A good Christian should.....

A good Christian should… . There are many misconceptions, distortions and/or just plain lies that cause us to wander and never come to the knowledge of the truth. One of the biggest misconceptions is about what truth is.  Truth is simply the fact about something.   So many people are looking for the will of God for their lives and never find truth because they just simply won’t believe what was written, spoken by Jesus and testified to by others all concerning Him.  It is not enough that Micah exclaimed He has shown you oh man what is good and what is required of you.  It is not enough that Jesus said to enter into the kingdom of heaven one must simply believe in Him whom He sent.  Instead in an attempt to hold up a standard, to prove we are a good Christian, or to be a light in the mist of darkness, many have either created or embraced teachings, sayings and behaviors that are not true.  Consider:

Hidden meanings. On any Sunday there are sermons preached that don’t make sense unless you’ve been indoctrinated in the place you’re hearing the message. I turn on the television or watch a video from a local gathering and don’t have a clue as to what’s being preached. I remember a man, Kim Clement (supposedly a prophet) preaching. For the most part I never understood what he was talking about. I remember he would laugh during his sermon and to me it said, I have this great mystery. I was told I didn’t understand because his message was SO deep. (So deep I can't understand? OK!)

This method of communicating is common within the body of Christ. It teaches people to look for a hidden meaning because they can’t understand what is actually been said. Or what is being said it contrary to common sense. People are trained to keep attending so that over time they will get it. Therefore, people learn to fill in all the parts not understood with possibilities and positivity. And call it faith!

Truly the most important part of communicating is that the hearer understands, not that the speaker speaks or writer writes. That said, know this, in my writings and blogs, there is NO hidden meaning. I mean exactly what I say. So, don’t try to figure out what I’m saying. Just read it. It’s that simple. And if I get it wrong or am in error, I will correct the error when I have greater understanding in writing and inform you.

The truth is, that it is okay not to understand or agree with everything being communicated.  Sometimes things just don’t make sense, sometimes it’s just not true, it’s just not factual.

Hocus Pocus. Because so many fail to understand the Spirit of God, it is believed that which isn’t understood or hasn’t been revealed or explain is spiritual. The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. He is not moving people erratically. Simply, if something can’t be explained or you have no knowledge or understanding of a matter, does not make it spiritual.  Honestly I think Christians like what I call “hocus-pocus.” The mysteriousness of something moving or compelling a person to do something without their knowledge and will. Foolish. Just plain foolish. The behaviors I’ve seen make me think of a drunk man that says he didn’t know what he was doing. Foolish.

The truth is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth is God. Therefore there is nothing done by the Holy Spirit outside of the character of Jesus the Word of God who reveals the Father. They are one in the same. Truth is simply the fact about something.

Words. Words are just that, words. There are no hidden meanings to the words. Not even the words written in the bible. Many Christians only use a Greek or Hebrew dictionary to define words from scripture because the thought is that there is a meaning in the words that is lost in translation. (I did) All translations will reveal Christ Jesus if He is the one being sought. Truth is simply the fact about something.

The truth is the actual words written in the bible or the words spoken by Jesus hold no hidden meaning.

Testimony. A testimony is a legal term. It means the exact same thing that people give every day in a court of law. They testify to that which they have firsthand knowledge. It’s not supposition (an uncertain belief) or hearsay (information received from others that one cannot adequately substantiate). A testimony is authoritative if indeed it is a testimony. Most of what people call a testimony has no authority for two reasons, one they fail to understand what a testimony is and two they have no firsthand knowledge of the thing they are testifying to.  How can one testify that God is good if indeed they do not know God?

The truth is a person can only testify to those things of which they have direct knowledge.

Witness. A witness is also a legal term. No one is called in a court of law to testify of what someone else saw. They are called to testify as witnesses of what they know and saw. The apostles are eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus, as written in their letters. According to what was recorded in the book of Acts, no one could be an apostle unless he/she had seen Jesus and was witness of His life. At first I really didn’t understand what the relevance was. Now that I understand what a witness is without the “hidden meaning” I question all these people that call themselves apostles. You’ve seen Jesus? Oh, you mean in the spirit? Well, true apostles saw Him in the flesh and as John said, handled Him. I guess that would take us back to the portion on hidden meanings, because I thought He was sitting at the right hand of the Father. (I’m trying to present to you that truth makes sense) Truth is simply the fact about something.

The truth is the credibility of a witness is dependent upon that which the person can testify too. Hence refer to testimony.

