Many struggle with the question of, "Who am I?" for a lifetime.
Who are you?
Are you are an encourager? Are you a heart-breaker? Are you a complication? Are you a reflection of righteousness and purity?
Fact: The moments in a day, within your life, define you. The situations that you are in and the way you deal with them answer the question of your identity.
Are you a stumbling stone? Are you the dog with flees to lay with? Are you the son who brings tears to his mother's eyes? Are you the husband or wife that refuses to stay faithful? Are you the parent that is to busy? Are you the friend who brings a million distractions to the table? Are you a reflection of this world?
-OR-
Are you the adult who stays after bible study to pray with a hurting youth? Are you the friend who gives a friend Godly advice, and then lives by it? Are you the parent who loves your child and shows them that with discipline? Are you the brother who escapes all selfishness and bails your sibling out of that terrible situation? Are you a reflection of Jesus?
WHO ARE YOU?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Issue #5: Acknowledgement
The final issue that this blog series will cover is that of Acknowledgement. The fact is that this blog was written for believers. The sad part is that there a many people out there who have gotten faith, belief, and acknowledgment mixed up. We are saved by faith in Christ Jesus. Acknowledgement (belief alone) gets you no where but a false hope.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: A CALL TO COMFORT
"American Christianity" has twisted the definitions of salvation and redemption so much that it doesn't resemble the same salvation and redemption in scripture. "American Christianity" has added Hollywood effects to the Gospel in attempt to beautify it but has created a falsehood. (The story of God saving mankind needed no beautifying) We, as a nation, have birthed evangelists and preachers that call the lost to acknowledgement instead of repentance. Acknowledgement is simply having the knowledge of a greater power.
Someone who has fallen to the myth of acknowledgement seems to think that everything is okay. These are the ones who have no idea what it means to repent. An individual who only acknowledges that there is a God is one who will sin, say a quick apology, and then move on like nothing occurred. These are the ones who sin and say, "Well, I believe", shrug their shoulders, and move on as if nothing happened. This is comfortable. You don't have to deal with conviction of the Holy Spirit and you get to live your life, thinking that everything is okay. Its not.
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shutter." -James 2:19
The demons know that there is a God, they know who God is, and they shutter in fear because they have no commitment or faithfulness to Him. Do you have a reason to fear?
FAITH: A CALL TO COMMITMENT
Acknowledgement and Faith have two different calls and two different outcomes. Acknowledgement requires nothing. Faith requires everything. If you have a true saving faith in Jesus Christ, then you have made a commitment. A commitment to righteousness, and a commitment to a life that is fully consecrated to Christ! Throw out the lies of carnality and take it as it is. As you have faith, you don't only believe, but you act on that belief and follow. What good is it if I say a chair is strong, but don't sit down? What good is it to say a bridge is strong, but not walk? Are you committed to the Call of Christ? Are you a true believer and follower.
The last issue is that all believers aren't believers.
"Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
James 2:18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: A CALL TO COMFORT
"American Christianity" has twisted the definitions of salvation and redemption so much that it doesn't resemble the same salvation and redemption in scripture. "American Christianity" has added Hollywood effects to the Gospel in attempt to beautify it but has created a falsehood. (The story of God saving mankind needed no beautifying) We, as a nation, have birthed evangelists and preachers that call the lost to acknowledgement instead of repentance. Acknowledgement is simply having the knowledge of a greater power.
Someone who has fallen to the myth of acknowledgement seems to think that everything is okay. These are the ones who have no idea what it means to repent. An individual who only acknowledges that there is a God is one who will sin, say a quick apology, and then move on like nothing occurred. These are the ones who sin and say, "Well, I believe", shrug their shoulders, and move on as if nothing happened. This is comfortable. You don't have to deal with conviction of the Holy Spirit and you get to live your life, thinking that everything is okay. Its not.
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shutter." -James 2:19
The demons know that there is a God, they know who God is, and they shutter in fear because they have no commitment or faithfulness to Him. Do you have a reason to fear?
