Archive for the ‘teaching’ Category

Discipleship is NOT Sexy

Posted: June 27, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Discipleship is NOT Sexy

It has been a long time since I have written anything. I have spent most of my days developing new friendships and trying to explain to them their need for Jesus. I wish I could tell you a bunch of stories of lives that have changed as a result. I wish I could tell you that hundreds have repented and are now serving the Lord faithfully. Instead, I’m pretty sad as very few of my new friends are ready to ditch their lives to follow Jesus. Some are not convinced they need to repent. Others are not convinced He is worth it.

The good news is that I regularly see God do supernatural things (too many stories to write out). I expected these miracles to result in conversions, but now I understand what Jesus meant when He said, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31).

Jesus never promised revival; in fact, He told us to expect the opposite (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Even when people saw the supernatural, it usually didn’t lead to repentance (Luke 10:13). What Jesus did promise was that we would have His presence with us as we made disciples (Matthew 28:20). This I have definitely witnessed. Supernatural answers to prayer never get old.

Like most speakers/pastors, I like to share about conversions and victories! But by only sharing those stories, it may make people think that something is wrong if they don’t see a lot of fruit in their efforts. Maybe this post is a strange word of encouragement for those who have been sharing Jesus and not seeing much result. We may not often see repentance, but we do experience God being with us; and we do enjoy the peace knowing we tried. And that makes it all worth it.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

By Francis Chan

Walking Dead men

Posted: June 22, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Walking dead men
By Russ Welch

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
(2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV)

Is this Word not true? Are we not surrounded by a prideful people?

O’ how we must pray like King David, that Holy Ghost search our hearts daily and let us not be found with pride!! Yes my friends we are in the days when one mentions obedience & sacrifice people scream legalism. When the truth is preached that we must deny ourselves and follow Christ they cry out religious radical. But As I read the Word I see that the Father knew well in advance that we, in this day would be witness to those who loved their lives more than that of the Lord & His Will. Yet it is these very people who cry out for revival and for the presence of the Lord and all they get is an emotional high and rooms filled with real religious spirit’s!!

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV)

God is seeking radical servants who are willing to lay down their lives and rise up with renewed hearts willing to live out the radical call of discipleship that our Lord Jesus Christ call’s us too.

I am so tied of stumbling in my own walk. I have fought with my own strength and will power for to long. I can not take one step in Holy righteousness in my own ability. No I must die to my own abilities that He may live with His ability flowing through me that His name may be glorified.

I have come to fully realize that the only way to fully walk on the narrow road is to die to myself, that Christ may live in me via His Holy Spirit. I know that I like the disciples in the New Testament must be as a walking dead man- fully dead to the desires of the flesh and carnal thinking and fully reborn and led of the Spirit of the Living God.

To be a true disciple of Christ, we must be willing to get up from the life which we lived before He called us and leave it all behind walking in the newness of a transformed life from this day forward.

How many times I have heard people say “Well that was for them” or “You cant really believe that Jesus is calling us to sell and forsake all”. I know I use to say these very word and I praise God for His Holy Ghost bringing the Fire of God’s discipline upon my life to show me how wrong I was. I know some will disagree with the statement I just made and so be it – For what is more important to me is that the scriptures testify to it.

No my friends be not fooled, the casual, the lukewarm and half hearted person will never enter heavens gates. I would encourage you to study the word endure throughout the New Testament. No I am not talking about salvation by works – I am talking about lives that produce fruit worthy of repentance, lives that produce fruit for His Kingdom. We must realize that it is no small call that this God of the universe calls us to. For He left nothing undone for our way to Him to be clear. Let also be mindful that He also made sure that there was no other way for anyone to sneak into His Kingdom for there shall be no trespassers in the Kingdom of our God.

Again I challenge you to study these statements made by our Lord: “To those who endure, to those who obey my commands, to those who truly love Me” and you may just be shocked to realize the gospel you have heard, the gospel you have been taught really isn’t the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven rather it is the gospel made up by foolish, weak men with calloused hearts.

