While this is a challenging time, it is also a time for the people of God to make a difference.
We are going to see new times of ministry open up, but they will not be the same old thing, as we will truly see "each joint supplying." Ministry will flow through all of the Lord's body - and much of this is going to be little things, here a little, there a little; and the whole of this will be huge. Things may seem small to many, but as we see how God is moving through many there will be a rejoicing of all that the Lord is doing.
2009 is bringing new opportunities, so let us all be prepared and be poised to hear what the Spirit is saying to all of God's people.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Lifting up the Light in October 2008
Every October I am encouraged to let the Light of Christ shine - and I encourage all followers of Christ to do like wise. The month of October can be a very worldly month with the celebration of halloween on the 31st. On top of that this year finds us in the middle of a huge financial problem, and on the verge of a presidential election.
Queen Esther was challenged by her uncle Mordecai to stand up and make a difference, to use the influence and position God had given her to help save her people.
Esther 4:13-14
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Each and every one who is called by the name of Christ, who is a believer, has been given authority and influence. Every follower of Christ can make a difference in the world - a positive difference.
We are called to be lights that shine in the darkness, we are called to call attention to Jesus Christ - Phil 2:15
All around us the things of the world are flourishing and sin abounds, evil plots and ungodliness run ramped - it is time to turn on the light, because when the light shines, darkness flees. Yes, it is that simple. It is not about fighting the darkness, it is about lifting up the light.
It is time for us to be the influencers, not the ones being influenced. God is calling forth leaders, those who will make a difference, those who will not shrink back, those who will recognize that the Lord has brought them forth for such a time as this!
It's time to lift up Jesus and let His life and love shine forth brightly.
Blessings to all
Queen Esther was challenged by her uncle Mordecai to stand up and make a difference, to use the influence and position God had given her to help save her people.
Esther 4:13-14
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Each and every one who is called by the name of Christ, who is a believer, has been given authority and influence. Every follower of Christ can make a difference in the world - a positive difference.
We are called to be lights that shine in the darkness, we are called to call attention to Jesus Christ - Phil 2:15
All around us the things of the world are flourishing and sin abounds, evil plots and ungodliness run ramped - it is time to turn on the light, because when the light shines, darkness flees. Yes, it is that simple. It is not about fighting the darkness, it is about lifting up the light.
It is time for us to be the influencers, not the ones being influenced. God is calling forth leaders, those who will make a difference, those who will not shrink back, those who will recognize that the Lord has brought them forth for such a time as this!
It's time to lift up Jesus and let His life and love shine forth brightly.
Blessings to all
Jesus is greater than the circumstances
I thank God that He is greater than the financial mess the US in in. I am thankful that He is greater than all the financial and political advisers, that He is greater than the new media and all the commentators. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ is greater than all, even greater than McCain and Obama.
As followers of Christ, as believers, as Christians - we put our hope in the living God. We put our hope in Jesus Christ, the one who is able to calm the storm, the one who brings peace.
There are more and more Christians turning to prayer and calling on the Lord to move in this nation. Yes, it is time to pray, it is time to cry out to God for a change in this nation.
Remember that He is able, that Jesus is all powerful, and the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in His followers (Romans 8:11). He is our hope, He is our all in all.
We do not follow stories or fables, for we are eyewitnesses to His glory and power. For these are the days that Christ will arise in His people as a light and His brightness will be seen. (See 2 Pet 1:16-19)
It is not about which candidate's plan is better, or which financial analysist's projection is best - it's about the hope that is in Christ.
More than ever an answer is needed, more than ever people are groping in the darkness for any answer that they can find. So it is time for the people of God, the followers of Christ to stop dwelling in fear and uncertainty and rise up and be leaders. When the first church started, after the resurrection of Christ, the believers turned the world upside down with the simple, but powerful message of the power and reality of the resurrection. They preached Christ without apology or shame, and they had a burden to reach every person with the life changing message of the Gospel.