FAITH: A CALL TO COMMITMENT
Acknowledgement and Faith have two different calls and two different outcomes. Acknowledgement requires nothing. Faith requires everything. If you have a true saving faith in Jesus Christ, then you have made a commitment. A commitment to righteousness, and a commitment to a life that is fully consecrated to Christ! Throw out the lies of carnality and take it as it is. As you have faith, you don't only believe, but you act on that belief and follow. What good is it if I say a chair is strong, but don't sit down? What good is it to say a bridge is strong, but not walk? Are you committed to the Call of Christ? Are you a true believer and follower.
The last issue is that all believers aren't believers.
"Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
James 2:18
Issue #4: Tolerance of Sin
Tolerance. Tolerance is a word with many definitions. Obviously it means to tolerate, in general. An example is social tolerance, in which you choose to "tolerate" a specific social idea, movement, or group. Over the years, tolerance has become a roaring trend. Clubs have been set up in schools, political groups have included it in their campaigns, and the media has aired commercials that are in support of tolerance. I am not here to rant about political topics, or to ruffle feathers. I am here to talk about the believer's heart and the tolerance of sin that may be fighting its way in.
TOLERANCE OF NEW IDEAS
Yes, I do realize that many who read this are going to to call me close minded. I just choose to believe the bible.
Tolerance of sin is dangerous, but is not usually obvious at first. Over looking or down playing sin usually starts with the tolerance of a new idea. A thought, image, or idea will become a new trend. Maybe you see it in a movie or hear it in the lyrics of a song. It may not seem like it, but everything that you don't reject, you accept. When you hear song lyrics and say, "Well, thats not that bad", you have accepted the idea portrayed by the words and they become engraved in your mind. You have just tolerated a new idea. This tolerance is the beginning to a long road marked with the tolerance of what sets us apart from God.
IT IS EASY
Sound overwhelming? I agree, but its real. It is easy to become tolerant of the ideas that match the sins that we like. Those who struggle with alcohol see no problem with a sip every now and again or even a "funny" beer commercial. Those who struggle with lust like the new idea of girls wearing long t-shirts as dresses and axe commercials that seem harmless. Just as homosexuals have no problem with idea of two guys kissing. Get my point there? Things may seem harmless because they don't go "all the way" and we happen to a like it "a little". There is probably a guy or girl reading this that is tolerant of "straight" sexual connotations but the minute it becomes gay, it becomes wrong. NEWS FLASH: JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE OR PREFER SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY. Homosexuality is wrong and leads to death as every other sin does, and a straight guy's lust happens to be one. Be aware, it is easy.
TOLERANCE OF SIN
Sin. We are all sinful creatures. We were all once lost in our sin, but the moment that we accept Christ we make a commitment to throw away all of the garbage in our hearts and in our lives. If you love God, you hate sin. It is not a choice of preference, but a choice of teams. James, the half brother of Jesus, had this to say...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."- James 4:4
It is no myth that sin is an issue, and so is the tolerance of it. We are to cast down all Idols, not just the ones that we dislike or struggle with. Oil and water do not flow from the same fountain, so we must rid ourselves of all sin and thoughts that glorify it.
We all have sin and through the grace of Jesus we should declare war on our it. Unless we do something about it, sin is going to keep on cluttering our conscience and finding ways to discourage us. Are you a friend to the world or a friend and child of God.
Ask yourself this question: How long can you pet a rattlesnake?
TOLERANCE OF NEW IDEAS
Yes, I do realize that many who read this are going to to call me close minded. I just choose to believe the bible.
Tolerance of sin is dangerous, but is not usually obvious at first. Over looking or down playing sin usually starts with the tolerance of a new idea. A thought, image, or idea will become a new trend. Maybe you see it in a movie or hear it in the lyrics of a song. It may not seem like it, but everything that you don't reject, you accept. When you hear song lyrics and say, "Well, thats not that bad", you have accepted the idea portrayed by the words and they become engraved in your mind. You have just tolerated a new idea. This tolerance is the beginning to a long road marked with the tolerance of what sets us apart from God.
IT IS EASY
Sound overwhelming? I agree, but its real. It is easy to become tolerant of the ideas that match the sins that we like. Those who struggle with alcohol see no problem with a sip every now and again or even a "funny" beer commercial. Those who struggle with lust like the new idea of girls wearing long t-shirts as dresses and axe commercials that seem harmless. Just as homosexuals have no problem with idea of two guys kissing. Get my point there? Things may seem harmless because they don't go "all the way" and we happen to a like it "a little". There is probably a guy or girl reading this that is tolerant of "straight" sexual connotations but the minute it becomes gay, it becomes wrong. NEWS FLASH: JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE OR PREFER SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY. Homosexuality is wrong and leads to death as every other sin does, and a straight guy's lust happens to be one. Be aware, it is easy.
