The journey Christ has us on...it is time to be scattered

Does anyone in the body realize that we are all on a journey? I mean how many who are born again end up just staying in one place all of their life without ever reaching out to others. Or how many just want to continue on with the same group of people and never explore what the Lord may have for them?
Once Jesus went to heaven and He sent the Helper what did the disciples do?
They were baptized with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and they stayed in Jerusalem.
It seems that they may have been complacent and not willing to journey out beyond the walls of that city.
What did God do in order to get them out of the city and onto the journey He set before them?
He sent a disturbance. Look at the Acts 8.
"And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." Acts 8:1
Now go down to Acts 8:4
" Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ."
What happened when persecution came? The disciples were scattered. All except the apostles.
The men and women have recieved a great message and were filled with the Spirit. Yet they were going to stay in Jerusalem with the apostles. Yet God had other plans. He had a great message that needed to get outside of the city and into the world. So He made things a little rough for the disciples who were satisfied.
He sent Saul and others to torture and scatter them.
Next we read about Phillip and what he did afterward. You see our life in Christ is not meant to be just lived out with the same group of people until we die. We are to be out and moving forward with the good news.
My life mirrors some of this. Not the persecution per se, but the fact that the Lord hasn't allowed me to become complacent. He brings me to a place with fellow believers. I stay learn and minister then God puts things in my heart that makes me know, it is time to go.
This has happened a lot in the last 10 or so years. My life is not normal in terms of staying with the same group of people for too long.
I personally can say that one of the places I fellowshipped is not even around anymore. God scattered the people. Now those who were in that church are all over in different regions and states.
Now I am on the move again. No, I am not moving from the city I live in, but I am being moved from the person I have been ministering with for the last year and a half. God took me and placed someone in my life to show me somethings and then said it is time. Now go!
It is not an easy thing to do when you have to physically leave those whom you love and fellowship with. Yet how else will we ever be able to reach out to others if we continue to stay in one place?
Our walk should be a journey. We should be willing to say yes Lord not my will, but Yours be done. A lot of people have wasted their lives staying put and not journeying. Plus in a lot of fellowships you have kind hearted pastors who don't want to let go of those God has told to leave.
In time those relationships can become bitter and then what happens?
If God is telling you it is time to move on don't worry about what to next. He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.
We are not our own we have been bought with a price. We don't belong to a covenant made by men. No we belong to God. If He says it is time then you better listen.
Pastors if you have people you know are leaders and you hold onto them and never let them go are you really being a "shepherd"? A good leader will know when to let go of those he loves and see them continue on the journey God has for them.
Don't waste your life serving man. Use your life to serve God!

www.gracefornepal.org A plug for a friends website

I just wanted to provide a link to a fellow brother's website. It is called www.GraceforNepal.org
He and some others went to Nepal this last December. They went to teach some of the new ministers and also check out the orphanages.
Please check it out and pray about maybe supporting this ministry. I don't usually plug situations like this except that I know that any donations will actually go to where it is meant.
Stephen Wingo is an elder at Conway Celebration Church. He feels the leading of the Lord to move his family over to Nepal in a few years. It is something that he is taking very seriously and praying about.
So as the Lord leads thank you.

Praying with all supplication....because He told us too..

"I Paul, myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble but bold toward you when I am away!--I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought into captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
As I continue down this journey the Lord has me on, there has been great opposition. As with Paul people of God suspect that my walk is in the flesh. The reason being is I am going against the system that has been set up by men. It is a religious system that has it's roots in the spirit. There has been so many church splits, name changes as to disassociate ourselves with what others believe and schemes brought about in the past few hundred centuries. Yet we call ourselves the body of Christ. What has happened is we have allowed strongholds to come against the very divine word of God. In turn we believe that we can do things better than the Word.
Then when someone comes along and raises questions against why the church operates the way it does we get accused of being divisive or walking in the flesh.
What I am finding out is the very people who say this are the ones who are walking not according to the spirit, but of the flesh. This is not their fault it is the system that has been ingrained in people for so long that has harden people to the truth of the gospel.
You can continue on doing the work of God and never miss a beat. Yet still be way off course in other areas of the body.
Peter in the garden was walking with Jesus. Though the devil used him to try and persuade Jesus from dying. Do we think that we are immune to the things of the spirit?
Let's see what Ephesians 6:10-12 has to say about some spiritual issues.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
You see religious systems have their roots in the heavenly places of darkness. Look at the worlds religions and tell me they are good. Even in the past and currently in some countries there are people fighting against each other thinking they are doing Christ's work. Most wars are caused from people fighting for their religion.
People need to be realizing that we are not at war against each other. No, we are at war with the schemes of the devil.
Yes the devil is defeated, but why are we still warned to put on the whole armor of God? The reason being is he can still come against us and turn us against others.
We are to be praying always at all times in the "Spirit', with all prayer and supplications. We are to keep alert for each other with all perseverance and making supplications for all the saints.
In doing this we should be able to have peace amongst ourselves. Also we should be able to discern issues with a spiritual sense.
What I feel about to happen is the Lord is going to bring a spiritual psunami into the body and destroy the system that has been setup all of these years. In turn He will have His pure spotless bride.
Please understand that I am not bringing accusations against individuals. I am warning of the fact that we have lost touch with the meaning of scripture in all ways concerning the body. We have allowed the schemes of the devil to come about secretly and then we call that holy.
We have to repent for what we have allowed to come into our life.
People there is still a voice crying out in the wilderness saying repent! Are we willing to listen. As the word says judgement will come to the church first.
Are we ready to give an account to Jesus for what He has given us?
Pray about that and seek God for the answers.
Amen!

