Tag: Grace

A Season of Increase

February 3, 2017

“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.

From The Heart

January 31, 2017

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.

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