Too much Flesh in the Church?

 Recently I had a dream where a church service was occurring. The service had drawn to a close and the people were going about fellowshipping with one another when I called out that we had not ended the service in prayer.

Once I spoke that out I people giving me a not so nice stare but reluctantly they quieted down and bowed their heads.  I said a strong closing prayer and as soon as I finished the people resumed their fellowship time with reckless abandonment.  Then I heard another voice say, " there is to much Flesh in the Church."

I believe for the Church to take its place in authority and power that it must humble itself and let the nature of the flesh to be crucified.  Instead of seeking God in prayer and fasting we rather have fellowship and feasting with the brethren.  

How many times we see Jesus go off to spend time with the Father God on His own?  To get what God wants to get over to His people will cost us something.  The cross of Christ is the starting point.  As we come through the cross we will eventually be lifted up to sit upon a throne of authority just like Jesus did.  Are we not to be pursuing the Master's path so we can be like Him in all our ways?  

Church let us humble ourselves under His mighty right hand and allow Him to take out our stony heart and give a heart of flesh full of compassion and grace to touch the world we live.  For to die to ourselves is to live as only one can truly experience life as God intended.  Let your flesh nature die so resurrection power can be demonstrated.  

Revival at Asbury . Is it of God?

 If you have heard the reports across social media a revival has broken out at Asbury College in Wilmore Kentucky.  From what has stated no one is leading the meetings but God Himself through the leading of the Holy Spirit.  

As this is happening word has spread and people across the country are heading there to participate in what God is doing.  I am grateful for this to occur but what does it say about the current status of the Church?

Should we not all be experiencing His manifest presence?  Why is that not the case.  Could it be that we have placed our agenda over His?  That we restrict His ability to move because we are on our own time table and not His?

I have been reading the newsletters that where produced by those who steward the Azusa street revival and in the testimonials that were given over and over it was God having His way in the meetings much like what is occurring at Asbury.  

I believe God is sending a message to His people in this hour.  Don't hold the reigns so tightly.  Allow Me my time and space to move.  For when He does ministry more can be in a short space of time then powerless rituals bound to religious traditions.

Have your way Lord! Come and refresh us again in Jesus name I ask it. Begin in me and may your fire ignite new passion for your glory among your people again. 

Why is Praying so difficult?

 I have embraced prayer most of my Christian life but I believe the reason it is difficult for most to do is the discipline it requires from the individual.  The earth bound nature of man wants to do his own thing and prayer is something that requires that nature to be submissive to the new born again nature of the spirit of man, which takes place when one accepts Christ as their personal Savior.  

Much like daily exercise, one must work on developing the discipline to pray.  As one spends time doing so you are able to enjoy spending time seeking after God and the wells of revelation and understanding will begin to open up. For it will not be something that  feel obligated to do but it will become something you look forward to doing.  

My favorite time of day is the time I get to seek God in prayer.  In fact I am disappointed that it must end and I have other tasks that I must do.  The devil doesn't want you to pray because he is afraid of the relationship you are developing with God plus your prayers are targeting his kingdom and destroying that which he is hoping to accomplish. I believe that prayer also helps to bring boldness and confidence to the believer as they learn to trust God with that they are petitioning Him for.  

So don't let your old man nature and the devil steal from you the blessings of seeking God the Father in prayer.  Open your heart and just talk to Him as your best friend and as you do you will discover just how much He wants to hear from you and He will speak to you as well.  For prayer is a two way street.  And who doesn't want to spend time the all knowing, all powerful Creator of mankind.  For there is hope and life in His presence.  He is waiting.  Just step into that place where He is and your amazing journey will take you places you never thought possible. 

Where is the Altar?

 When I was much younger I remember invitations given by ministers for people to come to the altar at the church I was attending asking for people to come meet Christ for salvation or for a prayer need.  But as time has progressed I rarely see or hear that invitation given.  Why?  

