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Remembering the Lord
Remember the Lord. That’s what I was wakened from this morning. That doesn’t mean ‘oh yeah the Lord’ it means to remember ‘how’ and ‘who’ He is, has been, and need Him to be by faith, by saying it out your mouth so your own ears can hear it, and your heart believe. This is the simple Gospel… to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. With that today I declare Jesus is my delivered and active helper, my dad’s healed, and your Saviour if you do not know Him…. and oh, oh, oh, sooooooo much more than we can even imagine. Begin today and just begin to speak it out of your mouth over and over and watch God move in a powerful way today.
The Sustaining Power
How many of us have recieved gifts at Christmas time or birthdays and have ripped the paper to pieces to get what’s inside the box? When I was a kid, I rarely looked at the cards or notes attached to my gifts. Now that I’m older, I understand most things given are given with wishes or for a specific purpose and thoughtfulness.
In Luke 9:1-3 we have this very picture. The Lord calls His disciples to Him and He begins handing out this gift of Power and Authority over all demons and diseases. What does a gift wrapped box of power and authority look like? What note is attached to this gift?
I’ve heard this verse preached and taught many times, but I never hear them talk about verse 3. I think verse 3 is our “gift note.”
Luke 9:1-3 AMP
1 THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases,2 And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.3 And He said to them, Do not take anything for your journey—neither walking stick, nor wallet [for a collection bag], nor food of any kind, nor money, and do not have two undergarments (tunics).
1 THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases,2 And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.3 And He said to them, Do not take anything for your journey—neither walking stick, nor wallet [for a collection bag], nor food of any kind, nor money, and do not have two undergarments (tunics).
I believe Jesus is expressing in the giving of this gift that HE is the authority and power, the I AM THAT I AM to His disciples. That our complete reliance and faith may be centered and focused on Him that our only thought is His word, His “note” to us. We’re to be like Him.
What I see in verse three is:
- We cannot have the power and authority and ‘go’ the way we normally would.
- We must ‘go’ selfless, without ability to hold ourselves up,
- We must ‘go’ selfless, without ability to hold ourselves up,
- without the desire of the “safety net” of knowing the ‘right’ of a minister,
- without physical nourishment,
- without finances,
- without a wardrobe to change our appearance.
Does that sound like Jesus?
There is no Plan B. There’s only Plan G.
The power and authority is the sustaining power of God for us to ‘go’, our total reliance must be centered on Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
I believe the letter to the Ephesians touched upon this very thing when Paul wrote:
Ephesians 1: 17-23
17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
22 And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],
23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
Some want the power and authority without the trust and complete reliance on Him to do it. Jesus is trying to get through to us, that its not about our gifts, or talents, or our ‘power’ or our ‘authority’ but its about our complete reliance and knowing both the gift giver His wishes for that gift.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?
23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].
So let us turn our hearts back to the one who gave it all, let’s re-focus on the reason we have the Holy Spirit, why we have ‘gifts’ and ‘fruit’. Because that’s how he intended on it to be from the beginning. He gave us a garden, in it was fruit, but more so, He came walking in the garden of Eden to be with Man. We are His delight, and He has restored to us relationship with Him.
Dream of Strategic Intercession
Not long ago during a time of prayer and fasting I awoke with Europe and Russia heavily upon my heart and mind. I believe the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to pray for a move of God in Europe. I heard “It will begin in Eastern Europe and sweep into Russia.” I was then led to make that my declaration as if it is happening now.
Not many days later, still on my fast I this dream.
I was with my older brother and we were traveling somewhere to play music and I looked over and saw a tornado forming, and began to point it out but no one would even look (there were other people in the vehicle with us).
We arrived in what I remember to be some sort of outdoor camping area that had an outdoor, covered stage. The swirling clouds moved right over top of us and as I was staring at them with my brother. And while we were watching, a helicopter flew into the sky we were viewing and it was hovering and moving very slow- as if it was searching for something. Then suddenly, there was another that zoomed through really fast. The wind had blown it out of control, and trying to gain control it pulled back and it came flying backwards it hit the helicopter that was going really slow.
