Be The Message 2014

Often we speak of being carriers of the Good News Message, and this is true we are carriers.  However, we are to be much more than carriers.  We are to be (The Message), the Word living in us in such a degree that we are living it before men; our lives on display before men; Jesus working with us to heal all who are sick and diseased.

 Paul was a carrier of messages, yet he was (The Message), Christ in Him the Hope of Glory.  Today it is Christ in us (each believer) as the Hope of Glory.  We not only carriers of the message, but the word alive we too are often carried. And, yet with all the grace carrying there is a "Walk".

Eze. 36:27

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

There is a place we must come to where we recognize and live in unity with the Spirit of God.  

Gal. 5:25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph. 2:2

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Gal. 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Walking in the flesh is summed up in Gal. 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

• ·      Adultery,
• ·      Fornication,
• ·      Uncleanness,
• ·      Lasciviousness,
• ·      Idolatry,
• ·      Witchcraft,
• ·      Hatred,
• ·      Variance,
• ·      Emulations,
• ·      Wrath,
• ·      Strife,
• ·      Seditions,
• ·      Heresies,
• ·      Envyings,
• ·      Murders,
• ·      Drunkenness,
• ·      Revellings, and such like:
• of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
• which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

It is not enough for us to talk the talk (as in delivering a message of goodness) we must live well.  We cannot fulfill the lust of the flesh and set godly examples before men, neither can we walk in the flesh and call ourselves Spirit led people.

I do not suggest we are perfect outside the precious blood of Jesus.  However, I do suggest a life of on going change. A life that entails repentance and laboring toward something better through a grace offered us at a tremendous price. 

Jesus speaks to us right after reciting the beatitudes says:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

He did not say, "Let your light so shine before men, that they hear only the message you carry".  Carrying of the message is of upmost importance, however to carry a gospel you refuse to live is a hypocritical dead religion.

Jesus also expressed that latter in Matthews teachings as he spoke these words concerning the Scribes and the Pharisees… “but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not”.    

Our Brother James also expresses that if any of us are hearers only, and not doers of the word we deceive ourselves. 

James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

So it is not complicated to see in just a few scriptures that we are not only to hear the message and to carry the message of Christ, but we are to be living Messages. 

Peter called us lively stones in I Pe. 2:5:

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.   

The Message we are to be becomes easy when we yield to all that has been provided for us through Christ Jesus.  He came to us as a living example. The very idea we speak of for ourselves in this blog. 

Jesus knew who He was and what He was sent to do, so He not only spoke of the goodness of the Father and of the Fathers greatness in power to usward who believes, but He lived it before men. 

However, He did not live it alone, nor are we ask to live it alone.  We have been sent a helper one just like Jesus himself to live in us and to be with us.  One who leads us, teaches us, stands by us, unctions us, aides us in prayer, and comforts us.  One who is everything that Jesus was and is to us while we are here in planet earth. 

In Johns teaching Jesus is praying in Chapter 17, He is calling out to the Father on behalf of the us (the church) and in this says:

… thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus even at one time told the people, “Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: (but) the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.”  (John 10:25)

Our lives should align with our words, because a belief system that has no corresponding actions is dead.  But a true belief system is active and powerful in it's working. 

Even our faith is dead without works.  Our lives are not to be merely a life of words alone.  But words that move God, Angels, others, and ourselves to action.

 

Act 1:8 amplified

“But you shall receive power (“dunamis”) - ability, efficiency and might - when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends - the very bounds - of the earth”.

Many people believe to be a witness is only to say something. I agree a witness has a voice and should be saying something. However, saying needs corresponding actions. 

“Dunamis” is a Greek word for Power and means:

“act of power” (Young’s); “miraculous power, ability” (Strong’s); “natural capability, inherent power; capability of anything, ability to perform any-thing; then, absolutely, not merely power capable of action, but, power in action” (Bullinger’s).

So let the Word this year become Power in Action!  Let us become a message sent, one that comes with gifting and power on behalf of others. 

Jesus working with us to heal all who are sick and diseased!

Live life to the Maximum in 2014

At the beginning of 2014 I challenged a group of people to daily, and thoughtfully read through the Proverbs with intend of living it out to the best of ones ability.  

One of the reasons for this is simply because, Proverbs are: brief popular sayings that give advice about how people should live their daily lives as godly examples.  They are maxims that are known phrases that express a general truth about life and/or a rule of behavior. 

As a member of clergy for many years now, I have watched many members of the body of Christ flail their arms in an attempt to stay alive in unpleasant conditions.  Some are extroverts with their flails and cries, so that everyone hears and often become boat rockers, stirring up chaos in others, while others put on a mask and decay from the inside never getting help. Neither of these should ever be the case.

As Christians we are to live the triumphant life, the overcoming life, the successful life of faith.  This doesn’t eliminate trials or test that every Christian will encounter.  But it does entail coming through those trials and test victorious, and to new levels. As Christians we should be moving from faith to faith, and glory to glory.

