Standing at the plate of life, I glance out at the stands
The tool to make my fans all cheer, gripped tightly in my hands
The hurler looked me in the eye, ball held as to deceive
I’ll bring my fans straight to their feet, if only I believe
He draws way back, his leg kicked high, anticipation great
I’ll drive this ball straight to the wall, this one’s fast and straight
From the side his arm swung wide, the ball began to swerve
I was thinking fastball, but life threw me a curve
With all my might I swung that bat, to my surprise I missed
Strike one, I heard the umpire yell, while thousands sighed and hissed
That’s only one, I said inside. That will not happen twice
Keep your eye upon that ball, they yelled to me advice
I stepped back up, then tapped my cleats and spit upon the ground
With shame I looked out towards the stands, the crowd without a sound
Once again he drew way back, again his leg kicked high
Thinking low and straight and fast, it curved and slid right by
Strike two, I heard the umpire yell, one more and this game’s through
I backed away, head bowed to pray, Oh Lord, what should I do?
His voice rose up within me, and I clearly heard Him say
Step back up and set your sights, you will not lose today
With Jesus’ words inside me, I stepped back to the plate
I looked that hurler in the eye, my confidence was great
From the side his arm swung wide, the ball began to swerve
Man I need a fastball, but here’s another curve
I waited a bit longer, I loosened up my grip
Anticipation killing me, while biting on my lip
I swung the bat more slowly, my eyes without a blink
I’ll hit this ball straight to that wall as long as I don’t think
Crack! - I heard that sound so loud, the ball it took a flight
Over the wall and then the stands, that ball was out of sight
My fans jumped straight up to their feet, the wave went round and round
The hurler was defeated, his curve had let him down
I trotted through the bases, tipped my hat and waved
They handed me a microphone but all that I could say
was; Jesus was the batter, cause I can't hit the swerve
If you prefer a fastball, let Jesus hit that curve!
By: Michael E. Moore
Type rest of the post here
Dec 19, 2007
Life Threw Me a Curve
Dec 17, 2007
Thank God for Death
I have to disagree with people that blame world's tragedies on God. It's just not God's nature to pour out his wrath on us. He poured out all of his wrath on Jesus.
How many of you would agree that death can be a blessing? Think about it. Life isn't easy. Life can be very painful. Life, on this earth, is not God's greatest.
How many of you grew up believing that when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, God instantly became angry at them and banned them from the Garden? I did. I still hear that being taught and preached, even today.
Let's go back into the Garden for just a moment and take another look:
Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us,
knowing both good and evil.
What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it?
Then they will live forever!”
So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden,
and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
He did not banish them because they disobeyed him. He banished them because God did not want man to have to live for eternity in a fallen state. At this time, there was no way for them to be born again. Had they been left to partake of the Tree of Life, all men would have lived forever. Can you imagine having to live forever?
Think about those that are born deformed, or with mental illnesses. Think about cruel, rotten people. Think about the Hitler's. Think about the fact that there would never be a way to escape from evil. You would just have to live with it, forever, and ever.
But God was not about to let that happen. He was, and is concerned for mankind. He took immediate action steps to prevent us from having to live for eternity.
Not only did he get them away from the tree, but he also made certain that it would be guarded, insuring that this tragic event would never happen. He knew that there was a better way coming. He knew that one day his Son would be sent and sacrificed as an atonement for our sin.
Did you also know that God continued to walk and talk with Adam and Eve after this. If you read further along in chapter 4 you see examples of this. God did not remove himself from mankind as an act of punishment for our sin. He didn't do it then, and he certainly doesn't do it today.
Our sins are not being imputed against us. Adam and Eve's sin was prior the the law being given. And hopefully you know that today, we are lo longer bound to the law. God is not counting our sins against us.
For until the law sin was in the world:
but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Type rest of the post here
Dec 15, 2007
Hell Is Not That Hot
Pop pills, seek thrills, lusting for the fame
God who? Screw you. Don’t bow to any name.
Snort coke, drink beer, smoke a little pot
Who’s God? Where’s God? Hell is not that hot.
Livin large, me in charge, all about the game
I am great, no debate, don’t believe in shame
Running wild with flower child, Makin’ love, not war
Get high, get by, that’s what life is for.
No hope, need dope, cannot stand the pain
Always high, wanna die, come on acid rain
Snort coke, drink beer, smoke a little pot
Who’s God? Where’s God? Hell is not that hot.
Lifeless, unemployed, livin' on the street
Ruthless, careless, starting to feel heat.
No friends, no ends, beggin' for a meal
Need a hit, can’t get it, gotta cheat and steal.
Locked up, facing time, bouncing off this cell
Cryin out, without a doubt, I’m going straight to hell
20 years, I’m in tears, can’t believe the deal
Need God. Where’s God? God are you for real?
Found the Word, flipped a page, lookin for a verse
Jesus lived, then he died, freed me from the curse
Bowed a knee, cried a plea, searchin' for some love
Somethin' broke, ain’t no joke, presence of a dove
Set free, new me, brand new chance at life
Out of jail, free from hell, givin’ you advice
Seek the Lord, all your heart, no need to understand
Seek Him, serve Him, reach out and take His hand.
