Communion

Holding Fast To The Truth

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ESV

In the face of all that is going on around us in the world, let us remain strong in our hope, in our confident expectation regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and His faithfulness, His promises, His Word of Life.

Let us not become those who shrink back, or draw back into fearful compromise, acquiescing to those who would threaten, be offended by the truth, or would attack the message and thus the messengers of the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not surrender our genuine saving faith and its message for the sake of cultural acceptance or relativity, self-preservation, or even of a worldly appeasement, or worldly acceptance and approval.

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Categories: Authenticity, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church, Communion, Confidence, Encouragement, Following Through, Genuineness, Hope, Persecution, Perseverance, Readiness, Sacrifice, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Suffering, Surrender, Tenaciousness, True Love, Victory, Word of God | Leave a comment

Awaken To His Praise, His Worship, For Now!

In 2007, the Lord gave me this word and I wrote out what follows below. I ran across it again this evening and realized that this is already beginning to take place. There is, however, a very real concern, no, a very real growing burden that there will be, as there always seems to be, those who will stubbornly or even defiantly remain in what they know and have known for however long and won’t be open to nor respond appropriately to His, our Lord and Saviors call.

I pray the Lord will rise up and once again confirm His Word for His People to Awake and Arise in His Worship. May He continue to break forth His Anointing for His Worship, His Prophetic Worship Within and Through His Church. May we all by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit surrender to all that He is saying and bless the Lord, doing today! May we once again so deeply hunger and thirst for the Lord Jesus Christ to have His Way With Us All, that we indeed not only cry out but yield, surrender in eyes wide open genuine and authentic saving faith. Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ!

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Categories: The Lord Jesus, Word of God, Prayer, Anointing, Dependency, Worship, God Faith, Prophetic Revelation, Spiritual Warfare, Open Eyes, Open Ears, Steadfastness, Stirrings, Awakening, Breaking Forth, Church, Churches, Work of God, Hope, In Spirit and In Truth, Body of Christ, Exhortation, Ministry, Calling, illumination, Prophetic, Now Word, Grace, Father, Mercy, Intimacy, Openness, Surrender, Empowerment, Humility, Communion, Priorities, Paradigm Shift, Thanksgiving, The Power of God, Obedience, His Gift of Love, Edification, Holy Ghost Burdens, Dying to Self Will, Timing, Pastor, Prophetic Actions, Genuineness, Authenticity, Transcendence, Spiritual Hunger and Thirst, Presumptions, Relationship, Prophetic Worship, His Worship, His Praise | Leave a comment

The Vitalness of His Manifest Presence

Exodus 33:14-16 (ESV) And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Here in Exodus we see that the presence of the Lord was so vital to Moses that he said to the Lord that if the Lord was not going to come with them, then don’t send Israel up to the Promise Land. The Lord offered earlier to send up an Angel who would assure them of the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise in providing them the Promise Land. For Moses this was not enough. He wanted the Lord’s presence, not simply the presence of an Angel no matter how great the Angel was.

I find this so very significant for us today as well. The evidence of Gods manifest presence with and amongst His people is both that which confirms the favor of God concerning His people and that which makes them distinct from the rest of the World. This distinction is vital for us as the people of God. We’re to be in, yet not of the world. The question remains however, how far shall we go without His manifest, evident, or tangible presence?

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Angels, Anointing, Authenticity, Belief System, Benefits, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Church, Church Forms, Churches, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Covering, Dependency, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Family, Father, Genuineness, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, Healing, His Chosen, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Mercy, Ministry, Prayer, Presumptions, Relationship, Rest, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Spirit, Spiritual Hunger and Thirst, Stirrings, Surrender, Teaching, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Transcendence, Truth, Waiting on the Lord, Witness, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 2 Comments

Who’s Word Is It?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It seems that in the last 100 years or so, Bible Translators have radically changed their approach and philosophy concerning this revered and all too often under valued work, Bible Translation. We have moved from the all too common, word for word or essentially literal translation approach to Bible Translation, to what is currently referred to as the “functional equivalency (FE) or dynamic equivalency (DE)” approach. Another description for this latter approach is “thought for thought” or “meaning for meaning” translation philosophy.

In general, dynamic equivalency claims that it isn’t the original words that we need to capture in translation but the thoughts or ideas of the original writers, what they meant by what they said. It is also believed that what is needed is for the translator to recapture the impact for today’s reader that was intended by the original writer’s words, ideas, or thoughts, as they impacted their original audiences. This has only increased in scope and breadth until we have bibles such as the Message being promoted as a translation when in truth it most certainly is not.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Authenticity, Awakening, Bible Translations, Bibles, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Calling, Character, Church, Church History, Churches, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Darkness, Death, Dying to Self Will, Exhortation, Fear of God, Fields of Ministry, Foundations, Genuineness, Growing in Faith, Hermeneutics, History, Holy Spirit, Homiletics, Hope, illumination, Inspiration, Intellectualism, Isolation, Light, Ministry, Obedience, Pastor, Post Modern, Presumptions, Priorities, Process, Prophetic, Question, religious idolatry, Repentance, Simplicity, Spiritual Warfare, Steadfastness, Teaching, Theology, True Love, Unrighteous Ambition, Vulnerability, Word, Word of God, Work of God | Leave a comment

Is It All About Knowledge, Really?