TOLERANCE OF SIN
Sin. We are all sinful creatures. We were all once lost in our sin, but the moment that we accept Christ we make a commitment to throw away all of the garbage in our hearts and in our lives. If you love God, you hate sin. It is not a choice of preference, but a choice of teams. James, the half brother of Jesus, had this to say...
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."- James 4:4
It is no myth that sin is an issue, and so is the tolerance of it. We are to cast down all Idols, not just the ones that we dislike or struggle with. Oil and water do not flow from the same fountain, so we must rid ourselves of all sin and thoughts that glorify it.
We all have sin and through the grace of Jesus we should declare war on our it. Unless we do something about it, sin is going to keep on cluttering our conscience and finding ways to discourage us. Are you a friend to the world or a friend and child of God.
Ask yourself this question: How long can you pet a rattlesnake?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Issue #3: Holding On
From the time we were born we have been taught to hold on. You always hold Mommy's hand when crossing the street. You always hold on to the bottle because it is oh so good, and you hold on to the handle bars while you learn to ride a bike. Then come the manners. We are taught to "hold on" to our "yes ma'ams" and our "no sirs". We are taught to hold on to our burps at the kitchen table. We are taught to hold on, but are we ever taught to let go?
UNFORGIVENESS
For me forgiveness has always been an issue. I have always needed forgiveness and I have been slow to give it. Growing up, like most, I had a lot of hurt. I had a lot of struggles. Over time I allowed my hurt, my pain, and my disappointment to mold me. As a scared and hurt little boy I learned how to build up emotional walls. As a boy I learned to hold on. I began to grasp on to my pain, holding it tightly, while having no desire to release it.
This hurt quickly turned to anger. As I grew so did my hate for the ones who hurt me. I began to blame myself and the ones who were reaching out to help me. As a young boy, I was wrapped up in the world of unforgiveness.
Things happen, people have pain, and feelings are hurt. People tend to hold on to these hurts and refuse to release the burden. Unforgiveness has always been an issue in relationships, whether it is a friendship, the church, or the family. As we have been taught, we hold on to our past and quickly find out how it has an effect on our future.
SIGNS OF UNFORGIVENESS
Some signals you ask? Anger is the number one, I would say. Hurt has a wicked way of transforming itself into anger. As a result of the pain in my childhood, the older I got the angrier I grew. If you have been hurt in your past(you have) and you find yourself being generally angry or even quick tempered, you probably have an issue with unforgiveness.
For the believer, no sign should be greater or more obvious than the conviction and discernment of the Holy Spirit. If God is telling you that you have an issue with unforgiveness and holding on, YOU DO.
ISSUES WITH THE ISSUE
If what I've said so far hasn't sent up a red flag or two about unforgiveness, this should. Unforgiveness is trap used by Satan so that he can entangle believers and hinder them from submitting to the will of God. He uses it as a rope to tie up our hands and our hearts. There are many issues with this issue. It will rob you of your hopes, your dreams, your joy, and any desire you may have to please God. Satan will use unforgiveness to kill your joy, steal your hope, and ultimately destroy your relationships! This issue has helped put a damper on the work of the Church for centuries.
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. There is an argument to be made for it's beauty. Forgiveness is a reflection and a product of God's love. We, as followers, have gained the forgiveness of our sins only through the love of God, which was displayed on the Cross of His Son and through the Resurrection of our King. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing! And God has given us the privilege of forgiving others. Forgiveness sets debtors free, erasing all debt. Forgiveness sets slaves free, fulfilling the job. Prisoners are made saints because forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
WHY FORGIVE?
Why? To pass on the gift of God. Why? To get rid of the pain and bitterness that your unforgiveness is causing you. Why? HAVE YOU READ THE PAST SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS?
Maybe a little extra motivation. A liitle more gas in the engine of forgiveness...