No pills, simple thrills, free from guilt and shame
God you came through. Name above all names!
Diet coke, root beer, shrimp boiling in the pot
What a God! An Awesome God! My past he has forgot!
By: Michael E. Moore
Type rest of the post here
Nov 7, 2007
A God of Second Chances
I am so grateful that we serve a God of second chances. The Word is full of examples of how God gave people another chance. It is full of examples of how God used, in a powerful way, people who were once far from him.
I too was once far from the Lord. My life was filled with deception, lies, addictions, self-centeredness, selfishness, depression, low self-esteem, anger, bitterness, drunkenness; the list goes on and on and on. But praise God; on December 24, 2004 I was born again!
Over the summer I spent a great deal of time studying the book of Romans. Romans is a very powerful book full of truths about the nature of God and the freedom that comes from being redeemed from the curse of the law. It is a book which reveals God’s amazing love, grace, and mercy.
In context with the topic of second chances, I wanted to share something that God personally spoke to me while I was meditating on a portion of Chapter 9. Let’s take a look at a few of these verses:
Romans 9:6-13 (New Living Translation)
Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! 7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” 13 In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”
Look closely at the line found in verse 12. ““Your older son will serve your younger son.”. When I read that verse God immediately spoke to me and said this:
“Michael, so it is with you. You have been born again. You are now the younger son. That means that the older son, the old you, has to serve the younger son, the new you!”
Wow! As simple as that may sound, it was and is a very powerful revelation. It means that no longer do I have to obey my old habits. No longer do I have to fall prey to old patterns of behavior. No longer do I have to be dragged around by my emotions. The new me, the born-again me, is in control.
So now I can boss the old me around. I can say, “Body” you will get healthy. The Word of God says that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit and I command you to get in line with the Word. It has to obey!
I can say, “Depression, The Word of God says that I am to rejoice always and be full of joy”. I command you to praise God and be thankful” It has to obey!
I can say, “Limited thinking, The Word of God says that ALL things are possible with God”. I command you to stop putting limits on what can be accomplished in me through Christ. It has to obey!
My friends, if you are born-again the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells within you. As we know from 2 Corinthians 5:17, you are a new creature. All things have become new and everything that is old in your life has passed away. You have been given the authority to take control of yourself.
Romans 6:16 says this:
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
Make your old self obey the new, born-again you, which is indwelt with the very Sprit of God. Speak to those mountains. Cast those doubts into the sea. Resist the enemy and he will flee!
I pray that this simple little message will help you overcome some of the obstacles in your life that are hindering you from experiencing the fullness of the abundant life that Jesus came to bring us.
Take Control!
(See also Genesis 18:10, 14; and Genesis 25:23)
Nov 3, 2007
How far is the East from the West?
A psalm of David.
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
How far is the east from the west?Picture the globe. If you were located at any point on the globe and then began to travel in a northerly direction, eventually you would round the north pole and then be traveling south. Likewise, if you were located at any point on the globe and then began to travel in a southerly direction, eventually you would round the south pole and then be traveling north.
However, if you were located at any point on the globe and then began to travel in a westerly direction, you could continue in that westerly direction for infinity. At no point in that journey would you be traveling east. Likewise, if you were located at any point on the globe and then began to travel in a easterly direction, you could continue in that easterly direction for infinity. At no point in that journey would you be traveling west.
East does not meet West and West does not meet East!
And so it is with our sin. No matter where you are on the globe, once you accept Jesus Christ as being the Son of God and confess him to be the Lord, you can leave your sin right there, head in the opposite direction, and never have to cross that path of sin again!
Now back to the passage:
Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
Oct 24, 2007
Do Not Love This World
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. "
This is a pretty simple lesson here. John tells us that one of the ways we can tell that we have the love of the Father in us, is by the lack of desire or love for the things that the world has to offer. Paradoxically, if you love the things that this world has to offer then you do not have the love of the Father in you.
This isn’t saying that God doesn’t love you. According to Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 35, nothing can separate us from the love of God. But what this verse is saying that if you are going after fancy cars, huge houses, constantly seeking physical pleasure, coveting the things that others have, trying to store up treasures here on this earth then you have not received the full portion of God’s love that he wants to give you. It’s just not in you. For when you are filled with the kind of love that comes only from God, giving that love to others is all that is important to you. The “things” of this world will no longer matter.
Friends, I can honestly say that I speak here from experience. I started making pretty good money back when I was 17. Then by the time I was 26 I owned my own business. I spent many years chasing after the things of the world and putting almost all of my attention on money. What I now know that I was lacking was love from the Father, therefore, love towards anyone else. This was a formula for disaster and this formula most definitely proved to be true. Here is a link to my testimony for any of you who care to see just how true that formula ended up being.
But now, Praise God, after seeking God diligently for a few years and renewing my mind to who I am in Christ, I can say that today I am filled with the love of the Father. I could care less about anything that this world has to offer. It’s all fading away, and in the long run, in the grand scheme of things, means absolutely nothing.
