Hi again - it's been a while!
I've been thinking over the past few weeks about our sins against God and I have just been reading James' blog entitled Fear of God and made me think all about it again. As much as I hate talking about our 'Post Modern world', we do live in a world where we mix and match everything to suit ourselves, even as Christians sometimes.
One guy I was talking to during our outreach time at Easter Camp last weekend, he and his wife were searching for God and didn't find Him in Christianity, so they've tried Buddhism etc, and they're taking the bits from all religions that suit themselves and they believe that God will honour their efforts in being the best people they see themselves as being/trying to be!
What I'm trying to say is, how do we see our sin in this light??? If we keep bending the rules and making the 'rules' for our lives to suit ourselves - take a bit of this religion, and a bit from this one - what sins are really sins, and what is going to get us into Heaven - if anything at all anymore?!?!?
This world we live in is really screwed up - where is the light in the world so full of darkess!
Our evangelists are even getting too 'busy' to make time to get out there and put the light back in the world - Satan loves us getting busy, and diverted from what we are born and called to do. People don't know where the line is drawn anymore, what is sin? "I'm a good person, god will respect that and if he won't accept that I don't want to be in his heaven anyway!" - that is a common response I get on the streets quite often (note I put god with a small 'g' since they're obviously not talking about my God who deserves the respect of a big 'G' and big 'H' for His, etc)
One of the nights at Easter camp, we had a really powerful night - we had a night of confessions, and it really was amazingly powerful!! God was honoured with all of us confessing our sins to each other, but I found a few of us, including myself, couldn't find many sins in our lives - do I think I'm too 'holy' and I don't sin?! Definitally not, but I clearly don't see sin for what it is.
We don't have Holiness meetings anymore in the Salvation Army, or at least not that I know of, and hence, we're not reaching an acceptable level of Holiness in our lives - after all, we are in the buisiness of growing Saints! Don't I see my sin for what it is, and so many of us keep making excuses for our sins saying 'that's not really a sin', when they actually are!! How's God supposed to use us, when we have sin getting in the way!!? Whether we recoginse it or not - it's still there blocking our way to God.
Lord, I pray for all of us, please let us know our sin - let us see it clearly and know what is sin in Your eyes! Jesus, I want to to be gloryfied through my life, so please let me identify my sin and know when I do sin so Your blood can wash me as white as snow, so You can use me through Your Holy Spirit! God I pray this for your whole army - call us back to Holiness. I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus.
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who belives in me should stay in darkess" John 13:46
P.S. also, you might like to read the mercypeacegrace blog entitled 'my roadblock to Holiness' - another interesting read on a very similar topic along with James blog on 'The fear of God'
Monday, 16 April 2007
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Trials and Easter
Hi all,
I was remided of the Salvation Army's fourth doctrine where it states that we believe that Jesus is both God and human natures combined and as we approach our Easter season we can only imagine how our Master would have felt in the garden of Gethsemane knowing what was about to come.
Being human, and knowing pain and dessertion, which is actually worse?? I think being desserted by all his closest friends would have hurt more than the actual crucifiction - not that I've been crucified lately to compare!
On Thursday my Grandfather is going in to have a cancerous kidney removed and just at lunchtime he said to me 'You can take my place if you want' which remided me of Jesus in the garden, which also occured this Thursday in the Easter events. If Grandpa could give it up he would, but Jesus having walked in our 'sandles' - having experienced being human knows exactly the fear that we go through in situations like this.
I'm just so glad that our God loves us so much he sent His only Son to not just judge us from His mighty Throne, but actually come down and walk with us and mingle with His creation. In doing this He showed that He actually understands situations we face so we can't say to Him 'You don't understand' or anything similar 'cos He does! Our God knows what we're going through more than we even do!
Easter is an amazingly powerful time in the Christian callendar - He showed He was Lord of all and King of kings and He has power over live and death!
Praise You Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to me, and for taking my sin upon yourself.
I was remided of the Salvation Army's fourth doctrine where it states that we believe that Jesus is both God and human natures combined and as we approach our Easter season we can only imagine how our Master would have felt in the garden of Gethsemane knowing what was about to come.
Being human, and knowing pain and dessertion, which is actually worse?? I think being desserted by all his closest friends would have hurt more than the actual crucifiction - not that I've been crucified lately to compare!
On Thursday my Grandfather is going in to have a cancerous kidney removed and just at lunchtime he said to me 'You can take my place if you want' which remided me of Jesus in the garden, which also occured this Thursday in the Easter events. If Grandpa could give it up he would, but Jesus having walked in our 'sandles' - having experienced being human knows exactly the fear that we go through in situations like this.
I'm just so glad that our God loves us so much he sent His only Son to not just judge us from His mighty Throne, but actually come down and walk with us and mingle with His creation. In doing this He showed that He actually understands situations we face so we can't say to Him 'You don't understand' or anything similar 'cos He does! Our God knows what we're going through more than we even do!
