we're moving

So i have enjoyed my time on blogger, but i will be moving to my New Blog at blog.knowyourgod.org please visit there.

Jesus was very clear on this subject in Matt 6:16-18 The funny thing is that He says WHEN you fast, this gives us the impression that it was to be done. You don't (I believe) have to pray about whether or not TO fast. If one prays about fasting at all it should be how long and how "strict" it is to be.

Other clarifications: Simply not eating, skipping a meal (on accident), or other like involuntary type events do NOT constitute a fast.

What is fasting? Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep media or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth and intimacy with God. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh (our natural desires) to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our relationship with Him.

TheCall is coming up and I reminded myself of the discipline of fasting. I have gone through seasons of fasting and have not fasted for a while but I believe I shall be entering now into a time of fasting again. Wanna join me? Got Questions about fasting? leave a comment.

Lots of new family pics

Photobucket Album

KnowYourGod Ministries

I have finally completed it :) A process long in the making so check back often ;) http://www.knowyourgod.org

no more long web addresses like sites.advancedministry.com/knowyourgod
which you can still access.

I may leave blogger :P and just use this blog link. But I will have to see how traffic picks up at my new .org site :) Thank you Scottie2hottie for the idea and Connor G. for the confirmation and tech support services that have made this possible.

Key Ingredient: Truth

Lexi's Blog was just 1 of 4 confirmations of what God has been speaking to my heart. That If we will just let God be God we can get out of the way so people can see Jesus. the bible talks about this when it says 'lift up the Son of Man and they will believe' just as Moses was told to lift up the "cross" with the bronze serpent and all would be healed so all those who truly look (and see) Jesus will get eternal life with Him.

Pastor Tim Holt put it like this; Our theological debates about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin and are we post mid or pre trib or is there a 2nd work of grace- the baptism in the holy spirit? these debates muck up the water of the word that washes away the worlds programming. it makes Jesus less clear and the concerns of the world magnified. our "job" of evangelism harder.

But like John wrote the Truth will set you free, Jesus is the Truth, we need to lift Him up. Above the confusion of the world, the bad theology of the church, and let people see Jesus lifted high, then THEN they will fall in love with HIm!

we need to lift Him high in our lives and get out of the way with our personal agendas.

I really like what Lexi said ""That's not it, Eric. I'm not trying to decide whether or not I agree with it, it's whether or not it's true."

If it was true, then I was wrong and I could fix that. It would be painful, but not as painful as what I'd seen. If that Man really did take my place then I owed Him something.
"

Other Blog Website

In an attempt to drive people to my ministry website People can now go directly to my blog from the ministry website. I have also added a poll and changed the theme and updates News. check it out.

Key Ingredient: Passion

Yesterday I got the opportunity to preach again at NMB Xian School. I preached "The Plot Thickens" a message about how the enemy tries to kills and what ways he does it through the life of Nehemiah. ( it went well ). the night before i was not able to sleep much. Thoughts upon thoughts flooded my mind. what will i say? how will i say it? is this the right message? and so on.

I was reminded (in a daydream like state) of a seminar on food safety i went to about a month ago. I know... food safety and the bible? the man who gave the presentation (peter goode) was amazing. the fact that i remember his name is a testimony. what i started to ponder was why? why did i remember anything he said? how did i remember anything he taught?

the answer came back as passion. it didn't matter how dry and boring his topic was because he was genuinely passionate about his topic. so in a sense we all fed off his energy.

So i preached with passion and conviction and i believe i was able to cause an effective shift in their paradigms about god, devil and the flesh. all of this obviously is by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Delegation

I know it has been and probably will again be a long time since i posted, but I have been thinking about this and the main reason I haven't been writing much is the 55+ hours a week i have been working. I had three employees this week tell me i was "wasting" away. Another lady told me i was going to burn out if i kept trying to do everyone elses job. In case you all don't know i am the General Manager at Chick Fil A in Conway, Sc :)

This got me thinking about what the Word says. I remembered the Faith of the Centurion. He mentioned that He understood Jesus' delegated authority because he was under the same. Jesus had authority from the Father (the ultimate source), Jesus delegated it to us. God the Father entrusted His authority in the One who earned and He in turn gave it to us so He could spread the authority to all parts of the earth.

