Archive for the ‘Kingdom Teaching’ Category

2013 – “The Rise of the Warriors of Peace”

Posted: January 15, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Sorry this isn’t an intro to a wild action movie – it is however a message about maturing as saints!!! Did you know that the Bible proclaims that we are called to be “Vessels of Peace” and warns us “Not to be seated with the scornful”.

I was thinking about the message that was discussed Friday night (01/11/13) at the believers Acts 2 meeting hosted by Presence Church.

The message was about the peace of God – not only about how in 2013 we are entering into a season of seeking the Peace of the Lord but also that we are to allow Holy Ghost to position us that our own lives maybe filled and that along with this we allow Him to position our lives as surrendered vessels in which the Fathers peace finds no resistance in flowing through to impact others live for His Glory.

I think back of the the lessons Holy Ghost taught me ending out this last season. In all truth I see that He had spent much of the last 2 months of 2012 twelve scolding me and correcting me to be a vessel of peace rather than one of scorn. I remember that time as it was a massive blow to my inflated ego of thinking I was the Lords person Don Quixote sent to expose all that is evil in the Church.

How could I have been so blinded by the strings Hell had attached to my spiritual life?

I believe we are in a season when it is very important that we don’t find ourselves focusing on the Devil. We must seek to Glorify none but God and we don’t want to give the enemy any glory.

As I look out with a broken heart I see many who are operating under the same strings of Hell that I had been. filled bitterness blindly believing they are bringing freedom (the light of Truth) when in reality that are but bringing division (The veil of darkness). Unknowingly they are attempting shred what God has called Holy. Now whether it is right now or not is not the question.

Often times they have been so blinded by Hell that one finds them failing to heed even to the very warnings of Scripture such as how the devil actually “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

I write this with the hopes that those who are trapped and operating under this spiritual delusion hear my warning for if they are not cautious they will find them selves in the very pit Holy Ghost pulled me. If they heed it not they may well find themselves consumed (devoured!) by all kinds of irritations in one another and in the church and become vessels of the enemy’s destruction rather than the “Vessels of Light” they blindly believe they are.

Such a person will be found wasting much time taring down rather than building up, They will be found scornfully scowling at how new programs run, personalities of the leaders, worship styles that they allow to become the focus and the quarrel. They will become bitter and unknowingly become a tool of Satan’s religious elite and in error tare down any person or people who “just don’t get it” spiritually the way they do. They will be found walking in false humility with down cast spirits of gloom they begin to rob the joy and peace out of everyone they come in contact. And then turn on them and call them their accusers and tormentors.

They can be found, having their hearts filled with pride, idly wondering why no one has recognized their “Leadership Quality” and then they become bitter that others are stealing their effectiveness in the body of believers.

Again, sadly they are blind to what is happening to them, they close off all who would bring correction into their lives, believing the lie that anyone or anything having associated with the modern day Church is false and they spend their time rejecting all leadership under the guise that they need none save Holy Spirit.

They often become oblivious to what is really going on in the spiritual realm around them. You often hear them saying “The Lord told me this, and the Lord told me that” Even when what they are saying the Lord told them contradicts His own Word.

We ourselves must not be drawn into a personality battle with them either – above all else we must peaceably hold to scriptures such as, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers…” (Ephesians 6:12)

The question is “How to we respond to such”?

Called to be Peace Makers – Not vessels of destruction

We are called to be peace makers not judges or ministers of discipline.

Now, God has sent Holy Ghost for the purpose of bringing correction and He does so through those who have been proven mature and faithful as vessels of His truth. Such not only bring Godly counsel to the table, they are a witness of His calling as elders for they walk in the authority of His Word.

We must avoid allowing bitterness to open the door to pride, for they are like twin sisters who seek but to destroy. The Word tells us that we are to be at peace, to walk in peace and to proclaim the gospel of peace. The same Bible warns us against being found in the seat of the scornful. You will learn to discern the scornful, for though they cunningly proclaim to come in Love their true spiritual nature is a coat of anger and hatred.

The Gospel of peace will give you peace if you follow the things that make for peace. Being prepared to go where God ask you to go, When you do go where God wants, you will have peace, no matter what the situation.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. (Rom 14:19-20)

Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. (Rom 3:16)

Preserve peace run away from these things that rob us of peace. When you are being disobedient you have no peace. Make a stand for the things of God by faith, draw a line in the sand and do not cross it.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.(Prov 28:1)

When you have done something wrong, you always feel like you’re going to get caught. You’re always looking over your shoulder.

Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. (Rom 3:13-17)

We can be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. As always it’s by faith that we wear our shoes of the Gospel of peace.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:1-4)

Even as I thought I was bringing Glory to the Lord in pointing out what I thought was false in other people, ministries and Churches – Holy Ghost showed me that I was but bringing division – open the door wide for the enemy to enter in and bring death & destruction.

