Reflections of Brengle - holiness

"I saw the humility of Jesus, and my prode; the meekness of Jesus, and my temper; the lowliness of Jesus , and my ambition; the purity of Jesus , and my unclean heart; the faithfulness of Jesus, and the deceitfulness of my heart; the unselfishness of Jesus, and my selfishness; the trust and faith of Jesus, and my doubts and unbelief; the holiness of Jesus, and my unholiness.  I got my eyes off everybody but Jesus and myself, and I came to loathe myself." 

Samuel Logan Brengle p47-48 of 'Samuel Logan Brengle' by Hall

Great words of Samuel Logan Brengle - my experience tonight, but I thank God that as I can't sleep even though I'm exhausted, Jesus came to save me tonight from my inadequacies and all the feelings of unholiness, just like Isaiah felt in chapter 6, the live coal has touched my lips, and maybe even my heart. I thank Jesus that right now, I no longer loathe myself though as Brengle says, but in Jesus changing my heart, I am now starting to see myself as He is re-shaping me - it's a work in progress though!

Jesus can and will do the same for you, that is my testimony.  I pray that Jesus will be all you need today and as I was reminded while standing collecting in a shopping centre today and saw a guy missing an arm - Jesus wants to make you whole today - not necessarily physically, but spiritually, the essence of yourself.

Why don't you just take a moment and soak up His presence.

May Jesus, who died to give you life, give you rest and wholeness that you need today.

Be blessed
Simon

Discipleship

"Discipleship is anything that causes what is believed in the heart to have demonstrable consequences in our daily life"

Eugene Peterson

Well represented

How is holiness like the crusades?

I suppose in a few ways, but the way I had been thinking of is that the people involved can often mis-represent God.

Doing things in the Name of God can often be bad promotion for the Body of Christ. Zeal is great, but missinformed zeal can be harmful. I know so many that are 'young' in their faith who are so alive in Christ and that is so inspirational, I love being around these people, but they quite often put their foot in it since there is so much to learn about the All Powerful.

There are even a few more mature 'Christians' that I have heard to claim to be 'holy' and therefore claiming to represent accurately the character of God - these people I have often found lacking in the Fruit of the Spirit and often causing hurt in other people's lives.

Does our lives represent God's character?

I know many people who represent the characture of God well, but I've never heard these people claim to be holy or sanctified, but they live out a life that Jesus was and just do it rather than tell everyone how holy they are.

I'd rather be integral in the way I live to accurately represent Christ rather than spray meaningless words of my achievements and my self-righteous perfection - What it all comes down to is how we are seen in God's eyes, I'd rather please Him than impress man.

God is good and wants us to be perfected in His eyes - He want's you to be holy - come to Him and He will perfect you if you allow Him to do a good work in your life

"³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:3-6

Function

When something doesn't fulfil it's function, then it's not whole or complete, but broken.

God has told us to be holy, if we are not holy then we are not fulfilling our function as humanity. We need to remember that this is not just an individual thing either, we are to be holy as a community.

Start living a holy life today if you haven't already. It's your destiny :)

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

Romans 6:22

Holiness, the best thing since..

Holiness is a big part of the movement of The Salvation Army, in fact our foundations are set on it!

Many people we have been talking to, many have been with The Army for many years and have said that we haven't had teaching on holiness for ages. Well now it's making it's come back.

This years session at Training College for 2009-2010 are called the "Ambassadors of Holiness" and I am one of them. We have had much teaching on holiness this year and even in my private life I have been searching this out since I haven't had 'teaching' as such in the past, but it is the best thing even before sliced bread!!

Holiness has been taught in The Salvation Army since it's beginings, but in more recent days we haven't used the term 'holiness' as much as previously, we may have used words such as 'Christ likeness' or blameless or even in all teachings of putting sin behind us and becoming blameless before God.

One quote we use around the College a heap is 'holiness is the solution to every problem' and I think it just might be the case.

Be holy.. cos God told you to!! I know we don't like taking orders, even from God, but it's something that when tasted, you will want more, just like a juicy peach in summer with the juice running down your chin.. ok, enough dreaming of summer.