Delegation allows the same authority and or power to be exercised in several different locations so as to maximize the kingdom borders.

just thoughts...

Financial Peace

Yup so here's a shameless plug for anyone looking...

Bianca and I are going through this 13 week course and it is the most simple, practical and effective teaching i have heard on money to date. God is already blessing our finances because we are doing it the right way.

https://fpuonline.daveramsey.com/

Family Tithes

I thought this was awesome, we walked down in the old part of town with some friends and saw this boat in a little marina. if you can't read it the name of the boat is "Family Tithes". I thought this was really cool! this is a sweet yacht that obviously this family thought to give glory to God on the basis of their tithing.

I'm not proposing tithe to get a boat, but God did say He would open heaven and pour out soo much blessing we couldn't store it.

I'm in.

Present the Gospel

In the US I have noticed a lot of what we preach tends to be like " Please please get saved, Jesus will fulfill your every need He's great" and so some are "coaxed" into an emotional decision to "accept christ".

Then 3-9 months down the road when trial and storm hit they say "where's Jesus to make my life all better" and Jesus says i didn't promise to make life all better but that I would never leave you. so that person gets discouraged, embittered, condemned, depressed, and eventually leaves the church that "no one obviously cares about me".

An alternative approach:
Take the ticket you get at the movies theatre, we loose, forget, decline to use the word Redeem. Redeem defined is 1 a : to buy back : REPURCHASE b : to get or win back
2 : to free from what distresses or harms: as a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental c : to release from blame or debt : CLEAR d : to free from the consequences of sin.

in order to redeem something someone must pay the cost or penalty in order to take possession
There is a penalty or cost for Sin= God's Wrath and Judgement but Jesus paid the penalty for us by being perfect and not only dying but raising from the grave. So He gave up His life to gain a life with us His creation. Now when you "accept" the free gift available to you you are redeemed from the penalty of Sin. this means you now belong to Jesus because He redeemed you. You are not your own and you can not live your life how you want...

Presenting the Gospel is important how we do it, or rather what we include or not. Paul thought so when he says,
Gal 1:8 _But_ even if we or an angel out of heaven shall himself be proclaiming a gospel to you* besides [or, contrary to] what we proclaimed to you*, let him be accursed [Gr., anathema]!
and also
1Th 2:4 Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.

Sounds to me like it is important to include the motive in which one should "accept" Christ not only the necessity. We should just as much implore people to be moved as we should be honest and integral about our proclamation.
For what good did we do if someone 'accepts' Christ and has never truly repented of their sin? Haven't we created an empty tomb? a religious person who knows of but does not Know God?

Just thoughts...

Radical Love ...

I have just completed preparing a message titled "Radical Love" You can click the play button on the convenient player to the left, it is the icon that looks like a megaphone, the icon just to the left of it looks like a paper (I know it's small) if you click that you can download and view the notes in pdf format.

Please if you have 27minutes to spare take some time and listen to it, I believe it will be an encouragement and a blessing to you, and if you like please comment on anything from the volume to the sound quality to the content and context of the message.

Thank you :)

Thoughts on prayer- or lack of...

"Those with depth in their soul pray. The shallow-souls do not pray." - Brian Zahnd from his blog.

I also think as Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 'out of the abundance of ones heart so he will confess it'
I believe people have no "depth in their soul" because they have not fed their spirit with the Word= the Words of Life, His Words are Spirit and they are Life.
Rom 10:17 faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing the word of God. if there is no multiplication of hearing then there is no depth of the soul and no yearning, no groan, no cry in the spirit for prayers to a God that said person is probably unsure hears/acts/exists... random thoughts

Momentary Light Affliction

Life is funny sometimes, sometimes its not. God is funny sometimes, and sometimes not so much. I was reading 2 corinthians and i believe chapter 3/4 there is this line that says "momentary light affliction" We are to view our lives in the light of eternity. We ARE currently citizens of heaven ya know. So shouldn't our paradigm, our point of view, our reality derive its self from this vantage point?

