The Way of Life – Leah Wilkes

 

“Suffering will come,” cries Paul from the pages of the New Testament. Trial, affliction, and persecution knock at the door as a way of life, but the comfort of God swiftly follows. “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” As Christians we do not escape sickness, grief or offense. In fact, we are encouraged not to be surprised at the storms of hardship, and all the more to expect our God of comfort who always lifts weary heads above the waves. We should “Count it all joy” in fact when we “meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The only thing our Father asks of us is a simple but miraculous request. It is the request for us to “be steadfast”. Not to be strong, eloquent or intelligent… just steady. Christ calls for steady belief that He is God, and He will finish His work. The God of comfort merely requires we trust He is there and that He is working all things together for good. A wonderful mentor and friend said something once: “You’re better led than you know.”

So often we try to figure out all the details when it comes to our trials. We attempt to piece together possible reasons and purposes, wondering what God is doing and how it is significant…  Alas, we were never asked to put the pieces together, we were simply asked to wait and see. “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” My what a revelation Job received when God stepped down and displayed His sovereignty.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?”

“Surely you know” oof!

Or KJV “If thou knowest?”

Do not presume to know all the plans and purposes as if you were God Himself. We have no comprehension in our limited minds of how the intricate workings of our lives, paired with those around us, are working together a miraculous and intentional plan that surpasses more than our personal forward “progress.”

There will be times when you may feel “held back“ but instead, like Joseph in the prison, circumstances are being woven together behind the scenes that you never could have anticipated. Joseph was not required to put the pieces together, he was required to be steadfast. It was due to his diligent service in Potiphar’s house and a dungeon that he could walk with confidence into the leadership role pharaoh presented to him, but at the time in those unusual places, he had no idea what would happen next. Yet he remained steadfast…

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Not only does our steadfastness show itself to be worth it here on earth, but Eternity will proclaim treasures and purposes that we will never know this side of heaven. We walk by faith, not by sight.

“When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.” Acts 11:23

God never asked us to drum up a revival, or cause some kind of emotional reaction in his people. He never said create a following or have a well known name. He simply cries out from every corner of His word, “trust Me and be steadfast!”

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Gal 6:9-10

Paul instructed Timothy to be an example of good works, to study the Word and show himself approved therein. Do you long to serve God and have a victorious Christian experience? Then walk in daily trust and faith, consistently seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit. It looks different for different people. There’s no fixed routine or golden hour of intercession. There is simply you and the leading of the Holy Spirit. “How can the Holy Spirit lead me?” you may ask. In any way He wants. You just have to listen. If your heart is yearning the direction of the Spirit, God will speak to you in any number of ways, but primarily through His word. Do you want to know what to do today? Let’s start with what He gave you, the Word of God through 66 books in the Bible. God is not a tease. He will lead you.

Jesus left us with the Comforter, because that guidance was all we would need alongside the gift of the Word of God. My fellow comrade, we are dripping with every provision and equipped with every tool we will ever need. We are only asked to take one step after another. We are asked to be steadfast.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Cor 15:58

I Want To Prefer Me – Wendy Abboud

 

I want to prefer that I be thrown under a bus before I dare cast any blame on anyone else or seek to color them in a negative light.

I want to prefer that I be crushed rather than seek to crush anyone else in order to falsely increase my value or make myself feel or appear “better than”, “more wiser than”, “more mature than”, “more loving than”.

I want to prefer that I be last to fix and sip on my morning cup of coffee. 

I want to prefer that I be gossiped about before I open my mouth to speak ill of any man or women, boy or girl that Christ died for.

I want to prefer to be “underneath” lifting others up rather than seek to build myself up.

I want to prefer that my leisure bubble bath be pushed to the side in order to have more time with my husband or an especially long story and prayer time with my babies.

I want to prefer to see the person in the room who is struggling, suffocating, hurting, straining to be there, feeling outcasted rather than seek to be the person everyone wants to talk to.

I want to prefer that I “see” others rather than be “seen”.

I want to prefer that I “hear” others rather than be heard.

This is only possible because He preferred Himself over me.

He preferred that He sweat blood and suffer in agony rather than me.

He preferred that He wash my feet rather than the other way around.

He preferred that He be exposed so that I may be covered. 

He preferred that He be crushed on the cross rather than crush me.

He preferred that He take my shame.

He preferred that He take my stripes.

He preferred that He take my wounds.

He preferred that He take my punishment.

Oh Heavenly Father, I want to prefer me.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Philippians 2:3-8

I Prayed For In You What I Craved For In Me – Kayla Murphy

 

The Lord has been teaching the deepest parts of me what you just read above. I’ll come back to that thought in a moment!

 

Oh, how selfish and self-consumed my thoughts and prayers can be sometimes. Over the last year or so I’ve become the most aware I’ve ever been of my lack in this area specifically. I find these words often leaving my lips and being thrown towards Heaven lately, “Oh, Lord, let me love the world like you love me. Make me gentle and kind and give me eyes to see beyond my own world.” These cries come often, because more times than I would care to admit publicly, I do not prefer you over myself. BUT I WANT TOO!!! Jesus, I want too.

 

Back to the top…I prayed for in you what I craved for in me. If you don’t know these two in this picture it probably won’t move you as significantly. So, I’ll tell you. Both men have Parkinson’s. The one being prayed over has had it for a long time now, and the one praying had just received the diagnosis not long before the photo was taken. Now look at the photo again. LET. IT. MOVE. YOU.

 

Tears literally waterfalled down my face as I watched this unfold a month or two ago. I practically ran to the stage to take a picture when it happened. WOW. It convicted me. It freed me. It encouraged me. You see, Mr. Billy was praying over Mr. James the very thing he himself needed. He needed healing, but he was praying for healing for someone else. When was the last time your pain moved you to pray for someone else’s? It’s okay if you feel as convicted as I do here – let it work itself out in you! Let’s let Jesus work our selfishness out of us!

 

What are you craving from the Lord today?

What pain hits the depths of you?

What sickness is demanding strength from your body?

What thoughts are you wrestling? What sorrow do you feel?

What circumstance is overwhelming?

 

Whatever those answers are I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to take those things you are feeling and put them to use for Heaven’s sake and Jesus’ glory…in others! Think about people in your own life who are in the very battle you’re in. Pray for them! Beseech Heaven for them! Ask the Lord to move in you on their behalf. Pray for them as if you’re praying for yourself.

 

Please don’t misunderstand my encouragement. I still pray for my battles often. I love Jesus for desiring us to come to Him, but in realizing some of the selfishness tied with it it’s increased my love for YOU. This thought has transformed my prayer life and it has made walking in victory over my own struggles so much easier! Sometimes the easiest way to preach to and encourage yourself is to pray for in them what you crave for in you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

God has a call and plan for your life – Jeff Lee

 

Whatever God has orchestrated for your life He will bring it to pass. 

 

You can’t thwart the plans of God; He has had it since the foundations of the world and that plan will absolutely and definitely come to pass. The meaning of “thwart” is, “to hinder, obstruct, or frustrate plans, etc. The synonym for thwart is “frustrate,” which means: “to cause to have no effect, bring to nothing; counteract; nullify…to frustrate plans. To prevent from achieving an objective; foil, baffle, defeat…to frustrate an opponent; thwart implies frustration by blocking or acting in opposition to a person or thing moving toward some objective.”

 

God’s plans are designed for a specific time and season. Nothing can derail them. Nothing happens before its time. God’s timing is perfect. He is never too early or too late. When we begin to understand and believe this fact, then we can rest assured that God will bring to pass HIS perfect will. 

 

Ponder on these scriptures for a moment and rest in the faith it will build in you as you read and meditate on them.

For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27).
Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30).
“The Lord foils the plans of the nations [the wicked]; He thwarts the purposes of the [wicked] peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations” (Ps. 33:10,11).
”O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in Heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You” (2 Chron. 20:6).
”Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Prov. 19:21).
”The Lord works out everything for His own ends –even the wicked for a day of disaster” (Prov. 16:4).
”The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his” (Prov. 14:14).
Anyone who fights against God’s will, even if he perceives himself to be making headway, is ultimately fighting a brick wall (Ps. Ch. 2).
Anyone who thinks he can obstruct, prevent, or defeat God’s plan is only going to injure himself (Exodus 15:7; 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 68:1, 2).
Those who are faithful, God helps, but the arrogant, the greedy, and even those who align themselves with rebels, will incur upon themselves disaster, distress, and pain from God’s hand (2 Chron. 19:2 // Luke 1:50-53 // Eph. 5:6).

The plans of God will come to pass, be patient and believe God in His timing.

 

Shortly after I got saved the Lord spoke to me and said I have called you to be a preacher in these last days that lay ahead for the world around you. I was not a good speaker and could not do well sharing even my testimony. People told me I don’t know if you heard from God as to whether you will be a preacher. God continued to reveal to me what He had spoken over me and kept reminding me that His plans will come to pass. Several years later the Lord woke me up with a vision and a dream that revealed to me He was calling me as an Evangelist into full time ministry. I knew it was God and Tammy was sure as well. Friends eight years went by before the time came for me to sell my business and step out and walk-in full-time ministry. Many trials, obstacles, circumstances and many people tried to defer me from what I believed the Lord spoke to me. Many people I looked up to said, “You need to do this or don’t need to do that. In the waiting I had plans of my own to speed things up, but God allowed my plans to fail over and over because the timing wasn’t right. Something unforeseen needed to happen so that everything was according to HIS perfect plan and His perfect timing. This is because every detail had to be taken into account. God’s plan are all-inclusive. It is based on God’s omniscience (knowing all), so that everything past, present, and future is taken into account. God’s omniscience includes all things which will actually occur, as well as all things which could possibly occur. Every contingency is taken into account in God’s plan. Isn’t that awesome!!!!!

 

 

When you feel like things aren’t going the way you think they should or you feel like people are hindering you or being obstacles to what God has called you to, just remember it is a spiritual battle you are in my friend. It is not flesh and blood you fight. What the devil means for evil, God will work it out for good, in your favor my friend. No need for you to worry. The enemy may continue to hinder God’s plans for your life but he cannot stop it no matter how hard he might try. 

 

Remember this as you read about the lives of Moses, Ruth, Joseph and Job. You will see and be encouraged that nothing can nullify GOD’S plans. 

 

The plans of God always includes seemingly insignificant details which excludes “good luck” or coincidences. When Joseph wandered about in a field looking for his brothers, he did not just happen to be found and told where his brothers had gone (Genesis 37:14-17). And the fact that the pit into which he was thrown in was empty was no coincidence (37:24). And the passing caravan, which was headed toward Egypt, was no accident either (37:25-28). Everything was part of the plan. The fact that Ruth would “happen” upon the field of Boaz, a near kinsman of Naomi, was not mere chance but a matter of God’s providential control (Ruth 2:3).

This is to show you that no matter how the enemy may come at you – (suppresses you, overlooks you, denies you, rejects you, oppresses you) – God has taken and factored in all those things in his plans for you already. They are not mere coincidences. Don’t let those things get you down. God has everything covered. God’s plan is unchangeable and nothing and no one can stop that plan. 

 

The Bible tells us the steps of a righteous man are ordered of God, not the enemy, not yourselves, but of God. So live life as it unfolds before you. When you hear the voice of God, obey it. When you know what to do, do it. When you know what is right, follow that. When Jesus promises us “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” that is a promise that cannot be broken. Ask him to guide you in all your undertakings and give you wisdom in fulfilling your tasks. Be encouraged my friends in the fact that God cannot be hindered, by anything or anybody. Time, circumstances and situations cannot hinder God.  It doesn’t matter what is happening, how long you have been waiting, or the many obstacles placed in your way, God’s plan in your situation will stand. Isaiah 14:27 – For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Our God cannot be restricted. He will use stumbling blocks as stepping stones to come through for you. 

 

Trust Him. He is His only limit. He can do whatever he wants, whenever He wants. His desires, plans and will are the only controls that are placed upon Him. God allows obstacles, and chooses obstacles, to show His great might in situation after situation so that he alone gets the glory in it all.

Friends don’t allow the enemy to torment you with the “what if’s” of your life. Believe in God and know that no plan of His can be thwarted! 

 

Evangelist Jeff Lee

 

When Spiritual Attacks Come In The Form of Vain Imaginations – Sarah Saenz

 

  It may surprise some, but the Bible deals extensively with our imaginations.  Not just the adventurous imaginings that lead to fun stories for children or silly situations for our friends to laugh at, but imaginary fears, self-exalting thoughts, improbable scenarios, and nagging doubts, too. 

Recently I shared some scriptures and devotionals with a small group of friends. I prayed, prepared my notes, praised God, and asked for His anointing. The meeting went wonderfully, we covered everything that had been on my heart and there were even some sweet moments of burdens bared. I went home feeling grateful. But when alone, my thoughts took a sudden turn. “Was it good enough?” “Did I offend someone when I said this or that?” “Maybe I didn’t speak that correctly?” “What if no one took my meaning?” “Did it matter to anyone?” “Maybe I shouldn’t share, maybe it’s not my place to teach?” 