We know that the answer is Jesus, we know that our help does not come from this human arena - our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Yes, it is time to pray for our nation and for our world - but is is also time to let God answer those prayers in and through our lives. It is time for all of us to let those words of challenge that were spoken to Esther - Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Est 4:14)
It time for all of us who are followers of Christ to take a hold of the Lord as never before, to cry out to Him to deliver us from our own fears. It's time to repent of our focus on the things of this world, and from trying to bring our own solutions to our lives. It's time to lay down our idols and to stop living in spiritual adultery and to let Jesus Christ take His place as Lord of our lives. (Ps 139:23-24)
Ps 51:10-13
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
We must realize that as Christians we are the light of Christ in the world today. We are His chosen agency. Yes, God can and does move supernaturally on His own, but His preference is to move through His body. It is time for us to shake off complacency, fear, hopeless, and even unbelief - and it is time for us to pick up the cause of Christ as never before.
How can they hear and how will they see unless the followers of Christ arise and proclaim and demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God on earth today!!!
As followers of Christ, as believers, as Christians - we put our hope in the living God. We put our hope in Jesus Christ, the one who is able to calm the storm, the one who brings peace.
There are more and more Christians turning to prayer and calling on the Lord to move in this nation. Yes, it is time to pray, it is time to cry out to God for a change in this nation.
Remember that He is able, that Jesus is all powerful, and the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in His followers (Romans 8:11). He is our hope, He is our all in all.
We do not follow stories or fables, for we are eyewitnesses to His glory and power. For these are the days that Christ will arise in His people as a light and His brightness will be seen. (See 2 Pet 1:16-19)
It is not about which candidate's plan is better, or which financial analysist's projection is best - it's about the hope that is in Christ.
More than ever an answer is needed, more than ever people are groping in the darkness for any answer that they can find. So it is time for the people of God, the followers of Christ to stop dwelling in fear and uncertainty and rise up and be leaders. When the first church started, after the resurrection of Christ, the believers turned the world upside down with the simple, but powerful message of the power and reality of the resurrection. They preached Christ without apology or shame, and they had a burden to reach every person with the life changing message of the Gospel.
We know that the answer is Jesus, we know that our help does not come from this human arena - our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Yes, it is time to pray for our nation and for our world - but is is also time to let God answer those prayers in and through our lives. It is time for all of us to let those words of challenge that were spoken to Esther - Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Est 4:14)
It time for all of us who are followers of Christ to take a hold of the Lord as never before, to cry out to Him to deliver us from our own fears. It's time to repent of our focus on the things of this world, and from trying to bring our own solutions to our lives. It's time to lay down our idols and to stop living in spiritual adultery and to let Jesus Christ take His place as Lord of our lives. (Ps 139:23-24)
Ps 51:10-13
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
We must realize that as Christians we are the light of Christ in the world today. We are His chosen agency. Yes, God can and does move supernaturally on His own, but His preference is to move through His body. It is time for us to shake off complacency, fear, hopeless, and even unbelief - and it is time for us to pick up the cause of Christ as never before.
How can they hear and how will they see unless the followers of Christ arise and proclaim and demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God on earth today!!!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Lord God is the Best Father
As we celebrate Father's Day today, let us honor our Father God and give Him thanks, and let us join together in praise and worship - for He alone is worthy.
He is the Creator, the giver of life, the almighty God, He is the everlasting Father, He is the righteous Judge, He is the I AM, He is perfect, He is holy, He is true, He is a shield, He is the glory and lifter of our head, He hears us from Heaven, He relieves us of our distress, He sets apart the godly for Himself, He makes us to dwell in safety, He is our King, He sends His word and heals us, He gives us victory, He causes our enemies to flee, He is our defense, His name is excellent in all the earth, He is a refuge, He is righteous, His words are pure, He is merciful, He is a rock, a fortress, and deliverer, He is the great shepherd, He sees in secret and rewards openly, He knows the things we need before we ask Him, He forgives our trespasses and sins, He loves us, He gave His Son to die for us that we would have eternal life, all things are possible for Him, He is merciful, He gives good things to them who asks, He reveals Christ to us, He gives the Holy Spirit to them who ask, it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom, He gives us His promise, He seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth, He gives us life, He gives the true bread from heaven, He is greater than all, no one is able to take us out of His hand, He has adopted us, He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, He is above all, through all, and in all, He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, He gives grace, mercy, and peace, He is the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, He is longsuffering and desires that no one would perish, He is love.
There is no one that compares to Him.
Happy Father's Day to you Lord!
