Resurrection Day!

Happy Resurrection Day!
No matter what you think about Easter or the resurrection many Christians celebrate Good Friday because Jesus died for our sins and washed us in His blood so the Father would forgive us. Most Christians celebrate Easter because Jesus rose from the grave to give us eternal life in Himself. So if you are a born again Christian then enjoy the life of the Risen Savior that flows through you. GOD Bless!

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

Most Christians understand that we are in a spiritual war against the enemy of GOD. The devil rebelled against GOD and he hates us because we are made in GOD’s image. When the devil was a servant of GOD he was beautiful because he reflected the Glory of GOD. When through his rebellion he lost his position he no longer was beautiful because he no longer reflected GOD’s Glory. So he has been at war with humanity ever since our creation because we are made in GOD’s image.

For those who do not believe we are in a spiritual war with the devil – read the words of Jesus and the Apostles. To those who believe Jesus defeated the devil and all we have to do is claim the victory – read the words of Jesus and the Apostles.

We know that we have spiritual armor for our warfare and there is lots of teaching on the warfare and our armor. This is my understanding of why many of us do not properly use our armor therefore we have less than good results in our warfare.

What is our spiritual armor? In Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul describes our armor and why we have it. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” NKJV

Whole armor of GOD:

Belt (girdle) of Truth – Jesus is The Truth. How do we put on Jesus? In baptism we crucify our old man and rise a new man in Christ, in the power of His resurrection we are conformed to His death, in the fellowship of His suffering we learn to be true to the Father’s will. We must live in GOD’s truth for our belt to be effective.

Breastplate of Righteousness – We are the righteousness of GOD in Christ or the rightness, the justice of GOD in Christ. We must live rightly and justly this has to do with the Law, the 10 commandments and the commandments of Jesus (read the gospels). While we are set free from the obligation of the law by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we are still required to keep them for our breastplate to be effective.

Shodding our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace – “How lovely are the feet of them that being good news?” We must know the good news of the Gospel and have the peace that passes all understanding to be ready to share the hope that is in us. Knowing the Gospel is the preparation so that our sharing will be effective and the peace of GOD is the shodding so that we can go wherever He sends us.

Shield of Faith – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” “By faith…” Jesus said “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed…” He also said “Have faith!” If we want to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one we must just believe and do, that is what faith is, no fear, no doubt and our shield will be effective.

Helmet of Salvation – Salvation is the gift that GOD gives to all who believe in and confess Jesus, who repent of their sins and are filled with His Spirit. When we allow Holy Spirit to renew our mind and we meditate on the Word of GOD our helmet will be effective in keeping our mind on Christ and His Kingdom so that we understand the will of GOD for us.

Sword of the Spirit – “For the Word of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of GOD read it, study it, live it and speak it! As Jesus demonstrated that is the only way to resist the devil effectively.

Praying always in the Spirit – Paul said he was glad that he spoke in the Spirit (tongues) more than anybody in Corinth; and “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” He also said to pray without ceasing. We must pray in the Spirit as much as we can for our praying to be effective.

So the armor is not something we say and act out each morning as we start our day (as I did for many years). Putting on the armor is not done by repeating the above scripture passage it is the result of knowing, living and speaking the Word of GOD and doing the will of GOD. The warfare we are in is the devil trying to prevent GOD’s will from being done so that people will not be redeemed from eternal damnation into eternal life. So to fight the good fight we must know and do the will of GOD which is found in His Word the Bible.

We find the truth of GOD, the rightness and justice of GOD, the peace of GOD, the faith of GOD and the salvation of GOD in the Bible which is the sword of GOD.

The advantage is ours because when we are born again we are filled with the Spirit of GOD who leads us into all truth, reminds us of what Jesus said, instructs us in the will of GOD and gifts us so we can serve GOD.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though GOD were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to GOD. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might be reconciled to the Father from our sinful nature and our sinful ways. Our sinful nature causes us to have sinful ways! Our repentance is the evidence that we have been born again and are no longer a sinner subject to our sin nature! Repentance is the evidence that we are now subject to Jesus' Lordship!

Those who call themselves by Your name

As I have been praying for the Church lately these two phrases keep coming to me, "Those who call themselves by Your name." and "Those who You call by Your name." In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 Jesus refers to those who refer to themselves as Christians but are not. This afternoon as I was awakening from a nap my wife was watching a Christian interview show and the host made a statement about another Christian leader that tweeted "Marriage is between one man and one woman." when the Supreme Court redefined marriage; and they got lots of hateful responses from “Christians”.

