Recently while I was walking to StarBucks, I pulled a muscle in my lower back. Normally, I wouldn’t think anything of it because I’ve always had a high threshold to pain. So naturally, when my back started hurting with every twist and turn of my body, I began wondering, what in the world was going on.
At first I thought it was my joints that pained me but hey, I could still stand and walk with no apparent pain. It’s when I tried bending over to sit or moving back to a standing position that put me in the rafters. I began using SportCream™ right away. Although I have a high threshold, I still don’t like to hurt just like everybody else.
I have learned that pain is the body’s only way of telling us that something is physically wrong. Since all truth is parallel, it is the same with our spirit. When we hang onto the emotions of fear, guilt, shame, anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, and other bondages, it can cause our faith pain and discomfort as well. It will affect our walk with God because,
. . .without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him [Hebrews 11:6 KJV].
Faith is a muscle and sometimes we can pull that muscle with any number of the above bondages and more. When it affects our walk with God, it can also be painful and discomforting. Depending on the severity, it can take a long time to heal.
Unless:
In the process of renewing our mind [Romans 12:2], we can pull that muscle many times. However, when this happens, remember that there is also a spiritual ointment we can use to ease the pain. We call that ointment the Holy Spirit.
Directions for use
Recommended dosage: Apply liberally as needed with prayer, worship, and repentance repeating application as many times as necessary.
Filling your prescription: Seek the great physician, Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
FOCUS
No, this is not an anecdote about my little Ford Focus, although I love the car and think that I’d make a good salesman for them. On the contrary, I am sitting on the deck of my rented room at the Proposal Rock Lodge in Neskowin, Oregon. It’s a beautiful but chilly 57° day as I look out over God’s creation in my T shirt and jeans. This is the day that you have made Lord and I plan on rejoicing and being glad in it.
I had plans of writing on my book today but I think the Lord had a different idea. (I love it when He does that.) The Lord then proceeded to give me a word to share with His children. If this is a true word of the Lord, then God has given the same word to other writers independent of one another. When the words coalesce into a single word of unity for the body, it will be a confirmation of credibility and a true word of God. I love when the Lord does this to many believers. I’ve been in corroboration and confirmation like this before.
Anyway:
The word focus is very strong in my spirit as I write these words to you. Man has split God’s church and this displeases Him. Each individual denomination has its own (man-made) doctrine. This split has been going on for centuries but it is now because of the lack of unity, we are a weakened church and the enemy senses this, to the point of wanting to move in for the kill. The end of human government is about to transpire. When are we going to learn? We’ve had 2000 years.
In the book of the Revelation Christ talks to the church at Ephesus and exhorts them:
v4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
v5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent [Revelation 2:4-5].
So hear the word of the Lord, “Repent and return to me and I will come and heal thy land.”
The church has lost its focus. Why haven’t there been more miracles performed today? Why hasn’t there been more growth in the church? Why haven’t there been more outreaches? Why are there not more Peters walking on water? Why are there not more salvations due to the crossing through our shadows?
In Christ’s day, how did Peter’s shadow heal people? How were the Apostles able to heal a multitude of people of sickness and vexed with unclean spirits? How did 120 people receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speak in each other’s languages in the upper room? How did people raise from the dead? Why was Peter able to walk on water? Why did the whole world in Christ’s time change through the existence of one man? Let me tell you why, because the Apostles had one message and one message only:
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period. It’s ALL they preached, period.
The church is not about sprinkling or dunking. It is not about the Sabbath and which day. It is not about whether we have eternal security or not. It is not about whether we go to the Catholic Church, the Methodist church, the Lutheran church, the Baptist church, a Pentecostal church, a Charismatic church, or to any of the other five to ten splits of each of the above.
We ARE the church and the church is about repenting, salvation, and Jesus Christ crucified. Yes, we the church have lost our focus, and we need to repent and return to Christ. . .period. We need to dispel man’s doctrine, dispel man’s denominations, dispel the mindset of today’s Christians and “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
What good is any of man’s doctrines going to do for them in glory? The question will be, when we face the judgment seat; how many people have I brought with me. We need to refocus on what the Apostles and Disciples did in Jesus day. History repeats itself. . .today is the day of one message and one message only:
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period.
