Sunday, August 25, 2013
A Vast Green Land
Yesterday as I was riding in the car to the Minnesota State Fair, I was looking out the car window into the vast green trees bordering the River in Eau Claire, WI and I came to a realization. Though part of me longs for a home far off in the green woods, like what I was gazing out at, where I could live in peace and rest without much disturbance from the world, I came to the realization that I can't settle in a place or status like that. Not here in this earth because though there would be peace, happiness, and rest--part of me would die and be lost. I was made for something else. The world is not in peace, in happiness, or in rest--therefore how can I ignore it by isolating myself from it into my own peace, happiness and rest? To do so would be selfish and not to take up the example of Christ. I am a part of this world and therefore it is my responsibility to take up the calling of stewardship and having dominion on the earth as a representative and witness of my God, as one made in His image. To take up also the great commission. The part of me that I would lose would be the part of me that is called to stand and fight for the good in this world, the good which is Christ and his people-whether saved or not saved. Besides, I have a vast green land to look forwards to after this age when I go to be with my King or He returns. My King Jesus. Therefore until then, there is work to be done and my calling is not to live in isolation of the world and the people in it, in my own peace, happiness, and rest so that I can do whatever it is that I want to do. But it is to take up my sword and fight. For though I am not of this world, being a new creation in Christ, I am in the world just as Jesus was. And so as I stop my selfishness of living for my own gain-the peace, happiness, and rest of the world, I will fight on in the joy of the Lord knowing that my citizenship is in heaven and having the peace, happiness, and rest which only comes from walking in the path the Lord has set for me in this world.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
This is my Occupation and Career: To Know Him
Something I have been pondering as of lately is the numerous questions I always get about what you are going to do with your life, what your profession will be, what your occupation will be, or what your career will be. If you think about it, this is almost the question used to define who you are according to our culture or the questions used to judge who you are.
But the more I live and pursue God, I can't let these kind of questions define who I am and nor will they define who I am. I'm going to say something right now that a lot of people don't like to hear or almost get offended by, or think your crazy and too radical. I honestly don't care what my career, profession, or occupation will be because the way the world sees it, is not how I see it. This is my occupations: to know God and to fall in love with Him all the days of my life. My career is to seek to know Jesus and live in relationship with him through the Holy Spirit. This is my first life goal and my only, because everything else comes out of knowing who He is. When you see it like this, you don't have the stresses and worries that the world gets sucked into like these questions that bother us and keep us up at night: who am I? who am I going to marry? what career am I going pursue and focus on? will I be successful? will I make enough money? will it even matter? do I even matter? what is life supposed to be? do people even like me? what will they think of me? and on and on....When your eyes are on Jesus, you know the answer to all of these questions because your worth, value, and destiny are in Him.
What I am talking about is not just a rational knowledge of what God is like or who he is. I mean a knowledge of God that transcends all understanding and all knowledge. I mean to actually know the living God and walk with Him. I mean to be radically lost and found in Him considering all things loss and rubbish for the sake of knowing Jesus. If the knowledge of God that we understand doesn't transform and change our lives like it did the apostles, then we haven't gotten it fully yet. I believe there is so much more to this life and so much more in our relationships with God than what we have thought possible. The living God is alive and we are sons because Jesus has torn the veil. The Holy Spirit is inside us teaching us and speaking to us and leading us. The Holy Spirit still acts like He did before the creation of the world and like he did when He was poured out on to the first disciples. If we truly believe this, let us let go of all things for the sake of knowing Him. This is the cry of my heart. This is what I was made for.
Jesus is my King, my God, my Lord, my Teacher, my Savior, my Everything! And he died to set me free and He is alive to lead me in the way I shall go. I don't just say these as mere words and doctrines. I truly believe this and know this because Jesus has shown me these things himself. I have tried to run from it, seeking my value and pleasure in other things-but they all lead to nothing and left me depressed. I have walked the other way but there is nothing as great as knowing my Lord Jesus Christ! I am convinced that once you know this and get a hold of it, there is nothing in all the world that can separate you from His love. And that even if you try to run from it and go to depths of the sea, to ends of the universe, to the darkest corner, to the ends of the earth, that He will be there. Even if you wanted to give up and run away from God, you couldn't because He is so great and good, and His love has no ends. You were made by Him and for Him, and in Him you find the fullest meaning of life. The God who is Holy and unapproachable has made himself known to us and desires for us to approach him and be found in Him.
