Tuesday, June 19, 2007
James 4:6 (NIV) 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Once again the Holy Spirit is dealing with me about organized religion and true community of believers. I think we have a twisted view of what this scripture is talking about. We try to define “proud” but fail to look at how we conduct our lives in what we call Christianity. I know growing up Catholic I was taught to feel bad for those Protestants out there because they were all going to hell. They said that if you ever dared to cross that line that you were doomed also. I’m not sure where all that stands in today’s world. I only used that as an example from my life. Today’s culture or whatever you would like to call it attempts to say there are many ways to God in an attempt to justify the cults that call their self a religion and not offend anyone. In the world of “make nice” that attempt to make Jesus into some nice guy that never offended anyone falls flat with a reading of His words in the scripture. He even said at one point that He came to divide even families if they failed to accept Him as Savior & Lord.
Once again I’m beginning to ramble so let me attempt to make my point. Take time to read 1Cor. 12 and what Paul says about the “body”. Using that as a pattern how have we come up with all the divisions in the body? There is a lot of effort out there to convince people that disagree with the hands or feet or whatever that they ought to be hands or feet rather than maybe eyes or ears. It would be a strange looking body made up of all the same parts. Is that a strange picture or what??
What’s my point?? Why the scripture from James?? If you are so dug in to wanting everyone to be the same part you are, is that not “pride” and could God be opposing you?? Are you really so full of pride that you reject other parts of the body because they seem different or do things that make you uncomfortable??
Be very careful you don’t end up in Matt. 7. Those folks seem to have been out there doing the “stuff” but Jesus said He didn’t even know them. Are you getting your direction from the Holy Spirit or are you depending on man to hear for you and direct your life?? There is more to this but it gets into the government of and by the Holy Spirit but that’s for another time!!
What say you about all of this??
I am your brother in Christ whether you like it or not!!
Jim
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
What say you??
Friday, June 15, 2007
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
I’m sure we have all read this verse in Proverbs at some time or the other and thought we were cool with it but have you ever given it more than a passing glance?? Are you really in “fear” of the Lord?? Just what does that mean?? I’ve heard a lot of teaching over the years that tried to put a nice spin on this verse but I never really bought into it. From my growing up in another time, I know what fear of those in authority means!! The main thing that comes to mind is that disobeying their orders or directions came with consequences. In my day those were carried out without much discussion. Should they be something you didn’t enjoy and wanted to avoid the next time they gave them to you they were carried out!!
Could it be that we have heard so much teaching on this that we no longer fear the Lord and what His consequences could be?? Have we been told so many times that once you say those magic words you can go about living your life in any manner you please and there are no consequences?? Do we thing that belonging to some club we call church will get us to eternal life with the Father and how we live our lives down here really doesn’t matter?? Could it be time for us to spend time in the red words of the gospels to see just what it was Jesus was saying to us rather than listening to what some man says about it? I’ve said in the past that just because someone has been to a school that tells him he is qualified to preach the gospel doesn’t mean it’s true. Most of those schools only teach what their club has handed down over the years!!
I keep repeating the same song over and over but it’s what the Holy Spirit is trying to say in today’s world!! It’s time you got together with the Holy Spirit and allow him to lead you into all truth!! There are those out there that are going thru this step as we speak. You may have to search a little to find them. If you think you are way to busy to do that there may be no help for you!! If you are to busy or think it not necessary, we will be praying that the Holy Spirit breaks thru before it’s too late. Don’t base your salvation on some magic words that you repeated after some emotional sermon base it on a personal relationship with Christ thru the Holy Spirit!!
I ma your brother in Christ,
Jim
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
I’m sure we have all read this verse in Proverbs at some time or the other and thought we were cool with it but have you ever given it more than a passing glance?? Are you really in “fear” of the Lord?? Just what does that mean?? I’ve heard a lot of teaching over the years that tried to put a nice spin on this verse but I never really bought into it. From my growing up in another time, I know what fear of those in authority means!! The main thing that comes to mind is that disobeying their orders or directions came with consequences. In my day those were carried out without much discussion. Should they be something you didn’t enjoy and wanted to avoid the next time they gave them to you they were carried out!!