In my 43 years of being a Christian I have know many people who called themselves Christians but their lifestyle and public behavior did not reflect common Christian values. I once was and have know many who were quite Christians, those who rarely told anyone they were a Christian.

The fact is that there are many who call themselves Christian but are not, Jesus said it would be this way and that those who claim to be Christian and are not will be surprised when they are rejected by Christ, see Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:31-46.

How can this be?

There are many "Christians" that just let others tell them what to believe based on the other's credentials as a leader. They do not read and study the Bible for themselves so that if the one they believe is not teaching the true life and doctrine of the Word of GOD then they do not know that they are believing a lie. Also there are some who are wolfs in sheep's clothing. some who are false prophets and those who purposely teach false doctrine. Jesus and the Apostles made reference to this fact.

That is why we as a believer in Christ, a Christian, one who is called by His name must know what the Bible says, what Jesus says!

Those who believe that they are a Christian because they prayed asking Jesus to forgive them for being a sinner do not understand what the Bible teaches. Repentance that the Bible teaches is not just about forgiveness of our sins but it also requires that we change our life to stop living like the world. That is why GOD gives us His Spirit, Holy Spirit, because just as we were not able to change our life on our own before we became a Christian; we are not able to change our life after we become a Christian, we have to follow Holy Spirit and GOD's Word.

Repentance is not just about stopping to live like the world but also starting to live for Christ! This also requires that we follow the Word of GOD and Holy Spirit to ensure that we are truly serving GOD as He formed us and called us to do.

The following was posted by Richard Dresselhaus on facebook 3-30-2018

An about face. That’s what marching bands do when they reverse direction.

And…that’s the meaning of the word repentance – an about face.

But…the problem is this – people confess their sins…but don’t reverse direction. That is not repentance.

John the Baptist said: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Then he told the crowd to produce the fruit of repentance – an about face.

Yes…true repentance does have an emotional side – sometimes accompanied even with tears. But…it can’t stop there. Those emotions need to lead to action – an about face.

And…repentance is a continual discipline in the believer’s life. Conviction is followed by the decision to reverse direction.

Ask yourself if there are areas in your life that call for repentance.

It’s God’s way of producing change.

Top of Form

The Future is for the Unafraid!

The Future is for the Unafraid!

There is a current car commercial that says, “There are two kinds of people; those that fear the future and those that embrace the future; the future is for the unafraid!”

This is a true statement about our society there is so much turmoil, fear, hatred and anxiety that people are fearful at every level of their life. Many people are taking their own life for fear of the future. So many people are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex of every perversion, violence, uncontrollable anger, control of others that they are destroying their life and the life of those around them. These are the ones who believe any promise of a better life no matter how farfetched it is; they will spend their whole sustenance on any miracle cure; they join any group that pays attention to them and tells them all they have to do is follow their leader; they join any religion that says they can make it without giving up their way of life.

Unless the Body of Christ (us Christians) start being the light and love of GOD to these that are fearful there is no hope for them. The world has no cure or relief from their fear because it is the cause of their fear.

This is a true statement! Many Christians are afraid of the future, they just want to hold on and make it to the end. They want to fly under the radar of the anti-christian groups that seem to be in control of everything in our world today. They try to buy peace from GOD by giving their money and time to any ministry that promises peace and prosperity; they don’t want to protest abortion even if they believe it is sin; they don’t speak against sexual immorality unless it is trending on social media; many of their friends and maybe some of their family do not know that they are a Christian.

There is a song from Bethel Music “Reckless Love” by Steffany Gretzinger, Christians that are unafraid know the reckless love of GOD for them. There is a song “Your Love Compels Me” by Doug Holck, this is the result of knowing GOD’s reckless love for us. When we are consumed by His Love we will be compelled by it to do whatever He says! No questions asked no holds barred we will do His will with our life until we have no life left. (I am seeking and yielding to this lifestyle.)

The future is for those who want to and will do the will of GOD because there is no good or pleasant eternal future for those who do not do the will of GOD, only for those who do the will of GOD.

Jesus said, “If you know the truth it will set you free.” Jesus “is the truth, the way and the life.” It is an inconvenient truth to those who are lost unless we live it for them and speak into their need so that they can see its reality and recognize their need for the truth.