Easter is an amazingly powerful time in the Christian callendar - He showed He was Lord of all and King of kings and He has power over live and death!
Praise You Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to me, and for taking my sin upon yourself.
Friday, 23 March 2007
Get results when you pray
“When a believing person prays, great things happen.”
James 5:16 NCV
Sandra P Aldrich says, ‘Early in my widowhood as I prayed … about a possible move, I ended with, “Thank you God that you’ll show us what to do”. My 12-year-old said, ‘Mom you didn’t say Amen.’ I nodded, ‘That’s because God and I are going to talk about this all day.’ And we did. Eventually my family made a cross-country move that opened a new career for me. But more importantly, I began a new adventure with God. Here’s what I learned:‘
(a) You don’t pray into thin air: where I live, Pike’s Peak rises above the city … but when clouds obscure it we don’t say, “The Peak’s gone!” It’s there even when we can’t see it … and God’s working even when you don’t see Him. ‘
(b) Just jump in: James says, “When a believing person prays, great things happen,” so while reading about prayer and learning about great intercessors can be helpful, you’ve got to start talking to God yourself. ‘
(c) There’s no ‘right’ way to pray: one lady remembers her grandparent’s prayers being filled with “Thees” and “Thous”, that made her feel unfit to pray. Then one day as she wrestled with a stubborn lawnmower she simply said, “Lord, I really need your help”. Suddenly the responding roar of the engine gave her a fresh awareness of God’s presence. ‘
(d) Pray like you’d talk to a friend: Jesus said, “Be direct. Ask for what you need” (Lk 11:10 TM).’ Aldrich continues, ‘My grandmother talked to God so naturally that I’d meander into the kitchen expecting to see a neighbour.’ That’s how to get results when you pray.
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Let it go!
God really pointed out to me recently, how often I've heard passionate prayers about how the church is caught up in tradition and then begging for God to help us to move on. Yeah, nice prayer, but it started to get a bit old by the 15th time I heard it!
I think God pointed out to me that they wern't moving on, but they were allowing it to effect them and they were actually the ones who were being 'effected' by the traditions. I know God is telling many of us to do a new thing, but many, I have noticed are worried about what everyone else is doing and not what their orders are
God continually tells us, individually, He requires of us, so we just have to be obdient to that which He calls us too and not get distracted by what the world, or even the rest of the church is doing.
Big prayers are great, especially when they are from the Sprit and the passion of the pray-er, but it can often turn into a 'stand on the corner and pray to be heard' saga. Pray in the Sprit and don't be afraid to 'wrestle with the Angel until you get a blessing' . Pray without cease, my keyring remids me continualy.
Just a final note, Easter camp is going to be great this year, God's already been giving his prophets dreams for our preparation and His glory.
He is risen!! Tell the world that Jesus lives!
I think God pointed out to me that they wern't moving on, but they were allowing it to effect them and they were actually the ones who were being 'effected' by the traditions. I know God is telling many of us to do a new thing, but many, I have noticed are worried about what everyone else is doing and not what their orders are
God continually tells us, individually, He requires of us, so we just have to be obdient to that which He calls us too and not get distracted by what the world, or even the rest of the church is doing.
Big prayers are great, especially when they are from the Sprit and the passion of the pray-er, but it can often turn into a 'stand on the corner and pray to be heard' saga. Pray in the Sprit and don't be afraid to 'wrestle with the Angel until you get a blessing' . Pray without cease, my keyring remids me continualy.
Just a final note, Easter camp is going to be great this year, God's already been giving his prophets dreams for our preparation and His glory.
He is risen!! Tell the world that Jesus lives!
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Restore our sense of wonder!
VERSE: Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Psalm 80:7
THOUGHT: This passage makes me want to cry out to God: "Please restore us God! Restore us, your people, O God, who have lost their sense of wonder! Restore our old withered hearts to their innocence. Restore our lives to their unsoiled perfection and intention. Restore us to yourself, O God Almighty!" While not every Christian has lost his or her sense of wonder and while not every one of us has an old withered heart, we all need God's presence to shine upon us and renew us!
PRAYER: O God, the maker of new things, sometimes I feel so old and worn; my soul is weary from the fight. I need your presence and strength to restore me. Please restore me to your side and make your grace alive in me. Please restore me to your love and share it with others through me. Please restore me to your righteousness soothers can see your character in me. Please restore me, and not just me, please restore all those who call on your mighty name so that the world may see you in us and come to know your saving grace.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Dangerous stories!!
Some of the youth leaders have just attended a conference on the weekend which was in the theme of Dangerous Stories. There were a few big named speakers which didn't all agree with each other, which made it very interesting.