He is the Creator, the giver of life, the almighty God, He is the everlasting Father, He is the righteous Judge, He is the I AM, He is perfect, He is holy, He is true, He is a shield, He is the glory and lifter of our head, He hears us from Heaven, He relieves us of our distress, He sets apart the godly for Himself, He makes us to dwell in safety, He is our King, He sends His word and heals us, He gives us victory, He causes our enemies to flee, He is our defense, His name is excellent in all the earth, He is a refuge, He is righteous, His words are pure, He is merciful, He is a rock, a fortress, and deliverer, He is the great shepherd, He sees in secret and rewards openly, He knows the things we need before we ask Him, He forgives our trespasses and sins, He loves us, He gave His Son to die for us that we would have eternal life, all things are possible for Him, He is merciful, He gives good things to them who asks, He reveals Christ to us, He gives the Holy Spirit to them who ask, it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom, He gives us His promise, He seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth, He gives us life, He gives the true bread from heaven, He is greater than all, no one is able to take us out of His hand, He has adopted us, He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, He is above all, through all, and in all, He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, He gives grace, mercy, and peace, He is the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, He is longsuffering and desires that no one would perish, He is love.
There is no one that compares to Him.
Happy Father's Day to you Lord!
Friday, May 23, 2008
We have Hope in Christ
Eph 2:10 tells us that those who are without God are without hope in this world. We also know that todays times and events cause stress and worry, and all sorts of insecurity and even depression. For some this causes them to withdraw, for others there is anger and reactiveness, and for some there is turning to drugs, to sex, to alcohol, etc...
Although people in the church, believers, are also going through this too. There are so many who are finding "church" as it is done today to be empty and fulfilling. As Hosea said, my people die for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). There is a misunderstanding, a lack of revelation as to what "church" is about. So many see "church" as the building, as the place to go and to be a spectator and look to the pastor or leader to be the one who is spiritual for them. People don't understand that followers of Christ are the Church - we don't go to church, we are the Church.
The Church is the Body of Christ, the living representation of Jesus on the earth today. All who are believers have a part and have a place - and have a ministry. In Eph Paul talks of the Body and how we are all members of each other, how each joint supplies for the growing of the body in love.
Oh that people who see this, understand this, and live this. This would revolutionize things. We would move away from empty religion into meaningful and life filled relationship in Christ. If we started seeing this and living this, we would find new life and power and hope and love in Christians. Some call this revival, but really it is a revelation of life as God intends it to be. He does not want us to be entertained once a week in a building, or go and experince some good feelings in worship. What the Lord has for us is daily, moment by moment, life and relationship (see John 15 all about abiding in Christ, maintaining a living communion).
When we have this reality in our relationship with Jesus we are anything but burned out - instead we are fired up with the passion and the love of Christ. We start becoming lights in the darkness, those who have something to minister and give - we become what God has intended us to be.
It can be so simple, but so powerful. Loving God, loving the people of God, and then sharing/demonstrating that love with those who do not know the Lord.
Although people in the church, believers, are also going through this too. There are so many who are finding "church" as it is done today to be empty and fulfilling. As Hosea said, my people die for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). There is a misunderstanding, a lack of revelation as to what "church" is about. So many see "church" as the building, as the place to go and to be a spectator and look to the pastor or leader to be the one who is spiritual for them. People don't understand that followers of Christ are the Church - we don't go to church, we are the Church.
The Church is the Body of Christ, the living representation of Jesus on the earth today. All who are believers have a part and have a place - and have a ministry. In Eph Paul talks of the Body and how we are all members of each other, how each joint supplies for the growing of the body in love.
Oh that people who see this, understand this, and live this. This would revolutionize things. We would move away from empty religion into meaningful and life filled relationship in Christ. If we started seeing this and living this, we would find new life and power and hope and love in Christians. Some call this revival, but really it is a revelation of life as God intends it to be. He does not want us to be entertained once a week in a building, or go and experince some good feelings in worship. What the Lord has for us is daily, moment by moment, life and relationship (see John 15 all about abiding in Christ, maintaining a living communion).
When we have this reality in our relationship with Jesus we are anything but burned out - instead we are fired up with the passion and the love of Christ. We start becoming lights in the darkness, those who have something to minister and give - we become what God has intended us to be.
