Let's strip it all down. Let's get rid of the stuff that is distracting us. Let's bring it back to what is the fundamentals about the Kingdom. Ready? Love Yahweh with everything you have to love him. Love him enough to obey him. Love him enough to want to tell everyone about him. Love him enough to love everyone he loves, who is everyone. Love him enough to spend your life bringing people to the Son. Simple. But how do you do it when you are dysfunctional?
Yah, that's right, we are all dysfunctional. There's a group of people who celebrate their dysfunction and others who try to ignore it and others who try to hide it but the fact is we are all damaged goods. Sin has damaged us. But Jesus is all about healing damaged goods. Then he uses those recovering people to reach out to others who need the same healing because we all need it. It doesn't matter how strange you are or how you see yourself or the world, it only matters how Father sees it and he sees you healed in it. So how do those who are recovering from brokenness possibly find the ability to be used by such an incredible Father?
Ask!
It isn't about you or your intelligence or your talents. It's about Jesus. It's about the Spirit. Jesus does the Father's will through you by the Holy Spirit. He has empowered you, beyond any ability you have, to be who he needs you to be. We make it all about us but Jesus makes it all about the people who need him. You may say, "I need him". Listen carefully: You already have him. Give it up. Stop being selfish. Start seeing what Jesus sees and what he sees is a whole bunch of broken people who need to hear what you know and what has healed you. They need healing and Jesus wants to do it through you. How?
By The Spirit!
Once again it comes down to you asking. Do you want to be used by Jesus? Do you want to fulfill your destiny? Then let the resurrection power flow through you by the Holy Spirit. If you have not allowed the Spirit to have full authority through you, if you have not experienced this power, then ask:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13)
You see, the Holy Spirit is the best thing Jesus has given to us since the cross and empty grave. He has given us the power, the ability, his presence to live his glory in the world so that people would see and believe. People are asking for proof because we haven't been living our destiny, because we are not the people he has intended us to be, giants of healing in a land of brokenness. If he didn't want us to have it he wouldn't have told us to ask for it. So why aren't we asking?
We aren't asking because we are prejudiced in our thinking, understanding, and expectations. We are comfortable in our ignorance and selfishness. Nuts! That's what I have to say, nuts to that. We have a world dying from it's brokenness and we are sitting comfortably in our selfishness with the healing for that brokenness. Shame on us. Shame!
Showing posts with label ask. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ask. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
How To Unlock The Full Arsenal Of Heaven
Sitting at your computer, re-blogging other people's inspirations is not Jesus' plan for you. You have greater responsibilities than that and it is time for us to stop seeking the easy way out. Yes, I know, you are an introvert. So am I. Big deal. I still have to get up and preach to a congregation each week. I still have to lead Bible Study. I still have to met with people throughout the week, invite them into my home, respond to invitations to go to theirs. The Lord does not call us to what is comfortable for us; he calls us to his work and empowers us to do it.
It is the responsibility of every Christian to make disciples. There is not a specific calling, category or gift called the disciplers. Did you notice there is no spiritual gift by that name? Each of us have that responsibility as followers of Jesus. It is not something that the local church does but it is what the Universal Church does, which is you and me, the Body of Christ. It is Jesus Follower 101.
You probably feel inadequate, not up to the task, unqualified for such responsibility. That's because we refuse to grow up. We would rather take the easy way, share some scripture and inspiration on FaceBook or tumblr and feel good about spreading the news of Jesus. But Jesus is not about cold, mass production. He is about relationships, the personal touch, an embrace, a listening ear, eye contact, a smile, a shared tear, the Good News, revelation, redemption and reconciliation. Do you really think that if Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son today he would have the father texting or tweeting his son instead of jumping off the porch and running to him to embrace him?
