Same Jesus

Something to think about.

Same Jesus

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:11 NIV

This is an unusual moment. Jesus has been resurrected for 40 days and now before his disciples and the public he is ascending into heaven.  This event is so amazing. The only time in the history of mankind we see another realm of existence interact with our physical world.

It is our hope in the concrete form of our future.  It is the actualization of the totality Christianity. It is what we live and breathe for.  The resurrection and transformation of our lives to our permanent, eternal life.  Jesus is ascending into a different life. A different existence.  

He is showing us what the future holds for us.  In this amazing moment, he leaves the audience captive. So much so that angels in human form have to address them and tell them what has happened. They pronounce or define what they have just seen. These two witnesses give humanity a hope that is not equaled anywhere in the world. He will return in the same way he left.  

Christ will return. It is what separates Christianity from any other belief system in the world.  The subject of our hope and faith is actually coming back for us. He will return. This moment this occurrence is beyond the imaginings of anyone.  The risen savior of humanity has ascended to His home from where He came. He left us with a promise of His return and our reuniting with Him.  

The really amazing thing is this we, those who believe in Him are the only ones with this hope. The rest of the world is hoping in what? There is no substance for their hope.  We have the substance of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. We have the testimony of many an eyewitness. We have the fulfillment of prophecy. We have the witness of the Holy Spirit in us. We have a hope and faith In the one that defeated and conquered the grave. 

".......This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NIV

Leia Mais…

Go Home

Something to think about.

Go Home

The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." Like 8 38-39

The mantra of our society is to get an and education then go conquer the world. It is interesting Jesus tells this man whom He had liberated, go home and tell them what God has done for you.  Education is imporatnt. The disciples spent three years with Jesus learning from Him.  Most of which was in preparation for what was to come.  However, there is a time and place when experience trumps education.  This is one of those times. 

Jesus tells the formerly demon possessed man no I don't want you to hang around me, go tell others of what I have done.  We have expended much too much energy, resources, and intellect in preparing people to share the gospel and not enough resources teaching people to live the gospel.  Jesus did not tell the formerly demon possessed man to go and study under the tutelage of a leading authority.   He told Him by virtue of what God has done in your life you are empowered to share God with others. 

It wasn't seminars, conferences, academic process or intellectual prowess, which qualified this individual to share Jesus it was his experience. It was the liberation of spiritual bondage that trained Him to share the healing he received at the hands of Jesus.   

All of the highly skilled professionals involved in the propagation of Christianity are not the ones that are going to change the world for Christ. If that were possible, it would have been done. I dare say it was never the intent of Christ for that to occur.  It was not the intent of Christ for the church to be the salvation of the world. At least not the church as we define it today. A centralized, organized corporate entity with the sole purpose of evangelization.  Understand I belong to such a church I support my church both financially and physically. But my church was not what God intended for the propagation of the gospel. Yes, it has its place in the overall plan of God, it has an integral part in that plan. My church as any other church is and should be an oasis where the battered and beaten warriors of God come to be rejuvenated, fed, healed and sent back into the world to fight the war God intended us to fight. The Church was designed to be a fortress where the weary come to find rest and protection. A place to be educated in how to best fight the war we are inevitably involved in.  The church as an entity is not there to evangelize, it is there to feed, edify and educate. 

The burden of the gospel falls on the rest of us to do as the liberated demon possessed man was instructed. Go home tell them what God has done in your life. The office of the evangelist is not intended for the anomaly.  It was never intended for the astonishing orator it was intended for you and me. To go home and tell our neighbors and friends what God has done in our lives. Everyone is looking for evidence of the living God, and you are that evidence. You are that miracle. You are the new creation that can only happen when God is in you. You as the formerly demon-possessed man are qualified to share the gospel of Christ by virtue of what he has done in your life. If you share your story the Church God intended will change the world.

 

Leia Mais…

On the Road to Damascus

Something to think about.
On the Road to Damascus

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Acts 9:1-3

This is the famous story of Saul's conversion to Christianity. Saul who is later renamed Paul is on his way to persecute those who believe in Jesus. He is headed down a road with a definite destination with a definite purpose full of self-righteousness. He is headed in the wrong direction. He is headed down a path that is in direct opposition to where he wants to be. He is persecuting Christians because he believes they are opposing and denying God. He is doing it in defense of God. He believes that in incarcerating Christians, he is doing Gods will.  

