Archive for the ‘disciples life’ Category

Generation of vipers……

Posted: March 2, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matt 12:34 KJV)

We could apply this scripture to our own prayers in a reflective manner. What are our prayers to Him like? We must honestly acknowledge that what comes pouring out of us is our heart—either that or God’s Word is not true. What we are is revealed to God by what we say to Him in our prayer. We cannot hide it; we cannot be two-faced with Him.

So we set the stage of understanding that prayer is speaking to God what comes out of our heart. Even as this proverb Jesus gives is directed toward men, it is also true concerning our speech toward God. What we are comes out.

The desire of God us ward is that He wants His will done in every aspect of our life, and He wants our prayers to be according to His will. The truth is that when we ask things according to His will, our requests stand the greatest chance of being answered positively. One might ask the question “Why”? The answer is because, in effect, they are His thoughts coming back to Him. His thoughts having become lodged in our heart, we are now sending a part of Him back to Him. We see this lesson put before our eyes in the Word as we read of the life of the Master while He was here on earth in the flesh!

In this day especially with all the false teachings out there we need to be very cautious as not to think of this as a magic formula of some kind, as if we say certain words and out comes the desired thing. True prayer is —speaking God’s words back to Him. In this regard we come to realize that these are the prayers that have the best chance of being answered positively because it pleases God to see His children develop in His image. He then responds out of His love, even as we would to a child who pleases us.

For Indeed we serve an Awesome God!!!

Captured and Empowered by His Grace!

Posted: March 1, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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After all, God’s saving kindness has appeared for the benefit of all people. It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world. At the same time we can expect what we hope for—the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things. (Titus  2:11-14)

Here, grace is shown as the power that teaches, trains, disciplines, guides, and leads us. It does not force us. In other places, it is shown as counseling, comforting, encouraging, admonishing, guiding, convicting, rewarding, even restraining. It teaches us that we must deny immorality, exhorting us to give ourselves over to self-mastery, that is, to controlling ourselves. We must devote ourselves to integrity and loyalty to God right here and now, while expectantly and patiently looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection from the dead to glory.

It is such scriptures as this upon which the blocks of Spiritual truth are laid upon the foundation of Jesus Christ – One must read and meditate upon these words, asking Holy Spirit to birth them into our spirit-man.

For in the reading of these scriptures we are bombarding the deception of the world in regard to “self”, tearing down these lies and transforming them into Truth of the Kingdom.

The enemy has done much to infiltrate the church and her doctrines with worldly philosophies. As true disciples we must raise up the standard of God’s Word and battle against such heresies of individualism when confronted with them especially when they attempt to invade our own lives. The selfish mind set is for itself alone, whereas the Kingdom mind set is outward in nature, pointing away from ones self with a mindset of selfless service towards the Lord first and secondly towards our neighbor – trusting in faith that the Father shall meet all our needs.

For the truth is, when one has come to the cross of Christ having realized that He is our Messiah and acknowledging His Lordship in our lives we then surrender our rights unto Him. For we must reach out and grasp hold of the revelation, fully trusting that He is indeed the Good Shepherd whose only desire is for us to experience all that He has for us – the goodness of our God!

As well knowing that He alone is the King, who seeing that  One of His servants lays down their life, their agenda, their dreams for the good of His Kingdom out of love, honor and praise for Him, graciously returns ones life back unto them with abundance.

Glory to God, for He has not left us empty handed on this road of servant-hood,. Rather He has granted unto us the very vehicle in which to arrive at the place of selfless servant-hood , “Grace”.  For by the grace of our Lord we are ushered into the position to walk in the fullness of true servant-hood in the Kingdom. For His Grace is like nitrogen to the Spirit man, once it is deposited into our spirit, it ignites the very Flames of His passion towards God the Father in our hearts empowering us to walk Spirit first lives. Lives saturated in, transformed by, reflective of, and pouring out to all around us, the very Love of God the Father!

For indeed we serve and awesome God!

Are you abiding in the Lord?