Learned Behavior, Signs and Wonder. When I was first born again, I was so elated that with every statement I said I ended it with praise God, hallelujah, amen. lol That is true. One lady (Karen) called me that as my name, “praise God, hallelujah, amen.” I didn’t realize at the time she was making fun of me. To me it was telling everyone I was thankful to God for EVERYTHING! It was a sign. I had no idea how off putting and silly it was and unfortunately for me no one loved me enough to correct me and explain the irrelevance of my words. I learned that behavior from others more experienced than me.   Interestingly many are in awe when a child mimics a behavior such as lifting their little hands to sing, or reenacting dance moves they’ve watched for years as a sign. People actually think these behaviors are praise and worship and a sign. Inaccurately using the scripture about a child will lead them, or out of the mouths of babes come perfected praise. It is a sign, but a sign to us that they have learned behaviors that have no relevance to them. There are too many learned behaviors and traditions that we mimic from generation to generation and have no knowledge or understanding as to why, just like the children we laud. Often times something seems right (hocus-pocus) at the time and for whatever reason becomes a part of the on-going rituals.

The truth is Jesus told us that there would be no sign given except Jonah, which was  significant ( a sign) of Him and His time in the grave. Yet, again most don’t believe Him.

There are other misconceptions, distortions and just plain lies that all of us have swallowed at one time or another. But, it doesn’t have to be that way if we would take the time to consider, to question, to trust that just maybe it is just not that complicated. Oh, that we would just be honest….with ourselves, for God already knows. Then the true possibilities of the liberty He has provided is possible.

A true test of the heart is at hand!

Initially I found it daunting to embrace the truth that the bible is not the word of God. Although I desire above all else to know truth and search for it continuously I found that acknowledging, embracing and then walking in this truth proved to be more challenging than I imagined. (Truth is suppose to set us free, right?)   

Let me explain. A man did not speak this truth to me. I didn’t hear a sermon, watch a video or a television show. I didn’t read an article.  It was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit as I sat alone in my home contemplating the words of John the beloved.  Honestly it was over a period of time because I refused to acknowledge the truth of what was being revealed. I had a struggle within my mind between what I had been taught and believed and what was being quietly made known.  I had great trepidation in not only embracing this revelation contrary to what I believed was truth but in comprehending what had been revealed and then communicating it. In part because I hadn’t heard anyone say what I now know was not only true but obvious. The bible is NOT the word of God.  Isn’t it Interesting, we all say we want God to reveal Himself to us, to lead us and guide us. However, when He does and it is not what we know or that which we have ever heard a man say before, the true test of our heart is at hand.

I have experienced therefore testify first hand the harm following man can cause. One of the many lies I believed was that God had put men and women as i.e, pastors, bishops etc, in His body for leadership, guidance and our protection. (I participated).  Therefore to be led by God without a man was absolutely foreign to me. As evidenced by my leariness in being led by God in that which I heard no other man say.  And yet I know that to be led by God without a man is and has been the will of God from the beginning of what we know of God, correct? However, regardless of what I said I knew and believed, I lived according to the traditions I was taught. Perhaps you do the same. This is one of the very reasons I present truth to you with hope that God Himself will reveal the validity of my words to you. I never want to shame, belittle or berate you for that which you don’t know, have yet to embrace or for that which has not been revealed to you.  This approach is also is new to me and taught to me by God and not man. I have learned that regardless of what men/women think, we do not have the power to make anyone receive truth. We can only share our testimony (that which we can testify to, as in a court of law) but God only can reveal Himself to us.

Consider this. The bible is written by men. It is documentation of various men and women and their lives on the earth. It chronicles their dreams, visions, prayers, wisdom, vanity, victories, defeats, triumphs, prophesies and promises. It describes humanity and deity. It records the fulfillment of every promise God gave to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. From His birth to His death and resurrection. All for the purpose that we would believe. Yet, what we have learned to believe “in” is not the one He willed to reveal. Jesus. We believe, hope and have faith in the actual words that are written to reveal God. Not in God. In doing this, God revealed to me, that we have made the bible itself our god.

Jesus revealed Himself to people throughout the bible in a manner in which they could understand. He spoke to fishermen about fishing, farmers about farming, potters about clay and shepherds about sheep and barns and that which had meaning and relevance to them. Today because Jesus said He is the great Shepherd we learn about sheep so we can attempt to understand a scenario that is truly unfamiliar to us while failing to realize that Jesus reveals Himself to us continuously. However we fail to recognize and know Him because we have confined our minds to our knowledge through teachings of the scriptures.

Trust me when I say I understand the apprehension in accepting my words. Even though I know they ring true inside of you and they make sense to your mind. Acceptance would require actual individual and independent thought. Ex: If I were to believe this I would truly have to walk in faith of a God I do not see. I would truly have to be led by God’s Spirit and believe that He will guide me into truth. I would have to come into knowledge of this Jesus whom I say is my Lord. He would have to reveal Himself to me without a man/woman preaching or teaching me.