The sacrifices of God!

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17 ESV
This is one of those scriptures I love to just read and reflect on. There is so much in that word.
Think about it. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart...
How is our spirit broken? Through the Lord showing us that we are wretched and in need of a Saviour. As He does this we become contrite. Sorrowful for what we have done, because He shows us our sins.
Isn't Jesus awesome! He again is the ultimate sacrifice. Through His dying on the cross and being raised from the dead this allowed us to see our true selves. In the light and revelation of the Saviour we see how wretched (broken) we are. Then we feel how contrite (sorrowful) we have become for our sins. God does not despise what His Son did for us. He doesn't despise us anymore because when we are His all He sees is the blood of His beloved Son having been sacrificed over 2000 years ago.
The glory of the cross and Jesus is all over in the bible. It is all over the Old as well as the New Testament.
Dig into the word and ask God to show you His soveriegnty in all of His word. Don't skip over the Old Testament as if it is not important in our walk.
It is all about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I leave off with this. I want to praise God for what He is doing in my life. This last week there has been a lot of things being spoken to me. In turn I can say thank you Lord.
My hope is for those who visit this blog from here on to be able to come away being stirred and built up.
There is joy in the presence of the Lord and know one can take that from us. It is ours to recieve.
Love the Lord with all of your heart. Go out and tell others about the glory of Jesus. We have an awesome message that is real, and we must be the ones to speak to others about Jesus.
Amen!

They will run you out of the synagogues. John 16:2

As I present this post I am asking my brothers and sisters in the Lord for prayer. I also feel I must preface this post with the following:
I want to say that this post is in NO WAY meant to be hurtful to ANYONE. Apart of what this blog is about is to present things that happen along my Christian walk along with present the issues of the bible.

In the scripture in John 16:2 Jesus was warning his disciples He knew some would not believe their report.
What the disciples had was a new teaching, movement per se. Something not beheld before.
Because they were getting this teaching from God incarnate. They were living making history as the prophecies of the Old Testament were being lived out in their midst.
You see the word of God says there is nothing new under the sun. The Word has always been with us. Just in different capacities. In the Old Testament Jesus was speaking the word to the prophets. In the New Testament the Word became flesh and dwelt among the people. Now we have the Word in our hearts. Plus we have the Holy Spirit helping us live out that word.
That very Word is continuing to move. We have the written scriptures to help us live that Word.
The Lord has been moving amongst His people continuosly. He has never stopped. Once Jesus went back to heaven He sent the Helper. That Helper moved in the hearts of the apostles and caused a great stir amongst the "leaders" of that day. They were constantly in peril because of what they believed. Being put in prison, beaten and as is the case with Stephen stoned.
Those who beat, in prisoned and stoned the apostles and disciples were those who thought they were doing Gods work. They were trying to put a stop to what they considered a false teaching.
Well all they succeeded in doing was help it spread. Why? Because that is the way God has ordained it.
That sort of persecution continues today in many countries. People everyday are being beaten, put in prison and killed because of the Word.
In this country many are being persecuted not with beatings or prison, but with accusing words.
And I mean from the very people who think they are doing Gods work.
We have become so set in our way of doing something that when the Lord brings His true change we become hardened. We call it heresy! We call it divisive! We don't want the "flock" to hear about it. Because they may not be ready for it. All in the name of protection.
The work of God is and always will be controversal for some. We were never promised peace from our families and friends. No! Jesus warned us by saying we would be betrayed by those who love us. Those who think they are doing the work of God.
That is why we must be in continual prayer for each other and for those who feel they are doing God's work and yet are against it.
We need to be diligent in showing the love of Christ even when they use names that do not fit in describing the believers or even worse.
So when you are walking in the Lord and talk with others about Jesus be prepared.
I have personally had the word heritic, divisive and others used when describing my beliefs.
I have had people curse me for preaching the gospel.
But you know what? It isn't what I think or hear that counts. It is how can I reach these people for Christ is what counts.
It hurts when someone who is a believer uses these words against you, thinking they are doing the work of Christ, but if you have the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the Word do not fear.

