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Category Archives: Light and Salt
“Uncovered”
Uncovered
What an amazing time to know the Lord. I have always loved the shift, the change of winds that occur when a new season is coming around. The supernatural presence of God is filling hearts that are receptive.
He is, as He always has, using the willing to confirm the Gospel with signs and wonders. It is how the church was built and how it’s construction will continue. People are tired of talking about it, and they are experiencing it. The amazing, powerful, presence of God.
I want to share today a story that is very familiar to anyone who has been in church or around Christians any length of time.
The story of David and Goliath is very well known.
1 Samuel 17:1-11 NASB
1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.
3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.
4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.
6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.
7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.
8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.
9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”
10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
This gives us a picture of a very formidable and dedicated enemy. Jewish history says this taunt by Goliath had probably occurred twice daily for 40 days.
I must acknowledge something that is notably missing from this picture. In these Biblical times the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. Joshua marched behind it around Jericho, and it went before the children of Israel under Moses. Moses said this of the Ark.
Numbers 10:35-36 NASB
35 Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O L ORD ! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.”
36 When it came to rest, he said, “Return, O L ORD , To the myriad thousands of Israel.”
The ark was in the house of Abinadab and his son Eleazer an estimated 20-30 miles away. Saul did not follow the Ark.
Back to Goliath. The name Goliath means, splendor but it comes from a very interesting root word. Goliath is translated from the Hebrew root word, “Gaw-law’” which means, “to strip, to reveal, to uncover, and to disclose.”
The awesome presence of this formidable warrior had striped Saul and his followers of their faith in God. He had revealed, uncovered, and disclosed their fear.
How many have had a Goliath in your life. Something that pulled back the facade and exposed your weakness, failure, or vulnerability?
David’s father had sent him with some goods to check on his brothers.
1 Samuel 17:22-23 NASB
22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.
23 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.
The men fled again and when they reached a safe place they began to tell of the great rewards that the king would give the person who killed this Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:26 NASB
Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”
His words trickled down to Saul and David said this.
1 Samuel 17:32 NASB
David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
Saul questioned his ability and David shared the victories that God had already granted Him and replied this way.
1 Samuel 17:36-37 NASB
36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.”
37 And David said, “The L ORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the L ORD be with you.”
I Samuel 17:40 NASB
He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.
The rest of the story you know. David won.
Goliath revealed fear in Saul and his armies.
To David he revealed covenant.
Goliaths will come our way from time to time in our life. They come to peel back, reveal, uncover or disclose something that needs attention.
Remember the first passage I read? First part.
“ Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah”
David was from the tribe of Judah. This speaks of covenant and inheritance.
Goliath was standing on David’s front yard. God had given it to Him and His family.
He was not only defending the armies of God, He was defending His covenant, and his inheritance with God.
Would that we would stand against the enemy on the grounds of our inheritance.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. “In His Name”
Have a great day and weekend. Blessings to you all.
Revealing Jesus Everywhere
“Revealing Jesus Everywhere”
I believe with all my heart that we have only just begun to influence this community and our worlds with the amazing Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I love the global church and I love Amazing Life Church.
The plan of God has never been that complicated. Most often He tells us what He wants before we even start. His Word reveals a clear destiny for God’s people and the Church. It’s simple. We are the light of the world. The salt of the earth.
(We Reveal Jesus)
What complicates this is the way we deviate from the Gospel and taint it with our own opinions. Our religious traditions and rules will dim the light. Those who are yet to follow Christ find us hard to understand.
As I say this I am giving God all the glory. When I look into our communities I see churches beginning to talk of awakening. Sharing a more inclusive message of Christ and His love for everyone.
I said prophetically years ago that we, at ALC, were plowing a path. Tearing down walls that have imprisoned people. People who needed Jesus, but were rejected because of the way they looked or the lives they lived.
The tears came at this point as I thought on our sacrifices and our faithfulness to His Gospel and His plan for ALC.
We have only begun to see the Glory of God in this church, this community, and the surrounding areas. God is big in His promise. He has much more in store for us as we follow Him.
The Lost Sheep Are Coming Home!!!
Psalms 139:7-12 NASB
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
If we really understood the value He places on us. The relevance to His amazing plans for the world. The enormous wealth of power and dominion He has transferred to us. All the while, with us as we follow Him, and even as we run from Him. There is nothing that we could not accomplish in the name of Jesus.