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
We all are sinful. Just as someone has sinned against you, you have sinned against God. We are all guilty. We spit in the face of The King, while screaming for Him to be crucified. How can hold anything against anyone? We are no better than the other. We can make excuses and try to justify it, but the fact is that WE ARE GUILTY and won't be shown forgiveness unless we show forgiveness.
CURE
LET GO. How? Forgive like Jesus did as he died a criminal's death. The desire of every beleiver should be to look like Jesus. Why any different in this area? Defy the nature of man and let go.
UNFORGIVENESS
For me forgiveness has always been an issue. I have always needed forgiveness and I have been slow to give it. Growing up, like most, I had a lot of hurt. I had a lot of struggles. Over time I allowed my hurt, my pain, and my disappointment to mold me. As a scared and hurt little boy I learned how to build up emotional walls. As a boy I learned to hold on. I began to grasp on to my pain, holding it tightly, while having no desire to release it.
This hurt quickly turned to anger. As I grew so did my hate for the ones who hurt me. I began to blame myself and the ones who were reaching out to help me. As a young boy, I was wrapped up in the world of unforgiveness.
Things happen, people have pain, and feelings are hurt. People tend to hold on to these hurts and refuse to release the burden. Unforgiveness has always been an issue in relationships, whether it is a friendship, the church, or the family. As we have been taught, we hold on to our past and quickly find out how it has an effect on our future.
SIGNS OF UNFORGIVENESS
Some signals you ask? Anger is the number one, I would say. Hurt has a wicked way of transforming itself into anger. As a result of the pain in my childhood, the older I got the angrier I grew. If you have been hurt in your past(you have) and you find yourself being generally angry or even quick tempered, you probably have an issue with unforgiveness.
For the believer, no sign should be greater or more obvious than the conviction and discernment of the Holy Spirit. If God is telling you that you have an issue with unforgiveness and holding on, YOU DO.
ISSUES WITH THE ISSUE
If what I've said so far hasn't sent up a red flag or two about unforgiveness, this should. Unforgiveness is trap used by Satan so that he can entangle believers and hinder them from submitting to the will of God. He uses it as a rope to tie up our hands and our hearts. There are many issues with this issue. It will rob you of your hopes, your dreams, your joy, and any desire you may have to please God. Satan will use unforgiveness to kill your joy, steal your hope, and ultimately destroy your relationships! This issue has helped put a damper on the work of the Church for centuries.
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. There is an argument to be made for it's beauty. Forgiveness is a reflection and a product of God's love. We, as followers, have gained the forgiveness of our sins only through the love of God, which was displayed on the Cross of His Son and through the Resurrection of our King. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing! And God has given us the privilege of forgiving others. Forgiveness sets debtors free, erasing all debt. Forgiveness sets slaves free, fulfilling the job. Prisoners are made saints because forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
WHY FORGIVE?
Why? To pass on the gift of God. Why? To get rid of the pain and bitterness that your unforgiveness is causing you. Why? HAVE YOU READ THE PAST SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS?
Maybe a little extra motivation. A liitle more gas in the engine of forgiveness...
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
We all are sinful. Just as someone has sinned against you, you have sinned against God. We are all guilty. We spit in the face of The King, while screaming for Him to be crucified. How can hold anything against anyone? We are no better than the other. We can make excuses and try to justify it, but the fact is that WE ARE GUILTY and won't be shown forgiveness unless we show forgiveness.
CURE
LET GO. How? Forgive like Jesus did as he died a criminal's death. The desire of every beleiver should be to look like Jesus. Why any different in this area? Defy the nature of man and let go.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Issue #2: Mediocrity
Mediocrity by definition is averageness. Basically this means being okay in a certain area of life and being okay with that. Mediocrity, in my eyes, ranks in the top 3 of issues on the hearts of today's believer. Mediocrity can destroy hopes of obtaining a goal, demolish a family, and even break up the ministry of an individual and a church.
HOW IT STARTS
There are many reasons for mediocrity but if I could pin-point one it would be laziness. As we discussed in Issue #1, we are sinful creatures. As sinful creatures the only way to redemption is Jesus. So when we accept this redemption and salvation He demands and commands us to live like the redeemed. This takes effort. As we were lost in our sin we could do what we wanted and do it when we wanted, but at the moment of salvation we were set apart for the purpose of Christ. My point? Mediocrity begins when we get tired of running the race and slip towards the back of the pack.
