The moment of favor, or window of opportunity for followers of Jesus to influence the world and lead nations, is always at hand. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," Matthew 4:17. Our mind get renewed into knowing the reality of heaven here and now, and God's desire to invade earth with His goodness. The harvest is ready right now, "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest," is what Jesus declared in John 4.
I have had the privilege of seeing Jesus transform culture in seemingly strange places. It's all grace and it has been and continues to be great fun. Sometimes we can think that their is one way to share Jesus, and if people don't recieve the message it's because their hearts are hard. I have found this to rarely be true. The world is looking for Jesus in all their seeking, so as we partner with Holy Spirit and His ability to be relevant and helpful in any and all places hearts are opened for the Love of God to invade.
I lived in a very New Age city in Southern California for over 2yrs. This particular city had been avoided and cursed by Christians for a long time, all the spiritual activity that was taking place in this city was deemed dark and demonic and so most Christians simply avoided that community of spiritual seeking people all together. Jesus and us had a different idea. My dear friend had begun renting a room in a coffee shop just blocks from the New Age Temple that is in this town. Instead of hiding from darkness, we invaded it being "wise as a serpents and innocent as a doves."
He rented a little room in a coffee shop with a window facing the busy street and we hung a sign that said "free spiritual readings and healing" and this community of spiritual hungry people flocked to us. We were there 4 days a week for 3-5 hours at a time each day for over 2yrs. Another psychic in town had to shut down because we were better and free. We saw countless people, that God absolutely loves, in the New Age community get healed, saved, and delivered. They would get so impacted by Holy Spirit in this coffee shop that they'd send all their friends in.
The owner of the store was a gay man, we loved him, and he loved us! He knew exactly who we were and that we followed Jesus and he trusted us, so much so that he would confide in us for prayer for serious life issues. We never compromised Truth while doing this ministry, we simply spoke their language and loved them and constantly flowed in God's power. Countless doors opened through this. We did this at colleges, health fairs, private parties, and we even did it at a private high school prom two years in a row. During this time revival ignited at a church in this city, this church continues to go after the presence and power of God and are good friends of ours.
Now this approach is not going to work in the Red Light District of the run down and extremely dark (spiritually speaking) neighborhood of Tijuana, Mx. We have been going to Tijuana for about two years consistently. The need in this area is obvious, they need clothes, food, and a place to sleep. They need the power of God to heal them and set them free from intense bondage, and God is doing this in extreme measure. Holy Spirit is relevant and fits into any culture in a way that meets the needs and mindsets of people where they are at.
I have also had the privilege of seeing God begin to move powerfully in the Mormon community in Utah. The spiritual reading, or showing up with food and clothes approach, is not going to be the key to their hearts necessarily. They need patience and truth revealed to them as they are ready for it. They seek a deeper intimacy then they have experienced. They want to see the power of God, and they are beginning to. They have been taught to theorize everything, so simplifying Truth and showing them God and His extravagant love for them cuts right to the heart.
It's all the same Truth, the same God, the same power, and the same person of Christ Jesus. Truth is not compromised in these different areas, but the approach and revealing of Him meets them where the people are at. "For to long the church as been answering questions that the world is not asking," Bill Johnson.
When we show up in love and power with our sole intention being that we desire to serve and bless people. We show up with the answers to the questions the world is asking, and naturally what happens next is that the world begins asking the right questions.
Isaiah 2:2 Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. (NASB) I refuse to hold on to any belief in an end times view that harbors or entertains fear of any sort. This is a powerful prophetic word about the significance of God and His people in the "last days".
We will be established, cemented, in a place of honor from the worlds perspective. We "will be established as the chief of the mountains," this is a glorious position, "And all the nations will stream to it." This place of outrageous favor and influence is going to happen, their is no stopping it. But it won't come through trying to take the seat of honor and point at people telling them what they need to do, it will come through service, love, and being a company of people that can bring significant solutions that change the areas of society that truly need it. We should always be a people of extravagant hope and solutions that bring actual change, our God is able.
The world looks long and hard for people that have answers to the serious issues of our time. Our answers must be both practical and supernatural, both bringing about God's plans of goodness for the person or situation. We have the creative Source of Life that wants so badly to give us the insight into how to serve and bless the world in power and love. The way you get established as the chief of the mountains that the nations stream to is this, you use your gifts and talents to love and come under people and serve them into the place of their dreams.
In this place of service and love for others God opens an unthinkable favor that allows Him to work through us to love the world into His glorious plans of goodness.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The Problem Holds the Solution
Let's be real here, this world we live in has lots of problems. It's not hard to see, and if you get outside of the safe American or Christian bubble you'll see that the world is crying out for help. We, believing believers, carry the answer to all problems within us. The poor make an obvious candidate for help. But what about those that you pass by everyday here in America that smile big and things appear to be good in their life, but on the inside they feel like death?
In third world countries they cannot hide their issues as well as we can in America. Their issues are that they are starving, haven't showered, have major health issues, etc... In America though, it can be easier to hide behind a fake smile and put up a front that everything is fine. We have so many things at our finger tips that other cultures don't have. We have the best health care in the world, tons of free food programs, many shelters, and all sorts of other free assistance's for those struggling. Those with money can hide behind issues with all sorts of false comforts.
This facade that is so readily available to hide behind in America simply prolongs the pain and makes it worse. In third world cultures many of the most loving and humble people I have met still have an amazing and some what healthy heart, despite circumstances. The trick of the enemy in our culture is that we think that because we have comforts to insulate us from pain that we can avoid the true issues of the heart. When in all actuality avoiding the issue makes our hearts even sicker.
But the enemy is not that intelligent. He has his schemes and tricks, but he is so confident in the idea that Christians don't believe what it is they say they believe that he will over play his hand in obvious ways. The enemy has seen so many Christians buckle and tone down their love for Jesus once under his attacks, that he is willing to risk it when it comes to attacking people with his silly tactics.
