2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (KJV)
“4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”...
Obey or disobey is our battleground. Our casualties come from disobedience. Therefore, the only way we can avoid suffering loss is to obey. This is why obedience is better than sacrifice. Our alternatives to obedience are simply disobedience.
As in any war there will be casualties. Casualties give us reality checks and cause us to develop strategies that are more realistic to the impact the enemy has on us. We cannot keep doing what we have always done and expect to get better results. Change up, build up, refocus, and reconstruct till we find what works. What is it going to take for us to obey?
In the 82nd Airborne Division they taught us to adapt and overcome. To adapt means to make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly. It means to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc… Everyone’s condition and environment may vary, yet, the principal remains the same; to overcome one must simply adjust.
Casualties do not determine the war is over; giving up is when the war is over. As long as we stay in the battle we have chance of revenge concerning our casualties. To quit is no chance at all.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
THE GOSPEL
Mark 1:1 (KJV)
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”
Nothing like telling folks right up front what things are about. Mark is letting us know it is about Jesus being the Son of God. This is the subject of the Gospel, the main character, the story line, the thesis, it is all about Jesus.
It is a narrative waiting to be encountered; get inside the story as it is told. Get as close to Jesus as you can, close enough you can watch Him breathe. Watch His expressions as He speaks, see if you can see and hear what He may not be saying in His actions and reactions.
Crawl up into the Gospel until the narrative makes you apart of the story; the Gospel, the good news, the power of God unto salvation.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
CHERISHING THE SEED
Romans 6:22 (KJV)
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
Fruit is a manifestation or product of seed. Therefore, holiness is the result of seed. Jesus made it plain in a parable, we are the soil and the Word is the seed. Jesus is the Word made flesh; and beyond that, Jesus dwelt among us. He being made flesh and dwelling among us (Emanuel) became paradigmatic relationally. In other words, He set the standard for holiness as being relational.
Holiness is the seed of God inside us. We, the soil, are dependent on how we treat the seed. The seed has all the ingredients we need to bear fruit unto holiness. If we provide a stony heart it will die before the fruit can appear. If we are weed infested, it will choke out before it can become fruit. If we are shallow, conditions in our life will scorch it before it can become fruit. If our love is warm, inviting, cuddly, and deep; the seed can spread its roots and bring forth out of relationship mature juicy fruit.
Keep hoping, hold on to seed with dear life, if the seed remaineth in us there can be no happy sin in us. Holiness comes out of desire and relational commitment; it is never something we produce, it is result of the seed in us, it is the seed in us. Cherish it.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
Fruit is a manifestation or product of seed. Therefore, holiness is the result of seed. Jesus made it plain in a parable, we are the soil and the Word is the seed. Jesus is the Word made flesh; and beyond that, Jesus dwelt among us. He being made flesh and dwelling among us (Emanuel) became paradigmatic relationally. In other words, He set the standard for holiness as being relational.
Holiness is the seed of God inside us. We, the soil, are dependent on how we treat the seed. The seed has all the ingredients we need to bear fruit unto holiness. If we provide a stony heart it will die before the fruit can appear. If we are weed infested, it will choke out before it can become fruit. If we are shallow, conditions in our life will scorch it before it can become fruit. If our love is warm, inviting, cuddly, and deep; the seed can spread its roots and bring forth out of relationship mature juicy fruit.
Keep hoping, hold on to seed with dear life, if the seed remaineth in us there can be no happy sin in us. Holiness comes out of desire and relational commitment; it is never something we produce, it is result of the seed in us, it is the seed in us. Cherish it.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
FREEDOM FEST
Romans 6:18 (KJV)
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Serving sin is a bondage fest; being servants of righteousness is a freedom fest, a love fest. Becoming what we are intended to be requires much and is worth every bit the freedom we have in it. Transition, transformation, regeneration, justification, and sanctification come to us through much toil and brokenness; deliverance, healing, and wholeness are the results found in the labor of love and mercy. How can it not be a freedom fest, and a love fest?