My peaceful morning of fellowship with friends ended with a downward spiral of fear and intense doubt. I tried to shrug off my thoughts, tried to reject the direction my mind was running. But my efforts were pointless. 

Days later, the Lord showed me something my feeble understanding had not registered: the Enemy had coordinated an attack on my mind and he had used my own imagination to do it. 

How could I not have seen it? The signs were all there… the sudden redirection of my thoughts, the vain fixation on my own performance, the complete lack of acknowledgement that the Lord could use any cracked but willing vessel. How had I so completely discounted His sovereignty? Why had I listened and believed such deception? 

I am not the first person to fall into this pit of fearful and self-obsessed imagining. Or the first citizen of God’s kingdom to be targeted by this type of demonic assault. In the garden, Eve was the very first to be tempted and to give in to this type of vain imagination. Can you just hear Satan’s oily manipulation, “… You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God…” Gen 3: 4-5.

Talk about an out-of-control vain imagination! A creature made from a borrowed rib and some dust thought she could be like her Creator just by eating some fruit?! It was never going to happen!

Another time, the whole population of the world was caught up in the lie. “Come, let us build a city for ourselves, a tower whose top will reach into the heavens, and let us make a [famous] name for ourselves, so that we will not be scattered [into separate groups] and be dispersed over the surface of the entire earth [as the Lord instructed.]” Gen 11: 4.

            Notice the fixation upon themselves at Babel, all they imagined and desired concerned themselves. There was no place for God in their vision, in fact, their aim was to remove His influence entirely from their lives. They imagined a future that contained no Sovereign God at all. Not possible! 

            In verse 6, the Lord speaks to this sin and the enviable fallout if they succeeded, “This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.” 

Our God is smart and He misses nothing, He recognized the role their imaginations had played in this experiment. They wanted to remove Him from His own creation. We all know how that ended. 

In perhaps one of the most dramatic examples of a run-away imagination is King Nebuchadnezzar’s story. “The king said thoughtfully, ‘Is not this the great Babylon which I myself have built as the royal residence and seat of government by the might of my power and for the honor and glory of my majesty?’” Daniel 4: 30. The passage goes on the say that while these words were still in his mouth, the Lord spoke and took Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and sense from him. For seven years, he ate grass like cattle and he was wild in his appearance. At the end of the period, the king said “…I raised my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding and reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High [God] and I praised and honored and glorified Him who lives forever,”  verse 34. It wasn’t until the King dismantled his imagined majesty and self-centered power that God returned his mind back to him and reinstated his kingdom authority. 

From these examples we see a pattern. Devastation follows when we give in to demonic suggestions and let our imaginations elevate our own standing. When we imagine that anyone else is more in control of the situation than the Lord, we sin. Think back to a time when your imagination ran wild with pride, fear, panic, or doubts. What was the result? Torment, usually, and lack of peace. 

At the heart, these sins of the imagination wound our Father’s heart. They reduce His unending power to a pile of ashes and steamroll over His Almighty sovereignty. They echo the sin and vanity of a certain angel who once imagined he, too, could be like God. Though Lucifer lacked nothing, he imagined a vain future with himself as god. This is why he is still coordinating these attacks today, they echo his own vain and hateful ambitions. 

2 Corthinations 10: 4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Dear friend, we have weapons that are mighty, that pull down and smash these high, vain places in our minds. We have the Holy Spirit, the living Word, the Body of Christ, a battle language, hymns of praise. And we have a Defender who will take off running at our foe.  Through our imaginations, Satan may seek to destroy our faith. He may exalt himself, call himself a giant, taunt us, wound us, make us fear, doubt, boast, or question ourselves. Like the Israelites, we might feel like all we can do is hide in our tents and cover our ears. But if we would just call for our Champion, the Lord would send Himself. He would avenge us, He would topple the high places our minds. He would deliver us. As many times as it takes, He will always deliver us. Let us seek Him in the grips of these attacks, repent, and give Him total sovereignty – even over our own imaginations. 

 

Dirty feet. Pure heart. That’s my Jesus! – Kayla Murphy

 

I often think on the life of Jesus as he walked the earth. Read that again. HE WALKED THE EARTH! His feet touched the same dirt yours and mine are touching today. Isn’t there a comfort in that beautiful truth? Isn’t there a comfort in knowing He knows because He’s done it? He’s been here…whatever “here” we are in. What a Savior. What a friend! What a model to follow after. He graced our world so we could gracefully enter His. Hallelujah!

 

He was God, but He was as human as you and me. He walked the earth. He got lunch with His friends. He visited family. He worked as a carpenter. He got tired. His hair grew and had to be cut. He had to trim His nails. He had to shower and get clean. He had to eat and drink. His feet got dirty! He had put together people around him. He had disaster, nasty people around him. Jesus….His feet were filled with the dust of earth because He did life here, but the beauty was that He was a supernatural wonder in the everyday mundane! Dirty feet. Pure heart. He knew carpenter moments of today would be the building blocks of the Kingdom of Heaven tomorrow. He knew that every moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant, was a moment purposed by the Father. He knew that being with the unworthy would give them a gateway to be clean. I’m so thankful for that! Isn’t it incredible that because He lives in us that we can be a supernatural wonder in the everyday mundane too?

 

Y’all. He. Had. Dirty. Feet. He didn’t shield Himself from our nasty – He walked in it to pull us out of it. He spoke to prostitutes and tax collectors and liars and cheats. He touched lepers and hugged losers. Dirty feet, but a pure heart! Are we like Him? Do we run to the outcast and give them the hope of Jesus? Do we shuffle through the mundane moments of life or do we live supernaturally in them knowing that He is working in us and out of us even then? I want to live like that.  

 

I pray we remember these two things today: He’s in our mundane moments and willing to use them powerfully if we’ll let him! Don’t run from others dirt floors to keep your feet clean – be Jesus to those around you and go after them!

 

 

 

Quiet Acts of Worship – Wendy Abboud 

 

One day, I opened my mouth to begin praying for a sweet sister who was battling sickness in her household. Between sickness she had been dealing with herself and sickness in her children, it had been rough. It had been ongoing for a couple of weeks. At this same time, her husband was away in another state on a ministry trip preaching the Gospel. While he was out on this particular trip, people were saved and there were some wonderful testimonies of people coming to the Lord! It was clear the Lord had him there doing that work. 

As I began to pray for her, the Lord stopped me and had me consider her situation. He immediately began to speak to me from her life. It was convicting. It led to my repentance before the Lord and a greater desire for Him to work within me and bring change to my heart. All the while, she had no idea how the Lord was using her life to speak to me. 

I thought about how she willingly let her husband go on the ministry trip because she knew it was what He was called to do. I’m sure there was a desire in her heart to go and be directly part of this work, sharing the Gospel, praying with people in an altar, seeing people respond to Jesus with her own eyes, etc. Nonetheless, she willingly let him go, knowing the physical and mental fatigue it would cause her as she cared for their children and home by herself while not feeling well. Caring for children while being ill with no rest can be downright painful and she was going to sacrifice help and physical comfort so that the Gospel could go forth. Her heart was willing to endure it by the grace of God for Jesus. 

God began to speak to me from her life and say “See this life? She was just as much apart of the Gospel going forth as the people who went and did the preaching. As she cooked, performed everyday life tasks and faithfully cared for her children while suffering sickness herself, I saw it. It was behind the walls of her home, but I saw it and those quiet acts of worship were precious to me. She sacrificed unto Me so that her husband could go and preach My Word and I saw it.” 

This was worship purely done unto the Lord and seen by no one else but Him. There was no applause and yells of “Amen!” as she cooked, cleaned, homeschooled and loved her children while in pain. There was no recognition. There was nothing to gain from being seen by the eyes of others. It was just her and Jesus. It was all done by Jesus, through Jesus and for Jesus. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the crowd, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew‬ ‭6:1-4‬ ‭

This verse speaks a lot of giving to the needy but the primary message of the verse is that our good works, the giving of ourselves, the giving of our resources, etc. is truly only to be an act of worship unto our Lord. The only concern and delight of our heart should be that He sees it. The phrase “quiet acts of worship” comes to mind. 

I believe the Lord desires a willing heart that says “Yes, Lord. I want to say Yes to you no matter what the cost is for me and regardless of who else sees. My heart wants to do this for You and You alone. There’s nothing in it for me except to please You, worship You and love You.” 

Dear brother or sister, may our great Potter work this into our hearts more and more as we submit to His careful and precise workmanship. 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians‬ ‭3:23-24‬ ‭

 

CHURCH HISTORY FROM PENTECOST TO PENTECOSTAL – PART 2 – Charles Burks

 

Today’s blog is the second part in a series on the history of Christianity: “From Pentecost to Pentecostals”. Last time, we looked at where the term Pentecostal comes from and how the beliefs and practices that made that movement unique in the 20th century were grounded in the testimony of the early church. 

 

Pentecostals look back to the experiences described in the book of Acts and say many of those experiences are also for us today. If you look at early church history for the first 300 to 500 years, you see the gifts did not cease with the apostles being martyred, or with the Bible being completed. The centuries after the apostles died still included many testimonies of miracles, signs and wonders, people being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, prophesying, and all the other spiritual gifts. 

 

However, a slow but steady decline set in over the centuries, turning the early church into more of an organized religious experience where the laity were controlled by an elite group of clergy. And what we would recognize now as the Roman Catholic hierarchy developed over the next 600 years. In actuality, the pope didn’t come into his current prominence until the seventh century, when he demanded recognition as not just the Bishop of Rome, but the leader over the entire church. He attempted to turn Christianity into a kingdom, which we would refer to as “Christendom”. This earthly kingdom of God was set up in juxtaposition to other kingdoms of this world.  

 

Of course, none of this was Jesus’s intention. He had said, “My kingdom is not of this world, otherwise, my servants would fight”. But the Roman Catholic Church ran with the concept of “Christendom”, and then began to militaristically conquer lands that didn’t submit to the pope. The Crusades became the fruit of that and the dark ages were the greater fruit. It was tragic. The Bible was pulled away from the people, and eventually the lay people couldn’t understand it when it was read in church, because it was left in Latin (a dying language). 

 

For many centuries after people were no longer commonly speaking it, the priests had to learn Latin to say the Mass and read the scriptures. And the ignorant laity were encouraged to do the rituals. Just get baptized as a baby, partake in all the sacraments of the church till death, and the priesthood would take care of the rest. The church even began to promise to pray the departed into heaven after they had died.  

 

This religious system grew increasingly corrupt so that, at least by the time of Martin Luther in the 1500s, it was largely based on paying indulgences. You could literally buy forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven if you had the resources to do so. And of course, the Catholic church was taking that money and building a great palace in Rome for the pope. You know, the Vatican was built on the desperate prayers and donations of many people who were trying to pay off their own sin debt – or pay their loved ones out of purgatory. This very cruel system had developed where people were being told, “Your loved ones are not in heaven yet, but we think they’re in Purgatory.” But, how could anyone know if they were in Purgatory? How could they know when they got out? 

 

If you look at that system, and then you go back to the book of Acts, it’s no wonder the religious authorities wanted to hide the Bible from the people.  They didn’t want it to be challenged by those saying, “I don’t see that going on in the book of Acts… I don’t see that being taught in the book of Hebrews.” So the people didn’t have access to the Bible in their language.  

 

Ultimately, it was a Catholic monk named Martin Luther whose conscience was convicted while studying the Latin scriptures that he had no peace with God – even though he had obtained a very high position in the church. Like all of us, Luther had a sinful nature that he was trying to beat into submission, albeit unsuccessfully. And it was while reading Galatians that he came across the phrase “the just shall live by faith”. It struck him that He was not doing that. Nor was the church teaching it. 

 

So, Luther grabbed ahold of that message and began to see it was the common theme throughout not only the New Testament, but even the Old Testament.  Faith was God’s way of dealing with his people.  And anyone could believe. You didn’t have to possess riches, you didn’t have to have a position or education. You didn’t have to have a lot of years on you. You could simply trust God at his Word and receive his blessings by faith. 

 

God’s Word says that Jesus was the propitiation (or complete payment) for our sins. He was the full and final sacrifice required by the justice of God – and if we look unto him, we can be saved. So on October 31st, 1517, a changed Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, and the rest is history. Initially, Luther only intended to reform some of the most egregious sins and abuses that were going on in the 16th century churches. But the Catholic Church was rather tyrannical, and they didn’t want to reform – and especially not through a monk like Luther. So they began to persecute and threaten the lives of him and his followers. 

 

But the cat was already out of the bag. People were now openly speaking of the problems with the church in Germany, which was a safe enough distance from the Pope that he couldn’t just come over and crush the whole thing. So in the 16th century, there was suddenly a revolution on the hands of the Catholic Church, ultimately resulting in Lutheran and other churches that protested the abuses of popery. 

 

The Protestant Reformation is the organized movement that responded to the Roman Catholic Church, and has continued to this day as the root of many denominations. Many people will tell you there are two basic places people belong to in Christendom – either with the Catholics or with the Protestants. And some people might assume that we as Pentecostals also identify as Protestants. 