Even as the Lord has sent me into a deeper understanding of true discipleship, along the way He has pruned me of thorns I had picked up and opened my eyes to the hurt I was bringing when I thought I was bringing liberation.

So yes Father, I have heard Your message that we must not only seek to be grounded in Your peace but we are also to hunger and thirst to become vessels of Your peace and Your very wells from which You can flow Your peace through.

REVIVAL AT ANY COST!

Posted: January 6, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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John Wesley said: “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” Sadly we have tolerated a hell-less, eternity-less, sin-less gospel and this next generation is aimed at accepting this as the genuine apostolic original. The true Christian witness seems to be almost overshadowed by false doctrines, false cults, and false prophets. It is time for a holy desperation for revival to arise in God’s people! – Greg Gordon

HOLY DESPERATION
The prophet Isaiah declared the woeful state of Israel over three thousand years ago: ”Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” How much different are we? Churches are failing, leaders are fumbling, and truth is fallen in the streets.

The prophet Isaiah continues with this divine reprimand:“they declare their sin as Sodom, they hid it not.” And what shall the end of a people be that “hid not their sins”? I have seen a strange thing under the sun: professors preaching “continue in sin” from the pulpit. The Apostle Paul in contrast preached “God forbid” which is one of the strongest emphatic statements in Scripture used to convey the ceasing of sin in the life of the believer. John Wesley said: “What one generation tolerates the next generation will embrace.”

Sadly we have tolerated a hell-less, eternity-less, sin-less gospel and this next generation is aimed at accepting this as the genuine apostolic original. The true Christian witness seems to be almost overshadowed by false doctrines, false cults, and false prophets.

It is time for a holy desperation for revival to arise in God’s people! Mary Warburton Booth said this when the Salvation Army movement was waning: ”How we have prayed for a Revival – we did not care whether it was old-fashioned or not – what we asked for was that it should be such that would cleanse and revive His children and set them on fire to win others.”

We need a fury of passionate pleading, desperate crying, fervent praying for a heaven-sent revival in our day. Chuck Smith gave this searing statement to a church that does not realize its hour: “Today, we are living in desperate times. Yet, the Church is not desperate before God in prayer.”

Leonard Ravenhill said that “Revival only comes by birth.” With birth comes: laborious gestation,travailing birth-pains, and conceptional agony, shall the birthing of of revival be any different? Revival prayer is born out of a holy and healthy desperation for the presence and power of Christ in His church.

We need not shrink back from emotions and displays of desperation for revival, read this old report from one hundred years ago with the Irish Presbyterian Church:

“Perhaps you say it’s a sort of religious hysteria. So did some of us when we first heard of the Revival. But here we are, about sixty Scottish and Irish Presbyterians who have seen it-all shades of temperament-and, much as many of us shrank from it at first, everyone who has seen and heard what we have, every day last week, it is certain there is only one explanation-that it is God’s Holy Spirit manifesting Himself in a way we never dreamed of.

We have no right to criticize; we dare not. One clause of the Creed that lives before us now in all its inevitable, awful solemnity is ‘I believe in the Holy Ghost.’”

God is desiring to manifest Himself in ways that we “never dreamed of ” which is reminiscent of the Scripture in Psalms that says: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” Oh Lord! turn back our captivity and grant us revival.

REVIVAL OR DEATH
“For decades sincere believers have asked, “Why don’t we have revival?” And for decades the answer has always been the same: We don’t have revival because we’re willing to live without it! It really is that simple. Do we really want to hear the truth? God responds to hunger and thirst. He fills those who recognize their need, who are empty and broken, who are at the point of desperation, who are panting for Him the way a deer pants for water in the desert. He answers dependent prayers. Sure, we want revival. But we don’t need revival. That’s the difference. God will meet us at our point of need, not our point of preference.

Revival is God’s radical measure to get the church in a given area or at a given time back to normal before it falls into spiritual oblivion and cultural irrelevance. Revival comes when we realize that it’s either revival or death, revival or continued backsliding, revival or the world around us goes to hell.”

In this above quote from Michael Brown, he really speaks to the high requirement for revival namely in one word: Everything!

Oh Brethren we must realize that this has always been so, there are no shortcuts with God, we will never see a revival until this is realized and acted upon. In light of eternity let us have tears for our lack of desire and desperation for God. John Knox was a Great Man of God and this was his prayer, ” God give me Scotland or I die!” Again, John Hyde who was a missionary, prayed, ” God give me souls or I die” Again, Whitefield prayed, ” God give me souls or take my soul!”

May we take it further dear reader, can you pray: “Give me revival or I die?”

Where are those that have a burdened heart like Evan Roberts, he prayed for revival night and day for twelve years. At the end of these twelve years he prayed with such intensity, agony and urgency that his landlord asked him to vacate his living quarters.