Holiness, it's the way of the past and IS the way of the future - eternal future!!

"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

Exodus 15:11

Holiness potential..

"If Holiness is possible anywhere for anyone at any time, it is possible anywhere for everyone at ALL times"

General Bramwall Booth

Sanctification

For Spiritual Formation here at the Training College we have to give a presentation on someone who has influenced us spiritually over the years, I chose Samuel Logan Brengle, the great holiness teacher of the Salvation Army.

As I've been reading over his books and biographies, God gave me an insight to what Samuel teaches about.  God told me that I've been born to be sanctified, I've been called by His will for His glory, and a critical part of achieving all these things is to be totally blameless before Him.

Brengle writes in the introduction to his book 'Helps to Holiness',  "He satisfied me- I weigh my words - He satisfied me!  He satisfied me".  

Have you ever had that experience of being totally satisfied??  As I've been reading God has been showing me and sanctifying me, it is totally amazing, right now as I type, I am satisfied.  Even though I know I haven't been sanctified through and through, God has given me something to work towards, and sooner rather than later, I'm going to live totally within God's will for my life and live a totally sanctified life - He requires it of us, and therefore it is possible!

Hallelujah - God is good, all the time!!

"This is the will of God, even your sanctification... For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness"

1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

Insane.. and more change

Insane starts tomorrow!

I had my last day of employment yesterday!

I'm now in no mans land - in transition of one life into another life

So, anyway, since insane is starting tomorrow - 168 hours of youth madness I'm pretty sure I won't get a chance to blog for a few days. Please be praying for all of these youth in attendance from around our Territory - that is Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, that their lives will be changed and that they will have the time of their lives under the safety of our Sovereign God.

I have to note here, just going back to my last day of work, how God blesses you for just being obedient. The guys at work are just great, going to miss them so much, but since I'm pretty much just moving around the corner, almost literally, I really hope to catch up with them here and there throughout the coming months.

My work mates wrote some great things in my farewell card, but by far the highlight was a poster they put together with pictures of them all and little in jokes and some really nice wishes and blessings. If God didn't call me elsewhere, I don't think I would have been leaving there just yet.

One more request before I sign off, please be praying for all the cadets of the 'Ambassadors of Holiness' session as we prepare to enter into our new life in a couple of weeks time, many of us are now feeling strain and some feeling burdened. God will give us victorious spirits, but it would be great to know that we have a great army backing us up as we go into battle.

Blessings

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 60:12

Go for souls, and Generation final - my weekend

We'll haven't blogged for a few days and so much to blog about!!

Starting with the weekend - 'Go for Souls' went off as I knew it would, there was so much spiritual stuff around it trying to get us sick or unable to attend. James and I lost our voices - strange - our weapons, and a few others got sick in the lead up also.

Anyway, we pushed through had some amazing worship times, even being a part of the band I really found myself in the Throne room of God! Was awesome!

Outreach on the Saturday was fun, my group of kicked out of the shopping center, the group on the trains were threatened with bottles and rocks and the other guys, I don't' know, they probably just went well! lol

All up I heard 13 souls were saved and became a part of the Kingdom of Heaven - I pray God will reveal Himself to many more that were engaged with also that came so close.

Sunday night, I had my final Generation meeting at Glenroy so I had my 'Famous Last Words' sorta approach to the night. Was a sad event but I'll survive ;)

After the meeting, we had some prayer for healing in a friend, but God had other plans for the first steps to holiness and had some deliverance from a demonic stronghold instead - the rest to come later still, but God is awesome and always wins the battle.

Commissioning this weekend - also looking forward to that, and also my friend and session mate, Kathleen is flying in tomorrow for the weekend, so should be awesome to have quite a few of our future session mates at the same place at the same time before college.

Blessings to you all

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:23

The General's health update

Just some other news also if you havn't heard - sounds like the General is going well. According to a good source - his son - sound's like he's basically back to normal and has resumed international travel.

Keep praying for the General of the Salvation Army as God has asked us to pray for our leaders.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus....”

1 Timothy 2:1-6

God is good

What a great few weeks it's been, God is good!!