They both crashed to the ground about 50 yards apart. I ran over to the first one, noticing the other one was demolished and no way a person could have lived. The one that was flying slow was still somewhat intact.
As I came up to the helicopter, I noticed the pilot was alive and unconscious. The other passenger was a man with dark skin and he was bleeding very badly and had his legs broken. I went to him and placed my left hand back behind his neck and my other across him and drew down close.
The man was trying to breath and speak. I asked him if he was knew Jesus. He heard but couldn’t respond. Then I yelled, ” Are you born again”. He mouthed , “no”. I asked Him if he’d like to be and he said “yes”, and we prayed.
By that time the rescue personal had arrived and my brother came to me and he walked me back and said, “its going to be ok now”.
Then I learned he was from Kazakhstan.
Then I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me in a voice that reminded me of my dad when he was very serious and insistent that I do exactly what He was saying, in other words- you better do it. “Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan.”
Then suddenly, I was in a room and on my computer. I was text chatting over the Internet to one of the pastors at my church.When I told him about the storm and the guy and all that had happened. The pastors dad, who is also a executive pastor, switched from text chat to audio chat. And he told me that God is marking them off for me.
Then I heard in the same voice again, I hear “Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan.”
Then I awoke.
Synchronize
Its inevitable, as we humans recognize that our lives are out of control, unorganized, imbalanced, and ignorant we strive to bring wholeness to our lives by re-inventing and building upon the same ideas, the same principles which we have forsaken in our previous efforts.
This is not a slam on Apple, I think they make great and useful ‘tools’, yet I think the emergent Apple technology’s popularity and other ‘like’ technologies are symptomatic of the spiritual condition of mankind. Beginning with the coming of the iPod we were promised a single place to keep our songs, a place that fits our song into our lifestyle [ http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html ] or in this case, “our pockets”. With the coming of the iPhone, now you can not only keep your songs with you, directions, knowledge, whatever you’re searching for is right at your fingertips.
We love to keep things close enough that should we need them, we can just pull it out of our pocket and listen to it.
We love the idea that we can build our own playlist and “shuffle” it around as much as we want, at anytime we want and it appear “changed.”
We think our lives are defined by what we wear, how we talk, what we can accomplish and do. In fact, to many people we seem Human2.0™ because we appear to have everything under control. Should we become insecure, we only need to shuffle around our appearance, our speech, charge a new car, or just come out of the closet to feel more self-confident, more honest. The reality is, no matter how many times we shuffle or how many times we change or “accessorize” ourselves, underneath we’re still playing the same songs, the same lies that we are in control, our own saviors.
We think having these gadgets will make our lives easier, free up our time to spend more quality time with what we care about and if used properly they can. Yet, in all truthfulness… they consume us, never let us rest with the constant reminders of its calendar… its tasks… its mail. Webster defines “immoderate attachment or devotion to something” as Idolatry [ http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/idolatry ] and with that we have created idols, symbols of our self serving efforts to save ourselves.
What if we shut off our gadgets, and take them from our pockets? What if we took the time to really see who we are and meant to be? What if we could recognize that the smudges are there to show us how blind we are to ‘The Playlist’… to help us recognize our need to change the Song we listen to? We know we can’t do this ourselves, we only have a limited knowledge. We need someone outside the iPod to synchronize our lives with in order to change our song, we need a savior.
There are a lot of religions in the world, and various sects within them. I’m not talking about ‘religion’, I’m talking about the only Savior for our lives, the only one who can give us life and that is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the only God, and the only way to peace, truth, life and know one can “synchronize” themselves with God but through Him. Not Buddha, not Muhammad, not Mary nor any other professed way to God… those are all man made, all idolatry and rely upon our efforts to save ourselves when we already know we can’t [ Proverbs 14:12 1 Peter 2:24].