Is there a burning in your soul? a building desire in your heart? Let us not fool ourselves the prayer meeting is “dead” and so are multitudes in their trespasses and sins. We need a holy desperation to fill our prayer meetings, a holy zeal that will not relent until revival comes. The “Lord comes suddenly” to his temple, let us not be found sleeping or great will be our shame. Mario Murillo in his article: ‘Vital insights into God’s preparations for revival’ states: “now is the time to pull out all the stops. No program is sacred, no worthy project is worth enough. None of the ointment can be spared. It is revival or death!”

William Seymour the father of the modern day pentecostal movement prayed for five to seven hours a day for over a year for revival. And what resulted? a glorious powerful sweeping pentecost swept the world. Winkie Pratney told why there was no revival in the church over twenty years ago: “We do not have men and women who are prepared to pay the same price to preach the same message and have the same power as those revivalists of the past. Without these firm believers, the community can never be changed. Our concern is conciliatory, our obedience optional, our lack theologically and culturally justified. Quite simply, it costs too much!”

S.B. Shaw who wrote on the welsh revival shares the results of a true heaven-sent revival: “A revival that like a tornado will sweep away all the old dried-up sermons, and all the cold formal prayers, and all the lifeless singing, and like a whirlwind will carry everyone that comes in its path heavenward.

A revival that will fill the hearts of saints with holy love, and so burden the hearts of God’s ministers that the word of God will be like fire shut up in their bones. For such a revival our heart cries out to God! For such a revival we are ready to watch and toil and pray.” May we take it further dear reader, for such a revival are you willing to die?

IF NO REVIVAL
In the writings of Isaiah we see three clear consequences for the result of the nation of Israel not having repentance towards God. May I say that these three consequences will also be ours if we do not have a renewed repentance in the Church and a revolutionary revival from Heaven. If no revival then we will see these three judgments come on the earth and surely anyone that has been awakened to the hour will realize these monstrous consequences are already have fallen upon us.

If no revival then, hell will be enlarged. “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.” Oh the horror of it, hell yawning and swallowing multiplied millions of souls that will be damned forever. To just see a glimpse of this reality will shake any soul to ask what can be done?

George Whitefield said: “At the day of judgement we shall all meet again.” How will you feel when you meet all of the millions of souls that could have been saved if you prayed and sought God for a revival of religion? When the Church does not have revival hell enlarges what a frightful thought.If no revival then, sin will abound. Men will begin to draw sin “with a cart” speaking of the enormous amounts of sin that abounds in a season when the Church is not being the salt of the earth. We see that evidently today where people call good evil and evil good and to such God says “Woe unto them.” As Richard Baxter said of sin, “it is the murderer of the whole world.” The only hope for lost captive sinners is Christ! yet the Church and Christians keep multitudes from Christ. Lamentable fact! When the church is not the “light of the world” the world falls into outer darkness. When the Church does not have revival sin abounds on the earth.

If no revival then, the Word will be despised. In a season where there is no revival in the church the world will begin to disregard the law of God as the Scripture says “they have cast away the law of the Lord.”

And they begin to “despise” not only the Word of God but the “Holy One of Israel.” This is a doublesmart; the church is ineffective and God is mocked. Martyn-Lloyd Jones wrote to this fact: “Does it grieve you my friends, that the name of God is being taken in vain and desecrated? Does it grieve you that we are living in a godless age. The main reason we should be praying about revival is that we are
anxious to see God’s name vindicated and His glory manifested.” When the Church does not have revival God’s name is despised.

Leonard Ravenhill wrote: “this generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of sinners.”

This responsibility is of eternal consequence dear reader, being a Christian is a somber thing.

Over a hundred years ago Andrew Bonar wrote: “Revivals begin with God’s own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones…Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!”

Evan Roberts wrote: “Prayer is buried, and lost and Heaven weeps. If all prayed the wicked would flee from our midst or to the refuge.”

LOSS OF REPUTATION
Perhaps one reason why there is no revival is because the minister’s are not willing to pay the cost, namely the loss of reputation.

Gilbert Tennet was used mightily of God in the second great awakening, hear him give account of the popular preaching in his day: “They often strengthened the hands of the wicked by promising them life. They comfort people before they convince them; sow before they plow: and are busy in raising a fabric before they lay a foundation.

These foolish builders strengthen men’s carnal security by their soft, selfish, cowardly discourses. They have not the courage or honesty to thrust the nail of terror into the sleeping souls!”

Preaching without unction, Praying without fervor, are two reasons why revival tarries in our day. We need a moratorium on reputation to see revival. May God rouse this generation to a passionate pursuit for revival and a determined ardor to see it come to pass.

Have you not counted the cost?

Posted: December 17, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Luke 14: 25-33: “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 ‘If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, and count the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first, and consider whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Now I don’t see how anyone can read this saying of Jesus a not ask himself, “Am I really a disciple of Jesus?” These words challenge the most earnest Christian to examine himself and to feel a certain fear. How much more should it cause to tremble any so-called Christian who is careless, lukewarm, and not deadly serious about his obedience to Christ!