Before we became Christians, we were not so different from Paul. Though we do not, in this day in this country incarcerate people for being Christians. We were headed down the wrong road for the wrong reason. Saul regardless of his reasoning is headed in the wrong direction. He is not working on God's side he is working against God. We, before Christ were on our way to Damascus. We were on the wrong road for the wrong reason to accomplish the wrong goal. 

We are not Paul we will not write parts of the New Testament. We will not be quoted around the world. But our conversion to Christianity is just as miraculous as Paul's.  We all have to have an encounter with Jesus for our conversion to be accomplished. Every one of us must have a personal interaction with Christ for a conversation to occur.  It is not just an intellectual realization of truth it is a personal connection with the risen savior. We all have to make contact with Jesus. It is no different for any of us. Without, an on the road experience, none of us will meet Jesus.  

The conversion of Saul was personal, powerful and intimate. It was not an experience born of mysticism. Your contact, connection with Christ must have a tangible permanent effect on your life. It is not something you can walk away from and remain the same. If you leave as you came, you did not make the connection. When you meet Christ, you will in some way leave changed, made new, born again.

Leia Mais…

Do What I Say

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Do What I Say

46“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

This statement by Jesus can be the most condemning of all scripture. He is asking if you believe in me why are you still doing things that I am opposed to. 

There is no room for "buts in this statement." He is asking a direct question to His disciples and believers. He is saying if you truly believed in me you would follow my teachings.  There is a caveat to this statement, an unexpressed condition. In order to do what He says we must know what He says. Often we need to grow to a level of spiritual maturity to understand what He is saying.  Jesus often spoke in parables to His audiences. Then He explained His parables to His disciples. 

We are no different we need to be taught the words of Jesus. I believe the one condemning reality of this statement by Jesus is this. Are you willing to learn the teaching of Jesus? Are you willing to invest the time and effort to know what He said? I am not saying sit in an audience and listening to what some other person has learned. I am talking about investing your time into discovering it for your self. Yes, corporate involvement is necessary and vital, but it is your responsibility to find out for yourself. If we did not have a direct source, it would be one thing. But we have the word of God available to us. We must out of our own accord take the time to work out our own salvation in conjunction with the word of God. 

This statement of Jesus presupposes that you know what it is He says. You will only call Him Lord if you know who He is. Those who read this and don't know him as Lord are not bound by this statement. They would never call Him Lord. Additionally, they can't call Him Lord because they don't know what that means. Not until they know Him will they able to call Him Lord. Even in this they must know Him, not know of Him. 

There is a continual process of growth, and at every level, we need to respond in accordance with the increased knowledge we receive. But regardless of where we are in our process, we need to behave in accordance with what has been imparted to us. While being open to the continual revelation. Once you know Him. When you know what He said. After acknowledging Him as Lord are you doing what He said?

Leia Mais…

Pray

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25 Brothers, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 

For my brothers and sister in Christ. Tom, Migdalia, Michele, Oliver, Maria, and Latanya. I pray that you know that God is with you. He is with you everywhere you go. I pray you are comforted in knowing that God is fully committed to you. That he has bestowed upon you incredible gifts and abilities that He wants to bring to fruition and completion. I pray for you that the blessings that are unique to you will be fully developed for your joy and Gods glory.  I pray the presence of the almighty go with you and bless you coming in and going out. I pray you will be blessed in all you do and in all you touch.  I ask God to bless and protect your spouses', children, grandchildren, and families. I pray God would make himself known to all those you love. I pray you know the Love of God in everyday situations. I ask God to bless you physically, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually in every way. That He would shower you with blessings

 I pray that you would allow God to hold you, love you, protect you and provide for you, for He truly is a good father. More than anything else I ask God to give you the power to walk in Faith. To step out into the unknown knowing that God has already gone before you making a way for you. I thank God for you for you, you are a missing part of my life. I thank you for your help wisdom, love, and guidance. You have all changed my life in ways you will never know. I love and appreciate every one of you and am extremely grateful for all you have deposited into my life. I thank God that he has brought us together to accomplish what He has laid out before us. I thank God for allowing us to attained the highest rank under Gods kingdom, that of a servant. God loves you, He always has and always will. 

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Leia Mais…

No Ordinary Lamb

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No Ordinary Lamb

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
 

John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the lamb of God.  Interesting analogy.  John also describes Jesus in this way.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

 

In verse 29 John describes Jesus as a lamb. Basically, a defenseless docile creature in need of protection. An innocent, blameless sacrifice, powerless to keep from being killed. In verse 1, he describes Jesus as being at the beginning of time with God. Jesus is the creator of the universe and everything in it. How do you go from the creator of the universe to the Lamb of God? These descriptions of Jesus occur in the same chapter.

