Monthly Archives: April 2011

Get Real

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Doctrines of the Bible don’t cause division. Differences of opinion don’t cause division. Preferences don’t cause division. PEOPLE CAUSE DIVISION. It doesn’t matter what your take is on speaking in tongues, election, worship, or anything else. Our genuine faith in Jesus Christ is what should always tie us together.

Every day I see subliminal posts arguing different stances on different issues in the Church. I’ve been guilty of it myself! But to be honest, it really doesn’t matter what believers disagree about if it doesn’t affect the centrality of our Faith and the commandment Jesus has given us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28). Stand for what you believe in, but not at the expense of alienating or casting out other true believers that may not think just like you do. There is only One who is perfect; only One who is always 100% right; and that is God, not any human being.

What we need to understand is not a single one of us even has the remote capability to “redefine the church”. You can’t even breathe on your own or make your own heart beat; how in the world do you think you are going to do anything for God? The Holy Spirit is the only One who is capable of doing the will of the Father. And He will do the will of the Father, regardless of your personal input or involvement. He is the only One that changes people’s hearts. He is the only One that brings unity. He is the only One that brings peace. He is the only One that brings power. Not you or I!

Want to make a difference? Forsake ignorance and indulge yourself in the Word of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and work through you on behalf of the will of God. Because that is the only way you will ever be used by God. He’s not interested in our personal agendas; no matter how “godly” we may think our plans are. The Holy Spirit will only act on what the Father wants; and will always, in all cases, glorify Jesus Christ. He will not glorify us or esteem us. The Holy Spirit will always unite true believers whose hearts have been so radically changed that their only desire is to make much of Jesus. Always.

How do we redefine the church?

1) GET REAL and stop thinking that our personal ability & human intelligence is capable of doing anything for God.

2) Drown ourselves in the Word of God.

3) Submit completely to the will of God.

4) Pray for the Spirit of God to move so heavily that the world cannot help but acknowledge the fact that Jesus Christ is ALIVE.

Letting God Fall

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Written by Haylee Lundy:

As born again believers in Christ, it’s hard for us to admit to, or come to terms with the fact that we may have placed something above Jesus in our hearts. The reality, however, is that it is one of the EASIEST things to do in our walks with Him. As humans, it’s completely natural for us to want something tangible, something we can see or hear. It’s normal for us to place higher value on people or things rather than our Lord. BUT, since we are born again, we are no longer called to be “normal,” we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The scriptures tell us that there is a way that seems right to a man, but it ends in destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Jesus even tells us in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Then we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. NOT as we love God. God is first and foremost, we are second. Now, let’s break this last scripture down… We are to love God with all of our hearts. Examine yourself, your real self. Is there anything that you’ve placed above God in your heart? Is there something or someone that you would devote more time and energy to above the time and energy devoted to prayer or the Bible? I’ve been guilty of it. We are to love God with all of our souls. Our souls being our thoughts, intellect, and emotions. What does your thought life consist of? Is it of Godly and heavenly things? Is it another person, school, work, or even church? The Bible says “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is” Proverbs 23:7. What we think most about, becomes our god, which is an idol, or false god. We may not want to label it as an idol, or admit that we’ve made a false god of something, but let’s call a sin a sin, shall we? Idolatry is a sin like any other. Once it is brought to our attention, we must repent (turn away from it) and believe (rely on, put trust in) Jesus. The longer we wrestle with it, and refuse to deny ourselves, the more difficult the internal battle will become. We should never think we are immune to any one sin. Though we are spiritually awakened, we are still in sinful bodies. Instead of ignoring the fact that it is possible for us to fall into sin, we should pray as the Lord instructed us, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The Bible also tells us we have not, because we ask not… So we have to ask God for these things. How often do we actually pray the Lord’s prayer with sincerity? There is only room for one God, THE God, in our hearts. The larger we make one person or thing in our hearts, the less room we have for Jesus. Jesus is to have our WHOLE heart. He is to have preeminence in our lives, first place in everything we do (Colossians 1:18). If we’re holding on tightly to the things of this world, we will have no grip on the eternal. Don’t let God fall from first place. The moment He does, chaos will surely ensue. He is the only thing that makes sense. He is the only truth in this world. The only rest and peace we will ever find is in Him. God is the only one who will never disappoint. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours(Isaiah 55:9), and all things will work together for the good of those who LOVE Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

“Idols always break the hearts of their worshipers.” C. S. Lewis