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

Part 2 - Christmas Carols, does the world know what it's singing?

On this eve of the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world, I'd like to point out some more lines of some of the carols we love so much!

Away in a manger

V3 Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care

And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there

If someone says to you they don't know how to pray - there's one they'll know right there!!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

V3 Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

I love the words of Charles Wesley such great truths from the Gospel that used to teach the illiterate members of society through songs - I pray that continues this year to the spiritually illiterate members of society!

Another favourite of mine this year for it's words;

O Little Town of Bethlehem

v1b Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and dreams of all the years

Are met in Thee tonight

v3b But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in.

v4 O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend o us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

What a great selection of words found in this carol also!! Such gems that go mostly un-noticed.

Take note of these words and others in the songs we sing in this years 'Birthday' celebration and point them out to everyone that will listen!!

Have a great and safe Christmas and have a great New Year if you don't visit again 'till then!

God bless!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord"

Luke 2:11

Christmas Carols, does the world know what it's singing?

Watching the carols on TV, I wonder if people take any notice of the words they actually sing.

I thought over the next few day, I'd type out some of the great words and truths we sing about in these songs about the most significant birthday in all of Earths history.

I'll start with some lines from my favourite carol - Joy to the world

V1. Joy to the world! The Lord has come

Let Earth receive her King,

Let every heart prepare Him room

& Heaven and nature sing

Joy!! I wonder where our joy is sometimes, especially in worship services!! Bring it back.

Let earth receive her King - how many people sing this at Christmas time but still don't realise we're singing about Jesus!! Heaven and nature sing - It reminds me of the verse - if we don't sing praises to Jesus, the rocks will!!! (Luke 19:40)

V2. Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns,

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

V3. He rules the world with truth and grace

and makes the nations prove

the glory of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

He rules the world - Hallelujah!! Even if men don't recognise it - He does! Did you notice it just didn't stop there - He rules with truth and grace - top that!! But wait, there's more.... and makes the nations prove the glory of His righteousness - good stuff. And wonders of His love - what an amazing truth there, reminds me a bit like Song 52 in the Salvation Army Song Book, the Wonders of His grace!

Think about all the words in the Carols we sing this Christmas season, don't worry about the meaningless carols like Jingle Bells or Rudolf, but the weighty ones that tell the great truths about our Lord AND Saviour - JESUS!!

Praise Him and worship him with JOY this Christmas - He deserves it!

Back with more soon....

"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"

Luke 2:7

12 Days to go!

12 Days until I leave for Rwanda!!

Please be praying for our trip, that God will be glorified and many will come to know Him and grow in a relationship with Him!

"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

http://missionteam.salvos.org.au/p18/project18rwanda.php

Can Christians be slaves to Satan??

I was just reading an email from Pastor Bob Larson. Many of you may have heard of him from John Safran's series called 'John Safran vs God'.

Bob was talking about a new series he is blessed to be a part of where he will have his own TV series showing many people coming to Christ and being set free from demons.

One thing he talked about different Pastors preaching that Christians can't be possessed and then goes on to tell of a story about a 'Christian' father who raped his own daughter, and a few other stories like that. This father even though claimed to be a 'Christian', he clearly was still influenced by the forces of darkness - don't underestimate them!

If you are a Christian - you CAN be possessed by Satan!! Only Holy-Christians cannot be possessed!

Are you Holy?? Are you without sin??

Only then are you free from Satan's grip - many 'Christians' these days don't even know about Holiness and are still living as puppets of Satan and making God look bad.

Holiness people! Find out what it is and live it - we can overcome sin and live in all of God's promises today!!

Hallelujah!

"But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you"

Matthew 12:28

The 12 days of Christmas??

Something for the Christmas season!

Enjoy

Almost there!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"

Galatians 6:9

Times get hard, but we generally hold on and keep going. The longer the hard times continue, the more we want to give up.

How disappointing would it be if we fight to hold on, but just before the end we then give up just before the finish line. I have a saying - the longer we wait... the more impatient we get, the less impatient we need to be, whatever we are waiting for is now almost here!!

Warriors, keep going, never tire, never give up - Go in the strength of the Lord! The end is ever drawing closer.