 

But, should we claim that movement as our heritage?  

 

As I looked into it, in spite of its affinity for God’s Word, I had to conclude that the Protestant Reformation was not our heritage as Pentecostals. Next time, we will present the reasons why I believe our roots are outside of both the Protestant and Catholic traditions.  If you would like to listen to this teaching, please click here: Church History From Pentecost to “Pentecostals” (PART 1) 

 

Moved by Christ. Unmoved by Rejection. – Wendy Abboud

 

At a recent LSU outreach, I watched as a brother in Christ received a hostile response from a student. He kindly and gently approached two students as they were passing by, greeted them and offered them outreach bags. One of the students boldly looked him in the face and without hesitation exclaimed “I hate God!” while the other student laughed derisively at him. Neither of the students slowed their pace as they kept on walking, continuing in their laughter. 

 

This rejection didn’t happen directly to me that day but I could feel some of the pangs of it as I stood nearby watching. Although this was a very light rejection, we looked at one another and both immediately began to refer to Matthew 5: 10-11. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” “You’re blessed right now!” I told him.

 

We experience rejection often while being out at LSU sharing our faith. It may not always come in the form of a response like the one on that particular day but it comes in many other forms. Students walk by and pretend that they don’t see you. Students hear the word “God” or “Jesus” and sneer or walk away quickly. Students attempt to make you feel wrong or like you’re the “bad guy” for daring to approach them to offer prayer or to share your faith. You don’t have to be out street evangelizing in order to experience this rejection as a Christian. It can occur anywhere and show itself in many different forms as you simply live out your life as His witness. 

 

When the rejection occurs, the flesh immediately feels embarrassed. Naturally, we want to do all that we can to avoid that feeling of rejection from occurring again. It causes the flesh to want to shrink back and throw in the towel. It can be wearying as one encounters the resistance of the course of this world. It feels as though you’re swimming against a very strong current because that is exactly what’s happening. It’s a strong current that seeks to sweep you away with it, let alone allow you to stand and push against it. The response of the flesh and the natural mind to rejection is to reject right back, bristle up, write off or withdraw altogether. Personally, my flesh wants to run and be moved by even the slightest awkward glance that I might receive from someone when sharing my faith. My flesh wants to end the conversation and literally run away. I’ve experienced this not only in intentional evangelistic settings but also in casual conversation with family and friends when I bring Jesus into whatever we’re discussing.

 

Praise God, as born again believers, we don’t have to succumb to the tendencies of our flesh or be driven by it! When rejection or even persecution comes our way due to living out our faith in Christ and confessing Him, we can stand firm and not allow ourselves to be moved by it. Rather, we can be moved solely by Christ. We don’t have to shrink back, cower or bristle up because of Who is in us! The initial response of the flesh can yield to the Holy Spirit so that He can flow out of us. 

 

We have the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts. His love. We are filled with and empowered by His Spirit. His love isn’t moved or hindered by rejection, a look of disdain or social disregard. His love isn’t moved or hindered by being hated, persecuted or even put to death. This is the LOVE that’s in us as His sons and daughters. It is a love that isn’t pushed back by rejection but continues to move forward and lovingly pursue despite it. This is totally contrary to my flesh that wants to completely abandon whoever causes me to feel the slightest brush off. 

 

Furthermore, we have total security in His love for us. When we know who we are in Christ and Who we belong to, we can continue on with being a loving and bold witness for Jesus again and again and again. We can do this even in the midst of feeling the fear and the pangs of rejection because we derive strength from His perfect love for us and we are driven forward by His perfect love for the lost. We are filled with the One Who, while hanging on the cross, looked at those who intended Him harm in every way possible and said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” When His love is driving us, we will not only be able to endure rejection and persecution but endure it joyfully and with compassion. It sounds impossible to our flesh but in Christ it can be a reality! 

 

His life and love inside of us can cause us to be unmoved by the fears that the enemy would try to bring against us in these moments with an intention to make us draw back. His life and love inside of us can cause us to have a quiet resolve that is unwavering. A heart-knowing of these truths and the very real grace and empowerment of His Spirit can cause us to be unmoved in those moments of rejection and even persecution. We can be moved by Him and Him alone.

 

Our High Priest and the Grace of Giving – Evan Pyle

 

Introduction

 

​Have you ever noticed that many Christians who have not yet submitted their lives to God’s will try to solve their problems by becoming more “spiritual”? We love to hide our carnal thinking behind lots of religious-sounding talk. But faith doesn’t waste its time with fancy talk. Faith acts. This other, so-called faith loves to talk-talk-talk, but fails to act in submission to God’s word. My goal for this study is to strip away some of the fancy reasoning and excuses surrounding this topic, replacing it with God’s practical and simple solution.

​I believe we have underestimated the true value of money. Does that surprise you? Most people would say that we have far overestimated the value of money. It is popular to treat money as strictly carnal and unspiritual. But stop and think about it: money represents, in a very real way, our time, efforts, talents, education an even our family heritage. How is this so? The money we have came to us by investing time in our work. Some work is possible only because of our education. Our success is affected by faithful application of our talent and energy. Money, family property, a business or skills may have come to us from our family or by inheritance. So you see, money does represent much of who we are. Because we have underestimated its true value, we have failed to take money matters as seriously as we ought. It is critically important to handle our finances in line with God’s will.

 

​No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else ​he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ​Matthew 6:24

 

​Mammon means, literally, wealth or profit. But in the context, Jesus is using this word to describe an evil force that grips men and keeps them from serving God. Its effects are easy to see in the world, with so many people in financial bondage, whether in debt or devoting energy that belongs to the Lord to the acquisition of material things. As Christians who desire to please God, we must acknowledge the claim of either God or mammon on our lives

 

​Matthew tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When we do this, all these things will be added to us. (Matt. 6:33) This means that when we have acknowledged God and not mammon as who we love and serve; when we put God first, then all of these other things will be added to us. When we arepursuing material things, something will always be out of reach. But when we seek God, these other things will, in effect, pursue us. The biblical solution is to put God first in our finances. When we fail to acknowledge God first in our finances we begin treating his claims on our lives as secondary and our giving becomes more like tipping a waiter or a valet.

 

​Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: ​Proverbs 3:9

 

​When we step out in faith to truly honor God with our first fruits we are putting “wheels” (visible proof) to our profession that we seek the kingdom God first. As we practice this biblical precept the rule of mammon over our lives is broken.

 

Jesus as our High Priest

 

​In order to understand how it is that Jesus is our high priest today, we need to go back and examine that mysterious Bible figure, Melchizidek.

​Two people went out to meet Abraham after his victorious battle against an alliance of local kings. Both of these men made Abraham a specific offer. Melchizidek offered bread and wine, an obvious picture of the coming Messiah and the redemption that faith in his blood brings to lost mankind. The king of Sodom, on the other hand, offered the spoils of battle to Abraham. Just like Abraham, God’s children today face the choice between the riches of Christ and the allure of the world’s goods. Abraham rejected Sodom’s offer in the strongest of terms.

​That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing ​that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Genesis 14:23

 

​Notice that Melchizidek first delivered a blessing to Abraham, then Abraham responded by giving Melchizidek tithes of all.

​And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of ​heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine ​enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:19-20

​

​“Tithe” simply means a tenth. Today, we would say 10%. I have heard the reasoning that the tithe is no longer valid in this age of grace, because Jesus fulfilled the law and we are no longer under the law. While it is true that we are no longer under the law, the tithe was before, and therefore remains after, the law. The law of Moses came 400-plus years after Abraham tithed to Melchizidek. So the tithe is valid today in this age of grace, though it is not a rule of law we are commanded to follow. It is a principle of life practiced by those who put God first in their finances.

​Besides carrying the bread and wine as a picture of Messiah, Melchizidek was himself a picture of Christ to come. He was priest of the most high God, yet did not descend from the priestly line which comes from Aaron, which was centuries later. In being named a priest after Melchizidek, Jesus fulfilled the propheciesconcerning himself as the high priest of God, though he did not count Aaron in his human genealogy. (Hebrews 6:20-7:28) Just as Melchizidek first blessed Abraham, the Lord first blesses us. When we give of our tithes and offerings, we are responding to God’s blessing, just as Abraham responded to Melchizidek’s blessing with a tithe of all. Never do we “give to get”. We do not give expecting God to respond to us. This is a grievous error that has crept in to the church. God has already acted first in all things through Christ. Our Christian life is aresponse to what Jesus has done for us by sacrificing his life for our salvation.

 

​When we set aside and offer our first tenth to Jesus, we honor him and acknowledge him as our high priest, who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and is able to comfort us in all our afflictions. We acknowledge that that he has offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and receives our sacrifices to him.

 

​By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of ​our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with ​such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

 

​To “communicate”, in Bible language, means to give tithes and offerings. I remember, in my darker irreligious past, being at church services where the pastor said, “let us now worship the Lord with our tithes and offerings.” I used to scoff at this as so much drivel. I thought, “what are you going to do, toss the money into the air and hope God grabs it?” God forgive my irreverence! I didn’t understand Jesus’ role as my high priest. I had trivialized the importance of money. I didn’t realize that when you give your money, you are giving yourself. To offer yourself to God is worship and is well pleasing to Him.

 

​I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a ​living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

​Romans 12:1

 

​Under the law, the people brought sacrifices to the temple. This was how they worshipped God. Today, we present our sacrifice, a living sacrifice, to the Lord. According to Romans, we present our bodies, meaning everything we are. And remember, who we are, in many ways, isrepresented by money. Our offering is holy to the Lord because it represents who we are; it represents a living sacrifice.

​Our giving brings glory to the Lord:

 

​Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his ​courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. ​Psalm 96:8-9

 

The Grace of Giving

 

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7

 

​The grace Paul is speaking of here is financial giving. Don’t you find it interesting that giving is called a grace? The word grace appears in this chapter seven times, always referring to financial giving. Verse nine explains the grace of giving that comes to all who believe through Christ. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) As part of the divine exchange, Jesus broke the poverty curse that came through the law.

 

​Since not one person fully kept the law, this poverty curse passed upon all. Jesus broke this curse by fulfilling the law. He then exchanged his nature for ours. He took our sins and gave us his righteousness. Jesus was rich, but he became poor out of his grace in order that we, through his grace, though being poor, might be made rich with his riches. Jesus exhausted the poverty curse of the broken law so that in return, through grace, we might receive the wealth of the kingdom of God. I long for, and hunger after, this grace in my life. But how is this grace received? Grace is received through faith alone.

 

​For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ​Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

 

​Walking in obedience to God’s word by faithful giving of tithes and offerings can be evidence of faith in God’s promise; but it can be a religious exercise carried out to keep us “right” with God. Worse yet, giving is too often done so God will bless us financially. We have all heard this type of teaching in the so-called “prosperity gospel.” From the start there is a biblical problem with this kind of thinking. The principle of tithing, first seen with Abraham and Melchizidek, shows the high priest (a picture of Jesus, our high priest) first blessing Abraham (a picture of the believer as he is the “father of those who believe”) and then Abraham (that’s us) responding with the tithe. God does not owe us a blessing when we give our tithes and offerings. He blessed us first. God will be indebted to no man. He is the first cause of all things and is not in the business of responding to people who “push the right button”, so to speak. When we give rightly, we are responding to God, who blessed us first. In much of the prosperity gospel, God is reduced to a set of principles which, when properly “operated” produces the desired results. When people fail to get the expected results they blame God when they should be blaming themselves.

 

​Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ​James 4:3

 

​The prosperity that Jesus brought us by his grace is the wealth of the kingdom of God: his righteousness, wisdom, sanctification and redemption. (I Corinthians 1:30) The law’s standard was give or be cursed. Jesus’ standard is give and you shall receive. (Give and it shall be given unto you. Luke 6:38) The Holy Spirit’s standard in this age of grace is all sufficiency in all things so we can abound to every good work.

 

​And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all ​sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8

 

​The standard of grace is always a higher standard and it requires more of us than justtithes and offerings. It demands self-sacrifice.

 

​Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of ​Macedonia;How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep ​poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.For to their power, I bear record, yea, ​and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;Praying us with much intreaty ​that we would receive the gift, and take upon usthe fellowship of the ministering to the ​saints.And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, ​and unto us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

 

​The higher standard demanded by grace is to first give ourselves. It is self-sacrifice; a living sacrifice. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans12:1) Though some may have pictured the Christian life in the age of grace as “easy street”, it is not true. God is requiring something greater than our tithes and offerings. He wants us: heart, soul, mind and strength. Nothing exists for which he has not made provision, and nothing exists for which he does not accept responsibility. But we must meet the Lord on his terms, not ours. This is not “let’s make a deal”. His requirement isnothing less than a living sacrifice.

​Some would say that Paul, with hisimpeccable background and first-class education, had a lot to lose by converting to Christianity. But Paul correctly estimated the value of his background and education in comparison to the life of Christ. Philippians says that he counted them as dung compared to Christ. When we correctly value Jesus’ sacrifice for us compared to all that is valued by the world, we will begin to grasp the fullness of God’s provision and begin to walk in faith. It istime to quit having a foot in both realms. It is time to acknowledge the claims of either God or mammon on our lives and live accordingly.