It is how you live in Christ Jesus that is all important, not just what you know. Having said this, there has been many times in and throughout history when this issue of knowledge for knowledge sake, came to a head. It was this issue of Knowledge first, over the simplicity of Knowing Jesus first that seemed to be what the battle was about.

For example, there was a time in the later middle ages when the theologians of that day had gone so far as to create a theology that no one but they themselves could understand or relate to. Their theology had become increasingly complex and stood in direct contrast to the simplicity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As this gap widened, so did the reactions of the people. Their reactions were focused upon a theology that was fraught with an over emphasis of subtleties, developing its own exclusive and elitist language with an insistence upon precise definitions and fine distinctions, theologically.

In the book, “Imitation of Christ”, we discover what was the commonly held belief’s of the day, beliefs that were reactions against the theologians and their theology of the day. Here is a taste of it (1.1.3):

“What good is it for you to be able to discuss the Trinity with great profundity, if you lack humility, and thereby offend the Trinity?”

“Verily, high sounding words do not make one holy and just. But a life of virtue does make one acceptable to God.”

“It is better to feel repentance, than to be able to define it.”

“Were you to memorize the entire Bible and all the sayings of the philosophers, what good would this be for you without the love of God and without grace?”

“Vanities of vanities. All is vanity, except loving God and serving only God.”

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Character, Church History, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Edification, Elitism, Empowerment, Faith, Foundations, Genuineness, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Chosen, History, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Humility, Intellectualism, Intimacy, Knowledge, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Questions, Readiness, Reflections, Relationship, Rest, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Righteousness, Rock, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Separatism, Simplicity, Source, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, The Lord Jesus, The Lord's Fullness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transcendence, Transformation, Truth, Victory, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

Not Everyone…

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Let us have a brief look at this very disturbing text. I do not know about you but whenever I read this text it is convicting and confronting. It convicts me to never, by the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, presume upon my relationship in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. It also confronts me in the area of obedience. Am I genuinely doing the will of the Father God Almighty? It is a text that stirs up within, a very real and genuine re-examination of my heart and personal faith, in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. And, this isn’t a bad thing at all. No, it absolutely isn’t.

Not everyone who simply says, repeatedly, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; how convicting, how confronting, how challenging. This is especially true when you consider what the Lord then goes on to address. Even though there were mighty things seemingly being done through them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will still drive them away because He did not actually know them. There was never any genuine relationship, of  God faith, saving faith or righteous repentance. It was simply a profession, of words rooted in presumptions.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, A Simple Faith, Abiding, Alone, Authenticity, Belief System, Believer, Churches, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Exhortation, Foundations, Genuineness, God Faith, Grace, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Lies, Man's Faith, Obedience, Openness, Presumptions, Priorities, Repent, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Saving Faith, Self Justification, Selfishness, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Spirit of Truth, Spiritual Barreness, Surrender, The Power of God, Transformation, True Love, Unrighteous Ambition, Word, Work of God | Leave a comment

Are We Really Ready For His New Wind?

I believe there is hope for the church and the people of God. I also believe that we need very real change. Could it be that in spirit and in truth we need a reformation, a rebuilding from the foundation (1 Cor 3) of Christ Jesus and up?

Reformation: 1) improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social or political or religious affairs 2) rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course.

There is something stirring out there and I pray that what is stirring is the breath of HIS change that we need. Will we see it when it comes or will our hurts, frustrations and disappointments and dissatisfaction’s with the church and the people of God keep us from seeing the changes that are coming or even that are needed? Will our being blinded by what we want or expect to see or have occur, keep us from seeing what really will be happening in the Lord Jesus and his church/body as happened so many times before?

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Categories: Believer, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Church, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Exhortation, Holy Ghost Burdens, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Mercy, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Now Word, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Openness, Priorities, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Readiness, Repent, Repentance, Rhema, Rock, Simplicity, Son and Holy Spirit, Spirit, Surrender, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Transcendence, Transformation, Truth, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Wind of the Spirit, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | Leave a comment

Reflections Of An Earlier Season

Genesis 12:1 (NKJV) Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

I was just reflecting upon our life in the ministry and specifically the very early years. It was in those times, seemingly so long ago, that my wife and I helped to pioneer several churches and restart a few more. It was interesting because when we began, we had little if any money, resources or support and absolutely no training, at all. I worked in construction and pastored bi-vocationally for many years off and on. Even then, it was still financially very difficult.