For not only is our Lord a Radical Lord who has made radical commands to live a radical lifestyle, He calls forth His disciples to be as radical as He is!

Let us all be as walking dead men, that the world may see the true Messiah living through our reborn, sacrificed and sanctified lives!

For indeed our God is an Awesome and Mighty God.

Admitting we are unable open’s the door to God’s ability!!!

Posted: June 21, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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“Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t succeed by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies. (Zech 4:6) There are so many messages just in this verse alone!

TO THE INDIVIDUAL:One can not over come sin nor even the temptation thereof by the sheer will of their determination. True victory only comes when we reach the place where we admit to our in ability (our weakness) and surrender to God’s total ability.

TO THE CHURCH:It’s not about your numbers, it’s not about the amount you receive in tithes and offerings, it not about the pastor being a great speaker, Nor your worship team being better than any other – It by His Spirit and His Spirit alone – for many are the houses that claim His Name yet few are they who have surrendered to His Spirit and His Will that He should come, and not just visit them, but make His abode!!

TO THE NATION: It doesn’t matter who is the head in the White House, it doesn’t matter how large ones military is. It matters not who rules the senate nor the house – a Nations strength lies within its total reliance upon the Lord and His Spirit. When a nation boast of its ability outside of the Lord, He shall pull back His hand of protection and let them see just how far “their strength” will take them!!!!

Many are they who in reference to this verse refer to it’s speaking of doing the work of God, and doing so follows a correct spiritual principle. When God does something, it is not done through physical strength. It is interesting that might literally means “arms,” and power refers to physical activity. The work of God is not going to be done through feats of arms, military victories, or anything that requires physical fighting or contention. Nor can it be accomplished by any amount of physical activity.

Yet we must come to the spiritual revelation of what this verse is saying for it matters not to the amount of work and effort that men put into it, they are not what will get God’s work done properly. They will be helpful, certainly, because God works though men, and men must exert themselves in order to do God’s will. Nevertheless, He says clearly here that all the credit goes to His Spirit. God Himself is at work! Our job is to submit, to do the things that must be done. We must do what the Spirit directs us to do, but God will receive the credit, not us. We could do none of these works by our own means.

For when we grasp all that Holy Ghost desires to teach us here, we shall see that God gives the ability. He gives the inspiration, the strength, and the endurance. He opens the doors. He supplies the manpower, the money, and the other resources to go through those doors. He supplies favor so that the doors can be opened. We merely walk through them.

One could very well say that God’s work is an act of grace. Then again one might conclude that it is a kind of oxymoron to say that work is done by grace, since we think of work and grace as two extremes, but they are not!

What comes first?

The grace comes first: God grants favor and gives gifts, then the work is done.

So where is the glory?

It appears in the grace. The effort comes afterward and accomplishes God’s will.

For by His great mercy are we saved and upon salvation Holy Ghost deposits grace into our lives, empowered with the revelation that we can overcome by our abilities but that through the empowerment of God’s abundant grace through the work of His Spirit shall we walk the narrow road victoriously.

For indeed, our God is a Mighty and Awesome God!!!

A total lack of respect in the Body!!!!

Posted: June 19, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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A total lack of respect in the Body!!!!

By Russ Welch

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself (Eph 5:22-33)

I agree with what Paul is saying here whole hearted – the question I have is how and when did the ways of the world get slipped in here – women’s lib and male egotism  – For I do not see where Paul says women disrespect your husbands until they become like Christ, nor husbands disrespect your wives until they learn to submit – Yet I see this being played out in marriages across the Church horizon and it really comes down to a total lack of respect on both parties. Even if your wife is the worst ever, we are still called to love them as Christ and if your husband is not any where near a saint leave alone Christ, the message of submitting has never been dismissed.