Could it be that we have heard so much teaching on this that we no longer fear the Lord and what His consequences could be?? Have we been told so many times that once you say those magic words you can go about living your life in any manner you please and there are no consequences?? Do we thing that belonging to some club we call church will get us to eternal life with the Father and how we live our lives down here really doesn’t matter?? Could it be time for us to spend time in the red words of the gospels to see just what it was Jesus was saying to us rather than listening to what some man says about it? I’ve said in the past that just because someone has been to a school that tells him he is qualified to preach the gospel doesn’t mean it’s true. Most of those schools only teach what their club has handed down over the years!!
I keep repeating the same song over and over but it’s what the Holy Spirit is trying to say in today’s world!! It’s time you got together with the Holy Spirit and allow him to lead you into all truth!! There are those out there that are going thru this step as we speak. You may have to search a little to find them. If you think you are way to busy to do that there may be no help for you!! If you are to busy or think it not necessary, we will be praying that the Holy Spirit breaks thru before it’s too late. Don’t base your salvation on some magic words that you repeated after some emotional sermon base it on a personal relationship with Christ thru the Holy Spirit!!
I ma your brother in Christ,
Jim
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Are we too soft???
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The last few things I have sent out have been long and maybe sort of scary to some of you. I have felt some condemnation about them and thought maybe I should not burden you with them. As I pray about that I get the sense that the Holy Spirit is saying He gives me these thoughts to share with others for the time may be getting short and people need to hear these things to be able to make up their own minds. We may fast be approaching the time when people’s salvation may be at stake. The spirit continues to bring the scripture in Ezekiel 33 to mind. Once again it’s not my job to sell these things to you. It’s between you and the Holy Spirit. Should you not have the time or effort to follow thru then it’s on your head and I’m in the clear because I have warned you!!
The church has talked and believed for years that America is a blessed nation because somehow we were founded on God’s principles and all of that may be true to a point. The problem as I see it is how we have handled that over the years. As I read church history I see movements of God in the 40’s – 50’s that swept thousands into the Body. Then you look at the areas where that took place and they are not the biggest hot beds of sin in the country. How do you suppose that happened?? Could it be that when man began taking control of the movement, with all the best reasons in his mind, that the Holy Spirit stepped back? At that point the enemy moved in and we see what happened. It seems to me that the only place the true Body of Christ is really flourishing is in the countries that persecute them day and night in horrible ways. Could God be attempting to bring that about here and we fight it tooth and nail. Could it be we are way too comfortable calling ourselves Christians with no danger in the outcome?? As the softest Christians in the world would we be able to stand up against even a small portion of what’s going on around the world?? Would we be some of the first to come against those that begin preaching the true gospel as heretics and demand they be put to death?? That’s what has taken place over the years among the so called Christians. It’s time you began to exam your life and standing with Christ before you have to put it all on the line in the blink of an eye. Remember what Jesus said about those who deny Him!!! Here is something from a newsletter from the 1950’s that might be of interest!!
I am your brother in Christ and maybe your worst nightmare!!
Jim
If we add one further sign of the times, for the moment, it would be that movement over the earth in which Christians are being tested by fiery ordeal and trial. A large part of the world is already undergoing this "baptism", and the waters are moving steadily on over widening areas. They are moving from the Far East toward the Nearer and Middle East and the Near East.
While Christians in parts of the West can still meet in conference and debate the question: "Will the Church go through the tribulation?", many believers are asking - "Can the tribulation be any worse than that through which we are now passing?" For one it is all objective, future, and doctrinal. For the other, real, actual, and ghastly. It would be more healthy and valuable were we to face the matter from another angle and ask - "Have we reason to believe that the Scriptures point to an end-time in which all artificial supports, 'foreign' aids, external forms, and all that which keeps Christians going from the outside, will be stripped off, and they will stand or fall in so far as they really know the Lord and He is more real than all the accompaniments and things of Christianity?" This will be the ultimate criterion, whether in the increasing spiritual pressure upon believers more generally, or by the force of adversity such as that which is now spreading over the world.
God will have reality. For Him His Son is the only reality. He, as such, is the End, the Amen, and God works all His works toward Him, "that in all things he may have the pre-eminence".
