Church has many aspects to it and many reasons for its existence. It functions in a way that is very important for both Christians and sinners. In this day and age, there are many things that can and have become a substitute for church. Some people call themselves Christians yet never darken the door of a church. Many people sit in their living rooms and watch televangelists to "get their's" and some tune in to a live broadcast of the church that they claim to be a member in, and some people simply just do not "attend" a church service in any way. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the occasional absence for reasons such as sickness or travel(although vacation is not an acceptable excuse to miss church, but that is a topic all in itself). The point is that there are many things in our society that can pose as a reasonable and acceptable substitute for church. Is there a problem with NOT going to church? ABSOLUTELY!
I can remember as a child growing up with what some people might call a "drug problem". I was drug to church every chance my parents had to go. I can remember not having an option in whether i went to church or not. This has made me the man I am today. It instilled in me a deep rooted desire and need for church, but that is not the real reason why I go to church. That is not the reason anybody should go to church. I remember when there was revival, we went to church. I remember as my dad was the pastor of a church, my brothers and I had to attend every church function we had. I never understood why we had to go to church so much, at least not until I was older. As I began to grow up and see the purpose of going to church, it mad me realize why we had went to church so much and I developed my own desire to go to church. We do not go to church just to go. It isn't a place to be seen and it has never been intended to be a social gathering. I have never understood why people come into church and the first thing on their mind is telling the person across the aisle about what Jim Bob said about Susie Fay or about how awful Joey is dressed or how bad Jamie's breath stinks. We don't go to church to "get the scoop" on the latest gossip, and we sure don't go to church to please Momma and Daddy or Grandma and Grandpa. We go to church to be in the presence of the King of King's and the Lord of Lord's.
Church is supposed to be a refuge for the lost and a comfort to the hurting, but we can't see the church be those things if we do not ready ourselves to facilitate those things. When we come into the House of God, we should come with one thing in our mind(and that one thing definitely is not catching up on what we missed with our "bestie" since last service); pleasing God and obeying His Spirit. The preacher should never have to pump and prime you to get you to move, and it shouldn't be up to the song leader to get the Spirit moving. It is up to one else but YOU. When we come in to church, the first thing we should do is not check out someone's hair or outfit, but run to the altar and seek the face of God. If we do this, we are ready for what God wants to do before the service even starts. It shouldn't take 45 minutes of getting ready to have a 10 minute move of God. Our hearts and minds should be ready as soon as service opens up.
The church, as I stated before, is a refuge place. If we want to see souls saved, we have to create the atmosphere for the seeds to grow. If we want to see lives changed, we have to get past our preconceived ideas and let God have His way. This is what church is about. On the other hand, substituting the House of God for the things we mentioned before can never work the same for us as going to church would. We need church just as much as the lost need church. Going to church is like going to the dinner table. We have to have the Word of God in order to grow in life. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is our "daily bread" and that we cannot be saved without the Word. We also need fellowship with one another. We need to lift one another up and encourage each other. Church is one of the most important things in our lives. I would that we all revisit our idea of church and evaluate how we act about church. Ask yourself these two questions: What should church be? What is church to me? If the answer is not the same, adjust your view and actions to fit what church is supposed to be. I promise it will make a difference. God bless!
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
A Perfect Heart and a Willing Mind
David told Solomon in 1 Chronicles chapter 28 to Serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind for it was he that God had ordained to build the Temple of God. It was Solomon's great task to FOLLOW THE LEADING OF GOD'S SPIRIT and make everything in perfect order according to God's plan. He had to make sure that each instrument was the correct weight and material that God had laid out for it to be. To most people, the word perfect is a bit scary and unsettling; After all, how can anyone ever be truly perfect as long as we must daily battle with our flesh? The answer to that question is a quite simple one when you stop to think about it. No doubt Solomon understood this concept or God would not have chosen him to accomplish this great feat. We find later in the scripture that Solomon asked for wisdom when he could have asked for anything and God would have granted anything that he asked of Him. Second Chronicles chapter one gives us this story.
Solomon must have had purity within his heart for God to ask Him to build the temple, but this account gives us an idea of just how pure Solomon's heart truly was. He was able to ask anything from God and it would have been granted. He could have asked for a long life, or great riches, or anything his heart could imagine that would benefit him, but instead he chose something that would not only benefit him, but his kingdom. The very same heart that was in Christ for His kingdom. He could have chosen to walk away from the cross, but instead His mind and heart were on His kingdom. This is the very first and foremost thing we must understand about having a perfect heart: willingness to serve others by putting their needs or desires before your own. That should be the goal of every Christian globally.