Funny how God says to focus on eternity in stead of these momentary light afflictions, of course He could say that since He went to the Cross, of yes but that is not all. He was mocked, beaten, scorn, betrayed, pierced, spat on, human... and constantly let down by those around Him yet, for that 1 day that all of God's wrath and punishment for sin burned against our Lord Jesus on that fateful day, He counted it as joy, as a momentary light affliction, for the surpassing greatness of the riches of His Glorious fellowship towards us, His Beloved. 1 day of absolute torture for eternity- ok lets be honest 33 years of torture. 33 years ----- Eternity I wonder which ways heavier?

I know this could sound super spiritual and thats not my intention, i don't have it all down. but it encourages me to be challenged to make moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day choices to consider the life we have eternal and perfer IT over what we experience today.

SO let that grudge go, let the betrayl go, let mutiny go, let bygones be bygones and I believe you will experience more of the then -eternity- now.

A new twist on and old story

Luke 15:11-24 Some preachers today preach this "story", this account as a sinner coming to grace. More in context its about a believer who walks away from truth. As I read and reread this account the Holy Spirit breathed life on a certain verse- Luk 15:20 "So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him. "

First a little background, earlier in the account the son asks the father for his inheritance "early".
This meant that the son was saying to his father, "Dad, I wish you were dead." (culturely speaking) and his father says, "Ok here ya go son, here's your money" which meant yes you are also dead to me.

Second after this happens the family splits and the son is no longer a son. What is cool now is in vs 20 we see that the father saw the son at a distance which means he was looking for him! You don't see in the distance just by a glance. and then it says the father came running to his son and loved on him. the father did not wait for the son to get back into "good" graces and "work" off his blunder, the father gladly and lavishly welcomed him home, back into his kingdom, back into his presence.

are you getting this?? maybe it is time in your life to come home? maybe you are cheek deep in pig slop realizing you did have it pretty good with God and you just want to come back and serve, and that is a good step, but you will find when you get there that the King will lavish you and kiss you welcoming you back... just come back.

Recall

It occurred to me today that 3 weeks ago I sent out a "most sincere" prayer to my Heavenly Daddy. It was like most of us a financial help request. I wanted money to fix my scooter, pay my bills this month, attend a marriage seminar, and a financial course. All in the same month this is a couple grand and we don't normally make this much, but Daddy is generous. Yesterday He supplied a free pass to the marriage seminar, and 2 unexpected massage engagements that yielded over $900 in 1 day!! wOW!

Sometimes it is easy to forget what God has done, perhaps this is why He setup so many memorials, and feasts, and festivals so His people would remember what He did for them. Or like when Jesus told His disciples when trying to cast out a demon saying " if only you would have remembered the bread" if they would have remembered Jesus feeding 10-15000 people they surely would have had "enough" faith to cast a demon out...

so remember God IS Faithful even when we are not.

some updates no biggie

First i just like this picture, it has great memories for me. Tim's office at CITW, I just lost like 5o lbs and i am with my Bella Girl :)

Second I have a NEW website for ministry that I would love for you all to check out and give some honest feed back.

Third as you can tell I have decided to leave comments off the blog, no one really comments anyway and I do this blog for me not for you :) if you really would like to make a comment then you will take the time to email me at kygministries@gmail.com or healingpoms@gmail.com its basically the same email box.

Last I miss my CITW friends, and I miss India, I am feeling kinda sappy i guess :) well stay tuned kids.

Eclipse

First i would like to mention this is a real picture i took 2 nights ago when we had a lunar eclipse, not bad for a $70 camera 6x optical zoom. :)

Just for any of you who are word geeks like me:
Eclipse: 1. Literally, a defect or failure; hence in astronomy, an interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon or other luminous body. An eclipse of the sun is caused by the intervention of the moon, which totally or partially hides the sun's disk; an eclipse of the moon is occasioned by the shadow of the earth, which falls on it and obscures it in whole or in part, but does not entirely conceal it.

