Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Overcoming the Spiritual Warning of Laodicea
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Hebrews 10:25 (Amplified Bible)
25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
2 Peter 1:12-13 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
Revelation 3:14-20, AMP 14 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation:
15 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!
17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
Romans 10:2 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Psalm 123:4, AMP 4 Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud (irresponsible tyrants who disregard God's law).
Isaiah 32:9 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech.
Isaiah 47:8, AMP 8 Therefore now, hear this, you who love pleasures and are given over to them, you who dwell safely and sit securely, who say in your mind, I am [the mistress] and there is no one else besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.
Isaiah 64:7 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
Amos 6:1, 7 1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! 7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
Matthew 22:5 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
Matthew 24:12, AMP 12 And the love of [a]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,
Numbers 32:6 6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?
Joshua 18:3 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?
Characteristics of new Christians include being on fire for God and having an unquenchable zeal for the things of the Lord. Young Christians are eager to learn and to be involved in everything their church has to offer. Unfortunately, over time, the fire and zeal begin to fade and are replaced with complacency, lukewarm feelings and indifference. It is time to rekindle the fire and continue gaining knowledge of God, as well as being busy in the things of God.
Rekindle your fire for God.
After becoming born again, joining the church and growing in the things of God, many people become complacent. Complacent means, “self-satisfied and unconcerned.” It is a state of being happy with where you are and not desiring to move forward. The children of Israel became complacent in the wilderness. They were content to stay in the land of “just enough” instead of moving to the land of “more than enough.”
People who do not want to be involved in church activities, who do not volunteer or who cut back on their church attendance use many excuses for not attending or being involved in church. It’s raining; I’m tired; I’m too busy, etc. The list can be endless. God will never become complacent toward us or our prayers. Take a moment to examine your life and ask: Where is my zeal? Where is my fire? What happened to my passion?
Be careful not to neglect spending time at church with other Believers (Hebrews 10:25, AMP). By coming together, people are able to encourage one another.
People sometimes find it hard to stir themselves up and get excited about God after they have gained extensive knowledge about Him. It’s up to the pastor to remind the congregation of what they know and for the people to remember what God has done for them (2 Peter 1:12-13).
Lukewarm is a better description of people’s attitudes than complacency. It is described as not being zealous, which is being passionate, eager, enthusiastic, earnest, fervent and heartfelt. Newly born-again Christians are usually zealous.
b. Revelation 3:14-20 (AMP) is the only place in the Bible where the term lukewarm is used. God wanted the church of Laodicea to be either hot or cold instead of lukewarm.
A lukewarm person causes God to vomit. Some people who obtain wealth become lukewarm because they feel they have received everything that they need from God and don’t need anything else from Him. These people do not realize that they have lost their zeal. Jesus said they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (v. 17, KJV). Jesus wants us to be truly wealthy, which we can only receive through Him by being “enthusiastic, earnest and burning with zeal” (v. 19, AMP).
The key to overcoming being lukewarm is to repent and have a change of attitude.
As a person continues to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word, the individual should continue to express passion, enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord (Romans 10:2).
Recognize key areas where indifference has entered your life.
Indifference is “being neutral; not interested; not leaning to one side or the other; a sense of apathy; impartial; unconcerned; to care less; middling; tolerable; absence of feeling; mediocrity.” The two areas where indifference invades one’s life are: spiritually and in service. Check your spirit to determine if the spirit of indifference has invaded you spiritually.
Are you at ease while others work for the kingdom (Psalm 123:4, AMP)? The church is not supposed to be serving you; you are supposed to be serving the church. Don’t allow ease to put you in neutral; you can’t obtain God’s promises in neutral.
God commands you to rise up out of your position of ease (Isaiah 32:9). An indifferent spirit causes you to sit safely and securely and keeps you from moving out of your comfort zone (Isaiah 47:8, AMP). People who feel condemned often stay away from the church (Isaiah 64:7). Don’t allow the ease of staying at home keep you from fellowshipping with others. On the other hand, don’t shoot the wounded when they miss the mark. God warns those who are at ease in the church: You will inevitably face captivity (Amos 6:1, 7).