If you in all honesty realize that you are in need of Savior, the Bible states:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life [ John 3:16 ]” and that “…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [ Romans 10:13 ]
It’s as simple as that, Salvation through Christ isn’t complicated as there is nothing more that you have to do but cry out to God and turn from your own way to His way and believe that He is the Son of God, that He died for our sins so we wouldn’t have to die in them, and then confess with your mouth that He is your Lord. If you’ve done this, then God will send the Holy Spirit to bear witness that you are now a child of God [ Romans 8:16 ], then I encourage you to begin “synchronizing” with God through reading the Bible, “The Message Bible, The New International Version, and The Amplified” are great versions and easy to understand. Another way to “synchronize” is to pray and just talk with God, find a church and get connected with other Christian people.
Lastly, if have questions or you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus today, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below.
Rise Up and Walk
The man who helped Jesus carry His cross. I wonder the conversation that might have taken place that we are unaware of; or even if there was a conversation of words at all, but instead just a glimpse of His beaten eyes and countenance— that we “just know” the direction to go and walk— in the direction that the mocking pushes us, the direction the beatings make us stumble toward, the direction that shoves us along the path of our lives which lead ultimately to the cross and death.
I wonder how many times that man was hit with punches, spat upon, and hit with stones aimed for Jesus.
I wonder how that must’ve changed His life when finally he reached the mount and Christ was lifted up. In the same way this man must’ve realized that when it was finished, he helped crucify the Lord and was once part of the crowd but now chosen to stand and join Him in the path of His sufferings.
I wonder how his friends that saw him must’ve reacted and what his words were in reply. Did he seize the opportunity to reply with what he gained from Christ during that walk or did he respond in ridicule and just join in with their mocking. I feel like that is why we don’t see many disciples, because few have walked with Him truly, few have a limp themselves and instead of walking and enduring with Christ they stand along the side and become one with the crowd and they become silent and afraid to speak for they too might suffer along with Him.
I find myself now still stumbling along, not clearly seeing the way; not having direction but that walking forward to the place of death His lamp shines before me giving me enough direction to see another step. His light reveals that I’m not “all that” but one chosen to carry my cross in His path. The jeering, the mocking, the suffering I see and feel and even when I’ve often stumbled the wrong way from the blows and decisions I’ve made. Even then, I turn and re-see His suffering and know the worth I’ve gained from it because He gave it all for me. Its because of this I can stay on the path, return even, and go it alone even if no “person” is pouring into my life, what He’s poured into me I can pour out to others. I think that’s what happened with Peter and John in [ Acts 3 ] when they encountered the lame man. They weren’t rich in money, they most likely only knew they were going to do what they knew to do at that point in their lives, pray. And on the way, this man cried out for gold and silver, which would’ve only satisfied him temporarily- yet Peter, being a denier, observer throughout Christ’s sufferings, knew what he had been given, he knew that thing God deposited in Him, so he poured out and into the lame man. Likewise, I believe there are a lot of lame people in the church that need to be picked up and realize what they’ve been given- someone desperately needs it.
I know where I’ve been and where I’ve come from and I remember that my sin held Him to the cross, not at my hands, but from His love that flowed a long that road for all to see. I think its time for people to quit begging for things they don’t need and use what they have already been given. It’s time for others who use the word christian as a buzzword to get up, quit being “the lame man” at the temple. Either be a disciple or get out of the way and back into the crowds, its time for Christ to come through and show us the way.
Motivations in Prayer
I recently read about a national prayer gathering and it really made me think about our motivations in pray. Why do we pray? Why do we go to God in prayer? Are we moved by fear or by faith to pray?
Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
There’s nothing I can think of that is more exciting than praying and encountering God. Whether its for just knowing Him better or form a hedge around a prayer target and intercede for a person, country and watch God answer. What would life be like without being able to go into prayer and hear the Lord for ourselves. A prayer initiative, a movement for the country, this is good, this is right. Let’s encourage that!I would like to address something I believe is important to this initiative, though it isn’t ‘my movement’ - yet if I’m the Christian I should be, then it should just naturally be an ever growing movement in participation with the Holy Spirit reflected in the daily prayer time and coming together to agree in faith and not for fear should be our motivation. God is pleased by faith, not fear.Some scripture to consider:Scriptural prophecy is distinct and clear in its purpose.2 Peter 1:20-21
20 [Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving).
21 For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so—it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.Test and Prove and keep the good.1 Thessalonians 5:19
19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;
20 Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning].
21 But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.Scriptural prophecy all point to Jesus the Messiah’s plan of redemption for all nations to win them to the faith.Romans 16: 25-26
25 Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages,
26 But is now disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, [to win them] to obedience to the faith,Revelation 19:10
10 … For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].The marketing of this gathering is suggesting that God will bring judgment upon this nation. This just isn’t so. The biblical context in which they were pointing out is for the Jewish nation… we’re not the Jewish nation. It doesn’t apply to America, or any other country. If it did, then Iran, Russia, China, Vietnam, Germany, Cuba and all the other nations of the world would have also been gone a long time ago from judgment. Remember Grace? Has the Lord returned yet to judge the world? It makes me wonder the motivation behind that style of marketing.This is the same presumptuous chatter we heard from some talking about Haiti making a pact with the devil brought God’s judgment, and some presumptuously prophesying the hurricane was God’s judgment on New Orleans.Now please let us put it in the correct perspective and light.We know that the devil controls the forces in the air and all the world around us. (1 John 5:19, Ephesians 6:12)If God wouldn’t destroy Sodom if it contained ten righteous men, then surely God and His people in America will be safe regardless of our government. (Genesis 18:23)We should pray for our country.
We should pray for our leaders, both good and bad.
We should also pray for the citizens of this country who voted to put them in office.
We should also pray for other nations, so as not to be self serving.
… and all by and in and through faith.
Dream of Warning
Some time ago, I awoke from a dream the Lord had given me, in regard to someone that I had recently began working with and it was quiet disturbing. The dream went something like this.
There were three things noticeable:- The person that was wearing black and he wanted something I had knowledge-wise
- The setting background that was like a theater stage with black curtain
- Myself dressed normally.
This person approached and seemed to be begging me for something he wanted from me and was using flattery to try and get me to give it. I didn’t give in and said, “No.”
Next, this person tried again and was trying to use a little information he had about me to get more of what he was after from me, I didn’t give in and said, “No.” and began feeling very frustrated.
After this, he had a began to have this perverted, domineering attitude toward me as if he couldn’t let me deny him of what he wanted. He tried again to force what he wanted out of me, and he laid a hand on my right arm. When that happened, I physically shoved him backward and in rage screamed, “No! I’m done with you, Go away!”
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The Question
I used to draw.
I used to write.
I used to play music.
I used to smile.
I used to understand.
I used to be happy,
but now I’m human.
The ‘Being’ of ‘In Christ’, and my thoughts on it.
Wherever you set your foot… whatever you set your hand to, whatsoever you ask… the fact you’re in an invisible spiritual kingdom that can be appropriated now in the physical by and through faith means you (I, us Christians) have the kingdom authority to do those things. We can’t mistep, or fumble, or mis-appropriate.
Walk in the Spirit. Speak in the Spirit. See in the Spirit…. the authority and Providence of that Kingdom is your governor or controlling entity once you’re its citizen.Galatians 2:20 - You aren’t in control if you’re crucified and dead. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit. So are you if He lives in you. He keeps you, whether you want to act like Jonah or not… that’s up to you. Jesus wasn’t always floating around, he worked hard, probably had bad clients, probably got picked on by his brother.. and He definitely knew how to fish. He also knew that at anytime He could call forth a legion of angels. ( so can we by faith through prayer.)Galations 3 outlines what being in Christ means.