I really try to avoid talking about the enemy much, he gets far to much attention as it is He is the father of lies and when we listen to his voice we are molded into his image. He is after all, already entirely defeated (Colossians 2: 13-15). Know this though, his attack is against people, not just Christians. He hates all people, because all people are created in God's image.
Isaiah 60:2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (ESV) The enemy is at work, and his specific attack is on people. But God is in you and upon you to show the world His truth, power, and love. His desire is for people that are freely given what he wanted, to "be like the Most High." We are created in God's image and likeness and He has given us the Kingdom. The enemy tries to manipulate people with his lies and have people end up looking more like him then Our Loving Father.
Here is where he is foolish and dares to over play his hand, especially in our culture. Let's start here... I have not seen the movie 50 Shades of Grey, but I have heard all about it. That movie is a sad manipulation of what true intimacy and love is. This movie has also grossed almost 160 million to date. I don't see sin riddled people flocking to the movies in this, I see people screaming out for true intimacy. Yet they have been tricked by the father of lies. This reveals a big opportunity for those that follow the Way. Countless people out their are desperately seeking for true intimacy and love, but they're getting suckered by the fake. As a follower of the Way of Love my job is not to judge those people, it's to show them what they are truly looking for. Which is heaven on earth, the revealing of Christ in me the hope of glory.
Our culture has cultivated a mentality of wanting everything right now, having so many things readily available to us can and does get used for much good, but the enemy has used it in this instance to trick people into thinking that lust is love and the cheap thrill of lustful living will satisfy the hearts desire of longing for relationship and real love with Love.
It is the same with drugs and drinking. The enemy has counterfeited the presence of God with stimulants and substances that kill, steal, and destroy. I see it as a grand opportunity, these people are seeking for the presence of God and they don't even know it. People are being tricked into the "I want it now mentality" that runs so rampant in our society, and they willingly risk health and safety for a quick relief that makes things much worse in the long run. That's where we come in, we have the privilege of modeling what it is they are truly looking for.
We get to show them that the drugs and alcohol is like decaf coffee compared to being filled with the presence of God. I don't speak from a place of head knowledge. At one point or another I was addicted to pain pills, cocaine, daily marijuana use, ecstasy, daily drinking, pornography, sex, violence, and I think you get the point. When I truly experienced the presence of God I was satisfied in a way that words wouldn't do full justice, let's just say that Christ was what I was really looking for all along. In all my seeking God was never my enemy, I was only His enemy in my mind, Colossians 1:21.
When you see someone who can't stop drinking, talk to them about the presence of God. That's what they are really looking for. Lay hands on them so they can experience His tangible love. When you meet someone who is addicted to pornography tell them about what it is they are truly desiring. Which is eternal life, relationship with Christ Jesus. Tell them about how amazingly good He is, about His blissful presence, and about how much He paid for our redemption and makes us brand new. Explain to them how He is not a set of rules, but a living relationship with the substance of Love. Tell them testimonies of your experience with Him and His goodness. They have been tricked into a corner by the defeated enemy and are looking for the intimacy without the relationship and they are feeding on the counterfeit. Truth, and a taste of Holy Spirit's reality will spark a flame in their heart that will shift those demonic mindsets towards Truth, and it is Truth that sets us free.
How about a gambling addiction. What I see is this, that person probably has a great calling to steward money in amazing ways. Yet, they have been tricked into downward cycle through believing lies of a irresponsible get rich quick mindset that is void of wisdom and truth. The list could go on. The place of greatest attack on a person is most often the place of their greatest strength. They just need a child of God that knows who they truly are to show them their true identity of being a heavenly representative and usher them into an encounter and relationship with Mr. Love Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (NLT) We have the amazing privilege to see people's true value, true purpose, and true motives and love them into all of that. It is the same with cities, business's, churches, ministry's, and nations.
With the work of the enemy being so in the world's face, his attacks reveal the depth of desire for the real thing that is screaming out in people. The enemy can only copy, he doesn't have have access to the Creator. Therefore, he cannot create. He can only manipulate the real thing, which is always found in Christ. The real thing trumps the phony at all times, and we get the amazing privilege of displaying this love and power filled ministry of reconciliation to a world that is truly looking for Him in all their searching.
In third world countries they cannot hide their issues as well as we can in America. Their issues are that they are starving, haven't showered, have major health issues, etc... In America though, it can be easier to hide behind a fake smile and put up a front that everything is fine. We have so many things at our finger tips that other cultures don't have. We have the best health care in the world, tons of free food programs, many shelters, and all sorts of other free assistance's for those struggling. Those with money can hide behind issues with all sorts of false comforts.
This facade that is so readily available to hide behind in America simply prolongs the pain and makes it worse. In third world cultures many of the most loving and humble people I have met still have an amazing and some what healthy heart, despite circumstances. The trick of the enemy in our culture is that we think that because we have comforts to insulate us from pain that we can avoid the true issues of the heart. When in all actuality avoiding the issue makes our hearts even sicker.
But the enemy is not that intelligent. He has his schemes and tricks, but he is so confident in the idea that Christians don't believe what it is they say they believe that he will over play his hand in obvious ways. The enemy has seen so many Christians buckle and tone down their love for Jesus once under his attacks, that he is willing to risk it when it comes to attacking people with his silly tactics.
I really try to avoid talking about the enemy much, he gets far to much attention as it is He is the father of lies and when we listen to his voice we are molded into his image. He is after all, already entirely defeated (Colossians 2: 13-15). Know this though, his attack is against people, not just Christians. He hates all people, because all people are created in God's image.
Isaiah 60:2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (ESV) The enemy is at work, and his specific attack is on people. But God is in you and upon you to show the world His truth, power, and love. His desire is for people that are freely given what he wanted, to "be like the Most High." We are created in God's image and likeness and He has given us the Kingdom. The enemy tries to manipulate people with his lies and have people end up looking more like him then Our Loving Father.
