Tag: KIngdom

“Qualified”

August 21, 2017

Qualified

God is good. He is worthy of our praise, and our faithfulness to Him.

I love Him so much. I have always been in His hands, and I will always be in His hands.

There is something humbling to me, very humbling, in knowing that God has continually been with me. I have always known He was there. In every moment of my life. Protecting, leading, speaking, forgiving. God has kept me under His care.

When He called me to preach, and I remember the Sunday, even the shirt I was wearing. He called me not because of who I was at the time. He called me because of who I would become. I was not qualified, and I am still a work in progress.

I come today in His name, to share some thoughts titled, “Qualified”

I want to begin with a single passage that will set the tone for my message. The Apostle Paul had a very clear understanding of the love, grace, and the power of God.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

This is a proclamation of faith, but it is also referencing the action required to accomplish anything.

“ He said, I can do!!!”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

“There are some things in 7-9 I want to talk about.”

Paul’s humility and His submission to the authority of Christ is amazing. He understood picking up his cross, and dying to himself. Putting on the life of Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Amplified

So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

Paul is sharing His example. Everything we do as confessing Christians, we are doing for Christ. There is a responsibility to reveal Jesus. To be His example of love, of mercy, of forgiveness, and of grace.

Paul was willing to give up everything He was to get what Christ wanted to do through him.

Weak, insulted, distressed, persecuted, life events. We all deal with most of these from time to time during our lives.

These things happen to make us strong. I taught in the servants class that we have to give up, to get. With God often promotion comes from the bottom up.

Losing our identity in favor of His. Giving up our ways, to embrace His ways.

I want to share 3 ways that we are taught, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” and how they are relevant to us and our life in Christ.

1^st-Through trials.

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2^nd-Through Contentment.

Philippians 4:12

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

3^rd-Through His victory

1 Corinthians 15:57

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amplified

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What an awesome plan to rid ourselves of ourselves, and let God reign in us.

“Through trials, in contentment, and victory in Him.”

I will finish with this.

Colossians 1:9-14 NASB

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Qualified in Him!!

The Good News Bible combines verse 11 and 12 into one verse. This is how it reads.

“May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light.”

Qualified, Fit to share in God’s promises. To share in His awesome love and grace. http://bit.ly/2whkP2g

#livinghope #inHisname

Tell Me the Story

April 6, 2017

Tell Me the Story

When you follow anything I do, from social media, blogging, and Pastoring. You will quickly recognize my love for the church. With its difficulties and struggles over the years. Even with the diversity within it, that comes to question from time to time.

The local church in every community and country around the world, is the hope of the world. The work that churches do in their communities. The prayers they pray for their cities and their countries. The programs they offer, people that they feed, needs met all across the board.

Not to mention their most important efforts to shine the light of Christ to everyone in their community, and in mission work across the world.

By the way, doing all the things I mentioned above are part of shining the light.

The most common reference to church from the Greek in the Bible is the word, ecclesia. It means, “a called out company or assembly.”

It is used to describe local bodies that gather together, individual members, and more broadly the universal church which includes all believers throughout time.

Still, it is local churches that the Apostles spent so much effort in building. The power and presence of believers in a community would bring change and purpose for believers, and unbelievers as well.

When it comes to doctrinal issues the church today has drawn many different conclusions. The study of the original languages, writings from church fathers for over 2000 years, along with many other study and help aids available. These things have offered a path to knowledge.

I am sort of an old school guy. I love to study and prepare messages from the inspiration I get from the things I mentioned above.

Yet there is something that has stuck in my mind for years. A passage from the Apostle Paul. It is found in 2 Timothy 3 and you need to read the chapter in its entirety. Paul said this in verse 7.

2 Timothy 3:7 NASB

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said this.

John 6:63 NASB

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Yes, I love God’s Word. I believe with all my heart that it is comprised of two elements. Written and Spirit. These two together give us a spiritual revelation of the words written in the Bible.

Only then can we fully understand what God has shared from His heart, down through time. Remember again the words of the Apostle John from his Gospel.

John 1:1-2 NASB

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

2 He was in the beginning with God.

Don’t forget the words of Christ from John 16.

John 16:13 NASB

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I love the Classic Amplified—“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].”

The Bible is the history of the coming of Christ. A reference to Him is mentioned in every book, including the Apocrypha.

I am one of those Pastors that believes the story of Jesus is the relevant issue that we need to share. The church is not the police agency of the world. Yes we must stand for righteousness but the most successful way of doing that is to live it. Not tell it.

That is the example that will lead others to Christ.

Paul wrote 3 Pastoral Epistles. Giving instruction and leadership to Timothy and Titus. Through out his letters, and in fact, most of the letters in The New Testament, the authors used one common theme to encourage their readers.

The story of Jesus. Paul used it to encourage Titus. A Greek that was converted by Paul. Paul appointed him the first Bishop of the island of Crete.

Titus 2:11-14 NASB

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Forgive me for going so long. I love the church and I love the Word of God.

I love the story of Jesus. “His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.”

Tell it every where you go, and every chance you get. The church is built upon it, exists because of it, and walks in Kingdom authority empowered by it.

I will close with a verse and chorus from Frances Crosby.

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

#lovewins #hopelives

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.

Who Are You?

January 18, 2017

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