He's Building a Body

(this is how we overcome!)



I woke up this morning with a horrendous knot in my shin
...pain was screaming at me... and it quickly got my full attention!

As I was massaging my leg I thought about the Body of Christ
in light of last night's Bible discussion,
I thought about the church and how it needs to go back to it's original intent...
He is building a Body!
 
It's alive, it's an organism, it's you and me...

"For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts),
closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments
with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need]
is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity,
building itself up in love." Eph 16

   What is the key to standing strong in the Christian faith?   relationship
                                                                                        connectedness

    ....with God first and then one another...

   I love the little books 1, 2, 3 John...I encourage you to read them...

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
9In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him.
10In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.
11Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another." 1John 4

    We are interconnected parts of one Body, the Body of Christ
     God is looking for a healthy living organism, not a large organization
     Growing together in love, as a Bride prepared for her Bridegroom

     if Church membership was defined as this:
                "a group of people deeply committed to one anther"
                                             how big would the average American church really be?

      "Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and
oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace." Eph 4:3

    How much effort do you put forth toward this bond that creates the harmony, unity and wholeness in your church?
    In the last days, I believe that we will be greatly desiring trusting relationships, true accountability and mutual support to help us walk uprightly as the days are evil....
    Faithful companions offering relational support to one another safeguarding our lives in times of great difficulty, failings or sin.

"I am the Vine; you are the branches.
Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.
However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." John 15:5

we must be as intricately and intimately connected as the branches on this vine...
anything that is not interconnected (that which is separated) is lifeless...dead...
spiritual death is separation from God ...
we are separated from one another as a result...
may meekness, humility, steadfast love be our portion as we live on this earth together
let our hearts endeavor to create the unity that He desires in His church...
 
 "...that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged)
as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God,
[which is] Christ (the Anointed One)." Col 2:2

     ...one heart, one mind, one voice, one soul, one accord...in Him!

 "16 (May) He grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. " Eph 3
                                                     ~selah

      

Tags: Body Building 101

martyr or murderer

someone was comparing me to another in the Body of Christ
                           whose anointing & gifting is similar to mine
they compared our responses to the things of life
our "reactions" as pastors to the people around us

he commented to me that if push came to shove
if times got tough, situations perilous, our very lives were threatened
that by her past behavior she would probably be a murderer
where I would probably be the martyred one...

interesting perspective I thought...
what can we learn from those around us?
if we consider what they say in light of the Word...
if we were emotionally free to grow up in God to full maturity....
free from self preservation of the masks that we wear
the persona's that we contrive
the "fig leaves" that we fashion
...of protecting ourselves
...of protecting our false images
...of facing ourselves

I remember when I was much younger, in my 20's
the call of God on my life was openly proclaimed by a multitude of prophets
there were many men and women who were called before me
they could have mentored me, but fell away
they are now long gone, choosing to follow their flesh in the folly of life
they were the first ones called to be and to do what I now do...
....to build His Kingdom in Providence...

after so many falls, after so many fumbles
after seeing so many lives go shipwreck along the way
someone said to me, looking deep into my eyes
"you will do great things for God, if you can stay sanctified"

“Sanctify them through Thy truth.”--John 17.

“This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”--1 Thessalonians  3.

"If the Bible be true, it is certain that unless we are “sanctified,” we shall not be saved. There are three things which, according to the Bible, are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in Christendom. These three are, justification, regeneration, and sanctification. He that lacks any one of these three things, will never find himself in heaven when he dies. Where, then, is the harm of asking, “Are we sanctified?” Where is the wisdom of disliking and rejecting the inquiry?"

"Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost, when He calls him to be a true believer, separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart, and makes him practically godly in life. The instrument by which  His Spirit effects this work is generally the Word of ‘God, though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential visitations’ “without the Word too.” The subject of this work of Christ by His Spirit, is called in Scripture a “sanctified” man."  ~JOHN OWEN

    The Lord Jesus has undertaken everything that His people’s souls require; not only to deliver them from the guilt of their Sins by His atoning death, but from the dominion of their sins, by placing in their hearts the Holy Spirit; not only to justify them, but also to sanctify them. He is, thus, not only their “righteousness,” but their “sanctification.” (1 Cor. i. 30.)
     Hear what the Bible says: “For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified.”--“Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it.”--“Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”--“Christ bore our sins in His own, body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shou1d live unto righteousness.”--“Christ hath reconciled (you) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” (John xvii. 19; Ephes. v. 25; Titus ii. 14; 1 Peter ii. 24; Coloss. i. 22.)
      Let the meaning of these five texts be carefully considered. If words mean anything, they teach that Christ undertakes the sanctification, no less than the justification, of His believing people. Both are alike provided for in that “everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure,” of which the Mediator is Christ. In fact, Christ in one place is called “He that sanctifieth,” and His people, “they who are sanctified.” (Heb. ii. 11.)"  