BEING OKAY WITH BEING OKAY
Mediocrity is dangerous. Within mediocrity is a serious lie. If you have fallen to mediocrity at one point or another(you have) you have believed this lie. Mediocrity says that God saved you to be comfortable. That it is okay to "just get by".
Inside of mediocrity is complacency. Believers who struggle with mediocrity have no or little desire to grow. They are okay with rotting in the pews every week while feeling no passion for the Lord that they profess to be saved by. Mediocre teams do not win championships. Mediocre actors do not bring tears of enjoyment to audience's eyes. And believers with mediocrity on the heart do not answer the call of Christ effectively nor productively.
KILLER OF PASSION
Mediocrity has murdered the passion of many. It has taken hearts captive and put them to work for the glory of everything but Christ. Through this death of passion, habits are born. Those who once broke sinful habits begin to try and dip their toes in the waters of this world. Mediocrity tells believers that is okay to watch less than appropriate TV shows. It tells wives that flirting with men at work is harmless and tells husbands that lusting over women passing by is decent. It twists young lust and calls it young love. Mediocrity destroys every bit of purity that was in an activity. Mediocrity is not of God. Mediocrity is from hell.
NO OKAY
The word okay should not be part of a believer's vocab. We proclaim to serve a great, and holy God so why not serve Him in that way. There is no okay when it comes to serving Christ. You either are, or you are not. The Lord says that you are either with him or against him. It is that simple. When we fall to mediocrity we are not doing anything to glorify to God. What team is a believer who is okay with being okay on? There is no gray area when it comes to following Christ.
THE CURE
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" says Colossians 3:23. Who do you serve? Is it Jesus? Then why not serve as if so. There is no quick fix to mediocrity but the remedy is simple. Just serve Christ the way he deserves to be served. Do not accept giving anything less than all you have to the Lord. Do not accept okay. A TV show, even a commercial, comes on that does not bring glory to God in the highest? Turn it. Need in the church or of another? Answer it. Have Jesus as Lord and Savior? Serve Him!
THE CHALLENGE
I challenge you to refuse being mediocre. Today make the committment to run the race with endurance and rise up. Live as a true believer, in spirit and in truth. Accept no lust, no pleasure, and no gossip. Be committed to becoming what Christ saved you to be so that you may bring glory and honor to His Name.
HOW IT STARTS
There are many reasons for mediocrity but if I could pin-point one it would be laziness. As we discussed in Issue #1, we are sinful creatures. As sinful creatures the only way to redemption is Jesus. So when we accept this redemption and salvation He demands and commands us to live like the redeemed. This takes effort. As we were lost in our sin we could do what we wanted and do it when we wanted, but at the moment of salvation we were set apart for the purpose of Christ. My point? Mediocrity begins when we get tired of running the race and slip towards the back of the pack.
BEING OKAY WITH BEING OKAY
Mediocrity is dangerous. Within mediocrity is a serious lie. If you have fallen to mediocrity at one point or another(you have) you have believed this lie. Mediocrity says that God saved you to be comfortable. That it is okay to "just get by".
Inside of mediocrity is complacency. Believers who struggle with mediocrity have no or little desire to grow. They are okay with rotting in the pews every week while feeling no passion for the Lord that they profess to be saved by. Mediocre teams do not win championships. Mediocre actors do not bring tears of enjoyment to audience's eyes. And believers with mediocrity on the heart do not answer the call of Christ effectively nor productively.
KILLER OF PASSION
Mediocrity has murdered the passion of many. It has taken hearts captive and put them to work for the glory of everything but Christ. Through this death of passion, habits are born. Those who once broke sinful habits begin to try and dip their toes in the waters of this world. Mediocrity tells believers that is okay to watch less than appropriate TV shows. It tells wives that flirting with men at work is harmless and tells husbands that lusting over women passing by is decent. It twists young lust and calls it young love. Mediocrity destroys every bit of purity that was in an activity. Mediocrity is not of God. Mediocrity is from hell.