Posted: February 28, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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“And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all” (Luke 6:19).

“And now, little children, abide in Him” (I John 2:28a).

How do we touch the living Christ?

The answer to this question depends entirely upon our relationship to Jesus.

The difference, dear friends, is the difference between a religion and a relationship. The multitudes do not have a relationship with Jesus, and so they must travel to where He is and work their way into His presence in hopes of touching Him

I had the privilege last week of eating lunch with a friend a few week‘s ago. Before we began eating he prayed over the food. Right there in the restaurant he cried out, “Heavenly Father!” He said it so slowly and deliberately and loudly that I thought his prayer would probably last thirty minutes or more. After a pause, he quietly said, “Thank you.” And we began to eat.

May I say that this friend spent no time entering in, because he was already abiding. With two or three words he brought us before the throne of God, and the very presence of Jesus was immediately manifest. This is what it means to touch the living Christ – immediately, effortlessly.

How do we abide in Christ?

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col2:6).

Receiving Christ Jesus the Lord is the Gate, while walking in Him is the Path. The first happens in a moment, while the second is a daily process. How did we receive Christ Jesus the Lord? We came to Him with all our sins, and weaknesses, and needs, and we cast ourselves upon Him. We trusted in His Life, and His Love, and His Grace, and His Mercy to save us. And so He did.

What is the next step?

It is this: to walk in Him as you received Him. “As you have received… so walk.” We are not saved by Grace and then left to live the Christian life in our own strength. Instead, we walk in Him the same way we received Him – by Grace, through Faith, and that not of ourselves. From start to finish it is the Gift of God.

I need Him as much today as I ever have. How about you? Apart from Him I can do nothing. Is this your experience also, or do you still think there are many things you can do without Him? I am still in need of His Life, and Love, and Grace, and Mercy in order to live. Are you that much different from me? I think not. We all approach Him the same way.

The exhortation to abide is for little children, not grown-ups. Little children! There is a simplicity in Christ that the multitudes cannot comprehend. We cannot wrap our brains around it, we must immerse our hearts into it.

When this revelation is manifested in your life you enter into a new level of Kingdom living. It is then that even in the midst of the fiery furnace, or in the middle of the largest storm you’ve ever faced you remain calm and in total peace for you know the Master is with you.

This level of understanding and maturity will open up to you the ability to be of greater service to the Master and His Kingdom. For once obtained you will be transformed ever so much more closely into the charter of the Lord, a new level of faith will burst on the scene and you will be able to not only walk in greater authority, you will as well be able to have a deeper level of death to self, so that more of the power of His life in you may be released!

If you are not experiencing this friends, ask the Father for it gives Him great pleasure to see His children walking in the promises of His Word.

For we do indeed serve and awesome God!

Faith like the Lord’s

Posted: February 27, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:12-14)

Jesus is the ultimate one “who believes.” All things ARE possible for him. Guess what? He longs to do great things through us, too! In fact, he promised he would do even greater things through us than he did himself because he is now at the Father’s side helping us!

So isn’t it time that we quit talking about what we can’t do, and start believing in the one who can do great things? Paul put it this way: God can do “more than we can ask or imagine by his power at work in us.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

As we look back to the passages’ in John we must realize the reason Jesus gives for these greater works is because He goes to the Father. And when He goes to the Father, He will send the Spirit. He says later, Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you (John I6:7b). He is referring here to the coming of the Spirit. As the Spirit of God comes into human hearts and dwells in them, these things will happen. The Spirit is releasing to us the life of Jesus, so that it is still Jesus who is doing these things.

Regretfully many forget this truth and start following man as though we ordinary humans are somehow so capable that we can actually do greater things than the Son of God Himself did when He was here in the flesh. It is not by mere human power, praise God, it is through the power of the risen Lord, who dwells in us by means of the Spirit. So it is not the servant who is to be praised, rather Jesus Christ the Lord is the One worthy of all glory, honor and praise.