Many profess to be disciples of Christ yet their lives are lived as the disciples of the prince of Hell.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Prov 17:27-28)

I listen to wives t& Husbands tare the other to shreds in public, many of the discussions which should be private are made public and we wonder why divorce is at a higher rate in the Church than in the world outside? I will tell you why, we have made a vow before God and God alone which we brake day in and day out – we cry to Him for Mercy yet His ears remain closed because we can not even show mercy unto one an other.

Are we the Bride that Christ is coming after?

If we treat our spouses with such disrespect we are in all reality treating God with the same disrespect.

It’s time we start living Bible rather than merely speaking Bible and this is in every area of our lives – not just in the public view but in the secret places as well – If not, we better get use to the rocks crying out the praises  of the Lord for the praise of the defiled will never reach heaven!

I myself believe that a family should worship together, pray together and battle the war of hell against the family together – when you separate one from the other you weaken the line and allow the enemy entrance. I do not see this as merely a personal opinion, I see it as scriptural sound and a mandate from the King Himself.

We need a radical transformation in our lives – a radical holy fire that will burn & put to death ever worldly thought that our minds may be transformed into Kingdom thoughts.

My take: Why my church rebelled against the American Dream

Posted: June 15, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Editor’s Note: David Platt, Ph.D., is the author of the New York Times bestseller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream and is senior pastor of the 4,000-member Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama.

By David Platt, Special to CNN

We American Christians have a way of taking the Jesus of the Bible and twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with.

A nice middle-class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts.

A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who for that matter wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings comfort and prosperity to us as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream.

But lately I’ve begun to have hope that the situation is changing.

The 20th-century historian who coined the term “American Dream,” James Truslow Adams, defined it as “a dream… in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are.”

But many of us are realizing that Jesus has different priorities. Instead of congratulating us on our self-fulfillment, he confronts us with our inability to accomplish anything of value apart from God. Instead of wanting us to be recognized by others, he beckons us to die to ourselves and seek above all the glory of God.

In my own faith family, the Church at Brook Hills, we have tried to get out from under the American Dream mindset and start living and serving differently.

Like many other large American churches, we had a multimillion-dollar campus and plans to make it even larger to house programs that would cater to our own desires. But then we started looking at the world we live in.

It’s a world where 26,000 children die every day of starvation or a preventable disease. A world where billions live in situations of such grinding poverty that an American middle-class neighborhood looks like Beverly Hills by comparison. A world where more than a billion people have never even heard the name Jesus. So we asked ourselves, “What are we spending our time and money on that is less important than meeting these needs?” And that’s when things started to change.

First we gave away our entire surplus fund – $500,000 – through partnerships with churches in India, where 41 percent of the world’s poor live. Then we trimmed another $1.5 million from our budget and used the savings to build wells, improve education, provide medical care and share the gospel in impoverished places around the world. Literally hundreds of church members have gone overseas temporarily or permanently to serve in such places.

And it’s not just distant needs we’re trying to meet. It’s also needs near at hand.

One day I called up the Department of Human Resources in Shelby County, Alabama, where our church is located, and asked, “How many families would you need in order to take care of all the foster and adoption needs that we have in our county?”

The woman I was talking to laughed.

I said, “No, really, if a miracle were to take place, how many families would be sufficient to cover all the different needs you have?”

She replied, “It would be a miracle if we had 150 more families.”

When I shared this conversation with our church, over 160 families signed up to help with foster care and adoption. We don’t want even one child in our county to be without a loving home. It’s not the way of the American Dream. It doesn’t add to our comfort, prosperity, or ease. But we are discovering the indescribable joy of sacrificial love for others, and along the way we are learning more about the inexpressible wonder of God’s sacrificial love for us.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my country and I couldn’t be more grateful for its hard-won freedoms. The challenge before we American Christians, as I see it, is to use the freedoms, resources, and opportunities at our disposal while making sure not to embrace values and assumptions that contradict what God has said in the Bible.

I believe God has a dream for people today. It’s just not the same as the American Dream.