I've been reading heaps more of God's word, I have to admit my motivation was more in competition to some teenage girls who were reading more than I was - I was very embarrassed! I've been trying to read at least 5 chapters a night and it's been awesome - God's word really brings life!!

My devotional reading the other night was great too - I'll share some of it with you;

"Many people who are called miss the call because they are dull of hearing. There is something in the call, 'Many are called, but few are chosen' (Matt 22:14) And how will the choice be made? The choice is always your choice first. You will find that the gifts are your choice first. You will find that salvation is your choice. God has made it all, but you have to choose. God wants you to make an inward call, to be in a great intercessory condition of imploring the Holy One to prepare you for that wonderful spiritual body."

"If you want to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the grace and in the grace of God, get hungry enough to be fed; get thirsty enough to cry out; be broken enough that you do not want anything in the world unless He comes Himself"

I'm heading upto Brisbane for the weekend for the Unlimited Conference if anyone is up that way, will be a great weekend. I'm meeting up with most of my team I went to Rwanda with there. I've finally finished editing the DVD set of our documentary from Rwanda also, if anyone is interested in watching it, feel free to contact me - it's turned out really well actually.

Pray for next years college session world wide - the Ambassadors of Holiness! Don't forget to pray for the General, Officers and present Cadets also!!

"And they were all amazed at the greatness of God."

Luke 9:43

Accepted!

I've officially been accepted as an Ambassador of Holiness for 2009.

For those who don't follow Army jargon, that means I've been accepted for training as an Officer (minister) within the Salvation Army.

Thanks for everyone who has supported and prayed for me over this journey. Please continue to pray for the session of Ambassadors, it will be so rewarding, but very challenging at the same time!!

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Sounds of Hell - WARNING - DISTURBING!

I found this video on you tube the other day.

I know many readers won't believe it and will say it's a hoax, but whether or not it is - we know Hell exists and even if it is a hoax, thinking it could be even similar or as simple as something we could make up, it's freaky. It will be worse than something we could ever imagine with a human brain!!

WARNING - This video might be disturbing to many viewers

Are you saved - Ask Jesus today to save you - it's free! The choice is yours.

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 2:21

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

I'm no longer a Salvo

I've realised there are becoming more and more people that are calling themselves 'Salvo's'.

Many people that attend The Salvation Army once a year for Christmas or Easter or a dedication etc are calling themselves 'Salvo's', people that work in Salvo's stores or Employment Plus, or even people that just have family members who are connected with the Salvation Army in some form, or possibly just be fed by the soup van's are now saying they are Salvo's.

The name 'Salvo' is getting watered down so much and is loosing it's power and it's true intended purpose, so I am no longer a 'Salvo'!

These people are watering down what the Salvation Army is all about - so I don't want to be associated with an organisation that is becoming a club that is no more than a name that has a good reputation that makes me look good in return.

I now am going to start calling myself a SALVATIONIST! Why - because I am signed up, paid up, committed and actually in the fight. I'm not happy just even attending 'church' on Sunday, but without exception, or excuse, will obey God's plan for my life - everyday of my life, whether a public holiday, RDO or my birthday. Enough is enough of people who talk it up and in reality do nothing - I will not talk up myself or my actions, but only talk up the awesomeness of God and Jesus alone.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, of the Army of my God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.

The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, Prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or die in this Army;

but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out.

I am faithful, capable, and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. I am not a baby.

I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.

No one else has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, I am not a wimp.

I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His Name and building His Kingdom!

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.

I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.

I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His Army, I had nothing

If I end up with nothing I will still come out ahead,

For I am more than a conqueror.

The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.

Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.

Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.

And Hell cannot handle me

I AM A SOLDIER

Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield

He will promote me to glory and there I will rejoice in His presence.

I am a soldier in God's Army and I'm marching claiming victory.

I will not give up, not turn around.

Here I stand.... a soldier!

(author unknown)

Are you signed up and fully committed? Why not - would you prefer to watch TV or sleep in??

"Give up you small ambitions and come, change the world!"