See, I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I have had much and I have had little. I have been miserable in both situations. But now that I let the love of God flow through me, I find that I can be quite content in either scenario. Paul said this same thing in Philippians chapter 4, verses 10-12. Check this out:
“How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little”. (NLT)
There are several other scriptures that come to mind and I feel like I could talk about this for hours. But here is my point: Are you tired of chasing after goals that seem impossible to reach? Have you reached certain steps on that company ladder only to find out that they are not nearly as fulfilling as you had hoped they would be? Are you happy running in the rat race that the world pressures you into? Did you know that whoever wins the rat race is just the greatest rat! Is that the title you are shooting for? My advice, spend some time with the Father. Begin to let his love flow into your heart. Renew your mind to his word and I believe you will find a brand new life for yourself. One that is filled with love, peace, joy, contentment, abundance, self-control, happiness and hope!
I am out of time but thanks for stopping by. Feel free to leave your comments!
Michael
Oct 23, 2007
The Wisdom of God
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
What is the Power of God? Well, according to this passage it is” the message of the cross”. Paul states this emphatically in the Book of Romans. Check out these scriptures found in chapter 1, verse 16.
"For I am not ashamed of this “Good News about Christ”. It is the “power of God” at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. "
The good news about Christ is that he died for us but was raised from the dead. He now pleads with God on our behalf. It Seems foolish to most people. But to those of us who believe it is the “very power of God” at work within us. Jesus became wisdom for us. He is our wisdom. It is in Him and Him alone that we are made right with God.
I used to be the kind of person that always had to figure everything out. I could not believe in something unless I could see it, touch it, feel it and understand all the intricacies of how it worked. I used to be the guy saying “God, if you are real then send me a sign. Strike me with lightning. Let me hear audible answer to my prayers, anything! Well, according to this word, this train of thought is foolishness. How can we expect that an almighty, all-knowing, ever present God, the creator of everything we can and cannot see operate on the same level as us? That’s foolishness. Check out what he says in Isaiah 55, verses 8 & 9.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Once I just let go of trying to operate in my own wisdom and opened my heart to the truth about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, my need to understand everything turned to an attitude of trust, belief and faith. Once you do this, God begins to reveal things to you that you could have never concluded in your own thinking. The Spirit Himself will reveal to you things that are unknown and the great mysteries of life.
Friends, today I encourage you to put your trust in the Good News. The Gospel of Christ. It is Power! It is Wisdom! It is Life! Choose it Today!
Thank you for visiting and feel free to leave a comment!
Oct 16, 2007
Satan is a Liar!
Thanks to all who have visited and left comments. I really appreciate you!
It's been quite a battle for me over the last couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my previous post Satan has been trying to keep me in isolation. He knows that I am a threat to his kingdom. He's trying to use his trickery to keep me from persevering unto God! What a liar he is!
James 4:7 tells us this:
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!
Did you know that resist means more than just ignoring Satan's temptations. Resist is an action word. It means that we have to literally fight against him. It means that we have to use all of our God-given weaponry and take affirmative action against him.
I almost fell pray to his latest attack. I have been spending much time alone, avoiding church activities, not studying the Word, not spending time in worship, dodging phone calls, etc. That's exactly where the devil wants me to be. He desires for us to feel alone. He desires for us to feel defeated. His sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.
But thank God that we have Jesus who never leaves us or forsakes us. Jesus came to give us an abundant life! And today I do resist the enemy! I do submit myself unto God! I do cast all my cares unto the Lord! I do receive the abundant life that he came to give me! It flows through every organ and every tissue of my being! I am like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water. I bring forth fruit in my season and my leaf shall not wither! Praise God!
I give God praise right now by saying publicly that I take Victory over the enemy in this battle! He is under my feet! I have taken the shield of faith and resisted all of his fiery darts!
Are you going through a similar battle today my friend? I encourage you to dig into the word of God with all you have. Even if it seems like you have to force yourself to do it. That force you feel coming against you is the enemy. But he cannot stand up against the Word. He never could and he never will! He is a defeated foe!
1 John 5:3-5
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Sep 26, 2007
Yesterday, Today & Forever
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
As I was meditating on this passage the Lord reminded me that Jesus IS the Word. We are told this several places in scripture. One solid example is found in John 1:1-5
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. "
Then again in verse 14 we are told:
"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. "
Then in 1 John, Chapter 1, Verses 1-4 we are taught again:
"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. "
So therefore, if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever; then The Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Word will never leave you or forsake you. The Word will never change. God tells us this in Psalm 89, Verse 34:
"No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. "
Not only will the Word NOT change, the Word CANNOT change. God is not a man that he should lie.
Are you dealing with unwanted situations and circumstances in your life? Are there things in your life or in the lives of loved ones that you want to see change? The Word is the answer. Since the Word cannot change, when you put any situation or circumstance up against the Word, the situations and circumstances have to change, the Word will not!
God gave us his Word to USE, not just to READ. Begin applying the principles and promises of God’s Word to your life today, tomorow, and forever.I guarantee you will see results.
God so loved the world that he gave us his everlasting Word.
And whosoever shall believe in it shall have eternal life!
Sep 19, 2007
Unforgiveness Will Eat Your Lunch!
“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Matthew 18:23-35 (New Living Translation)
This parable is quite obviously teaching us about forgiveness. The two verses preceding this parable state this:
“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! “
Now some of you analytic people out there may have done the math and concluded that we are to forgive someone up to 490 times. But what Jesus is basically saying is that there is no limit to how often we are to forgive. He might as well as said ten million times.