Unity And Lawlessness

Unity and Lawlessness

Over the 43 years I have been a Christian I have heard many teachings from 1 Corinthians 12, most have to do with the first 11 verses and chapter 14 dealing with the gifts of the Spirit. Next in verses 28-31 and Ephesians 4:11-16 dealing with the leadership gifts. Lastly in verses 12-27 about the Church being the Body of Christ in the earth.

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now GOD has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But GOD composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism (division) in the body, but that the members should care for one another. And if any member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” NKJV (emphasis mine)

Emphasis paraphrased: “For as the body is one and has many members yet all the many members of that body are one, so is Christ! For in fact the body is not one member but many. Now GOD has set each member in the body just as He pleased. If there was one member where would the body be? Indeed there are many members in the one body. GOD composed the body giving honor where needed so that there should be no division but that the members should care for one another. Now you (we the Church) are the body of Christ and yet members individually!”

Romans 12:3-5: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as GOD has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

Ephesians 1:22: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6: “I, therefore the prisoner of the LORD, beseech (exhort, encourage) you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, enduring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one LORD, one faith, one baptism; one GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

First, it should not need to be said that 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 are one continuous thought (teaching), and that the quotations from Romans and Ephesians should be studied in the context of those entire books. But as we have the need of breaking out scriptures for their individual thought I am concentrating on the above quoted verses.

So the point: Most Christians believe that there is one GOD who is triune in nature and that in the form of man He was born of a woman as Jesus Christ. Most Christians have heard and understand that we (the Church, believers in Christ) are the body of Christ in the earth to do the will of GOD in the earth as it is in Heaven. Understanding and acting upon truth is the form of knowing what Jesus referred to when He said that if we know the truth the truth will set us free.

Here in San Diego, and in many other cities I’m sure, we just celebrated the 40 days of Lent by many Churches and ministries coming together to celebrate 40 Days of Hope, a time of praying, fasting, worshiping, ministering and evangelizing our communities in unity (together). This is something that should be happening everywhere always but is not.

The shame on the Church is that most of the time we are not the Body of Christ. If we are not the Body of Christ then Christ is not our Head! If the Body of Christ is dismembered by self inflected wounds or overpowering works of the devil, either way we are lifeless and useless. Our Head (Jesus Christ) needs a whole and functioning body to accomplish the will of The Father in the earth as it is in Heaven.

This does not happen because we gather in our little or big groups divided by our doctrine, denomination, ethnicity, economic status, zip code, nationality or any other reason; these are the things that keep us divided not united.

The point of 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 & Romans 12:5, “…But GOD composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism (division) in the body, but that the members should care for one another…but all the members do not have the same function…” is that as individuals and as fellowships, ministries and churches we have different calls and gifts to fulfill the will of GOD. Our gathering together should be based on where GOD places us and what He has called us to do. The choice is not ours, it’s His and we need to obey if we want to live in the liberty where Christ has set us free and see the authority and power He has given us turning our communities upside down for his Kingdom.

Unity and loving one another are not concepts of Christianity, they are commandments of Christ. Jesus said if we have love for one another the world will know that we are His disciples. He also said that we are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father. If we are one with Him and love one another how can we be divided against each other?

Other scriptures mentioned; Matthew 6:9-15; Galatians 2:17-21, 5:1; John 8:32, 13:31-35, 14:15-18, 17; 1 John 2:3-11, 4:12-5:5; the only scripture from the OT because it says all that Jesus taught about unity Psalm 133.

So some will ask, “What about free will?” not the free will to sin but to serve. Many Christians are content to go to church where they are comfortable, to pay tithes and be part of a home group or Bible study but don’t really want to have a call or ministry. Too many Christians are just hanging on till the end because they misunderstand scriptures like, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” “But hold fast what you have till I come.” Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:25

What about scriptures like Matthew 7:21-27 where Jesus is talking to believers who go to and participate in church regularly? “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD.’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Wow! That is heavy! Is Jesus saying that we can do the works of the Kingdom of GOD and not get into Heaven? Yes He is! But how? Based on verse 23, “…depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” What is lawlessness?

