Same space different times
We all have our struggles
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Our story is His story
His story becomes History
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Time and space will cease
All things will be reconciled
In the Eschaton our struggles will come to their end
Same space different times
We all have our struggles
(Bo Robinson)
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
JOYFUL NOISE
Psalm 100
“1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
There are many different ways we can make noise; in physics noise is a disturbance, it is a presence that demands attention. Therefore, noise does not have to be a sound to determine its presence. We are to make a joyful noise unto the Lord; whether it is with sound or it is with our actions of determination, God desires that we cause a joyful disturbance. We are to make our presence known. We are here God; we acknowledge you and desire that you acknowledge us.
There are those that make their presence known by their disposition of anger and dissatisfaction. They do not have to make a sound for you to know they are there; you can feel their disposition as they make a clear sound in the atmosphere that they are an unhappy camper. This is a negative disturbance.
God is not interested in such disturbances; He desires that we make a joyful noise; a joyful disturbance, He desires that we serve Him with gladness and that we come before presence with singing. “This is my story; this is my song praising my savior all the day long.” My story is my statement and my song is the emotion expressing my statement. What are we trying to say to God and how are we trying to say it? God wants a joyful noise; He wants our presence to disturb the darkness and exhilarate the light, disturb the devil and his lies as we magnify the Lord God Almighty.
“1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
There are many different ways we can make noise; in physics noise is a disturbance, it is a presence that demands attention. Therefore, noise does not have to be a sound to determine its presence. We are to make a joyful noise unto the Lord; whether it is with sound or it is with our actions of determination, God desires that we cause a joyful disturbance. We are to make our presence known. We are here God; we acknowledge you and desire that you acknowledge us.
There are those that make their presence known by their disposition of anger and dissatisfaction. They do not have to make a sound for you to know they are there; you can feel their disposition as they make a clear sound in the atmosphere that they are an unhappy camper. This is a negative disturbance.
God is not interested in such disturbances; He desires that we make a joyful noise; a joyful disturbance, He desires that we serve Him with gladness and that we come before presence with singing. “This is my story; this is my song praising my savior all the day long.” My story is my statement and my song is the emotion expressing my statement. What are we trying to say to God and how are we trying to say it? God wants a joyful noise; He wants our presence to disturb the darkness and exhilarate the light, disturb the devil and his lies as we magnify the Lord God Almighty.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
HOW TO RECIEVE
1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Before we can impact our world with God’s Kingdom trough prayer we must have first been impacted ourselves by God’s kingdom through prayer. Prayer is the vehicle of the Spirit that transports divine revelation; prayer is what connects God’s Word and His Spirit to our spirit. His Words being Spirit and life must be handled in reverent prayer. Logic alone cannot handle the revelation or the understanding found in God’s Word, it takes a hungry spirit burning with the desire to understand.
Consequently, our spirit must be positioned in prayer that we may connect to God’s Word and His Spirit or that His Word and His Spirit may connect to us. Prayer is a position of mind and spirit; prayer is not just verbal discharge in and of itself. Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
Productive prayer begins with time spent with God and it is time spent in His Word or in what He has said or has to say. It is not until our spirit has wallowed around and around in His Word and until His Word has wallowed around and around in our spirit; and besides, it is not until we have wallowed around and around in His presence through intimate worship that we are ready to pray prayers that avail, prayers that give us the understanding we need to face the things that are facing us.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Before we can impact our world with God’s Kingdom trough prayer we must have first been impacted ourselves by God’s kingdom through prayer. Prayer is the vehicle of the Spirit that transports divine revelation; prayer is what connects God’s Word and His Spirit to our spirit. His Words being Spirit and life must be handled in reverent prayer. Logic alone cannot handle the revelation or the understanding found in God’s Word, it takes a hungry spirit burning with the desire to understand.
Consequently, our spirit must be positioned in prayer that we may connect to God’s Word and His Spirit or that His Word and His Spirit may connect to us. Prayer is a position of mind and spirit; prayer is not just verbal discharge in and of itself. Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
Productive prayer begins with time spent with God and it is time spent in His Word or in what He has said or has to say. It is not until our spirit has wallowed around and around in His Word and until His Word has wallowed around and around in our spirit; and besides, it is not until we have wallowed around and around in His presence through intimate worship that we are ready to pray prayers that avail, prayers that give us the understanding we need to face the things that are facing us.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
TRANSFORMING GRACE
John 20:19-21 (KJV)
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Although Jesus had been seen by a selected few after His resurrection, this was the first time He pays a corporate visit to His disciples (apostles of the Lamb). Before he had been taken from them to be crucified; He had spoken these words to them as a corporate group before His re-appearance to them: “…Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone…” (John 16:32), and that they did.