I believe God is saying to us that real success is found in radical sacrifice. That ultimate satisfaction is found not in making much of ourselves but in making much of him. That the purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live. That meaning is found in community, not individualism. That joy is found in generosity, not materialism. And that Jesus is a reward worth risking everything for.

Indeed, the gospel compels us to live for the glory of God in a world of urgent spiritual and physical need, and this is a dream worth giving our lives to pursue.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/23/my-take-why-my-church-rebelled-against-the-american-dream/

“I believe that David Platt is another Radical disciple of Jesus in our day, yet Christ calls each of us to be as radical as the disciples of the Bible” ` Radicaldisciples blog founder & Author Russ Welch

I’m Finally Obeying, and I Love It!

Posted: June 15, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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By Francis Chan

This is really sad…  Many years ago I was deeply convicted while preaching through the book of Luke.  When I got to Luke 14:12-14, I knew what I was supposed to do.  I planned on doing it.  I just never got around it.  Sound familiar?

In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the man who was hosting Him for a banquet…

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

It seems like Jesus is saying we should literally have banquets for those who could never repay us.  It seems like it is good to have feasts for those who are rejected by others.  Yet I have spent my life taking friends out to dinner who often pay me back, inviting them to my house for dinner and letting them return the favor. Sure, I gave money to rescue missions to feed the poor for me.  But I had no idea the blessing that would come from doing it myself!

On Sunday night, some friends and I are throwing an elaborate banquet for people we have met in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco.  The banquet hasn’t even happened yet, and I’m already overwhelmed by the blessings I have received.

  1. 1.  The excitement I see in the faces of people when I tell them I want them to come to a banquet.  The shock when I tell them I’m bringing in chefs who will cook WHATEVER they would like to eat.  Steak?  Fish?  Lobster?  Anything.
  2. 2.  The women blushing and teary-eyed when I tell them my wife will take them shopping (Lisa’s spiritual gift) before the banquet.  “I haven’t gone shopping in years!” is a typical response.
  3. 3.  The fun of going the extra mile in making this memorable- getting photographers, decorations, live entertainment, expensive gifts…  We do this for donors, why not the least of these?
  4. 4.  The opportunity to tell them that this is a tiny glimpse of the riches He has in store for us in Heaven.
  5. 5.  The joy of resembling God as I offer grace to people who may reject it.  I have worried way too much about giving to people who may not appreciate my gifts or may squander them like a prodigal.  There’s certainly a time for prudence, but don’t miss out on opportunities to pour out undeserved favor.

The biggest thrill came yesterday as I was explaining the upcoming event.  I was giddy as I spoke about how these people have no idea what they are walking into.  I want to have so many surprises waiting for them when they arrive.  Then it hit me:  Is this how God feels about the banquet He is preparing for me?  Is He thinking, “Francis has no idea what I have in store for Him!”  I have always struggled with understanding and deeply believing His grace towards me.  God is using this event to put me in His shoes for a moment.  I can taste a bit of the thrill of being a grace giver.

Who knows?  Maybe those invited will get busy and decide not to come.  Then we’ll have to pull others off the street, clean them up, and bring them in.  That might end up being a blessing as well (Luke 14:15-24).

 

“This message was writing by Francis Chan, whom I consider to be a radical disciple of Jesus Christ” ~ Radicaldisciples blog Founder & Author Russ Welch

In order to be a true disciple the old man must die!!!

Posted: June 13, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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In the disciples life there must come a day, when like Matthew we leave the table from which the world has defined us. Like Peter we must drop the nets from which our source has come from and turn completely in the direction which points us to follow Christ, having left everything else behind.

Many are not able to make this turn, for they are fearful to leave behind what was, lacking the faith to fully trust that the Lord can completely take care of them. Like the passenger going on a long journey and told they can but bring one carry on bag they bring several and when they are refused entrance at the gate they turn and walk away.

We must be willing to lay down every aspect of our lives – our family, friends, work, heart and soul in order to be a true disciples of Christ for if we do not we can not take one step on the journey of discipleship. Jesus never once asked those He called to follow, to take the time to finish what they were doing or to wait till their house was in order. No His call to follow demanded an immediate & radical decision.