NO OKAY
The word okay should not be part of a believer's vocab. We proclaim to serve a great, and holy God so why not serve Him in that way. There is no okay when it comes to serving Christ. You either are, or you are not. The Lord says that you are either with him or against him. It is that simple. When we fall to mediocrity we are not doing anything to glorify to God. What team is a believer who is okay with being okay on? There is no gray area when it comes to following Christ.
THE CURE
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" says Colossians 3:23. Who do you serve? Is it Jesus? Then why not serve as if so. There is no quick fix to mediocrity but the remedy is simple. Just serve Christ the way he deserves to be served. Do not accept giving anything less than all you have to the Lord. Do not accept okay. A TV show, even a commercial, comes on that does not bring glory to God in the highest? Turn it. Need in the church or of another? Answer it. Have Jesus as Lord and Savior? Serve Him!
THE CHALLENGE
I challenge you to refuse being mediocre. Today make the committment to run the race with endurance and rise up. Live as a true believer, in spirit and in truth. Accept no lust, no pleasure, and no gossip. Be committed to becoming what Christ saved you to be so that you may bring glory and honor to His Name.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Issue #1: The "ME" Disorder
As I searched myself through and through I found many issues and they all had one thing in common: Me.
I asked this series of questions: "Do I want to be great? Do I want to be recognized? Do I want to be needed? Do I want to be a hero?"... If I answered yes, my heart was not where it needed to be. When we answer yes to these questions we create the habit of recognizing "ME".
The "ME" disorder is when all of your wants and all of your desires have to do with ME(YOU). We often look out for numero uno, me, myself, and I. It is my job, my house, my time, and ultimately my life in the eyes of someone who has this disorder. The number one priority of someone who has this disorder is in someway circulating around themselves.
What are your priorities? Are they revolving around you? So often believers make up this list of priorities in their minds and number one is labeled "God". But is it true? I can write a fictional story about being a super hero, but does that make it true? Of course not. Throw out all religious, biased, or fictional answers when asking yourself where your priorities fall. If you fail to do this you simply become wrapped up in another myth of "ME".
John 3:30 says this-
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
When Jesus said get up, leave everything, and follow me he meant it. As we have made a commitment to Christ, all pre-existing appointments have been cancelled and we have been booked for an eternity. It is no longer our agenda, or our schedule but we are to be what and where God commands us to be, when he commands it.
If you want to be great, Christianity is not for you. As Christ called his disciples, he let them know up front that it would not be a walk in the park. He broadcasted the message and allowed everyone there to know that those who followed him would be hated by the world and persecuted abroad. This is not the rockstar lifestyle.
The lie titled, "the Health, Wealth, and Prosperity Gospel", was created for someone with the "ME" disorder. It tells us to come just as we are and that if we simply believe, Christ will paint your porch, wash your car, fill your bank account, and send you on vacation. We have missed a major point. Christianity is not about serving self but about falling to our knees a praising Christ and being thankful that he would even allow us to kiss his feet. Christianity was not meant to focus on Christians but to focus on Jesus as an all sufficient savior.
Obviously Christians gain an eternity with Christ in heaven but we have twisted the Gospel and made it about us. Christ did not only come so that we would accept him, but so that God could accept us. See I am sinful and you are sinful. We are not good, but in the heart of "ME" we create a persona, an untruth, and a myth that says we are great. By doing this we create a long life of disappointment, heart-break, and confusion because we cannot live up to the hype.
THE CURE
Find your cross and carry it daily. Come to a grip with reality and realize that it is not about you. Lay down your life and pick up your cross. I encourage you as a brother in Christ to stop trying to fulfill your childhood dreams, and make Christ your dream.
Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.
I asked this series of questions: "Do I want to be great? Do I want to be recognized? Do I want to be needed? Do I want to be a hero?"... If I answered yes, my heart was not where it needed to be. When we answer yes to these questions we create the habit of recognizing "ME".
The "ME" disorder is when all of your wants and all of your desires have to do with ME(YOU). We often look out for numero uno, me, myself, and I. It is my job, my house, my time, and ultimately my life in the eyes of someone who has this disorder. The number one priority of someone who has this disorder is in someway circulating around themselves.