Let me unfold a few of these passages and endeavor to make them relevant to everyone.
Psalms 139:7 NLT
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
Jeremiah 23:24 NASB
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the LORD . “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD .
I suspect there are times that many of us wish we could hide ourselves from the Lord. Maybe, maybe not, but there were those in the Bible that did.
The most notable that came to my mind was Jonah.
Jonah 1:3 NASB
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD . So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD .
Jonah 1:3 Amplified
But Jonah ran away to Tarshish to escape from the presence of the LORD [and his duty as His prophet]. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish [the most remote of the Phoenician trading cities]. So he paid the fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the LORD .
Psalms 139:11-12 NLT
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
The word light has a different meaning in each verse. In verse 11 it is translated from a Hebrew word which means literally, light of day, but figuratively, the light of instruction. In verse 12 the Hebrew word has no literal meaning. Figuratively it means, the light of joy and happiness.
There are two very important statements made by Jesus regarding light.
John 8:12 NASB
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
The Greek word for light in this passage has all the literal meanings you would expect. Light from a lamp, heavenly lights, light from a fire. In this passage it is used metaphorically and the meaning is this.
(God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly reason, mind the power of understanding especially moral and spiritual truth.)
The second statement from Jesus is this.
Matthew 5:14 NASB
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden
The same Greek word with the same meaning. If God is with us. If He is everywhere, knowing everything, how can there be darkness when a Christian
is there.
Go back to the first statement from Jesus.
(he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.)
That word follow from the Greek means this, “to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple”
You can narrow our Christian responsibility down to two principles. First. Believe, believe that God is with us and that we are His children. Born not of man but by the Spirit.
Second. Reveal. Reveal Jesus Christ to our family friends and in our world. Everywhere we go being the light of Christ.
Hebrews 2:3-4
(how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.)
Tel the story of Jesus. Be the light to someone in your world. It will change your life and theirs.
Praying always for God to reveal Himself in your life.
Be blessed as you walk with Him.
“I Wonder If”
“I Wonder If”
Sometimes I just can’t hold it in.
The news cycles for the last few weeks have been different, to say the least. In my lifetime I have never seen such irresponsibility and anger from both sides of the political world.
I am not going on a political rant so don’t worry. I am one Pastor who believes that politics in the pulpit is divisive. I really don’t care if you differ. Do it like you want to.
My mission is to tell the story of Jesus. Equip the saints. Disciple the followers of Christ, and whatever else I can do in the name of the Lord.
I wonder if some of the responsibility for the confusion and fear can be laid at the doorstep of the American church.
For decades the message has changed, according to the messenger. Yet for thousands of years the message has remained the same, Biblically.
Before I go further understand this. I love the church. Local and global it is the only real hope for the world. The only source of redemption is the Christ we share. The only source of restoration to the Father, and the Kingdom Authority that has been passed to His church, is Christ.
If I could share one thing that everyone in the church would hear it would be, tell the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension is the Gospel.
The church needs to share the Gospel, not the Gospel plus!!
I have never been a fan of the Reformation. This year is the 500 year anniversary. What Luther did had to be done. It is the aftermath that bred division.
In 1517 there were 2 recognized churches. The Catholic and the Orthodox church. Today there are more than 41,000 Christian denominations and religious institutions. This according to Christianity statistics.
Do you see my point. It is very difficult to preach unity in the house of God with so many different opinions of our faith.
Much of the division is structure, order, symbolism, that can be merged with a common message. It is my prayer that the ministry begins to seek this common ground.
I am not suggesting merging churches. Each church that was ordained by God has a purpose in their local area.
Back to our awesome country. We are the light of the world. The salt of the earth. The sin, fear, destruction, wasted lives. The anger, disappointment, unbelief, can be placed at the doorstep of the local church. At least to some degree.
Light cancels darkness. Salt preserves. The message is a life changing message. Somehow it is not reaching some of our age groups in a powerful way.
The message of the Gospel that was proved with signs and wonders changed the world in the years after Christ ascension.
The foundation of the church was built on the message of Christ, and the blood of the Martyrs. The greatest testimony of the time were those who faced death, praising God and singing Psalms.
In 2016 over 96,000 Christians were killed, just for being a Christian.