Many today wonder what is going wrong in their walk with the Lord yet in all honesty it has yet to begin, because they refuse to renounce the things of the past and come to Jesus just as they are with nothing else in hand. Some may have been called to follow Jesus having been a musician and they can not picture themselves as anything else so they attempt to start their journey as a musician and never get one foot on the road as a disciple because Jesus has called them to be His disciple and nothing else. The same can be said of a teacher, construction worker, doctor and the list goes on.

Now I am not saying one must quit their profession to follow the Lord but they must forget their identity as such for their identity now belongs to the Lord. He may well call us to stop doing what we are doing, to quit our profession but if we are unable to trust Him we can never begin the journey as a true disciples of the Lord.

In the same way we may be known as a drunk, an unfaithful husband, a thief or an un-trust worthy individual. Again we must lay down what was, in order to truly follow Christ. I am reminded of my favorite part in the movie “The passion of Christ” where Jesus has fallen and the cross comes crashing down on His head. His mother runs to His aid and He looks at her with and says with a mouth full of blood “Mother, look I make all things New”. He can not do this in our lives if we hold onto what our lives have been, unwilling to surrender that identity.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (1 Cor 5:17)

Many today still find their identity in who they were – an angry person, an unforgiving person etc. and this identity sticks to them like mud on a pig because they are unwilling to accept the Word of God as truth. But O glory to the Lord to those who can, for the blood of the Lamb washes the mud a way and indeed they become a new creation.

Our biggest enemy in this battle is not the Devil, it is our minds and heart which are unwilling to step in faith and instead reside in the valley of doubt. This is something I see so often and when I questioned Holy Ghost about it He said it is because they have yet to meet the real Jesus. They have been bombarded with a false gospel which portray as god with a magic wand, who simple zaps people and wham they are completely obedient and holy.

Yet this is not the Gospel of the Bible, for the Gospel of the Bible speaks of us making the step towards Christ having had our heats pricked by Holy Spirit to a place of surrender, of faith and a desire to turn from the old things and follow Christ that He may indeed make all things new. It is about surrendering our will to be subject to His will and His will alone. It is a process in which we must be willing to allow Holy Ghost to put to death the old man that we having been baptized in Christ death, be rising a new creation. (Rom 6:3-6)

To sum it all up We must count the cost of following Jesus in order to become an authentic or true disciple of Jesus Christ. The cost of being an authentic disciple is forsaking everything to follow Jesus Christ in whole-hearted obedience. This is made very clear in the passage Luke 14:25-33, with Jesus ending with the words in verse 33 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

In order to be genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we must be willing to die to our self, with our sinful fleshly nature, in order to follow and obey Him. Our lives can no longer be lived according to our fleshly desires, selfishness, and self centered ways. As authentic disciples we must learn to surrender all and yield everything in our lives to Him as the Lord of our lives. We must remember He is Lord of our hearts and rules over everything in our lives; otherwise He is not truly Lord of our lives.

The journey of discipleship following Christ will cost us everything yet at the same time it is a journey which ends not simply with a crown, it ends with an eternity of being with Jesus. Just being with Jesus is a reward that no price can be put on. Once you see the true Jesus, such love for Him will make everything else pale in comparison.

If you have yet to enjoy to fruit of being a true disciple of Christ, if you have not experienced such a close relationship with Him I challenge you to get on your face before the Lord and cry out to be truly saved and do not get up until He answers you. And trust me you will now because that peace that passes all worldly understanding will wash over you like the ocean.

Dare we judge?