Notice that Jesus goes on immediately to say: And greater works than these will you do. So what are the greater works? It is obvious that it will not be greater miracles than that which the Lord did. Stop and think about it, now can you think of anything greater than opening the eyes of those born blind or speaking a word and enabling a lame man to walk or raising the dead? I know that I can not.

Yet I believe because we have been so intent on seeing the big miracles in front of us we have missed out on one of the greatest miracles of all – the miracle of Salvation. Yes miracles of eyes being opened and ears hearing are great and of course seeing the dead arise are powerful witnesses to God’s miraculous power. But I would present to you that anything done to the spirit of a person is permanent; that which is done to the flesh is merely temporary (not eternal). All those whom Jesus healed or raised from the dead died again. So what is done to the spirit of a person is far greater, and I honestly believe that this is what Jesus means by greater works.

We literally see the dead transformed before our eyes when one come to know the Lord, for the Word declares that they are dead in their sins. Until Jesus died on the cross and was seated at the right hand of the Father salvation was not yet complete – thus His going to be with the Father and the sending of Holy Spirit to complete the born-again process we now have the ability to see the Greater works that those before His death could not witness.

So go out today empowered to do greater works – release the message of the Kingdom to the lost that they might come to know this King who brings forth the power of eternal transformation, Jesus Christ. As they bow before Him having a spiritual witness that He is the Lord you will witness the greatest miracle of all – Salvation!

 

For indeed we serve an Awesome God.

Positioned to manifest His Word

Posted: February 26, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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A disciple of the Lord must always be a vessel of truth – willing to speak with the truthfulness of God’s Word in the face of criticism, persecution and even death. Into days society it is too easy to go with the flow, which causes people to lower the standards of God’s Word in the face of the popular vote.

We must always seek to walk in righteousness even when the popular vote leads towards pleasing people, for at the heart of the matter is what is pleasing to the Father. The church belongs to the Lord, not to man. He has paid the ultimate price to receive the authority of the Father, being recognized as the only One worthy to be the head.

The three young men, facing the fires of the furnace, were unwilling to compromise in order to save their own lives – In doing so they were meet by the King Himself and what was meant for death by the popular turned into a time of basking in the presence of the Almighty – their faithfulness positioned them into the very place where death itself had no authority rather the natural had to submit to the Authority of  Supernatural God.

Today many in positions of authority bow down to complacency, compromise and contentment and in doing so they walk out from under the blessing of divine protection relinquishing the authority that has been purchased for the righteous! To this end they have submitted themselves to the ruler of this world, giving up the beautiful gift of freedom. Then they set back and cry out “Where is the power and authority of heaven” –  “where are the signs and wonders which manifest the heavens supernatural display bursting forth through the natural”

Oh’ how the enemy has fooled many with false signs and wonders, trapping them in the prisons of selfish pride.

Many today worship the messengers, signs, miracles and wonders with greater intensity than they worship he Lord.

A true disciple never positions themselves to receive the glory, rather like that of Paul – they quickly point out that all the glory belongs to Jesus!

We must come to realize that there is a great cost in accepting the Salvation of the Lord, in regards to the things of this world yet the reward of eternity far out-weighs all that this world has to offer.

Let us rise up to the place of walking in the manifestation of the Word in our own lives to the place where our lives bare witness too:

Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death. (Rev 12:10-11)

Whats your hunger today?

Posted: February 25, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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What’s Your Hunger Today?

Jesus said, “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous… are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied” (Matthew 5:6, AMP). That word does not describe a casual appetite, a Sunday-morning interest, or a shallow religious curiosity. It speaks of a deep inward craving, a holy desperation, a Spirit-born ache for the life, will, nature, and righteousness of God. The question before every disciple is not whether we have hunger, but what our hunger is feeding on.

A true disciple who hungers and thirsts after righteousness will always be drawn back to first things. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Kingdom hunger does not place Jesus somewhere on the list; it enthrones Him above the list. When righteousness becomes the cry of the heart, the disciple stops asking how little they can give God and begins asking how much of their life still remains unsurrendered.