As the years went on, pioneering churches seemed to catch on more and more in other denominations and church organizations. It became much more institutionalized and structured. Money became more available for what now was called, planting churches, as did other resources such as training and relational support systems. All that we see today, including the books, conferences, etc. just was not available back then.

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Categories: Abiding, Anointing, Authenticity, Being Built Up, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church Planting Days, Churches, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Empowerment, Faith, Following Through, Foundations, Grace, History, Holy Ghost Burdens, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Isolation, Mercy, Obedience, Pioneering, Priorities, Reflections, Remembrances, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Source, Steadfastness, Surrender, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, Word, Work of God, Worship | Leave a comment

Where Do We Go From Here?

Lord Jesus, where do we go from here? You have warned us and continue to do so. You are calling us to awaken to that for which we were chosen for, by your grace and mercy. You are calling us to come up, and behold the greater realities of and the more of your Spirit, to which we have responded by your grace and mercy, with Yes, Lord Jesus, A Thousand Times, Yes! You have warned us of things to come that will stretch us beyond our experience and understanding. You have warned us of the persecution that is yet before us, as your people and we are seeing even on the horizon before us. You have warned us of the significant changes that are going to take place within our nation, to which we said, Lord Jesus have mercy and prepare us as we look and continue to look only unto you, who is our only genuine hope. Still Lord Jesus, where do we go from here?

You have shown us the church, and its condition of deafness and darkness, of light and hope, of its growing apostasy and yet of its calling to grow in the transcendency of your Holy Spirit. You have shown us that which lay behind the presentations in too many professing churches and ministries which is not and are not, of you. We have seen the truth of the lies which are there, of the deceit and deceptions, and of the ease with which too many of your professing believers are being seduced into these falsehoods. Yet, you also have shown us the more of your transcendent promises and of your call to us your people, your children. Oh, again, Lord Jesus, we cry out, where do we go from here?

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Categories: The Lord Jesus, Word of God, Truth, Prayer, Dependency, Spirit, Question, Questions, Worship, God Faith, Prophetic Revelation, Believer, Standing in Faith, Angels, Steadfastness, Awakening, Breaking Forth, Church, Work of God, Hope, Growing in Faith, Faith, In Spirit and In Truth, Body of Christ, Waiting on the Lord, Ministry, Calling, Source, illumination, Revelation, Prophetic, Word, Now Word, Grace, Rhema, Transformation, Mercy, Intimacy, Surrender, Vulnerability, Abiding, Empowerment, Humility, Communion, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Thanksgiving, Light, The Power of God, Loving One Another, True Love, His Chosen, Visions, Quietness, Absolute Dependency, Benefits, Holy Ghost Burdens, Dying to Self Will, Holy Spirit, Christian Maturity, Spirit Word, Selfishness, Prophetic Actions, Genuineness, Authenticity, A Genuine Heart Cry | Leave a comment

A Simple and Unsophisticated Gospel? Part Two

Let us please continue with a Simple and Unsophisticated Gospel, from last week.

My Grandfather and Dad at one point in their lives just picked up their Bibles and went forth preaching. Lives were changed and impacted and yet when I honestly look at their lives and ministry, I can’t help but feel there was something lacking that was vital and important. However, you know what, I did the very same thing. I just picked up my Bible and went a preaching. I also feel that something vital and important came to be lacking in my life and ministry as well. I have sought to continue growing and learning from the Lord Jesus, each and every step of the way, yet I know there is more. What is it that I am not seeing?

I do not want to make church and ministry, life and living, overly simplistic. I just desire to see, live, and understand it in a way that is much more genuine, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore much more effective in terms of the Kingdom of Almighty God. I continually long for the revelation of the truth that is of a yoke that is easy and light, yet gets the work of the Kingdom accomplished in such a way that He, our Lord and Savior, is genuinely glorified, honored, praised and worshiped, in Spirit and Truth.

I want this for my family and I, yet I so desire this for us all, for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ at large. I know that there is more here than is meeting my eye of understanding. I just know there is. I so long to continue learning from and growing in the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, that His simplicity may be recaptured and realized as a powerful truth once again, in our lives personally and corporately. That place where we are completely at rest in Him, in the midst of His life and living, of His church and ministry, no matter what is before us, one and all.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Communion, Dependency, Edification, Genuineness, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Ministry, Old Blog Post, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Paradigm Shift, Process, Promises, Questions, Quietness, Rest, Revelation, Righteousness, Salvation, Simplicity, Stirrings, Surrender, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Witness, Word of God, Work of God | Leave a comment

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