Just the thought of what I’m proposing is exhilarating and paralyzing at the same time. That we would 
know God. Each of us from the least of us to the greatness of us. No one having need to say to his brother, know the Lord.  Wow! I know, this truth has become my life. He has become my life. Someone said, be careful what you ask for. Well, I searched for truth and I have begun to find it. There have been times when I’ve wanted to ignore what I know and go sit in some building and go through all the antics I used to participate in. There is comfort in doing what you know. There is solace in the familiar. There is a perverse benefit in allowing someone else to be responsible for your journey. And there is a sense of power in numbers. Then I come to my senses and remind myself of the liberty God has given me in Him. And I remind myself of the bondage and uselessness in those practices. Regardless of how it may feel for a moment it fails to have the ability to produce what it can not, life. Life is only in Christ Jesus. I truly want to know and understand all that God has purposed for us in giving His Son Jesus. Don’t you?


Because of my own experiences with the teachings from men.  I remained silent for many years for fear of leading anyone astray. Not to mention the conflict of truth with the doctrines requiring submission  to some man so that I would not go astray. I considered so many that have gone on another way. Then I considered Jesus and decided to believe Him. Not only in my words but as He is in me, I am in Him, to walk and continue to be led by Him. To learn of Him as He reveals Himself. Truthfully the walk can be lonely but I am never alone. The Word Jesus abides in me.

I hope my words have stirred you to think and perhaps examine your own self. I encourage you to read the two previous blogs on this topic if you haven’t. I think you will find them helpful. You can also read or watch other blogs and you will clearly see the progression of my journey.  God is good and it is my joy and commission to share my knowledge of Him with you.

The Bible is NOT the word of God continues, “What is your revelation and understanding of Jesus Christ? “

After admitting out loud that the bible is NOT the word of God, I realized that I had to really consider what I knew of God differently. Not because what is recorded in scripture isn’t true and not because I don’t believe it, but because I realized that what is written is someone else's experience and knowledge of God. Although it was indeed an experience with God yes, it was their experiences, their revelations and their understanding. I admire and actually love many people from the bible, from Abraham to Paul. I am being brief in naming those I cherish for the sake of this writing. But, I have come to understand that Jesus did not come so that I would know God through the documented experiences of Abraham, Paul or others. He came that I might know God through Him.

I looked within myself to determine what I really knew of God without rehearsing the words and experiences from the bible of someone else’s knowledge of God. It took some time for me to come to terms with a few things. The revelation God has given me of Jesus is the exact same revelation of Jesus that the prophets and apostles wrote of. We may have different understanding simply based upon growth. But He is the same Jesus and I am no different than any one of them and neither are you. Also, the words that they used to explain the revelation that they had of Jesus are no more powerful than the words that I use now. This bears repeating, the words of the bible revealing Jesus are no more powerful than our own words revealing Jesus. However, that is not what we traditionally believe when it comes to the bible.  Because it is believed that the Bible is the Word of God, without question, just think for moment of how often words from the bible are quoted repeatedly, yelled with force, said through tears etc. all because we fail to understand the literal words have no power because they are not the Word of God.  They are someone else’s experiences and knowledge of God. It is vain to continue those practices and have no revelation or knowledge of Jesus who is indeed the Word of God.  Solomon would describe them as the lame trying to use a bicycle.

The bible records that Jesus said He came to fulfill everything written about him in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms. Considering that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms is basically the Old Testament. Upon the cross it is recorded that He said, “it is finished.” Now, I could spend the next several years writing about the fact that we do not behave therefore do not believe that it is indeed finished. It, being the fulfillment of all things concerning Him. Truthfully there is nothing left to do or to be done other than believe in Him. Hence the invaluable need for revelation of Him. Jesus our Savior, Lord and King satisfied any and every thing written about Him. Just think if Jesus fulfilled all, why are we still quoting scriptures as promises as though they are not already attained in Him. Not to mention all the antics of traditions in keeping with  laws fulfilled.

All illumination from this self-examination will come by the Holy Spirit of course. You alone must determine if your knowledge of God is based upon the bible, someone else’s experiences. You will have to decide what you do with what He reveals. Will you change or continue in your behaviors and with your beliefs?

I will continue these writings of my revelation of Jesus the word of God. And I will continue these writings by topic, the bible is NOT the word of God.   

The bible is NOT the word of God!

It’s time to strike the root of the tree.  Each time I think of teaching on a new topic I realize until the bible is seen in it’s correct light my teachings are veiled by the doctrines of our various beliefs. I’ve attempted the start to a number of teachings on the topic of the bible. I’ve considered getting books to help me better explain its history, its origin its purpose. I’ve considered sharing for the purpose of understanding who wrote what to whom, why and what was being communicated etc. Yet, each time I sense I haven’t touched the core of what needs to be communicated and therefore understood. So I’m going to start at what I consider the beginning of my awareness and thereby liberty concerning the bible.