How do we reach this level, though? We must condition ourselves much like soldiers. In fact, Second Timothy 2:3 tells us to "Endure hardness as a good soldier". We must start off in "basic training" and work our way "through the ranks" just as a soldier of a good report would do. A good soldier fights because he is willing to serve his country and its cause, he fights for a goal that has been set forth by his leaders, he stands in the midst of the heat of battle without wavering in his faith to the cause because he knows that it isn't just his life at stake, but the freedom of his people. This is how his heart becomes "perfect" toward his duty. His willingness brings forth the desire to attain perfection and he fights for that no matter the consequences, no matter the cost.
Jesus endured the cross because He had conditioned Himself not to take His desires or needs into consideration, rather to focus on the needs of His people, His kingdom. His heart was perfect and His mind willing, thus enabling Him to endure suffering and shame for the greater good of the world. His battle was for the freedom of humanity, while our battle is for the freedom of our friends and family. Just as He fought to free souls of the people of the world, we must fight to free those same souls through Him. Our commission is to fight for the same cause as Christ did. We must also put on a perfect heart and a willing mind. Philippians 2:5 tells us to put on the mind of Christ. For us, this means to do His work, to fight no matter the cost, to reach for the goal no matter what we have to endure and go through. Again, the Bible tells us to endure hardness like a good soldier.
We know that everything will not always be a bed of roses, but this is what enables us to condition ourselves for the cause of Christ. That very struggle is what strengthens us and makes us. When one runs, they do not just start off running five miles, but they work up to their goal. They make their mind more willing with each step, with each day. Even though they may get weary at times, they have set a goal and are determined to reach that goal. This determination creates their heart's perfection. Spiritually, when we feel weak, the Holy Ghost will keep and strengthen us. The Spirit of God is the only way to reach this perfection, but through God all things are possible!
As we all walk through life, we must make our minds up that Heaven is our goal and that we will stop at nothing to reach it. God bless, and have a wonderful day.
Solomon must have had purity within his heart for God to ask Him to build the temple, but this account gives us an idea of just how pure Solomon's heart truly was. He was able to ask anything from God and it would have been granted. He could have asked for a long life, or great riches, or anything his heart could imagine that would benefit him, but instead he chose something that would not only benefit him, but his kingdom. The very same heart that was in Christ for His kingdom. He could have chosen to walk away from the cross, but instead His mind and heart were on His kingdom. This is the very first and foremost thing we must understand about having a perfect heart: willingness to serve others by putting their needs or desires before your own. That should be the goal of every Christian globally.
How do we reach this level, though? We must condition ourselves much like soldiers. In fact, Second Timothy 2:3 tells us to "Endure hardness as a good soldier". We must start off in "basic training" and work our way "through the ranks" just as a soldier of a good report would do. A good soldier fights because he is willing to serve his country and its cause, he fights for a goal that has been set forth by his leaders, he stands in the midst of the heat of battle without wavering in his faith to the cause because he knows that it isn't just his life at stake, but the freedom of his people. This is how his heart becomes "perfect" toward his duty. His willingness brings forth the desire to attain perfection and he fights for that no matter the consequences, no matter the cost.
Jesus endured the cross because He had conditioned Himself not to take His desires or needs into consideration, rather to focus on the needs of His people, His kingdom. His heart was perfect and His mind willing, thus enabling Him to endure suffering and shame for the greater good of the world. His battle was for the freedom of humanity, while our battle is for the freedom of our friends and family. Just as He fought to free souls of the people of the world, we must fight to free those same souls through Him. Our commission is to fight for the same cause as Christ did. We must also put on a perfect heart and a willing mind. Philippians 2:5 tells us to put on the mind of Christ. For us, this means to do His work, to fight no matter the cost, to reach for the goal no matter what we have to endure and go through. Again, the Bible tells us to endure hardness like a good soldier.
We know that everything will not always be a bed of roses, but this is what enables us to condition ourselves for the cause of Christ. That very struggle is what strengthens us and makes us. When one runs, they do not just start off running five miles, but they work up to their goal. They make their mind more willing with each step, with each day. Even though they may get weary at times, they have set a goal and are determined to reach that goal. This determination creates their heart's perfection. Spiritually, when we feel weak, the Holy Ghost will keep and strengthen us. The Spirit of God is the only way to reach this perfection, but through God all things are possible!