This kind of hunger will always drive a disciple into the Word of God. Psalm 1 speaks of the blessed man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord. He meditates on it day and night because the Word has become more than information to him. It has become bread, water, fire, sword, and the very language by which Heaven trains his inner man.

The disciple who hungers for righteousness does not study Scripture merely to win arguments or collect religious knowledge. He studies because he wants to live clean before the Lord. Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The approved workman is not the one who simply quotes the Word, but the one who allows the Word to cut, cleanse, correct, mature, and govern him.

David declared that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, “more to be desired… than gold, yea, than much fine gold,” and sweeter than honey from the honeycomb (Psalm 19:9–10). That is the language of holy appetite. When the heart has been awakened by Holy Spirit, the Word of God is no longer treated like a religious obligation. It becomes the treasure chest of the Kingdom and the table of the Father.

Jesus Himself answered the tempter by saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). That means the true disciple cannot be sustained by natural provision alone. There is a hunger in the born-again spirit that nothing in this world can satisfy. Money cannot satisfy it, applause cannot satisfy it, ministry titles cannot satisfy it, and religious activity cannot satisfy it.

So the question must be asked: what is the hunger of your heart today? Is it the things of the world or the things of the Kingdom? Are you striving for the approval of men, or are you seeking to please the Father even if obedience costs you the applause of people? A man will eventually feed on whatever his heart is truly hungry for.

It is time for us to stop playing church and become the Ecclesia Jesus shed His blood to redeem. He is not returning for a powerless religious crowd entertained by sermons but untouched by surrender. He is returning for a people washed in His blood, filled with His Spirit, governed by His Word, and burning with first-love obedience. The call is not to appear religious, but to be wholly yielded.

This kind of surrendered life can be walked out while being married, raising children, working a full-time job, running a business, serving in ministry, and carrying daily responsibilities. The issue is not whether life is busy; the issue is who is governing the life. Holy Spirit is fully able to order the steps of a son or daughter who has truly yielded to Him. The Father knows how to bring balance, order, discipline, and grace when we stop trying to manage our lives apart from His leadership.

There is discipline in the life of a disciple, but the greatest discipline is faith. Faith says, “My life is not my own, for I have been bought with a price.” Faith trusts the Lord not only with eternity, but with today, tomorrow, the hidden places, the painful places, and the areas we still want to control. Until self dies, surrender will always feel like loss; but once love has conquered the heart, surrender becomes the doorway to freedom.

The hunger of the heart will always reveal the direction of the life. If the heart hungers for the world, it will feed on the world’s approval, the world’s pleasures, the world’s fears, and the world’s wisdom. But if the heart hungers for the Lord, it will seek His face, His Word, His presence, His righteousness, and His will above all else. Whatever you hunger for will begin shaping what you become.

So ask Holy Spirit to search you today. Ask Him to reveal anything that needs to be brought to the altar and put to death. Ask Him to expose every appetite that has been feeding on lesser things and to awaken within you a desperate hunger and thirst for the things of the Lord. For the promise still stands: those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.

Russ Welch

Mighty Arm Ministries

Do you have His character

Posted: February 24, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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One of Holy Spirit’s primary goals in regard to believers is to transform them into the image of the Jesus so that they may be a reflection of the character of Fathers Son , Yeshua. We can take comfort in this the trials we go through knowing the hope of our faith for when we experience difficulties in this life “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Alertness vs. Unawareness

Being aware of that which is taking place around me so I can have the right response to it (Mark 14:38)

Attentiveness vs. Unconcern

Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions (Hebrews 2:1)

Availability vs. Self-centeredness

Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving (Philippians 2:20–21)

Boldness vs. Fearfulness

Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God (Acts 4:29)

Cautiousness vs. Rashness

Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions (Proverbs 19:2)

Compassion vs. Indifference

Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others (I John 3:17)

Contentment vs. Covetousness

Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness (I Timothy 6:8)