We have several eclipses in our lives don't we. Mainly we get in the way of God's Glory. we are of sorts, a malfunction. Atheists and Deists alike would say we are accidental primordial ooze doomed to fail. Even christians will proclaim that we are " nothing but a sinner saved by grace" and although this is a a true statement it is incomplete.

We are no longer sinners but saints. yes that's right- saint paul, christopher, joseph, mary and etc aren't the only one Jesus calls saints but all those who believe in His name and His cross and resurrection! Check this out: Saint: One separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ (Psa_16:3; Rom_1:7; Rom_8:27; Phi_1:1; Heb_6:10).

so you see we are no longer sinners in Gods eyes and His wrath is no longer burning against us, no beloved it is His love that presses in on us, it is the heat of His passionate love that makes us tremble, and the intensity of the Maker looking upon His creation that causes us to consider ourselves naked before the most High.

So we have faults. God knows it, God knew it, we blew and He gets the Glory anyway. So lift up your chin don't let it fall, A man or woman of God should always walk tall, not in haughtiness or conceit, but God our Great and Mighty Savior had put all things under His feet.

Walk in Love, receive His Love and Give it away. try it.

Intentionality

The Lord has really been dealing with me about this intentionality thing. It is supposed to permeate all of our lives in all aspects of our lives. Take this lionness, whose chief responsibility in regards to her lion cubs is to HUNT. Hunting is intentional, you pick your audience, size them up, you know their strengths and weakness, and habits, etc. Then you chose your timing, night time when guards are down or at the watering hole when your subject is weaker and parched. All her preparation and planning pays off- KILL and food is on the table.

We also need to be intentional, in our relationships- friends, family, spouse, or co-workers. In our work, play, schooling, and ministry. Desire begets purpose, purpose begets intentionality, and intentionality begets planning, planning begets the result you desired.

God has been using this mentoring and preaching class as an opportunity to re-prioritize my desires shifting my focus breeding new intentionality giving birth to the results that avail much in my life with less stress and energy wasted.

Be intentional, pray and ask God to show this to you and meditate on it. 1 pet 5:8 there is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, he is intentional will you be more so?

Beyond the Veil- New Outline

VLI Session 3- Audience: The Vineyard

Title: Beyond the Veil

Thesis Statement: Jesus went where we couldn’t go so we could have what we couldn’t get

Purpose Statement: This message is designed to encourage the listener to approach God no matter what their condition.

Intro: The priest reverently and ceremonially washes his hands. Then prepares his robe and arranges in place the ephod, the breastplate with the thummim and urim; The Truth and The Fire. A long rope is fashioned about his waist and bells at the hem of his robe. One last prayer is offered up to the Most High before he enters the Holy of Holies- the very presence of God. He trembles and takes a deep breath and enters beyond the veil on behalf of the people.

Explain: This responsibility was unique to the High Priest who only once a year would make several specific sacrifices for himself and all the children of Israel for their sin. The Holy of Holies contained the very presence of God. This is the reason they fashioned the rope about his waist and the bells at the hem of his robe because if the Priest who entered did not prepare himself and the sacrifices properly, he would die. The people would hear the bells ringing indicating movement and that the priest was still alive, but in the unfortunate event he died they would use the rope to pull him out from the Holy of Holies since they themselves could not enter.

But now, Jesus, our High Priest, went where we couldn’t go so we could have what we couldn’t get on our own.

Heb 4:14 Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith.

Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin.

Heb 4:16 Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need.