Several years ago one of my daughters was dating a very bright young man  that came over for dinner. She expressed that he didn’t believe like she was raised to believe and she wanted me to enlighten him of his error.  As they sat to eat we talked. He said that to him the bible was just  written by some men. He also alluded to the bible not being the word of God because it was written by men. This young man considered himself to be a christian and attended church regularly. I chuckled in what I thought wisdom at the time. I saw his youth and what I determined ignorance. I responded to him that yes indeed the bible was written by men, but by men that were moved by the Holy Spirit as He gave them utterance. That was the end of the conversation. In my mind regardless of what He thought I had spoken truth to him. However, what I had not said is what is most important to share with you. I did not say that I believed those utterances were the words of God. I could quote them verbatim. I could rehearse any story in detail and each of them meant everything to me. Because I believed those words in and of the bible were the words and word of God. Those words were the rock on which I stood. Any circumstances in my life I could and would immediately recall those words to address my situations. Like a sword or a shield of protection for my every thing I quoted the words of the bible. Because that is what I was taught. That is what I believed. I believed the bible was everything God had to say. In its entirety. In truth I believed that the bible and God were one in the same. It after all was the word of God in my mind. Therefore I clung to it and learned of it with wholehearted eagerness and sincerity. Whether I encountered situations or people I used the bible for my benefit. And I was good in my usage of it. I used it to dissect something  with precision like a sharp scalpel or to heal and cover a bleeding wound like medicated ointment. I used to it judge, examine and analyze. Everything needed to be inline with it. My marriage, my work my walk with God. All the while believing that was the bible's purpose and God’s gift to His people.  In hindsight I realize I also believed and preached that only those that were His could even understand the bible. That it was veiled to the unbeliever and His promises were not for all, but for His people. Those beliefs allowed me to feel protected, privileged, above and not beneath, a royal priesthood a holy nation, God’s own. I personalized what I considered the bible to be, God’s words, as if they were written to me. Afterall I believed He was my personal savior and I took it personally. Sadly I realize now how prideful this attitude was, how truly far I was from truth and how my beliefs were my righteousness. But I must add all these beliefs were considered faith not foolish, confirmed week after week by every teaching and message I heard. All because I inaccurately understood the bible and it’s purpose.  Sin lived in me. I continuously missed the mark because I continuously missed truth.

Possibly one of the most profound things I have learned is that revelation and understanding is progressive. That I must evolve in all things as with my understanding of the bible. One morning a couple of years ago while gathering and sharing with other christians I shared my struggle to reconcile the words of John regarding the word of God being with God and yet God. I questioned my thoughts about what I believed was the word of God, the bible. My dearest friend held up her bible and said, “this is not the word of God.” I told her that the Holy Spirit had revealed that to me, over and over but that I was afraid to say it out loud. The bible is NOT the word of God!

These writings regarding the bible will challenge you to think and to change as I have been challenged to realize once again that God is true. I now find myself asking how did we stray so far from the truth. I don’t have simple answers or even perhaps accurate answers to that question. But what I do have is truth. The bible is NOT the word of God.  I pray that this truth enlighten you and that through these writings you too find the liberty Christ Jesus gave His life that we would have.

These writings will continue on this topic: The bible is NOT the word of God!

Thoughts to consider regrding prayer

PRAYER, noun In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness (sincere and intense conviction).

The word prayer has evolved to now mostly only being associated with God or religion. However originally that was not the case. As with most things this evolution has caused an erosion of understanding regarding actual effective prayer and it’s purpose.    

For example I am sure mostly everyone has heard of the sad condition of Lamar Odom. Since considering prayer let me share some of my thoughts regarding the requests for prayer for him. First let’s be honest, people say my prayers are with you yet truly won’t utter a word. Perhaps what is meant is that they have thoughts and feelings about the situation. Perhaps that’s just something people say now to console themselves and others, a way of unifying or signifying we all desire that the situation were different. But is that prayer?

 

 

It seems that the premise is ask as many people as possible to pray.  Is it just something that we say or is it that we are somehow comforted by the knowledge that many are praying? Is it that we really think that God will be moved by the number of people making the same request? If we are even making the same request at all. Consider that people may have various request.  One may pray that he no longer suffer and pass, another that he recover, still another for a miracle, some may just want him to survive, all and all God’s will be done.  Yet, I continue to wonder why if you pray it is needful for me to pray as well. Does God hear because of the multitude of those speaking? Is God withholding whatever (the answer to prayers) until He determines that enough people have petitioned Him? Is this even the purpose of prayer, to get our desired outcome?

 

The more I consider our behaviors the more I think our practices of “prayer” are mostly about us and what makes us look and feel good and less about the true purpose of prayer. For God is true and in light of who God is our antics regarding prayer seem foolish.

 

 

What if.....

Brothers and sisters I am writing this blog so that each of us would question why we say and do the things that we do? You proclaim to know the truth about God and the way to God yet are the most closed minded and judgmental people of all. Which leads me to question if you know God at all.  Do not read this from a distance like a place of intrigue or amusement and not for the purpose of learning, growing and understanding. We who claim to have life and life more abundantly fail to understand that all life requires growth. Growth is what separates that which has life from that which does not. If there is no growth in you there is no life in you.