At this point in Jesus’s ministry a great crowd was following Him. Among then were people He knew were not serious, who were only superficially interested. He had enemies in the crowd as well as friends, some caught up in the excitement of this strange new teacher, some who thought they were serious, but Jesus knew they were not true disciple material. So He uttered these words of challenge, with a design to reduce the crowd, to send away those who were not willing to go all the way to the cross with Him. So He said:

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple…whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Was Jesus speaking only to the crowd, or is He speaking to us today? Most certainly He was speaking to us today. He said, “if any man,” “whosoever,” and “whoever.” That’s universal and applies to every believer. Jesus wants to admonish us today, to warn us that He will not tolerate a half-hearted service.

Before we look at this passage more closely I want to explain a couple of things. First of all, the word “hate” in the Bible does not always have the same negative force that our word has today. It sometimes merely means to love one thing less than another. For example, God says, “Jacob I loved; Esau I hated.” It’s obvious that God did not hate Esau in our sense of the word. He blessed him and made a great nation from his seed. But God chose Jacob over Esau to carry on the promised birthright. In Genesis chapter 29 we read: “Now God saw that Leah was hated, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” The NAS & the NIV translate is “unloved,” and “not loved.” Jacob did not hate Leah in the sense of having malice towards her. But he thought less of her than of Rachel, with whom he was in love. You cannot serve two masters; rather you will hate the one and love the other. Again this seems to be the weaker meaning of hate. You will serve the one and disregard the other. You have to choose. So you see when Jesus says that we are to hate “father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters,” He is saying that we must make a clear choice between Jesus and our family. The Bible teaches us that we are not to hate anyone in the sense of holding malice towards them, or wishing them ill. This would be especially true of our family. But the Christian life involves clear separation and radical choices.

When He says that we must hate our own lives, what does He mean? Are we to have self-hatred? Then how could He tell us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves? Paul says, “no one hates his own body.” No. What Jesus means is that we must choose Christ over our on life, our interests, our ambition, our safety, EVERYTHING.

And of course, Jesus was not inviting his disciples to carry a literal cross made of wood. He was speaking figuratively. We have a cross to carry, so what is our cross? What did He mean when He said: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me cannot be my disciple”? Well, there are two crosses in the Christian’s life: Christ’s and his own. The Cross of Jesus is the cross by which we are saved; our own cross is the cross on which our own wills are crucified. I believe that our cross speaks of those moment—and they come to us daily—when our will crosses the will of God. God’s vertical, heavenly Will meets our horizontal, fleshly will. The two cross. And when that happens, our wills must give way to God’s.

And when Jesus said to forsake all, did He mean that we must sell all that we have, give it to the poor, and make ourselves homeless or enter a monastery? No, of course not. But He did mean something quite radical. He meant that we must let nothing, nothing—no material possession, no relationship, no profession, NOTHING come before Him in our lives!

Even after we have softened them somewhat, these are very strong words, aren’t they? These, and some of the other hard sayings of our Lord, would (as I said) challenge the most committed and faithful Christian. They would call the most serious and saintly believer to examine himself. How much more are they a reproach to the half-hearted, lukewarm, Sunday-only, part-time Christian! Jesus makes it plain in another place that He would rather a person be cold and indifferent towards Him than to be lukewarm. Where is the place, then, for the half-hearted, off-and-on Christian here? In this saying of Jesus, He lays to rest once and for all any notion that He will tolerate a half-hearted service.

When I speak of a Sunday-only Christian, I’m not referring so much to Church attendance as to the quality of our Christian lives throughout the week. I’m not talking about people who only come to Church on Sunday morning. For all I know they may have a deep, rich devotional life throughout the week. They may read the Bible and pray more than people who come to Church every time the doors open. Church attendance is significant, and it often indicates how serious a person is in his or her faith. But what I’m calling a Sunday-only Christian is a person whose only real contact with God and with other Christians is Sunday morning. The rest of the week they are pretty much like everyone else. They never open their Bibles.

They seldom pray, and when they do it’s to say grace at table or to send themselves off to sleep. Their neighbors, co-workers, and friends hardly know they are Christians, so little do they differ from their unsaved associates. Grace is wonderful; thank God for grace. But grace does not cover a lax, off-and-on, half-hearted service to Christ.

Based on these, and some other hard sayings of the Lord, I don’t think I have the right to present the Gospel in a soft, seductive way. Some of the hugely popular, seeker-friendly churches today never preach on these hard saying of the Lord. They preach only positive messages. They don’t want sinners to feel uncomfortable in their services. I’m afraid they may be swelling their rosters with unsaved (or at the very least) immature Christians. I see little resemblance between the way these churches make “disciple” and the way Jesus and the Apostles did. Jesus sought to warn off the unserious from following Him. These churches seem to want as members the same people that Jesus sent away.