God has protected the American church from physical death by persecution for many years. “I wonder if” We have failed to die to ourselves?
Our society has moved, in some degree, away from any accountability. What I want, when I want it, and how I want it is the theme for many.
The church has not escaped this movement.
Praise be to God. Strong and powerful leaders of prayer have risen in the American church. These and countless numbers of local Pastors are crying out to God for our country.
Our prayers are being joined in synergy with all the prayers of the present and the past. Prayers that have cried for revival. A great awakening.
Prayers for the healing of the land. The healing of the broken and the hopeless.
Amazing Life Church is small in comparison to many churches. Yet we are huge in prayer. Believing for our community and putting boots to the ground. Making a difference in the lives of our school children, and the lives of people trying to find their way.
I pray that you made it this far. The love I have for the church and its place in the world consumes me.
“I wonder if” We would pray longer, give more, love with all our heart. “I wonder if” We would tell His story more. Reach beyond the limits in our minds, and step outside our religious box. “I wonder if” Our world would change. Our light would shine, and our faith would grow.
Do this and you will not wonder anymore. You will see the glory of God.
Thanks for looking. Praying blessings and favor for you.
#lovewins
A Season of Increase
“A Season of Increase”
I am excited about what God is doing, and positioned to do in our lives and in the world. We are living in an exciting time of expectation. People are rising to the challenge that faces the church. Moving away from dead works of the law and becoming relevant in their communities.
Some say that people have abandoned the truth, but Jesus said I am the Way, and the Truth.
Preaching the story of Jesus is preaching the pure undefiled by the hand of man truth. The Truth, Jesus will set you free.
It is the Divine destiny of the church, and God’s people to live in Kingdom authority and provision. Words and phrases like, I want more, more of Jesus, increase, supernatural, ring over and over in my head.
I have heard others say similar things as we press forward in the amazing presence of God.
I want to establish this fact. I can not give you more. You have to get it the same way I do. I can create hunger, share examples, define more, and present the path that will take you to more of Christ. You have to follow it. You have to want it.
Remember this, God is always available to lift you up, heal your brokenness, and establish your paths in Him.
The prophet Jeremiah was telling of the promise of deliverance of God’s people from captivity in His 30th chapter.
Jeremiah 30:17 NASB
‘For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the L ORD , ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying: “It is Zion; no one cares for her.”’
God says I will do it because I can. Not because others do, or do not want me to. I will do it because I can.
In God’s plan for us and for His church there has always been seasons. I will define this as periods of time that are a part of our relationship with Christ. The passage in Jeremiah tells of a season of hurt and persecution. These things develop into depression and feelings of despair. They felt as if they had no value.
God took this season of drought and watered it with a promise. I will heal, I will restore, because I care for you.
In Hosea the fifth chapter God had rebuked Israel and their priests for their apostasy. Apostasy meaning turning from God to other false gods.
Hosea 6:1-3 NASB
1 “Come, let us return to the L ORD . For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
2 “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.
3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD . His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
Hosea 6:3 Amplified
So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the greatness of the LORD to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us in salvation like the heavy rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.
I believe that God is calling us as a body, and some of us as individuals to press on to know and fully understand the greatness of God.
All of us together, the faithful, the givers, the prayers. Those of us who are risk takers not satisfied with status quo. All of us together will weep for the lost, cry for the church that has left it’s first love. Repent of our sins, fears, and doubts. Rejoice and worship for His mercy and grace.
We will see friends and families saved, healed, and restored.
I want to share an awesome word from the Gospel of John.
John 3:26-30 NASB
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
From the Greek increase means, to cause to grow, to increase, to become greater. Decrease means, in dignity to be made less.
This mighty man of God stepped down from the stage
and gave place to the one whose season had come.
“Jesus said this of Him.”
Matthew 11:11 NASB
Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
There are seasons of time that seem like we are losing ground. Heaven seems quiet. Revelation comes slowly. It is just a season of time. Requiring our faithfulness and love to remain strong.
One thing I have learned in my relationship with Christ, and studying His words.
There are times we have to give up, to get.
Jesus taught us that when He wrapped a towel around Him. Picked up a bowl of water and washed the disciples feet.
He was teaching us that strength, faith, power. All the Kingdom authority that we have inherited. All of this and more is shrouded in humility.