Here is where he is foolish and dares to over play his hand, especially in our culture. Let's start here... I have not seen the movie 50 Shades of Grey, but I have heard all about it. That movie is a sad manipulation of what true intimacy and love is. This movie has also grossed almost 160 million to date. I don't see sin riddled people flocking to the movies in this, I see people screaming out for true intimacy. Yet they have been tricked by the father of lies. This reveals a big opportunity for those that follow the Way. Countless people out their are desperately seeking for true intimacy and love, but they're getting suckered by the fake. As a follower of the Way of Love my job is not to judge those people, it's to show them what they are truly looking for. Which is heaven on earth, the revealing of Christ in me the hope of glory.
Our culture has cultivated a mentality of wanting everything right now, having so many things readily available to us can and does get used for much good, but the enemy has used it in this instance to trick people into thinking that lust is love and the cheap thrill of lustful living will satisfy the hearts desire of longing for relationship and real love with Love.
It is the same with drugs and drinking. The enemy has counterfeited the presence of God with stimulants and substances that kill, steal, and destroy. I see it as a grand opportunity, these people are seeking for the presence of God and they don't even know it. People are being tricked into the "I want it now mentality" that runs so rampant in our society, and they willingly risk health and safety for a quick relief that makes things much worse in the long run. That's where we come in, we have the privilege of modeling what it is they are truly looking for.
We get to show them that the drugs and alcohol is like decaf coffee compared to being filled with the presence of God. I don't speak from a place of head knowledge. At one point or another I was addicted to pain pills, cocaine, daily marijuana use, ecstasy, daily drinking, pornography, sex, violence, and I think you get the point. When I truly experienced the presence of God I was satisfied in a way that words wouldn't do full justice, let's just say that Christ was what I was really looking for all along. In all my seeking God was never my enemy, I was only His enemy in my mind, Colossians 1:21.
When you see someone who can't stop drinking, talk to them about the presence of God. That's what they are really looking for. Lay hands on them so they can experience His tangible love. When you meet someone who is addicted to pornography tell them about what it is they are truly desiring. Which is eternal life, relationship with Christ Jesus. Tell them about how amazingly good He is, about His blissful presence, and about how much He paid for our redemption and makes us brand new. Explain to them how He is not a set of rules, but a living relationship with the substance of Love. Tell them testimonies of your experience with Him and His goodness. They have been tricked into a corner by the defeated enemy and are looking for the intimacy without the relationship and they are feeding on the counterfeit. Truth, and a taste of Holy Spirit's reality will spark a flame in their heart that will shift those demonic mindsets towards Truth, and it is Truth that sets us free.
How about a gambling addiction. What I see is this, that person probably has a great calling to steward money in amazing ways. Yet, they have been tricked into downward cycle through believing lies of a irresponsible get rich quick mindset that is void of wisdom and truth. The list could go on. The place of greatest attack on a person is most often the place of their greatest strength. They just need a child of God that knows who they truly are to show them their true identity of being a heavenly representative and usher them into an encounter and relationship with Mr. Love Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (NLT) We have the amazing privilege to see people's true value, true purpose, and true motives and love them into all of that. It is the same with cities, business's, churches, ministry's, and nations.
With the work of the enemy being so in the world's face, his attacks reveal the depth of desire for the real thing that is screaming out in people. The enemy can only copy, he doesn't have have access to the Creator. Therefore, he cannot create. He can only manipulate the real thing, which is always found in Christ. The real thing trumps the phony at all times, and we get the amazing privilege of displaying this love and power filled ministry of reconciliation to a world that is truly looking for Him in all their searching.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Sharing Jesus - In Wisdom
The joyous privilege of sharing the King of Kings with people in the gifts and fruit of the Spirit as a daily lifestyle has taken over my life. I really can't help myself, He has done so much for me. He has rescued me and so many from such darkness that His goodness needs to be known. Besides He is what the whole world is looking, Haggai 2:7...and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory. (KJV) The desire of the nations has already come, and He (Christ in you) is the glory that fills the house (which is us).
What I've seen is that many people have fear involved with the idea of sharing Jesus with the world, due to the fact that they think they have to share some formula or method in order to fulfill the task. Yes, their is training and growing that comes with learning how to effectively partner with Holy Spirit in loving people as you go daily. But the powerful and truth full simplicity of the Kingdom is that we can all love someone. Can you love someone? Can you be generous? Can you be kind? Can you encourage someone? We all can do that, and their is far more power in that then we realize.
When we learn to stay in that flow of kindness and love the supernatural aspect of sharing Jesus flows in a far more natural way. The mountain that so many make out of needing "boldness" melts away and what used to scare us becomes normal.
The truth is this, God is speaking to all men all the time. So a formula or method to share Jesus is not partnering with heaven to bring people to their loving Father. Some times the method can push a person a bit further from God instead of bring them closer. Most people get turned off by a religious agenda, especially when interrupting them on the streets with it. But I have yet to see someone turned of by a love filled supernatural encounter with Holy Spirit.
Look at this in Proverbs 8, 1 Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out: 4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. (NASB)
So wisdom, which is a female spirit, is in the marketplace crying out to all men. Not only in the marketplace, but standing on top of a building at the busiest intersection with high pitched screams of joy toward all people. That is the obvious manner that God is speaking to all people. In verse 3 the words "she cries out" in Hebrew mean, a joyful and ringing cry. Imagine a woman standing on top of a platform in the middle of Time Square New York on a Friday night joyfully screaming great advice to everyone walking by. That's what she, wisdom, is doing. So a religious method or formula most often deviates from what God has been speaking and trying to do in a persons life that doesn't know Him.