     Sanctification: is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian.
     -is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration.
     -is the only certain evidence of thatindwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation.
     -is the only sure mark of God’s election.
     -is a thing that will always be seen. Like the Great Head of the Church, from whom it springs, it “cannot be hid.” “Every tree is known by his own fruit.”
    - is a thing for which every believer is responsible. In saying this I would not be mistaken. I hold as strongly as any one that every man on earth is accountable to God, and that all the lost will be speechless and without excuse at the last day. Every man has power to “lose his own soul.”  ...believers are eminently and peculiarly responsible, and under a special obligation to live holy lives. They are not as others, dead, and blind, and unrenewed: they are alive unto God, and have light and knowledge, and a new principle within them.
      -is a thing which admits of growth and degrees. A man may climb from one step to another in holiness, and be far more sanctified at one period of his life than another...because every grace in his new character maybe strengthened, enlarged, and deepened.
      -is a thing which depends greatly on a diligent use of Scriptural means...I have in view Bible-reading, private prayer, regular attendance on public worship, regular hearing of God’s Word, and regular reception of the Lord’s Supper.... no one who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much progress in sanctification. They are appointed channels through which the Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul, and strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man...there are no “spiritual gains without pains.”
      -is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. By conflict I mean a struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new, the flesh and the spirit, which are to be found together in every believer. (Gal. v. 17.) A deep sense of that struggle, and a vast amount of mental discomfort from it, are no proof that a man is not sanctified. Nay: rather, I believe, they are healthy symptoms of our condition, and prove that we are not dead, but alive. A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace.
     -is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.
     -is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great day of judgment.
     -is absolutely necessary, in order to train and prepare us for heaven. We need the work of the Holy Spirit as well as the work of Christ; we need renewal of heart as well as the atoning blood; we need to be sanctified as well as to be justified. ~JC RYLE

     And so dear Christian it is plainly seen
     that we must consecrate our lives to Him in all devotion
     that we must give ourselves freely to Holy Spirit's rule
             that we may grow into full maturity
             that we may be purified in the fire of His love
             that we may stand strong in these last days
                                                        in order to be and to do ...


Eph 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

2 Thess 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power...

                                                                                              ~selah
    

Tags: sanctification * be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim 2

FAMOUS AMOS

Amos 1 & 2
         ~ burdened, burden bearer
          chosen to deliver such a heavy message from the Lord to His wayward people...
          what a message,
                   a warning,
           ...regarding imminent doom......... boom!

with prophetic perception he reveals God's revelation
are there any with illumination who will heed the prophets woe?

Israel depraved in her prosperity
          asleep in her time of peace...
          religious but not righteous (ugghh)
          indited by the King of all Kings!

He roars from out of Zion
utters His voice from Jerusalem
while the pastures of shepherds mourn
the top of Carmel withers... the people forgot their God

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1, 2, 3 strikes....YOU'RRRRRRREEEEE OUTTTTTTTTTTTT!
this is the Lord's decree
you are facing judgment and doom because of your sin
poor  and wretched in your prosperity

first He judges surrounding enemy nations
indicts and punishes them all
the "people of God" shout in victory,
cheering with glee as they see them all fall

hail to our God they cried with joy
His judgments are righteous and true
as He swiftly and effectively punished them all
in His holiness this is what He must do

Damascus & Gaza,
Tyre & Edom,
Ammon &  Moab,
Go down...

All Israel cheers at the judgments of God
Their cry of deliverance resounds

the Lord then  turns from His judgment of nations
Amos opens his mouth once again
to the horror of the inhabitants of Judah
it is them He is about to condemn

to Judah He says, you've despised My law
your lies have led you astray
lies that once held your fathers captivated by sin
will surely destroy you today

O Israel,
you sell the righteous for silver
and the poor for what they own
you pervert the way of the humble
father and son bring the same girlhome

My Holy Name you defile
My place of worship you desecrate
with sensual indulgence and idolatry
which you know the Lord does hate!

it was I Who brought down  the Amorite
it was I Who brought you up from Egypt too
I raised up the Nazarites from among you
and your sons as prophets too

but you defiled the Nazarites with wine to drink
and the Prophets you forbade to speak
your despising and cursing these gifts that I gave
has rendered your nation so weak...

learn from this tragedy O, American Church
that  in times of prosperity and peace
we must reverence and worship the King of all Kings
lest we too end up like these...

                                                         ~selah

Tags: famous Amos pt 1

i do

Psalm 45:1-5         
               the beautiful mystery of Christ and the church.
                                          His transcendent excellence,
                                                    His glorious victories,
                                             His righteous government,
                                                    His beautiful Bride...
                                                            a song of loves

as we meditate upon this Psalm our hearts overflow with love and gratitude for Christ
with a deep and intense longing to build His church on this earth...
compeled to sow the seeds of this glorious message of the Gospel and His Kingdom....
that we will have to our account "fruit that remains"...

as we join this Royal Groom,
                 this Prince of Peace,
                 this Man of War...

bringing to Him souls, liberated on the field of battle ...
                                  won in the spirit, in the heavenly realms of prayer
                                  as we empower His ministering spirits to fight
                                  with deliverance manifested here on earth

we are flooded with joy unspeakable,
      "the joy of the Lord is  our strength"
       overflowing with gratitude, filled with thanksgiving for the privlege to serve Him...
       undone, overwhelmed, intoxicated by this love
       we fall down at His feet and worship Him!

"Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty!"
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.
"In Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility &righteousness"
He goes forth with glory and majesty
                              strength and great power!

"He is faithful & true, full of grace & truth"

"Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies."
 The wounds of the One that loves greatly,
       sent forth to subdue us and reconcile us to His Father.
 As the arrow hits the mark, the center of our hearts, conviction falls and leads us to   
       repentance...submitting our lives to Christ and His government we are transformed...
       from glory to glory

But those who resist this love, shall by broken and die in their sin  (Mt. 21:44, Lu. 19:27)

This King, our Jesus, governs our hearts  with righteousness, peace and joy!
Leading us by His Spirit...guiding us with His eyes...
to the places of the heart, bringing us deeper, ever deeper....
that we might be and do all that He desires.

"may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You,"
my Lord, my God, my King, my Deliverer, my Savior, my Love, my very Life...
cleanse me, free me... from all that hinders love
purge me, heal me ...from all that separates me
                                                   from the most intimate Knowledge of You!

                                                         ~selah