When I was going to the jail to teach and preach, I noticed that the other minister would offer the invitation very gently, so as not to scare the potential convert off. “Every eye close, no one looking around. Now if you want to follow Christ, just slip your hand up. Don’t be shy. No one is looking. Yes, I see that hand. Anyone else? Praise God. Now if you raised your hand just come to the front.” Then he would quietly lead those who came forward in his version of the “sinner’s prayer,” with usually no mention made of repentance. So ineffective was this method that some prayed “the Sinner’s Prayer” every time we met. One man raised his hand when asked who was a Christian, then came forward at the invitation and prayed to be saved again. Bless their hearts, some of them prayed to be saved a dozen times.
Based on these and other hard sayings of Christ, I took a very different approach. I told them not to come forward unless they were deadly serious. I told them not to play games with God, not to pray for salvation unless they really meant to live for Him. When they did come forward, I had them repent of their sins, to ask out loud for God to forgive them, and to declare their intention to follow Christ with their whole hearts. When they went back to their seats, I said, “Now turn around and look at those around you. Look them in the eye and tell them this: “With God’s help I intend to follow Christ with all of my heart.” Then they sat down. I instructed them to study the Bible and pray, and when they got out to find a Bible-believing Church and to be baptized as soon as possible

Jesus Emphasized the Cost

Jesus didn’t emphasize the advantages of discipleship, although we know there are many and great; no, He emphasized the cost of discipleship. And He urged anyone who would follow Him to count the cost. In another place He said, “Whoever puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not worthy to be my disciple.” He is saying, in effect, “If you’re not determined to go all the way with Me, turn back now.”

There is a time to count the cost, to calculate just how far we will go with Jesus. There’s a time to ask, “How much of the world am I willing to give up?” How much do I really love the Lord? Am I willing to give up all sin? Can I get to heaven without being a fanatic for Jesus? Am I content to be a lukewarm Christian? But the time to ask these questions is before professing to “follow Jesus.” We need to settle that before we commit to follow Christ. These scriptures, if they mean anything, mean that following Christ can’t be a halfway thing. It’s worse to follow Him with half a heart than not to follow Him at all. After we have taken the measure of our commitment, then there’s no turning back, no lukewarm service, no compromise with the world.

In the strongest possible words Jesus says that He will not endure lukewarm Christianity.

Rev. 3:14-16: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Pretty clear, isn’t it? Pretty clear, and pretty scary. People are lax and careless in their Christian walk for two reasons. They don’t fear God as they should, and they don’t love Him as they should. No devout, earnest Christian should be afraid of God’s punishment. But even the most sincere Christian walks in a kind of reverent, godly fear. And a person who isn’t trying his hardest to obey God in all things has every reason to fear. Even the Law commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Should not a Christian who is only half-heartedly serving God have fear? If we love Him we keep His commandments. If we do not love Him enough to obey Him, we should fear.

I John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

If you are not serving God with all your heart, I want you to be afraid. Only perfect, obedient love drives out fear. I want your fear to spur you to action, to repentance, to a fierce determination to be all out for Christ.

I see nothing in all of God’s word to offer comfort to any man, woman, or young person, who is not on fire for the Lord, who is not willing to forsake all for Him, who does not put Him before family, friends, and future. On the contrary, lukewarm Christians are nauseating to Christ, and He is going to spit them out.

Discipleship is a serious business, a life-or-death matter. You must decide whether or not you will surrender the rest of your heart to Him if it is still in anyway divided. If you are holding back any aspect of your life from Him, you are not truly His disciple.

Let meditate on the words of this song:

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.
Search me and try me, Master, today.
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence, humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit, till all can see
Christ only, always, living in me.

Amen

This article was shared from http://www.pearlofgreatvalue.com/CostofDiscipleship.php

A Message from Peter to future radical Disciples

Posted: November 19, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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A Message from Peter to future radical Disciples;

• So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.

• Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

• Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.

• Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men [a]tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight.

• [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

• For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen ([b]honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be [c]disappointed or put to shame.

• To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,

• And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.

• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own [d]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

• Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.

• Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.

• Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [[e]when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].

• Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

• Or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.

• For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.

• [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.

• Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.

(1 Peter 2:1-17)

Life through Death

Posted: November 15, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Life through Death

Jesus is significant on so many levels. As we read through the Gospels, we are amazed at Jesus’s power, His compassion, His wisdom, etc. But ultimately, it was very difficult for the Jews to believe that this man was their promised Messiah for one very important reason: He was executed as a criminal.

Israel’s history was filled with kings and judges who conquered their enemies, and the prophecies about the Messiah
pointed to a victorious king. So it must have been confusing when Jesus began to speak about His death. And they didn’t know what to do about this would-be Messiah once He died.