Posted: April 22, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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Oh how that River runs deeper & deeper to those who surrender to it;

“Do not speak against each other, my brethren, for he who speaks against his brother or judges his brother speaks against The Written Law, and judges The Written Law; if you judge The Written Law, you are not a doer of the law, but its judge. One is he who lays down The Written Law and judgment, who is able to give life and to destroy. Who are you who are judging your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12)

Here is an example: We all know someone who continuously speeds (cause we know we don’t speed) – now the reality of this situation is this person looks at the 55 mph speed limit and judges that it is not a good law – they are one who does not obey the law rather they are one who sits in judgment over the laws deciding whether they are just or not. – Do we not see that we do this very thing when we slice & dice the Word of God seeking only that which we feel comfortable about and disregarding the rest – We are sitting in judgement over the Bible as to whether it is Just or not!!

All are not called to evangelize, Right?

Posted: April 8, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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All are not called to evangelize, Right?

by Russ Welch

The Lord really poured it on me this morning as I was preparing for the nursing home – Of course I was looking to speak about the Resurrection – yet over the past several months the theme of Evangelism has been in our conversations heavily (The Lord & I) I shared what He gave me this morning with both barrels blazing and Praise God they not only received, I got a double portion of it as the Lord dug it deeper into my spirit.

 

The message was about coming out of the grave “ourselves” and having been baptized with Christ in death, we come out the other side resurrected  in the NEW Life of Spiritual rebirth in Jesus Christ – and in such the old nature has passed away as have the desires of this world –

 

Now we read the Word and see this truth for John got it, Peter, James, Philip, Paul , and the other disciples got it- Along with many others throughout the generations – That soul shaken powerful revelation of the resurrection power – Such a revelation moves ones heart to share the gospel with everyone before the hour comes (The Bible speaks of such an hour) when the Heavens shall be closed and they shall no longer will hear His voice. We can not continue to remain asleep, we must be awakened to the True Spiritual Truth.When one has truly grasped the Resurrection and what it entails for us the believer we walk in a new spiritual dimension of authority and power – it is then we see the power of the resurrection flowing thru our hands and the sick are healed, blind eyes are opened, deaf ears hear,  all praise and glory to God, it is then the dead are raised.

 

You see when one gets the clear picture of what God did in raising His Son from the dead, we realize that God left nothing unfinished – and He shall leave nothing unfinished in the lives of those who are as surrendered to Him, as was His Son, knowing that the cross was not the end of the finished work. No the truth is that the finished work was finished upon the rising of Christ Jesus from the Grave – For it was then that the power of death (sins penalty) was crushed, Glory to God for then the final verdict that sins penalty of death could not hold the Messiah and all Praise to His Name it cannot hold His disciples either!!!

 

………That trail is too deep to write down right now so I will get back to the evangelism part.

 

You see,  it is when one has been put to death – that is in regard to ones desires, their selfish ambitions. For there we find ourselves, on the other-side of the baptism, not the going under but the coming up, new an refreshed for we have now come thru that resurrection power. It is at that moment that something is transferred into our spirit, the very power of Christ’s character especially in regard to the hunger for the lost. Oh man how I can remember this, when I gave my life to the Lord at 15, having heard a message from David Wilkerson at one of his crusades in Bangor, Maine. I was on fire to share the gospel message, I even preached to my dog, yet slowly with out fellowship, without soaking in the Word, without fellow believers help these flames burnt out. (Oh Lord revive the doctrines of true discipleship according to Your teachings)

 

Now as the Lord was sharing this with me I really had to set back and take this in, having come out from years of teachings in regard to “Gifts” and the offices of such. Yet Holy Ghost showed me that much of that which I any many others have been taught has been false doctrines and we have been deceived to feed the laziness and prideful ego’s of those that have taught us. For theirs is about building and promoting programs and names for themselves so they dismiss the lack of evangelism as they are operating in a different gift.