Mark 8:34-35

Holiness

Something I found in Henry Blackaby's book called "Holiness" p49-50;

It is much more serious for a leader to sin than for an average person, because they influence so many. when a leader sins, many times God does not hide it, but He announces it from the housetops. "So David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord'. And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die' [David, your sin gave an occasion for all of My enemies to blaspheme My Name]" (2 Sam. 12:13-14)

When I read that, I wept and wept, "Oh, God, I love You with all of my heart."

But God would say, "Then deal with sin, because there are enemies of Mine who are just waiting to find some of my children who are going to sin. And when they see you sin, or a church sin, it is going to give them great occasion to blaspheme My Name"

I replied, "Oh, Lord, I did not know it was that serious."

"I know you did not" He answered "or you wouldn't keep on sinning the way you do"

Something for us to think about today!!

Salvation - more than you think!

On Sunday 16th of March at 6pm there is an enrolment of a Senior Soldier at Macleod Salvation Army Corps in Melbourne of 18 year old girl. If you're around, feel free to drop in.

I just stopped to think back to the time I joined the fight with the Salvation Army. I had grown up in the Salvation Army so it was the natural next thing to do - but that's not what it was about for me, I remember saying in my testimony - "I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD"!

Once my life is over, I don't necessarily want to be remembered, but I want to have left the world better than when I entered into it. By declaring that I'm in the fight by becoming a Soldier put me in a position where I could do that. How you might say?

The Salvation Army was raised by the hand of God to hit the world like a meteor and leave a crater - make an impact. That is in the form of hitting peoples hearts by the lead of the Holy Spirit so they will see that they can live a life of freedom in Jesus and hence live an eternally beautiful life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It goes deeper than that, that's just the tip of the iceberg. You might think that once we have received Jesus' salvation that's all we need - really? Your not living much of a life then are you!!

Once we receive this salvation, and are baptised into the Holy Spirit we take on the great commission, step into a role that changes the world, a role that can set the captive free - physically but also spiritually, heal the sick, breathe life into dry bones by bringing words of life or prophecy into someones life that may be dry or without hope.

We can approach and fight injustice, people are all loved by God the same, how can one person suffer while another sits in a lovely million dollar house and get served by a servant, even a child getting bullied in a school yard by a group of other kids, that must break that kids spirit and it doesn't just stop there, the parents by their natural protective spirit must break their hearts.

We can stop sinning and live a sanctified life - believe it? Don't believe you can experience living a life just as you would in Heaven while still on Earth? Move further into the Spirit.

This could become a very long entry, so I'll stop here - you get the picture.

Heart to God, hand to man. We need to make a difference, stop worrying about yourself, there are people that you can lift up and encourage today, maybe even give them the gift of salvation!

"My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm."

Isaiah 51:5

The walk of Holiness

How's your walk of Holiness going?

I ask because of a few things that have been brought into the light lately.

As Christians, we hope to become more like Jesus every day - don't we? We, as Salvationists enter into a covenant with God - God keeps His part, so ultimately it is us who needs to keep the commitment that we sign. How much integrity do we have with ourselves, but most importantly, with God!

I had a dream last night that I was moving into college to start my training for Officership, and I was sharing a room with someone else and I happened to see in his case a stash of cigarettes! Even the covenant for Soldiers forbids the use of these death sticks, but it made me so angry that someone training to become a leader and person of influence of this 'organisation' would have them and assumed to be using them.

There has been reports of other 'Soldiers' also breaking thier covenants by consuming alcohol also - but this wasn't a dream. What does this tell you about their integrity?

We're fighting more than the flesh in this battle, we need to overcome the flesh and sin and move to the real battle here which is in the spirtual! Get real!

As it says in one of my favourite battle songs "Raise the glorious standards higher" [SASB 696 v3] so let's take the worlds standards and live much higher - set the standard as it is in Heaven.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12

A stolen generation?!

"Honor your father and your mother,

so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.

Exodus 20:12-14

Is it coincidence that these 3 laws occur in this order?

I was just trying to have some prayer time in the shower - instead God led me onto abortion, figure that!

I was just wondering if there was some direct correlation between the rise of abortion with the rise of infertility?