​Christians are to abound in this grace.

 

​Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all ​diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7

 

​Financial giving with the right motives demonstrates our love. It is proof that we love in action as well as in words. When we give, it is no longer the talk of love on our lips, but the action of love from our substance.

 

 

 

​Do you see the truth expressed here in I John? Have you ever felt condemned, wondering whether you are accepted with God? The bible says that when we love in deed and in truth, that we assure our hearts before God. We know we are of the truth and God shows us that we are not condemned. Our generosity sets our heart at ease and gives us that good feeling of being in God’s love. In this sense, the sense of love, God does respond to our giving, for God loves a cheerful giver. I want to be loved of God in this grace of giving.

 

​Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of ​necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

 

Conclusion

 

​Though religion has done much to confuse the subject of tithes and offerings, the bible remains clear. On a personal note, I got a revelation of the need to give tithes and offeringsmany years ago. Though I have made many bad decisions over the years, God has still provided. And I have remained steadfastly at peace about my finances even when they were worse than threadbare. Giving led me from fear and worry to faith and rest. Don’t you want that for yourself and your family?

 

With a biblical and spiritual perspective to guide our giving we can operate at a higher level than “giving to get”. At its best, our financial giving is worship and the kind of self-sacrifice with which God is well-pleased. It gives proof to our love, demonstrating that our love goes beyond words by loving in deed and in truth. I challenge you to walk fully in this grace of giving.

Go Ahead and Try – Leah Wilkes

 

There is a pivotal journey that, when taken, forces you to face the truth that no matter what, you are not hindered from what God has ordained in your life. Regardless of what the enemy, others or even yourself think of your ability, skill or acceptability, you are not “boxed in.” 

   There is a great variety of processes that can take place in this particular journey. You are faced with your propensity to listen to your spiritual enemy and therefore trained in the art of spiritual warfare. With each crushing blow of the enemy’s piercing reminders of your “limitations” you are schooled in the craft of rebuke. You learn not to consider the serpents suggestions as poor, and inevitably led astray, Eve was. You learn to sing through the weight of darkness until it’s clouds dissipate and peace and rest come in.

   It is much the same battle when real people take it upon themselves to assume who you are and what you are capable of. So it was with Joseph, David and even Jesus Himself. This can be a most disheartening place as we learn not to place so much weight in mans opinion or backing. We begin to “faith differently” here and acknowledge that, no matter what people may have to say, you are unlimited and unhindered in Gods will and call. Here you begin to learn that people are not your pathway and their acceptance of you is not what empowers your life. It is in fact the acceptance, anointing and steady defense of your Heavenly Father that will pave and open every path and door, whilst also sifting your very being and exposing the ugly man-pleasing traits you are so prone to. 

   Then there’s the great battle of YOU. Our own worst enemies we steal away our faith with logic, shame and impatience. We calculate the possibilities and find that our circumstances can’t all add up to what we were promised. We crumble under the heavy weight of past regrets and despair as more of our pitiful and putrid flesh is exposed through the pressures of life. We panic as it seems like time is passing us by and refuse to believe that an intricate God is weaving our circumstances together with a method that is “higher” and more detailed than ours.

  We find ourselves crying out to the enemy, mankind and even our own flesh “Don’t box me in! Don’t box me in! Don’t box me in!” We can feel limited on every side and there are moments that we wonder if anyone at all is for us. But the God who sees is sovereign and well aware of how these moments, though hard and wearisome are a crucial part of the process.

   It is in the swirling minefield of demonic warfare that we learn of God our defender and master the faith-filled art of wielding spiritual weaponry. The enemy’s taunts find no resting place where there is an overcoming faith. The enemy cannot box in the called of God.

   It is in impossibility that we learn and become more acquainted with the God of the impossible. Amidst one thousand limitations He proves Himself to be unhindered. When no man will stand with you,

the Lord our God will not leave your side. Circumstances cannot box Him in.

   It is in the breaking, humbling exposure of ourselves that we finally learn our abilities and perfection have nothing to do with Gods purposes. It is when we finally lie down and let God be God that we see the spiritual progress that has been working inwardly for a long season. Our frailty cannot box God in. 

   So when the enemy’s taunts, man’s opinions or even your own faithlessness attempt to limit God, we can simply respond “go ahead and try.” In simple faith, without effort or ability, we can stare every opposing situation and opinion in the face and walk in peace knowing, no one, not even our own faltering flesh, can box our God in. 

 

“Go ahead and try” path hindering Red Sea. 

“Go ahead and try” formidable walls of Jericho 

“Go ahead and try” King Saul

“Go ahead and try” intellectual Pharisees 

 

Go on, go ahead and try… I know who my Redeemer is. I know He will finish what He started. I know my Promise Keeper and Great Defender. I know the One who pulls me out of the great depravity of my failings and sets me upon a rock, so go ahead and try… I will not be the one you reckon with, but I will watch my Good Shepherd drive you from His presence and embarrass your attempts at hindering what He has determined will be. 

 

A TIME TO SERVE: Seasons of Ministry for the Everyday Disciple

 

Beka Burch

 

Have you ever thought that the current season of ministry you’re in may not be as “profitable” for the Kingdom as the past season that you had been in before? Or maybe you’re nervous at the thought of what season of ministry lies ahead? Often times we are tripped up by the thought of “seasons” in our lives, when God wants to use these different seasons of ministry for His glory!

Over the last 6 months of my life, I have heard the tender, sweet whisper of God calling me to a new personal season of ministry. And through this beckoning, He has brought comfort and joy in my mind and spirit, knowing that what where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going in ministry are all important parts of my story.

I truly believe that God calls each one of us to leave a lasting impact, as He has left on us. Throughout years of our lives, God graces us with different seasons of service, whether it be mission trips, teaching Sunday School, serving our neighbors, supporting our spouses, or discipling our kids. I pray that today you will be encouraged through scripture that we are called to remember the blessings from our past ministries, be content in our current role of ministry, and look forward to the ministry He will set before us.

God brings us through every season with the intention of showing His heart through us.

1. REFLECT ON THE SEASONS OF MINISTRY YOU’VE COME OUT OF

Throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of remembering, reflecting, and recalling the goodness of God. One of the greatest examples of this is in Joshua 4:1-9. After the Israelites pass over the Jordan river the Lord instructed Joshua to set up twelve stones of remembrance for the future generations to know that God had been their help. And just as Joshua erected these remembrance stones, we too are called to look back on the things God has done for us in grateful remembrance. There are countless things He has done in and through us that I pray we would remember!

As I remember all of the seasons of ministry I have been a part of, I can choose one of two paths: I can be thankful and ask the Lord to recall to my mind all that He taught me in those seasons OR I can be overwhelmed with despair wishing I was still in those seasons. If I choose to repeatedly dwell on “what was”, I will never be able to intentionally live for “what is now”. So, REMEMBER AND RECALL in a deep and holy reverence what God has shown you in the past seasons. Ask God what it is specifically he taught you there and thank Him for it!

Every season we go through IS a season of ministry, but it’s up to us to see our seasons through a heavenly perspective.

I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the instilling of love to sing in kids choir, the heart he gave me for people through my mission travels in high school and college, the burden he instilled in me for youth ministry while working in the school system, and the urgency he placed within me for the unfathered and abused while I ran my business fighting human trafficking. These are all wonderful parts of my story where God used me, taught me, and grew me in Him and my service to His Kingdom.

2. RECOGNIZE THE SEASON OF MINISTRY YOU’RE IN

One of the greatest people that we can learn from comes to mind as I focus on this portion of our topic – THE APOSTLE PAUL! In the middle of a filthy prison cell, near the end of his death, we see Paul write a passion-filled letter to Timothy, his son in the faith. Paul penned this beautiful letter in urgency knowing that his time on earth was short. He understood the season of ministry that he was in – one near death. And it drove Him to write with an urgency that impacted Timothy, the early church, and every Christian to this day.

So, I encourage you to ask yourself this question – what current season of ministry are you in? It is important for us to recognize what season we are in so that we can know how to live each day intentionally for the Kingdom of God! Are you in the ministry of motherhood? I pray that you would understand the sense of urgency in training and discipling your children for the gospel in the midst of a secular world. Are you in the ministry of teaching Sunday School? I urge you to remember the importance of the minds and hearts God has given you to help teach and mold.

Moses instructs us in Psalm 90 to “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Paul, Moses, and so many other godly men that we look towards recognized the current season of ministry they were in and that caused them to live focused on the current task! They lived each day requesting wisdom from God to know how to currently live for His glory. So, where are you currently? Are you in a season that feels meaningless? Maybe you feel like your nursery rotation doesn’t matter. Maybe you feel like no one sees you constantly changing the lyrics in the sound booth. Maybe you’re in what you think is a great season of ministry, but you feel overwhelmed at the task. Maybe you’re trying to figure out what this season actually even is. Ask God to help you recognize where He has currently placed you and how to use you effectively for His kingdom!

3. RECIEVE THE SEASONS OF MINISTRY AHEAD

Did you know that there are beautiful seasons of ministry ahead, if you continue to allow God rule and reign in your life?! God has great plans for His children, as we yield our lives, wills, and resources over to Him! As we look forward, we can ask God to help us identify what tasks he might have for us ahead. This will force us to ask how, by God’s grace, we want to live TODAY in order to live fully in the next season.

If you are currently in a season of doing something “small” and wanting something “more”, ask God these questions – 1) How am I allowing You to help me grow in this current season so I can be prepared for the next? Am I content here while you prepare me? 2) When I get to the next season, how do you want me to help those who were where I was?

If you are looking ahead and are nervous, scared, or unsure of what is ahead, I also want to encourage you. We can look ahead and begin asking the Lord for the grace and strength we will need in our future seasons. Personally, as I look forward to a season of staying at home and homeschooling my children, I am already beginning to ask the Lord for the grace, wisdom, and strength I will need to endure long days of “mundane” tasks. I am asking Him to give me fresh perspective while washing dishes, folding laundry, and teaching to read. These may not be “glamorous ministry tasks” in many peoples’ eyes, but they are beautiful to Him! These will be my acts of worship to Him and my call to take care of my home and disciple my children.

So, in all 3 seasons of ministry (reflecting on the past, recognizing the present, and receiving what is ahead), we must rely on the grace of God! Because in every season, Satan is going to try and sabotage what God is doing, make you feel inadequate, and therefore, make you inactive.

PLEASE REMEMBER – EVERY SEASON IS A SEASON OF MINISTRY! But we have to see it that way.

Ask God to give you a fresh perspective today (with past ministries, with your current ministry, and with what you know is ahead)… He will do more than you could ever imagine if you give it all to Him.

 

 

POWER FROM ON HIGH – Jeff Lee

 

Just moments before Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection; He gave His final message to His disciples. We can be assured it was of most importance.  Luke 24:46-49 reads, “…and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

 

He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father, which was the gift of the Holy Ghost. He made it very clear to them that even after spending three years with Him they were not equipped to do ministry the way He intended until they be endued with this Power from on high.

 

If it was important for those trained and taught by Christ Himself. It is absolutely important for us today. We must be filled with the Spirit of God. He is the one who enables us to effectively be the preachers of this hour. Bible colleges, talented and well-trained ministers, evangelism seminars and great evangelistic programs are all significant. But I’m here to tell you the Disciples of Christ we read of were mostly ignorant and unlearned men who didn’t have all that we have today. Yet, they turned the world around them upside down. In Luke 3:16, John answered, saying unto them all, “ I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”

 

Acts. 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The one essential above everything is for us to experience our own personal baptism of the Holy Ghost.

 

Once His disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost they overcame their timidity and fear. They began to preach with great power and boldness. After the Holy Ghost had come upon them the Pharisees perceived Peter and John to be ignorant and unlearned yet marveled and took notice and said; “ these men must have been with Jesus. THE POWER was evident, thousands were saved and signs followed them that believed. If we are going to face this dark world in the hour we live we must be filled and lead by the Power of God!!!

 

Get before God BELIEVE and RECEIVE for this same PROMISE of the father and you also shall be baptized of the Spirit. You will have full power over all principalities and powers, the ability to loose the bands of wickedness, to mend broken hearts, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke of bondage. To cast out demons, lay hands on the sick to recover, to give sight to the blind and preach the GOSPEL to the poor. You will began to break away from your self-efforts and be a disciple with Dunamis Power in which revival will be breaking out all around you, everywhere you go. The baptism of the Holy Ghost was not a suggestion.

 

Jesus’ last message needs to be heeded and proclaimed over and over again until a slumbering, sleeping and barren church becomes alive with this Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.