Prayer

Through all of my years as a Christian there was one area that I never lacked. Prayer.
If someone said we are having a prayer meeting I was there. When a pastor would ask who wants to pray? My hand would be raised. If someone would ask to be prayed for, yes there I was.
Also when someone felt the need to pray for others I was in the line wanting prayer.
When I moved here to Arkansas from Texas I had a mission. That mission was to expose others to the wonderful gift of prayer. I wanted others to experience what I had during times of meeting with the saints. I learned back in Texas from an older lady from my former fellowship. She was a fervant prayer warrior. She showed me what it is like to pray something through until you get an answer from God.
We would meet every Monday evening without fail. There would be a few people at the building praying. Sometimes it was just two. The thing is though we did what we came there for.
We had a time of visiting to see how each of us were doing and to get request, but when it got down to praying we hit it hard. We would not stop until we felt like there was nothing else to do.
The Lord was always faithful. Many words of knowledge came out of those meetings. We would get answers to situations we needed help on. The Lord would show up at times and we would end up on the floor just lying still. Nothing but silence. You see there can be times of silence in a prayer meeting. Silence is not a bad thing in a prayer meeting at times.
I could go on and on about those good times.
As I stated before I felt one of the reasons to come to Arkansas was to introduce others who have not felt led to pray. Most churches call prayer meetings together and usually they end up being anything but prayer meetings. Or at times only one person does all the praying.
I feel there is not enough people out there who know how to pray until you feel a peace. Or when most do pray they get discouraged because they feel the Lord is not listening.
We have to realize that God answers prayers in different ways. We must realize that His ways are not our ways. He knows what He is doing. Sometimes we may never know if our prayer was answered.
The key is to just trust God for He is faithful. He is the one who causes to pray.
Our days should always be filled with prayer and praise. We need to praise the Lord first!!! Then pray. How would you feel if someone kept coming to you with their problems and that was it?
It would get pretty frustrating wouldn't it.
In the scripture where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray what is the first thing he says?
"Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name."
You see He started it out with praise. We praise and thank the Lord for who He is and then we can lead into our praying to Him. We must praise the Lord and pray without ceasing.
Praising is our way of thanking God. We have to be thankful even during the hard times. Then when we pray it becomes a sweet incense to the Lord. Did you know He has a bowl in heaven where He keeps all the prayers? It is mentioned in Revelation.
Did you also know that we have an advocate? His name is Jesus. He is seated at the right hand of the Father where He is forever interceding for the saints.
So when you go to pray to the Lord remember these things. Remember that Jesus redeemed you from the curse and that is something to praise God for. Then when you pray your heart will be refreshed.
I will post more on this later. I would like to do a small series on this.
So please check back. Because there is so much the Lord has shown me in the years.
Granted I don't know it all and don't claim too. I am not going to give you so many "keys" to prayer. No, I will give you scriptures.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.