I believe that seeker friendly approach has much to do with it.  As ministers embraced this anti- biblical approach it began a process of destroying a foundation that was necessary for helping people see their need for a Saviour from their sins.  For the seeker friendly approach wanted people to feel comfortable with the Church and instead of preaching holiness and the need for repentance it preached greasy grace. 

This caused the Church to lose it status in society as Salt and Light and made it irrelevant to society in general because by trying to fit in instead of pointing towards a different path to travel on the power and the glory left as God was not allowed to have His way in our services.  

We must have a return of the Altar in the Church so that the business of the Kingdom of God can be carried out as He intended.  The message of John the Baptist, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" needs to be our cry.  For as John prepared the world for Jesus's first coming so let us emphasis the message of the Altar as Christ readies Himself for His soon coming return.  Will you join me at the Altar?

Exalting Jesus

 In the Christian world I have seen and noticed a trend where we like to exalt the gift that God has given over the one who has given it.  What do I mean by this?  How many times have you heard or seen people exalting preachers that they enjoy following over the Lord himself?  

I have fallen into that trap as well, especially in my early days of my faith walk.  Rod Parsley was the preacher that I wanted to be like and though I see nothing wrong with following a man or woman of faith when you place them upon a pedestal you are only setting yourself up for a potential fall.  For in a sense Rod Parsley became an idol to me. 

As I grew in my faith the Lord began to deal with me about making Him the center of all I do and say.  I still enjoy the minister gifts that God has placed in the body of Christ that I now listen to, but I don't emphasis them as my source of my faith and belief.  I choose to exalt Jesus Christ and God the Father and welcome the Holy Spirit to lead and order my steps on a daily basis.  

If you recognize that this something you need to change I encourage you to humble yourself before the Lord and allow Him to become the center of your faith.  Stay in the Bible and let the Holy Spirit direct your steps.  For the goal is to more like Jesus. And as you submit unto Him the more He will become a part of you.  And that will bring God glory.  

Here is a song by a friend and fellow believer that sums up what I have spoken about.  The link is https://youtu.be/OUiJ7x108rU

The Fear of God

 In the world today there is many who don't fear who the God of the Bible is.  Because of that lack of respect for Him we see it trickle down into all aspects of society.  How many times have you seen individuals disrespect their boss, a co-worker or someone that is serving them by either insulting them or by acting as if they don't matter.  

The reason we are seeing this is because the Church has become to friendly with the world and doesn't want to confront them with the gospel of Christ but instead wants to be wishy washy and not cause those who are outside the flock to be offended.  

The Church needs to repent, pick up it's cross and begin to decree whom are God is.  He is a God of holiness, a God of righteousness and a God of truth. 

What the Church has done is promote love as all inclusive but does not true love not require boundaries?  When one is rebellious isn't discipline required?  Love requires it as a parent teaches a child what is right and wrong.  The same applies here to those who the Church is attempting to win. We must show and uphold the standard the Father God requires.  If we don't than we misrepresent the Father God to the world and the fear ,or respect He deserves is not given.  

Church it is time to humble ourselves and to declare who are Father God is in His fullness so that the truth of who He is can set the world free.  Will you join in this endeavor?

Set your eyes up on High

 When it comes to seeing what we are faced with in this world it is easy to become discouraged by what we see if we look at everything from a worldly view. With rioting and a pandemic and race relations being our focus there appears to be no hope for peace and for justice to be served properly in this world.  

However if we get our eyes focused on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and begin to see things of our world from His perspective than fear and worry will flee.  The Lord wants us to look to the hills where our help comes from. Colossians 3:1-4 says the following, " If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. " Church our God has not failed us up to now and He will not us down.  Renew your mind with His Word and keep your perspective not on what you see and hear from the news outlets of the world, but get your eyes on the Lord most High because we may be in this world, but our Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven trumps all that the enemy of mankind can do or attempt to do to me or you.  For He is Risen!  And if you behold Him so shall you be raised so you and I can be where He is.  Hallelujah!!