Lawlessness is to be a law breaker or one that does not live according to the law. Not just in the criminal since of murder or rape but also in the since of not doing what is right and what one has been told to do; like driving the speed limit and not telling little white lies. In our society there is an unwritten law, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Does this apply to the Kingdom of GOD as well? I do not know but I see in the Word implications that there is no excuse for not knowing the law for those who have been a Christian for a while. Such verses as, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you.” Or the parable of the houses build on the rock or sand. Or, “…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” Or, “But you must continue in the things you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” Or, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Or, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Study these scriptures Matthew 6:33-34, 10:16-33, 24; Mark 13:3-27; Luke 21:5-36; Romans 14:11-13, 16-19; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:10-17; 1 Peter 1:13-21; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 12:11, 14:12-20.

How do these two thoughts (unity and lawlessness) relate? If the individual believer is lawless no matter their position or length of time as a believer then there can be no unity in the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is made up of individual believers which make up individual families, ministries and churches, which make up the Body of Christ.

Therefore we as individual believers must seek GOD’s Kingdom, study to show ourselves approved and live a holy life as our GOD is holy! It starts with living a Spirit empowered life.*

We cannot love GOD without serving Him and if we serve Him we will be persecuted; that is why we must study to show ourself approved before GOD by not loving our life unto death. We can only come to that place by yielding our life to Him completely as Jesus said, if we love anyone or anything over Him we are not worthy of His Kingdom and we will only have eternal life if we die in this life to Him and live for Him! Matthew 12:46-50, 16:24-27; John 11:25-27, 12:20-26

I have given a lot of scriptures and hopefully raised a couple of questions, this is how we learn and grow. Take the time to read, study and wait on Holy Spirit. Do not just believe what others tell you because it sounds good or because you trust them. This is what Jesus has called us to do, to do what He said. That means that you have to read His Words enough to know when someone is saying something different or even wrong. Jesus does hold us responsible to know His Word and to live accordingly. Holy Spirit will remind us of what He said and teach us what it means for our life and ministry (where we live, work, play, hobby, etc.); how we should be living.

Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness!

* If you are not sure what or how the Spirit empowered life works, one place you can find out is dninternational.org/SpiritEmpoweredLife

Servant Friend Child Bondservant

Servant Friend Child Bondservant

Jesus’ message of the Kingdom was that those that believed in the only Begotten Son of GOD could become the children of GOD.

Jesus referred to those who followed Him as servants, as He was, of the Father.

Jesus told the disciples they were no longer servants but friends.

Jesus anointed His servant, friend, children of GOD and sent them into the world to preach His Kingdom and make disciples of the nations.

The first leaders of the Church called themselves bondservants of Jesus Christ. Some were apostles, some were prophets, some were evangelists, some were teachers and some were pastors but they all called themselves Jesus’ bondservants.

So what do we call ourselves? Some call themselves apostles (bishop), some call themselves prophets, some call themselves evangelists, some call themselves teachers, some call themselves pastors. But do any of us call ourself a bondservant of Jesus?

My gifting and call is as a  teacher, I did not know or understand that for many years but even after I understood I only called myself a born again Christian, a believer and later a teacher. I never called myself a servant and I did not serve GOD as much as I served my own will. I thought it would be cool to be a friend of GOD like Abraham but GOD called Abraham a friend because first he was a servant then he was a bondservant. I had never heard anyone teach that concept and I did not understand the process to become a friend of GOD. I only recently started thinking about the fact that the writers of all the New Testament letters called themselves a bondservant of Jesus.

Throughout history many have made themselves a bondservant for economic reasons, usually for a specified period of time. Some have made themselves a bondservant rather than being freed from being a slave, this is for life.

As I began to think about being a bondservant I had a basic understanding that a bondservant is a person that binds themselves to someone else to live according to that person’s will. This is a very serious decision it requires a complete surrender of yourself to someone that you must have complete trust and confidence in.

First generation Christians who made themselves a bondservant to Jesus knew who He was and had seen Him, heard Him and some had followed Him from the beginning of His ministry.

Second generation Christians are those who by faith in the teachings of Jesus and the in filling of the Spirit of GOD have understood that Jesus came to save us from our sin and call us into His Kingdom here on earth and later in Heaven. Later we learn through study, prayer and experience that being a Christian is not about ourselves but about serving GOD. As I have studied the Bible and prayed and sought GOD I have begun to understand that Christianity is not about what GOD has and will do for me, it is about what he created and called me to do for Him! Becoming a bondservant is a process where we go from seeking to be blessed by GOD to seeking to obey and bless GOD! To be fully yielded and obedient is the goal of this life so that we are prepared for our purpose for the eternal life.

I am on my way seeking to become a bondservant of Jesus in reality not just name. How about you?