First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazine, Sep-Oct 1956, Vol 34-5
_______________________
This email is from the Austin-Sparks.Net list and we encourage you to forward, print and share this message with others. In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks' wishes that what was freely received should be freely given, his writings are not copyrighted. Therefore, we ask if you choose to share them with others, please respect his wishes and offer them freely - free of changes, free of charge and free
The last few things I have sent out have been long and maybe sort of scary to some of you. I have felt some condemnation about them and thought maybe I should not burden you with them. As I pray about that I get the sense that the Holy Spirit is saying He gives me these thoughts to share with others for the time may be getting short and people need to hear these things to be able to make up their own minds. We may fast be approaching the time when people’s salvation may be at stake. The spirit continues to bring the scripture in Ezekiel 33 to mind. Once again it’s not my job to sell these things to you. It’s between you and the Holy Spirit. Should you not have the time or effort to follow thru then it’s on your head and I’m in the clear because I have warned you!!
The church has talked and believed for years that America is a blessed nation because somehow we were founded on God’s principles and all of that may be true to a point. The problem as I see it is how we have handled that over the years. As I read church history I see movements of God in the 40’s – 50’s that swept thousands into the Body. Then you look at the areas where that took place and they are not the biggest hot beds of sin in the country. How do you suppose that happened?? Could it be that when man began taking control of the movement, with all the best reasons in his mind, that the Holy Spirit stepped back? At that point the enemy moved in and we see what happened. It seems to me that the only place the true Body of Christ is really flourishing is in the countries that persecute them day and night in horrible ways. Could God be attempting to bring that about here and we fight it tooth and nail. Could it be we are way too comfortable calling ourselves Christians with no danger in the outcome?? As the softest Christians in the world would we be able to stand up against even a small portion of what’s going on around the world?? Would we be some of the first to come against those that begin preaching the true gospel as heretics and demand they be put to death?? That’s what has taken place over the years among the so called Christians. It’s time you began to exam your life and standing with Christ before you have to put it all on the line in the blink of an eye. Remember what Jesus said about those who deny Him!!! Here is something from a newsletter from the 1950’s that might be of interest!!
I am your brother in Christ and maybe your worst nightmare!!
Jim
If we add one further sign of the times, for the moment, it would be that movement over the earth in which Christians are being tested by fiery ordeal and trial. A large part of the world is already undergoing this "baptism", and the waters are moving steadily on over widening areas. They are moving from the Far East toward the Nearer and Middle East and the Near East.
While Christians in parts of the West can still meet in conference and debate the question: "Will the Church go through the tribulation?", many believers are asking - "Can the tribulation be any worse than that through which we are now passing?" For one it is all objective, future, and doctrinal. For the other, real, actual, and ghastly. It would be more healthy and valuable were we to face the matter from another angle and ask - "Have we reason to believe that the Scriptures point to an end-time in which all artificial supports, 'foreign' aids, external forms, and all that which keeps Christians going from the outside, will be stripped off, and they will stand or fall in so far as they really know the Lord and He is more real than all the accompaniments and things of Christianity?" This will be the ultimate criterion, whether in the increasing spiritual pressure upon believers more generally, or by the force of adversity such as that which is now spreading over the world.
God will have reality. For Him His Son is the only reality. He, as such, is the End, the Amen, and God works all His works toward Him, "that in all things he may have the pre-eminence".
First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazine, Sep-Oct 1956, Vol 34-5
_______________________
This email is from the Austin-Sparks.Net list and we encourage you to forward, print and share this message with others. In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks' wishes that what was freely received should be freely given, his writings are not copyrighted. Therefore, we ask if you choose to share them with others, please respect his wishes and offer them freely - free of changes, free of charge and free
Friday, May 25, 2007
Who has these answers??
Friday, May 25, 2007
Questions for someone!!
As I get further into what exactly it is [just my words-I’m not even close yet] that God’s eternal purpose is I sometimes feel more confused than ever. It may be that that’s the way the Holy Spirit wants you! The deeper you go with Him the more you understand how little you know of Him even after all these years. You look back on all the teaching you have heard and whatever else you thought was leading you closer to Him and it dawns on you that it was mostly fluff that had been carried down thu the years to keep man in control. When the Holy Spirit reveals all this to you it can either be a crushing blow as you realize that you have been following man rather than God and you walk away from it all or you do as Paul did and count it all as trash and cry out to the Lord to bring you into His eternal purpose no matter what it takes. Step #2 comes when He tells you the beginning of this journey is the Cross. This requires another acceptance of what is to come knowing that you are now out of control of the coming events. I have to say it takes time to make step #2. It’s like stepping out into outer space not knowing what’s out there. It’s at this point that you squeeze thru that “narrow gate” only to find out just how narrow that path is!! We have been taught [again painting with the wide brush] that we could control most of what goes on in our lives even after we are “saved” because God set up these laws that He more or less has to follow if we call Him on them. If we just recite some verses out of the scripture He must do it. Have you even thought it might be a good idea to understand the whole context of those scriptures??