I wonder if God allows a certain number of souls to come to earth at once.

Then I wonder if those who are missusing God's gift of intercourse for selfish purposes outside it's intended use, and then happen to fall pregnant, then having an abortion are robbing those women who truly want to have children of them? I wonder?

Let's fight for this unborn generation, there are many ladies, and their husbands, who would give anything to have a family, but unfortunatally can't, pray for them today.

We are quick to blame God for things but when we look at things, maybe they're our fault! We live outside God's guidelines, and turn our back on Him, but then we quickly jump back to blame Him, don't we!?

Imagine we all obeyed, how things would go correctly that way! Imagine playing a game of football outside the rules - it wouldn't work! It would quickly fall apart, and is no where near as enjoyable - it's exactly the same with the world, 'play' within the 'rules' - it's all for our enjoyment!

Try living our intended way today....

"He...established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands"

Psalm 78:5-7

A call to Officership

I don't think I have long left to live!

Let me explain;

I was thinking yesterday about Officership and how we need to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. We need to die to ourselves and let Jesus live through us.

I've been getting tired of living in this world, not giving up everything in my life to Jesus. I go to work, have to answer to my earthly boss, do earthly things and I feel trapped, but worse, I feel like Jesus is in handcuffs in my life.

Yesterday I was seeing things ideally again, and I saw everyone who enters into Officership is no longer themselves, but a Jesus clone. Once we enter College, we start dying and Jesus starts living and by the time we leave college (if not earlier) Jesus is all that exists. Ideally this should happen for every Soldier of the Salvation Army - but is essential for full time ministry - ie, Officership.

The song "it's no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me" won't leave my head!

Then last night, my devotional that I read spelt it out so well what I had been thinking all day, so I'll include it since it says it better than I could....

With the clothing upon of the Spirit, human depravity is covered, and everything that contrary to the mind of God is destroyed. God must have bodies for Himself, perfectly prepared by the Holy Spirit, for the day of the Lord. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from Heaven" (2 Corinth 5:2)

The Spirit has to breathe into us a new occupancy, a new order. The Holy Spirit came to give the vision of a life in which Jesus is perfected. It is Christ "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace" (2 Tim. 1:9)

We who are saved have been called with a holy calling, called to be saints - to be pure, holy, and Godlike; to be sons with power. It is a long time now since it was settled and death was abolished. Death has no more power. This was made know through the Gospel, which brought in immortality. Mortality is a hindrance. Sin has no more dominion over you. You reign in Christ, and you make rightful use of His finished work. Don't grown and travail for a week.

"Awake, you who sleep" (Eph 5:14); put on light, and open your eyes. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Col 3:1).

Stir yourselves up!! Where are you? I am risen with Christ, planted in Him. It was a beautiful planting. I am seated with Him. God gives me the credit, and I believe Him. Why should I doubt?

Dare to believe until the life of Jesus is implanted within your soul. "The righteous will hold to his way" (Job 17:9). God has reserved him who is godly for Himself (Ps. 4:3). Therefore, lift up your heads.

(Smith Wigglesworth)

Are you unhappy with the dull, boring, incomplete, morbid life that you are living? Jesus has called you to more - believe it - He wants you holy and sanctified - He wants you to be a vessel wholly available for His perfect purpose for your life - invite Him in and give Him your all!

What are you doing with your life, with the talents He has given to you??

Have you said 'yes' to Officership -if 'no' WHY NOT????? Give into the wrestling that you're doing with God in your soul, just let it go.

Pray about it now - seriously - "give up your SMALL ambitions for your own life and come change the world"!!!! Mark 8:34-35

I'll fight!

We sing some really nice songs in church, don't we! Some great theological truths that help us remember what's in the Bible, and some newer songs with just good tunes.

I love some Salvo song's 'cos of the lyrics, so much depth, truth and meat! They also can fuel our mission.

Here's one with some good words in parts (cheesy in others), but how seriously do you listen to the words - and most importantly, how close does your life reflect the words you sing (this reflects words you sing on general radio songs also!)

Something for you to enjoy, but also to think about.

"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'

Mark 7:18-20