Not forgiving will eat you alive. As Andrew Wommack says, “it will eat your lunch and pop the bag!” I spent many years angry with my ex-wife for some things that had transpired during our marriage. I just could not bring myself to forgive her. Holding on to that grudge was literally tearing me apart from the inside out. As much as I wanted to be free and to begin to rebuild my life, I was held in bondage by the exact thing that I was holding on to. What I was holding captive was actually captivating me. Not forgiving her eventually manifested in many ugly forms including a pornography addiction, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, self-pity, isolation, just to name a few. I was falling apart but in the meantime she was living her life like nothing ever happened.
It was not until I understood and received forgiveness from God that I could truly forgive her. But the moment I did forgive her with all my heart, I received immediate healing. My entire life began to turn around for the good. I was literally set free. You see, this teaching about forgiveness is not just a way for us to avoid being punished. The truth is if you have not forgiven someone who has harmed you, you are already being punished more than you realize. Jesus message here is to help you, not condemn you, as is always the case.
This lesson here is very important my friends. In addition to teaching about forgiveness, I believe we can also learn a lesson about judging others. (See my blog entry entitled “Do Not Judge Others” posted on August 8th. Jesus said this in Matthew chapter 7, verse 2:
“For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged”
Although we can learn a lesson about judging others here, I don’t believe that was Jesus’ intention. He is teaching about forgiving. Following are a couple of scriptures to futher iterate the importance of forgiveness.
Matthew 6:14-15 (New Living Translation)
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. “
One of the biblical principles I have learned is that you only have what you are willing to give away. It sounds odd I know, but isn’t that exactly what Jesus is telling us right here. If we forgive others we shall be forgiven. Give and it shall be given unto you. We all need forgiveness. Forgiving others is a two-fold benefit. It’s a win-win situation every time!
John 20:23
“If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Colossians 3:12-14
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Mark 11:22-24
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Mark points out clearly that it is imperative for us to forgive if our prayers are to be answered. But he says that if we are not holding any grudges, that we can pray for anything and if we believe we receive it, it will be ours! Wow! How awesome is that?
Have you asked for things that line up with God’s will and not received? Do you feel condemned for things that you know are wrong in your life? Is there someone that has done great harm to you and you just can’t seem to let that go? Forgiveness is the answer. Forgiveness is like a door that will open up blessings in your life. Forgiveness will set you free. Maybe it’s yourself that you need to forgive. That was one of my biggest hindrances for years. I felt so unworthy. I felt like the terrible things I had done were beyond God or anyone else being able to ever look past. How wrong that thinking was. The moment I knew that God was not only willing, but waiting anxiously to forgive me, and then I forgave myself and everyone else I was angry with, freedom came upon me in such a way that I cannot find words to describe!
God’s desire is ALWAYS to help you. That’s the primary reason Jesus came to earth in the first place. It’s only reasonable that everything he teaches us is to build us up, to encourage us, to set us free. Take a step towards freedom today my friend. Let go and let God!
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
Thank you for taking the time to read my blogs. Please leave a comment!
Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!
Matthew 13:24-30 (New Living Translation)
Jesus explains the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds to his disciples:
Matthew 13:36-43
Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”
Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Here's my commentary:
As with many passages from God’s word I get something new almost every time I read them. Jesus tells us quite plainly here that the wheat represents those who have become sons of God by believing in him and the weeds are those that are children of the devil. I was reading one interpretation earlier that likened this story to the Garden of Eden. God had planted the goods seeds of Adam and Eve there for the purposes of being fruitful and multiplying. But then the serpent came along and planted the seeds of evil. As a result Cain was born as a child of the devil and ultimately became the first murderer when he killed his brother Abel.
Notice how he says that the enemy came in at night when the workers were asleep, planted the weeds and then slipped away? That’s just the way the devil operates. He’s a wimp. He has to sneak around in the dark. He is a thief and a liar.
I also read this morning that the weeds that are often found in wheat fields tend to look a lot like the wheat itself. However, unlike the weeds, the wheat eventually sprouts a head and produces more seed. The weeds however do not produce anything. They simply attempt to choke out nutrients that would ultimately be beneficial for healthier and more productive wheat. It sounds a lot like the church today. Sure, there are some there who look just like Christians. They walk the walk and even talk the talk but ultimately produce no fruit! Here’s what Jesus has to say about them:
Matthew 7:21-23 (New Living Translation)
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Where do the weeds come from? They come from thoughts, actions and words of anyone who isn’t a true child of God. Jesus says this:
Matthew 12:30 (New Living Translation)
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”
We know that the only way to become a true Child of God is through Jesus. So there are no gray areas. Either you are a born again believer or you are not. If you are not then you my friend are a weed in the eyes of God.
Those evils seeds are thrown around us each and everyday. They come from the television we watch, the music we listen to, the websites we visit, the magazines we read, the billboards we look at and on and on and on. Satan is the prince and power of the air. He is the god of THIS world.
Should we pull out the weeds? Isn’t it just like us Christian to be the first to casts judgment on non-Christians? We want them out. We want to see them punished. Jesus says here, No! I’ll take care of that.