 

God has revealed that we are a close-minded people. The bible uses descriptions like stiff-necked, haughty, stubborn  and rebellious. I am using close-minded because by definition it means an opening is covered, forming a self-contained unit allowing no additions, having ended, not being worked on anymore. Now if you are a self-contained unit allowing no additions, no longer being worked on, you are close-minded. Therefore having ended, you are not growing and have no life in you. Examine yourself.

 

I speak with authority and understanding because I was close-minded. Being completely consumed with that which I knew while being unwilling to be challenged on my beliefs. Easily dismissing any views or positions and people that I determined were wrong primarily because they didn’t believe what I believed. I was single minded. Believing without waiver or room for question, debate or consideration in the correctness of my thoughts. My single mindedness was labeled as faith. All the while being revered as a “woman of God” and faithful one. Now I realize I was foolish, devoid of understanding and immature.  Misinterpreting and not understanding  scriptures as I was taught while wholeheartedly claiming my righteousness. The revelation of my sin was not revealed to me by man but by God as I began to open my mind to the possibility that I was in error. That crack in my mind was the beginning of a flood gate of illumination. God truly does not withhold any good thing from His children. I was limiting myself from understanding Him and all His goodness with all the notions and formulas and practices I’d been conditioned to believe while unwilling to change. The only thing required of me was to repent (which is change, not remorse or sorrow) the way I thought by just asking the question, what if... The painful truth is you can be so consumed in what you believe is life that you are completely unaware that you have no life at all.

 

There is so much I want to share with you. Yet for what purpose if it falls on deaf ears due to closed minds. Each time I think how can I continue Lord with your people, my people if they will not…. I am immediately reminded God has and continues on with and in me. He is long suffering and faithful. Therefore I will do the same. The truth of God burns within me like a fire. Fire can be a blessing and a cursing. It warms, provides light, it protects from darkness and danger, we use it to prepare food and to purge soil for growth, but it can also burn us in various degrees and it’s smoke can choke the life out of us. I pray that the fire of God in me is a blessing to and in you, and that you would open your minds to be questioned.

If all that you believe is true and right why are you unable to defend that which you believe?  

 

Let us Think, Reason, Discern

There seems to be an intense focus on various issues reported throughout the media that the Church, the body of Christ, appears to be affected by. There are dangers in this behavior. Therefore, I want to share wisdom (the appropriate application of knowledge) with you and provide information that will hopefully enlighten you and put things in perspective for you.

 

The media defined as a means of mass communication is doing a great job of spreading information. With plentiful and various methods of providing communication i.e. blogs, online news outlets, hundreds of television channels with streaming, cable, YouTube, satellite radio each increasingly vying for an audience. This competition in my opinion has caused a lack of actual factual news reporting and is driven more by sensationalism and controversy that leads to more coverage and opportunity for more audience. For example, consider the days when every outlet was reporting about the transgender issue. Each reporting the same news regarding Bruce Jenner yet each adding minor tidbits to capture our attention. All the repeated media coverage and hype magnifies the issue. However, if information was reported without bias and sensationalism we would hear that the transgender population is only .03% of the population. The whole issue is not as popular and widespread as the media coverage would elude. Media is business. All businesses want and need to make money to stay in business. We as a society engage and support their businesses even if it is to disagree or argue against (raise or hold some standard) what is being reported. As a medium, they have their jobs and are excelling at it.

 

How does the media affect the church? No more than the business of the local grocery store vying for our business. The devil isn’t driving the media. It’s not the antichrist. It’s not a conspiracy to destroy Christian values. It’s not that liberals are controlling the news. It’s not a sign that has some significance in the timing of the Lord. It is business. Business operating in the world. Now what we participate in, engage in and debate in or not is our choice. Pretty simple.

 

Paul exhorted the Romans concerning unity instructing them to not be conformed to the world (age, past and present not as many are taught the world being a system). To conform is defined as to be similar to or the same as something. The Roman Christians like us had many distractions in their world (age). Passions of the flesh and sin (missing the mark). However, Paul’s instruction is wisdom for us today as well. I exhort you to think of ancient Rome to whom Paul was writing. Although Roman religion was inextricably linked to their civil, family and social political sphere, Paul’s exhortation was to not consider the world they lived in but to consider Christ Jesus and the grace of God. We would do well to do likewise by conforming to his wisdom (the appropriate application of knowledge). Not entangling ourselves with the civic, family, social and political issues of the world but to live as foreigners here and citizens of the kingdom of our King Jesus. By conforming to Jesus there would be little left to discuss, debate or explain because our very existence would speak all we believe and loudly.