I. Where we couldn’t go- Beyond the Veil

a. Mat 27:51 Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open. Signify 2 things

i. Boundary between God and people removed

ii. God’s Presence-the Holy Spirit was no longer bound to geographic location

1. Rom 5:5 and I Cor 6:19

iii. Also not all were born of a priestly line. Access to God was limited to a select people

b. Fact still remains- No one can stand in the presence of God and live

i. Exo 33:20 But you can't see my face, because no one may see me and live."

ii. Today is no different, we still need to die, that is to our flesh to experience more and more of the depth of all God has for us. Gal 2:20, Luke 9:23, Jn 3:30

c. There is more than what we see in part now as Paul says, we can experience God, now- at church, at home, in your car, on a camping trip, during a fight with your spouse, when the rent is due, when sickness attacks your house or when you get a promotion, when you receive an answer to prayer, when God showers you with His Love just because.

But now, Jesus, our High Priest, went where we couldn’t go so we could have what we couldn’t get on our own.

II. What we couldn’t get on our own- Access to God without Fear

a. Even High Priest of old had to take precautions to enter because of fear of a Holy God

i. Sacrifices, Specific Garments, Washing, Prayers

b. We are sometimes like the High Priest, we understand a little that we have a position or certain entitlement with God but we fear intimacy with Him. Most of us know we have access to God, but most of us believe on some level conscious or not that there is a string

i. Good Works- Ps 7:11

1. Money to the church, helping old ladies across the street, spiritual disciplines

ii. Shame Guilt Fear

1. if we haven’t “performed” well God will not accept me or answer my prayers

c. God Changed the system- the Cross, a new covenant, relationship

i. The Cross- The Gospel-Good News! John 3:16-17

ii. A New Covenant

Heb 8:6 But now He has obtained a far superior sacred service, to the degree that He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Heb 8:7 For if that first [covenant] was faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second.

Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them [i.e. the people], He says, "Listen! [The] days are coming, says the LORD, and I will establish a new covenant over the house of Israel and over the house of Judah,

Heb 8:9 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in [the] day of My having taken [them] by their hand to bring them out of [the] land of Egypt, because they did not continue in My covenant, and _I_ disregarded them, says the LORD.

Heb 8:10 "Because this [is] the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD, giving My laws into their mind, and I will inscribe them on their hearts [fig., in their inner selves], and I will be to them for a God, and they will be to Me for a people.

Heb 8:11 "And by no means shall they teach each his fellow-citizen, and each his brother [and sister], saying, 'Know the LORD,' because all will know Me from [the] least of them to [the] greatest.

Heb 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessness deeds I shall by no means remember anymore." [Jer 31:31-34]

Heb 8:13 By the saying "new," He has made the first obsolete. Now the one becoming obsolete and growing old [is] on the verge of disappearing.

iii. Relationship-the new system 1Jn 4:18 No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. 1Jn 1:9

Rom 8:1 Consequently, [there is] now no condemnation to the [ones] in Christ Jesus, [who] do not walk about [fig., conduct themselves] according to flesh, _but_ according to [the] Spirit

Rom 8:33 Who will say anything against the saints of God? It is God who makes us clear from evil;

Rom 8:34 Who will give a decision against us? It is Christ Jesus who not only was put to death, but came again from the dead, who is now at the right hand of God, taking our part.

But now, Jesus, our High Priest, went where we couldn’t go so we could have what we couldn’t get on our own.

III. Close

a. So what must we conclude? What does this mean for us? What should I do now?

i. Jesus IS the Christ the son of God and He alone is able to make us clean –

Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.

ii. We can approach God in whatever condition we come In Christ

iii. Enter BOLDLY into God’s presence to seek help in time of need!

_____________________________________________________-

thoughts? comments? suggestions?

Blessings

Spirit moving

This is definitely one of the cooler buttons i found on Lexi's website
I think that this could really be the beginning of a movement in the spirit of god that is going to be released in the next 4-5 years. A movement awayto. Away from complacency, religion and the things of this age and an exodus, an ushering in to brokenness, relationship and a mindfulness of eternity. May God have His way!

Let us not life our souls to another let us not put off tomorrow what we through faith in God could do today!