If you’re looking for step #3 there isn’t any. #2 is a continues climb toward eternity. There will never be a leveling off spot. It may seem that way but it is only to give you a chance to put into action what you have been taught so it becomes set in your life and becomes like a habit that you don’t have to think about each time it comes up, you just do it!! If you think this climb will be without attacks think again. The enemy’s sole purpose is to get between you and god and keep you distracted enough that you end up in Matt. 7 and Jesus doesn’t even know you. No way do I want to question anyone’s salvation. The problem comes in how your lead your life. What’s the main focus of your life?? Where do you pour in all your energy?? Do you think life is all about you?? Get into the scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. Let me know what happens!!!
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
Questions for someone!!
As I get further into what exactly it is [just my words-I’m not even close yet] that God’s eternal purpose is I sometimes feel more confused than ever. It may be that that’s the way the Holy Spirit wants you! The deeper you go with Him the more you understand how little you know of Him even after all these years. You look back on all the teaching you have heard and whatever else you thought was leading you closer to Him and it dawns on you that it was mostly fluff that had been carried down thu the years to keep man in control. When the Holy Spirit reveals all this to you it can either be a crushing blow as you realize that you have been following man rather than God and you walk away from it all or you do as Paul did and count it all as trash and cry out to the Lord to bring you into His eternal purpose no matter what it takes. Step #2 comes when He tells you the beginning of this journey is the Cross. This requires another acceptance of what is to come knowing that you are now out of control of the coming events. I have to say it takes time to make step #2. It’s like stepping out into outer space not knowing what’s out there. It’s at this point that you squeeze thru that “narrow gate” only to find out just how narrow that path is!! We have been taught [again painting with the wide brush] that we could control most of what goes on in our lives even after we are “saved” because God set up these laws that He more or less has to follow if we call Him on them. If we just recite some verses out of the scripture He must do it. Have you even thought it might be a good idea to understand the whole context of those scriptures??
If you’re looking for step #3 there isn’t any. #2 is a continues climb toward eternity. There will never be a leveling off spot. It may seem that way but it is only to give you a chance to put into action what you have been taught so it becomes set in your life and becomes like a habit that you don’t have to think about each time it comes up, you just do it!! If you think this climb will be without attacks think again. The enemy’s sole purpose is to get between you and god and keep you distracted enough that you end up in Matt. 7 and Jesus doesn’t even know you. No way do I want to question anyone’s salvation. The problem comes in how your lead your life. What’s the main focus of your life?? Where do you pour in all your energy?? Do you think life is all about you?? Get into the scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. Let me know what happens!!!
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Are we Hagar's children??
Thursday, May 24, 2007
I have something rolling around in my spirit that I want to talk about!! What set it off was Gal. 4 where Paul wrote about Hagar
Galatians 4:24 - 26 (NKJV) 24which things are symbolic. For these are £the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
I’m seeing this as an example [there may be a better word for what I’m seeing] of what seems to be happening in Christianity today. As the world around us seems to be collapsing in on itself it appears that the Holy Spirit is attempting to raise up “watchman” to warn the “churches” that they are on the wrong path and be the ones Jesus is speaking to in Matt 7 when He says “I don’t know you”.
Galatians 4:29 (NKJV) 29But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
Could this be all those “churches” that have become big business and brought fame and fortune to their leaders?? Why would these so called leaders think about giving all that up? What would become of their temples to themselves? Who would support their lavish lifestyles? So if you want t retain what you have and maybe even get more what would you do?? You would attack those that appear to be tearing your kingdom down. Could it be that there are a lot of so called churches out there that are filled with people that think they are saved and on their way thru the Pearly Gates but are really living a lie. I’m not talking about those that truly know Christ and deep down in their spirit know and understand what salvation in. I’m talking of those that are “seeds sown on shallow ground”. The birds of the enemy never bother to take them away because they serve his purpose where they are at. These folks listen to all the drivel coming from the leadership and accept it as gospel because they are so busy with their worldly lifestyle they have no time to build a relation with Jesus thru the Holy Spirit. They actually believe that the pastor or whoever is able to hear everything they need to follow Jesus and as they find a little time in their busy life they may be able to fit some of it in!!
