Posts Tagged With: lord jesus christ

What If One Was Born a Homosexual?

Let us say, just for argument sake, that one is born a homosexual, would this in any way change the fact that homosexuality is sin, wrong and immoral? No, it would not. Why? Simply because the Written Word of God says that all immorality is sin and homosexuality is included and specifically listed as sin, as immoral and therefore as wrong as well.

So, what if one was born a homosexual, shouldn’t we be more tolerant of this sin, this product of the fall? Well, the truth be known, No.

Everyone is born in sin and therefore is a sinner. As a result of this reality we are all born with a very real propensity to sin or as people like to say today, an orientation toward sin and sinful behaviors. Because humanity is born in sin, with a sin nature, that is a nature that is given over to sin and therefore sinful lifestyles, we are all in the same kind of boat as it were. Apart from the work of God’s grace as revealed in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, there are no exceptions here. While there are many different kinds of sin, there is only one sin nature and each of us is born with it. This sin nature is reflected in a wide variety of evidences, forms, heart conditions, attitudes, and behaviors, but regardless, they are all rooted in the same base. This base is called the sin nature, the fallen state of humanity. It is in man’s nature to sin and thus to it is in man’s nature to rebel against the will, word and ways of the Lord God Almighty and therefore to do and be what the Lord God has called for us to not do and be.

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Categories: Accountability, Boundaries, Deliverance, Dependency, Empowerment, Homosexuality, Lies, New Beginnings, Presumptions, Regeneration, Righteousness, Salvation, Saving Faith, The Lord Jesus, Victory, Work of God | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Worth Waiting For

I emailed this to a Pastor friend in the Okanogan.

“A few weeks ago, I was in prayer when I saw a vision of a dam at the border of the Okanogan river valley (in Washington State) and Canada. That dam was holding back the blessings and a fresh outpouring of the Lord for the Okanogan river Valley. Hear this: this dam is about to break and there will be an overcoming of the whole of the Okanogan river Valley with the power, blessing and richness of the grace and wonder of God. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!”

This day has been a long time coming, eights years to be exact. No, not the word above, but the how of this and other recent words of the Lord.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Awakening, Changes, Dependency, Divine Encounters, Dying to Self Will, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Growing in Faith, Pentecostal Theology, Prophecy, Prophetic Ministry, Spiritual Barreness, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Prayer, Communion, and the Word of God

Acts 6:4 (ESV) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The Apostles here in this text are dealing with something that is important in the life of the Church. It is more important than simply who gets what. It has to do with the fair treatment of all and not just a few or even the many. There were a large group of Hellenists Jews who had converted over to the faith of Christ Jesus. There clearly seems to be a problem between them and the Palestine Jews or locals as it were. However, when you read this text you get the clear sense that the Apostles, yes, had to deal with the problem, but they made it clear that they were not going to carry the burden this problem. Others would have to do that. The reason for this was simply the recognition that they needed to walk as Jesus walked. How did Jesus walk? He walked in close communion in and with the Father God. He was a man of Prayer, of the Word, of Communion and Action.

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Categories: Abiding, Accountability, Anointing, Awakening, Calling, Character, Core Values, Dependency, Fear of God, Hearing The Lord, Holiness, Prayer, Preaching, Relationship, The Power of God, Word | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Rising Tide of Resurrection Life

Revelation 20:4 (ESV) Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

We’re speaking of an ever-increasing pressure to live in a very compromised manner within this world. As believers, we also find ourselves under this ever-increasing pressure from within and without the so-called Church. The pressure to compromise will increasingly show itself forth with consequences to match, for those who refuse to submit to the power of compromise and tolerance. However, where sin abounds, God’s grace much more abounds.

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Categories: Accountability, Awakening, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Christian Maturity, Dying to Self Will, New Beginnings, Persecution, Political Correctness, Prophetic Revelation, Resurrection Life, Separatism, Steadfastness, Visions, Word of God | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting Ready, To Begin!