Knowing Holy Spirit's voice makes the "great co-mission" outrageously fun. He tells us what He has been talking to them about, whether they know it's Him or not, and we get to partner with Him and highlight to them what God has been trying to get their attention with. The risk of stepping out and speaking what your hearing is not a risk when your lens and motive is love. If your willing to look like a fool for Jesus for a moment, He will make you look like a genius for a life time. It's a good trade.
This Bill Johnson quote changed many things for me when it came to sharing Jesus with strangers in the marketplace as a daily lifestyle, "For too long the church has been answering questions the world is not asking."
Would you want to be interrupted in the middle of your day by a person that wants to give you all the answers to questions your not asking? Or better yet, or worse depending how you see it, a person that is trying to tell you answers to questions that you have no value for.
When we partner with heaven and kindly love people in the marketplace, by saying what He is saying and doing what He is doing, miraculous and glorious results follow. Holy Spirit uses us to show up and answer the questions they have been asking in their heart, be it a need for healing, or prophetic insight for a issue in their life, needed encouragement, etc... Not only do we show up with the answers, but we show up with the answers having never heard the question. It's gets their attention and naturally this is what happens, they start asking the right questions.
When we say what God is saying to people in love, it creates a value for the right questions. Because when He speaks it creates goodness in people's hearts, so after their heart gets an injection of His love laced words what is in the heart comes out of the mouth. Love always handles the issue at hand and that stirs up the curiosity for people to ask the questions they should be asking about God. It is much easier, quicker, God like, more effective, and fun.
Someone is much more open to know what the cross is all about after their 5yrs of knee pain left in a heart beat because someone dared to love them and believe Jesus is who He says He is. In America most, almost all, have heard the basic death and resurrection story of Jesus and how He is the Son of God that paid for our sin. They of course probably don't understand it all, but they have heard it. What a lot all of unsaved America hasn't experienced, is someone walking out the reality of heaven on earth right in front of them. It's what they are truly looking for and want in the first place. Everyone wants a King like Jesus.
We do a lot of Kingdom work in Tijuana, Mexico in the Red Light District area, and have been for a couple years now. Recently I was leading a team of people in that area at night to activate them in the simplicity of partnering with Holy Spirit and loving people. We were praying for a sweet old lady's knee and a group of 3 college students stopped and were watching as I was on one knee with my hand on her knee. After her knee was better I stood and began talking with one of them, as they had questions about what I was doing.
We explained and then they explained they were there investigating the area about the prostitution problem. I asked if I could pray for them before they left, one of the girls said no. So I just started telling one of the girls what Holy Spirit was showing me about her life. Then the girl that said we couldn't prayer for them said, "Everything you just told her is exactly what she if doing with her life. Ok, do me now!" All 3 of them got detailed words from their Holy Spirit and then they were open to a conversation about Jesus.
All situations are different with people as we go, but Holy Spirit knows everyone and everything everyone has been through. Saying what He is saying cuts right to people's hearts in love. He is the best evangelist their is.
What I've seen is that many people have fear involved with the idea of sharing Jesus with the world, due to the fact that they think they have to share some formula or method in order to fulfill the task. Yes, their is training and growing that comes with learning how to effectively partner with Holy Spirit in loving people as you go daily. But the powerful and truth full simplicity of the Kingdom is that we can all love someone. Can you love someone? Can you be generous? Can you be kind? Can you encourage someone? We all can do that, and their is far more power in that then we realize.
When we learn to stay in that flow of kindness and love the supernatural aspect of sharing Jesus flows in a far more natural way. The mountain that so many make out of needing "boldness" melts away and what used to scare us becomes normal.
The truth is this, God is speaking to all men all the time. So a formula or method to share Jesus is not partnering with heaven to bring people to their loving Father. Some times the method can push a person a bit further from God instead of bring them closer. Most people get turned off by a religious agenda, especially when interrupting them on the streets with it. But I have yet to see someone turned of by a love filled supernatural encounter with Holy Spirit.
Look at this in Proverbs 8, 1 Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out: 4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. (NASB)
So wisdom, which is a female spirit, is in the marketplace crying out to all men. Not only in the marketplace, but standing on top of a building at the busiest intersection with high pitched screams of joy toward all people. That is the obvious manner that God is speaking to all people. In verse 3 the words "she cries out" in Hebrew mean, a joyful and ringing cry. Imagine a woman standing on top of a platform in the middle of Time Square New York on a Friday night joyfully screaming great advice to everyone walking by. That's what she, wisdom, is doing. So a religious method or formula most often deviates from what God has been speaking and trying to do in a persons life that doesn't know Him.
Knowing Holy Spirit's voice makes the "great co-mission" outrageously fun. He tells us what He has been talking to them about, whether they know it's Him or not, and we get to partner with Him and highlight to them what God has been trying to get their attention with. The risk of stepping out and speaking what your hearing is not a risk when your lens and motive is love. If your willing to look like a fool for Jesus for a moment, He will make you look like a genius for a life time. It's a good trade.
This Bill Johnson quote changed many things for me when it came to sharing Jesus with strangers in the marketplace as a daily lifestyle, "For too long the church has been answering questions the world is not asking."
Would you want to be interrupted in the middle of your day by a person that wants to give you all the answers to questions your not asking? Or better yet, or worse depending how you see it, a person that is trying to tell you answers to questions that you have no value for.
When we partner with heaven and kindly love people in the marketplace, by saying what He is saying and doing what He is doing, miraculous and glorious results follow. Holy Spirit uses us to show up and answer the questions they have been asking in their heart, be it a need for healing, or prophetic insight for a issue in their life, needed encouragement, etc... Not only do we show up with the answers, but we show up with the answers having never heard the question. It's gets their attention and naturally this is what happens, they start asking the right questions.
When we say what God is saying to people in love, it creates a value for the right questions. Because when He speaks it creates goodness in people's hearts, so after their heart gets an injection of His love laced words what is in the heart comes out of the mouth. Love always handles the issue at hand and that stirs up the curiosity for people to ask the questions they should be asking about God. It is much easier, quicker, God like, more effective, and fun.