It can be so simple, but so powerful. Loving God, loving the people of God, and then sharing/demonstrating that love with those who do not know the Lord.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
You catch more flys with honey than with vinegar
This is an old quote that we have probably heard from our grandparents - if it is new to you, believe me that it is an old quote :)
This is also a true quote and one that more people should pay attention to. Generally speaking people today are not very friendly, all of us are more rushed than we used to be, partly because the pace of this world - I find the increased speed communication and business in this age of information has made too many people impersonal and demanding. More of us should slow down and take time to be friendly, have some personal contact with someone that is pleasant and kind, even to smile and say hello would be great. Imagine what this world could become if we would be just a little kinder and a have a little more courtesy and respect when we interact with people.
The above is my general opinion of a big lack in our society - now I will share how my burden as a Christian, as a follower of Christ. My prayer is that Christians will stop being so hung up on what is wrong with people and stop being so against everything.
Let me pause and qualify; I am not suggesting there be no standards nor am I saying we should not stand against sin and wrongdoing - we need to know the difference between right and wrong and we need to stand up for what is right.
My burden comes from what I have experienced and witnessed for years, and from what kind of poor practices I have engaged in earlier in my Christian life. We need to stop being people who say no to everything, or represent a position that is always coming against something or someone. It would be great if believers in Christ could truly practice hating sin, but loving the sinner. However, more times than not what is communicated is hatred for the sinner.
Let's be real here, if a person does not have a revelation of sin being wrong, they are not going to be able to relate to the standards of morality and just stop sinning because some Christian preaches and shares from the Bible. Too many times the message for purity and right living comes across as legalism, or people hear that doing "religious works" is the answer. As believers we need to learn a way to be more effective in communication and evangelism and not just hit people over the head with the Bible or condemn them as being sinners who are going to hell.
We can not let our message only be focused on the negative. We need to find a better point of balance where we can present a kinder and more grace filled message. Maybe we can practice more love and service and do more to help others and find ways to reach them with care. When I read the accounts of Jesus in the gospels I see the only people he rallied on were the religious and proud people. To those who were in sin, He reached out with compassion and service - but He also told them to stop sinning. He found a way to love the sinners while hating sin.
This is not about watering down the gospel message - the fact is that if a person does not have a personal relationship with Jesus they are not saved and they are hell bound. What I am presenting is a challenge to start thinking more about rescuing people and more about presenting what it is to live a full and abundant life in Christ (see John 10:10).
My conviction is that if we as the Church, the body of Christ, Christians, etc would really start responding to Jesus on a personal level, return to our first love, and passionately pursue our relationship with the Lord - that our lives would be different. If we really walked in Christ we would be demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5), we would have signs following (Mk 16), and we would show Christ in us and the hope of glory (Col 1:27). If we would practice loving one another and sharing with one another of the hope that is in Christ (1 Pet 3:15) we might see the people without Christ starting to take notice - in fact I believe if we really practiced the Love of God, that people would be streaming into the Church.
The world is a hard and a cruel place, and there is no hope there. People are not dumb, they know how bad it is, they even know how bad they are - but what they don't know is that Christ is alive in the earth today and that He loves them. Let's start being that message of hope, of love, of kindness... let's see what we can do to make a positive difference in this world by loving and giving and serving, just like Jesus did.
This is also a true quote and one that more people should pay attention to. Generally speaking people today are not very friendly, all of us are more rushed than we used to be, partly because the pace of this world - I find the increased speed communication and business in this age of information has made too many people impersonal and demanding. More of us should slow down and take time to be friendly, have some personal contact with someone that is pleasant and kind, even to smile and say hello would be great. Imagine what this world could become if we would be just a little kinder and a have a little more courtesy and respect when we interact with people.
The above is my general opinion of a big lack in our society - now I will share how my burden as a Christian, as a follower of Christ. My prayer is that Christians will stop being so hung up on what is wrong with people and stop being so against everything.
Let me pause and qualify; I am not suggesting there be no standards nor am I saying we should not stand against sin and wrongdoing - we need to know the difference between right and wrong and we need to stand up for what is right.
My burden comes from what I have experienced and witnessed for years, and from what kind of poor practices I have engaged in earlier in my Christian life. We need to stop being people who say no to everything, or represent a position that is always coming against something or someone. It would be great if believers in Christ could truly practice hating sin, but loving the sinner. However, more times than not what is communicated is hatred for the sinner.