As we all walk through life, we must make our minds up that Heaven is our goal and that we will stop at nothing to reach it. God bless, and have a wonderful day.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Living Hope Through a Living God: A Pentecostal View on Christ
Hello,
Welcome to The True Vine Blog, everyone. I hope that I can be encouraging and helpful to each and everyone of you. I have a God-Given passion for people. My desire is to witness, help, uplift, and bring everyone that I can into this precious Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have decided to branch out a little in hopes of reaching a broader spectrum of people. I hope to make this something that is beneficial to people abroad. I ask that you help to spread this blog to as many as you can, and thank you in advance.
Today I will be discussing the matter of Living Hope Through a Living God. Many people today are familiar with the story of Jesus Christ in some way. Some people count it as a universal truth, others a cool story and some count it as foolishness, but most do not truly understand how wonderful the story is. Growing up as a preacher's son, I heard the story of Christ more times than I could possibly count, but it wasn't until I was a little older that God showed me the true depth in the account of His coming. As God has shared it with me, so will I share it with you.
Most people can recite, or at least give the basic idea of Christ's first coming. Most people can tell you that it is said that He was born of a virgin in a stable and placed in a manger in his first days; after all that is what the world knows as the Christmas story. Most people can tell you of how when Jesus was 33 years old, He was sold for 30 pieces of silver to the Roman Empire and was later tortured and crucified. Many people will even say that He died to save us and to enable us the inheritance of life eternal in a place called Heaven. All these things are true, but they are also a very basic line of truth. In order to understand fully the purpose of His coming one must search a little deeper in the Scripture.
Going back in time to the very beginning of its existence, we find the creation account in Genesis chapter one. From the very first verse in the Bible, God is expressed as a living being of great power and influence. This is the very first key to understanding our hope in Christ Jesus. The second key to understanding it is to know and understand that God is infinite; He is not bound by time or space. Revelation 1:8 says "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." This captures both of those key elements perfectly. To be the beginning and the end, one must be eternally existent. To be eternal means to have no beginning and to have no end. This concept is a hard one to understand, but aligns perfectly with the nature of God. He created our world to have something to watch after and care for in His power and love. As well as being eternal is hard to understand, so is being almighty. Reverend Jeff Arnold made a statement in a message that we cannot understand what it is to be almighty because our minds have nothing to compare it to.
The human mind is a fascinating place. We make comparisons and judgments according to our knowledge and prior experiences. We conclude things based upon what we have seen or heard. Nobody has seen anything close to the true fullness of God's power. Many have tasted of His greatness, but not in its fullness. We have seen healing and miracles, prophecy and Spiritual gifts, but these do not allow full insight to God's limitlessness. The most insightful thing we have to God's nature and power is our faith in His Word, which is the very base of the great hope we have in Him.
God, in His infinite knowledge, knew that when He created man, sin would eventually be conceived in this world. Knowing this did not deter Him from making man, but rather encouraged Him to create a savior first. Before God ever formed the Earth, He had the coming of Christ planned in His heart. Revelation 13:8 says "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." A way to escape sin was created before sin ever had the chance to be birthed in our world. The living God loved man so much that even though He knew man would fall, He crated him anyway, and in this creation a way of redemption was made before it was ever needed.
Returning to the new testament time period, we see in John chapter one that this very same living God who created the universe, took on a body of flesh to become the sacrifice for our sin, to give us a new nature, and the return that which Adam lost access to in the Garden; Eternal life in communion with God.This is where many people become lost. We understand that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but most people do not understand how He was indeed God Himself. The flesh, which was the vessel God used, was the Son of God and not God at all , but the Spirit within the flesh was God Himself. John 4:24 says "God is a Spirit..." and 2 Corinthians 5:19 says "To wit, that God was in Christ. reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." So we see here how God began to work in a way that He had never done with man before. He was 100% God yet 100% man, the Mighty God in Christ.
Isaiah 53:5 prophesied of Christ "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." To think of such great promises and to realize that God Himself came down and endured these things for us is without question the greatest hope and joy known to man. He was mocked and ridiculed, beaten for our healing, a crown of thorns placed upon His head to represent victory over the battles within our mind, nails through His hands to represent His newly given blessings concerning the things we do, a nail through His feet giving us the ability to walk in peace and assurance , pierced in the side to take away our transgressions as His blood poured out into a life giving flow of hope. Finally, as He breathed His last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in half by the power of God(Matthew 27:51) and no longer did man need a high priest to reach God, for God became our high priest(Hebrews 4:15). We can now approach God for ourselves through His sacrifice(Hebrews 10:20). On the third day when He rose from the grave, He completed new life for man(Romans 6:4)
Oh what a wonderful hope we have in Christ. He is so wonderful and mighty. We should all let His praise ring forth from our lips for this hope He has given us. Praise the Lord saints of God. Have a blessed and wonderful day.