Jesus never gave up his deity. He willingly, with full knowledge choose to become the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of man.  While being the lamb of God, He did not give up His power to defeat humanity and the devil. He, as the Lamb of God still possessed the power to end it all.  No, where in the new testament is it stated or suggested that Jesus had abdicated His position as the one true son of God.  He never stopped being the Son of God. Why does that matter? He could have stopped His crucifixion at any time. He had the power as the Son of God to execute His wishes at any time.

This is amazing, at any moment from the time they arrested Him to His death on the cross he could have stopped it. He could have stopped the torture and cleansed humanity by force. In an instant, He could have risen from the torture and vanquished all of His foes.

He chose to die for us. He knew He could have put a stop to it with a word.  He had the right, the power and the ability to stop the torture at any time.

Jesus decided to become a sacrificial lamb not because he had no choice but in spite of having all power.  He became the sacrificial Lamb of God because of His love for us.  The most difficult part for me to understand is, having all the power of the universe at His disposal, He did not use it.

We, all of humanity exist today because He chose not to put a stop to His murder.

 

Leia Mais…

Flee

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Flee

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NKJV

James makes an astonishing statement. In elegant simplicity, he provides us with amazing power. He tells us to submit to God, then resist the devil and the devil will flee. There are no big words here. No need for deep spiritual interpretation. Nothing that can be confused. The issue with this verse is not what it says but implementing what it says. Yet, if we do what it says most if not all of our lives will be lived in constant victory. Are we making life much more difficult than it has to be?

The problem with the implementation is not in resistance it is in the submission. We don't want to submit. We want to do it our way. We want to change the laws of God and supplant them with our own. If we are resistant to anything it is not to the devil, it is to God. Our country, states, cities, and municipalities are in open rebellion against God. Every arena of public life has been reduced to an anti-God environment. You can't pray in school. In every government office prayer or the mention of God is strictly forbidden. Most of our places of employment are defined as nonreligious entities. Even in raising our children the state is defining what a parent can and can not propagate. Our Christian principles are being abandoned in favor of political correctness or the fallacy of separation of church and state. Are you aware this is happening not because we are resisting the devil but because we are opposing God? Our refusal to submit to God has brought us to where we are. Our society is crumbling under the false delusion of Godlessness.
We have a simple formula if you'll accept it. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." "He will flee from you."

Leia Mais…

Wisdom



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Wisdom

8“ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9“ As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' Isaiah 55:8-9

Through Isaiah God is making a distinction between His creation and Him. It's a distinction that appears to have been lost by man. We are not God's equals. We don't know what He knows. We will never attain that place. If for an instant we would stop and look at our existence and be honest with our selves. We would admit we know nothing. The universe is beyond our comprehension. We sit on this small insignificant rock floating in a vast universe and claim we know where we came from. Some of us claim we self-created which makes absolutely no sense.

Because of the size of the universe, the known universe there are important facts that have not been discovered. We barely coexist. We are fighting the same battles for the same reasons. Technology changes but we are still fighting the same wars. Generation after generation after generation the wars continue. We can't permanently solve any issue. The more we learn the more our ineptitude is exposed.

We may be more comfortable more affluent, but still the most heinous of crimes exist. Slavery, starvation, famine, injustice, these crimes are the hallmark of our societies. If the product is the proof of our superiority, intellect, and industriousness we have proven our selves to be savages. Affluence and wealth only hide the stench of ignorance. If we were truly wise, the crimes we perpetuate, create and support would not exist.

Our ways are not His ways, our thoughts are not His thoughts, our wisdom is not His wisdom. God, the creator of the universe is so much more than we can imagine. If I have any wisdom, it is this, the God who created the universe and humanity is superior to His creation.

Leia Mais…

Are You Ready?

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Are You Ready?

 

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15

 

Are you ready? Can you give an answer to any man who asks you the question why do you believe? If you do not have an answer, you do not believe. The answer is not a long dissertation or a doctoral thesis. It is a simple statement like this one.

 

16 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

 

Christianity is based on this verse. It's not complicated. It is not a mystery; it does not need immense intelligence to understand. God did all He did because He loves you. Your statement does not have to be new or unique. It does not have to be revelational to the world. But it does have to be the cornerstone of your belief system. It is the one thing that cannot change. For me, I believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  Not figuratively or metaphorically just as it says in the bible. I believe it happened. For me, everything else flows from the resurrection.