In so many ways I feel like I am being called back to studying like when I was first starting out in the ministry so many years ago. This is very surprising at 61 and counting. There is so very much floating around within me that apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, it is quite difficult for me to sort it all out, but I love what He is doing in me right now. For weeks now there has been a very real spiritual awakening taking place within me.

Yes, it is all quite exciting, stimulating and invigorating. It is just like being awakened out of a deep sleep. I am so thirsty and hungry for more of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Word, His presence, for He who is my very life and breath. I find that I want to study, pray and prayerfully read more than my eyes and time will allow me. I want to pour through so much material all at once, devouring it and by the grace of God processing it through and through, that the sheer scope of it seems ever so unrealistic, to say the least. But I am pressing on, for I deeply want to and truly know not what else to do but go with Him to His end and for His greater glory, honor and praise.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Awakening, Being Built Up, Benefits, Calling, Core Values, Covering, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Growing in Faith, illumination, Obedience, Open Ears, Readiness, Timing | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

The Miracle and Mystery of Regeneration

I want to write about something that near and dear to me and that’s the truth of the Lord’s miracle and mystery of regeneration. To understand this precious and most holy work of the Lord even a little bit is such a blessing beyond mere words. While in so many ways it is a mystery, it is also a miraculous reality without which no one can truly be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me try to tell you about this wonderful work of God’s awesome and sovereign grace.

It begins for each of us when we were chosen in the Lord Jesus Christ before the world’s foundation was even laid. That’s right, we were chosen (elected) in the Lord Jesus Christ clear back then (Eph 1:4). We were even then blessed of God.

Adam and Eve lived out their existence before the living God and before the fall, that is so very much different from ours. They were pure yet neither righteous nor unrighteous. They were given a single command, to not eat of the one tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

They were naïve and vulnerable, to sin, darkness, and the power of Satan to tempt and deceive them. They didn’t have to walk in faith regarding God, for God simply was and they simply were, because of Him. They walked with Him, talked with Him and fellowshipped with Him daily, in the cool of the evenings. There was no unbelief that had to be overcome, yet. There was no sin nature that had to be conquered, yet. There was nothing in them yet that was fallen and therefore dead. They only had the command of the Lord God Almighty to not eat of this one tree. This command was an opportunity for both faith, faith in God and His Word, and righteousness, the result of adherence or obedience to God’s direct command.

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Categories: Absolute Dependency, Adoption, Calling, Election, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, His Chosen, Hope, illumination, Imputation, Lies, Mercy, Obedience, Reformed Theology, Regeneration, Resurrection Life, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Saving Faith, The Power of God, Transformation, Work of God | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Compelling Work of God’s Grace

1 Cor 9:16-18 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. ESV (cf Acts 20:22; 2Cor 5:14)

Paul did not choose his life course, it was chosen for him. The Lord chose this course of life and ministry for him and as a result, Paul was compelled by the Lord to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not do this out of his own will, but rather he is constrained to do this, faithfully as the Lord’s servant, as a steward of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

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Categories: Abiding, Authenticity, Benefits, Calling, Confidence, Dying to Self Will, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, Grace, His Chosen, In Spirit and In Truth, Ministry Motivation, Prayer, Repentance, Selflessness, Simplicity | Tags: , | 2 Comments

The Night of My Calling

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14 (ESV)

I was up in the beautiful Cascade Mountains at a church campground. We had been there for several days. The evening meetings had been unusually powerful that week. One night after the service, I had gone down to the altar for a time of prayer and of seeking the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At some point, I laid down on the dusty plywood floor and ended up on my back with my hands extended up to the Lord Jesus. As I lay there praying and seeking the Lord Jesus, I began to have a vision.

At first I saw the Lord Jesus on the cross. He turned his head and pierced my heart and soul with his very eyes. He asked me what I had done with what I had been given? I knew the answer was nothing.

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Categories: Anointing, Calling, Calvary, Celebration, Darkness, Death on the Cross, Dying to Self Will, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Hell, Holy Ghost Burdens, Last Days, Mercy, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Prophetic Revelation, Repentance, Work of God | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

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