CREATIVE IDEAS AND WITTY INVENTIONS
TOUCHED BY MY FRIEND’S INFIRMITY
This morning I read where a High School friend of mine had visited her brother last night only to find him resting peacefully dead in bed. He would have been 65 next month. He was now free of his demons (alcohol) and at peace in heaven along with her mother and son and she knew he would not suffer anymore.
In reading those words I prayed for her and others for whom his passing would be sad and heart breaking news.
TELL YOUR STORY
This morning as I was listening to one of my favorite speakers, Les Brown, he was telling how each of us has a story to tell. I hear these words a lot recently. “Tell your story. Each of us has a story.”
It is true. We all do have stories. Some of our stories are positive and uplifting and serve as inspiration to others and some of our stories may serve as warnings in hopes that others may not repeat our mistakes.
REMARKABLE
This morning as I was preparing my breakfast cereal, Kellogg’s Mini Wheats Little Bites, I happened to read on the back of the box their “Colorful Clues” question: “How are Little Bites like a dry erase board?” Answer: “They’re both remarkable.” A play on the word “remarkable” causing me to think that the question could also have been, “How are WE like a dry erase board?” Same answer. “Both are remarkable.” Spelled another way is what I think is a better answer, RE -markable. Like a dry erase board humans due to varied experiences have been written on by others or our own self talk and life choices and events. BUT also, like the dry erase board we too can erase and re-mark our lives when we choose to do so.
Sometimes we need help in doing so. Which is the point of the following video I remembered seeing some time ago while eating my cereal.
Prompting this blog post.
It is a short video but it is truly RE-markable!
EVERY BLESSING OF GOD IS YOURS NOW!
In Ephesians 1:3 the Apostle Paul writes that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly in Christ.
When did God bless us? Who has He blessed? What has He blessed us with? Where are these blessings? When may we receive the benefits? How? (I do not have all the answers but these are some good questions to think about.) Read more…
WHINING CHRISTIANS
Recently read an article “Ten Reasons Christianity is Declining”. For me personally this is not true. I began my Jesus journey March 23, 1980. I have been a pastor in the same county for over 30 years and I say Christianity is not declining but there is an increase happening that makes it appear so.
WHINING CHRISTIANS!
“Christians” who are no different than the culture. They are not getting their way so they pull away and blame others. The pastor, the people or the program. Come on! Why should those who are not of Christian faith choose to embrace it as they look at all the professing drop outs. Yeah, I l know Jesus still loves you and you are going to heaven. Blah blah blah. You are just like the world you say Jesus redeemed you from. You know. In the world but not of it. But you are of it. You are just like it. You need your safe space. You cannot tolerate certain words and/or behaviors that make you feel awkward or embarrassed. So you pull away. Quit. Come on. Grow up! I know the church is full of hypocrites. But Jesus still attends. So don’t leave. Stay. There is always room for one more hypocrite. Show up and fit in. By the way, Internet or tv preachers are not your church. Learn from them. Live their solid biblical teaching if they are teaching it. But the real test. Live in the face of people. People just like you. People who have been hurt, who hurt others, having respect of persons, people who are critical, bitter, etc. People just like you.
I may get hurt or rejected or…again. Yes. You probably will. Jesus did. But He did not stay away as whining Christians do. He got in there and hung out with others. Even while knowing He would be BETRAYED by one. One He gave to and loved just as much as he did those who would eventually give their lives for his names sake.
Get over yourself. Show the world that Church is great and will prevail. Jesus said so. Quit your crying take up your cross and follow Jesus right into the midst of people who stink, curse, lie, deceive, etc. and don’t forget to go to those in the world too! You are redeemed but far from being perfect. Just like all the believers in Jesus Christ. The best way to being perfected is to be there and show the world the church is awesome in spite of the people who attend.
Christianity is not declining. Jesus is building the Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. In the process, remember the Church is not going to hurt you, it is going to kill you! Your life is as a filthy menstrual rag to God. Yuk! Come and die to self and live to Jesus. The Church will oblige you.
No! Christianity is not declining!
Whining Christians are increasing!
Unless you stop your whining today!
Remember: “Jesus can turn water into wine. He can’t turn your whining into anything!”
Now get to work. Jesus is coming!
THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER LANGUAGE Part 2
In Acts 1:4-8 Jesus tells His disciples they should remain in Jerusalem and “wait for the promise of the Father”, which He spoke to them about earlier. This promise of the Father would give them power they did not yet have and they would be witnesses unto Him all over the earth. Read more…
THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER LANGUAGE
We see this happening in the Book of Acts on at least four separate occasions. We also learn from 1 Corinthians 14 we should recognize this to be a spiritual gift.
There are several interesting facts about speaking in new tongues.
- The speaker does not understand without interpretation.
- The hearer may or may not understand without interpretation.
- In one type of new tongues there is no speaking to man only to God.
- Speaking in tongues edifies, builds up or encourages the speaker without his understanding.
- Speaking in tongues helps us pray the will of God when we have no idea what His will is.
- New tongues are for both private and public speaking.
speak with new tongues and pray
In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek. There are only three groups of people according to 1 Corinthians 10:32, the Jew, the Gentile and the Church. Jew and Gentile speak the “utterance” or language of their father’s nationalities. In the same manner the Church speaks the language of the ”nationality” they are born into, the Kingdom of God. This is why you cannot speak in new tongues unless you believe the gospel and become born again as a New Creation child of God translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13) What language did God and Adam speak? How did Adam learn to speak it? Over time or at the time he was created? Just a thought!
When our New Creation spirit born of God speaks in new tongues, how much death, negativity or unbelief do we speak? How about when we speak or pray with our understanding? Do you think we may speak any worry, fear or anxiety? (Philippians 4:6 Amplified)
In a room full of believers from all nations in the natural we would not understand one another speaking to God. Neither will we if all in the room are speaking in new tongues but we could all be preparing ourselves to profit the Church by speaking revelation, prophesying, knowledge or doctrine by interpretation having prayed in new tongues together. (1 Corinthians 14:6)
pray go to your closet. He also said speak
Prayer in new tongues is for your edification. Speaking in new tongues is for the edification of others
my spirit praying
the Holy Spirit giving me utterance
Adam’s fall is having the understanding darkened by natural senses; why we must renew our mind by revelation light; Isaiah 60:1-2
Carnal or natural mind is enmity against God
Romans 8 we do not know how to pray as we should. Is this job a good one? Is something keeping this healing from me?
Pray in the spirit for wisdom and God’s will. Walk in peace that your steps are being ordered of the Lord.
PRAY WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
SING WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
1CORINTHIANS 14:14-15
AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER
In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says that all authority is given unto Him in heaven AND in earth. He leaves the earth promising to return at some future time. How is His authority to be demonstrated on earth in the interim? THROUGH HIS BODY! The salt of the earth and light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16). This is possible because Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, far above all other power and might, authority and dominion in heaven, in earth and under the earth. (Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:10). This unlimited power over all authority is of God. God has instructed Jesus to be seated at His right hand until He makes the enemies of Jesus His footstool. (Hebrews 1:13) God is doing this work through those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and have become new creations in Christ who now live their lives cognizant that all things in their life are of God. We are no longer our own. We belong to God having been purchased by the blood of Christ and can now glorify God in our body and in our spirit which are His. (2Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13; 1Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:14)
How the will of God (salt) is done in the earth is through manifesting the Kingdom of God in the earth through faith in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 3:13-16; Philippians 2:13) The New Testament teaches this as “The Authority of the Believer”. A NT believer is one who is now born of God in righteousness and true holiness, recognizing that his old life has passed away and now ALL THINGS are of God. He knows by grace he is saved through faith and not of works. Instead he now manifests the works of Christ through faith in His Name.(Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; John 14:12)
What works are to be seen? (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1-2, 9) Works which no man can do except God be with him. (John 3:2) The works Jesus did. (John 14:12; Acts 10:38) Why must we have works? Jesus did, that’s why. He said if you cannot believe My words, believe My works. (John 10:37-38; John 14:10-11) When the Word of God is preached it MUST BE CONFIRMED AS PROOF THAT IT IS THE WORD OF GOD. (Mark 1619-20) No confirmation is just another dissertation to be intellectually accepted or rejected by the natural mind.
For the Church to be salt of the earth and light of the world we must SHOW AND TELL THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. (Romans 1:16-17)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER IS THE NAME OF JESUS! Only those who have the authorized right by being “in Christ” and are NOW in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son may use God’s power to enforce SPIRITUAL LAWS to demonstrate His power. (Acts 19:10-16) DO YOU?