Someone is much more open to know what the cross is all about after their 5yrs of knee pain left in a heart beat because someone dared to love them and believe Jesus is who He says He is. In America most, almost all, have heard the basic death and resurrection story of Jesus and how He is the Son of God that paid for our sin. They of course probably don't understand it all, but they have heard it. What a lot all of unsaved America hasn't experienced, is someone walking out the reality of heaven on earth right in front of them. It's what they are truly looking for and want in the first place. Everyone wants a King like Jesus.
We do a lot of Kingdom work in Tijuana, Mexico in the Red Light District area, and have been for a couple years now. Recently I was leading a team of people in that area at night to activate them in the simplicity of partnering with Holy Spirit and loving people. We were praying for a sweet old lady's knee and a group of 3 college students stopped and were watching as I was on one knee with my hand on her knee. After her knee was better I stood and began talking with one of them, as they had questions about what I was doing.
We explained and then they explained they were there investigating the area about the prostitution problem. I asked if I could pray for them before they left, one of the girls said no. So I just started telling one of the girls what Holy Spirit was showing me about her life. Then the girl that said we couldn't prayer for them said, "Everything you just told her is exactly what she if doing with her life. Ok, do me now!" All 3 of them got detailed words from their Holy Spirit and then they were open to a conversation about Jesus.
All situations are different with people as we go, but Holy Spirit knows everyone and everything everyone has been through. Saying what He is saying cuts right to people's hearts in love. He is the best evangelist their is.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Words of Life
There is more power in our words then we think. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” sounds like a sweet nursery rhyme, but it isn't truth. We are filled with the power of God. It’s not a fleeing thought, or a good theological idea. It’s a fact, Colossians 2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (ESV) This gift of authority over all darkness and evil has been placed in the hearts of every believer, what the believer does with this Truth is up to them.
The words coming out of a person's mouth reveal what they have agreed with on the inside. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (NASB) This is a powerful verse, but your understanding of it is about to totally change. The word meditate in the Hebrew is – hagah- to declare, or growl, to speak out or make a sound. We think of meditating as soaking in Him, that is great but it is not what this verse is saying. It is saying to declare His Word of Truth and Life over our life and circumstances night and day. Speak the identity He has given us over ourselves every day and night and His promises and our identity will be the theme of our life.
Why though? Why speak out His Word? I can assure you it is not religious exercise, or a holy muscle building program. God is emphasizing the power of our words, and the importance of getting the words that come out of our mouth to be in agreement with the words that come out of His mouth. When you declare His goodness, grace, power, love, authority, etc… over yourself, a situation, another person, etc… you are bringing that person, place, or thing that you are praying for into agreement with what heaven thinks and says about them.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (NKJV) This verse is powerful and gets mentioned a lot, as it should. The word ‘him’ in this verse is referring to the devil. Look at some things here though. The verse says, “they overcame” not, He overcame. He already defeated the devil, Colossians 2:15. Then it says the first place we start is “by the blood of the Lamb”. Our starting place is in His victory. We don’t work towards victory, we work from victory. There is a huge difference. One mindset tires it self out trying to earn something He already gave us, the other mindset enjoys and increases in the awareness of what they already have because they know their identity in Him.
Now this is the main thing I wanted to point out in this verse, “by the word of their testimony”. The word for ‘word’ in this verse in the Greek is –logos- a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying that was preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit. This verse clearly gives us the simple way to overcome the enemy, it is crucial that we understand how powerful our spoken words are. The thoughts of the Father towards us are, Psalm 139: 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. (NKJV)
Your words are either helping build in the Kingdom, or bringing much resistance to it. James 3:5 A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it! (Message)
And this last part of the verse that gets left off so often when people quote it, “and they did not love their lives to the death.” You and I can’t die anyways, you are alive to bring Him glory! Any place in our lives where fear has a foothold we are still holding on to us, and when we came to Christ we died so He could live in us. Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (NASB)
Have you ever tried to carry someone passed out or totally asleep? Lugging dead weight around is really heavy. We can drop our dead past life and live in Him, He already killed it off so we could live in in our true identity in Him. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” Jesus.
When you know His heart and are on page with His will, you will literally speak things into existence. Jesus did it time and time again. Luke 13: 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. (NASB) Again, take a look. Luke 7: 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (ESV) He even spoke food into existence. Jesus only said what He heard the Father saying, John 12:49, and all of Jesus' words released life. This reveals the Truth that God is always speaking goodness into existence and motion, and when we say what He is saying we reveal heaven on earth.
If His words are so powerful that they bring the dead back to life and heal sickness, imagine what they can do to our perception, joy, hope, and so on. Speak His Truth over your life and others and watch it come into being. It’s not a magic trick, its calling that person, place, or thing into alignment with the Father's purposes.
Job 22:28 "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.” (NASB) The word for decree in the Greek –gazar- to cut, or divide, or slice off. Gazar is the same word ‘divided’ used in the verse, Psalm 136:13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, (NASB) When we speak His words it is a sword that cuts off what is not of Him, and brings to life what is Him.
It is true when we speak negative of someone as well, our words are more powerful then we realize. Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. (Message) Speak love over politicians, family members, co-workers, the religious community, etc….The words you speak over yourself or others are either making it easier for you or them, or harder. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (ESV)
The link below is an unbelievably powerful experiment along the lines of this topic. I have seen this experiment done by quite a few people. I thought this one painted the best illustration of what I’ve been talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31shlv5Z71A
Our words build or tear down. They release life or they release death. His words release life at all times and infuse what is spoken over with the ability to walk out what was spoken.
The words coming out of a person's mouth reveal what they have agreed with on the inside. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (NASB) This is a powerful verse, but your understanding of it is about to totally change. The word meditate in the Hebrew is – hagah- to declare, or growl, to speak out or make a sound. We think of meditating as soaking in Him, that is great but it is not what this verse is saying. It is saying to declare His Word of Truth and Life over our life and circumstances night and day. Speak the identity He has given us over ourselves every day and night and His promises and our identity will be the theme of our life.
