Examine Yourself To See Whether You Are In The Faith

 

Are you are follower of religion or a follower of Christ?

Is your mind filled with works that you do or the WORKS that Christ has done for you?

What do you think about more...your obligations to Christ or the REST that Christ has provided?

Do you love to teach; the law, (rules, standards, do's and don'ts) or good news of the grace of God? 

Are you real about your self, your needs, your failures or do you put a front on--of self-righteousness?

Do you know that a follower of religion will be rewarded much in this life? He will find that he/she will have many friends (all be it...surface relationships).

Do you know that you will have opportunities to put your stakes down deep in this world (ie with money and material gain)?

Do you know that if you are really crafty...you can even make a living off religion, and it will make you famous and important? 

The sky is limits if you are in religion but you will be disappointed in the end when you see HIM coming in the clouds...You will say...LORD, LORD did we not do........??? And he will say, "I never knew you, depart from me you workers of iniquity..."

But if you truly desire to follow Jesus...many of your rewards will not happen while on this turf. You will be despised and rejected by ppl who you thought were your friends. You will be called a heretic or backslider (usually behind your back). Your name will be smeared and you will be a reproach to most of the ppl who knew you.

As far as wealth...you will likely not be rich, but rather poor because you will see the vanity in much of the worldly pursuits of this life...and it will not impress you. 

When you speak...many will not want to hear the gospel that you share...When you speak of grace, they will likely hate it, (especially the religious ppl) . Thus, you will learn what it means to be on the narrow path and what Jesus meant when He said "that when 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I will be in the midst of them"... (((because you will be lucky to even find 1 or 2 others who will be in your company))).  Many of your friends will be preoccupied with the festivities of this life, with their religious practices and endeavors. They will not have time for one on one relationships. Therefore, the wilderness experience is very much a part of your journey. Yet you will travel on it willingly because you KNOW you cannot go back.

 

His voice will be sweet to you and you won't care what others think. You will be alone much but NOT forsaken by HIM. He will be your strength because yours will be gone. You will not depend on anyone (not even yourself), but HIM. Slowly, you will discover that there are others on your same journey who are following in the exact same manner. They will be sprinkled here and there. That is when you will discover the great delight of hearing their voices and seeing their lives that are lived out for kingdom of God. They will share the bread of life with you and you with them. 

All of this is a glorious feast of heavenly blessings that others cannot enter into, nor can they understand your language...(it is foreign to those who follow religion). Even if you try to explain it...they cannot grasp what you are saying and will only HATE you more. But yet...you will smile...knowing that you have a treasure that is hidden which gives you much AWE...(wondering....why me LORD...?? Why did you pick me???) and your heart will greatly leap with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

 

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

Examine Our Hearts

Some think they are following Jesus but find out later that they were just a pawn for someone else's religious endeavors? 


‎"Examine your hearts to see whether you are in the faith"....I have to admit that it is so easy to get caught up in religion or get caught up in bitterness....I see many believers who are stuck in one or the other which is why we often have a hard time relating. Many gatherings (ekklesias) are struggling and it might because we have not done our own personal "spring cleaning" our own hearts. 


May the LORD help us all to walk in the Light and not let any root of bitterness grow and thereby, defile the rest. Wow...the LORD's mercies are new everyday and we can fix our eyes on HIM, forgetting what is behind and press towards the mark of the high-calling in Christ. May we find pasture to graze upon where we can build ourselves up in the most holy faith and may we also participate in the priesthood of the believers as we gather in JESUS name (not our own) .

A Generation of a True Follower of Christ

Personally, I’m not all that eager to raise up a new generation of leaders. I want to raise up a new generation of butlers and scullery maids. A generation of nobodies who are content to be obedient to the simple teachings of Jesus. A generation of Christ-followers who die to family, fame, fortune, success, patriotism, and the American Dream. A generation of Dietrich Bonhoeffers who realize that “when Jesus calls a man, He bids him come and die.” I want to raise up a generation of men and women who give without counting the cost, who deny themselves, who willingly take the cross as the path of union with Christ, in whom there is no trace of triumphalism, who put their lives at Christ’s disposal with unconditional surrender, who place Christian allegiance over their national allegiance, who act as though they were part of an upside-down kingdom, who die to all claims of the self-indulgent life, who refuse to lionize success or repudiate pain, who “share in suffering as good soldiers of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3), who stand high and lift their drooping heads because the Son of God inhabits their lives in the power of His resurrection.--Dave Black