 

Jeff Lee 

Selected for Suffering – Sarah Saenz

 

   About a year ago, I was singing in our church choir one Sunday morning. It was a beautiful morning and I was so satisfied to be in the house of the Lord proclaiming God’s praises with God’s people. Pastor Lee came to the podium and made an announcement. A much-loved gentleman in our church had just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The pastor made his solemn announcement and asked us all to lay hands on the gentlemen and his wife for prayer. The news came as a shock to me and I struggled to control my emotions. This gentleman wasn’t just another member, he was my friend and special to me. He and his son had taught us how to faithfully share the Gospel in love and in truth in a wonderful teaching series. He showed us what it meant to evangelize by love and gentleness. Many a time had he edified me in my own walk with Christ. To hear of his diagnosis was heart-wrenching. I cried out to the Lord in my spirit, “No, Lord! Why him? I don’t want him to be sick! Please, Lord, no!” 

 

   The tears began to flow in earnest. I mopped at them, embarrassed. I lifted my hands heavenward and received an unexpected response. “I chose him for this. He has been selected to suffer in this way. He’s anointed for it.” 

 

   “Lord? What? How?” I was shocked at this response. I didn’t understand, how can anyone be chosen to suffer chronically like this? But the word was unmistakable, I knew what the Lord had said. Later, I prayed over my friend and shared with him what the Lord had told me. I cried telling him. I knew he was sick, I mourned the diagnosis, but I had witnessed for myself God’s sovereignty and I wasn’t about to underestimate Him. Jesus had given me a special gift that morning: the hope of understanding. If my friend was selected to suffer for Christ in this way, then the Lord was near to him. Somehow, this would be a victory….

 

   In the coming months, my friend would go on to share the Gospel and living hope of Christ in Parkinson’s support groups, nursing homes, with strangers and family members alike. That same diagnosis that I had so resented had become a springboard for him to share the great hope he has in Jesus with the hopeless and depleted in spirit. 

 

   It was as God had spoken to me, he HAD been chosen to suffer for the advancement of the Kingdom and he was anointed to do it. Even in facing sickness himself.

 

   It seems so contrary to our human way of thinking, to imagine that someone who loves us would allow us to suffer a chronic or terminal disease. But we so easily forget — Christ is unlike anyone else. Not only is He fully acquainted with our suffering (Isaiah 53), He also has the sufficiently to sustain us every moment of it. 

 

   But what is the purpose in the suffering? 

 

  We have only to look at another man’s story, Job’s, to see a fully rendered picture of human suffering. Job, who was a prosperous man, with thousands of animals, a large household staff, ten children, who enjoyed great respect in his community. But what we remember best about his story is Satan’s petitions and schemes for his destruction. We hold to that remembrance with such ferocity that we forget chapter one, verses 7-8, 

 

  ““The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it. The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”” 

 

   Did you catch that? It was the Lord who first mentioned Job, “have you considered … My servant Job?” Satan had not first suggested Job, the idea originally came from the Lord! Take notice of how the Lord regards Job, “My servant Job,” “one who fears God,” “there is none like him.” The Lord was not angry or displeased with him. Rather, He spoke of him with fatherly pride and affection. He loved Job, and so He suggested him for suffering. 

 

   Because the Lord is all-knowing, I think it is safe to infer that God knew what Satan’s rapturous plans of destruction would be. God’s obvious affection had insured that response. It must have been an irresistible challenge to Satan, to break Job’s faith and cause God to suffer over His loss. 

 

  But God knew His servant Job. God knew that, when pressed, what would come out of Job: new wine. (Matt 9:17) Job’s trials were never a punishment from God because of Job’s sins, but something God had chosen him to endure. 

 

  Towards the end of the book, after Job has suffered loss upon pain, poured out all of his grief, and thoroughly expressed his suffering, something incredible happened: the Lord Himself spoke to Job (Chapters 38 – 42). And in that moment we see what the purpose of suffering really is. He speaks to Job of the mysteries and glories of Creation, of who He has been since before time, and of how He patterned all of Creation. Though Job’s sufferings had been great, this had been its purpose: to know God to a greater depth. The suffering had just been the vehicle that had brought Job to the place of hearing. 

 

Job’s humbled response, 

““Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand, 

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 

‘Hear, please, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct [and answer] me.’ 

I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, 

But now my [spiritual] eye sees You.””

Job 42:4-5 AMP

 

Job had loved and followed the Lord in prosperity and health, but now he loved Him in grief and sickness. Now Job had tasted AND seen the goodness of God, he had learned that in his suffering. 

 

   If you feel like this yourself, if you feel like you are in a season of suffering and you don’t understand why this is happening, consider my friend and consider Job. And count it all joy. You have been selected to know the Lord in a deeper and more intimate way. You are not forsaken but are more loved now than before. Look for His purpose in your suffering, trust that His will is good. Remember Job’s words to his wife, covered in sores, mourning his children, having lost all his wealth, 

 

“Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?”

Job 2:10 AMP

 

What Does it Mean to be a Disciple? – Felix Burch

In today’s blog I want to answer the question: what is a disciple? Although we could come to a quick answer by simly opening a Bible dictionary I believe the best place for us to look is in scripture itself. So, for today, I want to define a disciple by looking at Jesus’ initial call to his disciples in Matthew 4:18-20. 

 

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” —-Matthew 4:18-20

 

We know from other gospels that this wasn’t the first time that Peter, Andrew, James, and John had heard or encountered Jesus but this is their initial call to become disciples of Jesus. And because of that there are important truths here about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

 

The first truth is the simplest of them all: being a disciple means to follow Jesus.

 

When Jesus came to Peter and Andrew he said to them two words that all disciples everywhere submit  to “follow me.” Disciples are called to be followers of Jesus meaning they are to submit and learn Jesus. But the words follow me shouldn’t come across as a grueling exercise but an invitation unlike any other. Another wat to say it is to follow Jesus means to be with Jesus. In other words the original call for a disciple isn’t to preach, teach, pray etc but is to simply be with Jesus. Following Jesus equals being with Jesus. What an invitation that the creator of the universe calls us to be his disciples and learn from him by being with him. So let us remind ourselves as Jesus’ disciples today that being a disciple of Jesus means to learn Jesus by being with him

 

The second truth is revealed in Jesus saying “I will make you.”

 

Jesus makes it very clear that if anyone decides to follow Jesus, then by default, as they are with Jesus they will be changed by Jesus. What hope and joy this should bring to every person who chooses to become a disciple of Jesus! Jesus makes the claim that if you enter into a relationship with him then he will change you. In other words, what we are today is not what we will be because Jesus is working in our lives to change us. Jesus by his grace will change our lives from what we are or once were to what he desires for us to be. The overwhelming joy of this truth is that Jesus takes the responsibility of changing me as long as I live with him. Oh how many of us see our sins and failures and find zero ability to change ourselves even with the greatest efforts of our will! When we try to respond to our sin and failures by changing ourselves we grow in frustration. But the answer to our lives being changed is to be a disciple! Jesus will make us what he wants us to be.

 

The third and final truth comes from Jesus words “fishers of men.”

 

Once again, though, this truth is a progression from the previous statements. As an individual is following/being with Jesus, they will be changed by Jesus, and then they will committed to the mission of Jesus. Jesus said that he would change these men and he particularly said to them they will no longer fish for themselves but they will fish for others. In other words their lives’ mission would no longer be for themselves, but would be for others –  which was the very way that Jesus lived his life. Jesus lived a life that was for the benefit of others. Jesus promised these men that as they followed him they would be changed by him and they would learn to live and love for the benefit of others, just as he did. Jesus’ very words state that his mission was “to seek and the save the lost.” In other words, He came to live for others and not himself. So what it means to be a disciple is to be someone who is committed to Jesus’ mission of loving and living for others. 

 

So, if someone were to ask me “what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?” my answer to them would be Matthew 4:19 – a disciple is someone who follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.

 

Just as Jesus called his first disciples that day along the shore of Galilee (and they responded by dropping their nets), Jesus is still calling disciples to himself today and those who hear his call will head his words… “follow me.”

Wisdom in the House of Mourning

By Linda Boe’

 

“It is better to go to a house of mourning

Than to go to a house of feasting,

Because that is the end of every man,

And the living takes it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, 

For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,

While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.”

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4

 

A strange scripture? Why would anyone prefer a funeral to a feast? The joy of celebration is from God to be enjoyed. Parties can be fun and make us forget our troubles – if only for a day – but a funeral is where all of life comes into clear view and we remember what is really important, what is really true. We tend to take our life for granted until someone loses theirs.

 

When I first heard this verse I remembered a time when I had seen wisdom come in the house of mourning. When I was 18, my dear and godly grandfather died. My mother grieved hard. She adored him, but at the time of my conception, their relationship had become strained. It was 1948 and an out-of-wedlock pregnancy was a disgrace. My parents married and moved away, separating themselves from family and faith. We lived a strangely isolated life, seldom visiting my grandparents, and, when we did, avoiding all aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends, those who had supported and loved my mother all her life.

 

At the funeral home, I saw my mother glowing as she received love from all the people she thought had abandoned and judged her. Her countenance was different than I had ever seen. In that house of mourning, wisdom was there. In that house of mourning, the peace of the God she knew in childhood flooded her. She was comforted by knowing her father was in His hands. She saw love and forgiveness were there all along. She saw God in a way she had not seen Him before. In that house of mourning, there was the joy that was missing from the party-times she loved.  I didn’t know about Ecclesiastes 7 then, but I knew my mother had seen things in the right way in her place of mourning. My mother and I – the living – took it to heart.

 

I saw the same wisdom again when my dad’s mother died suddenly. He saw the reality that any of us could die today, and it frightened him. He saw the end of every man, and rushed to meet with the pastor. He was wiser in the funeral home than in the bar room. 

  

Another time, members of our church gathered at the home of a young couple to pray. The husband had just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Doctors only gave him a few months to live. What a blow to this family and to us who loved them! But what wisdom was present there! In a room filled with over a hundred people, a hush fell as this young father shared about all God was showing him in his own “house of mourning.” He said he wanted only for God to be glorified through this, whatever the outcome. He said “I get it!” and everyone knew he was seeing something we don’t quite see yet. He gave us a glimpse. We who were blessed to hear wisdom speak hung on every word. We saw more, understood more, loved more, because we were in the “house of mourning.”

 

Americans do not know how to mourn. In our hurry-up microwave culture, there simply isn’t time!  Mourning is a two-day affair. Employers expect you back to work and productive, showing no signs of grief. Not so in other cultures of the world. The Jewish people are fastidious about mourning, “sitting shiva” with the bereaved for seven days. In Africa family and neighbors gather around for as long as it takes. There is no shame in expressing grief. The Bible contains many laments, including the whole book of Lamentations, where Jeremiah mourns in detail the losses of the Jewish people in the Babylonian captivity of 586 BC. Every year, the Jewish people read the book of Lamentations as part of a seven-day fast in remembrance.

 

A house of mourning doesn’t have to be a funeral home. It can be in our private prayer time when God shows us our sin in light of His holiness. Or times when He convicts of idols and ways of the world. At the church altar when we respond to His presence. The house of mourning is any place where we see His greatness and our weakness.

 

Sorrow can be better than laughter if it brings us closer to God. Mourning shows us life through an eternal lens. Let us take the lessons of the house of mourning to heart!

 

CHURCH HISTORY FROM PENTECOST TO PENTECOSTAL – PART 1 – Charles Burks

 

Today’s blog is the first part in a series on the history of Christianity: “From Pentecost to Pentecostals”. This subject has always been of interest to me – how we got to where we are today – and not just as Spirit-filled believers at FNT Church, but also as part of a global church that continues to expand. 

 

Followers of Jesus can look back over 2000 years and see the hand of God through so many developments.  We can also see the efforts of Satan to try and destroy the Church that Jesus promised to build. There are trends, there are movements, there’s the rising and falling of all sorts of groups and believers. And this history is fascinating to those of us who like to know and appreciate our roots.

 

First New Testament is a non-denominational, Spirit-filled church with Pentecostal beliefs. So, what are the roots of the Pentecostal movement? As all churches would probably claim, we trace our foundation to the Bible. We go back to the promises of Jesus and the Apostles, and we go back to the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.   

 

But where does the word “Pentecostal” come from? It’s a strange term to apply to a Christian movement because it’s one of the seven holidays of the Jewish calendar. Pentecost is also known as the “Feast of Weeks”, which the Jews would generally celebrate around late May, (fifty days after the waving of the first barley sheaf at the Feast of Firstfruits). 

 

Remember that during the last week of Jesus’ life, He would fulfill the Feast of Passover by being crucified as the Lamb of God. And then He would fulfill the Feast of Firstfruits by rising as the firstfruits from the dead, as Paul referred to it in 1 Corinthians 15:20. During that year, the Feast of Firstfruits was on a Sunday – the day when Jesus rose from the dead. And the whole week that these things were being observed was called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  During that time, the Sinless One who had no leaven in him, was being inspected, proven, and sacrificed for us who have a multitude of sins.  And there were literally hundreds of thousands of devout Jews from all over the world who had gathered in Jerusalem for these feasts. 