In Mark 8:31–33, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to “suffer many things” and be put to death. (He also
foretold His resurrection.) Peter, unable to see how such a course of events could fit with Jesus’s mission, replied by rebuking his Master and suggesting another path. A triumphant king who dies on a cross? Who ever heard of that? Yet all of the Gospels describe Jesus’s death as central to His mission, and Luke spent almost ten chapters dealing with Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem to die (Luke 9:51–19:27).

Before Jesus was born, an angel declared that He would “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The problem of sin had threatened humanity’s relationship with God ever since Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden. In order for God’s people to be in a right relationship with Him, sin had to be atoned for. All of the sacrifices that God’s people made in the Old Testament pointed forward to the sacrifice that Jesus would offer on the cross (Heb. 9–10). Jesus was the true Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)—He sacrificed Himself so that we can live.

In the last Old Testament session, we talked about the promise of a new covenant, and the reality that the death of Jesus established this covenant. As we discuss Jesus’s death here, we cannot forget this connection with the new covenant.

As Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, He held the cup and said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). Thus Jesus fulfilled both of the major promises that carry over from the Old Testament: (1) He was the coming King from the line of David (the Messiah), and (2) through His death He established the new covenant that would heal and recreate His people.

Of course, the ultimate proof of the power of the cross is the resurrection. Many had claimed to be the Messiah, but only Jesus rose from the dead to prove it. After all, a conquering King cannot remain buried in a tomb. The resurrection is crucial to our faith and to the fulfillment of God’s saving purposes. Without it, we have no hope. The Gospels testify that Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to His disciples.

Francis Chan
Excerpt from Multiply material @

Disciple of Christ – or – disciples of the world?

Posted: November 14, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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The cool-aides been removed & the waters been drained – time for the True Gospel.

We can talk about love all day and try to rah, rah, rah ourselves into a hyped up emotional state and never even begin to move then enemy out of our lives one tiny inch – Its time to wake up, step up and enter the war – Hell isn’t playing games & its time we stop playing games, playing Church and start being the Bride whom our Lord went to the cross for.

Jesus isn’t looking for cheer-leaders, He’s looking for humble warrior servants who are not afraid of getting dirty by touching the lives of the unwanted, visiting the widows, taking care of the orphans and sitting in the hospital waiting rooms praying with people we don’t even know. True warriors who don’t sit around the TV all night because they are so hungry to spend their nights on their faces weeping for the lost in this nation and around the world.

You can tell the strength of the soldiers who surround you by their dedication to training, study & attention at the briefings before the battle – How many of those who sit with you on Sunday, join in when its a prayer meeting? The Bible never said a thousand excuses will drive the enemy away.

Are our meeting just a public place where information is passed and people feel good?

Or are they meeting’s where people leave changed from who they were when they entered?

Do we desire meetings that will make us feel better about ourselves or do we want meeting where Holy Ghost comes into the room and does some surgery – painful yes, but the pain is worth it as it is a purification that is needed on the road to Holiness? Because the meeting’s Jesus held were about death to self and service to others, not one step self promotion meetings to improve our opinions (pride) and motivate us too a deeper love of ourselves.

Many exclaim “Lord put the coal to my lips” yet when a little persecution comes they cry “To Hot, to hot”

Jesus never built the Church to be a social club or even a hospital, He built it to be a dominion taking, Hell smashing war machine to claim back the world by ejecting the evil one, all to the Glory of the Father by the Authority He has given us.

If we cant see the Kingdom around us its because we have not died to the world, death which gives access to Holy Ghost to enter in and open our eyes. Come on people you will never grasp the Kingdom as long as your hands are filled with the pleasures of this world. It’s time to end the traditions of men and start living the Kingdom life – An all out submitted life to Jesus as Savior, Lord, King and most of all Master. A totally surrendered life that is willing to tell Jesus “No longer my life, my dreams nor even my heart but yours and yours alone Lord”. That’s what He asks for in fact that is what He demands and nothing short of it – if you don’t believe it you better read your Bible, especially the Red Letters.

Many seem to think the Keys to the Kingdom Jesus spoke of are keys to the bank, to the pleasure club and freedom from labor. Nope, so sorry Charlie, the keys Jesus was talking about where to the storehouse for mission provisions, for opening the doors of hell which has taking captive the lost, to the prayer room with a direct line to the Throne room and to the Armory to suite up with the weapons of Spiritual Warfare.

Time to end the self preservation meetings and enter the battle field, people are dying spiritual around us as we ponder the meaning of life. Jesus summed it up – Die to self, allow Holy Ghost to transform us into His image, teach others to do the same and bring Glory to the Father.

~Russ Welch

Destroy Your Idol

Posted: October 2, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Norm Millar – Senior Pastor – Harvest London, Ontario

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Jesus Christ is everything. He is to be worshiped. He alone is to receive glory. He is majestic, all-powerful, perfect, and beautiful. His many attributes can all summed up by the word awesome! And we are none of those things! We simply can’t compare, yet because of our pride, it doesn’t take long for us to try to remove Jesus from His throne and attempt to be lord of our own life.