You want to be great in the Kingdom of God? Learn to serve. Do it like He did it.
May you be blessed and favored by His love and grace. In Jesus name.
There is Opportunity Everywhere
There is opportunity everywhere.
Chapter 4 of the Gospel of John is one of my all time favorite chapters in the Bible. It tells the story of the woman at the well.
John 4:1-6 NASB
1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),
3 He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.
4 And He had to pass through Samaria.
5 So He *came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;
6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Now I know that the scripture says Jesus was weary from His journey. While looking at this something stood out to me. On His way to Galilee He went through the country of Samaria and stopped at a city called Sychar.
From the Greek Samaria means, guardianship. The name of the town Sychar from the Greek means, “drunken.” I am not suggesting that He wasn’t tired. I am suggesting that Jesus stopped at this city because the name itself presented opportunities.
Every day of our life we are presented with opportunities to share the story of Jesus. To help someone in need. Share an encouraging word. Simply put, someone in your world needs you.
One of the definitions of compassion from the Greek is, active compassion. In other words, if something moves you, this compassion would ask you to do something about it.
You wouldn’t be able to say I feel sorry for you and leave it at that.
Active compassion was the very heart of Christ. Faith moved him, and need moved Him. These things moved Him to do something.
In this dog eat dog world we must rise to the same level. Do it like He did it.
John 4:7-14 NASB
7 There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
11 She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?
12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:14 AMPC
But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life
John 4:14 Message
Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
Two words need some attention. “Living Water”
The word living comes from a Greek word and is used metaphorically. It means, “to live, breathe, be among the living. Having vital power.”
Water, also metaphorically from the Greek means, “of the primary element of which the world arose.”
Eternal creativity. It is in us!!!! It will consistently satisfy our thirst for God. For Eternity!!
John 4:15-20 NASB
15 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”
16 He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”
17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
19 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
Jesus is giving her a picture of who she is. This is the benchmark of His ministry. Revealing Himself by His compassion for others. Breaking two very serious customs during this time to do so. Samaritan-Woman
What was He doing? He was tearing down walls of religion.
John 4:21-26 NASB
21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”
26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
The words spirit, and truth are used metaphorically in this passage. Spirit means, “the power by which the human being fells, thinks, and decides. Truth means, respecting God and the execution of His purpose through Christ.”
Then He tells her straight out who He is.
Remember, do it like He did it. It will reveal Jesus to the world.
From The Heart
From the Heart
There is a word that can’t be completely avoided in my posts. The word is, I. I use it when necessary to say, this is what I believe, or what I think. Used in a broad sense to clarify my positions or feelings.
Talking about myself is not something that I like to do. My life is not about me. It is all about my Savior. His love and grace that has moved me forward. That has picked me up from failure. Loved me without exception.
There are many times in prayer when I have difficulty hearing. All the clamor of the day and the tragedies of life sometimes drown out that still small voice.
In these times I say something to Him that I have said for years. “Father, I have always been in your hands, and I always will be.”
That may sound simple, but I feel it sort of bridges that silent gulf and let’s Him know I am listening.
Believing that He will keep on speaking. When the racket dies down, I will hear.
I know there may be some read this that don’t believe that God speaks in any way but through the Bible. I have to say that the Bible is my constant source of Him speaking to me. Through prayer and revelation His words of life ring loud. Still I love that still small voice in prayer.
Bringing comfort in chaos. Revelation in confusion. Peace in storms. And on and on His love keeps giving.
Well into the last half of my life, I have come to realize the things that should have been. Decisions that I never should have made. People I never should have let into my life. Looking at my life and the life of others. Seeing what could have been done, or should have been done.
For the most part it is not relevant. I can’t change a thing.
What it does for me as a pastor is this. When I see gifts in people’s lives. Talent that needs cultivating. I look back sometimes, so I can see the things they should not do. Then, because of my experience I can help others reach their potential much quicker. Maybe even help them avoid mistakes that could slow their purpose.
You see, everything in life is education. We shouldn’t continue in regret for our own mistakes. We must move beyond them and help others with what we have learned.
I mentioned above about people that I shouldn’t have let into my life. There are several types of people that you should avoid confiding in if you can. I will share the two types that are most common. There are people who may come to you because they see success or favor in your life or ministry. They will make you believe that they are on your side and will help you any way they can.
