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

Prayer

Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God. -Andrew Murray

Which one are you?

Prayer works!

Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?....Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude to the things about which we pray. --Oswald Chambers

Version 1 or 2?

If you needed a computer program that had a version 1 and a version 2 on offer - which would you choose? If the second version is the updated version and is a total upgrade on the first (which goes without saying!!), which version would you choose - price not being an issue?

I think everyone would go for the second, the newest version, right?

I've been thinking a bit lately about baptism, in both 'versions', water and Spirit and why there is such a big issue around them. I totally understand the baptism of the Spirit, I couldn't live without it, but water - what's the big issue?

We talked about this subject in one of our lectures yesterday so it's sparked a few new thoughts in my head so I'm finally making a big effort and letting it out!

I've been reading parts of the Old Testament in my rations, and I've found in the books of Moses that if something is made 'unclean' it is to be washed with water to be made clean (Leviticus). I was wondering if water baptism evolved from this over many hundreds of years, but that's just a side note...

So, water baptism was carried out by John as a baptism of repentance as a promise salvation that was on it's way. As it says in Luke 3 referring to the prophecy of Isaiah;

"A voice of one calling in the desert,

'Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight,

the rough ways smooth.

6And all mankind will see God's salvation."

John was just preparing the way for Jesus, who brings salvation through His blood and then sent the Holy Spirit, the 'upgrade' to water baptism. Once you've called on Jesus to be your Saviour, you will have repented of your sins which separate you from Him and then you receive the Spirit all in one 'version'. [This is also helpful when you find yourself in the desert where there is no water, face to face with Jesus...]

This 'version 2', the baptism of the Holy Spirit, comes with power and all the benefits from the first along with SO much more. Why would you go backward and live off the promise of the second, by living with the first?

Your thoughts?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1:8

Resurrection

From Wednesday to Friday this last week I attended ACC at Box Hill, Melbourne. ACC is Aggressive Christianity Conference based on Catherine Booths book.

The last night, Friday night, Russell Rook talked to us and gave us a powerful message from Luke 24 on learning to raise the dead - a title that captured me from the start.

When we meet the disciples after the Crucifixion, we find them hiding in fear and without hope since Jesus, who they had been following and learning everything from for the past 3 years is now gone. They felt they were under threat from the rest of the Jews and were living in fear of their lives.

Then Jesus comes on the scene, just appears from no where and says 'Peace'. That's nice! This means everything to these guys, from living in fear of their lives to knowing they're standing in the presence of the One who gives life!! No need to fear anymore, if the Jews or anyone else does kill them for preaching the good news - IT'S NOT THE END - the resurrection is the final word - Jesus is the Alpha and OMEGA - the beginning and the END - He has the final say!

From here on, the disciples took the gospel FEARLESSLY to the ends of the earth. No need to fear death or what any man could do to them, the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

We don't believe the story ends with death - it ends with resurrection!

Hallelujah

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"

Philippians 3:10

Spiritual Attacks

Has it just been me, or have the spiritual attacks been stepping up?

The past few weeks, God has really been looking after me with attacks coming from all angles, even from close friends being used by the enemy. Close friends effecting other friendships that mean a lot to me, attacks at work - big attacks, attacks within teams at church, all over the place.

God continually reminds me to repent daily, wash myself in His blood, and protect myself with the armor of Salvation - this is a daily thing, not just a thing when you get attacked or every few months when ever you feel you need to get yourself right with God - DAILY! It's a great feeling, first thing in the morning getting right with God - it always, OK, mostly gets me in a right place before God to face the day.

Today I was a bit down, mostly because I've been cut off from a friend presently, but I couldn't get into a right place spiritually. A few weeks ago, I actually forced myself to ask God for something that felt selfish, the gift of tongues - and received it! This is the best spiritual gift for strengthening yourself with God - I love it! Today this gift helped me and strenghten me - God is great!

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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 6:11-12

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

Victory

"All our victories are won before we go into the fight"

Smith Wigglesworth

Movers and shakers

Note the words of Acts 4:31: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembles together was shaken."

There are many churches where they never pray the kind of prayer that you read of here. A church that does not know how to pray and to shout will never be shaken. If you live in a place like that you might as well write over the threshold; "Ichabod" - "The glory has departed from Israel!" (1 Sam. 4:21)

It is only when men have learned the secret of prayer, power, and praise that God comes forth. Some people say, "Well I praise God inwardly," but if your heart is full of praise, you will have to let the praise come out.

"As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man"

Proverbs 27:19

Encouragement

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Romans 1:11-12

A topic that's constantly circulating recently has been encouragement and encouraging fellow believers in Jesus.

There's nothing worse than brothers and sisters causing trouble among themselves, and it is a serious problem within 'churches' all through the ages. It's clearly what the enemy wants, and sometimes we give it to him or even assist him in his plan.