Now you might be thinking, “I never do that.” The truth can often hurt as it pierces into our soul. So this may sting a bit, but truth is—we all do that at times; most of the time, actually. There are many evidences of this, but a common example is getting upset when someone doesn’t acknowledge or respect our position. “How dare they speak to me like that: She walks right in and didn’t even acknowledge me.” “I am the leader of this team, but he won’t give me the respect I am due.” Sound familiar?

We craft our own idols, made in our image, and then expect others to worship them. Sound a little harsh or extreme? The truth is, we don’t acknowledge our sinful pride for what it is—idolatry. Essentially, we are prone to try to take God’s rightful place and want others to bow to us.

We excel at covering our idols with a façade so they don’t appear to be idols. Take a peek below the surface and you find stinking, selfish, ugly pride which is vying for Christ’s throne. When others don’t bow to and recognize our idol, we get upset, angry, bitter, jealous, and won’t let go of being offended. Beloved, it is exhausting to always stand guard by our idol trying to get others recognize and bow to it. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Freedom, rest, and joy comes as we humbly and willingly tear down our idols and fall at the throne of the only true God. We must declare that He alone is worthy of our worship. Freedom is found by boasting in our weaknesses. I don’t mean a false humility and self-deprecating words spoken in hope that others will disagree. I mean truly boasting about your honest inability, lack of resources, struggles with obedience, and weak faith.

What will History’s testimony of this generations disciples be?

Posted: September 11, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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By Russ Welch

We must ask ourselves what is “untouchable” in our lives? I mean, what is there in our lives that we are not willing to sacrifice in order to serve the Lord? Is it work? Family? Friends? Reputation? Finances? Houses?

Whatever it is, until you are able to surrender it upon the alter of obedience, you will never truly be sold-out to the Master. The enemy knows it as well and it is that very thing that the enemy will key in on until he has you cornered.

Radically sold-out to Jesus or sold-out to the world?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt 16:24-27)

We can see how this passage strikes a death blow to the current trend in much of the modern day Christianity that echoes and leans toward self-centered consumption. Many people wish to identify themselves with Christianity only for what they can get out of it. They view Jesus as a utilitarian genie, fulfilling every whim.

Sadly we find that some (with a growing number) in the Charismatic movement say Jesus wants to make you healthy, wealthy, and happy. If you are not all those things, then you supposedly don’t have enough faith to appropriate what’s yours. They claim Christianity is designed so you can get everything you need and want.

We even see where evangelicals and fundamentalists through the years have been guilty of propagating a Jesus who is a panacea for everything. They promote the get without the give, and the gain without the pain. Self-esteem promoters tell us Jesus came to boost our self-image. But they have fallen victim to narcissism–the pervasive self-love of contemporary society.

We must have a radical mindset transformation to where we realize that true disciples (radical disciples) have counted the cost, weighed their options, and they have stood their ground upon a personal & spiritual conviction that there is nothing in this world that can even remotely compare to the Lord nor is there anything that would hinder them from whole hearted totally abandoned life of servant-hood to Him….Just as history testifies to when we read about the radical disciples in the early years of the Church, when men and women who had counted themselves as bond servants unto their Lord, King and Master Jesus Christ even in the face of death.

We can read in the scriptures of how first century disciples “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). These simple, humble, but dedicated and convicted people were willing to risk and, if necessary, lose security, property, limb, and even life for Christ’s sake. And yet we think we are “suffering above and beyond the call of duty” if our religion might cause the loss of some “friends,” the approval of our family, or the esteem of the social leaders in our area.

History testifies to the fact that disciples of the first century Church, as well as those of earlier periods in our own nation, could always be identified because they lived “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Although they did not seek to be “odd-balls” or non-conformists just for the sake of being eccentric, they were different even as Peter indicated in 1 Peter. 2:9-12.

Yet with great sorrow we find that a large scale portion of the modern day Christianity has ushered in the era of being,”more tolerant” and “open-minded” about sin than before. To such an extent that we have become amassed with those who call themselves followers of Christ who dress (or undress), curse, drink, smoke, fill their minds with smut, and divorce, etc., just like the world around them to such a degree that it is next to impossible to tell who is the Christian and who is not by the way they live.

Brothers & sisters, these things ought not so to be!

Now, I am not saying that these qualities do not exist anymore today, or that the church is failing. There are many devoted disciples; I know some of them. We must realize that the Lords people in this generation have great possibilities. Yet we must also realize that these trends seem to be developing among us as they have in every previous era and I mention them only to warn us to be on guard. Unless each one of us has the kind of attitude displayed by the people of God of the first-century as revealed in the New Testament, we cannot be the kind of influence He wants us to be in this life, and we simply will not get to heaven

So, one of the questions that must be asked today is;

How shall history look back upon this generations disciples?

