Tag Archives: disciples

The Resurrection of Jesus demands that we live for Him!

Posted on by
Reply

Thankfulness - sunsetOnce a year, most of the world comes together in the celebration of Christ’s triumphant entry, through the Passover, the crucifixion all the way to the empty tomb! Then it’s back to work on Monday as normal. Now, don’t get me wrong I love this season. It reminds me and re-aligns me with God’s purpose and love!

I am so glad the story of Jesus doesn’t stop at the cross or even at His burial? But, come to think about it, why do we even allow the story to stop at the resurrection? The Story of Jesus’ love for you and I goes on and on! It’s not over once the weekend is done, its actually just beginning. I do understand and have no problem with focusing on these three glorious foundational events annually. The basis of the gospel is most definitely the death, burial and resurrection of Christ! (1 Cor 15:1-4)

Yet, if we aren’t students of the scriptures we can miss so many things in the work of Christ. Peter brings to light that Jesus went to the chained demonic angels, who are awaiting their final judgment and proclaimed that His redemption of mankind was completed!(1 Pet 3:19) During these three days Jesus also took back the dominion from the devil that Adam and Eve had turned over to the deceiver(Gen.1:28, Lk 4:6, Col 2:15) , then Jesus gives it back to his children again once He goes to God the Father.(Matt 28:18-19, Jn 20:17-21, Lk 24:39) Where he also presents and leads the first fruits of the believing saints into heaven.(1 Cor 15:20) The story even continues, in the fact that He shows Himself to his followers over the next forty days before the great ascension.(Acts 1:1-2) But even after all this, Jesus which had foretold the disciples earlier (Jn 14:16-21) refuses to leave His followers by themselves, declaring in Acts 1:4-5, “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father… “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’”. The last thing Jesus the resurrected Lord, lets them know before He ascends to the Father in the glory cloud is that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would empower them to be a witnesses all over the world for Him. (Acts 1:8-10)

What happened on resurrection day is what gives His followers the authority and dominion as His ambassadors and the infilling of the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk victoriously here on this earth. Being confident with our assignment of making disciples and establishing the kingdom of God, knowing Jesus is now seated in heaven next to the Father interceding for us. (Rom 8:34-35) You see, the work of Jesus still continues as He leads us. Not only does Jesus call Himself the Good Shepherd, but also we read in Rev 7:17 that He is still shepherding His people throughout eternity.

Paul writes to the believers in Colosse and says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith”.(Col 2:6-8) Paul is telling the Christian that once they accepted what Jesus has done for them to continue living their life in the benefits and authority of it. Jesus became our substitution and therefore our redeemer from the bondages of the wicked one. His works enable us and demand us to live a life worthy of His calling with confidence. Therefore let me ask you, “What are you doing with the Message of the Cross? Is it nothing more than fooliness to you or is it the Power of God to be His witness”. (1 Cor 1:17) The resurrection of Jesus demands that we live for Him!

When the Chocolates Box is Empty

Posted on by
Reply

o-empty-chocolate-box-facebookAs the sun comes through the kitchen window with rays of hope for another day, the wilting roses and empty boxes of chocolates are being filed away with memories of yesterday. It’s almost with the same intensity of coming off of a sugar high that the week of romance and love comes to a close. If we think that a card, some candy and maybe a dinner all by itself will carry our relationships through another year, we will probably be rudely awaken in the coming days. The sad reality in many relationships is that over the course of time things have slowly deteriorated to the point of needing a “Urgent Care” for relationships to get them going in the right direction again. And

Maybe we need to build lasting marriages instead of a day of fleeting emotionalism.   (tweet)

even worse are those couples that were swept off of their feet with only emotional infatuation and no foundational principles for a lasting relationship of any kind.

If the piles of chocolates in the stores and truckloads of flowers aren’t evidence enough. The consumer reports from previous years let us know that people are totally committed and consumed with this day of love. Could it possibly be that our strategy for a loving relationship might be wrong even though our motives are commendable. Maybe we need to build lasting marriages instead of a day of fleeting emotionalism.

Our marriages and different relationships can be like the mountain paths I grew up hiking. Many of them would cut through different terrain and gradually climb up towards their destination. Yet, many times you would come across windfalls, which

God must be intertwined in our Marriage!     (tweet)

are trees that have fallen over the trail because of different circumstances such as lightening, wind, disease or brittle with age. Whatever the reasoning, these windfalls ultimately hinder or even stop the journey. In the same manner many marriage relationships are also hindered from getting to the top of the summit because of windfalls.

Let’s take a look at some windfalls that can have severe consequences in our relationships. There can be many, but some of the most common ones are; lack of communication, strained trust for one another, life-controlling problems, unresolved Continue reading →

God’s Love Isn’t Puppy Love

Posted on by
1

Hair Of The Dog: Pooch Becomes Insta-FamousThe red foil rapped heart boxes and mountains of chocolate cherries seemed to shout the announcement of the season of love. It’s time to order roses and reserve dinner for two. Ready or not the marketing of big business has pressured every individual to consider his or her love life one way or another. Whether it is like Donny Osmond’s song many years ago “It’s puppy love” or the love of your life for so many years it’s time to “show the love”.