 

Then the Day of Pentecost came along 50 days later, and all of the crowds were back in Jerusalem. God again fulfilled the meaning of these feasts publicly at the time when people were gathered from all over the world. Just 7 weeks earlier, the Jews had seen what happened to Jesus at His crucifixion, and they had heard the rumors of His resurrection. They certainly would have felt the earthquake on the day of His death, and many saw bodies rising from the dead, walking around the city after Jesus came out of His tomb (Matthew 27:51-54). This undoubtedly stoked a greater interest than usual for devout Jews to travel back to Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

We know that Jesus had already ascended up to heaven at least a week earlier than the Day of Pentecost. But as the 120 were gathered in the upper room that day obeying Jesus’ command to tarry until they were clothed with power from on high, suddenly the Holy Spirit came down!  When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they knew they had received the promise and didn’t have to wait any longer. They went out into the assembled crowds, speaking in languages that the disciples did not know. The assembled people heard them speaking the wonderful works of God in their own dialects, whether they were from Crete, Rome, Libya, Egypt or elsewhere (Acts 2:8-11). And they marveled at these Galileans who under normal circumstances couldn’t speak such languages.  

 

This was a sign that God was now ready to send His people into the whole world. The followers of Jesus were not to just keep this Good News in Jerusalem or Judea, or even Samaria, but they were to go to the ends of the earth with the power of the Holy Spirit. God was equipping them to overcome Satan wherever they would face him.  And thus, world missions had its birth in the coming of the Holy Spirit baptism at Pentecost.

 

Pentecost was many other things as well. One of the reasons God gave His church tongues as an evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit, can be understood in light of James chapter 3. James says the tongue is a little member, but it’s the most unruly part of our bodies. Our tongues have power comparable to a little rudder that steers a whole ship, and our tongues can set on fire a forest with just a word that leads to consequences that can’t be extinguished.

 

James 3:8 says no man can tame the tongue. If you could tame your tongue you’d be a perfect person. But the reality is we’ve all gotten ourselves into a world of trouble and said many regretful, hurtful things by the words that came out of our mouths. 

 

Though no man can tame the tongue, the Holy Spirit can come and fill us completely! The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a trance-like experience, nor does He take possession like a demon would, with us losing our faculties. Rather, we yield to Him, He gives us a new language, we open our mouths, and we speak with our tongues – the part which had formerly been so unruly. But no longer do blessings and curses come forth from the same place, but just pure love, praise, glory, and worship of God. 

 

Since the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, God has chosen to use the tongue as the symbol that if He’s got that member, He’s filled all of you. The reality is that if you’re speaking in a language you’ve never learned before, that qualifies as a miracle. That’s God’s gift for His church! And it’s the sign He gave on the Day of Pentecost. So, Pentecostals look back to that historical event and proclaim the experience and power is for the church today. 

 

In our next part, we will look at the history of the church during the 1500 years following the Day of Pentecost, and see what developed after the Apostles laid down their lives and left us the New Testament.  If you would like to listen to these teachings, please click here: Church History From Pentecost to “Pentecostals” (PART 1)

 

 

Giving Our Yes – Wendy Abboud

 

Not long ago I was meditating on a message from Pastor Lee and Mary, the mother of Jesus, giving her “yes” to God.  I was thinking on what the Lord has taught me and encouraged me with this semester at LSU, and I wanted to share this in hopes that someone else might be encouraged. Kristy Furlow also touched on this in what she shared in a recent prayer meeting.

 

I think of Mary after she gave the Lord her “yes”. Day in and day out she had to be frightened, doubting, so unsure of herself and of what would happen as she walked in her “yes”.

 

The Lord was so good and kind to give her some encouragement along the way and confirmation through Elizabeth, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon and Anna but I would imagine that for most of the time, what she perceived happening in the natural, what she felt and what she saw was totally contrary to what the Lord asked her to stand on which was His word and promise of what was to come.

 

I believe Him. I believe He does far more than what we see happening when we give our “yes”. Whatever your “yes” may be, whether it’s a “yes” you’ve been walking in or a “yes” you’re about to step into. I pray the Lord uses this to strengthen and encourage you. Keep walking in whatever He’s given you for as long as He says regardless of what you see happening around you. Along the way, you will see the Lord do the miraculous but keep going on the days and in the seasons where maybe you aren’t and in the natural it all seems for naught. Ask the Lord to give you faith that He is doing far more than you can ask or think and you’ll see it all one day in Heaven.

Debt-Free Living: A Call to Boldness  – Evan Pyle

 

            Despite the title, this is not a lesson in personal or business finances, but a discussion of our relationship with God. Nevertheless, the world of finance may help us to better understand our subject at hand. Too much debt can cause serious problems resulting in bankruptcy and financial ruin. Financial trouble is cited as a major cause of marital problems. Businesses struggle and eventually fail if under an excessive load of debt. Even national currencies and governments can fail when the debt becomes too great. In a certain sense you are not truly free when you are in debt since you have, in effect, “sold” your future earnings to have something you could otherwise not afford. Debt can lead to stress, nervousness and a loss of happiness. Failure to pay debt can even lead to having possessions seized.

 

            What about the debt of sin? Carrying the debt of sin can affect our relationships in ways comparable to financial debt. Just as one might avoid a person to whom they owe an unpaid obligation, the debt of sin can cause us to avoid God. This was how Adam and Eve reacted when they sinned against God. “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8) The beauty and purity of the communion Adam and Eve enjoyed with their Creator was corrupted and muddied by sin.

 

            I think most Christians would agree that when a person repents and receives new life in Christ their record of past sins is wiped clean and the debt of sin fully paid by Jesus’ sacrifice. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:25) All would agree, I hope, that we are saved by grace through faith. Christians disagree, however, as to how far God’s forgiveness in Christ extends. Does forgiveness through faith in Christ mean that sins only up to the time of salvation are paid by his sacrifice? Does God’s forgiveness simply bring the new Christian “up-to-date”? The Romans reference seems to say that very thing in speaking of remission of sins that are past.

 

            The sacrifices practiced by Israel in accordance with Mosaic law resulted in an “up-to-date” forgiveness of sins that are past. The high priest entered into the holy of holies once a year to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 9:7) Every year the high priest had to repeat this offering for the sins of the people. Why? “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present.” (Hebrews 9:8-9) In the annual repetition of this service, the Lord was showing that the time was yet coming when all of God’s people would be permitted to enter into the holy of holies, into the holy presence of God. Under Mosaic law, an annual reminder of sins and man’s separation from God was woven into the sacrifices. Under this system, a remembrance was made of man’s debt of sin that remained yet unpaid and kept him separated from the Lord. Man needed an annual updating to get back into God’s good graces.

 

            What about now? In contrast to forgiveness only for sins that are past, Jesus instituted a “once and for all” forgiveness of sins. He made one sacrifice for all sins for all time.

 

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:11-12)

 

            No longer is annual sacrifice for sins necessary, because Jesus paid the price once and for all. His sacrifice was sufficient to pay for man’s sin, now and forevermore. This is a powerful truth that the saints of God need to lay hold of. No longer do we approach God burdened with a debt of sin we can never pay (Hebrews 10:3). The annual sacrifice for sin served as a constant reminder of man’s awful condition.  But Christ’s sacrifice cleanses even our conscience from dead works so we can freely serve the living God.

 

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13-14

 

            I have known too many Christians who carry the terrible burden of the debt of sin. They would like to walk for God, attend church and live the Christian life, but they feel they cannot because they are unworthy. They are too sinful and must “get right” with God before they can begin doing those things. They are waiting to turn their life around first. Year after year they are still waiting, failing to realize that their debt of sin was completely and forevermore paid in Christ. There are no steps they need to take to find their way back to God’s good graces. Jesus already took those painful steps for them!

 

            No longer should we focus on “getting right” with God. Jesus’ sacrifice already did that. When we sin, we don’t need to follow some difficult path to find our way back to God. Jesus’ sacrifice already did that. We don’t approach God like a cringing, guilty dog. Since the sacrifice has been made once, we only need confess our sins, and God will forgive us and cleanse us. (I John 1:9) Christ’s sacrifice gives us boldness with God.

 

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19, 22)

 

            Though we have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3-4), we have full assurance in Christ. “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” (Ephesians 3:12) Our relationship is not clouded by our sin-darkened hearts for we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. Even our conscience has been cleansed from dead works. Instead of hiding like Adam and Eve, we enter confidently into the holy of holies. We are encouraged to come boldly before the throne of grace to find help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) We are to hold onto our confidence in Christ. No task, trial, obstacle, burden or shortcoming should cause us to lose heart. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)

 

            If Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to pay for all our sins, why are we told that we must confess our sins to God? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) For the Christian, confession of sins is not for keeping an up-to-date account with God. Some believe that if you die without having confessed your last sins you are doomed to hell or purgatory. No, confession is for us, so we can examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith. If we fail to recognize sin, we will fail to turn away from that sin. Confession is not, as some have taught, so we can change our status from being “out of fellowship” to being “in fellowship”. Those terms are foreign to the Bible. As believers, we are never “outside looking in.” The veil into the holy of holies has been torn open in Christ and we have access to God’s throne. We don’t need to find our way back “in fellowship”…we are already there! If I could “trip out” and “get lost,” so to speak, I would remain lost forever. I do not need to find my way back to the Lord because I am already there in Christ. We are not lost, because Jesus does not lose any that the Father has given to him.

           

            Our walk with the Lord must be on His terms, not ours. He has made his terms perfectly clear: we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. The question is not about being in some mystical “state” with God, for we are in fellowship with Him if we are saved. The big question is, are we walking in fellowship with him. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” (Colossians 2:6)

 

            We can see the effect that salvation had on the apostles and believers of the early church who walked in such boldness in Christ. They did not go around in circles wondering if they were right with God. No, knowing they were right with God, they lived for Christ, witnessing for him and loving the brethren with great boldness and liberty.

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Acts 4:29

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Ephesians 3:12

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

 

            The world is watching Christians carefully to see what we will do and say. Because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, because we have been filled with the Holy Spirit, because we are forgiven and righteous in Christ, we are free to act and speak boldly in his name. The darkness of this present age cries out for fearless, bold bearers of God’s light. As one who has direct access to the throne of God, you have the boldness to live and speak for God without fear.

 

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.  Luke 12:11-12

Mountain air – Leah Wilkes

 

The church is no stranger to the terminology of “valleys and mountains.” Our life is a journey full of unexpected turns and unpredicted valleys. Many of us fight fiercely and pray hard for the mountaintop. That answered promise, open door or long awaited provision… We often wonder if we’ll ever get there. Life can become one waiting season after another…

And yet, the fresh smell of mountain air can be ours in moments. The exhilarating feeling of standing on a mountain peak and seeing the earth and all of life below you like a distant memory is found in a secret place.

Just a few steps away in your closet, office bathroom or in the quiet of nap time… the mountain peak awaits. Our deepest aches are soothed with healing balm here, our hopeless questions are quieted as the refreshing breeze of faith fills our stifled lungs. Here intercessory groanings, that move heaven and earth, rumble through the rock face and move us to places we would have never dreamed. Ministries are borne, chains are broken and the lost are drawn in to the kingdom of heaven, all in a hidden place. 

Nothing else has filled me with hope and calm more than lingering in the embrace of my Heavenly Father. No blessing, answered prayer or open door matches the delight of His presence, how can I call anything less than this a mountain top? Oh to stay forever in these moments, where I sense Jesus Himself holding my face and gazing His love in to my soul. 

 

“Nothing compares, nothing comes close to you. No one can know the depths of my soul like you.”

 

Here we stand, tall and sure, as if on a snowy precipice, completely secluded from the shadows and grueling trials of life. What a treasure, what a blessing, what a mountaintop… 

 

Keep seeking, keep asking, keep knocking my friend. Our God is faithful and true with an intent to bring you deliverance and joy, but be assured, as you wait for answers… you are not forbidden access to the mountain top. 

 

Terrible Counselors – Three Thoughts from Job’s Bad Buddies

Andrew Wilkes

 

“We all need somebody to lean on…” – Lean on Me (Bill Withers)

 

Our world recognizes the need for someone to speak to, someone to open our hearts to when we are overwhelmed, someone to lean on. A foolish person will share every detail of their thought life with the world (social media anyone?), but it’s also quite unwise (not to mention lonely) to have no one at all to open up to or receive counsel from. The wisest of people, Solomon himself, said that “a friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17) and that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). The happy thing is, that if we participate in the Body of Christ long enough and are willing, God will give us friends. What a marvelous and beautiful thing!

 

So, when God gives us friends, what should we do when they open their hearts to us about sins, struggles, mistakes, or even circumstances over which they have no control or understand how they got there? The book of Job provides us direction as we have the extraordinary opportunity to be flies on the wall as a man’s life is utterly laid bare. Job’s friends, family, and community completely turn their backs on him. Satan mercilessly attacks him and his family, God permits tragedy, and then speaks directly to a trembling Job with eternal realities and mighty signs. It has all the makings of a dramatic feature film and is a handbook of sorts on how NOT to give advice. In fact, I think if we would do the opposite of what Job’s counsellors did, we would be sought out for our kind, listening ear. Job teaches us many lessons, like years on earth don’t always equal wisdom and it might be a relatively younger individual who God speaks through in His divine wisdom. I hope that the three gleanings below will help you at is has me to know how to be a hospital to those whose broken hearts need mending and how not to harm the patients that God sends our way.