 

Now, Holy Ghost took me on a journey thru the history of the Church right back to the upper-room. If we study the Word we see that all the followers of Christ after Pentecost were evangelistic even as was the Lord. Some did indeed operate in certain gifting s yet they we all related to reaching the lost and nurturing the new babes. So in reality the enemy has attempted (and done a good job is some instances) of stripping the Church from it’s true call and turned its focus back to individualism i.e. all about me and what I can get from God. This was not the teaching of Jesus nor that of the apostles – The Apostles walked in the authority of the commission Jesus gave upon His returning to Heaven:

 

And Yeshua spoke with them and he said to them, “All authority has been given to me in Heaven and in the earth; in the manner in which my Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  “Therefore go disciple all the nations and baptize them in the name of The Father and The Son and The Spirit of Holiness.”  “And instruct them to keep everything whatever I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of time. Amen” (Matt 28:18-20)

 

Today we have Churches filled with people who believe they have been excused from service because they do not have the “gift” of evangelism. We have men and women in the pulpits who call themselves shepherds with not one once of desire for true evangelism – thus we have nation which houses of God are filled with false Shepherds for I find no verifiable evidence in the Bible that one can lead a Church and have no hunger for the Lost. Oh they will call themselves prophets and apostles and such but they are as Paul and Peter would warned, wolves in sheep’s clothing. For when you look at the  true prophets of the Lord in the Bible they were those calling people back to God, not unto themselves with false words of prosperity that keep the people chained to their every word. Or the true apostles for that matter, they operated in all the gifts till the Lord matured those in the groups to rise up – yet each gift was focused on ministering too, edifying and instructing the saints along with evangelizing the people around them.

 

It really hit me hard as the Lord shared this with me for not only was I taught wrong (not by all those teachers in my past), I had also taught others wrong encouraging their disobedience by excusing their lack of desire to reach the lost with “Well maybe that’s not your gifting”. I praise God that over the past 2-3 years Holy Ghost has been cutting away at these false teachings and has been replacing with with the pure doctrines of Christ our Lord.

 

The honest to goodness scriptural truth is friends, when it come to the lost around us we are all called to reach out to them – if we do not have the hunger and drive to do so we need to firstly repent for being disobedient and secondly ask the Father to allow us to experience the true power of the resurrection – For then our hearts will be filled with the same compassionate Fire for the lost that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ HAS…..

 

So the good news is up to this point you may not have known the truth – The bad news is Now you have heard it so you must either obey the Lord or walk away even as those who heard the message on the flesh & the Blood = For from this day forth you are definitely without excuse!!!!!!

 

But hey, that His (Holy Ghost’s) Story and I am sticking to it.

 

All I know is that we do serve an Awesome God!!!!!

Has the Church been sold back to slavery?

Posted: March 7, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Has the Church been sold back to slavery?

by Russ Welch

We live in a day when slavery has surpassed any other generation along with that we are faced with imprisoning vices on all sides. Has the Church grown powerless or has it in a large part sold out to the customs of this world?

We must, as radical Christians realize that “Though worldly cultures and customs are apt to change with each generation the culture and customs of the Kingdom of God are eternal!

There appears to be a war within the very House of God, the lines have been drawn and the gulf is getting larger and larger. The liberal Christians [Those accustomed to feeding the flesh] have drawn a line called legalism and regretfully many good intentioned Christians have taking a stance that any social justice is outside of their calling.

For a number of generations the Church has remained silent on subjects that it should have released the roar of Heaven over. Today we see human trafficking happening right here in the USA and the Church to a large part remains silent

Why? Has the Church become ruled by a King other than our Christ? Has in it in its attempts to avoid taxes sold out its sovereignty to the Government of this land?  And in doing so has it sold its authority and power to that of the rule of mere men?

Immorality indorsed by national leaders!

When we see young ladies seated before the government of this world proclaiming a life of sexual immorality many are more outraged that people would question her life style rather than the fact that she is living a immoral life and expects others to pay for it.

We have the leader of this nation saying she should be proud. The very same leader who stated if his daughters had a “mistake”, he would not expect them to live with that mistake, rather that they should have an abortion! Since when is a creation of God labeled a “mistake?

This nation voted in the last presidential election with their first gripped about their wallets, while seated upon their morals and hide the Bible and any sense of Christian values in the closet. Saul this nation wanted, and Saul the Lord has giving this nation. And many Church leaders in this nation not only endorsed this mane, they proclaimed him as the hope of this nations future!!!