What are your priorities? Are they revolving around you? So often believers make up this list of priorities in their minds and number one is labeled "God". But is it true? I can write a fictional story about being a super hero, but does that make it true? Of course not. Throw out all religious, biased, or fictional answers when asking yourself where your priorities fall. If you fail to do this you simply become wrapped up in another myth of "ME".
John 3:30 says this-
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
When Jesus said get up, leave everything, and follow me he meant it. As we have made a commitment to Christ, all pre-existing appointments have been cancelled and we have been booked for an eternity. It is no longer our agenda, or our schedule but we are to be what and where God commands us to be, when he commands it.
If you want to be great, Christianity is not for you. As Christ called his disciples, he let them know up front that it would not be a walk in the park. He broadcasted the message and allowed everyone there to know that those who followed him would be hated by the world and persecuted abroad. This is not the rockstar lifestyle.
The lie titled, "the Health, Wealth, and Prosperity Gospel", was created for someone with the "ME" disorder. It tells us to come just as we are and that if we simply believe, Christ will paint your porch, wash your car, fill your bank account, and send you on vacation. We have missed a major point. Christianity is not about serving self but about falling to our knees a praising Christ and being thankful that he would even allow us to kiss his feet. Christianity was not meant to focus on Christians but to focus on Jesus as an all sufficient savior.
Obviously Christians gain an eternity with Christ in heaven but we have twisted the Gospel and made it about us. Christ did not only come so that we would accept him, but so that God could accept us. See I am sinful and you are sinful. We are not good, but in the heart of "ME" we create a persona, an untruth, and a myth that says we are great. By doing this we create a long life of disappointment, heart-break, and confusion because we cannot live up to the hype.
THE CURE
Find your cross and carry it daily. Come to a grip with reality and realize that it is not about you. Lay down your life and pick up your cross. I encourage you as a brother in Christ to stop trying to fulfill your childhood dreams, and make Christ your dream.
Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.
5 Issues on the Believer's Heart
I recently began to dissect my heart. I wanted to go deeper and I knew there were things in my heart that hindered me from doing so. We all have issues. Yes, even you ha. Believers have struggles as individuals and as a whole.
I believe, the Church is at a crossroads. We can choose to grow or simply become non-existent. We can become defeated by the issues on our hearts or reign victoriously with a clear and redeemed conscience.
Over the next work week I hope to unveil 5 issues that can bring down the believer. These are not issues that are outer-existent but that are present in our own hearts.
I hope that over the next 5 days you can hang on and try to eliminate each issue from the surface of your very own soul.
I believe, the Church is at a crossroads. We can choose to grow or simply become non-existent. We can become defeated by the issues on our hearts or reign victoriously with a clear and redeemed conscience.
Over the next work week I hope to unveil 5 issues that can bring down the believer. These are not issues that are outer-existent but that are present in our own hearts.
I hope that over the next 5 days you can hang on and try to eliminate each issue from the surface of your very own soul.
Monday, June 7, 2010
It Is Time
John 4:23 states this...
23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
Here is a little of what you could call a rant.
It is time for believers to grow up! We need to mature in a way that pleases God, and we need to do so in a hurry. We need to move from the bottle and begin drinking from the cup.
It is time that we refuse to accept mediocrity. This generation needs to fully sell out to the cause of Christ because we were bought at a pice. It is time for us to be a holy and blameless product because the price was paid by the blood of Christ. Through that he gave us His righteousness.
It is time for us to speak with honesty, respectability, and with purity.
It is time that we love God and that we love His.
It is time for us to live like we believe and put to death the lifestyles of pagans and athiests.
It is time to worship in spirit and in truth.
It is time to rise up!
Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.
23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
Here is a little of what you could call a rant.
It is time for believers to grow up! We need to mature in a way that pleases God, and we need to do so in a hurry. We need to move from the bottle and begin drinking from the cup.
It is time that we refuse to accept mediocrity. This generation needs to fully sell out to the cause of Christ because we were bought at a pice. It is time for us to be a holy and blameless product because the price was paid by the blood of Christ. Through that he gave us His righteousness.
It is time for us to speak with honesty, respectability, and with purity.
It is time that we love God and that we love His.
It is time for us to live like we believe and put to death the lifestyles of pagans and athiests.
It is time to worship in spirit and in truth.
It is time to rise up!
Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.
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