Psalms 27 and Philippians 3 are my life goals:
One thing I ask from the LORD, this is only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. -(Psalms 27:4)
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek. -(Psalms 27:8)
But the more I live and pursue God, I can't let these kind of questions define who I am and nor will they define who I am. I'm going to say something right now that a lot of people don't like to hear or almost get offended by, or think your crazy and too radical. I honestly don't care what my career, profession, or occupation will be because the way the world sees it, is not how I see it. This is my occupations: to know God and to fall in love with Him all the days of my life. My career is to seek to know Jesus and live in relationship with him through the Holy Spirit. This is my first life goal and my only, because everything else comes out of knowing who He is. When you see it like this, you don't have the stresses and worries that the world gets sucked into like these questions that bother us and keep us up at night: who am I? who am I going to marry? what career am I going pursue and focus on? will I be successful? will I make enough money? will it even matter? do I even matter? what is life supposed to be? do people even like me? what will they think of me? and on and on....When your eyes are on Jesus, you know the answer to all of these questions because your worth, value, and destiny are in Him.
What I am talking about is not just a rational knowledge of what God is like or who he is. I mean a knowledge of God that transcends all understanding and all knowledge. I mean to actually know the living God and walk with Him. I mean to be radically lost and found in Him considering all things loss and rubbish for the sake of knowing Jesus. If the knowledge of God that we understand doesn't transform and change our lives like it did the apostles, then we haven't gotten it fully yet. I believe there is so much more to this life and so much more in our relationships with God than what we have thought possible. The living God is alive and we are sons because Jesus has torn the veil. The Holy Spirit is inside us teaching us and speaking to us and leading us. The Holy Spirit still acts like He did before the creation of the world and like he did when He was poured out on to the first disciples. If we truly believe this, let us let go of all things for the sake of knowing Him. This is the cry of my heart. This is what I was made for.
Jesus is my King, my God, my Lord, my Teacher, my Savior, my Everything! And he died to set me free and He is alive to lead me in the way I shall go. I don't just say these as mere words and doctrines. I truly believe this and know this because Jesus has shown me these things himself. I have tried to run from it, seeking my value and pleasure in other things-but they all lead to nothing and left me depressed. I have walked the other way but there is nothing as great as knowing my Lord Jesus Christ! I am convinced that once you know this and get a hold of it, there is nothing in all the world that can separate you from His love. And that even if you try to run from it and go to depths of the sea, to ends of the universe, to the darkest corner, to the ends of the earth, that He will be there. Even if you wanted to give up and run away from God, you couldn't because He is so great and good, and His love has no ends. You were made by Him and for Him, and in Him you find the fullest meaning of life. The God who is Holy and unapproachable has made himself known to us and desires for us to approach him and be found in Him.
Psalms 27 and Philippians 3 are my life goals:
One thing I ask from the LORD, this is only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. -(Psalms 27:4)
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek. -(Psalms 27:8)
"Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body". -(Philippians 3)
Monday, June 11, 2012
No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:1-4
This passage in Romans is beautiful to me. As of lately, I have realized that sometimes I forget that I am no longer condemned by God. Sometimes I act like I am condemned, even though I have been redeemed and saved by Jesus.
Let me put this in perspective: I am a believer who wants to live my life serving the one true God. He is the only thing that I want to live for because He has made me fall in love with Him. My major in college is Biblical and Theological Studies. I love studying God's word, and praying, spending time in God's presence, worshiping through music. However, I still fail sometimes to realize that I am saved, redeemed, loved, and that when God looks at me, he doesn't see my sin, but has wiped it away and looks at me with gentleness, kindness, passion, and love. I may know these things in my head, but the fact is sometimes, I fail to really realize it in my heart. And there is such a difference. When I fail to do something that God has called me to do, or I stumble in sin, make bad choices, am consumed with myself and fail to see others needs in front of me, or even believing in lies from satan that I am worthless, not loved by others, don't amount to anything, or that everything I do is a failure, it is so easy to feel condemned and have shame. I am saved and yet I walk around like a failure sometimes. I am made righteous by Christ's blood, yet I stand like I am condemned-like I am the biggest failure on the face of the earth. But, if I look at God's word and what He has done for me, the Spirit testifies with my Spirit that I am a child of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). And that there is nothing in all creation that can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39). I don't have to walk around feeling accused and like God is not with me or for me because God is so for me and with me. His promises remain true for eternity. God loves me and loves everyone. I am saved by grace as a free gift from God. When God looks at me now, he doesn't see my sin because Jesus wiped them away with His blood on the cross. Jesus has stood in the gap and now I stand alive and new in Him. I must remind myself of this gift everyday. We are victorious in Christ. I don't have to get it all right, though my heart is to be obedient. But, I want to be obedient because I AM loved by God and I love Him, NOT because I am worrying that God doesn't love me and NOT by trying to earn His love out of being obedient. There is freedom in Christ, to live in love with Him.