How would we respond to a group of folks we have spent time with, and in that time, we have opened ourselves to them and them to us, only to have them disband and go their own way when troubles come? What would we say to them after we were reunited for the first time after the troubles had come and gone? Perhaps we might scold them, or maybe we would expect that they own up to the reasons to why they separated themselves from us. Perhaps we might cite each one’s offense. At least, we might shame them for their lack of faithfulness and courage.
These are the first words Jesus spoke to the men He had spent much time with, “Peace be with you” The word grace means “unmerited favor.” When someone loves us unconditionally, without regard to our behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in their lives. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus with grace understood the disciples needed to fail Him as a part of their training. He also understood that it would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service. Therefore, failure in the relationship allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace transformed them as human beings, and grace is still transforming humans today.
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Although Jesus had been seen by a selected few after His resurrection, this was the first time He pays a corporate visit to His disciples (apostles of the Lamb). Before he had been taken from them to be crucified; He had spoken these words to them as a corporate group before His re-appearance to them: “…Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone…” (John 16:32), and that they did.
How would we respond to a group of folks we have spent time with, and in that time, we have opened ourselves to them and them to us, only to have them disband and go their own way when troubles come? What would we say to them after we were reunited for the first time after the troubles had come and gone? Perhaps we might scold them, or maybe we would expect that they own up to the reasons to why they separated themselves from us. Perhaps we might cite each one’s offense. At least, we might shame them for their lack of faithfulness and courage.
These are the first words Jesus spoke to the men He had spent much time with, “Peace be with you” The word grace means “unmerited favor.” When someone loves us unconditionally, without regard to our behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in their lives. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus with grace understood the disciples needed to fail Him as a part of their training. He also understood that it would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service. Therefore, failure in the relationship allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace transformed them as human beings, and grace is still transforming humans today.
PURE RELIGION
Romans 15:1-3
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Love is not truly love until we love another for their sake and their sake alone. This is the kind of love Jesus requires in the relationships He chooses to be engaged with. For instance, Jesus said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
It is not until we lose our lives for His sake we have truly manifested our love and passion for Jesus. We gain much when our passion for Christ is about Him rather than benefitting ourselves in the equation. The gain we get from our loss is His commitment to us and all that He has to give in the relationship.
Consequently, when our religious acts are politically correct for the sake of our own image, then the praise of those we have sought approval from is all we have in the religious effort. The scripture teaches us “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). This kind of religion is not reserved for just pastors; it is for anyone with a desire to do "pure religion" for the sake of others than for themselves.
Therefore, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world is when we do religion for others rather than to promote our image. This is doing religion from Kingdom perspectives opposed to world perspectives. This kind of living can only be deliberate when it happens in us naturally; when it becomes as the air we breathe. To lose our lives for His sake is the only gain we can get out of life and it be a gain that is unspoiled and eternal or everlasting.
We should love people for their sake not for ours; we should forgive people for their sake, help them for their sake, bare them for their sake, and care about them for their sake. This may not be politically correct to a religious spirit that seeks to build their own image in the eyes of those that are watching. These are those that become lost and bored in a conversation when the conversation is no longer about them or their agenda. Once again, a selfless life can only be deliberate when it happens naturally with no agenda for selfish gain.
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Love is not truly love until we love another for their sake and their sake alone. This is the kind of love Jesus requires in the relationships He chooses to be engaged with. For instance, Jesus said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
It is not until we lose our lives for His sake we have truly manifested our love and passion for Jesus. We gain much when our passion for Christ is about Him rather than benefitting ourselves in the equation. The gain we get from our loss is His commitment to us and all that He has to give in the relationship.
Consequently, when our religious acts are politically correct for the sake of our own image, then the praise of those we have sought approval from is all we have in the religious effort. The scripture teaches us “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). This kind of religion is not reserved for just pastors; it is for anyone with a desire to do "pure religion" for the sake of others than for themselves.
Therefore, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world is when we do religion for others rather than to promote our image. This is doing religion from Kingdom perspectives opposed to world perspectives. This kind of living can only be deliberate when it happens in us naturally; when it becomes as the air we breathe. To lose our lives for His sake is the only gain we can get out of life and it be a gain that is unspoiled and eternal or everlasting.