 

Foolishly, some Christians believe in error that somehow we are responsible for morality in the world. Or, as it is stated in many sects, “we must uphold a standard of righteousness in/for the world”. Please understand that Jesus prayed for his disciples as told to us by John saying, “I have given them Your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of this world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world but that You should keep them from evil.” (Many translations have added the word one and men have interpreted in error “evil one” to mean the devil. The word evil translates here to hurtful, in effect or influence referring to essential character, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue and diseased but especially morally derelict) I would be remiss if I did not state here that only the Word of God Jesus, by the Spirit of God within His people is capable of keeping us as Jesus prayed from evil. John continues rehearsing Jesus’ prayer writing “I do not pray for these alone (not just his then disciples) but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (that’s us) that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

 

Jesus didn’t pray this prayer out of need for Himself or as a request/petition of God the Father for response/answer but for the benefit of the hearer. Remember Jesus said He knew that His Father always heard Him. Jesus is the Word of God. He came to manifest (clearly show, make visible) God to us. In this prayer, Jesus revealed God’s will. What He revealed (make known, clear or prove) is that He (God) wills that we would be one. That we would be united in Him just as the Father and Jesus are one. We can only be one as we in Him are kept by Him from the evil in the world as we are conformed to the image of Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Now some may think how then will the world know Jesus. Remember this always, the people of the (world) age and every age just as you and I aren’t/weren’t convinced or persuaded by mere words neither are they. Even if we quote His very words they are without life when there is no life within us. His life within us is cultivated by conformity and practice through understanding knowledge of revelation of Christ Jesus abiding within us.

 

When Jesus said “you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden,” He wasn’t referring to our votes, or tweets or post or preaching. He was talking about Himself, God the light of world for all to see in us. He was talking to us about demonstrating Him, the light and life of God that He demonstrated in the world while physically present. Now He is present and abiding in His church the body of Christ through those that have conformed to Him by His Spirit.

 

How the Church, the body of Christ, responds to the media is dependent on our knowledge of, our understanding of and our being in Christ and in the world. Sadly, the critical skill of thinking is lacking in the church. Exercising the ability to reason and determine the validity of something and/or to discern (to come to know or recognize mentally). Instead of hearing or reading something regardless of the outlet of information and determining for ourselves the validity of the information. I honestly can’t decide if the lack of thinking is because we so easily and gullibly swallow everything we hear from pulpits without thought and then carry that same mindset into our daily lives (in the world) or if it’s vice versa. Regardless it is dangerous and needs to stop.

 

In closing, I pray that you truly think of what is written in this post. Challenge yourselves to consider words foreign or different from what you’ve heard before. Think, search and prove if what I said is true or not. If you are His, He by His Spirit will lead you, guide you and teach you. I want to continue to grow to maturity in Christ however, I am very aware that we are one. In Him and through Him we are one body and therefore must grow together. Take heed. Be strong in the Lord. Follow truth.

He that has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church

Consider...We often HEAR so much, we HEAR very little. Is the purpose of hearing to have the ability to repeat what you hear or is it to learn, grown and incorporate what you hear into your life?

Hear: perceive with the ear the sound made, discern, catch, apprehend, understand

God was silent for over 400 years from the time of Malachi to the birth of Christ recorded in Matthew. God's people knew His laws from what they had heard and walked accordingly. (Of course not all)

Consider yourself today and the teachings you believe. One example is that missing a church service  would cause you to miss God and what God was/is saying.

In the upcoming teachings I will continue to address the truth regarding the true church of God and the lies and deception embraced regarding that which is said to be the church.

He that has a ear to hear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church.

Reflection of my journey as a Christian (thus far)

I remember so clearly the joy I experienced in becoming born again. I still feel inadequate in describing the sense of knowing inside of me that I was forgiven, accepted, loved and that God gave me access to Him through Jesus. I could know Him, He would be my God and I would be His.

Immediately I joined myself to an organization I thought was church. I eagerly and perhaps with more zeal than most embraced the doctrines taught to prove to myself to God and to the world that I was different. I had changed. (And I did indeed change) Interestingly being in the midst of the organization and even a leader I now realize none of it made me “Christ-like”. In fact that knowing inside of me was replaced with a different kind of knowledge and acceptance. I received knowledge and acknowledgement from men. At the time I wholeheartedly thought that I was righteous.

I remember my thoughts of the world. Which was simply they need to be saved. Other than that the people of world were of no value to me. My thoughts of anyone that didn’t agree with our doctrines was they were fools, unbelievers, sinners and the ungodly. I was surrounded by those that were like minded and I believed we practiced the will of God. In truth my mind was set on a course that I believed was right. It was really easy to disregard anything that didn’t fit within my mindset. Oh, how very wrong I was!

I remember how I thought I knew so much and I actually couldn’t understand why the people of the world, sinners and/or the ungodly didn’t knock down the doors of our church and beg God for forgiveness. I actually thought my righteousness was light to the people I thought were in darkness and didn’t understand why they couldn’t see it. I never considered that the light within me was darkness (not knowing).

