United We Stand Inebriated We Fall

               I know I haven’t written in a long while, but things up here have gotten a bit more hectic. We have begun building for the ensuing Women’s Retreats early next month. I wasn’t even going to write tonight, but I cannot stop meditating on what I had said from the pulpit earlier this week. I was speaking on faith, and power in unity and I made the statement, “United we stand, inebriated we fall.” In all honesty that was a line from a rap song I used to listen to all the time, which I do not recommend listening to by the way, but there is such a truth about that line if you look into it in the Spiritual realm. God is so amazing that He can take a line from a rap song that is far from holy, and use it to spur mediation on Him. Anyway to get to the point here, I had to ask God what exactly does that mean. Many of us know that we are to be united with one another in Christ, and that we are also able to be drunk in the Holy Spirit. I went into that statement with a completely different point of view as I began to ponder it.

                First let me start on the place of unity.  In Ephesians 4 it speaks of how all of us have certain gifts allotted to us by God, and it makes no difference if we are prophets, teachers, preacher, evangelists, or apostles, but we are all of ONE body through Christ. Too often people are so worried about what they accomplish, and how much credit they get for what they have done (Though it is He that did it) they lose sight of the big picture. It is not about them. It is about us uniting with one another in Him to do His works, so that He gets all of the glory. There are too many trying to build their name in the kingdom of God that they lose sight of why they even got in the ministry in the first place. I had to ask myself this very question. Why do I want to minister to the masses? Why do I want to preach from the pulpit? Is it for the glory of my name or the glory of His? A holy fear struck me and I began to cry out to God asking Him to keep me humble, and that if I ever began to build my name for any sake but His to take me away from the pulpit. If we can allow ourselves to get out of our selfish mindsets there is so much that we can accomplish together for the kingdom. If there is somebody you know needing a miracle, stand with them in agreement and prayer for that miracle. Believe with them for the thing that they need. His Word says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).” Let us not stand alone by ourselves, but to gather together in agreement for the glory of God. There is so much power in unity. Let us lay aside our opinions, because when you really think about it our main focus is supposed to be on Him. If we stand on the Rock (Christ) and not the sand (Man’s opinion) when the storm comes our house (Spiritual house) will remain intact and will not fall. What a glorious place it is to be united as one with fellow believers. Who care what denomination you are, but if you believe in Christ and that He died for our sins then stand united to fight the good fight with your fellow brethren. All denominations have done has cause a rift in Body of Christ now nothing is being accomplished as it could be, because we are too busy arguing doctrine and who is right. Who cares about doctrine if your main focus is God? Let us toss aside all of our pettiness and take action together to change this world. In the eleventh chapter of Genesis it is the story most of us know about the tower of Babel. These people united together to build a tower to the heavens, and God looked down and said in verse 6, “And the Lord said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” He saw that because of their unity and oneness they were able to do anything they set their mind to. We are so duped by our selfish mindsets and too busy arguing that we have lost focus of the power of unity. If we unite we can do anything through Christ. Instead of tearing somebody down uplift them. Instead of holding a grudge and being bitter forgive that person. All unforgiveness leads to is hate, anger, and unhappiness. When forgiveness comes in it is not only a release for you, but for the other person as well. Beloved to stand united is such a beautiful thing. My heart and Spirit is burning for such a reality.

                Now to the part of being inebriated and falling, in the world when I drank too much I tended to have a more difficult time walking. Being drunk is something I was well noted for not too long ago. I am not talking about being drunk off of wine, or even being drunk in the Spirit. I am talking about being drunk off of the things of this world. We allow ourselves to be so drawn into the common things of this world we begin to fall. One of the definitions of drunk is to be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to. We allow ourselves to pay more attention to sports, music, television shows, American Idols, Dancing with Stars, Big Bang Theories, and books that we lose sight of Whom we are supposed to be fascinated with.  Jesus said, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34-36).” Being drunk on things of this world is like being ensnared and trapped in to an unholy delusion. The way to fight this is to watch and pray. We are to be aware of what is going on around us. There is so much perversion and subtleties the fly past our senses daily that if we are not in constant prayer and in His Word we began to drink a bit of the common things of this world. The more sips of the common the more drunk and lost you seem to get, and all of that leads to Spiritual death.  We can also be united in drunkenness of things of this world. If you allow yourselves to hang around those that allow compromise you are likely to get influence by them, which will lead to your fall as well. You can say that you are going to influence them, which is possible, but you cannot allow yourself to do the very things that they do. Discipline and self-control leads to a road of holiness. I am no different than anyone else. I too often find myself getting distracted and fascinated by things of this world. Thank God for strong men and women of God to help guide me out of that reality. We need to long for holiness. Holiness leads to a great outpouring of the Spirit. A great outpouring of the Spirit leads to miracles, signs, and wonders. Miracles, signs, and wonders leads to curiosity of those who are lost, which in turn leads them to giving their lives to God. Our walk is not about ourselves, but about those that do not know who He is. I want the miracles so that those who do not believe see how powerful our God is. Jesus did not do signs and wonders for His amusement, but for the glory of God, and to bring those that are lost to the feet of God. Let us not get lost in the shuffle of life, but to remain focused on the main goal, and that is people. When it is all said and done I want to be able to say that I lived my life for others, so that God gained the glory. I want to lead a life as Christ as a servant, and not a dictator.