Watch things happen. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What He did 2000 years ago He can and will do again today, but we have to be in one accord [Acts 2:1; Philippians 2:2] to do so, and that can only be accomplished with the proper focus in the unity of the faith [Ephesian 4:13-16]. Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 2:2 and it is the word for today.
v2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
HALLELUJAH!!!
I had plans of writing on my book today but I think the Lord had a different idea. (I love it when He does that.) The Lord then proceeded to give me a word to share with His children. If this is a true word of the Lord, then God has given the same word to other writers independent of one another. When the words coalesce into a single word of unity for the body, it will be a confirmation of credibility and a true word of God. I love when the Lord does this to many believers. I’ve been in corroboration and confirmation like this before.
Anyway:
The word focus is very strong in my spirit as I write these words to you. Man has split God’s church and this displeases Him. Each individual denomination has its own (man-made) doctrine. This split has been going on for centuries but it is now because of the lack of unity, we are a weakened church and the enemy senses this, to the point of wanting to move in for the kill. The end of human government is about to transpire. When are we going to learn? We’ve had 2000 years.
In the book of the Revelation Christ talks to the church at Ephesus and exhorts them:
v4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
v5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent [Revelation 2:4-5].
So hear the word of the Lord, “Repent and return to me and I will come and heal thy land.”
The church has lost its focus. Why haven’t there been more miracles performed today? Why hasn’t there been more growth in the church? Why haven’t there been more outreaches? Why are there not more Peters walking on water? Why are there not more salvations due to the crossing through our shadows?
In Christ’s day, how did Peter’s shadow heal people? How were the Apostles able to heal a multitude of people of sickness and vexed with unclean spirits? How did 120 people receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speak in each other’s languages in the upper room? How did people raise from the dead? Why was Peter able to walk on water? Why did the whole world in Christ’s time change through the existence of one man? Let me tell you why, because the Apostles had one message and one message only:
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period. It’s ALL they preached, period.
The church is not about sprinkling or dunking. It is not about the Sabbath and which day. It is not about whether we have eternal security or not. It is not about whether we go to the Catholic Church, the Methodist church, the Lutheran church, the Baptist church, a Pentecostal church, a Charismatic church, or to any of the other five to ten splits of each of the above.
We ARE the church and the church is about repenting, salvation, and Jesus Christ crucified. Yes, we the church have lost our focus, and we need to repent and return to Christ. . .period. We need to dispel man’s doctrine, dispel man’s denominations, dispel the mindset of today’s Christians and “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
What good is any of man’s doctrines going to do for them in glory? The question will be, when we face the judgment seat; how many people have I brought with me. We need to refocus on what the Apostles and Disciples did in Jesus day. History repeats itself. . .today is the day of one message and one message only:
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period.
Watch things happen. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What He did 2000 years ago He can and will do again today, but we have to be in one accord [Acts 2:1; Philippians 2:2] to do so, and that can only be accomplished with the proper focus in the unity of the faith [Ephesian 4:13-16]. Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 2:2 and it is the word for today.
v2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
HALLELUJAH!!!
Monday, November 4, 2013
YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYONE
Part Two of Two: The Laying on of Hands
About four or five years ago, I can’t remember, I sat in church waiting for the worship session to begin. I loved their format and it is one reason why I attended. It was a little unorthodox but I didn’t care, I loved the format and the church.
Most churches that I’ve attended have 30 minutes to an hour of worship, praise, and singing. The pastor then gives his hour message after which we’d all go home. Church was over in an hour and a half to two hours. There is nothing wrong with that service format. . .nothing.
However, I was lucky enough to find a church here in Albany, Oregon where the pastor gave the hour message first and then we’d all go into worshiping the Lord. Sometimes we wouldn’t get out of church until 1:30 or better. Wow! Not many of the 1500 believers left during worship.
Anyway, while sitting there waiting for worship to begin, the women who sat next to me turned to me and asked if she could lay hands on me and pray. I respectfully declined her offer. To me, this was wrong on so many levels, not the least of which was the laying on of hands itself. The Bible says. . .well, here’s what the Bible says exactly:
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other man’s sins: keep thyself pure [1 Timothy 5:22 KJV].