The Beatle’s song, “All you need is love…” is only true if you define “Love” as the Bible says in I Jn 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

We can accomplish the greatest achievements in the world but if we don’t love others with God’s love it is useless   (tweet)

It’s when we begin to allow songs, poems, as well as our own feelings to define love that it can get distorted and totally off base. God Himself is love and when we identify and reflect Him then we will begin to act like He is. In other words we will bear fruit (Gal 2:22) and show evidence of being grafted in the “Vine”(Jn. 15:5). God made us with desires and feelings to be able to fulfill His will in the earth. He Himself is a God of relationships. But, only through His statutes and plan can they keep pure and whole. When we move outside of His plan then our love can easily turn into a Continue reading →

Will you be a Garbage Can or a Trash Man?

Posted on by
Reply

160221956Trash talking and gutter gossip is nothing more than fruit from the pit of Hell! (Jas.3:1-12) and it seems to be such a big part of our society. We have TV shows and magazines solely dedicated around slander and gossip. It has always astounded me how different ones can constantly be involved with corrupt communication. In many communities of believers we even cloth it with religious jargon saying it’s a prayer request. But sadly there never seems to be the prayer just the gossip.

Years ago I was invited to go with a medical team to the Philippines to minister. It opened my eyes to the needs and tremendous hurts of people. While I was there we went to a regional garbage dump to minister where individuals actually lived on the garbage heaps. These people spent their days rummaging through the toxic garbage of others looking for something of value but only received infection and sickness.

In the same manner people that are obsessed with listening and spreading hateful communication are themselves living amongst the most unrighteous mounds of spiritual trash. It is no better than eating out of a dumpster or living on a garage

Some people think its spiritual to be a garbage can where as we really are to be a trash man.       (tweet)

dump rummaging through others refuse. Some people think its spiritual to be a garbage can where as we really are to be a trash man. A garbage can will get putrid and smelly and contain germs, but a trash man is one that takes someone’s garbage and puts it in a safe place to be covered up.

Paul exhorts the believers at Ephesus saying, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good …that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Eph 4:29) The Greek word “corrupt” actually means rotten and worthless words. So Paul is telling us not to be involved in trash talk, but only those things that will uplift and bring grace to others. When you say things that tear others down and is not edifying it Continue reading →

The Breaking point of Breakthrough

Posted on by
1

Glacier1This morning while in my prayer time I felt the Holy Spirit gave me a picture lesson.  Many of the great glaciers in Alaska have worked their way down the slopes to the ocean. The face of these glaciers advance when more accumulation of snow and ice begin to mass then actually melts.

So these Ice Rivers begin to slowly move down the least resistant path just as a normal river that we are accustom to does. They are slowly being coerced by gravity at such slow speeds that you cannot see the movement unless you measure it or visit where they meet the ocean.  This is one of Alaska’s most common boat tours. People come to watch huge slices of the glaciers breaking off and crashing into the ocean. It makes such a splash that it sends ripples of gigantic waves and icebergs speedily going forth affecting all that’s in its ways.

We have continued to pray and stand for God’s purposes in our lives and communities for years. Through it all there are times of great spiritual accumulation and increase and there are times of dryness, melting and decrease in the spiritual climate.

But as we press into God there is a shifting and movement that begins to happen. Whether we see it or not! Though the evidence might seem prehistoric or even non-existent the result screams “we’re wrong”. Just as in the case of the glaciers, if you are on the mountain top or along the glacier in a valley somewhere, you cannot see the movement at all. But it is moving and carrying rocks and debris for miles and even grinds it to powder along the way. This massive scraping and eroding of anything that stands in the way causes the surface to become smoother and ultimately pick up speed.

Yet, unless you are down on the vast sea and open ocean you cannot see the true affects. Isn’t it much the same way in our spiritual lives? Unless we get down where the rubber meets the road or in the midst of the sea of people going about their miserable daily lives we will not see the results of our cry for revival.

People may come to watch the great splash and waves of revival from everywhere. But, without the courageous and unselfish spiritual intercessors that contend high in the mountains and down in the midst of the valleys for revival there would be no movement or let alone waves of refreshing that crashes into the sea of humanity.

Our contending in prayer is making a shift and movement! Whether you are seeing it or not the results in the valley you’re in, is definitely happening.

There is coming in the near future a wave of revival and crashing interruption of God’s glory that will send ripples in every direction affecting everything in its way.  Marriages, rebellious children, lost loved ones, physical afflictions and so many other things that need a wave of God’s glory to change them.

Don’t quit now!

It’s coming so get ready and anticipate it!    It seems slow but it’s so close!     It’s “Slow Close”.