Yet, this never gives me or anyone else an excuse to sin because of the free gift of grace. For God is continually at work in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, to get rid of things that bring destruction to our lives, through sanctification. We never have an excuse to keep on sinning or to use our freedom to indulge in the flesh (Galatians 5:13 and 1Peter 2:16). But as I continue to pursue God and seek Him, He will show me the things to get rid of and things He is calling me to do, and His grace will not only wipe my sin away but give me the strength to overcome them. This is a love relationship with our God and we get to stand as redeemed people, confident in God's love for us and with a spirit of radical obedience to the one who loves us.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:1-4
This passage in Romans is beautiful to me. As of lately, I have realized that sometimes I forget that I am no longer condemned by God. Sometimes I act like I am condemned, even though I have been redeemed and saved by Jesus.
Let me put this in perspective: I am a believer who wants to live my life serving the one true God. He is the only thing that I want to live for because He has made me fall in love with Him. My major in college is Biblical and Theological Studies. I love studying God's word, and praying, spending time in God's presence, worshiping through music. However, I still fail sometimes to realize that I am saved, redeemed, loved, and that when God looks at me, he doesn't see my sin, but has wiped it away and looks at me with gentleness, kindness, passion, and love. I may know these things in my head, but the fact is sometimes, I fail to really realize it in my heart. And there is such a difference. When I fail to do something that God has called me to do, or I stumble in sin, make bad choices, am consumed with myself and fail to see others needs in front of me, or even believing in lies from satan that I am worthless, not loved by others, don't amount to anything, or that everything I do is a failure, it is so easy to feel condemned and have shame. I am saved and yet I walk around like a failure sometimes. I am made righteous by Christ's blood, yet I stand like I am condemned-like I am the biggest failure on the face of the earth. But, if I look at God's word and what He has done for me, the Spirit testifies with my Spirit that I am a child of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). And that there is nothing in all creation that can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39). I don't have to walk around feeling accused and like God is not with me or for me because God is so for me and with me. His promises remain true for eternity. God loves me and loves everyone. I am saved by grace as a free gift from God. When God looks at me now, he doesn't see my sin because Jesus wiped them away with His blood on the cross. Jesus has stood in the gap and now I stand alive and new in Him. I must remind myself of this gift everyday. We are victorious in Christ. I don't have to get it all right, though my heart is to be obedient. But, I want to be obedient because I AM loved by God and I love Him, NOT because I am worrying that God doesn't love me and NOT by trying to earn His love out of being obedient. There is freedom in Christ, to live in love with Him.
Yet, this never gives me or anyone else an excuse to sin because of the free gift of grace. For God is continually at work in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, to get rid of things that bring destruction to our lives, through sanctification. We never have an excuse to keep on sinning or to use our freedom to indulge in the flesh (Galatians 5:13 and 1Peter 2:16). But as I continue to pursue God and seek Him, He will show me the things to get rid of and things He is calling me to do, and His grace will not only wipe my sin away but give me the strength to overcome them. This is a love relationship with our God and we get to stand as redeemed people, confident in God's love for us and with a spirit of radical obedience to the one who loves us.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:1-4
Saturday, April 7, 2012
God is faithful, the devil is not!