Let's be real here, if a person does not have a revelation of sin being wrong, they are not going to be able to relate to the standards of morality and just stop sinning because some Christian preaches and shares from the Bible. Too many times the message for purity and right living comes across as legalism, or people hear that doing "religious works" is the answer. As believers we need to learn a way to be more effective in communication and evangelism and not just hit people over the head with the Bible or condemn them as being sinners who are going to hell.
We can not let our message only be focused on the negative. We need to find a better point of balance where we can present a kinder and more grace filled message. Maybe we can practice more love and service and do more to help others and find ways to reach them with care. When I read the accounts of Jesus in the gospels I see the only people he rallied on were the religious and proud people. To those who were in sin, He reached out with compassion and service - but He also told them to stop sinning. He found a way to love the sinners while hating sin.
This is not about watering down the gospel message - the fact is that if a person does not have a personal relationship with Jesus they are not saved and they are hell bound. What I am presenting is a challenge to start thinking more about rescuing people and more about presenting what it is to live a full and abundant life in Christ (see John 10:10).
My conviction is that if we as the Church, the body of Christ, Christians, etc would really start responding to Jesus on a personal level, return to our first love, and passionately pursue our relationship with the Lord - that our lives would be different. If we really walked in Christ we would be demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5), we would have signs following (Mk 16), and we would show Christ in us and the hope of glory (Col 1:27). If we would practice loving one another and sharing with one another of the hope that is in Christ (1 Pet 3:15) we might see the people without Christ starting to take notice - in fact I believe if we really practiced the Love of God, that people would be streaming into the Church.
The world is a hard and a cruel place, and there is no hope there. People are not dumb, they know how bad it is, they even know how bad they are - but what they don't know is that Christ is alive in the earth today and that He loves them. Let's start being that message of hope, of love, of kindness... let's see what we can do to make a positive difference in this world by loving and giving and serving, just like Jesus did.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Now is the Day - Now is the Time
God has given His people as gifts to the world. We are His representatives, His ambassadors, and we have been commissioned to preach, to minister reconciliation, to pray, to declare His word, to speak forth His praises, to make disciples, to mentor, to serve, to lay hands on the sick, to cast out demons, to teach, to baptize, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to set at liberty the oppressed, to shine as lights in the darkness, to lift of the name of Jesus, to do greater works, and to help change this world by making a positive difference.
We must remember that we are not in this alone, and even though it may seem that what we do is not all that much, that is not the truth - for we are all working together in Jesus and by His Spirit He is able to take our little steps of obedience and faith and make something big happen. Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. If God is for us, who can be against us. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has given us power and authority. He has given us access into His very presence. In us dwells the Hope of Glory - the living hope.
Let the stirring, let the passion in you rise up and move forth in confidence, for the Lord is with us. He is able to save, by many of by few.
Remember Jonathan (1 Sam 14) as he believed God and moved forth with expectancy and faith and passion. He got up one morning and proclaimed, let us see what the Lord will do - and he had victory over the enemy. God is still moving this way in His people.
Remember Esther (Est 4:14), for who knows if you have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.
Remember Caleb (Jos 14) who at 85 years old declared the strength and confidence he had in the Lord and rose up and lead the battle that drove the giants out.
Remember David (1 Sam 17) who as a teenager came to the battle and because he believed God was able to rise up and defeat the enemy Goliath, even though all of the army of Israel was hiding and in fear. Is there not a cause?
Let us look to the Lord this day with a new hope and expectancy. Let us break out of the ruts we are in. We do not have to wait, we can move forth and we can do good today. We can reach out and help change the circumstances for good. Let us rise up in His name and make a difference - for our God is able.
We must remember that we are not in this alone, and even though it may seem that what we do is not all that much, that is not the truth - for we are all working together in Jesus and by His Spirit He is able to take our little steps of obedience and faith and make something big happen. Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. If God is for us, who can be against us. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has given us power and authority. He has given us access into His very presence. In us dwells the Hope of Glory - the living hope.
Let the stirring, let the passion in you rise up and move forth in confidence, for the Lord is with us. He is able to save, by many of by few.
Remember Jonathan (1 Sam 14) as he believed God and moved forth with expectancy and faith and passion. He got up one morning and proclaimed, let us see what the Lord will do - and he had victory over the enemy. God is still moving this way in His people.