The word speaks to us of trials of our faith being precious.  But it also shares with us the truth of coming through all of them victorious. 

There are times when Christians will be knocked down in their stand, as Paul. He was knocked down, but he was not knocked out.  He was even left once in the street as dead, but the church gathered around him and prayed.  He recovered and continued in faith. Faith is the overcoming life, not one free of adversity or obstacles here in planet earth, but one with promises and good ends unto the day when there will be no adversities in our heavenly estate.

In this Challenge to obtain and retain the proverbs with application, my prayer is for the body of Christ to rise up to a new standard of living. One where wisdom becomes the principle thing in their faith lives again. And just for the record, I am not suggesting a life lived by works along, but on lived by faith that works; Faith that has been offered us through grace (grace that enables us to be free of sinful living and devoid of child play and deceitful lives). 

In the book of Acts there were needs within the local church body; needs for the people to be attended to properly, and for the ministers to have time to give themselves to the Word and prayer. So they quest went out to locate people not just full of the Holy Ghost, but full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom as well as those of were of honest report.

The word honest report from this text in Acts chapter six means:

·      Those who have been a witness; they have seen, heard and or experienced something by divine revelation or inspiration.  It is those who live by and give honorable testimony to the truth. 

These were not just any people.  They were those who had witnessed the truth of the gospel in their own lives.  And in this filled with the Holy Spirit and Wisdom. 

Wisdom from this text defines as:

·      One to be broad and filled with intelligence, and having used knowledge in diverse matters in their lives. 

·      One commentary even says: varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, summed up in maxims and proverbs. 

These were men who were given to the science of learning; they were apt in dreams and interpretations and able to give good and godly advice to others.  They were men skilled in management abilities, who could offer Christian truth to 
those in need.

The people that were being sought out by the leaders were those who lived proverbial lives. The importance of this challenge of reading the Proverbs is not for a marathon read, nor is it a competition, but rather a personal assignment of life application unto Christian maturity.

·      As we read through the Proverbs we will find ourselves both rejoicing and pressed to new levels of life. 

·      We will find truth that will enable us to live happier and more successful.

·      Living the proverbial life will aid you, but it will also aid your family, friends, community, pastor and local church. 

I pray that you will make 2014 a year of spiritual growth unto natural victories by accepting this challenge.  

One chapter per day in a 31-day month will conclude your reading.  However, to go through these Proverbs each month will empower you even more this year. 

Faith without life application is dead.  As we read in the book of James, “Faith without works is dead.”   So let us live true faith lives, free of the deception of only hearing the word and not doing it.  Instead, Let us add to our faiths confessions this year legs, being doers of the Word … living our lives up to the Maxims!

Depression

In 1994 reports suggested that around 35 million Americans admitted to depression.  Today over 40 million have been reported as depressed.  

  

The Word speaks to us about depression and also how to overcome it.  Depression is a soulish action of the Adamic nature, and is the loss of God given expression.  It leaves people felling empty, alone, hopeless, helpless, misunderstood, lost, broken, unloved, unlovely, judged, confused, hurting in ways that they can't give words too.  

Psalms 40:1-5

I waited patiently for the Lord.
 He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

He pulled me out of a horrible pit,
 out of the mud and clay.
  He set my feet on a rock
 and made my steps secure.

He placed a new song in my mouth,
 a song of praise to our God.


Many will see this and worship.
 They will trust the Lord.

Blessed is the person
 who places his confidence in the Lord
 and does not rely on arrogant people
 or those who follow lies.

You have done many miraculous things, O Lord my God.
  You have made many wonderful plans for us.
  No one compares to you!


I will tell others about your miracles,
 which are more than I can count.

Here we find David penned words that came from experience.  He had entered a dark place, a horrible pit.  This is exactly how depression is often defined: as a dark, horrible pit! 

But God is always open eared to the cry of people.  And when David cried out to God, he was heard.  And notice how David, says, He gave him a new song and a praise.  Those are both things that depressed people are void of; a song in heart or praise on lips to God.  

The enemy of our soul longs to keep us in the same downcast state he is in, but we have a God who has assured us that through him we were more than conquerors.

We don't have to be a people left void of God expressions.  We could say void of life and love.

When Satan was cast out of the heavens.  He lost out of the life and abundance now promised to all of God's people.  

He was cast away from love.  Today, he has no greater joy than to keep people feeling unloved and lifeless.  However, as Christians we have been given power over all the power of the enemy through the Name of Jesus Christ.  

Psalms 42:1-5

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
 When may I come to see God’s face?

My tears are my food day and night.
 People ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

I will remember these things as I pour out my soul:
  how I used to walk with the crowd
  and lead it in a procession to God’s house. I sang songs of joy and thanksgiving
 while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

Why are you discouraged, my soul?
  Why are you so restless?
   Put your hope in God,
 because I will still praise him.
 He is my savior and my God.