Leave Laodicea and move into a place with God where its not church as usual but where the supernatural happens, where the addict gets set free, where the pauper becomes a prince (person of influence), where the hooker gets free, where the christian can worship in Spirit and Truth, where GOD GETS HIS WAY- ALL THE TIME! we can start today by listening and obeying the voice of the Lord choice by choice.

What I've been reading

First, this spiffy picture is of our worship leader Jason, who led a great worship set a couple friday nights ago at the first Vine Coffeehouse. We had around 100 people show for this first event! not bad, good job everyone and great job Jesus!

"Teaching and Preaching with imagination" w. wiersbe this is an excellent book on the need to change the style of our teaching and preaching. Some of you may not be "preachers" but you are! :) you see when you are at work or school or home or wherever god has you you have an opportunity and an obligation to spread the gospel, this is an excellent book to help change our paradigms on how to.

2 Corinthians- what God has been showing me- Die to Self- no really dying to the flesh not just suppressing it.

2Ti 4:16 At my first answer no one was beside me, but all deserted me. May it not be laid to their charge.
2Ti 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and that all the nations might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

This has been powerful in many ways but mostly to remind me that at times in our journey and walk with God there are times when climbing the mountain where we must go it alone, well without human involvement, and that this doesn't mean God gave up on me but rather He is putting His trust in me to walk by faith and not by sight.

I am also learning a lot from Pastor Shane, who is teaching me a lot about mentorship, life, preaching, preparing, and delivering messages. thank you pastor shane!

Some of the best art i've seen

This guy is amazing please give it a look!

Http://www.davidcostello.com

Works, doesn't work.

This is something that has been pressing in my life. Every minister, preacher, or pastor will seem to have a theme that they preach. Almost no matter what the topic is, the theme will revolve around similar things. For me, I tend to reject "religion" in all of its powerless and binding forms.
One of these topics is the works system. The works system is what I believe all religion that is not true faith revolves around. That is, the idea that if we do "good" God will like us and bless us. Every major religion has this. Catholicism teaches that to go to heaven we must be a "good person" which encompasses giving a lot of money to the church, abstaining from premarital sexual relationship, and not killing anyone. If you pray and attend church regularly then God will like you better. Judaism is much the same in that if you can carry the full weight of the law and not break your back you are a good Jew and YHWH will grant you life with Him. Islam says that if the balance of "good" vs evil in your life weighs in favor of good than you might make it to heaven. Further good means punishing your self for the sins of your past sins and the sins of your relatives. it also means fasting and reading your quran and the ultimate good is killing those Kufar's the ones polluting the earth. On and on it goes.

This bad theology and philosophy has crept into our "main stream" christianity today. We too believe that if we offer daily prayers and fast, and "get people saved" and do the stuff of the bible then we are close to God and therefore He owes us a blessing when and how we want it. This is not only bad theology it is dangerous to us.

God relates to us on the basis of a promise, a covenant He made with man that He ratified in His own blood from His own Son. In fact, the only thing we have to do with this amazing agreement is to believe it, receive it, be thankful for it. Our blessings do not come on the basis of how good or not we are but how good He is. Now I know a lot of us know this cerebrally in our mind and our souls, but obviously this hasn't penetrated our spirit.- who we are.

Should we pray?fast?give?read daily the bible? Unequivocally Yes. but not out of a motive to twist God's arm. If we encounter who He really is, and the fullness there of, then we gain all the motivation we need to automatically "do good". but not out of the pretense that we are doing God any favors, but out of adoration, devotion, appreciation for who He is, not what He has or can offer.

Bottom line: He gave up His all, all He asks is for us to give Him our all and we will get all we desire. But do not focus on the getting of all but rather on the giving of all to Him- the One worthy of it all.

So please my friends and beloved, pursue Love, towards God first, others next and all the love you "require" will be given to you. Works, Doesn't Work. Maybe you have felt the weight of guilt, shame, and condemnation for not being "good" I pray that this leads you to the path of freedom in Christ.

Comfort and Trials

I was reading 2 Corinthians lately when verses 3 and 4 jumped out at me.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

So I began to think about this and what it would mean for me. What I have come up with is that trials and affliction can and are allowed to exist for God to relay His comfort to us so we can do the same for someone else in similar positions.