He tells us to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth. We are representatives of Christ and it is our responsibility to approach ALL others with love, kindness, meekness, gentleness, patience and so on.
He tells us that pulling out the weeds will actually uproot the wheat. This one is a little tough. I have thought for a while now how we would be uprooted by the removal of evil. One thing that came to mind is that he sends rain onto the entire field. We are all his children. Even though the weeds are of no essential value. It is possible for us to draw excess nutrients from them. Water would surely run off from their branches and we could use that water to sustain out own growth.
Matthew 5:45 (New Living Translation)
“In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”
The last part is the part that most people want to just look right over as if it were any less important than the rest. I myself like to tell people about how God IS love and how he is willing to accept them just as they are. I speak of his grace and his mercy. But the fact remains that this earth is going to pass away. On judgment day each person, dead, or alive, man or woman, Jew or gentile, saved, unsaved, slave or free will have to face up to or account for whether or not we believed in Jesus. And if so, what did we do with our lives. Were we fruitful? Did we enhance the Kingdom? Did we make disciples? Did we feed the hungry? Did we give shelter to the homeless? Did we give to the poor?
I love the last line…”put the wheat in the barns” When I was a child I spent summers with my grandparents on their farm. It was fun doing the chores in the field, mending fences, running the tractor and such, but what I really loved was being in the barn. It was fun milking the cows and feeding the smaller animals. It was warm and lots of times, after the chores were over, I would go up in the hayloft and sleep the afternoon away! There was always plenty to eat and it just felt like home!
You are in the field of life my friend. Will the day come when you will grow a head and begin to produce fruit? Tied up in a bundle to be burned or put in the barn to lounge in the loft? The choice is yours.
You may be saying or thinking that it’s too late. I am already a weed and cannot become wheat. I have news for you. God has the ability to graft you into the wheat stalk. Check this out:
Romans 11:17 (New Living Translation)
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.
It’s never too late but the sooner you make the right choice, the more fruitful you can be. There is no greater joy!
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Leave a comment.
Michael
Sep 18, 2007
Parable of the Great Feast
Parable of the Great Feast
Jesus also told them other parables. He said,
“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.
Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’
So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike,
and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Jesus is talking here to people of Israel. Once again they refused to believe that he was the Messiah. He is saying that the feast is ready; salvation is theirs, ready for the taking. But they just refuse to accept the invitation.
But God doesn’t give up easily; he continues to send servants, or messengers to let them know that the invitation still stands. Notice he says the guests that were invited ignored them and went their own way. People today constantly put their own priorities ahead of Gods’. People are under the impression that they can go their own way and still get to God. There are so many “new age” religions popping up, so many false doctrines. So many people who think that they can get to Heaven just because they are a good person, just because they treat people fairly. But there is only one way to the Father. You have to accept the invitation.
John 14:6 (New Living Translation)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
He goes on to tell us that God then sent messengers to gather people, good and bad, from the street corners and everywhere else. These were the gentiles. Gentiles are all people who are not true Jews. For the most part, that’s you and I. The invitation is for all to come to the banquet. Even we who are not the Jews can be grafted in to the family tree.
Romans 11:17-18
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
He goes on to mention that the King noticed one man who was not wearing the proper clothing for a wedding. I did a little bit of research on this verse and found out that typically in those days, people who were invited to a wedding were also given a wedding garment to wear. I believe this would be similar to today’s’ tradition of all the brides maids wearing similar dresses or the bridegrooms all wearing matching tuxedos. But apparently this one man had refused to put on the garment. It was as if he was being rebellious. He wanted the sneak into the party and enjoy the feast without truly becoming part of the family. Gods desire is for us to not only accept his gracious gift of love, but we are to put on that love like a garment.
Colossians 3:12-15
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Notice that when this man was confronted and asked why he refused to wear the wedding garment, the man had no reply. He had nothing to say. He was speechless. I believe that’s exactly the way it will be for many on the Day of Judgment. There will come a day when those who have rejected Jesus will be standing before God Almighty and asked why they refused to believe in him. I believe they will be frozen in shock. All excuses will be meaningless. They will have nothing to say for themselves. It will be too late. The decision has to come now, in this lifetime.
Matthew 25:10-13
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
The time has come my friends for you to make a decision. Are you going to be the ones standing outside of locked gates wishing that you had come to know Jesus in time? The invitation is still open. Today is the Day of Salvation. It’s time for you to make up your mind. Perhaps you have been riding the fence. You claim you know the Lord. You claim to be a Christian. But are you on fire? Is he really Lord of all? God clearly says in his word that he would rather you be cold or hot, but not just warm. He can work with cold. And he delights in hot. But warm he detests.
Revelation 13:15-17
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
He says he will spit you out of his mouth for being lukewarm. Too many of are neaither hot or cold. I encourage you today my friend to make a decision to go after God. Go after him with all your heart, mind, and strength. If you ride the fence, you will suffer the consequence!
Come to the banquet my friends. Put on the robe of righteousness that is given to you freely. Enjoy the bounty of rich foods and great fellowship that is available at the wedding table. Be prepared to say Yes Lord. I believed!