 

• Don’t talk

 

“They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.”(Job 2:11-13)

 

The wisest thing that Job’s friends did in the beginning was to say nothing at all. They were there for Job. They grieved with him and met him where he was at; what a great start! I have made the mistake more than once of preaching to someone who simply wanted to be heard. They needed space and I crowded them with too much talking. If I had simply listened, we both would have been less frustrated with our conversation. Give a person room to speak and for God to do his work, even if it means all you do is listen and pray for the person. The Holy Spirit may bring healing, wisdom, or comfort by this alone. He is after all, the Counsellor we need.

 

 

• Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s possible that neither you, nor the person being counseled fully understand what is going on.

 

But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. (Job 1:11)

 

Job had no clue why his life was enduring such hell. There was no clear sin against God. In fact, Job had served Him so faithfully that he would make sacrifices to God for his children (just in case they cursed their God). If this was Job’s practice, why was life so hard?  Satan set his sights on Job with the aim of one thing alone, to get Job to curse God. Everything hinged on this one point; even Job’s wife tempted him to “curse God and die.” Satan hated Job’s love for God and thought that if he were allowed to bring every devilish temptation, loss, and pain into Job’s life, he could get Job to sin in the very place he was most consecrated to his Creator. How wrong the enemy was!

 

Instead of seeking God’s counsel for the pain and loss in Job’s life, his friends instead did everything in their power to guess which sin he had committed (theft, ungodliness, etc.). If we follow in their footsteps and assume that every issue in someone’s life is due to personal sin, we run the risk of condemning our brothers and sisters in Christ who are desperately seeking help. Let’s be humble, patient, and realize that it’s okay to not know the “why.” Perhaps this is where we can refer to point number 1 above. If sin is clearly involved, then let’s lead them in grace to repent to God and hear their Savior’s voice for the way forward (1 John 1:9). Otherwise, let’s confirm our love to them and bring their needs before God.

 

 

• Don’t crucify a hurting person for saying something rash

 

Then Job answered and said:

2    “Oh that my vexation were weighed,

and all my calamity laid in the balances!

3    For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;

therefore my words have been rash. (Job 6:1-3)

 

When emotionally distraught or mentally worn thin, we can say things we would never utter when well rested and spiritually strong. Let’s not be the spiritual police over every comment they make. This tends to bog the conversation down on a point, rather than dealing with the overall issue at hand. We have all met someone who corrected our grammar while telling a story to friends (one of the most annoying things in the world!). Don’t do the spiritual equivalent while listening to the aches of someone’s soul. If David can pour out raw emotions and lament in the Psalms and God saw fit to write it down, let this person pour out their heart to you without restraint.

 

One day, the shoe will be on the other foot, and we will hope to God that our listener is mature enough to overlook a few rash sentences and be led by God to help you. Yes, assist your friend to see from scripture God’s comfort and outstretched hand to them. Speak truth into any lies of the enemy that they speak to you. Give them grace and help. Give them truth and love. Give them whatever God shows you to give them. Just make sure that by the end of the conversation they get to Jesus.

 

So much more could be said and brought out from Job, but for now, reflect on these things and ask yourself, “have I done this before? Has someone else done this to me?” It’s better to be honest now so that we can be better prepared for later. Someone will one day come to us and ask for help or for prayer. I pray that these few, simple lessons will give us a bit of guidance on how to assist a brother or sister get to their King. After all, it is His throne of grace that we really need. We’re just there to point our friends to Him.

 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

The Night Redemption Came –  Sarah Saenz

 

            The night was very still. The fog hung low to the ground, the trees were giant silhouettes.  I heard the birds singing before I got in my car.  I cautiously backed out of my driveway and prepared to embark on my errand.  I drove down my familiar street , overwhelmed by the changes I saw.  I  beheld how very dark and complete the night was, I couldn’t help but wonder how the birds could sing at such a time? Why not sing when the sun was up and the world a prettier place?  The sights I knew so well were obscured and distorted .  It was 4 am and I looked at a world I did not know.  A creeping hopeless seized my thoughts and I felt nonsensically afraid.

            These were my musings early one morning as I left my house for an unusual errand.  Life presents struggles for every person and I had been quietly walking through a struggle of my own: the miscarriage of our third child.  The Lord had comforted and sustained me immediately after our loss.  But two months later, solemn grief and hopelessness had settled in and made its home inside my mind and heart.  I had cried my tears to the Lord and prayed for His understanding.  I didn’t realize He would choose that morning to answer me, but He did. 

            Watching the sky that morning I saw something remarkable.  Slowly but faithfully, the sky turned to gray.  It became lighter and lighter until the sun burst forth in full strength, bathing the world in beauty and destroying the hopelessness of the night.  I stared in amazement.  As utterly terrifying and powerful as the night had seemed, the sun had chased away every shadow.  I cried watching it happen. 

            Lord, have You come in and redeemed the night?  Do You do this every morning?

            It may sound silly, I had seen sunrises before.  But that particular morning the Lord used  something familiar to perfectly speak to my struggle.  I realized that He was THE Redeemer, He had been redeeming the night since Creation began.  This work has never stopped.  Every morning He banishes the darkness, the hopelessness, the power, and the completeness of the shadows.  Redeemer isn’t just His name, His name is a verb – it is what He does!

            How could I imagine He wouldn’t also redeem me?

            I thought about the birdsong I heard and realized how they could sing their songs before the light was even come: they knew.  They trusted what would surely happen.  It didn’t matter how dark or foggy it was. They didn’t sing because of what was happening around them, they sang because of what was coming.  They are confident in His faithful work, they sing about it before they even see it.  Couldn’t we?

            Luke chapter 21, verse 28 says, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Jesus was telling His disciples about His return and the signs they should expect to see in this verse.  If we were to say it another way, I think we could confidently say, look toward the future and be encouraged, because the Redeemer is coming!

            I imagine Israel felt much like I did in the days before Jesus was born.  Overcome by the oppression and occupation of the Roman Empire, their rich culture and traditions subject to Gentile judgment and punishment.  The night must have felt overwhelmingly complete and hopeless.  But then a Redeemer stepped into the earth and banished the power of the night.  Just like He had been doing every morning since the beginning.  He came as a tiny baby but His power was not small.  This time He redeemed all His sons and daughters – banishing the power of darkness forever.  Now when my sorrows and grief stifle my hope, I can call on a Savior to redeem my mind, my heart, my life, my womb.  He is just as faithful to redeem me as He is to redeem the night each morning.             

            This Christmas you may be dealing with struggles of your own.  Don’t forget to look up.  There is a King who loves you, He will answer your heart’s cry.  No matter what the news is reporting, the politicians are saying, the doctors are diagnosing, the direction the prodigals are running, there is a Redeemer who still redeems.  He is coming to redeem the night forever.  Await His return with singing, like the birds, and be encouraged.

 

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Embracing Rejection – Leah Wilkes

 

John 7:5

“For not even His brothers believed in Him”

 

When others don’t believe in what God has said about you, be blessed, you have been honored to walk a path similar to the one Jesus trod. A path… of rejection. 

When others can’t see the call, know that He who made that call holds all authority and the keys to every door you will ever need to walk through. When others sneer at and even misjudge your being used by God, know that such treatment earns you special blessings –

 

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mat 5:11-12

 

Rejoice and be glad, your reward is great, in Heaven. Jesus, prophet and king, faced endless rejection. Family and friends failed and forsook Him, but never once did He doubt what was supposed to come out of His life – the redemption of mankind. Our Good Shepherd walked this path before us as an example of how the world, and even at times the church, can reject what God has appointed. His example shows us, not only the calm steadfastness of Christ in the face of loneliness and heartache, but also the continuation of the call and the accomplishment of God’s work. Rejection doesn’t nullify the call. Abandonment doesn’t decrease the anointing. Persecution doesn’t hinder the work of God. Nay, all of these have been known only to further ignite the burning embers of God’s call.

 

“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.” Psalm 27:10

 

Should even mother and father renounce and reject you, you my friend, are not abandoned. There is One who can bring comfort and strength that affects the depths of your soul more than having support from your every friend and relative could ever hope to impart. No, there is not one person who can satisfy your need for affirmation, and there is not one person that can tear the call of God from your life. 

 

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 

Ps 118:5-9

 

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Heb 13:6

 

Why does this dagger of rejection come? Oh, a myriad of reasons. For some there is a need of humbling, for others a need to remove the needless crutches of man’s opinion and affirmation… and for others, to teach them the depth of pain rejection causes, and to prepare them, by the grace of God, not to inflict such judgement upon others. 

 

Let rejection have its work. 

 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

 

Rejection is not the end, but the honorable beginnings of walking through the same faith-building heartache of Noah, Joseph, David and Abraham. Look upon rejection as nutrient rich earth that, though it bury you from sight in darkness and gloom, will in fact bring you forth, stronger and richer, free from the crutches and chains of man’s opinion. Behold! Where once was a weak and tiny shoot, a mighty oak presides! Surely only God can bring about such a transformation!

 

If my heart could tell a story

If my life would sing a song

If I have a testimony

If I have anything at all – 

No one ever cared for me like Jesus

His faithful hand has held me all this way

And when I’m old and grey

And all my days are numbered on the earth

Let it be known in you alone

My joy was found

 

Seeking God – Linda Boe

 

“Those who seek me find me.”       Proverbs 8:17

        

            What does it mean to seek God?  The Hebrew language, in which the Old Testament was written, often painted “word pictures” that are more descriptive than our English words.  A meaning of the word “seek” paints a picture of “treading frequently so as to make a path.”

 

I used to wonder what people meant when they talked about “seeking God”. It was something I could not understand. It sounded complicated; certainly not something I knew how to do.

 

When I learned the meaning of the word “seek”, I remembered the path behind my grandfather’s house. In the back of his yard there was a small wooded area. A clear path was visible from the yard – the grass had been worn down to dirt and brush stopped its growth on either side of the path. The path led to my grandfather’s brother’s house. It was made by my grandfather and his brother and their families walking from one house to the other day after day, year after year. Because they tread or walked on the path regularly, grass and brush did not grow—the worn path was evidence of decades of two families sharing their lives with each other.

 

            As the two families walked the path, their relationships were strengthened. The path was proof that they were comfortable knocking on each other’s door to borrow a cup of sugar or to share coffee together. In good times and bad, the more they were a part of each other’s everyday lives, the more worn and clear the path became.

 

            I wonder if the neighbors Jesus described in Luke 11:5-9 had worn a path between their homes. Jesus describes one pounding on the other’s door at midnight asking for bread to feed visitors. At first the neighbor refuses, saying he is in bed, his family with him. Finally, Jesus says the man will give in and give the bread, because of his neighbor’s importunity – his shameless persistence.

 

Seeking God is something we give our lives to. We don’t seek His blessings or information about Him, but we seek Him—as a person, because we desire His company, His companionship. God desires an everyday relationship with us. A comfortable relationship where we feel free to talk to Him whenever we please. A relationship where God feels welcome to speak to us and knows that we will listen when He does. A relationship closer and more intimate than that of my grandfather and his brother. Certainly closer than the two neighbors of Luke 11.

 

            When I thought about the path behind my grandfather’s house, I realized that I do indeed seek Him – every time I pray, meditate on His word, come before Him in worship.  Seeking doesn’t require a special formula, just persistence. Some days I feel closer to Him than others, but as I keep coming to Him, in whatever way I know, in good times and in bad, I am treading that path—I am seeking Him! It is simple! Every prayer I pray and every grateful thought I have of Him presses the brush down a little more. The way seems clearer, the path easier to find. As my grandfather walked the path, he could see a welcoming light in his brother’s window. As I tread the path of seeking Him, I know that God will receive and welcome me. I know that if I seek Him I will find Him!

 

“Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9

Serving vs Sitting:  The Greater Portion  – Beka Burch

 

Have you ever felt busy, yet ineffective in your Christian walk? As though you are constantly looking at a full schedule but not experiencing a full heart? I know we have all felt this way at times, but I pray that in the span of the next 5 minutes (can you read a blog that fast?) that we would be encouraged in knowing that the priority of our Christian life is to sit at the feet of Jesus SO THAT we can be effective followers of Jesus.

 

In Luke 10: 38-42 we read about two sisters that give us true insight into what I mean….

 

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus[d] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

 

As we dive into this story,  let’s look at 3 important points of being effective followers of Jesus:

 

1. ONE THING IS NECESSARY AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS – SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS

            For a woman to sit at the feet of Jesus was a BIG deal back in the times of the New Testament. Normally, women were not allowed to sit at the feet of a rabbi. So for Jesus to be pleased with Mary learning of him in this way was huge. He is showing us that everyone can come to his feet and sit there to learn of him and love him. And not only that, but that it is NECESSARY to be a follower of Jesus.

 

Jesus told Martha that the one thing they needed was to SIT and LEARN OF HIM. He was the right choice, the greater portion. When seeing what Mary did, I am reminded of so many scriptures that discuss the Lord being our deepest desire, our greater portion. Psalm 16:5 says “The Lord is my portion and cup” and Psalm 27:4 furthers this thought: “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.”