                I pray an long that we can all put aside our own ideologies and come together so that we can do what God put us on this earth to do. I pray that we stand united and pray and fast to fight the principalities of this world. All of this is a spiritual warfare, and I pray that through uniting we shift the very path of history. I believe that together we can change this world. I believe that if we unite together as believers that we can do all things, because we are united with Him already as our Bridegroom. I pray that we rid ourselves of the drunkenness of this world. I pray that we all become so fascinated with the beauty and wonder of God, that we get so lost in Him, that we throw caution to the wind and begin to live radically for Him that we care not for anything of this world. I pray that we remove the doubters from our circles like they did in Act 2 and that when we become united the fresh breath of God comes down from heaven as it did on the Day of Pentecost. Lord bring wonder back to the church, so that those who do not believe will fall to their knees to declare You as God. Shake us Lord with a holy shaking so that all impurities are cast out. Replace everything that we think we have with what You have. Give us Your heart I cry out to You, O Lord. My heart breaks for more God. I cannot live this way any longer, but need more of You.

Power of Our Words

There is so much weight that is behind the words that we speak from our mouths. When we speak something it becomes alive and creative. In Genesis 1 God used the Words from His mouth to create the very place that we reside today. He created this entire world out of nothing, but the power of the Word. There is so many signs pointing to this power throughout the Word it is utterly incredible. As I have written often the scripture that David wrote in Psalms 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, be the door to my lips.” When I first read this scripture I wondered why such a powerful man of God would ask for God to guard His lips. Then I thought of how many times I have spoken death instead of life, and how many times I have spoken doubt about the promises that He has for me.  That then took me to the story of Zacharias who was the Father of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:18-20

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is       well advanced in years."

19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

              

  Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him that his wife was going to bear a child that was going to be a Nazarite, and was going to be a forerunner for Christ. Zacharias did not believe what Gabriel had told him, and so he later became mute. I believe that God made Zacharias mute, so that he would not speak death to the situation that was to come. Who knows what would have happened if he had not been muted by the Lord. God knows how powerful our words are, and knew that Zacharias could use his words to kill the promise that God had for him. It is not the fact that we can change God’s will, but we can miss His will and promises by simply speaking them out of existence. Zacharias eventually got his speech back, but that wasn’t until after John the Baptist was born. I sometimes think to myself would it just be better if I didn’t open my big mouth? More times than not the answer would be yes, but it hasn’t happened so I guess I am just going to have to learn to bridle my tongue a bit better. I long to get to the point in my spiritual walk where I never complain or speak negatively about anyone or about any situation. There is so much power in the things that we say. If you say that you cannot do something repeatedly and wonder why you fail each time you attempt it, it is because of what you are speaking into existence. In any aspect in your life try to speak like into it instead of speaking negativity, and see what results you get. I am not saying it will happen instantly, though it could, but that through time it will come to pass. Faith never sees the situation at hand, but praises its way through things. We are to use the confession of our mouths to praise our way through life instead of complain our way through it.        

              

  The best example I have to describe what happens when we speak words out of our mouths is the following: when we speak it is like a seed planted initially, that with each time we speak it we water that seed, eventually that seed begins to take root and grow. As you keep speaking something you begin to water it and roots take place in your heart. Then a plant grows from it and from the plant grows fruit. Now whether you are speaking negatively or positively is going to determine what kind of fruit you yield. In Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:20-21 is shows the very power of the spoken Word. Jesus was hungry and wanted something to eat. He came to a fig tree expecting fruit, but when He drew near the tree there was no fruit, and He cursed it saying, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” Later on they passed by that same tree in verse 20 and Peter saw the fig tree, and it had withered up from the roots. How amazing of a story is that. He spoke to something and it withered up from the roots. We may have grown major trees of negativity and death in our lives, but through the name of Jesus we can wither those trees from the root up. I have never seen a tree withered from the root up, they usually die on the surface first and then the roots die. It is never too late to kill the trees of death we have grown from our words. We can speak to them and say in the name of Jesus let no man eat fruit from you again, or just simply command that tree to be cut off at the root. We need to gain a revelation of the power we harness within ourselves. The tongue is naturally the strongest muscle in our body and it no wonder that it is the very tool that is used so powerfully in our lives.