Thank you for visiting my page. Please leave your comment.
Michael
Sep 17, 2007
Just a Note!
Well, I finally got a new look for my page. It's not much as of yet but at least it looks a whole lot better than the original template. I have to admit that I am a little overwhelmed with Blog Stuff right now. I had no idea what a huge deal blogging is! Unreal! I have been on Yahoo 360 for a few months but never knew about widgets, gadgets, blidgets, counters, buttons, and the like.
I look forward to not only watching this site grow, but also getting to know some of you. Feel free to leave me a message.
In Christ,
Michael
Sep 15, 2007
Hypocrites Love to Pray!
A Better Way To PrayBy Andrew Wommack
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Many years ago, actually decades ago, I was participating in an all-night prayer meeting in which we were bombarding the gates of heaven. I remember beating the wall and yelling, “God, if You loved the people in Arlington, Texas, half as much as I do, we’d have revival!” Immediately, my lightning-fast mind realized that there was something seriously wrong with my theology. It stopped me dead in my tracks. What was I thinking?
Did I really believe I loved these people more than God? No, not exactly. Like so many Christians, I believed God was angry with the human condition and that it was up to me to turn Him from His wrath and judgment. I was interceding, pleading with God on the behalf of others. What could possibly be wrong with that? As I learned later, a lot. I am not saying that anyone who doesn’t pray as I do is “of the devil.” I wasn’t “of the devil” in the way I used to pray. I loved God with all my heart and the Lord loved me, but the results weren’t there.
The things the Lord has revealed to me about prayer since then have totally changed my life, and I’m now seeing miraculous results. If you aren’t getting the results you know the Lord wants you to have, maybe it’s time to consider a better way to pray.
First, we need to recognize that God isn’t angry at mankind anymore. He is no longer imputing or holding our sins against us.
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19).
We are NOW reconciled to God through Jesus. That means we are in harmony and are friendly with God right now. He isn’t mad; He’s not even in a bad mood. The war between God and man is over. That’s what the angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:14 says,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
These angels weren’t saying that peace would reign on earth and wars between people would cease. That certainly hasn’t happened. They were proclaiming the end of the war between God and man. Jesus paid a price that was infinitely greater than the sins of the whole human race.
God’s wrath and justice have been satisfied. Jesus changed everything. God isn’t angry. His mercy extends to all men. He loves the world, not only the church, but the whole world. He paid for all sin.
The Scriptures say in 1 John 2:2,
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
In the Old Testament, God’s judgment was poured out on both individuals and nations. In the New Testament, God’s judgment was poured out on Jesus. That is the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news of the Gospel. We no longer get what we deserve; we get what Jesus paid the price for, if we will only believe. Before I understood this, I would say, “If God doesn’t judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Now I say, “If God judges America, He will have to apologize to Jesus.” Understanding what Jesus did completely changes your perspective.
Second, Jesus is now the Mediator. A mediator is one who seeks to reconcile, or make peace between, two opposing parties. In the Old Testament, man had not yet been reconciled to God through Jesus. The people needed a mediator, someone to intercede with God on their behalf. That is where we find men like Abraham and Moses pleading with God.
In Genesis 18:23-25, you find Abraham interceding with God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah:
“Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
In fact, Abraham actually negotiated with God until He agreed not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there were ten who were righteous. But there weren’t ten righteous people in the whole city, and only some of Lot’s family survived.
Moses actually told God, “Repent!” What nerve! What is even more amazing is that God repented. From these and other stories in the Old Testament, modern-day “intercessors” believe we too must stand in the gap, or mediate, between God and man. Just as I did decades ago, they believe we must plead with God to save the lost, to withhold His wrath from those He is ready to judge, and to be merciful to those whose needs He is unwilling to meet because of their unworthiness.
That couldn’t be further from the truth, but it is what’s being taught in many churches today. It ignores the fact that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb. 10:12) ever making intercession for us (Heb. 7:25). If Moses or Abraham could persuade God, don’t you think that Jesus could do at least as well?
In 1 Timothy 2:5 we read,
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
In the New Covenant, Jesus is the ONLY mediator needed to stand between God the Father and mankind. Sin is no longer a problem with God; it’s been atoned for and we are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. That is how God sees us. If we understand that, it will change the way we pray.
It was appropriate for Abraham and Moses to pray as they did, because God’s wrath had not yet been appeased through Jesus. Today, under the New Covenant, if you try to mediate in that way, you are actually antichrist—against Christ. You are saying that Jesus was not enough, not esteeming what Christ has done. When Jesus became our Mediator, He put all other mediators out of business, forever. I know these words are strong, but they are the truth.
Satan is behind much of the wrong teaching on “prayer” in the body of Christ today. Consider how crafty his plan is and the fruit it produces. He has convinced believers to stay in their closets taking the place of Jesus in intercession. There, they spend hours pleading with God to turn from His wrath, to pour out His Spirit, and to meet the needs of the people.
Meanwhile, families, co-workers, and neighbors are going to hell and dying from disease. The Bible doesn’t say that salvation comes through intercession, but by the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). And we are not told to pray for the sick, but to heal the sick by commanding healing into their broken bodies (Matt. 10:8).