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Serving sin is a bondage fest; being servants of righteousness is a freedom fest, a love fest. Becoming what we are intended to be requires much and is worth every bit the freedom we have in it. Transition, transformation, regeneration, justification, and sanctification come to us through much toil and brokenness; deliverance, healing, and wholeness are the results found in the labor of love and mercy. How can it not be a freedom fest, and a love fest?
Monday, October 13, 2014
ALIVE FROM THE DEAD
Romans 6:13 (KJV)
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Yielding to God is appropriate; it is a sure manifestation of being spiritually alive.
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Yielding to God is appropriate; it is a sure manifestation of being spiritually alive.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
MATRIX
Exodus 34:19 (KJV)
“All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.”
All things are created by Him and for Him. Matrix “is something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops” (dictionary.com). In the Hebrew this word is the “womb.” Isaiah indicated his matrix began in the womb, “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant…”(Isaiah 49:5).
In other words, his service to God and to Israel was developed into his DNA and took place in the womb before his birth. Our matrix of Father God is of a spiritual origin since He is Spirit; the matrix of our spiritual origin is in us all waiting to be discovered, explored, and fulfilled.
It is only right for God to expect our first fruits from the woman; first fruit represent the heart of the matrix He holds in His hands.
“All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.”
All things are created by Him and for Him. Matrix “is something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops” (dictionary.com). In the Hebrew this word is the “womb.” Isaiah indicated his matrix began in the womb, “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant…”(Isaiah 49:5).
In other words, his service to God and to Israel was developed into his DNA and took place in the womb before his birth. Our matrix of Father God is of a spiritual origin since He is Spirit; the matrix of our spiritual origin is in us all waiting to be discovered, explored, and fulfilled.
It is only right for God to expect our first fruits from the woman; first fruit represent the heart of the matrix He holds in His hands.
Friday, October 10, 2014
WORSHIP
Exodus 34:14
(KJV)
“For thou
shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous
God”
Worship is
homage; it is an attitude and activity designed to recognize and describe
worth. Therefore, Christian worship should be designed to recognize and
describe the worth of our God. We should be motivated by desire to worship God.
What can we do in the way of action to recognize and describe the worth of God?
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
HOW MANY TIMES DOES HE NEED TO TELL US?
Matthew 24:25; 22-27(KJV)
“Behold, I have told you before.”
Not everything out there saying something has anything to say of eternal value. If it takes us away from the moment and our responsibility to the moment then it is simply distraction. The last book of the Bible plainly states “…for the time is at hand.”
If it cannot fit in our hands then do not try and hold it; if we cannot use it to bring glory and honor to God it is not worth holding on to. False Christ, false teachers, have their secret chambers; their tendency is to carry the notion of having the missing piece of the puzzle.
Listen, God is not lost, His purpose and mission is not lost waiting to be found by some nut case out there. The picture is plain and simple “no man knows the hour.” Here it is - Jesus was, is, and is to come; Jesus is all up in here. Just because He is coming again, or, appearing again, does not mean He has gone anywhere – He was, is, and is to come. He was present then (past,) He is present now, and He will be present then (future).
Get busy loving somebody and quit wasting time lodged up in some secret chamber somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. Revelation is designed to shine into our hearts, it is designed to bring us into His love for us and His love for others – it is not His will that any should perish - His will is that we all come to repentance; come to know change and the good in His heart towards us it will bring.
“Behold, I have told you before.”
Not everything out there saying something has anything to say of eternal value. If it takes us away from the moment and our responsibility to the moment then it is simply distraction. The last book of the Bible plainly states “…for the time is at hand.”
If it cannot fit in our hands then do not try and hold it; if we cannot use it to bring glory and honor to God it is not worth holding on to. False Christ, false teachers, have their secret chambers; their tendency is to carry the notion of having the missing piece of the puzzle.