What has happened to America and especially the American Church (Maybe that is the problem ,it is the American Church and not Christ’s Church).

Idols of the American Church setting the stage for immorality.

Today sexual immorality has become a large scale erosion of the character of men and women within the Church it self along with greed and selfish ambition.

We have high profile pastors such as Paula White and Eddie Long who can divorce their husbands and wives and still be promoted as good, ethical, moral, holy and righteous Church leaders by the Main Stream Christian circles.  We have pastors committing horrendous sexual acts and paying off their accusers and the stories swept under the carper. We have high profile pastors being brought up on corruption and tax evasion charges, yet told this is part of the persecution of the saints!

What this is a corrupted generation of leadership at its best and they are trying to hide under the guise of holiness and proclamations of self induced persecution because they have not only broken the laws of the land, they have broken the very laws of a Holy God!!

We can see that 1Timothy 6 states a clear picture of our day;

A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have. We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take anything out of it. As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.

 But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin. Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief. (1 Tim 6:6-10)

Now Paul instructs Timothy how to battle such a plaque in verses 11-21;

But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the Christian faith. Take hold of everlasting life to which you were called and about which you made a good testimony in front of many witnesses.

 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony in front of Pontius Pilate, I insist that, until our Lord Jesus Christ appears, you obey this command completely. Then you cannot be blamed for doing anything wrong. At the right time God will make this known. God is the blessed and only ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him. Honor and power belong to him forever! Amen.

 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share. By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.

 Timothy, guard the Good News which has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless discussions and the claims of false knowledge that people use to oppose the Christian faith. Although some claim to have knowledge, they have abandoned the faith. (1 Tim 6:11-21 GWT)

If we opened up the Bible to Romans Chapter 1, we would see that we are living in the very days described therein.

Has the Church taking a step backwards?

Sadly many in the Church today have taking on the Garden Mentality” in that they believe they question every aspect of God’s Word if it intrudes in their own life style and agenda not realizing that they are surrendering the very liberty that the Word brings to their lives.

Those of the grace, grace, grace movement who cry out “legalism” the loudest have birthed a generation of rebellious, anti –obedience people who have set them selves in the very seats of those whose name they label all who would disagree with them “Pharisees”. They claim to live a life filled with grace, yet they attitude towards those who are not holding to their doctrines is nothing short of that which John the Baptist called the Pharisees of his day “Brood of vipers” for they would eat their own if they disagreed with.

We must take a radical stand in our day and open the prison doors!!!

Unless the Church radically falls upon it’s face and repents and returns the sovereign rule of the House of God back to Jesus and out of the hands of men, this generation will not see the Glory of the Lord falling upon the earth.

We must wake up for the harvest fields are white before us, we must be willing to go on radical fasts, spend radical amounts of time engulfed in the Word of God & in prayer. We must radically raise our voices in the face of such rebellious acts against the Lord and His Word.

We must be a people who are radical in grace and mercy, who radically change our life styles of comfort in to that of servants. We must go into the highways and byways. We must not cower before the calls of social justice rather we must radically grab hold of these causes and impart the compassion, grace and mercy of our God into these situations.

We must radically change how we tithe and give of gifts. We must radically change our self-willed lives into that of Spirit lived lives.

Yet in all these things we must realize that we, in and of ourselves can not do it.

No, my friends, we must take that radical step towards the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Radically surrendering our wills and picking up our own crosses that have been dipped in His blood, baptized in His death and walk the life of obedient disciples, laying our lives down daily for the sake of the Kingdom of God, for the sake of the Gospel Message, for the sake of a lost and dying world, for the sake of seeing our lives break forth in such a way that His Glory is released throughout the world via broken and surrendered vessels such as we are called to be!!!

Let us step out of the prison of self indulgence today and into that of Radical Disciples of Jesus Christ for indeed we do serve an Awesome and Mighty God!!!!

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