We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We believe He can save, heal, and deliver but that He is waiting on us to shape up and earn it. The truth is, we don’t deserve it, and we will never be good enough. Because of Jesus, all that God has is ours. That’s good news. We no longer need to beg or plead; we need to exercise the authority He as given us and receive His blessings.
There really is a better way to pray. I am not saying it’s the only way, but it is working for me. I have only touched on this subject in this letter, so I encourage you to order my new book A Better Way to Pray.
This message is also available in a CD, cassette, or DVD album. In the book and album, I talk about the primary purpose of prayer; the importance of speaking to your mountain about God, not to God about your mountain; the process of prayer; and I reveal many of the misconceptions about prayer.
These truths have changed the way I pray and the results I get. But more importantly, I believe they could revolutionize the body of Christ. I pray that you will take advantage of these truths and help me share them with others.
Sep 13, 2007
Spirit, Soul, and Body
I am a little pressed for time today and have not prepared a blog entry of my own. Below is a teaching article from Andrew Wommack. If you have never listened to Andrew teach I strongly encourage you to do so. He has a very simple, yet powerful revelation of the heart and mind of God and I am certain that you will gain from his messages. I have listened to this entire series on MP3 several times and it has changed the way I view things, including myself, significantly.
On a side note, I have over 100 of Andrews teachings on my MP3 player. I find that this makes a great way to renew my mind to the Word of God when I am unable to study. Sitting in traffic, waiting in lines, going on walks, and other times sush as these make a great opportunity to grow in your knowledge of God.
And now for Andrews Lesson:
Spirit, Soul, And BodyBy Andrew Wommack
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Did you know that a Christian can actually die from sickness or disease while the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lies dormant within them? Or, did you know that a believer can be overcome with depression, anger, and bitterness all the while possessing God’s love, joy, and peace in their spirit?
It’s true, they can and they do. Why? Because they really don’t understand what changed when they were born again and therefore have difficulty receiving the promises of God. The Bible says that every born-again believer has undergone a complete inner transformation.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:17-18)
It doesn’t say that all things are becoming new or have the potential of becoming new; they are new the moment you are born again. But, in order for that to make sense, you must first understand how God created you.
God’s Word clearly teaches that we are three-part beings, but very few Christians have a functional understanding of spirit, soul, and body in their daily lives. Intellectually, most Christians believe they’re a three-part being, but functionally, they act as though they’re only made up of body and soul. They’re confused about the operation of the soul and spirit, seeing them basically as the same thing.
Even Strong’s Concordance fails to distinguish all three! It defines “spirit” (“pneuma” in the Greek) as “the immortal soul.” However, in my study of God’s Word, I have found a very distinct difference between spirit and soul. Your spirit is your innermost part, not your “immortal soul.”
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (emphasis mine).
If you were talking to me face to face, you’d be seeing my body but speaking to my soul. The word “soul” is defined by some as your mind, will, and emotions, and while that’s certainly true, it’s incomplete. Your “conscience” should also be included in that definition. Your soul is really what most people call their personalities.
You can feel both your body and your soul and are receiving information from them all the time. For example, if I put my hand on your shoulder, you would know that I touched you through your physical senses. I could also make you feel happy or sad, or could even hurt you without any physical contact but simply by the words I speak. Those words are processed by your mind, and the result of their effect is often expressed in your emotions.
It’s easy to know how your body feels, what’s going on in your mind, and what emotions you’re experiencing. However, your spirit is much different; it cannot be accessed in any natural way.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
He meant that there’s no direct connection between the two. They are interrelated, but spirit is spirit and flesh is flesh. You simply cannot contact your spirit through your five senses or through your mind, will, or emotions. Therein lies one of the great problems of the Christian life!
If you don’t understand that spiritual reality can’t be felt, then you’ll be confused when God’s Word declares that you have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in you (Eph. 1:18-20).
If you think spiritual truth can be discerned through your natural senses, then you’ll be baffled when the Bible says that you’re a brand-new creature who can do the same miraculous works that Jesus did (2 Cor. 5:17, John 14:12).
The apparent disparity between your natural experiences and God’s Word will cause you to throw up your hands in frustration and conclude, “It must not be true.” It’s the understanding of spirit, soul, and body that unlocks the spirit realm so you can experience who you are and what you have in Christ.
In the natural, the spirit realm can’t be seen or felt, the only way to accurately perceive spiritual truth is through the Bible. Simply take God’s Word and believe it! Jesus said in John 6:63,
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
God’s Word reveals spiritual reality. If you want to know what your spirit is like, you must find out from the Word, not relying on emotions or other perceptions. God’s Word is spirit and life! It’s the reflection of who you really are.
When you look at your face in a mirror, you aren’t really seeing yourself, you’re viewing a reflection. Even though it’s only a reflection, you have learned to trust it and act on what you see. God’s Word is just like that mirror; it reflects perfectly who you are in the spirit.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therin, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:23-25)
You must look into God’s mirror and trust the spiritual reality you see! It reflects your new born-again spirit, your innermost part. However, it does not reflect your body or your soul.
Although full payment has been made for your glorified body through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, you still have a corrupted body. One day it will be redeemed and changed into an incorruptible one, but for now, you still must live in the same body you had before you were saved.
