess we made becomes a hardship we get disappointed with God and not ourselves. Then we tend to fall into an Adamic pattern of hiding and withdrawing from God and the church he has put us in to redeem us and restore us once again.
Remember I was hurting inside while looking at the empty faces in the restaurant the other day? The Lord brought a thought to me that saddened me more and that was that most of these people go to church and still are stuck in bondage. The scripture above shows us that if we want the benefits of God we must obey his word and instructions for living. The Lord wants a relationship with us that is 24/7 and not just us fitting him into our busy lives or using him as a rescue 911 service. Jason Price who I hang around a lot these day's asks people who are dissapointed or have even given up on God, "Have you really tried God"? He goes on to say when you were doing drugs did you just try them or do them?
Before we can cross the river Jordan and live in the land of promise we need to stop trying God and start doing God. Let me encourage you today to break up the old way of viewing God and what you want from him and how much time you spend away from him. Invite the Holy Spirit to be with you today in all things and to be in continual attitudes of prayer and worship. Invite God into your entire life and not just the time before breakfast and an hour on Sunday. IF that is a strange thought for you and you have no idea how to even start let me say all things start with prayer. Have a nice talk with God and leave time for hearing back from Him. You were designed and created to abide in God and when that is not a reality we are also designed to feel empty. When you feel empty don't try and fill your life with the wrong things but spend more time looking at your life up to now and see what God wants you to do. Don't be like the Israelis in the dessert complaining about the provision of God and finding themselves desiring the meat of their old masters. My prayers are with you!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Living Part 4
OK. So here we go! The first key to living life to its fullest designed purpose and to do more than just hang in there is to believe the truth of the word of God in your life more than lies and accusations of the enemy. The word of the Lord for your life starts with the same commands all of creation must account for. What did you do with knowledge of who Jesus Christ is? I hope by now if you are reading part 4 of my blog that you have made a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ and that your confession of faith in him is voluntary and in this present age. You see everyone will give an account for what they did with the knowledge of who Jesus is in the here and now or later after death and judgement. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Lord of all!
Asking Jesus to be your savior is just the first step of a journey I like to call our pilgrimage back home. I find the act of freedom and deliverance is similar to the nation of Israel being freed from the bondage of 430 years in Egypt. So now you are set free from your old master and find out there is a promise land of destiny for you and your family. You saw and heard the voice of the Lord as the Israelis did when the ten commandments were given of the Holy Spirit on the Lords mountain. Now to live life to its fullest and to take possession of the land you have to clean house of those that are living there now. Now that is where we like the nation of Israel fail and then never really enjoy our freedom and sometimes look back to our old situation as even better than what it truly was. Remember the nation of Israel complained of the Lords provision of manna and longed for the meat of their old masters in Egypt.
So enough teasing already and let me give you the first and most important key to life and possessing your promise. Jesus summed up the totality of the message of the Bible as how we should relate to God first before anything else. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. This was the most important thing we can do to ensure our life is focused on the right things and more importantly off the wrong things like "ourselves"! Read Deuteronomy 6 and 7 for the background text for the next several posts and have a great day in the love of God. I pray that the blessing of life in total fullness come upon you as you look to heavenly purpose, calling and direction. Amen!
Asking Jesus to be your savior is just the first step of a journey I like to call our pilgrimage back home. I find the act of freedom and deliverance is similar to the nation of Israel being freed from the bondage of 430 years in Egypt. So now you are set free from your old master and find out there is a promise land of destiny for you and your family. You saw and heard the voice of the Lord as the Israelis did when the ten commandments were given of the Holy Spirit on the Lords mountain. Now to live life to its fullest and to take possession of the land you have to clean house of those that are living there now. Now that is where we like the nation of Israel fail and then never really enjoy our freedom and sometimes look back to our old situation as even better than what it truly was. Remember the nation of Israel complained of the Lords provision of manna and longed for the meat of their old masters in Egypt.
So enough teasing already and let me give you the first and most important key to life and possessing your promise. Jesus summed up the totality of the message of the Bible as how we should relate to God first before anything else. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. This was the most important thing we can do to ensure our life is focused on the right things and more importantly off the wrong things like "ourselves"! Read Deuteronomy 6 and 7 for the background text for the next several posts and have a great day in the love of God. I pray that the blessing of life in total fullness come upon you as you look to heavenly purpose, calling and direction. Amen!
Living Part 3
I am so thankful for the deposit of inspiration that is in the Bible! I love that every answer to life's questions can be found if we are looking. Many times we see the phrase seek me while I can be found and now is that time. I can't think of a time in the history of man in which knowledge was higher than it is now. Yet with all of man's own wisdom we have not solved any of the difficult issues facing our planet or its inhabitants. All of our technology has not brought the end to famine, war, disease and even happiness.
Many would answer the question of are you living or just getting by based on how happy they are. Wouldn't it be a fair statement if we could be happy all the time we would chose to be? I have found that being happy is based on the conditions of my life and even the Bible say's that in this world we can expect trouble. That same passage goes on to say but be of good cheer because I (Jesus) have overcome the world! So what is the question inside your brain when you chose to have life's circumstances rob you of joy? We have to get the reality of what God has done and is still doing in a real way so that the measure of our checking account doesn't determine how my face shows in public. We have to get a greater deposit of he that overcame this world in us and in our spirit so that a negative natural happening circumstance does not dictate to us how we feel or show the love of Christ to a dying world.