Jesus warns that those who make light of His invitation to come to Him and decide to go their own way will not receive the blessings that He has prepared for them (Matthew 22:5). It is important to have the love of God in your life and not to be indifferent, because the Bible warns that the love of many will grow cold, which will cause lawlessness inside and outside of the church (Matthew 24:12, AMP).
Indifference in service will lead to procrastination. The cares of family and worldly things will take precedence over the church’s needs. Will you allow others to get involved in meeting the church’s needs while you sit back and watch (Numbers 32:6)?
Where is your service?
Ask yourself: How long will I be slack, or slow-moving, in regards to being in service to the church (Joshua 18:3)?
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Hebrews 10:25 (Amplified Bible)
25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
2 Peter 1:12-13 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
Revelation 3:14-20, AMP 14 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation:
15 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!
17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
Romans 10:2 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Psalm 123:4, AMP 4 Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud (irresponsible tyrants who disregard God's law).
Isaiah 32:9 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech.
Isaiah 47:8, AMP 8 Therefore now, hear this, you who love pleasures and are given over to them, you who dwell safely and sit securely, who say in your mind, I am [the mistress] and there is no one else besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.
Isaiah 64:7 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
Amos 6:1, 7 1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! 7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
Matthew 22:5 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
Matthew 24:12, AMP 12 And the love of [a]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,
Numbers 32:6 6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?
Joshua 18:3 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?
Characteristics of new Christians include being on fire for God and having an unquenchable zeal for the things of the Lord. Young Christians are eager to learn and to be involved in everything their church has to offer. Unfortunately, over time, the fire and zeal begin to fade and are replaced with complacency, lukewarm feelings and indifference. It is time to rekindle the fire and continue gaining knowledge of God, as well as being busy in the things of God.
Rekindle your fire for God.
After becoming born again, joining the church and growing in the things of God, many people become complacent. Complacent means, “self-satisfied and unconcerned.” It is a state of being happy with where you are and not desiring to move forward. The children of Israel became complacent in the wilderness. They were content to stay in the land of “just enough” instead of moving to the land of “more than enough.”
People who do not want to be involved in church activities, who do not volunteer or who cut back on their church attendance use many excuses for not attending or being involved in church. It’s raining; I’m tired; I’m too busy, etc. The list can be endless. God will never become complacent toward us or our prayers. Take a moment to examine your life and ask: Where is my zeal? Where is my fire? What happened to my passion?
Be careful not to neglect spending time at church with other Believers (Hebrews 10:25, AMP). By coming together, people are able to encourage one another.
People sometimes find it hard to stir themselves up and get excited about God after they have gained extensive knowledge about Him. It’s up to the pastor to remind the congregation of what they know and for the people to remember what God has done for them (2 Peter 1:12-13).
Lukewarm is a better description of people’s attitudes than complacency. It is described as not being zealous, which is being passionate, eager, enthusiastic, earnest, fervent and heartfelt. Newly born-again Christians are usually zealous.
b. Revelation 3:14-20 (AMP) is the only place in the Bible where the term lukewarm is used. God wanted the church of Laodicea to be either hot or cold instead of lukewarm.
A lukewarm person causes God to vomit. Some people who obtain wealth become lukewarm because they feel they have received everything that they need from God and don’t need anything else from Him. These people do not realize that they have lost their zeal. Jesus said they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (v. 17, KJV). Jesus wants us to be truly wealthy, which we can only receive through Him by being “enthusiastic, earnest and burning with zeal” (v. 19, AMP).
The key to overcoming being lukewarm is to repent and have a change of attitude.
As a person continues to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word, the individual should continue to express passion, enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord (Romans 10:2).
Recognize key areas where indifference has entered your life.
Indifference is “being neutral; not interested; not leaning to one side or the other; a sense of apathy; impartial; unconcerned; to care less; middling; tolerable; absence of feeling; mediocrity.” The two areas where indifference invades one’s life are: spiritually and in service. Check your spirit to determine if the spirit of indifference has invaded you spiritually.