 

Are you Ready?

Leia Mais…

The Armor of God

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The Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

 Do you do this daily? Is it the first thing you do in the morning? The world assaults you not just because you are a Christian. Life happens, and at times it is negative. Are you naked when it does, defenseless vulnerable? Every day we need to put on the armor of God. It is a conscious action it will not happen by osmosis. Prepare yourself every day by consciously and intentionally putting on the "whole armor of God."

Leia Mais…

I Am Sending You

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I Am Sending You 

 

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21

 

Purpose,  it is something we yearn for until we find it. When we find it, we wonder why it was so hard to find? "I am sending you" spoken by the resurrected Christ. It brings with it an authority unequal in humanities experience. These four words resound through out history. These four words changed the history of man. They define the purpose for which we live. It is what we are to do. The risen Christ is sending not only His original disciples, but He is sending us as well.

 

The authority with which He sends us is not just the power of Jesus it comes from the Father through Him to us. He is not just sending us He is empowering us with the authority of God the Father. It is not just a command it is a responsibility. It is the purpose, the underlying cornerstone of motivation for our lives. It is what will push us forward to bring meaning to our lives. 

 

Our lives were meant to be more than acquisition, personal accomplishments or the rise a to power. They are meant for so much more. Our lives were made to share in the glory of God the creator of the universe and to live a life of complete victory. We were always intended to be children of the one and only true King. Less anyone be confused if you are living the life God has in store for you. There is nowhere you can be where the glory of God will not be. Whatever God touches is glorified, because he is glorious. 

 

"I am sending you" let those words embed themselves in your heart, mind, and soul. Accept the purpose and meaning for your life. Receive the Glory that is inseparable from the command. Do what our Lord has commanded with the gifts He has given you and live the life He has promised you. If you go, the Glory of God will be with you. 

Leia Mais…

Rejected

Something to think about.

 

Rejected

 

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”John 6:66-70

 

Jesus was rejected to His face. In this verse, it says "many of his disciples."  The inference or deduction I get is, much more rejected Him than the twelve that didn't. It is imperative for us to realize that not everyone is going to respond to Jesus. If this verse is a sign of a broader reality, we must come to the understanding that many will reject Christ. There will be those that upon hearing the word and understanding the word will reject it. For those of us who believe that statement is incomprehensible. How could anyone in their right mind deny Christ? Since we know, there is nothing, no one better. We know and believe with total confidence and expectation the promises of salvation and eternal life. We believe in restoration, reconciliation, rebirth and new life. We believe in the grace, redemption, and forgiveness of God.  Furthermore, we accept and expect all Gods promises to be fulfilled. We know that the God of creation through His Son Jesus has provided for our eternal life with Him in heaven. We can't understand how anyone can reject Him. 

 

Jesus does something here we need to become aware of. He does not turn and chase those who reject Him. He turned to the twelve who recognized Him for who He was and changed the world with those twelve. As the family of God and as individuals we need to stop chasing rejects and embrace those who God has chosen.  We need to seek and find the chosen.

 

There are two important gems in this section of Scripture. One is your uniqueness in accepting and understanding the call of God. Many hearing and understanding will never accept the reality of Christ. You are special for you have heard and accepted His sacrifice for your life. Two and most importantly are, God chose you. As He chose the twelve, He chose you. You are the preferred of God. We need to start acting like it. You are exalted above the rest of humanity because He chose you. The rest of mankind will not sit at the wedding feast of the lamb.

Leia Mais…

Handed Over

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Handed Over

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9

In some Bibles, this part of Scriptures is under the heading of "End Times." This is Jesus speaking, and He is referring to events that will occur before His return. The question is, is this our destiny? For many in the Middle East, this is their reality today. The Christian population in many of  Middle Eastern Countries have been annihilated. There is a genocide being committed in the Middle East, but of course, our press has ignored it. ( see https://adfinternational.org/detailspages/press-release-details/never-again-un-side-event-on-genocide-in-the-middle-east )

Here in the USA the former bastion of Christianity we are under constant attacks from many sides. We are being attacked either openly or subversively. Our freedoms religious and civil are under constant assault. The writing is on the wall to the suppression if not eradication of Christianity.  People are openly pushing for the censorship of our views. If you're against homosexuality, you are ostracized, humiliated and labeled ignorant or intolerant. If you support Biblically based marriage, you are closed and simple minded. If you are against the continued murder of the unborn otherwise known as abortion you are a misogynist. If you hold any traditional religious views, you are regarded as a simpleton not worthy of serious consideration.  If you expose the impossibility of evolution, you are called a crack pot. All of these things do not constitute what Jesus was referring to when He spoke the words contained in this verse. What He was referring to is what is happening in the Middle East. What we are now seeing in this country is the precursor is what is taking place in the Middle East. 