This begs the question for most of us now, "Does God send the affliction?" Undoubtedly no. We see in Ephesians 6:13 the bible tells us there will be an evil day, the truth is God allowed for free will and because of this Sin came into existence and evil entered the world causing our current afflictions. Further in Psalms "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from them all"

A brief meditation

Without the dying of self, there is no resurrection power. You can not resurrect something that has not died. we want power, we want the power of God to dwell Mightly in us, but do we want to die? we want to move in power like Paul, Peter, John and Elijah or see visions prophetically like Samuel, Ezekial etc... but are we willing to die to our flesh?

Without the dying of self, there
is no
resurrection power.

Fun Christianity?

Some of you may lovingly remember this time and to those who weren't there- you missed out! :) I was just thinking who most of the world ciews christians as dull, dark, boring, religious and hippocritical fanatics who can't watch Mtv because "It's of the devil".

I was thinking of my time in India- hard, yes it was. But there was such a sense of unity and purpose that we just had fun. Fun riding in this bus on our way to Kurnool to preach and pray for a little over 1000 Indian's. Fun praying for 1000's of people to receive healing, deliverance, and blessing. Fun experience a country I never would have gone to if God hadn't provided a way.

Then I started thinking about what fun is.

Fun
Adjective
1. Providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining; "an amusing speaker"; "a diverting story"; "a fun thing to do".
Noun
1. Activities that are enjoyable or amusing; "I do it for the fun of it"; "he is fun to have around".
2. Verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun".
3. Violent and excited activity; "she asked for money and then the fun began"; (colloquial) "they began to fight like fun".
4. A disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement; "her playfulness surprised me"; "he was fun to be with".

That's how webster defines it. But I see a common element of fun. Its more than entertainment, it is this sense of fulfillment, joy and accomplishment all in one. its when we put our insecurities aside and just be who we are and let other people see that side of us and when we are accepted this way it builds confidence, stability and fun.

So think about it this week and pray, seek the Lord what is fun and what is fun for you?

Exposition of Joshua 1

I pray this finds you well and the word edifies your spirit

Title: God’s fearless victors.

Text: Joshua 1:1-8

Introduction: All of you here today in some way or another, like it or not are in a battle. Small ones big ones lengthy or short they just exist. I believe their purpose is pruning! John 15. Ya know a tree grows the most at the breaking points- where it has been cut so that it bears more fruit. So today I want to talk about realizing who you are in Christ and what that looks like. You see God desires for us to be successful and victorious in our walk. The mistake most people make is that they don’t participate in God’s plans for their life. God made you in His likeness and image. God has never lost a battle. God wants to bring you from survival to revival! He wants you to know that you aren’t your past or who your parents say you are or who your friends say you are or even who you say you are sometimes.

I know a guy that when he was younger had some pretty big hopes and dreams, but he came from very common settings. Everyone around him always told him he would never achieve anything because he wasn’t good enough, or fast or smart enough there was always some excuse or “logic” why it wouldn’t work out for him. As this guy grew older his circumstances didn’t get much better. For a while he held to his hopes but day after day went by and hopes got dashed to doubts and doubts fell to fears. Until a few years ago he really had no hopes or dreams, and the few he did have he had no real expectation of ever seeing the manifestation of his dreams into reality. In fact he became so bad off that he actually started to fear the possibility of succeeding at all. Is this what God would desire for us?

Proposition: If you and I are to experience growth and victory as believers, it is necessary to be fearless.

Transitional Sentence: I took the word fearless and made an acrostic out of it

I. Forsake the past- Vs. 1 – After the death of Moses

A. Mentor/ Predecessor/ Ultimate Goal- background history.

1. Joshua had to get passed taunting of others/

2. Get passed his own self image of “2^nd best”

3. Forsake his old identity and embrace his new one (God-Given)

B. Passing the torch – will you be ready?

1. This was not a flippant choice on God’s part

2. This was not a flippant decision on Joshua’s part

C. Even though he wanted it, it was probably difficult to accept

1. Others

2. Friends & Family

3. Self

Transitional Sentence: God is calling us to move from the past onto the new things that have come.