Creativity vs. Underachievement

Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective (Romans 12:2)

Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness

The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God (James 1:5)

Deference vs. Rudeness

Limiting my freedom in order not offend the tastes of those whom God has called me to serve (Romans 14:21)

Dependability vs. Inconsistency

Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice (Psalm 15:4)

Determination vs. Faintheartedness

Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition (II Timothy 4:7–8)

Diligence vs. Slothfulness

Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it (Colossians 3:23)

Discernment vs. Judgment

The God-given ability to understand why things happen (I Samuel 16:7)

Discretion vs. Simplemindedness

The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences (Proverbs 22:3)

Endurance vs. Giving up

The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best (Galatians 6:9)

Enthusiasm vs. Apathy

Expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit (I Thessalonians 5:16,19)

Faith vs. Presumption

Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it (Hebrews 11:1)

Flexibility vs. Resistance

Not setting my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others (Colossians 3:2)

Forgiveness vs. Rejection

Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me(Ephesians 4:32)

Generosity vs. Stinginess

Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes (II Corinthians 9:6)

Gentleness vs. Harshness

Showing personal care and concern in meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7)

Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness

Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life (I Corinthians 4:7)

Hospitality vs. Loneliness

Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into my life(Hebrews 13:2)

Humility vs. Pride

Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life(James 4:6)

Initiative vs. Unresponsiveness

Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it (Romans 12:21)

Joyfulness vs. Self-pity

The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord (Psalm 16:11)

Justice vs. Fairness

Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws (Micah 6:8)

Love vs. Selfishness

Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward (I Corinthians 13:3)

Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness

Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has called me to serve (John 15:13)

Meekness vs. Anger

Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Psalm 62:5)

Obedience vs. Willfulness

Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority (II Corinthians 10:5)

Orderliness vs. Disorganization

Preparing myself and my surroundings so I will achieve the greatest efficiency (I Corinthians 14:40)

Patience vs. Restlessness

Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it (Romans 5:3–4)

Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness

Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks (II Timothy 2:24)

Punctuality vs. Tardiness

Showing high esteem for other people and their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness

Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard (Luke 16:10)

Responsibility vs. Unreliability

Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me (Romans 14:12)

Reverence vs. Disrespect

Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me (Proverbs 23:17–18)

Security vs. Anxiety

Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away (John 6:27)

Self-Control vs. Self-indulgence

Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:24–25)

Sensitivity vs. Callousness

Exercising my senses so I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me(Romans 12:15)

Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy

Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives (I Peter 1:22)

Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness

Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected(Proverbs 18:15)

Thriftiness vs. Extravagance

Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary (Luke 16:11)

Tolerance vs. Prejudice

Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity (Philippians 2:2)

Truthfulness vs. Deception

Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts (Ephesians 4:25)

Virtue vs. Impurity

The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s Word (II Peter 1:3)

Wisdom vs. Natural Inclinations

Seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference (Proverbs 9:10)

A Disciple must obey the Master’s commands with a radical life style

Posted: February 23, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”(Matthew 28:20)

The Greek word translated keep is tereo, which means “to guard, to watch, to observe closely, to hold fast.” This same word is used to describe the care that the Philippian jailer was to exercise in keeping Paul and Silas from escaping.

During the times of wind-driven ships, navigators would use the phrase keeping the stars. This meant that they would use the stars to chart a course across the ocean. This is precisely how the commands of Christ are to be used: as dependable lights for charting a course throughout life.

Here is a short list of the commands the disciples of Christ should seek to obey and set as a course upon which their lives are driven – If one where to live up too and obey these commands in their everyday life – the world around them would be influenced by the fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom being poured out as from broken vessels:

Always showing Our Love for Christ

“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Their life must Abide in God’s Love

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).

They must always be perfecting God’s Love

“Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (I John 2:5).

Be filled with the Spirit

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23).

Experiencing God’s Love

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father…” (John 14:21).

Knowing Christ Intimately

“…And I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). “Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (I John 2:3).

They must be a Truthful Witness

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4).