This requires prayer before you go further because they really could be sent from the Father, to do just what they said. Often they are people who are trying to ride your wave of success.
Thinking that if they stay around you long enough they can use your hard work to advance themselves.
I don’t mean to sound negative. This is from my heart and years of experience.
The second group have no such agendas. They are generally good people, who you may be able to help move forward, in their God given destiny. You do need to be aware that many of these amazing folks are not going where you are going. Their dreams may be much smaller than yours. Embrace them with the goal of helping them reach their potential. Take their counsel with much prayer.
These two groups of people can be found in many areas of life. From ministry to business they exist.
It is just life.
Going forward from a mistake or failure has an element of fear. Will you be respected? Considered to be serious in your endeavor. Will they blow it again? These and more are questions that people will have in their minds. Not everyone. Just the ones who really don’t want you to rise above your mistakes.
It is ok. This is just life.
There will be others that will encourage you, and embrace you, as you move beyond these things. Find these people. Listen to their counsel and accept their help.
The negative ones. Pray for them, but ignore them. They are not going where you are. Their dreams are small if they even exist. It doesn’t always make them bad people. It takes all kinds to build a church and a business.
Surround yourself with winners. At least people who want to win. To dream. To work hard, and to believe.
It is what Jesus did. Do what He did!!!
PS. Please forgive me for all the I”s in this blog.
My life and my heart belongs to Jesus. The source of everything good in me, and in the world.
Dressed For Battle
“Dressed for Battle”
The healing power of the Gospel moves forward in our world as we pray and deliver the message to the people that God puts in our path. It is a message of life and not death. Strength in weakness, faith in the midst of tragedy and failure. It is the greatest story ever told. Tell it everywhere you go. The Good News will create hunger and change in your world.
I want to begin these thoughts with Ephesians the 6 th chapter.
Ephesians 6:13-18 NASB
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS
WITH TRUTH , and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE ;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION , and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
This reading gives you a general view of the weapons and protective gear that we must develop in our lives to become powerful in Kingdom Authority.
I want to read these verses again from the Amplified, and one by one share some thoughts on each verse.
Ephesians 6:13 Amplified
Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to successfully resist and stand your ground in the evil day of danger, and having done everything that the crisis demands, to stand firm in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious.
That word stand in these passages from the Greek means, “to make firm, fix, establish,-to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything.” There is nothing in the battle for our destiny that teaches us to settle. We will successfully resist, do everything to stand. We will be prepared, and victorious.
We are going to have some fun with this next verse.
Ephesians 6:14 Amplified
So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING
TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH personal
integrity, moral courage AROUND YOUR WAIST and
HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS an upright heart.
In the KJV and the NASB waist is rendered loins. This is important to understand for in the Jewish culture as
well as other cultures the loins were considered to be the
source of reproductive power. The word truth comes from the Greek word, al-ay’-thi-a, and it means. “what is true pertaining to God and the duties of man-truth as a personal excellence.” It also means, “of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly.”
Now if we move forward in Christian principles and understand today the source of reproductive power in
the Kingdom of God. We will have to understand how we as Christians produce other Christians. Christians are born out of the preaching of the Gospel. The telling of the story of Jesus. Sharing our personal testimonies and praying for those who have not followed Christ.
So what is the source of truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes
to the Father but through Me.” Same Greek word I defined earlier.
What is the source of reproductive power in Christianity? The words we speak.
Proverbs 18:20-21 NASB
20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be
satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Matthew 12:36-37 NASB
36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your
words you will be condemned.
Ephesians 4:29 NASB
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
These are amazing passages that tell us the importance of what we speak. Do we share words of life or words of death? Is our speech uplifting or does it leave people confused and discouraged?
Wrap the truth of the Gospel around your tongue. Your life will reveal Jesus and change the world you live in.
Ephesians 6:15 Amplified
and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-
footed stability and the readiness produced by the good
news.
Ephesians 6:16 Amplified
Above all, lift up the protective shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Being covered with our persuasion and confidence in the saving power of Jesus Christ. Completely confident in His love and purpose for our lives.
It will stop every wicked tongue and false accusations that the enemy forms against you.