One afternoon in 1998 at my house in Texas I presented God a prayer.
My prayer was Lord I want to be like Paul. I loved reading all that he went through and how he had the desire to do nothing else but preach Christ and Him crucified. So when I prayed that prayer I was wanting that same desire. Later that evening we went to our weekly home church meeting. During that night we were waiting around for a lady coming in from England.
Once they arrived we sat down ate the wonderful meal and afterward there was a time of prayer.
Someone asked if anyone needed prayer. I have and always will feel that if someone ask to pray that we need to be front in line to be prayed for. So I sat down in the chair and it happened that the lady from England had laid hands on me. Up to that point I haven't had a chance to visit with her. So as she started to pray the following words came out; Lord God I ask that you make him like Paul. As she said that I was reminded by the Lord of what I had prayed earlier that day to be more like Paul.
Now since that time I am continuosly reminded of how Paul was and how he acted. He walked worthy of his calling. He was persecuted for his belief and he didn't waver.
I however haven't walked in that way all the time. So I don't dare compare my life so far to what Paul went through.
One thing though that I have stuck with on and off of course. That is to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Especially concerning the lost. I have note books full of thoughts and words that I wrote down almost everyday from 1996. As I sometimes think that I am just starting to have a heart for the lost all I have to do is read one of my many many notes.
I am then reminded that this is not new for me. The Lord put it in my heart to reach the lost whether through prayer or evangelism.
Lastly though since moving to Conway, Arkansas some of what I really fought and believed took a back burner to some other issues.
You see I get caught up in issues that don't mean a hill of beans to God. I allowed myself to get to much knowledge and not enough of the Holy Spirit.
So my focus was changed.
As that has happened I am being reminded of what Paul also wrote continuing in 1 Corinthians 1:17
"....and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."
So much of what I have been focusing on has been words of eloquent wisdom. In turn for me the cross of Christ seemed emptied of its power. I have been following when I am supposed to be leading. In turn I have made things foolish when it comes to the gospel.
Paul was careful in how he approached issues. He didn't let the world or wisemen draw him off the message. He stuck to the most important issue ever. Christ and Him crucified. PERIOD!
I want to look at more of chapter one in 1 Corinthians. Vs. 18-25
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debator of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
You see Paul asks who is wise and where is the debator. We must realize that God has made foolish the wisdom of men.
Where I am coming from is we can label ourselves to identify what we believe, but that only matters to men. God has given us a name already. A name that stands above all names. That name is Jesus Christ! A name above all names.
Our focus should always be on HIM and not on our own agendas or thoughts. As the Lords thoughts are higher than ours. His ways is greater than our ways. We must be about the work of our Father. He is and always will be my all in all.
If all I ever read again is the Bible, that will be enough. If I lose my right to have a bible that is ok, because the creator lives in me and He will show me how to continue on.
My point is this. We need to be like Paul and the other apostles. We need to be imitators of Christ. Most of the apostles were not schooled. They were foolish men in the worlds eyes. Yet many signs and wonders were done through them because they believed and had faith in the Lord.
I am tired. I am worn out. I have been chasing rabbits. Now it is time for me to prove what I believe by living out my faith. I need every believer. I need to be rebuked when I go wrong. I need to be forgiven because I still make mistakes. I need to meet with other believers. I need to love and be loved by others. I need most of all the continuing life giving blood of Jesus Christ.

Seek God because He first sought you!

Years ago in my single years when I was a wild savage in the world. I had a really good paying job and lived a carefree life. I was a non-practicing Catholic, self proclaimed ladies man and a weekend drunk.
So what does all of this have to do with seeking God?
I wanted to present a picture of myself before Christ. I also wanted to show how I wasn't seeking after God. I was seeking a worldly pleasure and didn't have any worries. At least I thought I didn't.
I worked in a factory back in Texas in the 80's and 90's. During my time there the Lord brought someone in my life who would never know how much of an impact he had on my life. He never knew that God put Him in that work place just for me.
The man worked in a chemical vat area where we blackened cutting tools. I would go into the area where he worked to talk and bring some tools to be blackened.
While I would go into that place I always noticed some scripture on a filing cabinet.
There were three that really stuck out and continue to be a catalyst of my walk today. Twenty something years later.
The first scripture verse is found in Proverbs.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
If you notice it says that He "shall" direct your paths if you trust, and acknowledge Him while you don't lean on your own senses.
I wrote that word down and had it memorized in minutes. I prayed using that scripture. Again all the while going out and continuing to party. You see God was chasing and getting me ready for His work. It took a few more years before it took, but the seed was planted.
The other scripture was in Matthew.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Again I wrote this word down and had it memorized in minutes. I still have the note where I wrote these scriptures. I did as I read in the word. I didn't have instruction from any clergy or other. I felt the Lord putting His word in my heart and I began to understand what was going on.
As I said earlier this was a process and it took a few years to take.
I never used or viewed these scriptures as a way to "be rich" or ask for monetary things. I prayed for things that would benefit my walk spiritually.
If I may the Lord saved me using these scriptures. I didn't pray any special preconcieved prayer and the gentleman who had these words written never talked with me about salvation prayers.
Another of the scriptures that was written was from Matthew also.
"Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks recieves, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
Again I had this word memorized in minutes as it really stuck out to me. I never used it or seen it as a way to become prosperous. I knew in my heart what it meant as the Lord put it in me heart.
The gentleman who had all of this scripture written had a hard life and God took him from a life of drugs, alcohol and suicidal attempts into a new life. And so the Lord used him to show me where I needed to be. The Lord took those precious words and increased the growth in my spirit all the while I was still partying.
I began to read my bible and praying. Something I never did was read my bible. In fact all I had was an old Good News New Testament. I will tell you though that that bible has a lot of tape and words underlined in it. I was hungry and fed on the word. Yet I continued in a life of sin.
Jesus had me, but He just didn't bring the net in yet.
I did come around and began to see things with my eyes wide opened. The Lord took a few scriptures written on a filing cabinet and some time to bring me into His kingdom. And to this day I praise God for that.
My old friend Dickie Thornhill was the gentleman who had those scriptures written down. I did attend Sunday school with him as he was a teacher and I went to services for a while. Again I remind you the night before I still partied. He was being a servant and disciple without realizing it. He never pushed me to make a decision nor did he get upset if I didn't show up all the time. A matter of fact I stopped going to church with him after about a few months. But I feel he knew that the seed was planted. I can only look back and see how far God took me after first meeting Dickie. I never had a chance to say thank you to him either.
Because a few years ago the Lord took him home. I loved that man in the Lord! Thank You Lord for Dickie Thornhill!
I really don't know if the Lord is seeking you if He is though. He won't give up on you if He has you in His sight.
As the old law enforcement adage goes. You can run, but you can't hide!
Adam and Eve tried to hide. God knew where they were. Just like He knows where you are.
You can't hide.