Tell story of Cindy and me and dream @ tooth.

II. Elevate to the task- Vs. 2 – Moses is dead, Arise go over this Jordan.

A. Time will come when God calls you for a work

1. Don’t argue with God – Obey

B. God will generally call you to a work bigger than you are.

1. This shows Gods Glory.

2. It creates obedience and true service to the Lord.

3. It will involve more people and their lives than just you.

Transitional Sentence: The violent take it by force, the weak are trampled.

III. Aggressively pursue the promise – Vs. 3 – Every place of the sole of your feet I give you

A. Action step

1. God can’t give you the all the land under your feet if you are stuck on the couch.

B. This will be a continual process

C. Tread is the key word.

1. Go OVER/ not circumvent but go over the bar

Transitional Sentence: How far can you go with no backing?

IV. Rely on His Word – Vs. 4 – From wilderness to the going down of the sun shall be yours.

A. Know the Promise First – Joshua knew this was a 400 and something year process

1. You can lay past aside

2. You can know you are called and get training to elevate to the task

3. You can even pursue wasting energy and not know what the Word says about the promise you are pursuing

B. Without a Word from God you will fall/fail/flounder

1. Fall - nothing to stand on – Peter and the boat

2. Fail – your will takes precedent not His will

3. Flounder – you will have no root/ ground wire

C. Without a Word no faith- no other reason to believe that ^

1. Rom 10:14 simple as that

2. Heb. w/o faith impossible to please God

Transitional Sentence: even with the backing of the word under-girded with faith what good is the victory unless it carries throughout one’s life?

V. Long haul/ longevity – Vs. 5- No man stand b4 u, never leave nor forsake you

A. How are you to know how God was with Moses if you don’t stick around

B. Common Mistake w/ gauging God’s will

1. Answer now or never

Transitional Sentence: Good so now you aren’t worried @ the past, you’re trained, you’re pursuing, you got the Word and you’re in it for the long haul but unless you…

VI. Exist as an example –Vs. 6 – Be strong Courageous, people divide as inheritance.

A. You will never affect the “others” God is talking about.

1. World or Xians.

B. To be an example you will have to be strong and courageous

1. Must have been scared and weak to have said it

Transitional Sentence: A fearless victor is a leader. Best way = service

VII. Serve – Vs. 7 – only strong and courageous and serve as Moses

A. God laid a foundation and a right path

1. Moses is a blueprint for Joshua

B. Law/Commandments are the borders for that path

C. Don’t turn/deviate.. Routine … 31 days.

Transitional Sentence: Final point is the successful passage from fear to fearless!

VIII. Succeed –Vs. 8- book of the law not to leave your lips, meditate day and night and DO IT.

A. Book of Law is Bible don’t let it depart from mouth

1. Meditating- not ohmMm- intense constant thought/forefront of your mind

2. Day and night- this has to be ongoing thing to feed to grow

B. Monkey see Monkey do

1. Once you got it from your head to your heart DO IT

2. All of it

C, After all is said and done THEN you will be prosperous and successful

Conclusion: You see Joshua and I were in similar situations he was taking people from the desert into the oasis of the Promised Land. He couldn’t have seen it, but only believed it would be there when he went far enough. I never thought I would or even could find peace and joy and victory in my life. But God in His loving kindness and great power took us both through certain trials and circumstances to refine us through the Refiner’s Fire of life to shed all our inhibitions resulting in the stripping off of our fears. God clearly desires a fearless walk for the born again believer so that we will grow and gain victory for His name Glorifying Him.

Isn’t it about time you and I started:

F. = Forsake the past

E. = Elevate to the task

A. = Aggressively pursue the promise

R. = Rely on His Word

L. = Long haul/ longevity

E. = Exist as an example

S. = Serve

S. = Succeed