Keeping the Sabbath

‎"...keeping the Sabbath (has a)...spiritual meaning...It is simplicity and utterness of faith as to the finished work of Christ...God's rest is based upon the fact that in Christ and by His Cross all the work is finished. We are called on to find all our life and energy on this basis - that we keep God's Sabbath...God is calling for those who are true keepers of His Sabbath, those who by faith are proving in ever new ways and ever greater fulness the glorious perfection of the new creation in Christ." T. Austin-Sparks, "Discipline Unto Prayer."

THE STONE SOUP PARABLE

THE STONE SOUP PARABLE 

                                        by Kat Huff

http://harvestofpearls.com/2012/02/23/the-stone-soup-parable/

Jon Zens on the Tithing Teaching

Tithing?

A New Covenant Look At An Old Covenant Practice

by Jon Zens
Searching Together

                                                   http://solochristo.com/theology/Church/zenti.htm

"The Spirit of the Lord God is Upon Me"

This verse below is what Jesus was all about...this is what we are all about...if you are walking in the Spirit of God and not in the spirit of the World! Btw, this is the first message Jesus brought to the temple (He quoted it in the Gospels).

What a mighty savior we have been given!!!!!!!!

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has annointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

(Do we see this? He brought Good news...to the afflicted...to the brokenhearted...to prisoners ...to those who mourn....to the fainting. Are we finding those ppl today? If not, ask God to send you to them and He WILL!) He will make you fishers of men....:)

Judgement Must Begin at the House of God

For the time has come that judgement must begin at the House of God

1Pet.4:17

I get lots of emails and hear messages on the state of country; how we are no longer a Christian nation the emphasis is on “how terrible this is”. But let me ask the question; what is the state or condition of “church” in America? The Bible tells us that the “world and sinners will wax worse and worse” but what about us? I see affluent Christianity sitting by in her walled off church buildings and expensive homes living lives of luxury and pleasure, doing little or nothing with their lives for the cause of Christ.

Where is the love for Jesus? Where is the brokenness for the lost? Where is the compassion and mercy in our lives? Instead many Christians in their denominational molds, spend their time slamming each other’s beliefs, (so much for brotherly love). We not only don’t have time to win the lost to Christ but we don’t even have love for our brother, even though the Bible tells us to “BE our brothers keeper”.

I have been a Christian for 25 years now and I see American Christianity in her “lukewarm” state and I can see why the Bible says “He will spew her out of His mouth”. We are the ones who need to repent, “judgment must begin in the house of God”. We are the ones how are filled with lust for this world, for love of things, the pride of life, (for making a great name for ourselves all in the name of Christianity). We are the ones who take His name in vain and live our lives as hypocrites. We are the ones living in pleasure. Again, we are the one who need to repent! May the Lord open our eyes and wake us up to “OUR” condition!

Paths to Ponder

We often think that if we have talent and money we can do a “work” for God. Sadly, it seems that many Christians (and ministries) are bogged down with their financial needs and miss the true work of ministry. Much of their time and effort are spent trying to make money to fuel the ministry that they say, “God, has called them to do”. If that were the case, and it was the Lord’s work, wouldn’t he supply the need?

George Mueller said, “God’s work done in God’s way shall never lack God’s supply”.

Also in the realm of talents, we often think we need to develop our talents. Nothing wrong with practicing and studying but I wonder if God could use us more if weren’t “so able”??? I really believe that God is able to make all grace abound in us, to reach this lost world. If our goal is truly to bring glory to him, (and not to use some ministry to elevate ourselves), then can we not trust him to provide all that we could ask or think? !!! As we step out and do the true work of ministry, which is evangelism, these things all seem to fall into place. 2Tim.4: 5 “But watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelists, make full proof of thy ministry”. Could it be that God is not waiting for our ability to generate money or talents but rather is He waiting for us to step out in faith and obedience; waiting on Him supply our every need to do His work?

Really, I wonder if it doesn’t boil down to our faith and obedience to him as we live our lives for the sake of the Gospel. Laying our lives down for him, even if it means poverty and reproach. After all, what do we have to lose if heaven is really our goal? Why should all these things matter so much?