Your soul wasn’t saved either. So you may have the same thoughts and emotions you had before you were saved. And because of that, some seriously doubt whether or not they were saved. They don’t understand that the change took place in their spirits. Typically, your body and soul are both impacted by what happens at salvation, but it’s not total nor complete.
The good news is, you can change your mind. In fact, we are commanded to do so.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Your soul can be transformed to the degree that you renew your mind, change your attitudes, and conform to the Word of God. This should happen, and it’s in the process of happening, but it didn’t happen automatically when you were saved.
In your soul, old things did not pass away, and all things haven’t yet become new. For that reason, you could actually die from sickness or disease even though you have all of the power that raised Jesus from the dead residing untapped within your spirit. It’s like dying of thirst while leaning against a well full of life-giving water.
Think of your soul like the valve on a faucet. It controls
Your soul has the power to keep every drop of life-giving power from ever reaching your physical body, or flooding your body with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. If the valve is open, you’ll experience healing, deliverance, anointing, victory, power, joy, prosperity, and more. So, keep it open.
This revelation of the relationship of the spirit, soul, and body has transformed my life. When I realized that God had already given me everything I needed and it’s all contained in my spirit, it set me free. All I needed to do was release it. That simple understanding changes everything.
The Christian life isn’t a process of “getting from God.” It’s a process of renewing the mind and learning to release what you’ve already received.
If you don’t understand that you have already received all that you will ever need (in your spirit) at salvation, there will always be an element of doubt. You may know it’s possible or even promised in the Word, but you’ll be trying to perceive it in the mental, emotion, or physical realm, and that’s a formula for failure.
That erroneous concept can also result in a performance-based relationship with God (i.e., if you’re good enough, if you read the Bible enough, if you pay your tithes, and on and on it goes in an attempt to motivate God to give you what you need). It’s the misconception that God hasn’t already given you everything, and somehow, you have to make yourself worthy enough to get it.
You’re already worthy because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. He paid the price for everything you will ever need. In fact, you’ve already got it. It’s just a matter of understanding the relationship of the spirit to the soul and body.
Understanding spirit, soul, and body is critically important to every believer. It could be a matter of life and death. It’s the foundation to the understanding of the rest of Scripture. This letter barely scratches the surface, so if you haven’t already ordered this teaching series, do it today. It will also be available in book form December 1, 2005 as well.
Jamie and I want to thank you again for your faithful support. We know this message could not be sent around the world without your help. Please take the time to view the “Guest Book” and read the testimonies of those whose lives have been changed because of your gifts.
Sep 12, 2007
Parable of the Evil Farmers
“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. “When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”
The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.
Here is what I get from this message:
Jesus is once again, speaking to those religious leaders about their ways. Jesus has a real problem with religion!
God is of course the landowner who planted the vineyard. The earth is the vineyard. The wall could be considered the space that surrounds the earth. Some people seem to think that the pit represents hell but I don’t see it that way. The juice produced from the fruit is ultimately our final product. I see the pit as being that place of humbleness that brings us into the perfect will of God. Then he built a lookout tower. This could very well be speaking of his throne from which he observes his creation. “He leased the vineyard to tenant farmers”. I believe this is talking about the creation of mankind. He says clearly in Genesis that he gave us authority over all the earth.
He then goes on to teach about the harvest. His share of the crop is probably speaking of those who actually do his will and produce fruit. He sent many servants but they were all rejected. Here I believe he is speaking of some of the prophets who predicted the coming of Jesus, the Messiah! After it became apparent that he wasn’t getting through to the people, he finally sent his son. This is without a doubt Jesus himself. They just couldn’t accept the fact that he was the savior. They could not believe that he was the one. Ultimately, as you know, Jesus was killed because they stumbled so hard over the message he brought. It’s interesting to note that they dragged him out of the vineyard before murdering him. This is a very clear picture of Jesus being taken outside of the city gates to Skull Hill, the place of his crucifixion. It’s also interesting to note that Jesus spoke this before his death, obviously. He knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew why he came. He knew what his mission was.
Notice how the religious leaders answered him by saying that those farmers would be put to a horrible death. They understood the story but later became furious when they comprehended that it was them he was speaking about. How’s that for a picture of guilt and condemnation. If only they would have realized right then and there and repented.
Obviously the horrible death he is talking about is being sentenced to hell. He says that being religious is not going to get you into heaven. The ones that are going to heaven are the ones that accept him as the son, turn from their religious beliefs and false truths, and begin to bear good fruit. (See my blog entitled “Fruits of the Spirit”).
There are so many people in the world today that have had it with religion. They refuse to believe or even consider God’s plan because of what some of the “religious leaders” have taught them or implanted in them. I am here today to say to you that Jesus himself agrees with you. Religion in itself is not going to get you there. My hope and prayer is that you are reading these parables and beginning to understand the truth about who Jesus is and what he represents. He is love. He is your friend. He is always available. And through him, you will produce fruit. Coming into the Kingdom of God is easy my friends. Consider making that decision today!
That’s it for my time this morning. Once again, thanks for taking the time to read this message. Feel free to leave your comment.
May your roots grow down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love!
Michael
Spread the Word!