             

   Our words are what we use to speak things that are in our heart. If we have pride we speak of proud things. If we have manipulation in our heart we speak to manipulate and lie to others. If we have love in our heart we speak love to others. Our heart and our mouth coexist in a battled partnership with one another. We do have to put our thought into subjection, and replace them with things of God. If we speak things that pertain to His Word we are speaking life, but when we begin to speak of things of this world we often begin to speak death. We are the ones that dictate what comes forth through our mouths, and should not blame anyone else for our trespasses. All we have to do is what we say daily, and this is why I like the saying, even though it is secular, think before you speak. I am trying to use this saying, because I have a tendency to fly words out of my mouth so nonchalant and candidly. I want God to train me so that I only speak things that bring life to others and situations that in doing so good fruit comes forth.

              

  I pray that each of us learn to bridle our tongues daily, moment by moment, in hope of bearing good fruit from the power of our words. I pray that we gain a revelation of how much power is in the name of Jesus, that through His name we can move mountains if there is no doubt in our hearts. I pray that when we speak we exhort those around us, and begin to show them the heart of Christ not only through action but through our words as well. I pray that we see ourselves for the way that God sees us, so that if we are speaking harshly to anyone including ourselves we can change how we allow our tongues to guide us. Lord open up Your Word and breathe Your revelation and power over each person that read this. Allow Your presence to fill their hearts so that they can begin to know You more closely. I will never cease to pray for those that read these blogs, for I will always pray that you anoint the words on this page, and that they are not my words, but Yours. Your words carry more weight and power than any entity or man. You are holy, glorious, powerful, beautiful, magnificent, radiant, and vibrant. I give You all the glory and all the honor, and in Jesus’s name I pray. Amen!

Living Selflessly Instead of Selfishly

                God has really been dealing with me of late on living a selfless lifestyle. Society lives in a very selfish lifestyle, with a “me” attitude.  I began to wonder, what if Jesus lived with such an attitude? Where would we be? How would we live? How would we survive? How would grace abound? It put me in a fearful state of bewilderment. I could not really even fathom not being able to live a life without grace and mercy. Without His mercy I am condemned to hell, and am not pure through anything. I started to really come to a deeper understanding of how important Christ’s act of love was, and how selfish I truly am. I say that I live for others, but most times I unconsciously act selfishly. God has really tested me in this area just this week, and I am so joyful for His testing. His testing is like a refining fire that takes out all of my impurities, and in the end I get another injection of Him in my heart. Testing really shows what a man is made of. Going through things in life show people’s true character, and how much they truly have faith in God.  I cannot reiterate enough how much I enjoy the storms. I know that sounds a bit obtuse, but beloved we need to gain a revelation of His heart through testing. He tests us so that in doing so, when we pass we can move on to greater things in Him. Through each trial comes great victory, and through great victory comes an inherited promise.

                Gaining an understanding of the love that God has for you really opens a door that leads to a selfless lifestyle. The most used scripture John 3:16 has become so watered down by society that people do not have the revelation of the weight that it carries. John 3:16 is one of the most foundational principles of being a follower of Christ, and is so loosely quoted. It not only sickens me to the pit of my Spirit, but it breaks my heart to see such an impactful scripture become a fading fad.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

                This scripture shares the most selfless act that was ever committed in this world. God Himself showed us how live by example and not by word only. God gave His Son whom He loved for us, so that we can have eternal life. God doesn’t even know all of us. Do not get me wrong He knows all of us, even every hair on our head, but there is a difference between knowing about us and knowing who we are. What I meant by that is that He does not have a personal relationship with all of us which is solely our fault. He had His Son die for us with the full knowledge that some of the people that He did this for were never going to appreciate the act, or even try to build a relationship with Him. If that isn’t an act of selflessness I am unsure what is. People tend to do things for others with an expectancy of getting something in return. God has pulled on my heart towards doing things for others just to show them the love of Christ. Christ went through one of the most horrendous deaths on the cross out of love for people that He had never met. Wow! Think about that reality. Think about putting yourself in that martyrdom position, dying for others that you did not even know just out of a heart of love. He loves us so much He selflessly gave His life up for all of us. I tell people that if I was Christ we would be screwed. I am not going to lie I do not think I am at the point of going through such a horrific endeavor for mankind. I would have quit after the first two slashes of the whip. Christ was so selfless. We are so selfish that if something doesn’t benefit us we won’t do it.