I thought I had so much power. I prophesied and saw the hearts of men revealed. I sang songs of the Lord that made grown men kneel before the altar. I laid my hands on the sick and they recovered. Miracles were worked at my hands. Although I have never spoken of them I tell you now that there was a sense of pride inside of me that God did these things through me. Even now there are those that attempt to emulate what they saw of me and I am ashamed. I am ashamed not because God is good and worked these works at my hand. I am ashamed that others apparently did not see Christ in me and that I too gloried in man. Me being the man as well as I glorified other men.

Today God has revealed more of Himself to me. Ironically the more I know of Him the less I feel I know of Him. The more wisdom I’ve gained the more sorrow I retain. I see  the arrogance and pride of many Christians clearly because He revealed it in me. I know it, sadly it is familiar to me.

We in error use scriptures as a whip to the beat world. Yet, God so loved the world that He gave His only….begotten son. We sit in judgement of the lost. Jesus told us the parable of the man that left the ninetynine and went after the one lost sheep. Jesus said that the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost. We have no compassion for the sick or afflicted  if the sickness/affliction is not appropriate in our eyes. Jesus said, it’s not the healthy that need a physician but the sick.  

Perhaps it is we Christians that need Jesus. We apparently are the ones that are blind (can't see ourselves) lamed (can't walk) and sick/afflicted. We are afflicted by self-righteousness and sick with pride.  However, I now understand even this must be revealed by God to and in each of us. As He did with me.  

As I reflect on my journey thus far I am cautious to remember the wisdom of Solomon when he instructed to guard our own hearts with all diligence. I am continuously made aware by His Spirit of the wickedness that lives within my heart.

 

To the world I say, I too was in the world and God's love was given for you and I through Jesus. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. God is true. I have no judgement for the lost other than to say, I too was lost and God found me. Hope in God!  To the church I say, I know you by your fruit. Many claim to be His, but the fruit of your life demonstrates otherwise. If you are indeed His this would not be so. Repent which is simply to change your mind and therefore your deeds and have times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord within you. I can attest to rest and strength that comes from true repentance.

I am committed to acknowledging when I am wrong in error or in darkness (not knowing) so that I may be enlighten and walk in newness of life. This is a reflection of my journey thus far. I was in darkness and the light of my Lord Jesus shined in me and He set me free. In our acknowledgment of our sin (missing the mark) then and only then will we  know Jesus or will anyone see the light of Jesus that lives within us.

I pray these words cause you to consider yourself and perhaps God will reveal Himself to you. Be of good courage brethren God is faithful and just! 

Will we walk in truth?

When we decided to meet formerly as “The Gathering” in July 2014  our intentions were to:

• learn of God and grow into one mature man;
• encourage all the gifts of God to function for the overall benefit of all;
• strengthen one another as one body in Christ;
•  provide a place where believers in Christ could gather regardless of denomination or church affiliation; and,
• provide a time and place as to not conflict with people’s church obligations.

 

Truly, we learned of God as He revealed His Word, Jesus. We grew in our understanding of Him and His will. We learned the true function of His body and were strengthen in this knowledge. Although our intentions were clear and the answer to our quest made known; although we desire to know Him and grow, we must make a choice. Will we walk in truth?

 

Let me explain.  My function in the body is to teach and instruct. When we began to gather, I had certain expectations and thoughts regarding how our intentions would materialize. I expected us to grow. And grow we did, but not in numbers. We grew in our knowledge and understanding of Christ Jesus and Christ within was manifested (made clear). With each revelation of Christ, we saw more clearly His will for His church, His body. In light of what we know to be true, we are faced with a decision. One not taken lightly yet with great confidence. Will we walk in truth? The answer is yes. Therefore, effectively immediately we will no longer gather monthly at QLN.  This decision is not because we are "out of the will of God".  But precisely the opposite.  

Each month in preparing for the Gathering, we discuss what we learned. Each month we examine ourselves in light of the truth of the Word of God and each month we ask ourselves will we walk in truth.  This month was no different.  In preparing for the Gathering, we began to look at what we know about leadership. In this discovery, we learned that again everything we knew is wrong exposing our error in Gathering. So in response to the revealed truth, we will no longer gather as we did at QLN.

Because of where the Lord has placed me in His Body, I am always mindful of the church the body of Christ. Like me, each member of the Body of Christ must ask will I walk in truth.  At each revelation of Jesus our Lord, I desire to walk in truth. So again, I decide to forsake all that I know for the truth.   I share this to teach you the ways of God and in seeing the ways of God, you will perhaps see yourself.

I am learning that He is revealed continuously and continuously we must decide to walk in that which He reveals, truth. This is the newness of life Paul spoke to the Romans regarding. As Christ died for us, we should walk in newness of life. In error, we have taken that scripture to be a one-time experience. That was my thinking and with that thinking, I sinned. I missed the mark and therefore could not share in the prize, which is the newness of life I now experience by walking in truth as revealed.