Again David at the pen, writes about how his soul (mind, will and emotions) are longing for God (for life, love, and completeness).  He was remembering the past when his life was full, and yet now empty. Thus, he pours out his mind, and emotions before the Lord.    

He ask questions: Why soul are you so discouraged?  in other words, "Why have you lost the courage to live and love?"  "Why are you so restless; why are you not content?"  

Then he tells his soul what it has to do:  "Put your hope in God; praise God."  

When the mind, will or emotions rise up in adversity to God, the inner man too begins to rise.  And when he does, you must learn to side with him.  He will be the one who leads you out of this deep dark place.  

Rise up and put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and refuse to side with the enemy of your soul.  

God is still on the throne and he will turn things around as you side with Him.  

The enemy of your soul (Satan) is a deceiver.  He is a liar and the Father of all lies.  Therefore, he sits up a battle within your soul through the sense realm (sight, smell, touch, taste, sight, or hearing).  He gets a place in your mind and then gets you to side your will over to him.

Once this happens you are headed into a dark vortex; a spiral downward. Soon you find yourself in places you have not desired, these places vary with people.

For some they just simple go inward.  They become reclusive and withdraw from society and or reality.  

Some believe they don't matter anymore, or loss all idea of love existing within their sphere.  

Others may simple go into the darkness of negativity, where difficulties are magnified.  The enemy is an expert at illusions.  He enjoys making people feel small and helpless.  Sometimes feelings of jealousy, fear or hostility can occur or bouts of yelling or crying.   Some people even break out in a very strange laughter but there is no joy involved.  

Many times depress leaves people with a lack of concentration, their minds are all jumbled adding to their emotional hopelessness and frustrations and they find themselves without ambition.  

Depressed people have no motivation and thus they become more and more inactive.  Because of this they become physically ill as well as mentally distressed. 

Unfortunately a majority of people suffering from depression never admit it ... they ware mask and tell you they are fine, while inwardly they are in a battle for life.  

Doctor Lester Sumrall once spoke about facing the issue of depression and he said that it seemed to him that most depression follows traumatic experiences such as:

•   disappointments 

•   rejection

•   failure

•   loss of business, family, friend 

•   dead religion

•   traditional ideas of living 

•   social problems 

•   illness that comes from some chemical imbalance 

All the above may be realities in a portion of a persons live.  But it is not their life, and not one of them should be allowed to take their lives away from them.  

The first step to getting better is facing the issue.  But you can't face it alone.  

If you are already a Christian and the enemy has hook nosed you ... rise up to the help from within.  If you are not a Christian turn to the Lord today and be free.

Simply declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved. By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved.

Once you receive Jesus you, receive power over all the power of the enemy. Now you have all you need to come up out of this dark place.  

No one can save them selves, but God can, and has made a way for salvation and offers us all help in our time of trouble. So once you are saved, know and believe in your Christian Dominion.

Eph. 3:20 says:

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  

Then rise up and take your place.  Put a demand on the enemy to leave you and your surroundings.  Then simply begin to lift up your head and praise the Lord.  Sing songs of deliverance.  Live in the positive. 

Gal. 5:16 says:

If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  

This is to refuse to side with the enemy who plays on your mind and emotions. 

Learn to take charge of thoughts and imaginations. And put your mind on good things.  [II Cor. 10:4-6 ; Phil. 4:8]

And learn to keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.  Pro. 4:23

Jesus always asserted a Spirit of Dominion over the enemy and He was our example.  He also did not leave us alone, but sent us one just like himself to live in us and be with us, the person of the Holy Spirit.  And through Him we have been given authority.  

Jesus also understood that He and the Father was one, and the Father God is all-powerful. Today we must understand that Jesus and the Father are one, but when Jesus comes to abide in us ... we become one with them.  

Jesus was very aware of the Power that came to him through God the Father ... and he wanted his disciples to know that they to had this kind of power; Power that overcomes death, hell, and the grave.  And there is nothing darker than that!  

There is nothing to hard, nothing to difficult and nothing impossible for God and for those who believe.  Depression is simply a form of darkness that desires to lead a person to oppression and then on to possession and death.  But it has no place in the believers’ life.  Matter of Fact the believer needs to rise up and cast off this spirit and then move on out to help others who are held captive in such dark pits.  

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

If you have read this article to this point ... and are a believer I admonish you to get up right now and put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and begin to think on things that are honest and lovely and of a good report.  Begin to call those things which are not as though they are, like your forefather Abraham.  

If you are not a believer, I challenge you to open your heart and your mouth and allow Jesus to come in to help you.  He is only a cry away.  

Once you do this ... you receive all the help you need to overcome this dark assault, and get your life back. Matter of fact, the life you receive in Christ is one of life and abundance. 

That is the life you are intended to live, 'a life of

        Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.'