You have never been asked to do this by yourself or without resources. In fact, all the resources of heaven lay available to you. Whatever you need for the task is yours for the asking. That's the thing, it requires some action on our part. One of the most incredible verses on how we are to complete any task for the Kingdom is found in Luke 11:
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (v. 9-10)
It's sad that we don't even know enough to ask. We may not even want to ask because then we know we need to do it. But those who have decided to walk in obedience, this is your tool chest, your equipment, your great source of all things needed. But it requires action. You need to ask so that you will receive. Don't simply walk into a situation unprepared; equip yourself from Jesus' storehouse. If you need wisdom ask for it. If you need greater understanding, knock so it will be opened to you. Maybe you need opportunities. Knock and that door will open to you. I know it works, I have proven it. And if you need greater revelation of Jesus, seek it and you will find it.
I have no idea what you think you are lacking to complete the task that has been assigned to each of us but I do know you aren't lacking. It is all available to you but you need to take action to get equipped. But if you ask you need to be prepared to receive. Don't be turning the delivery man away at the door. If you knock you better be prepared to walk through the door when it opens. A lot of people knock but few are willing to be bold enough to follow through. If you are seeking you need to expect to find it, and you need to be prepared to do something with it.
We are without excuse. Time is short and more people need to hear about Jesus than ever before. They need more than words, they need to see actions of love and grace. They also need to see a demonstration of the power of Jesus. There is purpose for it, not to prove his existence but to show that they can trust his promises. We need to be prepared to operate in obedience, not limited by our own prejudices. We need to stop being hardhearted, get rid of the unbelief and move out with the full arsenal of heaven's resources. We are the true commissioners of Jesus's truth and reconciliation mission. Let's move out, fully equipped, and engage with the lost.
It is the responsibility of every Christian to make disciples. There is not a specific calling, category or gift called the disciplers. Did you notice there is no spiritual gift by that name? Each of us have that responsibility as followers of Jesus. It is not something that the local church does but it is what the Universal Church does, which is you and me, the Body of Christ. It is Jesus Follower 101.
You probably feel inadequate, not up to the task, unqualified for such responsibility. That's because we refuse to grow up. We would rather take the easy way, share some scripture and inspiration on FaceBook or tumblr and feel good about spreading the news of Jesus. But Jesus is not about cold, mass production. He is about relationships, the personal touch, an embrace, a listening ear, eye contact, a smile, a shared tear, the Good News, revelation, redemption and reconciliation. Do you really think that if Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son today he would have the father texting or tweeting his son instead of jumping off the porch and running to him to embrace him?
You have never been asked to do this by yourself or without resources. In fact, all the resources of heaven lay available to you. Whatever you need for the task is yours for the asking. That's the thing, it requires some action on our part. One of the most incredible verses on how we are to complete any task for the Kingdom is found in Luke 11:
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (v. 9-10)
It's sad that we don't even know enough to ask. We may not even want to ask because then we know we need to do it. But those who have decided to walk in obedience, this is your tool chest, your equipment, your great source of all things needed. But it requires action. You need to ask so that you will receive. Don't simply walk into a situation unprepared; equip yourself from Jesus' storehouse. If you need wisdom ask for it. If you need greater understanding, knock so it will be opened to you. Maybe you need opportunities. Knock and that door will open to you. I know it works, I have proven it. And if you need greater revelation of Jesus, seek it and you will find it.
I have no idea what you think you are lacking to complete the task that has been assigned to each of us but I do know you aren't lacking. It is all available to you but you need to take action to get equipped. But if you ask you need to be prepared to receive. Don't be turning the delivery man away at the door. If you knock you better be prepared to walk through the door when it opens. A lot of people knock but few are willing to be bold enough to follow through. If you are seeking you need to expect to find it, and you need to be prepared to do something with it.