In a small aspect, I can relate to Abraham when God told him to go into a land he did not know. When we started the monthly gathering of the saints, I knew that what we saw of church was error. I saw the structure was not built upon the doctrines of the apostles and prophets. I saw that Jesus was not the chief cornerstone. It was revealed that what most called the church is an organization. However, I saw only in part. I now see clearer. I see clearer what we are concerning the will of God. We are an organism. A living body with Christ being our life force. He called us the Church. The called out ones. He calls. He builds His Church. We must answer. We must change again and again as we draw nearer to His will. As He reveals we must walk in truth. I am both excited and fearful. Interestingly, with each change in me, letting go of my thoughts, expectations, desires and interpretations, I gain understanding of  and liberty in Him.  I am discovering that as the head of His Church He will guide us. We must be willing to walk in truth, even when that truth is unknown or unseen, even when that truth dictates that we must stop doing what we've always done.

John the beloved told us, whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. I am beginning to understand that we cannot sin meaning we cannot continue to miss the mark because He is within us. He guides us and shows us, but will we walk in truth as it is revealed? It is my desire to do so.

We will continue to post writings, teachings and videos on the various mediums of our blog www.hiswordsareinred.blogspost.com; on our YouTube channel, A Land Promise Ministries and on Facebook.  All mediums have a method for you to contact me. I pray that God would give you the ability to hear with your ears and that they eyes of your understanding would be enlighten. Take courage saints. God’s will be done.

Word to consider... Compassion

Word to consider ...to think about  carefully especially in order to make a choice or decision… continuous and careful thought,  a matter weighed or taken into account when formulating an opinion or plan

Compassion - sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

Today saints I ask that you consider yourselves by asking how compassionate am I toward others? I pose this question because I am abundantly aware of the perversion within us as the church the body of Christ. It is clear by our actions that we can be considerate and compassionate toward one another in “church” yet for our brothers and sisters in the world we judge with harsh judgments and strict rules. For those that are deemed brothers/sisters in Christ we excuse behaviors, give one another the benefit of every doubt and hope the best. However, fail to manifest the goodness of God to the world.

Our Lord Jesus demonstrated the exact opposite. He upbraided those that said they knew to do right and had compassion on those who did not. He instructed His own to remove the plank from our own eyes to see clearly the speck in our brother's eye. The problem is we determine by our own judgments who our brother is….and sin (miss the mark) therefore fail to demonstrate exactly who Christ Jesus is in us. (the hope of glory, right?) 

Didn't Peter a true apostle tell us our brothers/sisters in the world suffer the same things as us. How is it then that we who know the love of God fail to consider others? We were dead in our trespasses and sin when Christ died for all of us. Since now He lives in us we must demonstrate to all the same compassion Christ has for all. In doing this we clearly manifest Christ within us to all.

Therefore I beseech you consider these words and determine for yourselves as revealed by His Holy Spirit in you, how compassionate are you to others?

Teaching #4: Testimonies: Is the Church and Organism or Organization?

We Must Change: Repent

Teaching from the Gathering, January 24, 2015

Word to consider…...Mercy

Mercy: compassion (human or divine, especially active) kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly

James exhorted believers of Christ Jesus to be mindful that mercy triumphs over judgement. This truth is demonstrated by God toward all mankind in that while we were dead in our trespasses and sin Christ died for us. God is merciful. (full of mercy)

Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

How often have each of us needed, pleaded for and/or relied on the mercy of God? Even so, should we not also extend the same mercy to others?

I am forever mindful of God’s mercy as He forgives. My earnest desire for us as the body of Christ the church is that we too would be merciful (full of mercy) to all.

Word to consider… Endure…..Endurance

Endure: to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patiently, suffer, tarry behind.

Endurance: the ability to do something difficult for a long time, the ability to deal with pain or suffering that continues for a long time, the quality of continuing for a long time

Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ and in the things he had heard from him. Telling him that he must endure hardship (be afflicted, endure hardness, suffer trouble) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul also told him to not get or be entangled with the affairs of this life.

We understand this exhortation is pertinent for us today. I find that the hardness we must endure is not only persecutions, trials and tribulations for His name sake but of the hardness of life on earth. For we all suffer. Whether it is the suffering of loss, relationships or expectations. Most often life on earth is not what we expect or determine it should be, or how it should be.

Yet for all our suffering we must not allow our hearts to harden to the one that endured the death of the cross for the joy set before Him. Our King Jesus.

Therefore I exhort you in all things to endure knowing that the trying of our faith (in God)  produces patience. Patience perfected produces maturity and wholeness and we lack nothing. For God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

The wisdom of Solomon said, that if we faint in the day of adversity our strength is weak indeed! 
Be strong and of good courage for the Lord our God is with us!