I would urge you to read the story and find out what happened to Hagar and her son and also who the son turned out to be. Could it be that the Muslims that are out to run us off the face of the earth are descendants of his?? Why does the whole Middle East hate the Jews?? I know a lot of you don’t like to or want to think of what’s going on out there and I have to admit I’m worn out about it also. The problem is that it all works into God’s “eternal purpose” and we need to understand what’s taking place.
If there is a chance you don’t truly know Jesus and are operating out there on the fringe of things, I urge you to sit down with the Holy Spirit and work thru it. Get right with Jesus and the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. Take no man’s advice unless it confirms what the Spirit has been telling you. Eternity is to long to miss out on just because you didn’t have the time to spend with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead you thru the “narrow gate” and along the “narrow path”.
I truly need some feedback on this!!!
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
I have something rolling around in my spirit that I want to talk about!! What set it off was Gal. 4 where Paul wrote about Hagar
Galatians 4:24 - 26 (NKJV) 24which things are symbolic. For these are £the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
I’m seeing this as an example [there may be a better word for what I’m seeing] of what seems to be happening in Christianity today. As the world around us seems to be collapsing in on itself it appears that the Holy Spirit is attempting to raise up “watchman” to warn the “churches” that they are on the wrong path and be the ones Jesus is speaking to in Matt 7 when He says “I don’t know you”.
Galatians 4:29 (NKJV) 29But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
Could this be all those “churches” that have become big business and brought fame and fortune to their leaders?? Why would these so called leaders think about giving all that up? What would become of their temples to themselves? Who would support their lavish lifestyles? So if you want t retain what you have and maybe even get more what would you do?? You would attack those that appear to be tearing your kingdom down. Could it be that there are a lot of so called churches out there that are filled with people that think they are saved and on their way thru the Pearly Gates but are really living a lie. I’m not talking about those that truly know Christ and deep down in their spirit know and understand what salvation in. I’m talking of those that are “seeds sown on shallow ground”. The birds of the enemy never bother to take them away because they serve his purpose where they are at. These folks listen to all the drivel coming from the leadership and accept it as gospel because they are so busy with their worldly lifestyle they have no time to build a relation with Jesus thru the Holy Spirit. They actually believe that the pastor or whoever is able to hear everything they need to follow Jesus and as they find a little time in their busy life they may be able to fit some of it in!!
I would urge you to read the story and find out what happened to Hagar and her son and also who the son turned out to be. Could it be that the Muslims that are out to run us off the face of the earth are descendants of his?? Why does the whole Middle East hate the Jews?? I know a lot of you don’t like to or want to think of what’s going on out there and I have to admit I’m worn out about it also. The problem is that it all works into God’s “eternal purpose” and we need to understand what’s taking place.
If there is a chance you don’t truly know Jesus and are operating out there on the fringe of things, I urge you to sit down with the Holy Spirit and work thru it. Get right with Jesus and the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. Take no man’s advice unless it confirms what the Spirit has been telling you. Eternity is to long to miss out on just because you didn’t have the time to spend with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead you thru the “narrow gate” and along the “narrow path”.
I truly need some feedback on this!!!
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
More on church!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Col 3:1 starts with a question that would be a good question to ask ourselves. The reason being that it sort of follows along with 2 Cor. 5:17. Col asks “if you were raised with Christ”. In order for this to be a true statement about you it would have to mean that you had “died” to self and would now be walking under the direction of Him who leads us into all truth [John 16:13].
When the scripture talks of becoming a “new creation” what does that mean to you. This is really hard for those of you that think you were born a Christian or that joining one of those clubs that call themselves a “church” got the job done. Those of us that came out of some not nice things have the same problem buy from a different angle. Just what does a “new creation” mean to you?? If I have lost you at this point I would like to hear from you and attempt to answer any question I have raised!!
John 14:6 (NKJV) 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
That doesn’t sound like membership in anything or following man’s direction will get the job done.