I don't know if it is too late to turn from this path of self-destruction. Granted I do not see any hope in returning to where we came from. But I pray and hope that we can turn to the path that has been the only hope for the world and that is the path to Christ. If we can not turn the tide of anti-Christian persecution we will fulfill his end time prophecy.  We will be "handed over to be persecuted and put to death."

Leia Mais…

Commonplace

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Common place

6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6

"For he is risen" the four most important words ever spoken. The world has been shaken to its core at these four words. An actual change in the history of man occurred on account of these words. A new hope and reality came into existence when they were uttered. A whole new way of living was validated because of these words. 

The crucifixion of Jesus was not the single most important event in history. His resurrection was. Jesus was dead, Christ was resurrected. This man died. He was resurrected as King and Savior. His resurrection was by the God of the universe. Have we lost sight of this event? 

We are so busy with our lives. With doing for God. We try to flourish and excel in our gifts, jobs, lives, have we lost sight of why we do what we do. Have we turned the resurrection into a commonplace event? Has it become a historical event that we lump together with all others? Has it become something that is not life altering. Something commonplace? Something that we have become so accustomed to we don't give it the importance it requires?

"He is risen." Have you ever seen the dead come back to life? I'm not talking about CPR or any rapid resuscitation protocol. I mean someone who has been dead for an extended period of time being brought back to life. No other such event has been recorded or claimed by anyone in History. Do you realize this event was witnessed by hundreds of people? It was reported by his followers. These twelve men went on to change the world. Not based on a conspiracy or on Jesus's religious philosophy but on His resurrection. His inner circle never recanted their claims. Even when threatened with death. Even as they were killed

The most important aspect of this event is this. Jesus the Christ is alive. He was not resurrected to die again. He was not resurrected to be lost or hidden from humanity. That reality should be paramount in your mind every day through every situation. God or bad. He was the first to be resurrected.  His resurrection gives us hope for the future. It validates all of His claims. It solidifies His claims of eternity. It turns an interesting philosophy into an undeniable reality. Every Christian belief hinges on this one event. His resurrection validates all of the claims about Him. From His virgin birth to being the sacrificial lamb for the world. Without the resurrection, we diminished Christ to an interesting person in human history. He becomes as so many others without eternal consequence. He is then an enigma without substance or value. 

Christ is everything. There is before His resurrection and after. Before is hopelessness and futility. After is eternity and victory. He is resurrecting every day the lives of those who believe. "He is risen."

Leia Mais…

Repent Revival

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Repent Revival

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Mathew 4:17

I have repented. Yes, I'm still working on it. I am still in the process of receiving all that is associated with repentance. This commandment of Christ still haunts me. It rattles me to my core because it is still a valid call. There are those around me that have not repented. I am not talking about those in Hollywood or in politics or business. Nor any other category of people, I am talking about my brother, sisters, nieces, nephews in short my family. There is an entire world living all around me that have not repented that have not accepted Christ. I pray for revival in this country, state, and city. I need to start praying for revival in my family.  Is it possible that we have not seen a great revival in this country because we are praying for someone else? The next great revival needs to begin at home. The great field of harvest is not in some far away city or country. It is within our homes. With the people, we break bread with. With those that will no longer listen to our message. If they won't listen how can we reach them? We need to pray for them. We need to stand in the gap for them. What that means is we need to chase after God on their behave. We need to cry out to God for their salvation. We need to get into the battle for their souls. They may not listen to us, but God has the resources to reach them He has the means to touch their hearts. 

Have we given up on our families? Have we written them off as unreachable, unworthy, hopeless unforgivable? Have we become blase about their eternal destination. Have we accepted them as a lost cause? Have we turned them over to eternal death? If we are to see revival it needs to start at home. If we have written off our families do you really think we will care about the lost of the world? This is a call to action to pray for your family to begin a revival in your home.

Leia Mais…

Real Life

Something to think about.

Real Life 

48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48

We Christians want, even portray Christianity as being a wonderful harmonic belief system. We do everything we can to make it as attractive as possible. We try to accentuate the great things about Christianity.