Listen, God is not lost, His purpose and mission is not lost waiting to be found by some nut case out there. The picture is plain and simple “no man knows the hour.” Here it is - Jesus was, is, and is to come; Jesus is all up in here. Just because He is coming again, or, appearing again, does not mean He has gone anywhere – He was, is, and is to come. He was present then (past,) He is present now, and He will be present then (future).
Get busy loving somebody and quit wasting time lodged up in some secret chamber somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. Revelation is designed to shine into our hearts, it is designed to bring us into His love for us and His love for others – it is not His will that any should perish - His will is that we all come to repentance; come to know change and the good in His heart towards us it will bring.
Monday, October 6, 2014
THE CROSS
Regeneration, Justification, Sanctification, Forgiveness, Deliverance, and Healing comes to us by the way of the cross. The Church was purchased on the cross. Our victory was won on the cross. The middle wall between us was taken down by the cross. Our old is made new by the cross. The wisdom of God is found in the cross. The cross is the surgical tool cutting away the cancerous feelings we have toward others. The cross is the level bringing balance to our self-will. The cross is the supper table serving us the bread and the wine. The cross is the largest plus sign known to man. The cross is the bridge between us and heaven. The cross is a symbol of our faith. We are no longer lost in the cross. By the cross we are saved. We are made nigh by the cross. At the cross we are all the same. It crosses culture, language, and is a permanent paradigm fixed in Theology forever. It all started on a tree and it ends on a tree. Without the cross, we are miserable, lost, and wretched. I pledge my allegiance to the cross, it is there my savior died for me and it is there I am crucified with Him. The cross itself is just a piece of wood; therefore, it is what it represents, the one who died on it for us has made it what it is. THE CROSS
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
CALLED BY THY NAME
Jeremiah 15:16
“Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O lord God of hosts.”
To be called by someones name is to be owned by that person. This is the implication made by Jeremiah as he says “…I am called by thy name, O lord of hosts.” He makes this statement in reference to the experience of assimilating Gods Word, as he says, “Thy words were found and I did eat them.”
We must understand, it is not only in us knowing the Word of God that we are owned by God, for the mere knowledge of His Word only constitutes the logical strength of man which makes it man’s possession alone.
1Corinthians 8:1-3 declares, “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” Knowledge is the logical strength of man while relational understanding in the spirit is an impartation of God. Spiritual understanding can only be acquired out of a love relationship between us and God. Knowing God is God knowing us. Intimacy is the means of experiencing the gifts of love. We must be intimate with God to offer true worship and honor to His majesty.
For His secrets to become our secrets, our hearts must drip with the fragrance of His presence. Our knowledge alone can become a god within itself. If our embracing is only committed to our knowledge then our love is full of imagination. To hold the secrets of God is to be held captive with adoration for Him and Him alone.
“Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O lord God of hosts.”
To be called by someones name is to be owned by that person. This is the implication made by Jeremiah as he says “…I am called by thy name, O lord of hosts.” He makes this statement in reference to the experience of assimilating Gods Word, as he says, “Thy words were found and I did eat them.”
We must understand, it is not only in us knowing the Word of God that we are owned by God, for the mere knowledge of His Word only constitutes the logical strength of man which makes it man’s possession alone.
1Corinthians 8:1-3 declares, “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” Knowledge is the logical strength of man while relational understanding in the spirit is an impartation of God. Spiritual understanding can only be acquired out of a love relationship between us and God. Knowing God is God knowing us. Intimacy is the means of experiencing the gifts of love. We must be intimate with God to offer true worship and honor to His majesty.
For His secrets to become our secrets, our hearts must drip with the fragrance of His presence. Our knowledge alone can become a god within itself. If our embracing is only committed to our knowledge then our love is full of imagination. To hold the secrets of God is to be held captive with adoration for Him and Him alone.
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