Who has believed our report? Isaiah 53;1

In the very first verse of Isaiah 53 those words ring volumes.
How many of us have been out witnessing about the things of Christ and have had people look at us like we are crazy? Sometimes it may even be from people who claim to be Christian.
What we believers have is truly the greatest opportunity ever given. That is to be a witness for what Christ did for us. Telling friends, loved ones, neighbors and strangers about the work of Jesus Christ. All the while knowing there will be some who won't believe our report. Who would believe that Jesus went through all He did just to save man from the wrath of His Father. I know, I believed and there are countless others out there who believed and there continues to be more.

I want to take the rest of this post into another way for a few minutes. Look at it from Jesus' pespective as He was speaking about His own death and resurrection when He spoke this to Isaiah the prophet.
I would ask that you read all of Isaiah 53 and as you do that reflect on the prophecy spoken by Isaiah. Reflect on the fact that as Jesus was giving this word by the Holy Spirit to the prophet what He may have been thinking. Knowing He (Jesus) was speaking of His own death.
Jesus spoke about those who He created were going to beat Him. Chastise, torture, strike Him and most of all He was going to be smitten by His own Father.
Smitten by God and yet He still came down to the earth as a baby. Grew up and no one recognized Him. He came into the earth knowing that the day would come when He was going to fulfill His Fathers will.
He died for the will of His Father.
Fast forward to the garden when Jesus was praying and then began to sweat blood. This shows the human side of Christ. How He was realizing the agony He was about to go through and He almost wanted to say no. Yet none the less He said, not My will, but Your will be done. He kept the cup knowing only He was the only one who could drink from it. The cup of life and death.
He took on flesh in order to take the wrath of His Father.
Jesus already knew what pain and suffering He was about to go through, because He spoke it to the prophet Isaiah. He knew it because He knew the will of God. He felt the sorrow from the human side and the knew what the finished work would accomplish because again He knew the will of the Father.
Jesus was ready to accomplish what He came down on this earth to do. He fulfilled all of the words of the prophets. He knew that when He said not My will, but Yours be done that He would rise again. He knew that once He fulfilled the purpose of His Father that He would be going back to the heavenly kingdom where He had came from. He knew He was going to be sitting at His Fahters right hand and was going to be forever interceding for the very people He redeemed.

Do we take the time to realize what Jesus did for us? How He is the only way to the Father, He is the only way for salvation, He is the only way period!
There is no other way to be redeemed. Only one way has been provided. And Jesus is that way.
Call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Believe the report of Isaiah 53 and the rest of the gospel. For those of us who already believe go and report to the lost all of what Jesus did for you.
Who will believe the report if we don't go out and proclaim it?

Where is the Cross all the other 364 days of the week?