Why though? Why speak out His Word? I can assure you it is not religious exercise, or a holy muscle building program. God is emphasizing the power of our words, and the importance of getting the words that come out of our mouth to be in agreement with the words that come out of His mouth. When you declare His goodness, grace, power, love, authority, etc… over yourself, a situation, another person, etc… you are bringing that person, place, or thing that you are praying for into agreement with what heaven thinks and says about them.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (NKJV) This verse is powerful and gets mentioned a lot, as it should. The word ‘him’ in this verse is referring to the devil. Look at some things here though. The verse says, “they overcame” not, He overcame. He already defeated the devil, Colossians 2:15. Then it says the first place we start is “by the blood of the Lamb”. Our starting place is in His victory. We don’t work towards victory, we work from victory. There is a huge difference. One mindset tires it self out trying to earn something He already gave us, the other mindset enjoys and increases in the awareness of what they already have because they know their identity in Him.
Now this is the main thing I wanted to point out in this verse, “by the word of their testimony”. The word for ‘word’ in this verse in the Greek is –logos- a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying that was preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit. This verse clearly gives us the simple way to overcome the enemy, it is crucial that we understand how powerful our spoken words are. The thoughts of the Father towards us are, Psalm 139: 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. (NKJV)
Your words are either helping build in the Kingdom, or bringing much resistance to it. James 3:5 A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it! (Message)
And this last part of the verse that gets left off so often when people quote it, “and they did not love their lives to the death.” You and I can’t die anyways, you are alive to bring Him glory! Any place in our lives where fear has a foothold we are still holding on to us, and when we came to Christ we died so He could live in us. Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (NASB)
Have you ever tried to carry someone passed out or totally asleep? Lugging dead weight around is really heavy. We can drop our dead past life and live in Him, He already killed it off so we could live in in our true identity in Him. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” Jesus.
When you know His heart and are on page with His will, you will literally speak things into existence. Jesus did it time and time again. Luke 13: 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. (NASB) Again, take a look. Luke 7: 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (ESV) He even spoke food into existence. Jesus only said what He heard the Father saying, John 12:49, and all of Jesus' words released life. This reveals the Truth that God is always speaking goodness into existence and motion, and when we say what He is saying we reveal heaven on earth.
If His words are so powerful that they bring the dead back to life and heal sickness, imagine what they can do to our perception, joy, hope, and so on. Speak His Truth over your life and others and watch it come into being. It’s not a magic trick, its calling that person, place, or thing into alignment with the Father's purposes.
Job 22:28 "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.” (NASB) The word for decree in the Greek –gazar- to cut, or divide, or slice off. Gazar is the same word ‘divided’ used in the verse, Psalm 136:13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, (NASB) When we speak His words it is a sword that cuts off what is not of Him, and brings to life what is Him.
It is true when we speak negative of someone as well, our words are more powerful then we realize. Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. (Message) Speak love over politicians, family members, co-workers, the religious community, etc….The words you speak over yourself or others are either making it easier for you or them, or harder. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (ESV)
The link below is an unbelievably powerful experiment along the lines of this topic. I have seen this experiment done by quite a few people. I thought this one painted the best illustration of what I’ve been talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31shlv5Z71A
Our words build or tear down. They release life or they release death. His words release life at all times and infuse what is spoken over with the ability to walk out what was spoken.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Does God Pray?
Yes, God prays. This thought may challenge some of you, but a clear perspective on prayer is needed in order to understand God's mind on what dialogue with Him truly is. It is unfortunate that many people, those that follow Jesus and those that don't, think of prayer as begging and complaining to God for things they need and want.
Think of a never ending conversation with the Person of Love that owns everything, and He is so generous He simply spends His time trying to give it all away. This Person can do anything at any time, their is no limit to His power. This Person is hilariously brilliant and thoroughly enjoys good conversation. That Person of Love is God, so if we are board in prayer the issue is on our end not His.
Prayer is a on going conversation with Love that never ends. It's a conversation with the One that has every solution to every problem, and He wants to help more then we want Him to. Simply getting to know Him as He is opens up far more favor with Him then long hours of pray methods and formulas. We are not His slaves, we are His friends.
Imagine a friend of yours and every time, or at least most of the time, the two of you talk you simply tell this friend what you need and want all while complaining and questioning why and what they are doing. Do you think that friend will be jumping at the chance to converse with you? Of course God is a loving Father and He never leaves us, but maybe He doesn't jump at conversation with those that simply want to gripe and whine over all the things that He needs to do for them. He has a personality, you know. He has a sense of humor, a brilliant one at that. Maybe sometimes He just wants to chat about what He wants to talk about, instead of us running through the list of what many have come to think prayer is.
Most of what we pray for He already gave us, so a lot of the prayers people pray He cannot answer anyways. He gave us the kingdom, and their is nothing outside of the King's dominion. God already gave us full access to all of heaven through Christ, your perspective on prayer and accessing all heaven has is far more important then all the begging and pleading God for what He already gave us. He gave us all His peace, love, joy, power, and the mind of Christ. Prayer is about growing in the understanding of what it is we already have and who we already are in Him, rather then reminding God of all the things He is not doing that we think He should be doing.
Let's take a look at Jesus talking about prayer. Matthew 6: 6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. (Message Bible)
Asking for what He already knows we need is how we humbly align our hearts and keep our thinking rooted in the Truth that with out Him and His grace we truly have nothing. Praying for what is going to happen anyways, prepares our hearts to be grateful when it does.
The evidence of healthy ongoing conversations with Love is a life fully alive and increasing in His abundance. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (NASB) The word for 'word' in this verse in the Greek is rhéma- a spoken word, made by the living voice. Your quality of life depends on how much you hear His voice, life is drawn from the substance of power and love in His freshly spoken words.