                A few examples of things God had me do this week include driving to go get somebody whose car broke down and hour away, then proceeding to push that car on a trailer all the while letting somebody borrow my truck which is a rarity for me. Then He had me the very next day drive somebody to work, and pick up their dogs from the groomers to drive back home. Normally driving does not bother me , but living in the middle of nowhere means that you have to drive close to 30 miles to get somewhere. Finally, today I drove somebody into town again and on the way home there was a young lady whose vehicle was broken down. I usually do not stop for anybody, due to my selfish mindset of “what an inconvenience”, but the Holy Spirit unctioned me to stop so I did. She had ran out of gas, so I drove back into town, stopped at Wal-Mart to let her get a gas can, and then after we filled it up back to her car. Gas pouring down my hands and pant legs, I filled her car up then it would not start. I refused to leave her and her kids and mother stranded on the side of the road. I had no jumper cables for after all of that her battery had died. So I proceeded to drive back home to get jumper cables, but she called me and told me a police officer had helped her. I say all of that to say that I did not want to do any of the things above, but did them because I actually thought “I am going to be selfish at this moment or live unselfishly?” I am by no means bragging or trying to build any of you to believe that I am some great person, because really all of those acts were nothing major compared to what He did for us. I can do nothing compared to what He has done for me. I am just tired of living a selfish lifestyle, and am burning to learn to live as selflessly as He did. I thank Him for giving me opportunities to be tested in this area, and long for more testing so that in doing so I can get closer to Him which in return makes me like Him. My ultimate goal is to truly live for others as a servant to His people as He had intended it to be. This does not mean I am to be walked over or taken advantage of, but to be able to show people what the love of God truly is. Back to John 3:16 for a moment, my favorite words in that scripture are love and gave. When you love Him you love others. When you give time to Him you give time to others. I want to walk in such fullness in Him that I live to love and live to give. There needs to be a balance in that area of your life and with testing will balance will follow.

The true character of a man comes when nobody is looking. I do not personally like praise from others, because it allows too much pride to come into my life as if I did something great. It is God that graces me to all things through Him, and He deserves all credit for anything I do in my life. It is only through Christ that I could act unselfishly this week. Trust me, my human thought process was against it all, but in God I am an overcomer of all things. Selflessness is not something I want to do for a week, but I long to live this way for a lifetime. It is going to take much testing and if I lose sight of Him through that testing I will more than likely fail. It is only when we keep our eyes fixated on God that we can overcome adversity, and we will be greatly rewarded for it later.

Hebrews 6:10-12

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

                God has really highlighted this scripture to me this week as well as John 3:16. I know this scripture is a bit off topic, but bear with me. It says in verse 10 that God never forgets are works of love that we do toward His name. I love how it puts the word love in there. It does not say that He doesn’t forget your works, but your works of love. We must do everything with a loving heart out of selflessness. We are to do all things unto the Lord not unto ourselves (Philippians 4:13). We are to do acts of love to the Lord to minister to others. The word minister in the Greek in Hebrew means to serve. To be a minister is to serve. I think a lot of ministers need to gain that revelation. I do not have the time or space to really touch on that but just know to minister, which all of us are to do, is to serve. Then Paul states in verse 11 that he desires for us to keep this servant of love mentality until our very death. Living selflessly is not just a whimsical moment, but a lifestyle. Verse 12 states that we are not to get lazy, or become as an illegitimate child as it says in the Greek and Hebrew. We are to not be unrighteous in our walk or serving, but if we do slip away to look at those and imitate who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God. I want to be an example for others how to walk in faith in patience to obtain His promises for us. I do not want this for selfish purposes, but that in doing so I can show others who Christ is in hope of changing this world. We are to not grow impatient, but to trust that God sees all that we do and do everything with a loving heart. Paul then uses Abraham and his life as an example how to do so. Abraham had a promise from God and patiently waited 25 years to obtain the promise that God had for Him. What an example! I do not know if I could wait 25 years to obtain a promise from God. I guess I would have no choice, but I am sure I would not do it with such a patient enduring heart.

                I love each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart, and I thank you for being patient with me while I allow Him to have His perfect work in me. I long for each of you to chase Him with as much passion as He chases you with. I long that each of you throw yourselves on the altar so that He can replace you with Him. I urge you to get into the Word, which is the book of Promises and Life. Through knowledge of the Word no storm can shake you. Yet again I love y’all. Be blessed.

                God is so good. I just want to thank Him and give Him all the glory again for allowing me to be tested in this area which I lack. I pray that all of you being to gain this revelation that He longs to share with us on how we can live selfless lifestyles of love for other through action and not word. Allow your hearts to be open to taking time out of your day to do something that benefits somebody else instead of yourself, and what how God begins to bless your life. He longs to bless us! He longs to love us! We just need to allow Him to have His perfect work in us. I pray again that You search us thoroughly God, test and try our heart. Break us, shape us, and mold us into the vessels that you see us as, perfected in You. O, how I love God. O, how I long to see every beautiful facet that He has for me to see. He is the wonderful One, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the High and Exalted One, the One who sits on the throne; He is the God of Promises, and the Alpha and Omega.