In China, India and many other countries, we hear how the church is vibrant and alive with God’s presence and power. She lacks nothing in spiritual matters even though many would notice how financially poor she is and would even feel sorry for them; but I feel the opposite, as I hear the testimonies of God’s people. I envy what they have and wonder if we will ever have that here in America. We are so rich and because of it our hearts and minds are consumed with the things we want and the things we have. God help us!!!!

Most American Christians do not even have a clue how little spiritually we have compared to the other countries. Or will most even venture to compare the church today to her Biblical foundation as we read about it in the Book of Acts. Instead we often hear, “Oh, that was only for them in that day”. Think about it though, here were 120 folks who stayed together for what ended up being a 10 day prayer meeting, until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then those same folks God used to turn the world upside down. I wonder what would happen if we were humble enough to embark on such a task as seeking the Lord till we were filled with power from on high. Notice money was not what they were seeking but rather the King of kings and Lord of Lords. They knew He had what they needed and they were willing to seek and wait for it!!!! 2Chron. 7:14 “If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. Notice it says, to turn from our wicked ways. Could our “love for money” be something we might want to consider as being in that category? As we read in 1 Tim. 6: 6-12. Verse 11-12 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things: and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold unto eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”.

Time to reevaluate the path we are on…

We seem to have contentment for spiritual bareness but not for money.

We seem to be using all our time and strength to generate money for our so-called, overseers in our Christian institutions. We have become puppets for man-made ministries and are burdened down to the point where we can’t discern what is happening. Sadly, much talent remains hidden as all our time is being wasted on money-making tasks in this rat-race. It is no wonder that many of us have a sense of emptiness and even guilt over our Christian walk.

Also, another common activity which takes our time (and attention) away is the “party” mentality we have. There is a constant flow of invitations to this party or that, yet little effort is spent towards a real outreach for the lost world.

When I read about William Booth and how his mission was to go into every city and set up a tent or rent a building in the poorest part of town; then he would call for believers to come along side him to do a crusade type of a service which included singing, musicians and testimonies and prayer all seasoned with gospel message being proclaimed throughout the long services…I cannot possibly think of anything in the whole world I would rather do with my fellow believers then that. My heart longs for an invitation to be at that type of gathering. Just to even picture us…working side by side…doing what Jesus commissed us to do… “to preach the gospel”…

I am weeping and praying that God will get a hold of His Luke-warm Church and raise us up to do a work for him in each town and state in America, till we see His glory ruling over every ministry and Christian. Till the Holy Spirit reigns on our nation. Remember, God is not willing that anyone should perish! His heart is for His salvation to come into each and everyone who has breath. He died for this very reason!!!! May we make it our desire and our business to see this happen! Amen!!!! And amen!!!

Jayne Otterson

The Will of God

"It is possible to evangelize the world in this generation, if the
Church will but do her duty. The trouble is not with the heathen. A
dead Church will prevent it, if it is prevented. Why should it not be
accomplished? God will have all men to be saved and come unto
the knowledge of the truth. The resources of the Church are
boundless. Let the will of the Church be brought into line with the
will of God, and nothing will be found to be impossible. May God
grant it!" - Griffith John

Our Desire

Our desire is to lift up the name of Jesus and to encourage each other in the faith. We live in world of great darkness, where the multitudes mock Christianity and where the true believer is being tested on a daily basis. The enemy is working overtime to steal and destroy our faith in the Lord Jesus. The Bible says that in the last days there will be a great falling away, that even the elect will be deceived. So as we ponder these things we can see we have a great enemy to which we must war against. That is why we must fix our eyes on Jesus. He alone gives us hope for the future, both in this life and the next. This is why we are called to worship and to sing praises to our God. This is why we must shut out all of our cares of life and look to his Glory and power. We have no hope without it.
Our desire is to remain faithful even in the midst of trials and fear. In the midst of being mocked and reproached. And even as our eyes gaze upon this sin sick world we can say “He alone is worthy of all our praise; all our hope and blessing are found in Him. He is all-powerful and His loving kindness is ever present. No matter what, we can trust and rest in Him”. What peace we have in our great God and King, our father and friend, our redeemer!