The definition of the word for 'praying' in the Greek is proseuchomai- an exchange of wishes. So when we carry out His will we are answering His prayers. Him carrying out our will, is Him answering our prayers. Yes, He carries out our will. We are not robot slaves that are not allowed to enjoy life and ask for things from their loving Father. The most important thought we will ever have is our thought about who God is. If you cannot see Him as a loving Father, you will not position yourself to receive the things a good Father wants to give you.
Psalm 37: 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. (NASB) "Trust in the Lord," be-loved and be a believer. "Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness," that would be establishing His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. "Delight yourself in the LORD," the word for Delight in this verse could also be translated as 'enjoy your life with God.' The result of this lifestyle is, "And He will give you the desires of your heart." It doesn't say He will give us the desires of His heart, but I can assure you that we truly do want the desires He has in His heart for us. A good Father in the our world would do everything they could to bring about the dreams of their kids, and support them in the desires they have in their life.
He is a Father that desires His desires come because His desires are the purest dreams for us and earth that their can be, and in the process of living a lifestyle of making earth look like heaven our heart gets refined with more and more purity and our desires sync with heavens. It's a glorious exchange of heavenly wishes that propel hope and excitement in such beautiful ways that it is hard to put it into words.
Love is set on building others up into their destiny. Love, "does not insist on its own way," 1 Corinthians 13:5. Wait, God is not out to get His way? Nope! He is Love, not control. He has wishes that He asks of us, but it is always our choice. He is not a controlling tyrant, He is a loving Father. He finds willing vessels to carry out His will of making earth look like heaven. He doesn't control us into obedience, He loves us into obedience, because obedience is our true identity and the place where we truly want to abide. Obedience is where the yoke is easy and the burden is light, Matthew 11:30.
Think of a never ending conversation with the Person of Love that owns everything, and He is so generous He simply spends His time trying to give it all away. This Person can do anything at any time, their is no limit to His power. This Person is hilariously brilliant and thoroughly enjoys good conversation. That Person of Love is God, so if we are board in prayer the issue is on our end not His.
Prayer is a on going conversation with Love that never ends. It's a conversation with the One that has every solution to every problem, and He wants to help more then we want Him to. Simply getting to know Him as He is opens up far more favor with Him then long hours of pray methods and formulas. We are not His slaves, we are His friends.
Imagine a friend of yours and every time, or at least most of the time, the two of you talk you simply tell this friend what you need and want all while complaining and questioning why and what they are doing. Do you think that friend will be jumping at the chance to converse with you? Of course God is a loving Father and He never leaves us, but maybe He doesn't jump at conversation with those that simply want to gripe and whine over all the things that He needs to do for them. He has a personality, you know. He has a sense of humor, a brilliant one at that. Maybe sometimes He just wants to chat about what He wants to talk about, instead of us running through the list of what many have come to think prayer is.
Most of what we pray for He already gave us, so a lot of the prayers people pray He cannot answer anyways. He gave us the kingdom, and their is nothing outside of the King's dominion. God already gave us full access to all of heaven through Christ, your perspective on prayer and accessing all heaven has is far more important then all the begging and pleading God for what He already gave us. He gave us all His peace, love, joy, power, and the mind of Christ. Prayer is about growing in the understanding of what it is we already have and who we already are in Him, rather then reminding God of all the things He is not doing that we think He should be doing.
Let's take a look at Jesus talking about prayer. Matthew 6: 6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. (Message Bible)
Asking for what He already knows we need is how we humbly align our hearts and keep our thinking rooted in the Truth that with out Him and His grace we truly have nothing. Praying for what is going to happen anyways, prepares our hearts to be grateful when it does.
The evidence of healthy ongoing conversations with Love is a life fully alive and increasing in His abundance. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (NASB) The word for 'word' in this verse in the Greek is rhéma- a spoken word, made by the living voice. Your quality of life depends on how much you hear His voice, life is drawn from the substance of power and love in His freshly spoken words.
The definition of the word for 'praying' in the Greek is proseuchomai- an exchange of wishes. So when we carry out His will we are answering His prayers. Him carrying out our will, is Him answering our prayers. Yes, He carries out our will. We are not robot slaves that are not allowed to enjoy life and ask for things from their loving Father. The most important thought we will ever have is our thought about who God is. If you cannot see Him as a loving Father, you will not position yourself to receive the things a good Father wants to give you.
Psalm 37: 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. (NASB) "Trust in the Lord," be-loved and be a believer. "Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness," that would be establishing His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. "Delight yourself in the LORD," the word for Delight in this verse could also be translated as 'enjoy your life with God.' The result of this lifestyle is, "And He will give you the desires of your heart." It doesn't say He will give us the desires of His heart, but I can assure you that we truly do want the desires He has in His heart for us. A good Father in the our world would do everything they could to bring about the dreams of their kids, and support them in the desires they have in their life.
He is a Father that desires His desires come because His desires are the purest dreams for us and earth that their can be, and in the process of living a lifestyle of making earth look like heaven our heart gets refined with more and more purity and our desires sync with heavens. It's a glorious exchange of heavenly wishes that propel hope and excitement in such beautiful ways that it is hard to put it into words.
Love is set on building others up into their destiny. Love, "does not insist on its own way," 1 Corinthians 13:5. Wait, God is not out to get His way? Nope! He is Love, not control. He has wishes that He asks of us, but it is always our choice. He is not a controlling tyrant, He is a loving Father. He finds willing vessels to carry out His will of making earth look like heaven. He doesn't control us into obedience, He loves us into obedience, because obedience is our true identity and the place where we truly want to abide. Obedience is where the yoke is easy and the burden is light, Matthew 11:30.