For those that have had this experience the question then becomes: what changed in you life when you met Jesus and the Holy Spirit moved in to begin the transformation of you to Christ likeness?? I’m not talking about obeying a bunch of rules set up by whatever club led you to this point. I’m speaking of the impact that this had on your heart and what your spirit began speaking to you about the reality of it all. It wasn’t a matter of doing things differently because men told you to. It was a yearning in your heart to not do things that would be offensive to Jesus!! You then tried to learn everything you could about the man and how to walk in His light. That’s the new child trying to mature just as your kids did growing up!! The problem seems to be that a lot of people think they reach a position where they no longer are able or don’t need to continue growing and hey settle in at that point. Sometimes it’s a lack of teaching and sometimes it’s the person being fearful that they will have to give up to much to go higher. Whatever the reason, if you are in one of those places it may be time to deal with all that. In the face of what’s going on in the world around us I think you are going to need all the Holy Spirit direction you can muster in the coming days. For to long now we have asked man’s government to pass laws that shield us from attacks from the camp of the enemy. Well I’m sorry to tell you that it appears it was all a trap. We have become so complacent that we are about to get buried under the coming attacks. You can see from the news that people that call themselves Christians aren’t ready to face the coming persecution because they have always had government to call on when times got hard. Be ready for a lot of the persecution to come from those large [maybe even some of the smaller ones] churches that will go along with the world rather than lose their favored position in society. It shouldn’t be long before we are able to see if those “leaders” are unafraid to speak out when it’s against man’s law to stand up for God’s law. Where will you turn when those you thought were fellow Christians begin to turn on you?? How many people you know and hold dear to your heart will be willing to give up their lifestyle to follow the truth. Will you be able to walk away even from family when it’s time??? Check out Matt. 10:21, it will give you a little insight to where the heat will come from.
I know we all like hanging with those that think-act and talk like us. The problem lies in Gal. 3:26-29. We are all of the “body of Christ” and therefore brothers and sisters like it or not. When was the last time a part of your body [those of us that are older know this could happen] only wanted to hang out with only those parts that were just like them?? Break out of that jail you have your self in and see what the rest of the body is doing. To do that you must be sure you know and understand just what the Body of Christ is suppose to look and act like. To have that you have to be on a fist name basis with the Holy Spirit!!! If you aren’t there yet, find someone that is and let them help you.
What say you???
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
Col 3:1 starts with a question that would be a good question to ask ourselves. The reason being that it sort of follows along with 2 Cor. 5:17. Col asks “if you were raised with Christ”. In order for this to be a true statement about you it would have to mean that you had “died” to self and would now be walking under the direction of Him who leads us into all truth [John 16:13].
When the scripture talks of becoming a “new creation” what does that mean to you. This is really hard for those of you that think you were born a Christian or that joining one of those clubs that call themselves a “church” got the job done. Those of us that came out of some not nice things have the same problem buy from a different angle. Just what does a “new creation” mean to you?? If I have lost you at this point I would like to hear from you and attempt to answer any question I have raised!!
John 14:6 (NKJV) 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
That doesn’t sound like membership in anything or following man’s direction will get the job done.
For those that have had this experience the question then becomes: what changed in you life when you met Jesus and the Holy Spirit moved in to begin the transformation of you to Christ likeness?? I’m not talking about obeying a bunch of rules set up by whatever club led you to this point. I’m speaking of the impact that this had on your heart and what your spirit began speaking to you about the reality of it all. It wasn’t a matter of doing things differently because men told you to. It was a yearning in your heart to not do things that would be offensive to Jesus!! You then tried to learn everything you could about the man and how to walk in His light. That’s the new child trying to mature just as your kids did growing up!! The problem seems to be that a lot of people think they reach a position where they no longer are able or don’t need to continue growing and hey settle in at that point. Sometimes it’s a lack of teaching and sometimes it’s the person being fearful that they will have to give up to much to go higher. Whatever the reason, if you are in one of those places it may be time to deal with all that. In the face of what’s going on in the world around us I think you are going to need all the Holy Spirit direction you can muster in the coming days. For to long now we have asked man’s government to pass laws that shield us from attacks from the camp of the enemy. Well I’m sorry to tell you that it appears it was all a trap. We have become so complacent that we are about to get buried under the coming attacks. You can see from the news that people that call themselves Christians aren’t ready to face the coming persecution because they have always had government to call on when times got hard. Be ready for a lot of the persecution to come from those large [maybe even some of the smaller ones] churches that will go along with the world rather than lose their favored position in society. It shouldn’t be long before we are able to see if those “leaders” are unafraid to speak out when it’s against man’s law to stand up for God’s law. Where will you turn when those you thought were fellow Christians begin to turn on you?? How many people you know and hold dear to your heart will be willing to give up their lifestyle to follow the truth. Will you be able to walk away even from family when it’s time??? Check out Matt. 10:21, it will give you a little insight to where the heat will come from.