Remember Esther (Est 4:14), for who knows if you have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.
Remember Caleb (Jos 14) who at 85 years old declared the strength and confidence he had in the Lord and rose up and lead the battle that drove the giants out.
Remember David (1 Sam 17) who as a teenager came to the battle and because he believed God was able to rise up and defeat the enemy Goliath, even though all of the army of Israel was hiding and in fear. Is there not a cause?
Let us look to the Lord this day with a new hope and expectancy. Let us break out of the ruts we are in. We do not have to wait, we can move forth and we can do good today. We can reach out and help change the circumstances for good. Let us rise up in His name and make a difference - for our God is able.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Freely you have received, Freely give
In Matt 10 we read about Jesus sending His disciples out to minister and preach about the Kingdom of God. Yet, too many times we see this as a story about someone else and miss the point that all of the followers of Jesus, that all of His disciples are given this same commission to minister. In Christ we have been given so much, and each of have life and hope and blessings to share with the world around us.
The apostle Peter tells us (1 Pet 1:3-4) that Jesus has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness - we have been given exceedingly great and precious promises.
2 Cor 5:17-21 declares the truth that we are new creatures in Christ, we have been reconciled unto Him – but it doesn’t stop there. The fact is that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, where we become ministers of the very message that freed us. We are His representatives in the earth today and we carry the Word of life, the Word of hope, that sets people free.
Preaching and ministry is not just for a certain group of people. As the people of God, as the followers of Christ we must stop disqualifying ourselves. Lord, open all of our eyes to see that we have been invested with new life and the very power of God.
If we have been born again, if we have been born of the Spirit of God, then we carry the divine seed within us. It is no longer us that lives, but Christ that lives in us (Gal 2:20).
In Acts 1:8 we see that we are filled with power from on high, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are to be witnesses of this fact.
God has given us each spheres of influence, we all have people that we relate with on a regular basis. All we need to do is simply be open about what Jesus has done in our lives and what He can do in their lives.
This is not about formally preaching at your neighbors and friends, this is not about trying to have a church service or share some pre-programed message. What this is about is just sharing in your own words and in your own way how Jesus is real to you. It does not have to be a complicated and polished message, in fact most people don't want to hear something religious - but most people do want to be loved, to be accepted, to have something to hope in, and to have a reason for living.
If you have a personal relationship with Jesus and you know you are loved, that you are forgiven, and that the Lord is there every day to be with you. Then you have all that you need. Freely you have been given, freely you can then give.
Think about it, if each one us who is a believer would simply share about how Jesus touches us and shows us things and gives us grace, if we just shared these things it could change the world - which is the exact what Jesus came to do.
The apostle Peter tells us (1 Pet 1:3-4) that Jesus has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness - we have been given exceedingly great and precious promises.
2 Cor 5:17-21 declares the truth that we are new creatures in Christ, we have been reconciled unto Him – but it doesn’t stop there. The fact is that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, where we become ministers of the very message that freed us. We are His representatives in the earth today and we carry the Word of life, the Word of hope, that sets people free.
Preaching and ministry is not just for a certain group of people. As the people of God, as the followers of Christ we must stop disqualifying ourselves. Lord, open all of our eyes to see that we have been invested with new life and the very power of God.
If we have been born again, if we have been born of the Spirit of God, then we carry the divine seed within us. It is no longer us that lives, but Christ that lives in us (Gal 2:20).
In Acts 1:8 we see that we are filled with power from on high, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are to be witnesses of this fact.
God has given us each spheres of influence, we all have people that we relate with on a regular basis. All we need to do is simply be open about what Jesus has done in our lives and what He can do in their lives.
This is not about formally preaching at your neighbors and friends, this is not about trying to have a church service or share some pre-programed message. What this is about is just sharing in your own words and in your own way how Jesus is real to you. It does not have to be a complicated and polished message, in fact most people don't want to hear something religious - but most people do want to be loved, to be accepted, to have something to hope in, and to have a reason for living.
If you have a personal relationship with Jesus and you know you are loved, that you are forgiven, and that the Lord is there every day to be with you. Then you have all that you need. Freely you have been given, freely you can then give.
Think about it, if each one us who is a believer would simply share about how Jesus touches us and shows us things and gives us grace, if we just shared these things it could change the world - which is the exact what Jesus came to do.
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