We are without excuse. Time is short and more people need to hear about Jesus than ever before. They need more than words, they need to see actions of love and grace. They also need to see a demonstration of the power of Jesus. There is purpose for it, not to prove his existence but to show that they can trust his promises. We need to be prepared to operate in obedience, not limited by our own prejudices. We need to stop being hardhearted, get rid of the unbelief and move out with the full arsenal of heaven's resources. We are the true commissioners of Jesus's truth and reconciliation mission. Let's move out, fully equipped, and engage with the lost.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Knowledge, Wisdom, Gifting (2)
So you are a person filled with knowledge. You have studied hard, filled your brain, impressed a lot of people; now what? Now what are you going to do with all that knowledge? What is it good for? How are you going to apply it? There are a lot of smart people in the world. There are a lot of people who love to read. There are a lot of information junkies but very few do anything with it. It's like they think it's just about them so they keep that knowledge to themselves, nullifying its purpose.
Gaining knowledge, kept in the context of our relationship with Yahweh is excellent, but it is useless without the wisdom to know how to apply it. But wisdom is not something that can be learned as it's source is Yahweh. Wisdom is only found in our LORD.
Here is the thing about wisdom: You need to know you need it. Second, you need to desire it, to seek for it. Third, you need to ask for it.
Solomon, in his instructions to his son, emphasized the great importance of wisdom and described it as honey:
My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 14:13-14)
Wisdom is a sustaining thing of life and he describes the lack of it like death:
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:21)
We need to know that we need wisdom in order to honour God and fulfil our purpose.
In knowing that we need it we will begin to desire it, to seek for it. But we don't seek as the world does, because we seek only in the LORD who is the source of all wisdom:
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8)
But we must seek it. It doesn't just happen. It's like Solomon told his son, he has to "get" wisdom:
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. (Proverbs 4:7-8)
The world tells us that wisdom comes from years of experience but that is wisdom as measured by the world. The wisdom of value is a gift from our LORD.
We know we need it, it is something we desire, so how do we obtain wisdom. James told us simply to ask:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
Of course when we ask of our LORD the things he desires for us to have, they are ours. We act in faith that we have them and it is amazing what the LORD is able to accomplish through us. Don't expect it to look like it does in the world and don't expect the world to agree with you. The wisdom of the LORD is not based upon the principles of this world but upon Yahweh himself. It is amazing though the difference it makes when the LORD's wisdom is used to apply our knowledge.
You know you need it, you desire it, you have asked for it, now walk in it. Tomorrow we look at the third element of success: God's Gifting.
Gaining knowledge, kept in the context of our relationship with Yahweh is excellent, but it is useless without the wisdom to know how to apply it. But wisdom is not something that can be learned as it's source is Yahweh. Wisdom is only found in our LORD.
Here is the thing about wisdom: You need to know you need it. Second, you need to desire it, to seek for it. Third, you need to ask for it.
Solomon, in his instructions to his son, emphasized the great importance of wisdom and described it as honey:
My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 14:13-14)
Wisdom is a sustaining thing of life and he describes the lack of it like death:
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:21)
We need to know that we need wisdom in order to honour God and fulfil our purpose.
In knowing that we need it we will begin to desire it, to seek for it. But we don't seek as the world does, because we seek only in the LORD who is the source of all wisdom:
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8)
But we must seek it. It doesn't just happen. It's like Solomon told his son, he has to "get" wisdom:
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. (Proverbs 4:7-8)
The world tells us that wisdom comes from years of experience but that is wisdom as measured by the world. The wisdom of value is a gift from our LORD.
We know we need it, it is something we desire, so how do we obtain wisdom. James told us simply to ask:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
Of course when we ask of our LORD the things he desires for us to have, they are ours. We act in faith that we have them and it is amazing what the LORD is able to accomplish through us. Don't expect it to look like it does in the world and don't expect the world to agree with you. The wisdom of the LORD is not based upon the principles of this world but upon Yahweh himself. It is amazing though the difference it makes when the LORD's wisdom is used to apply our knowledge.
You know you need it, you desire it, you have asked for it, now walk in it. Tomorrow we look at the third element of success: God's Gifting.
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