The last time the prophet Dennis Cramer was at our church he said something that we need to think about. He said,"If you are saved please inform your face". So let me encourage you today to tell your face to lift its countenace and show that greater is he that lives in you than he that is in the world. I will soon be doing a lengthy discussion of possesing the promise of God and how to live life to its fullest. I look forward to sharing these things and hope to hear from you of how God's word builds you up. Have a great day!
Many would answer the question of are you living or just getting by based on how happy they are. Wouldn't it be a fair statement if we could be happy all the time we would chose to be? I have found that being happy is based on the conditions of my life and even the Bible say's that in this world we can expect trouble. That same passage goes on to say but be of good cheer because I (Jesus) have overcome the world! So what is the question inside your brain when you chose to have life's circumstances rob you of joy? We have to get the reality of what God has done and is still doing in a real way so that the measure of our checking account doesn't determine how my face shows in public. We have to get a greater deposit of he that overcame this world in us and in our spirit so that a negative natural happening circumstance does not dictate to us how we feel or show the love of Christ to a dying world.
The last time the prophet Dennis Cramer was at our church he said something that we need to think about. He said,"If you are saved please inform your face". So let me encourage you today to tell your face to lift its countenace and show that greater is he that lives in you than he that is in the world. I will soon be doing a lengthy discussion of possesing the promise of God and how to live life to its fullest. I look forward to sharing these things and hope to hear from you of how God's word builds you up. Have a great day!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Living Part 2
I should let you know that my world view is scripted from the pages of the Bible and that of one who believes in its accuracy and divine inspiration for daily living. I believe only in the wisdom that comes from God and that the person of the Holy Spirit is alive in all believers teaching us in all things.
Now I believe in the fullness of the counsel of God and that we can't pick and chose what to believe and fill in the blanks with our opinions or even hopes. With that said I look forward to any reply that would add or even challenge anything that I put forth as my human condition is prone to error and open for correction. My hope is to add and encourage the body of Christ and not in any way bring injury by bringing any error or confusion to one of God's little lambs.
So back to the question of are you living or just scrapping by? Our God created us to have dominion of this earth and to subdue and keep it for Him. That plan has not changed! So then why are so many stuck in low gear not going anywhere with any purpose? My biggest question to those in my church has been why do we as Christians find it easier to believe a lie of the enemy instead of the truth of our Lord? Let me encourage you today that if you have been bogged down from life and have gotten off that narrow road that Jesus has called us to don't hide yourself away from God as Adam and Eve did. Don't isolate yourself from the body of believers that you belong to in your local assembly.
Get alone with God and have a nice talk! Put down all those how to books and get back to his word! Let the love of God meet you in the arms of another believer on the phone or in a small group or at church. Get connected to the vine and abide in the nourishment that comes from obedience. Now let the fun begin!
Now I believe in the fullness of the counsel of God and that we can't pick and chose what to believe and fill in the blanks with our opinions or even hopes. With that said I look forward to any reply that would add or even challenge anything that I put forth as my human condition is prone to error and open for correction. My hope is to add and encourage the body of Christ and not in any way bring injury by bringing any error or confusion to one of God's little lambs.
So back to the question of are you living or just scrapping by? Our God created us to have dominion of this earth and to subdue and keep it for Him. That plan has not changed! So then why are so many stuck in low gear not going anywhere with any purpose? My biggest question to those in my church has been why do we as Christians find it easier to believe a lie of the enemy instead of the truth of our Lord? Let me encourage you today that if you have been bogged down from life and have gotten off that narrow road that Jesus has called us to don't hide yourself away from God as Adam and Eve did. Don't isolate yourself from the body of believers that you belong to in your local assembly.
Get alone with God and have a nice talk! Put down all those how to books and get back to his word! Let the love of God meet you in the arms of another believer on the phone or in a small group or at church. Get connected to the vine and abide in the nourishment that comes from obedience. Now let the fun begin!
Are you Living?
Are you living life to its fullest or just barely surviving? Jesus said that he came to give us life and a life full of abundance. Sometimes when I am out in public and look at the faces of people my inner-man cries out for what seems like the walking dead. Even inside the walls of the church I see men and women seemingly trapped by the difficulties of everyday life with looks of hopelessness etched into their faces.
I believe Jesus came to set us free from the bondage and slavery of this world and all its trappings. I believe he came to set us free from the traditions of what man has made of religion and to change our outlook of life from wrongly looking at God only through our circumstances. The facts are that we have become "squatters" in this world when we have been called to be "possessors" of the promise of the Gospel!
Many of us have believed the lies of the ruler of this world that the land is not really ours or that the ones in the land are to strong to overcome. This blog will encourage you and me as I journal how I believe God wants us to claim the land he has promised to us as his children. May God Bless you and make his Spirit alive in you as we take this journey together. Amen!
I believe Jesus came to set us free from the bondage and slavery of this world and all its trappings. I believe he came to set us free from the traditions of what man has made of religion and to change our outlook of life from wrongly looking at God only through our circumstances. The facts are that we have become "squatters" in this world when we have been called to be "possessors" of the promise of the Gospel!
Many of us have believed the lies of the ruler of this world that the land is not really ours or that the ones in the land are to strong to overcome. This blog will encourage you and me as I journal how I believe God wants us to claim the land he has promised to us as his children. May God Bless you and make his Spirit alive in you as we take this journey together. Amen!
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