Ephesians 6:17 Amplified
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION , and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Protect your minds from doubt and fear. Allowing the Word of God to comfort you, lead you, and develop you in Kingdom Living. (Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus)
Ephesians 6:18 Amplified
With all prayer and petition pray with specific requests at all times on every occasion and in every season in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition interceding in prayer for all God’s people.
Message
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
The value in warfare of being a collective. A unified group of believers that have each others back in times of need.
Thanks for looking today. Praying blessings and favor in your walk with Christ.
The Process of Forgiveness
The Process of Forgiving
Forgiving is often one of our hardest challenges. Wounds take time to heal. In our minds we have to reason with the offense, and why it happened. It is simply our human nature.
It is also true that the process of forgiveness takes time according to the degree of the offense. Some things are easy, while others can be difficult to let go of.
I am not condoning withholding forgiveness. It is just a fact of life. As Christians we have to rise above the offense and forgive. It is more for us than it is for the person that caused the offense. There is an old saying that says some people are still being controlled by someone in the grave. They have never let go of the offense.
Let me say to those who are hurting. I am not trying to lessen the pain you bear. As a Pastor I have heard stories that I can’t even comprehend. Abuse, persecution, abandonment, and far greater. Offenses that would be difficult for anyone to forgive.
Let me repeat an earlier statement. “It is more for us than it is for the person that caused the offense.”
The writer of Hebrews speaks to a root of bitterness that grows in our hearts if we fail to pursue peace.
Hebrews 12:14-15 NASB
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
There is also another issue that is critical to us as Christians, and our relationship with God.
Ephesians 4:32 NASB
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Forgiving because we have been forgiven. We didn’t deserve it. They may not deserve it. We must do as He did. There is an even stronger reference to this in the Lord’s prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13 NASB
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
Look closely at verse 12. The short version is, “treat us like we treat others.” There is a huge wow in this passage. Forgive us, as we forgive others.
Remember-“It is more for us than it is for the person that caused the offense.”
Here is the part that many question. Do I have to forgive and forget. In other words if I forgive do I have to continue to deal with the person. I do not believe that God has an issue with going on with our lives.
I call it coming to an understanding of who someone is, and if they are moving towards the same goals as you are.
There are times in our walk with Christ that we get involved with some one based on what we see and hear. Forming a relationship before we really know who this person is. Trust me. My good nature and willingness to trust everyone has, more than once, created problems with the wanna bees. People who want to use your pulpit to advance themselves and their own agenda.
This Happens to individuals as well. Pray and seek the Lord before you give your trust to someone you don’t know well. Anybody can type up a resume that looks great. Say all the right things and then turn things upside down.
You must forgive, but nothing says that you have to continue to allow these people in you life.
Philippians 3:12-13 NASB
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Move forward in the purpose for your life. Don’t let the hurt and pain another caused to hinder your life any more.
God has an amazing destiny for you. One that will change you and the world you live in. I am praying blessings and favor for you and your life in Christ.
Thanks for looking!
What about Them?
“What about Them?”
This year is moving fast. Not only in time, but in involvement in our community. God has been moving in people’s hearts to see this ministry bear the fruit that God has positioned us to bear.
Ever since we started the backpack event at Amazing Life Church, our mission has been to serve our community. We have also been committed to provide a safe place for any and everyone to hear the awesome story of Jesus.
The only walls we have standing are the ones who hold back religious persecution. Those who use the Bible to divide God’s people, and alienate others who want to know Him.
“These walls will stand strong, as we continue to do what Jesus did. Minister in every way we can, to everyone we can.”
Jesus spent much of His time refining religion. He tried to put God first in the hearts of His priests but they would not hear. The concept of God being present, and in them was something they could not embrace.
As a result He moved God and His power beyond the singular control of the Levitical priesthood. He empowered common people to build His future church, and establish His presence in the hearts of man.
He took people who lacked education, and most lacked wealth. Many were common sinners, some prostitutes. Some housewives. Tax collectors and fisherman.
He chided the Jews for their unbelief. Healed lepers, blind men, demon possessed. He fed thousands with a prayer. Many of these unnamed men and women followed Him. He sent forth people to establish His works and many more were touched by His words and deeds.
After His ascension He empowered His church to work the works of God.
His ministry was rough on the religious community. He caused them to look beyond the normal standards of service. He taught that service must be shrouded in humility.
That word shrouded has 2 meanings. It means to conceal or hide something. It is also speaks of the garment that dead people were wrapped in.