Are you at ease while others work for the kingdom (Psalm 123:4, AMP)? The church is not supposed to be serving you; you are supposed to be serving the church. Don’t allow ease to put you in neutral; you can’t obtain God’s promises in neutral.
God commands you to rise up out of your position of ease (Isaiah 32:9). An indifferent spirit causes you to sit safely and securely and keeps you from moving out of your comfort zone (Isaiah 47:8, AMP). People who feel condemned often stay away from the church (Isaiah 64:7). Don’t allow the ease of staying at home keep you from fellowshipping with others. On the other hand, don’t shoot the wounded when they miss the mark. God warns those who are at ease in the church: You will inevitably face captivity (Amos 6:1, 7).
Jesus warns that those who make light of His invitation to come to Him and decide to go their own way will not receive the blessings that He has prepared for them (Matthew 22:5). It is important to have the love of God in your life and not to be indifferent, because the Bible warns that the love of many will grow cold, which will cause lawlessness inside and outside of the church (Matthew 24:12, AMP).
Indifference in service will lead to procrastination. The cares of family and worldly things will take precedence over the church’s needs. Will you allow others to get involved in meeting the church’s needs while you sit back and watch (Numbers 32:6)?
Where is your service?
Ask yourself: How long will I be slack, or slow-moving, in regards to being in service to the church (Joshua 18:3)?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Expect to See God's Glory!
The Lord Will Open Our Eyes May 20-23!
Did not Moses endure "as seeing him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27 KJV)?
The Bible was written by people who actually beheld the glory of God.
To see the glory of God is our call as well.
Our spiritual vision is not an imaginary device of the mind, but that which comes from the living union of the Holy Spirit with our hearts.
Didn't Jesus promise that the "pure in heart . . . shall see God" (Matt. 5:8)?
And isn't reasonable to expect that, if Christ truly dwells within us, we ought to perceive life with unveiled minds? Just as it is written,
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).
Did not Moses endure "as seeing him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27 KJV)?
The Bible was written by people who actually beheld the glory of God.
To see the glory of God is our call as well.
Our spiritual vision is not an imaginary device of the mind, but that which comes from the living union of the Holy Spirit with our hearts.
Didn't Jesus promise that the "pure in heart . . . shall see God" (Matt. 5:8)?
And isn't reasonable to expect that, if Christ truly dwells within us, we ought to perceive life with unveiled minds? Just as it is written,
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).
Monday, April 19, 2010
EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PENTECOST @ Churches on Fire Convention
PENTECOST
The three feast seasons of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Succor) represent three major encounters God has with His covenant people. The feast season known as Passover was established by God for the purpose of teaching us how to find God's peace. We find peace with God when we appropriate Yeshua (Jesus) as our Passover Lamb who died for our sins.
We find peace with God through Yeshua as our Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits representative. This work of Jesus benefits us personally when we set ourselves apart from the ways of the world and give ourselves completely to Yeshua as our Lord and Master. This ongoing surrender produces godly character in our lives and gives us the peace of God.
While this is a great blessing we all need, it is certainly not all He has for us. God not only desires to give us His peace, but He also wants to give us His power! This is the purpose of the Feast of Pentecost! It represents the second major encounter with God. Taken in order of the feasts, it is the fourth step we MUST take to walk in God's REST!
The three feast seasons of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Succor) represent three major encounters God has with His covenant people. The feast season known as Passover was established by God for the purpose of teaching us how to find God's peace. We find peace with God when we appropriate Yeshua (Jesus) as our Passover Lamb who died for our sins.
We find peace with God through Yeshua as our Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits representative. This work of Jesus benefits us personally when we set ourselves apart from the ways of the world and give ourselves completely to Yeshua as our Lord and Master. This ongoing surrender produces godly character in our lives and gives us the peace of God.
While this is a great blessing we all need, it is certainly not all He has for us. God not only desires to give us His peace, but He also wants to give us His power! This is the purpose of the Feast of Pentecost! It represents the second major encounter with God. Taken in order of the feasts, it is the fourth step we MUST take to walk in God's REST!
Paul Wilbur
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