So many times when we have trouble in this life, we are so quick to blame God. We are so quick to be mad at God. Things like the unexpected loss of loved ones, bad relationships, hurt, depression, addictions, loneliness. And the list goes on... We ask God and yell at God, "why me! how could an all good and loving God let this happen to me, my family, or friends? Don't you care God? Don't you love me?" But, we must realize that even in these questions, we are deceived. As people who claim to follow Christ, have we forgotten the reason why humanity fell and why we have death, addictions, and bad relationship in the first place? Is it not the deceiver (SATAN) who tempted humanity, and we let him walk all over us, giving him authority over us? Have we forgotten that evil and bad in this world is caused by him? We are so quick to blame God and get mad at him and walk away, all the while Satan is sitting there innocent because we don't even recognize his wicked works. We have put God in the place where Satan belongs, even when God gave his only Son for us. We shouldn't be mad at God! We should be mad at the devil for he is the one who brings evil! Satan is the one to be blamed and accused, for he has been proven guilty! God is faithful! Make war with the real enemy, the devil.
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" -1 Peter 5:8-9
"He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." -John 8:44-45
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" -1 Peter 5:8-9
"He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." -John 8:44-45
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Onething I ask of the Lord
So, I can't stress how important it is to find your rest in the quite place, seeking God in his presence. This has been where I have found my joy, peace, comfort, love, and rest. One of my favorite verses is in Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." That is my first joy and passion. I want to know the deep things of God's heart, because he is my life and I can't thank the Lord enough for what he has done for me. Seeking the Lord, needs to be the number one thing in our lives, above all else. Not in a legalistic way, but as a joy. I used to read the Bible and pray because I knew I had to as a "Christian." But, the Lord has changed my heart, and now it is my favorite thing to do. It's no longer a boring thing I need to do, but now it is an awesome and exciting thing I WANT to do! It only came from sitting before the Lord and listening. The Lord wants to speak to your heart and he is waiting for us to listen. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." We need that time with the Lord, and trust me, if you put something before that time with the Lord, it does not take very long before you start to stress and worry about little things. God wants to bless you with peace.
Read Psalm 91:
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
God loves and favors those who seek him, and wants to pour out blessings on you. That doesn't mean everything will be good and you will be happy all the time, but the Lord will uphold you in his victorious right hand. "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident." -Psalm 27:1 and 3. You will find rest, peace, and love even in trials. Christ loves you more than you know!
Blessings.
Read Psalm 91:
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
God loves and favors those who seek him, and wants to pour out blessings on you. That doesn't mean everything will be good and you will be happy all the time, but the Lord will uphold you in his victorious right hand. "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident." -Psalm 27:1 and 3. You will find rest, peace, and love even in trials. Christ loves you more than you know!
Blessings.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Follow Me
So I have been wrecked as of lately. Just reading through the gospel of Luke and hearing the actual words of Jesus. How intense they are. Words people can sometimes and a lot of the time ignore or get offended by. Words we take lightly, myself included. Some where in our church history we have tamed down the words of Jesus, and yet we call our selves followers of Jesus. Jesus says there are two paths we can follow, one is easy and wide and the other is narrow and hard. One leads to destruction and the other leads to life. But how many of us are actually on the narrow path that Jesus calls us too. If we actually get deep down to it and are honest with ourselves, are we really on that narrow path, being obedient to what Jesus tells us?
A lot of us say we are following Jesus, but ask yourself this question. If I wasn't a Christian, would my life look any different. I don't just mean reading the bible and praying, but the way we live our lives. How about right now as you call yourself a follower of Jesus, would people who don't know Jesus look at your life and say you are different? Would they see a light in you? Have we ever stopped and realized what Jesus says? He says we can't have both the wide and easy path and the narrow and hard path. We can't hang on to our sin and then have a little Jesus over here. He says, "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. He says in Luke 17:33, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." He says the narrow path is hard but it leads to life. Yet we keep going on to our sin and spitting in the face of Jesus. We keep going back to materialistic things and letting those things be our treasure, rather that God and his glory being our treasure. How disgusting is this. And before I go on I don't want to sound like I'm judging, but I'm in the same boat and I'm coming to the point where I can't just sit back and continue to want Jesus and my old life. It's time to stand up into who God is calling me to be and all of us to stand who God has called us to be.
Jesus tells us not to be luke warm, and that he would rather us be either hot or cold. That he is ready to spit us out of his mouth if we are living in luke warm Christianity. He says this in Revelation 3:14-22. But he says this because He loves us. He says in that same passage that "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." See he rebukes us and tells us of the down right ugly things in our lives, yet He tells us these things because He loves us and wouldn't want anyone of us to be thrown into Hell for eternity. It may seem like this is harsh language, but this is the Jesus of the bible. But you must see that He loves you! He says the narrow path is hard, but it leads to life. He is offering life because the things on the wide and easy path of the world will only lead to destruction. And Jesus wants us to be with Him in His glory.