A few quick questions for you to think about, does the Jesus you know reflect the position you are in - ie, a Empire Jesus - authoritive and after domination becase you are in a position of power, or a vicitm Jesus - cos you are being suppressed.... the point is our perception of Jesus is often affected by the way we live - "show me your life and I'll show you who Jesus is"! Get back to the gospels!!
God made us in His image, lets return the favour! Get back to being like Him. (Holy/pure...)
Six obsticles in living a life for God and telling the world are 1. our perception of who Jesus is, 2.who we feel we are, 3. not seeing the world and how it actually is around us (seeing the need for Him), 4. Money (consumerism), 5. Non-biblical concept of family and 6. addiction to the Holywood notions of love (ie, romance, sentimental love, etc, and not seeing how God loves the world - self sacrificial love for the world)
How much spiritual muscle do you have - how easily are you defeated by temptation and other distractions away from God? A though - Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting to prepare Him for only 3 years of ministry - how much preparation do we put in for our entire life of ministry?? We need to focus ourselves on self-denial, submission and the worship of God alone!
We sanitise the gospel to make it more confortable for ourselves - ie, a nice clean nativity scene, with no bad smells, a nice comfortable manger, a happy Mary and no noisy animals, a painless birth etc. Really? A nice crucifiction for Jesus with a piece of cloth giving Him some dignity, really, no not likely, He would have been totally humiliated and humbled!! We need to connect with the real Jesus, who got in there and got Himself dirty, did things and wasn't afraid to be persicuted and threatened to the point of death. We rather keep ourselves safe and clean and God isn't going to get any glory from that - is He?
A few quick questions for you to think about, does the Jesus you know reflect the position you are in - ie, a Empire Jesus - authoritive and after domination becase you are in a position of power, or a vicitm Jesus - cos you are being suppressed.... the point is our perception of Jesus is often affected by the way we live - "show me your life and I'll show you who Jesus is"! Get back to the gospels!!
God made us in His image, lets return the favour! Get back to being like Him. (Holy/pure...)
Six obsticles in living a life for God and telling the world are 1. our perception of who Jesus is, 2.who we feel we are, 3. not seeing the world and how it actually is around us (seeing the need for Him), 4. Money (consumerism), 5. Non-biblical concept of family and 6. addiction to the Holywood notions of love (ie, romance, sentimental love, etc, and not seeing how God loves the world - self sacrificial love for the world)
How much spiritual muscle do you have - how easily are you defeated by temptation and other distractions away from God? A though - Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting to prepare Him for only 3 years of ministry - how much preparation do we put in for our entire life of ministry?? We need to focus ourselves on self-denial, submission and the worship of God alone!
We sanitise the gospel to make it more confortable for ourselves - ie, a nice clean nativity scene, with no bad smells, a nice comfortable manger, a happy Mary and no noisy animals, a painless birth etc. Really? A nice crucifiction for Jesus with a piece of cloth giving Him some dignity, really, no not likely, He would have been totally humiliated and humbled!! We need to connect with the real Jesus, who got in there and got Himself dirty, did things and wasn't afraid to be persicuted and threatened to the point of death. We rather keep ourselves safe and clean and God isn't going to get any glory from that - is He?
"Sure those 'christians' are nice people, but really are a bunch of girls!"
We have way too much pride, if we follow the example of Hannah in 1 Samuel and repent with tears and humble ourselves, pray without cease, and really cry out to God, He will hear our cry. REPENT - TO RE-THINK EVERYTHING - how many of us (if at all) repent, but actually RE-THINK EVERYTHING??? Not just shoot a quick prayer Heaven-wards asking God for forgivness, but actually change the way we do things??
Expect the unexpected - Expect God to do amazing, miraculous things - God Himself is doing unthinkable things presently - thousands of Muslims are converting to Christianity through dreams God is giving them!! I wondered how they were going to see the light!! But beware - they are totally sold out to God, they put almost all of us 'Christians' to shame. Things of man multiply, but things of God - explode!
Is your life a dangerous story?? - at least every morning make sure Hell has a crisis meeting knowing that you've just woken up!!
Praise God!!
N.B. - HOLY SPIRIT = EMPOWEMENT 4 MISSION
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Jesus is Lord!
VERSE: For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers orrulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. -- Colossians 1:16 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Colossians+1:16
THOUGHT: "Jesus is Lord!" That doesn't just mean that we have yielded our lives to his will and trusted in his grace. "Jesus is Lord!" This means that everything that is created is his. All angels, demons,and spirits are below him and their purpose is to honor and serve him. Even though demons have chosen not to honor and serve him,that decision does not change what their purpose should be or the fact that Jesus showed his superiority over them in his crucifixion and resurrection. It means the universe, with its vast expanse and glory, was made by him and made to declare his glory. As God's image to us, God's presence for us to know and see, he is our King, Lord, and Savior. If our life is in his hands and our hearts are yielded to his will, then no one and nothing can prevent his ultimate victory for us and in us.
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