Today, let's lift each other up, even if it isn't someone that's in the church - encourage everyone you talk to today. Let's be people that build up and not bring down, the world is already broken enough - let's change the world starting right now.

In Jesus Name.

Praise God! Revival?

I'm loving ministry at the moment more than ever!! God is moving, is there a revival coming to Australia....

The past few Sundays has been awesome, God's been moving and the mercy seat has required to have a 'take a number' system for the line.... OK not quite, but many people have been going to publicly meet with God!!

Today is Pentecost - the anniversary of the empowering of the Disciples with the Holy Spirit.

Our service started with worship today - usually as I lead, I feel much tension in the spiritual realm, but today the Spirit took off and had a great time of worship, many visitors were there just for Mothers day also, which was great!!

From then on, God kept speaking into people's lives. God even forced me to go to the mercy seat today just to soak up more of His presence!! It was awesome!!

Last week, I prayed for a good mate at the mercy seat, and I've never seen anyone get up afterwards like him before with a huge yell of "Praise Jesus" that was also awesome!! He had broken through and had become an over comer of many things in his life, thanks to Jesus!!

Today during morning tea, one of the younger guys who's been attending for around a month now wanted me to teach him how to pray and almost gave his heart to God, but couldn't do it boldly enough, something kept stopping him, so I wrote out the salvation prayer for him to pray sometime today in his own time - I'll be following up to see how he went....

Was talking to a young girl who thinks she is bi.... please pray for her to be free of the lies of this world!

God's presence is so strong at the moment - a revival is happening in Lakeland, Florida, He was with us today, and a few other good reports - it's a good thing He's omnipresent - everywhere!!

God - we just want to give You the Glory today that You deserve. Show us Yourself, how big a God You really are! In Jesus Name I ask You to break down all the lies of the enemy also.

'But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."'

Luke 4:43

Has God been taken off His throne?

For those of you who might have read yesterdays blog, I think I got my confirmation in some shape.

I received an article by someone that hadn't even read my blog, which stated that Roman Catholics are no longer the largest religion, they have been overtaken!

How times are changing - what does/will this now mean?

This is what the article stated;

"For the first time in history Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion.

According to the Vatican statistical bureau the number of the world's population that are Muslims is 19.2%, with the number of Catholics trailing behind at 17.4%.

When considering all Christians and not just Roman Catholics, Christians make up 33 percent of the world population. The most recent figures from the Vatican have been published by the Vatican newspaper 'Osservatore Romano on March 30.

'For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top; Muslims have overtaken us,' Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican daily.

The figures on Muslims were put together by Muslim countries and then provided to the United Nations. The Vatican could only guarantee its own data, Formenti said.

The new statistics also shows that nearly half of the Roman Catholics Christians live in America"

9th April 2008

So, we who call ourselves Christians - what are we doing about this, obviously we're not doing as much as the Muslims, or are we?

I once read a quote in Phil Walls book 'Holiness at war' which said something like "Jehovah's witnesses are totally committed to a half truth, where as we are half committed to the whole truth" - so what's going on there. I think it's time we wake ourselves up and to get serious about the truth!! Are you with me??

Let's go sick at telling the world about the amazing grace and truth, and freedom, and love, and purpose, and ... (ok, you get the picture), about Jesus!!

Time's running too short to be sitting back and leaving it all to someone else!

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

2 Peter 1:16

Prayer

The youth of Melbourne Central Division had 24 hours of prayer that finished 7pm tonight. I only did 2 hours of the 24 but it was still a blessed time with God. I found myself bouncing off the walls, but I think it had something to do with the fair trade coffee I had with strawberry milk (we were almost out of normal milk...)

How can you have a relationship with someone without communication. I just thought of the movie 'Sixth Sense', how Bruce Willis' character didn't really talk much with his wife, but he kept going on with his 'life' but realised in the end there was no relationship, as such, at all.

To be a Christian, is to have a great relationship with the creator of the universe; that is something very special, but do you really have a close relationship with Him, or is it a relationship like Bruce Willis' in his movie where you just acknowledge God but keep going on with your busy life.

Remember, anything that takes priority over God is an idol.

Prayer, is the most important thing that a Christian can partake in. If you don't have a good prayer life, will God say to you that He doesn't really know you when that day comes? How sad will that be for your soul?

Romans 12:12 says "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

If we give God the bare minimum 10% of our day, that's still almost 3 hours in a day - so how bout spending at least 3 hours a day in prayer and study of the Word, challenging huh.

Prayer is not just great for your relationship with God, but it also encourages you and builds you up, so therefore you are able to go out boldly and change the world - all the power is in prayer!!

Remember the teaching from Pastor M.C. Hammer today, "We gotta pray just to make it today"!

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Acts 2:42