Lets stop this nonsense and follow Him, truly! Because it really is the only way to life. He is the God who created us and could crush us at any moment, yet He offered us a way out by giving His Son! Lets stop spitting in His face coming up with excuses of why we can hold on to our sin or what we want, and take the free gift that He offers and give our lives to Him! I'm going for this thing. The Lord has so much he wants to give us. So many good plans for our lives. He is the only thing I want to live for because he leads to life, and everything else leads to destruction.
A lot of us say we are following Jesus, but ask yourself this question. If I wasn't a Christian, would my life look any different. I don't just mean reading the bible and praying, but the way we live our lives. How about right now as you call yourself a follower of Jesus, would people who don't know Jesus look at your life and say you are different? Would they see a light in you? Have we ever stopped and realized what Jesus says? He says we can't have both the wide and easy path and the narrow and hard path. We can't hang on to our sin and then have a little Jesus over here. He says, "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. He says in Luke 17:33, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." He says the narrow path is hard but it leads to life. Yet we keep going on to our sin and spitting in the face of Jesus. We keep going back to materialistic things and letting those things be our treasure, rather that God and his glory being our treasure. How disgusting is this. And before I go on I don't want to sound like I'm judging, but I'm in the same boat and I'm coming to the point where I can't just sit back and continue to want Jesus and my old life. It's time to stand up into who God is calling me to be and all of us to stand who God has called us to be.
Jesus tells us not to be luke warm, and that he would rather us be either hot or cold. That he is ready to spit us out of his mouth if we are living in luke warm Christianity. He says this in Revelation 3:14-22. But he says this because He loves us. He says in that same passage that "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." See he rebukes us and tells us of the down right ugly things in our lives, yet He tells us these things because He loves us and wouldn't want anyone of us to be thrown into Hell for eternity. It may seem like this is harsh language, but this is the Jesus of the bible. But you must see that He loves you! He says the narrow path is hard, but it leads to life. He is offering life because the things on the wide and easy path of the world will only lead to destruction. And Jesus wants us to be with Him in His glory.
Lets stop this nonsense and follow Him, truly! Because it really is the only way to life. He is the God who created us and could crush us at any moment, yet He offered us a way out by giving His Son! Lets stop spitting in His face coming up with excuses of why we can hold on to our sin or what we want, and take the free gift that He offers and give our lives to Him! I'm going for this thing. The Lord has so much he wants to give us. So many good plans for our lives. He is the only thing I want to live for because he leads to life, and everything else leads to destruction.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Spritual Attacks
So, I have really noticed when your on fire for the Lord and actually live life for Christ, the enemy really likes to attack you. When you choose to go against the tide and the sin you usually were falling into, and choose to be free and let God change your cravings, the enemy wants to put fear into you so you go back into the same old stuff.
Last night was really weird. I was sleeping on and off, probably the worst sleep I've ever gotten in my life. I woke up really early in the morning when I'm usually still sleeping. I woke up super uncomfortable and no matter what position I tried to get in, it just wouldn't get better. I was still tired but just couldn't sleep. I've known from past experiences in my life, that usually when I can't sleep, the Lord either wants to speak to me or wants me to start praying. So I got up and started praying for my family that the Lord would protect them and draw us even more to His heart. And that with people that aren't really seeking him, that He would bless them and watch over them, and also draw them to His heart.Then after that I went right to sleep. It's amazing how that works! However, also from past experiences, I've noticed when something like this happens to me and the Lord wants me to pray for my family and friends for protection, I usually have an unusual experience with the enemy. I had this dream (however it felt really real as it was happening) and someone I knew came to the door of my room to wake me up telling me that I had to get up and get ready for something. I woke up, but it was like i was paralyzed and couldn't move or talk. I could only get out the slightest whisper. And could move barely. I was trying desperately to let this person at the door know that something was pinning me to my bed, so they could help me but that wasn't getting anywhere. I then managed to kind of roll to the edge of the bed when I fell off onto the floor and started com pulsing and shaking. But it was too late because the person already left the doorway to my room and didn't see me hit the ground. But they were in the other room doing laundry or something telling me goodbye because they had to be somewhere. I was trying to scream for them and their name, but it only came out as a gentle whisper. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get out of this or get the other persons attention. I was helpless. I also was saying "help Jesus" as best I could. Then I woke up in the same position I was in in that dream and could hear someone doing laundry, the same as it was in my dream. It was at the moment I woke up that I relaxed because I could move just fine and that it was just a dream.