Well, with this Sunday coming up I felt a need to blog about what we are celebrating. Plus why do we put so much emphasis on one day over another when it concerns the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Coming from the Catholic faith years ago I used to take the Easter celebration real seriously.
It was one of the top holy days of the church. Even as I left the Catholic faith and entered into the evangelical group we still put as much importance on Easter Sunday.
I just heard over the radio about a pastor here in the states that wants everyone to become more holy during holy week. He stated, "He is going to follow all of the ten commandments this week." Man if he can do that then why did Jesus die for us?
Do you see how off base we in the Christian faith have become. We are to have seperated ourselves from the worldly things. Yet we continue in the same traditions. We are to be set apart. I am not going into any historical context about the pagan origins of easter.
What I want to get to is this;
Why don't we put as much emphasis the other 364 days of the year concerning the resurrection.
According to the word we are to take up our cross and to crucify the flesh daily.
If we are doing that then we are celebrating the resurrection everyday. We should be singing praises to the KING every waking moment.
I'm not saying we should stop resurrection day celebrations. I just feel we need to realize the importance of what Jesus did everyday!
He being Jesus, was crucified, died and buried. Then on the third day He rose again! He is alive! So we should be praising Him for this everyday. If you are called and are one of His then we have a reason to celebrate without all of the "holy" days before hand.
I praise the Lord and Saviour of my soul everyday when I wake up. It is a given. He gave me new life. I died and was buried with Him then He gave me new life.
Has He done that for you?
If so then you should be up dancing around praising Him always.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! I love that name with all of my heart. He is the most awesome of all. He is the only true Saviour. The mediator between us and God! He is glorious!
The wonderful counselor almighty GOD!
We don't have to wait one day out of the year to celebrate!
Amen!

A new updated version of the sinner's prayer.....

"Every eye open and every head looking up. Now pray this prayer after me. Our Father who is in heaven praise to your holy name. I ask that your kingdom come into my life right now just as it is in heaven. Forgive me my trespasses and sins as I should forgive others.
Give to me this day your grace to say yes to Jesus. Who died on the cross for my being a wretch of a person that I am. I realize you are my only hope for salvation and deliverance from death. I plead to you now in all my heart, please let me live! In Jesus name Amen!"


I felt that after all of these years how people still use the sinner's prayer why not use one that would really be more accurate and have some scripture in it.
We are so quick to use new things and yet we sometimes forget that the gospel is all we need. So of course I am not advocating using this as a means to get people saved. I just felt led to post this as it is what I would really like to tell people when they ask me to give the invitation. Needless to say after numerous times of preaching at places they stopped calling me. I feel it was because I wouldn't give the "invitation".
This whole blog post is just a thought out of my head. You are welcome to comment on what is written or better yet come up with your own new updated version of the sinner's prayer and post it in the comments.

Walk worthy of your calling because we are Ambassadors for Christ

A question for you. Are you walking worthy of your calling? Or are you acting just like the world?
My heart is breaking today for the fact that as we call ourselves Christians most of us don't walk or act as if we even know who Jesus is. In fact I feel we get caught up in the things of this world and in turn look like fools. Granted we are to be fools for Christ, but not act like them.

In Colossians the word says; "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:9-10

We have been called from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God. We were saved by grace. We are ambassadors of Christ.
Ambassadors!! Do you see that? Do we believe that?
If so then why don't we walk as we should in the kingdom? Walking in the Spirit so as to not give into the sinful desires of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 5:18-20 states; "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their tresspasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."

God is making His appeal through us! Isn't that awesome? He uses us to carry His message of reconciliation to a lost world. So if that is the case we need to be walking in the light of Jesus Christ in everything we do. We are his representatives on this earth.
If an ambassador of the United States misrepresents the policies of the President and defiles that office, they would be kicked out.
So they must carry the message of the president to the other foreign leaders as if it was the president himself being present.
How much more as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ should we be carrying the truth of the gospel to the lost amongst us. Remember we are foreigners on this earth. Our kingdom is in heaven.
Dear people hear what I am saying here. If we are called out ones then let's start walking in a way that brings glory to our KING.
Our life on this earth is temporary, nothing but a moment in this life. So we need to make every minute worthy of our walk. We must be about the Fathers business not our own. We must not allow the world to dictate how we act or react. We must be ready in season and out to give an answer to why we believe the way we do.
So I ask this, if you label yourself Christian on the dotted lines why don't you act like one then?
So many in this nation consider themselves Christian and yet have no clue what a responsibility that carries.
Be careful for the one who can destroy the soul and the body is the one we should fear.