Think of it in this way — Have you ever been to a water park that had a refillable bucket that dumped every few minutes? When you sit under it for a while and wait, you get submerged with the water (and tons of it)! Now picture yourself holding a bucket. If you were to run around the water park trying to catch a drop here and catch a drop there, you would never actually fill up your bucket. You would get tired hopping from spot to spot and lose some as you tirelessly run. Your life is like that bucket. Instead of running, trying to fill our spiritual selves up by “doing all the things,” we must sit and wait on the Lord to fill us.

 

2. WHEN OUR PRIORITIES ARE MIXED UP, WE DON’T PARTAKE IN THE GREATER PORTION

 

In the story, Martha was clearly anxious about many things – pleasing Jesus, serving Him the best food and drink, taking care of His physical needs, and worrying about why Mary wasn’t helping her. She was frustrated and upset, and Jesus could see that.

 

In the same way, we can easily become anxious, troubled, critical of others, and can MISS intimacy with Jesus, just like Martha did.

Have you ever hosted a party and you felt too busy to even enjoy it? You are running around making sure the coffee pot is brewing, the food isn’t running out, the napkins are all in place, the people seem happy, their drinks are refilled, etc. In the moment, you feel in control and like the whole party depends on you, but then when the party is over and everyone is gone, you sit back in REGRET. You wished you would have spent more time sitting with those who you invited over to your house. But now the time is gone.

 

This is what Martha was doing. Jesus could see the anxiety and troubles all over her face and body language as I can imagine her running from the kitchen to the living room, tending to people’s needs and missing the whole point of Jesus’ presence.

 

I have been in this place many times. And God has shown me to ask myself some questions to evaluate my heart and my choices. So, here they are: Where do you find yourself when you are wanting to please God? Is it task upon task? Because if it is, that is a pretty good indicator that our priorities in pleasing Jesus are mixed up…

 

Or is it purely waking up in the morning and sitting in his presence, opening up his word, talking to him through the day, etc. This is the greater portion!

3. SPIRITUAL SERVICE DOES NOT ALWAYS LEAD TO SPIRITUAL INTIMACY

 

BUT! Spiritual intimacy will ALWAYS lead to spiritual service.

 

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and gained the strength she would need to move forward in any task she went forth to do. Martha busied herself with tasks, ran out of energy, and got frustrated. By her countenance, you could see her lack of maturity in trusting who Jesus was and allowing him to work in her life.

 

We have to realize that we must go where Mary went, to do what Martha did.

 

Mary’s approach to Jesus was to sit and learn from His feet and to dwell in his presence. We know that out of this approach we will gain a love and knowledge of who he is and in turn, be more like Him. With that conformity of discipleship, we will most certainly serve Jesus and his people.

 

Martha’s approach was first to the busyness of life and the checklist of spiritual tasks. But with that order, we will be too exhausted to sit at the feet of Jesus when all the tasks have been completed. I pray that we do not expend our energy out of turn, but trust in God to keep us at His feet.

___

 

I pray that after reading a narrative like Mary and Martha’s, we would see the urgency of spending time at the feet of Jesus, not only to learn more of Him and be conformed to His image, but to truly live an effective life as one of His followers.

 

Evaluate your heart before Jesus as a follower. Are you doing the one thing that Jesus deemed absolutely necessary? Or are you running around “in His name,” but leaving completely frustrated and exhausted?

 

I pray that we would all choose the greater portion – sitting – so that we can be effective and joyful in serving.

Even If … Believe! – Carla Shipp

 

 

As believers we must step out in faith, often times simply on the fact of who we know God to be. There are many times we wait to hear God’s instruction. We want Him to tell us what to do. However, God has told us who He is and that’s where our faith has to stand.

 

An example of this is found in the book of Daniel in chapters two and three. First we see Daniel, a young man brought as a captive from all he knew to a strange, foreign, and godless nation. He knew and feared the God of Israel and purposed in his heart to live for him. Through a great test he and the other Hebrew boys with him proved that the God of Israel’s ways were greater and wiser.

 

The day came when King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that he could not remember, but one that disturbed him greatly. None of his counselors or wise men could tell him the dream or its meaning and in his rage the king commanded that all the wise men should be slain. This decree would include Daniel and his companions. When Daniel heard the tragic news he boldly went to the king and asked for time to show him the interpretation. The king agreed and Daniel went to his companions and asked them to “desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel acted in faith and sought the Lord for help.

 

When Daniel went to the king and made his request, God hadn’t yet told Daniel the meaning of the dream or even said that He would show him. Daniel however knew that “wisdom and might are His and he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding; He revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him” Daniel 2: 20 -22. 

 

Daniel stepped out in faith based on who He knew his God to be. He was living a life of humility, completely surrendered to God for his well-being. He wasn’t presumptuous, but completely dependent on God. God was faithful and revealed to Daniel the dream and its interpretation. The king was pleased, the wise men were spared, the God of Israel was exalted among the heathen, and Daniel and his companions were given great influence in the province of Babylon.

 

Another example of stepping out in faith on who we know God to be is seen in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You know the story of the idol, the command to bow down, and the punishment of the fiery furnace if they didn’t. The three Hebrew boys answered the king boldly with who they knew their God to be. “[… O]ur God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” “ But if not.” These words are a statement of faith in the God they knew. He hadn’t told them that He would protect them. He hadn’t sent assurance that they would survive, just as Daniel didn’t know that God would reveal the dream, but they trusted who He was and gave their lives to serve Him, the one true God.

 

I pray to live my life, not waiting on God to give me every instruction in times of trouble, but to step out in obedience and faith in who God is so that He will receive the glory … even if!

Faith – Leah Wilkes

 

Jesus was constantly baffling the Pharisees with His seemingly cryptic statements. Even as I’ve been reading the gospels I have found myself thinking “well… of course they didn’t understand that” but the word also says “the pure in heart see God.” It was those who were not obsessed with having to explain everything or didn’t feel the need to defend their choice with intellect that followed Jesus. They purely believed. Their faith, though flawed and shaky, was in the right place, or should I say, person. 

Again and again I see this behavior from Jesus. I mean, telling a man “you must be born again” is pretty tough to understand if you’re hearing it for the first time. That’s Jesus’ character. He leaves us asking questions. He doesn’t explain everything, because what he loves and desires is always and only faith. 

He didn’t come to explain everything, he came to find faith. He never commended people’s intellect or knowledge, he commended their faith. The Pharisees could have pulled their hair out in frustration because that was everything opposite of what they stood for. Theirs was a proud and wordy religion. Theirs was a religion of intellect and law. One could clearly articulate every facet of their beliefs and describe the many deeds done to perfect their holiness. 

But not the followers of Jesus. Theirs was a faith of simplicity and grace. They, a group of flawed, competitive and backward human beings, followed the son of man in pure faith. They were humble enough to ask questions when they didn’t understand, but even when they still couldn’t comprehend it all, they followed, in faith. 

I smirk now as I see Jesus constantly throw wrenches in the religious workings of the Pharisees. His was a chain breaking work, against the grain of law and self-made righteousness. Jesus never asks for anything except faith. Never. And He rarely, if ever, explains Himself. Should we expect any different? When life isn’t spelled out and we just don’t see how it all weaves together, smirk a little, this is His way. Have faith that He will finish the work He has begun. The pure in heart see God, and pure faith is all He asks. 

 

A Matter of Peace – Henry Abrahams

 

When going about your business in Fall 2021 you see signs or placards that recommend or mandate patrons to “Mask Up.” Others might say something like this, “Fully vaccinated patrons can enter without a mask.” This sort of division within a culture is not new to the Church.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he is addressing cultural divisions among Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus Christ. Here is a quick view of what Paul most likely had in mind.

1. Jewish followers’ observance of the law would set them apart from the surrounding Roman gentiles.
2. Gentiles would look down on Jews for this observance. For example. If a Gentile believer would prepare meat for his local church gathering and the meat would not be properly strangled, the Jewish follower would abstain from the meal. (Rom. 14:3)
3. Jewish followers of Jesus would observe the sabbath (Gen 2:2-3) and Roman gentile followers would probably view their Jewish brethren as lazy for taking a day off (Rom. 14:5-6).

With this in mind, we need to heed what Paul is teaching here, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Rom. 14:5b-6).

 

Using the principle that is extracted here, we as modern believers should be convinced in our mind that what we are doing “mask” or “no mask”, “vaccinated” or “not vaccinated” is done in honor of the Lord. 

 

The rest of Romans Fourteen deals with how we should not make another believer stumble in the way they believe they are honoring the Lord. “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Rom. 14:13). You already know what this looks like in your life. Once you acknowledge it, repent and move forward with Jesus. 

 

As we conclude this blog I want to encourage you to read through the whole of Romans Fourteen. Paul’s concluding words should adjust your view on how you handle our “cultural divisions.”

“The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:22b-23).

 

“Paul’s point is that one should not wound the faith of those avoiding what they think could be wrong; ideally, however, one should discern what is right.” – Craig Keener

 

 

Jesus at the Table – Zee Reagan

 

Leadership. Where it all started.

One afternoon, my husband and I came into an argument about leadership, it’s real definition, and how it should be taught at a young age. As the argument continues, I saw myself change into character as if I was the judge and my husband being the accused. I presented every case of what I can prove, specific and precise. I sounded so righteous stating the facts as to what kind of person he was, before. However, the outcome was not pleasant. My peace was gone thinking that I proved myself to be right.

A few days after, I’d created a pattern of bitterness in myself regarding people who has caused pain in my family in the past. Bitterness surrounded me. I was creating bullet points on every mistake that was done. Anxiety slowly crept in. I was having difficulty sleeping with all of these worries. I prayed and claimed Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. This brought healing upon me.

We went to church one Sunday and Pastor Lee preached about “taking it all in for God”. Philippians 2:14 says, to do everything without grumbling or arguing. I took it all in, trusted God and prayed.

Bad news came in the next day, but God has lifted me up from the spirit of bitterness. Rather than reacting to it, it reminded me of Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”. Healing came in and I felt God’s forgiveness. I had my peace again.

Matthew 7: 1-3 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

There are instances in our lives where we often face and we think that we are the judge of someone else’s case. We tend to disregard our own dirt or speck of dust in our own eyes before someone else’s, whoever may it be. As a result, it robs us of our peace. Furthermore, it causes trouble, anxiety and tension when we feel the need to fix everything in our own control. We are no better than anybody else. Whether we are leading or serving. We cannot judge people who desire to sit at the feet of Jesus’ no matter what we see from the outside. All we can do is cast our cares on God because His peace guards our hearts and our minds. He always will come through before us. Jesus sat and dined with the sinners. He is the only One who has the utmost right to condemn us from what we are, but He chose not to. Instead, Jesus, came as a man, to purchase us through His death so that we can live eternally. We have the power to choose love over condemnation of others because Jesus loved us first.  

 

We Have Been Set Free – Marcelle Nipper

 

As this past 4th of July neared, I began to reflect on just what that means.  We all pretty much understand this to mean Independence Day when the New World, America gained their independence from Great Britain and the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.  The colonists wanted freedom to live their own lives, practice their own faith, free from interference and unfair taxes by the British.  Upon this day, July 4, 1776, they were set free!  What a wonderful reason to celebrate!

 

Through this declaration, our forefathers made it possible for us to have certain inalienable rights as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Knowing that we are created in the image of God, displays our own expression of our Biblical heritage.

 

We as believers in Jesus Christ, have that same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, that no matter what we face today, we can live in the life of Christ, the liberty and freedom that we have in Christ Jesus!  “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn 8:32).

 

What does this mean to the believer?  We have been set free from sin and have everlasting life in Jesus!  “Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end is everlasting life.”  (Rom 6:18, 22) Jesus, himself said that “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.” As the Israelites went out of Egypt into the promised land, promised to them by God; and the settlers left Great Britain to go into the promised land of America, we too have an advocate before The Father, that we may go into the promised land of freedom and eternal life with Christ, not only in this world, but the heavenlies!  Isn’t that a wonderful promise for the believer?!

 

We have liberty in Jesus because He has set us free!  So, beloved, let us “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty that Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  For brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only to not use liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but to serve one another.” (Gal 5:1, 13) We have a choice, free to sin or free to serve.  This is our liberty.  We can sin and be enslaved to Satan, others, or our own selfish and evil desires.  When we are slaves to sin, it is impossible to live righteous lives and please God, but as followers in obedience to Christ, we are free to do what is right which glorifies God through our actions. 

 

So let us live in this freedom that we have found in Christ!  How?  By obeying God, who gives us the strength by His grace to obey.  “Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound.  Yet where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Rom 5:20) Jesus said to those who believed on Him, “If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” If the Son therefore shall make you free you shall be free indeed.” (Jn 8:31,32&36).  Let us hold fast to obedient living and live by the law of the Spirit of Christ Jesus who has made us free from the law of sin and death!  Let’s begin to PRAISE GOD for His love!  He made a way for us to be free!  WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE!  REJOICE, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!  We have something to rejoice about today and every day, until we meet Jesus, face to face! 

 

                                                                                                            Marcelle Nipper    July, 2021