Although Timothy directed the context of the passage toward the ordination of Elders, aren’t we all supposed to be ambassadors to Christ [2 Corinthians 5:20], fishers of men [Matthew 4:19], and followers of Christ [1 Thessalonians 1:6]? Since the word “followers” in the Thessalonians passage means “imitators,” Paul exhorts them that they should emulate the Apostles and Christ. We should do the same today as “followers” of Christ.
The word “suddenly” in Timothy’s exhortation refers to the amount of time that we know the person giving the impartation. A person should not give an impartation unless they know the recipient well. In addition, if the recipient does not know the imparter, he or she should gracefully and with love, decline the offer.
Last week I coined the phrase, “You can’t take anyone where you haven’t been.” I based that premise on 2 Corinthians 1:4 and my almost disastrous mistake of destroying my first book, The Final Cup. However, the opposite is true as well. Those who lay hands on you CAN take you EVERYWHERE they’ve been through impartation.
It is improper for a stranger or for someone you barely know to lay hands on you and speak into your life. Where have they been, and what have they done, notwithstanding that we are all sinners. Remember now how Timothy exhorted us that we would take on another man’s sins. Everything they are, they’ll impart to you. This was his message.
So, unless the one imparting is Kim Klement, Morris Cerullo, Billy Graham, or someone you know and trust to be Godly, don’t allow it, lest you receive another man’s sins as Timothy exhorted us 2000 years ago.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
See you in a couple weeks. Am heavy into my next book, but don't want to drop my readers off of the cliff. GBY all and thanks SO much for following me and my writing.
It blesses me.
.
About four or five years ago, I can’t remember, I sat in church waiting for the worship session to begin. I loved their format and it is one reason why I attended. It was a little unorthodox but I didn’t care, I loved the format and the church.
Most churches that I’ve attended have 30 minutes to an hour of worship, praise, and singing. The pastor then gives his hour message after which we’d all go home. Church was over in an hour and a half to two hours. There is nothing wrong with that service format. . .nothing.
However, I was lucky enough to find a church here in Albany, Oregon where the pastor gave the hour message first and then we’d all go into worshiping the Lord. Sometimes we wouldn’t get out of church until 1:30 or better. Wow! Not many of the 1500 believers left during worship.
Anyway, while sitting there waiting for worship to begin, the women who sat next to me turned to me and asked if she could lay hands on me and pray. I respectfully declined her offer. To me, this was wrong on so many levels, not the least of which was the laying on of hands itself. The Bible says. . .well, here’s what the Bible says exactly:
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other man’s sins: keep thyself pure [1 Timothy 5:22 KJV].
Although Timothy directed the context of the passage toward the ordination of Elders, aren’t we all supposed to be ambassadors to Christ [2 Corinthians 5:20], fishers of men [Matthew 4:19], and followers of Christ [1 Thessalonians 1:6]? Since the word “followers” in the Thessalonians passage means “imitators,” Paul exhorts them that they should emulate the Apostles and Christ. We should do the same today as “followers” of Christ.
The word “suddenly” in Timothy’s exhortation refers to the amount of time that we know the person giving the impartation. A person should not give an impartation unless they know the recipient well. In addition, if the recipient does not know the imparter, he or she should gracefully and with love, decline the offer.
Last week I coined the phrase, “You can’t take anyone where you haven’t been.” I based that premise on 2 Corinthians 1:4 and my almost disastrous mistake of destroying my first book, The Final Cup. However, the opposite is true as well. Those who lay hands on you CAN take you EVERYWHERE they’ve been through impartation.
It is improper for a stranger or for someone you barely know to lay hands on you and speak into your life. Where have they been, and what have they done, notwithstanding that we are all sinners. Remember now how Timothy exhorted us that we would take on another man’s sins. Everything they are, they’ll impart to you. This was his message.
So, unless the one imparting is Kim Klement, Morris Cerullo, Billy Graham, or someone you know and trust to be Godly, don’t allow it, lest you receive another man’s sins as Timothy exhorted us 2000 years ago.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
See you in a couple weeks. Am heavy into my next book, but don't want to drop my readers off of the cliff. GBY all and thanks SO much for following me and my writing.
It blesses me.
.
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