Shall History testify to a generation of “radical disciples” who were Radically sold-out servants to Christ the King or will it testify to a generation of “servants of compromise” who sold-out their King for the comforts of this World……?

Seek ye first………

Posted: September 9, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:33)

We need to take into consideration everything in our lives and lay them on the table before the Lord and truthfully ask Him – Lord, are these things what you desire for me? I believe that often times we seek after to accumulate and establish things that may be good, yet they are not the desire of God.

When we look at everything in our lives, if Jesus Christ is not the central focus point then they do not bring Him Glory. My marriage struggled in the early years yet once we made Jesus the very central point, there was a harmony, strength and love that has become the foundation of our marriage, because Jesus is the Rock upon which our marriage stands.

Are we building to promote who we are, or are we establishing Kingdom to promote who Jesus is?

There are ministries that putter along and even though their focus may be on the prophetic, deliverance, healing or discipleship if the main focus is not Christ, the Father has no desire to pour out His blessing.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Col 1:18)

He has established His Son in the position for everything in Heaven and earth to worship Him. Yet in much of the Church Jesus is the theme but not the central focus.

How can we expect the nations to honor Jesus in His rightful place among them when we the Church resist doing so. God’s purpose is that the Church reveal on earth, both individually and corporately, the centrality of the Lamb, Jesus Christ in our midst.

We’ve built Churches that are driven by the personality of the senior pastor, ministries that are focused on its leaders. Until we make Jesus Christ the focus point in every area of our lives, we can not and will not walk in our inheritance of Victory and power. We will not be able to release the Glory of the Lord to the world.

So again, take everything in your life, put it on the table and ask the Father “Is this purposed by You Father, or out of my own agenda and desire?

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:33)

Are you radical enough to settle for nothing but the Will of the Father? In order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, you must.

So you have a better view than the Lord?

Posted: September 6, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (6:34)

Why is it that we like to use verses that encourage us yet the ones that challenge we close the Bible and put it back on the shelf? Jesus is plainly here talking about not worrying about tomorrow yet I constant hear Christians” speaking with a spirit of fear in regard to the future.

Let’s take it to another level, now speaking to Christian leaders, why do we set an agenda for the Church? Why do we establish monthly, annual and annual topics and agenda’s?

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:28-34)

Oswald Chambers said in light of these passages:

“The great word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon. Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God.’ We argue in exactly the opposite way, even the most spiritually-minded of us–‘But I must live; I must make so much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.’ The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the concern of your care on the other things.

I wonder about what Christian pastors and teachers are thinking when the teach the Bible with their lips, yet their lives are not a demonstration of the very words they are speaking.

I listened as men and women establish ministries and they set an
agenda and then say “God gave this to me”.

Really?

Because all through the Bible I read if how God gave his generals orders for the task right in front of them;

Abraham, get up and go and he went, yet all through Abrahams life God gave him instructions for the next task at hand…. David you are anointed King of Israel….yet at every battle David had to ask the Father for His plans for the Lord only gave Him the plans for the battle in front of Him. Jesus to the Apostles “go and tarry”
Yet we speak as though God sees no need for us to have faith, because He is like a fortune teller and show us from start to finish.

James said:
“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.”

No wonder the world see’s the Church but as a bunch of hypocrites for we profess the scriptures yet we do not live what we are speaking. Or is it because we have been deceived and bought into the Americanized version of the Gospel message that has toned it down and almost completely erased the radical call of Jesus Christ because it is to offensive?

I like what David Platt says in his book “Radical – Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream” – “We desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the gospel is American and how much is biblical.”

We make our agenda and then cry out to God to show up and when He does not we act like spoiled little children who didn’t get their way and some go as far as opening the door to the father of lies to come and convince them that God the Father let them down.

If we are truly radical disciples of Jesus Christ then we need to radically cross the line of simply professing the Word to the life that lives it. We need to see a radical transformation of Church government back to the foundational teachings of our Lord and His disciples as written in the Word. We need to stop promoting people so quickly because we see that they may have a gift. We need to protect the flock and make sure we do not send out immature Christians to be their fathers and mothers in the faith as their immaturity can turn the new born Christian away from the Faith.

So many pastors are tired and worn out (because they do not see the need of true Biblical elders in place i the Church) that they grab the first one that looks promising not realizing that they may have just welcomed an Ismael into their leadership. Because of this we have seen Church split after Church split.For such immaturity leads to division, strife, envy and jealousy and once they’ve been placed in a position of leadership they will never step down without and all out brawl, most of the time turning “their” followers against the leadership of the Church. Paul warns us and lays out the qualifications for leaders in the Church.

‘Jesus never said we could slice and dice His Gospel and still be His disciples in fact He went so far as to say if we obey ALL His commands we can be His disciple.

Its time to stop playing Church according to mans rules – its time to get back to the blue print that the Father has given us in His Word.

Lets get radical –lets not just preach the Bible – lets be Bible!!!

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