God's will is that none should perish, 2 Peter 3:9. Well people are perishing all around that don't know Him. He is not getting His way in that matter, why? We are not answering His prayers and sharing Jesus as a lifestyle like we've so clearly been asked to in the Word. He doesn't hold it against though, 1 Corinthians 13:5, He is love and we cannot change who He is. Getting to know Him as He is, is the best thing we can do for ourselves and anyone around us. Us being obedient is where God's wishes get fulfilled, not because He needs slaves to feel better about Himself, but because obedience to His wishes is the place of complete prosperity. "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers," 3 John 1:2.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Greatness
That burning passion that provokes you toward more of His reality is Him in you wanting to be Himself through your life. It is Him boiling in you so that you steam out His presence everywhere you go. That desire to see Jesus get what He paid for through your life, was awakened in you the very second you said yes to the Lordship of the King of Kings and became a living sacrifice that reveals His goodness. The craving for greatness is the effects of being in the presence of the Great One. He wants you to be great!
The apostles lived and breathed running their race with passion and potency. All the while knowing Who was fueling them and why they were truly running. It doesn’t say anywhere in the Gospels to walk your race, or watch others run their race. It says RUN YOUR race, run in what He has for YOU!
When the apostles argued over who was the greatest in the Kingdom, did you ever notice how Jesus never rebuked them for it. Instead He subtlety corrected their thinking and told them how to be great. He didn’t say what most pastors say, which is some long sermon on how to ‘watch out for pride’ (your sin nature has been removed from you, Romans 6). Jesus wants us knowing who we are, which is greatness Himself! When the apostles argued over who was the greatest, Jesus told them how to be great. We were born from above to be just like the Greatest One of all. Luke 22:26 "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. (NASB) Welcome to the paradoxical paradise of the upside down and inside out Kingdom of God. The way the world goes for greatness is how you get humbled by God, and the backwards way of being the lowest servant of all is how you become the greatest.
Again in Mark 9:33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (NKJV) The recipe for greatness was His response to His disciples trying to ‘one-up’ each other.
You were created to do greater works then Jesus, John 14:12. It doesn’t get much greater than that, does it? The false identity of false humility has exalted the fear of pride in the name of trying to be humble, when Jesus said that if you are truly humble then He will exalt you. Real humility gets promoted in the Kingdom. Matthew 23:12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (NASB) In the Greek the word for ‘humbles’ is –tapeinóō- show humility, true lowliness happens by being fully dependent on the Lord – dismissing reliance upon self (self-government) and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us.
Are you willing to look like a fool for Him? He looked like a fool for you, Isaiah 52:14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. (NLT) Are you willing to obey His guidance, which can look absolutely insane to carnal minded on lookers? 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in this world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (ESV) He might ask you to look like a fool for a second, but only to make Him look like a genius in us. i.e. spit in the mud and rub in their eyes so they are healed.
Are you ok with being the donkey that carries in the King? Are you willing to lay down everything you are so you can become everything He is? The lower you go for Him, the higher He will take you in Him. That is the implication and magnitude of the Good News, Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (NASB) Look how low the apostle Paul went, and look how much God entrusted to Paul.
Jesus spoke on this topic of how to be great multiple times in the Good News, always encouraging and never rebuking. Matthew 18: 1 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" 2 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, 3 and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. 4 Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. 5 What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Message) The childlike are the center of attention to heaven.
Have you ever watched a child interact with their parents? They live in the simplest place of being that is possible. They trust their parents for everything, every time. Actually children don’t even know how to stress or worry, or what that even is, until they observe it from someone. They just know that their parents will provide everything, and take care of everything. Dare to believe that God will supply for the dreams He has birthed in you the way it says to pray and believe in Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (NASB).
You are actually called to live and move and have your being in greatness. Philippians 1:27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. (NLT) ‘Above all’, other translations say ‘whatever happens’ or ‘only’, whatever happens conduct yourselves like Jesus. In other words, conduct yourselves in a manner of greatness no matter what happens! Jesus is the model on how to walk in greatness, and it is your true nature now. He lives inside you, and desires to be Himself in us.
You were born from above to change nations for Christ. You are a walking atomic bomb of glory, power, and love! You have full access to all creativity, after all doesn’t the Creator (the Uncreated One) live inside you? All authority on earth and in heaven rests within you. You cannot help but manifest greatness! You are a new creation, the sound of heaven is your feet touching the ground. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! (Amplified)
You are a brand new creature that the world has never seen. You walk in the Greatest Person that has ever lived, and He walks in you! Mr. Greatness Himself desires that you do greater things that He did, John 14:12, and He paid for everything so you could.
John 17: 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! (NLT) You are seated in Christ next to the Throne of Grace as you read this. Greatness is in you and burning with unlimited energy and passion, and this world is begging to see what real greatness is.
For more resources
Erikfrederickson.com
Erikfrederickson.wordpress.com
Good News!
The Good News is not to accuse, or about sitting in the pews with the blues.
Its not debating or waiting its creating an environment, where love begins invading like a fire pit.
Its being filled with heaven, where words drenched in grace spill from your weapon.
The Good News is that Christ is my confession,and all actions are a choice to simply bless Him.
Spread His fragrance like a blissful infection, and stroll to His cadence to whistle His impressions.
Carry His presence and all His precious affections, and watch your reflection brighten all directions.
Its His joy unspeakable that helps every seed to grow.
Its peace past our understanding, as we feast in His lap with all heaven as our family.
So be a radical blessing to those that are mad and stressing.
Manifest His finished work, like a man possessed by Holy Spirit gone berserk.
His lovely speech about you, counts more then the sands on all the beaches that surround you.
And as you go heal the sick, let His habits glow and if its time snap His whip and let the tables flip.
The Good News let's love lead the way, even in the heat of the day keeps his cool in what they say.
The Good News is that Christ took the bullet for you, because His eyes burn with fire towards you.
For more resources
Erikfrederickson.com
Erikfrederickson.wordpress.com
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