Many years ago, even before God moved me here. He began to deal with me about the focus of my preaching. He moved me away from what was normal. Simply put everybody preached against sin. The sins for the day would vary, based on news cycles or whatever our favorite preachers would establish each week. That was considered hard, tell it like it is preaching.
One day God showed me what hard preaching was. Like the story of Isaiah I shared last week, He showed me a picture of who I was. I didn’t like it. He showed me wasted time. A critical spirit. The need for prayer. Most notably, He showed me my failure to love as He loved.
It changed my life and made me a rebel in certain circles. A title that even today I am proud and honored to claim. Compromise they say. Afraid to tell the truth.
I have never feared God’s truth. He is Truth. His way is Truth. His life is Truth. I love Truth. The truth is, the hardest preaching is not preaching sin. It is preaching that makes us look at ourselves. Saint or sinner. Preaching that challenges our faith and our love. Preaching that demands we forgive. Preaching that moves us to hunger for more of His presence. Preaching that challenges us to love sinners and tell them, without prejudice. The story of Jesus.
It is this preaching I embrace today. It is this preaching that will change us, and as a result, it will change the world we live in.
There is no greater revelation than that which comes from seeing ourselves, saint or sinner, for who we really are. Seeing what God sees.
I have found myself many times referring to portions of Psalms 51. David’s prayer of repentance. Although I have never been guilty of the sin he had committed. Sin is sin, is it not? Failure to love. Being critical. Wasting your time or your gift. Pride, arrogance, and so on and so on. This is part of David’s prayer.
Psalms 51:10-13 NASB
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.
Message
God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.
This prayer speaks to a very important trait that all of God’s people must obtain.
Being in a position to reveal God, and to day, the path to God, Jesus. In a manner of authority and accountability. A position of humility and repentance.
I find it awesome that a prayer from a repentant OT figure can be relevant today. Cleanse me, renew me and give me strength. Embrace me with your presence. Restore my joy and my willingness to obey. “All of this so I will be able to tell your story!!!”
In The Gospel of John chapter 21 Jesus had risen and found some of the disciples at the sea of Tiberias.
Preparing to go fishing. When you get down to verse 15 you find Jesus challenging Peter. Do you love me more than these. Peter responded several times in the affirmative.
Just above verse 18 is the title, “Our Times Are in His Hand” Then Jesus said this.
John 21:18-23 NASB
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
Preach-What about Him?
What about you today? Your relationship. Your dreams. Your faults and failures.
Who Are You?
Who Are You?
Who are you? This is an issue that Christians deal with often. Understanding who we are in Christ, and the gifts that have been passed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Are we able, qualified, worthy? These and many more questions arise when God begins to tug at our hearts with a dream or a purpose.
The mission and purpose of God in your life is not something that can be accomplished without the transformation that takes place at redemption. People have tried to cheat the process but it never works.
Do you remember Acts 19?
Acts 19:13-15 NASB
13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
It may not seem relevant to the passage but those three words came to me a few nights ago while in prayer.
Who are you? Now I didn’t doubt that God knew who I was. That was not the question. Did I know who I was in Him and can I multiply that concept in someone else. Teaching the kingdom authority that Christ transferred to us by His Finished Work.
The Bible is filled with people who understood their relationship with God and His abilities transferred to us. The most common of these powerful characteristics is the power that comes from prayer.
I don’t think any of the principles from God carries more weight than prayers that are prayed in faith, and from compassion. These prayers will move God to answer. I think sometimes that people either don’t believe, or they feel unworthy of His kingdom principles.
Many people in the church are more convinced of their unworthiness than they are of His worth. Our inability has taken on greater focus than His ability.
This is likely a result of not knowing who they are in Christ.
When we have servant meetings in our church I always refer to Jesus in the upper room. They did not understand when He washed their feet. He told them to do as He did. He was teaching them and us that power was not given to lord over people’s lives. It was given to serve, to strengthen, to encourage, and to reveal Kingdom principles to those who would hear.
The power of God is clothed in humility. Used to advance the Kingdom of Christ and to reveal Jesus to the world.
So who are you? As I finish these short thoughts today I want to quote the Apostle Peter.
1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is who you are. Walk in it and change the world you live in!!
Be blessed and walk in His favor. In Jesus name