We should love people for their sake not for ours; we should forgive people for their sake, help them for their sake, bare them for their sake, and care about them for their sake. This may not be politically correct to a religious spirit that seeks to build their own image in the eyes of those that are watching. These are those that become lost and bored in a conversation when the conversation is no longer about them or their agenda. Once again, a selfless life can only be deliberate when it happens naturally with no agenda for selfish gain.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
WITNESSES
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Witnesses: “One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced. b. One who furnishes evidence. 2. Something that serves as evidence; a sign” (American Heritage Dictionary).
After which the Holy Ghost has come upon us we receive power to become a living evidence or a sign Jesus is real; our living and how we do life becomes a sign pointing others to Christ – The anointed one.
As a result of His presence in us we become evidence Jesus is real – Present in our actions and reactions, present in the way we think and in the way we do life. 1 Corinthians 1:24 declare this of Christ, “…Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Christ in the original language of scripture means “anointed one.” Therefore, the anointed one is the power of God, and He is the wisdom of God. This simply means He is our ability; He is the answer as to how we should conduct ourselves for He is the wisdom of God.
Jesus is the power (anointing/ability) the Holy Ghost puts on us and in us; this is how He becomes the anointing in our lives, He smears Jesus all over us. Anointing in the original language of scripture is Chrisma in the noun form; it signifies an unguent, or anointing. Unguent is a salve or ointment used for healing or soothing.
Christians: “little Christ or little anointed ones;” folks who have Jesus smeared all over them is a work of the Holy Ghost. Being healed in our actions and reactions becomes a sign Jesus has been smeared upon us by the Holy Ghost; this is His work and this is the anointing.
Witnesses: “One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced. b. One who furnishes evidence. 2. Something that serves as evidence; a sign” (American Heritage Dictionary).
After which the Holy Ghost has come upon us we receive power to become a living evidence or a sign Jesus is real; our living and how we do life becomes a sign pointing others to Christ – The anointed one.
As a result of His presence in us we become evidence Jesus is real – Present in our actions and reactions, present in the way we think and in the way we do life. 1 Corinthians 1:24 declare this of Christ, “…Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Christ in the original language of scripture means “anointed one.” Therefore, the anointed one is the power of God, and He is the wisdom of God. This simply means He is our ability; He is the answer as to how we should conduct ourselves for He is the wisdom of God.
Jesus is the power (anointing/ability) the Holy Ghost puts on us and in us; this is how He becomes the anointing in our lives, He smears Jesus all over us. Anointing in the original language of scripture is Chrisma in the noun form; it signifies an unguent, or anointing. Unguent is a salve or ointment used for healing or soothing.
Christians: “little Christ or little anointed ones;” folks who have Jesus smeared all over them is a work of the Holy Ghost. Being healed in our actions and reactions becomes a sign Jesus has been smeared upon us by the Holy Ghost; this is His work and this is the anointing.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
PENTECOST
Genesis 26:22 (KJV)
"And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."
Pentecost means “fiftieth.” Pentecost is fifty days from Passover; a celebration of the “first fruits of the grain.” Seven Sunday’s from the day Jesus gave His life, the seed of eternal life planted into the earth ; “…Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).
It is not just that the Spirit filled us; it is that the seed of life was planted. The Spirit filled us to celebrate that life; God has made room for us, and we shall fruitful in the land. He is “Emanuel – God with us;” He refused to leave us alone or to be alone; He chose to be planted in the earth that we may multiply all He has given. Jesus came to heal all our aloneness issues, this is Pentecostal, this is Pentecost, Him with us and us with Him can bear much fruit. Be filled with His Spirit and celebrate the "first fruits." (Romans 8:23)
"And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."
Pentecost means “fiftieth.” Pentecost is fifty days from Passover; a celebration of the “first fruits of the grain.” Seven Sunday’s from the day Jesus gave His life, the seed of eternal life planted into the earth ; “…Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).
It is not just that the Spirit filled us; it is that the seed of life was planted. The Spirit filled us to celebrate that life; God has made room for us, and we shall fruitful in the land. He is “Emanuel – God with us;” He refused to leave us alone or to be alone; He chose to be planted in the earth that we may multiply all He has given. Jesus came to heal all our aloneness issues, this is Pentecostal, this is Pentecost, Him with us and us with Him can bear much fruit. Be filled with His Spirit and celebrate the "first fruits." (Romans 8:23)
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