This was definitely an attack from the enemy, I believe to bring me fear so that I would just give in to the same old sin. I was choosing freedom in Christ and the enemy was trying to fear me into giving up. I know this was an attack because this has happened before in the same situations. Last year when I choose freedom, the same paralyzing experience happened, only I don't remember it being a dream, but as if it really happened. That time I felt very fearful. And it also happened when I first became alive in Christ, and started living for Him, when I was still in high school. The previous times I was pretty fearful of this. But this time because I knew what the enemy was trying to do, it didn't scare me! I knew the enemy didn't like what I was up to and the freedom I was choosing in Christ, so I called it out and said, you don't have any authority in the name of Jesus! And then I went right back to bed knowing that Jesus was my protector and would hold me tight. It was awesome. Before, in the past, I wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep after an experience like that. But this time I was at peace because I know Jesus is much more greater than the enemy!
So, know that when your doing the right thing and are living for Christ and going against the ways of this world, the enemy will try and take you out because He fears what you will become in Jesus. But, hold strong, for the Lord is with you and he is much bigger than the enemy. He is always with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Usually when you get attacked, you can tell your on the right path with the Lord.
Last night was really weird. I was sleeping on and off, probably the worst sleep I've ever gotten in my life. I woke up really early in the morning when I'm usually still sleeping. I woke up super uncomfortable and no matter what position I tried to get in, it just wouldn't get better. I was still tired but just couldn't sleep. I've known from past experiences in my life, that usually when I can't sleep, the Lord either wants to speak to me or wants me to start praying. So I got up and started praying for my family that the Lord would protect them and draw us even more to His heart. And that with people that aren't really seeking him, that He would bless them and watch over them, and also draw them to His heart.Then after that I went right to sleep. It's amazing how that works! However, also from past experiences, I've noticed when something like this happens to me and the Lord wants me to pray for my family and friends for protection, I usually have an unusual experience with the enemy. I had this dream (however it felt really real as it was happening) and someone I knew came to the door of my room to wake me up telling me that I had to get up and get ready for something. I woke up, but it was like i was paralyzed and couldn't move or talk. I could only get out the slightest whisper. And could move barely. I was trying desperately to let this person at the door know that something was pinning me to my bed, so they could help me but that wasn't getting anywhere. I then managed to kind of roll to the edge of the bed when I fell off onto the floor and started com pulsing and shaking. But it was too late because the person already left the doorway to my room and didn't see me hit the ground. But they were in the other room doing laundry or something telling me goodbye because they had to be somewhere. I was trying to scream for them and their name, but it only came out as a gentle whisper. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get out of this or get the other persons attention. I was helpless. I also was saying "help Jesus" as best I could. Then I woke up in the same position I was in in that dream and could hear someone doing laundry, the same as it was in my dream. It was at the moment I woke up that I relaxed because I could move just fine and that it was just a dream.
This was definitely an attack from the enemy, I believe to bring me fear so that I would just give in to the same old sin. I was choosing freedom in Christ and the enemy was trying to fear me into giving up. I know this was an attack because this has happened before in the same situations. Last year when I choose freedom, the same paralyzing experience happened, only I don't remember it being a dream, but as if it really happened. That time I felt very fearful. And it also happened when I first became alive in Christ, and started living for Him, when I was still in high school. The previous times I was pretty fearful of this. But this time because I knew what the enemy was trying to do, it didn't scare me! I knew the enemy didn't like what I was up to and the freedom I was choosing in Christ, so I called it out and said, you don't have any authority in the name of Jesus! And then I went right back to bed knowing that Jesus was my protector and would hold me tight. It was awesome. Before, in the past, I wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep after an experience like that. But this time I was at peace because I know Jesus is much more greater than the enemy!
So, know that when your doing the right thing and are living for Christ and going against the ways of this world, the enemy will try and take you out because He fears what you will become in Jesus. But, hold strong, for the Lord is with you and he is much bigger than the enemy. He is always with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Usually when you get attacked, you can tell your on the right path with the Lord.
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