Truly be a Friend of Jesus

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants… for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:14–15).

Faith to see their Prayers Answered

“Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (I John 3:22).

Life of Bearing Much Fruit

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”(John 15:7–8).

Being Joyful at All Times

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).

Cleansing the Heart and Soul

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you”(John 15:3–4). “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

They must demonstrate love for One Another

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (I John 5:2–3).

Being a True Disciple

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35).

They must Demonstrate Ultimate Love

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12–13).

They must be obedient of the Great Commission

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).

 

Suffer in His behalf!

Posted: February 21, 2011 in disciples life
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For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. (Phil 1:29)

Here is the heart beat of a true disciple of Jesus Christ – That we recognize the privilege not just in regard to our Salvation – But to our calling to not only believe in Him but to also suffer for His name sake.

Because of a watered down call to Christ, most  when a little bit of opposition rises up, cower back and say this must not be of the Lord – They have received a weak Kingdom message filled with fancy words, lacking the power of God’s pure Word.

How many today come to the alter and bow before the King proclaiming “all for you Lord, that my lips burn with the gospel message, my life is now your life even if it means that I am faced with death“!

Today’s  message in the modern church finds that most are called to the alter based upon what they can get – health and prosperity etc.. rather than servant-hood, trials and tribulations. We find that many giving the message are like the prophets in Jeremiah’s day proclaiming peace when the Lord is calling us to prepare for war!

May this be the true disciples prayer today:

“Lord, let my attitude be like that of your servant Paul – I have weighed the cost and nothing remotely compares to serving You – Today I come to the foot of the cross and surrendering my thoughts, actions, hearts desire to You, my King – from this day forward, for as long as I breathe a breath in this world, I lay my life down for your service.”

Wll the true Disciples step forth!

Posted: February 18, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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When one reads of the Lord delivering his great sermon, in light of the religious aspects of this time in Israel, his ideas were considered radical. In fact they were so radical they led to his death on the cross. If we asked the question “If Jesus were alive today and preached the same message, would we treat him differently? It would more than likely render a hundred different answers. Yet, there is one thing for sure: One who is truly attuned to the Spirit can see that the much of the preaching on television and the radio these days is weak & user friendly.

As well when we listen too the messages coming from the majority of the American pulpits we come strongly to the truthful conclusion that most of the messages released from the church and religious media in America would not get anyone crucified or even strongly opposed.

The truth be told, much of modern preaching is nothing more than watered down wishy washy messages. With a worldly political correctness, we do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Not willing to be separated, yet they have no problem being segregated; most of the time we find that the modern church fall in with the fleeting fashions of the world (Rom. 12:2). Now I am clearly not advocating being abrasive or having an ugly spirited demenor, but compromising the gospel message to obtain the favor of men is not imitating Christ and his apostles or the great prophets of the Old Testament.

We read how our Lord instructed his band of radical disciples: “And into whatever city you shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till you go hence. And when you come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” (Mt. 10:5-6, 11-15). Jesus did not condone any violence toward those who refused to believe in him and his message of salvation – he sent them out with a power and truth that this world does not recognize.

To this end we see that the compromising spirit in the church has led to a body filled with those who crumble in the face of the trial and temptations the Lord clearly stated we would face. Now let us pray that this compromising spirit be broken off, that the House of God fall upon it’s face and repent for mishandling the Word of God and our call in this hour.

Oh Father in heaven, may we see a rise of Joshua’s & Caleb’s in this hour, may we see the Jeremiah’s and Ezekiel’s of our day rise up and declare the Word, may the Ester’s,  Debra’s, Peter’s, Paul’s and Timothy’s in the Body today make a stand for that which is pure and true.

May the true radical’s come forth who are willing to even stand in the face of death with pure hands and a clean heart, that the true message of the Kingdom of God & His Heaven is not tainted or compromised!

The question today is:

Are you simply going to cower in the face of political correctness?

Or are you willing to be a true radical for the Kingdom of God today regardless of the cost?

 

 

 

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