Throughout the course of our Christian walks, most of us (I believe) truly desire a relationship with Christ on a deeper, more intimate level. More often than not, we know what we have to do. We know we ought to pray, read and study the Bible. We should love and display compassion. We should edify, evangelize, and exhort. But in the end, it feels like we’re always one step short of experiencing something (anything) spectacular with God.
We witness and hear about ‘spiritual giants’ and ‘passionate’ leaders that constantly seem to have intimate encounters and experiences with God, and we wonder. What sparks that intimacy? And truthfully, the answer lies within genuine discipleship from Jesus Christ in complete surrender and obedience. More…
Often times, evangelism or outreach is exactly what this picture depicts – a crazy mix of uncertainty and fear. It’s crippling. Majority of us, Christians, don’t even think about outreach. And an even larger percentage of us have the wrong picture of what Jesus’ commission really means to our daily lives.
It has become increasingly harder to actively declare one’s faith in the modern day age of freedom and equality. And a lot of the times people (myself included) don’t even know where to start. I think a lot of Christians have become comfortable in ignoring this calling, or at least has not fully grasped the weight of evangelism. More…
Perhaps you never asked yourself that question before. But if you aren’t ready to look beyond being status quo, then I suggest you stop reading.
Some may agree that church has become a Sunday phenomenon. Others might say, a structure; a giant mirage – where an illusion has captured the hearts of millions across North America. Many of us associate the church with a nameplate. After all, we do seem to ask each other the infamous question, “…so which church do you go to?” When in fact, does it really make a difference? More…
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- 2 Cor 3:17-18
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This is such a powerful message, in which it says that life by the Spirit will free you from everything that is keeping you from living as a victorious child of faith. All the hurts, all the struggles, all the hang-ups. All the stumbling blocks, the habitual sins. These things are not natural of citizens in the Kingdom of God. They are not part of the life that we are called to live. If we have life by the Spirit everything earthly fades away. When we come to embrace the Spirit who is the Father, the Spirit who has been sent to use from the Father, and has been gifted to us – we can overcome all things in Jesus’ name.
We can do anything!
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
- John 14
The Father that is living in me, myself, is the Spirit. Jesus says that, in His name we can do whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. We can do even greater things than the Son. Can you even grasp the power of what He is telling us? That we can heal the sick, make the blind see, make the lame walk. We can walk on water, we can calm storms.
The question is if we have enough faith to believe in these things. Do we view this world the way God views it? Are we intimate enough with God to see the things of His heart? When we sing, “break my heart for what breaks yours” do we really know what God wants?
Do we really know what it means to have the Holy Spirit living in us? Because life without the Spirit is death. We can never really be intimate with God without first knowing the Holy Spirit. If there are things preventing you from living your life for God, then which master are you serving? Are you going to serve our king in heaven, or the material idols/desires of this earth?
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Gal 3
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. The Spirit displeases, hates, and loathes everything of this flesh. It doesn’t mean our bodies are bad. But that we should not succumb to the desires of this temporary world. Because when we do, we push the Spirit of the Lord out of our lives. If the list of things (sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, …) match you right now. Just surrender it all to God and let the Holy Spirit free you from everything. It is like how there is no darkness in light. Same thing applies here, there is no desires of the flesh when you are walking with the Spirit.
Take heed the warning at the end, those who do such things (desires of the flesh) will not inherit the kingdom of God, so let me say it again. There is no life without the Spirit. However, when we have the Spirit in us, we reflect the Lord’s glory, increasing from glory to glory to glory! So you take your pick. There’s no such thing as being luke-warm with God.
The last few weeks – I’ve been thinking about what Worship meant to me. I’ve experienced the power of worship, and how close I can get to God through it, but does listening to Hillsongs a 1000 times mean anything if I dont focus on the lyrics? Am I listening for the sake of hearing a tune, or am I really letting the music draw me into the presence of God?
Dont just let your music instincts let you ignore the true meaning of worship. Really dwell on each word, and surrender yourself to God.
Worship.
Worship is a huge thing
We look forward to worship every week
When the music includes one of our favorites, we say “Hey thats Great”
When the music stinks, we yawn and wonder why the worship wasn’t very good
We leave churches because of the “worship style”
Worship is a huge thing.
Have you ever wondered if we’re more concerned with what worship does FOR us.
or less concerned with the Object of our worship
It seems like it’s more about what we GET
not what we GIVE
It would be like taking a gift to a friend’s birthday party,
and keeping it to yourself.
Worship is all about GIVING our lives (again) to God
Worship is not about the feeling we receive when we sing
Worship is not about convincing God to bless us
Worship is not about whether or not the guitar is too loud
Worship is not about what’s happening on the stage
Worship is not about entertainment, lighting or sound
Worship is not about US
It’s about HIM
And we enter through the gateway of cross
At the cross we,
surrender, love, cry, dream, give up, shutup, kneel, confess
We look at God and place HIM above all else
Because He’s worth it
Life gets crazy and painful.
No one can deny that.
Job stress, divorce, death, addictions, parenting, loneliness
No one is asking you to pretend that those things arn’t affecting you
Don’t pretend
But you’re just being invited to bring that stuff ot the cross, and to simple gaze at Jesus