The reality is Christ was betrayed by one in His inner circle. His disciples were persecuted and killed. His believers were hunted, tortured and killed. His followers to this day are being abused, persecuted and murdered. His teaching are under attack. There is infighting among us.

Why am I writing this? If we deal with the reality, we might not lose so many to the deception that is our enemy. If we better prepare ourselves for these conflicts and realities, we will be in a better place to help the lost. 

Christianity is a mess. It is a mess because we are dealing with flawed humans and we are flawed humans.  There is no fault with the bible and its teaching. The fault is with us who have turned the word of God into a mirage of a painlessness utopia. 

We should be telling everyone the truth. Christianity is hard. You will be disappointed you will be hurt. The biggest blows will come from those you learn to love. You will fail you will hurt someone either out of ignorance or with intent. We need to tell each other and everyone we are not perfect, we don't have all the answers. Please forgive us when we fall short. Do not judge Christ by what we do judge Christ by what he has done. Forgive us for our misrepresentation of the gospel. Let it be known we will make mistakes. Christ has made a way despite our errors to redeem the lost and restore the broken hearted. Let us tell the world we will mess up but there is still a Christ that can fix it, but only He can fix it. Let us stop trying to portray a clean conflict free Christianity. Let us display a true Christianity with all of its faults and short comings. Let us allow the God we proclaim to be glorified by His restorative power and grace. Let's point others to the one that is perfect and true.

It is in our weakness that He is strong. It is in our faults that He shines. It is when we fall that He can pick us up. It is in our battles that He can bring peace. It is in our hurt that He can bring healing. It is in our defeat that He can bring victory. It is in all the things we hide that He is visible. Christianity is indeed a mess, But Jesus Christ died to clean the mess. To bring order to confusion peace to those at war and life to those that are dying. Jesus is in the business of cleaning up our mess. If we hide it, deny it, cover it or ignore it, Christ cannot be glorified by it.  Remember Christ came for those that need a savior, not for those who are saved.

• Mark 2:17 (NKJV) When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

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One Day

Something to think about.

One Day

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10

Somewhere along the life of Christianity, we've allowed the devil to upstage this reality. I have lived the life the devil has to offer I have received the best he has, I know the lies he has perpetrated against us. It is better to enter into the kingdom God and be as far away from his presence as possible and still receive his glory. Than to be in the center of the devil's demise.  We've allowed the lies of the enemy to be sold as truth and accepted as desirable accomplishments. 

Our country our world is in the shape, it is in because we have allowed the lies of the enemy to be sold as truths.  There isn't anything the enemy has sold us that compares to being in the presence of God.  All the world's accomplishments combined can not equate to being in the presence of God.  not even for an instant.

God's presence is where you are fulfilled to overflowing. It is where you will find love, peace, joy, happiness. It is where you will be filled with the water of life, and you'll never be thirsty again. Today, now these things are available to those who choose Christ. You can have a meaningful, purposeful and joyous life now. You can have the love, security and the companionship of God now, here today. You can have everything that makes life worth living. You can experience the presence of God.

Then when we are in His permanent presence when He dwells with man. There will be no more war, famine, hate, disease. No more lack, hurt, loss, exclusion, rejection, loneliness or empty promises. You will have security, peace, love, and acceptance. You will be washed and cleansed from the filth of sin.  You will be given a new perfect body. You will share in His glory.

We need to turn the tide of evil and let the world know, God has a better way, a better life. Instead of selling the world the lies of the devil we need to give them the truth of the joy of living the life of Christ. It is better to live life in the love of Christ than to live the life of lust and lost without Christ. We have a much better life to live here and now and into eternity, Far better than anything the devil has ever offer. If we show the world what it is like to live one day in His courts, we will revolutionize the world. 

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Citizenship

Something to think about.

 

Citizenship 

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” Philippians 1:27 

Being a citizen of heaven is quite extraordinary. Not just anyone will be allowed citizenship. It is a unique honor and blessing to be a citizen of heaven.  One of the peculiarities of being a citizen of heaven is that you can't earn, buy it or in some way acquire it. You can only receive it. You can not wish, pray, push, work or pull someone into heaven. Every citizen accepted the gift of salvation God provided through His Son Jesus.  Having received citizenship, we unite in the battle waged for humanity.  Citizenship is free, but it is not without responsibility.  We become aware of our responsibility to share the Good News that is Christ Jesus with the rest of the world. Though sharing the Good News, it is not a rule. The Good News of Jesus compels us and motivates us to fulfill our responsibility.

Leia Mais…