I know we all like hanging with those that think-act and talk like us. The problem lies in Gal. 3:26-29. We are all of the “body of Christ” and therefore brothers and sisters like it or not. When was the last time a part of your body [those of us that are older know this could happen] only wanted to hang out with only those parts that were just like them?? Break out of that jail you have your self in and see what the rest of the body is doing. To do that you must be sure you know and understand just what the Body of Christ is suppose to look and act like. To have that you have to be on a fist name basis with the Holy Spirit!!! If you aren’t there yet, find someone that is and let them help you.
What say you???
I am your brother in Christ,
Jim
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Who leads us into all truth??
Sunday, May 20, 2007
How many of us that purport to be following Jesus and claim to know the truth really know the real truth?? Has our truth come from the teachings of man’s tradition that has evolved over the years or from the “School of Christ” that’s run by the Holy Spirit?? Have you settled into what you feel is enough truth to get you thur the “Pearly Gates” and then went about living your life worry free as far as salvation goes? When you hear that still small voice inside telling you it’s time to adjust your think on a matter do you push it aside as something you ate or do you spend time with the Holy Spirit about it. If you are of the idea that you can get to a point in this school where there is no more testing you may be in trouble!! As I talked about in the “born again” post, we are children growing constantly and must be constantly tested to gauge our growth. Don’t fall into that trap that life will be smooth and worry free now that you are walking with Christ. Jesus said He was setting an example for us. Spend some time reading about what His life was like. We are not on some sort of learning curve. We are on a constant climb with no leveling off till we get to heaven. There will be times when the Holy Spirit will allow us to coast but some of those may be testing to see if what He has showed us will roll over into your daily life. Don’t fall into that trap that says if you follow a few rules and are a nice person your cool. The entire purpose of the enemy is to get between us and Jesus and to take you off course. He will accomplish that in any manner he can. If you aren’t walking with the Holy Spirit’s hand on your shoulder you are in danger. I don’t want to get into once saved always saved or any other lost salvation thing, that’s between you and the Holy Spirit. Just remember Jesus said when He sent the Holy Spirit after He would get to the right hand of the Father, that He would lead us into all truth!!
What say you??
Your brother in Christ.
Jim
How many of us that purport to be following Jesus and claim to know the truth really know the real truth?? Has our truth come from the teachings of man’s tradition that has evolved over the years or from the “School of Christ” that’s run by the Holy Spirit?? Have you settled into what you feel is enough truth to get you thur the “Pearly Gates” and then went about living your life worry free as far as salvation goes? When you hear that still small voice inside telling you it’s time to adjust your think on a matter do you push it aside as something you ate or do you spend time with the Holy Spirit about it. If you are of the idea that you can get to a point in this school where there is no more testing you may be in trouble!! As I talked about in the “born again” post, we are children growing constantly and must be constantly tested to gauge our growth. Don’t fall into that trap that life will be smooth and worry free now that you are walking with Christ. Jesus said He was setting an example for us. Spend some time reading about what His life was like. We are not on some sort of learning curve. We are on a constant climb with no leveling off till we get to heaven. There will be times when the Holy Spirit will allow us to coast but some of those may be testing to see if what He has showed us will roll over into your daily life. Don’t fall into that trap that says if you follow a few rules and are a nice person your cool. The entire purpose of the enemy is to get between us and Jesus and to take you off course. He will accomplish that in any manner he can. If you aren’t walking with the Holy Spirit’s hand on your shoulder you are in danger. I don’t want to get into once saved always saved or any other lost salvation thing, that’s between you and the Holy Spirit. Just remember Jesus said when He sent the Holy Spirit after He would get to the right hand of the Father, that He would lead us into all truth!!
What say you??
Your brother in Christ.
Jim
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