Welcome to The True Vine Blog, everyone. I hope that I can be encouraging and helpful to each and everyone of you. I have a God-Given passion for people. My desire is to witness, help, uplift, and bring everyone that I can into this precious Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have decided to branch out a little in hopes of reaching a broader spectrum of people. I hope to make this something that is beneficial to people abroad. I ask that you help to spread this blog to as many as you can, and thank you in advance.
Today I will be discussing the matter of Living Hope Through a Living God. Many people today are familiar with the story of Jesus Christ in some way. Some people count it as a universal truth, others a cool story and some count it as foolishness, but most do not truly understand how wonderful the story is. Growing up as a preacher's son, I heard the story of Christ more times than I could possibly count, but it wasn't until I was a little older that God showed me the true depth in the account of His coming. As God has shared it with me, so will I share it with you.
Most people can recite, or at least give the basic idea of Christ's first coming. Most people can tell you that it is said that He was born of a virgin in a stable and placed in a manger in his first days; after all that is what the world knows as the Christmas story. Most people can tell you of how when Jesus was 33 years old, He was sold for 30 pieces of silver to the Roman Empire and was later tortured and crucified. Many people will even say that He died to save us and to enable us the inheritance of life eternal in a place called Heaven. All these things are true, but they are also a very basic line of truth. In order to understand fully the purpose of His coming one must search a little deeper in the Scripture.
Going back in time to the very beginning of its existence, we find the creation account in Genesis chapter one. From the very first verse in the Bible, God is expressed as a living being of great power and influence. This is the very first key to understanding our hope in Christ Jesus. The second key to understanding it is to know and understand that God is infinite; He is not bound by time or space. Revelation 1:8 says "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." This captures both of those key elements perfectly. To be the beginning and the end, one must be eternally existent. To be eternal means to have no beginning and to have no end. This concept is a hard one to understand, but aligns perfectly with the nature of God. He created our world to have something to watch after and care for in His power and love. As well as being eternal is hard to understand, so is being almighty. Reverend Jeff Arnold made a statement in a message that we cannot understand what it is to be almighty because our minds have nothing to compare it to.
The human mind is a fascinating place. We make comparisons and judgments according to our knowledge and prior experiences. We conclude things based upon what we have seen or heard. Nobody has seen anything close to the true fullness of God's power. Many have tasted of His greatness, but not in its fullness. We have seen healing and miracles, prophecy and Spiritual gifts, but these do not allow full insight to God's limitlessness. The most insightful thing we have to God's nature and power is our faith in His Word, which is the very base of the great hope we have in Him.
God, in His infinite knowledge, knew that when He created man, sin would eventually be conceived in this world. Knowing this did not deter Him from making man, but rather encouraged Him to create a savior first. Before God ever formed the Earth, He had the coming of Christ planned in His heart. Revelation 13:8 says "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." A way to escape sin was created before sin ever had the chance to be birthed in our world. The living God loved man so much that even though He knew man would fall, He crated him anyway, and in this creation a way of redemption was made before it was ever needed.
Returning to the new testament time period, we see in John chapter one that this very same living God who created the universe, took on a body of flesh to become the sacrifice for our sin, to give us a new nature, and the return that which Adam lost access to in the Garden; Eternal life in communion with God.This is where many people become lost. We understand that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but most people do not understand how He was indeed God Himself. The flesh, which was the vessel God used, was the Son of God and not God at all , but the Spirit within the flesh was God Himself. John 4:24 says "God is a Spirit..." and 2 Corinthians 5:19 says "To wit, that God was in Christ. reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." So we see here how God began to work in a way that He had never done with man before. He was 100% God yet 100% man, the Mighty God in Christ.
Isaiah 53:5 prophesied of Christ "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." To think of such great promises and to realize that God Himself came down and endured these things for us is without question the greatest hope and joy known to man. He was mocked and ridiculed, beaten for our healing, a crown of thorns placed upon His head to represent victory over the battles within our mind, nails through His hands to represent His newly given blessings concerning the things we do, a nail through His feet giving us the ability to walk in peace and assurance , pierced in the side to take away our transgressions as His blood poured out into a life giving flow of hope. Finally, as He breathed His last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in half by the power of God(Matthew 27:51) and no longer did man need a high priest to reach God, for God became our high priest(Hebrews 4:15). We can now approach God for ourselves through His sacrifice(Hebrews 10:20). On the third day when He rose from the grave, He completed new life for man(Romans 6:4)
Oh what a wonderful hope we have in Christ. He is so wonderful and mighty. We should all let His praise ring forth from our lips for this hope He has given us. Praise the Lord saints of God. Have a blessed and wonderful day.
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