“Let my words be few”

I know this song is eight years old now, but I love it more today than ever. Why? Because I am more in love with Jesus now then ever before. I am thankful for the hardship I have experienced over the last year. It has caused me to love Him more. Praise Him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12z4dvc2kjo

“Hear Him!”

Where do you spend most of your time in reading, studying and listening?

If our time is not found in Christ and getting back to reading and studying what He taught, then we are in trouble. It doesn’t make any difference how long we have been saved, we should still be looking at His commands and teachings and following them foremost above all. Studying His life to gain understanding about how to live.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”

(Heb.1:1-2)

Many today are following man. Man has lots of good things to say and teach, but he is not Christ.

Do you spend more time in reading books that are written by some men than you do in the Gospels? Do you spend more time in listening to some man’s sermons than letting the Spirit minister to you through the very words of Christ? Christ said himself, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (Jn.6:63)

Sure there are lot’s of popular Christian book authors out there, and we can gain some wisdom and understanding  by reading an occasional book now and then, but we must not “camp” there. We should take inventory of our time and devotion.

Do you spend more time reading the writings of Mark Driscoll, John Piper or Paul Washer? What about John MacArthur? These men are certainly good teachers, but not The Christ. Yes, called of God and used by God, but not The Christ. Mere Men.

Jesus was more than a man like us. He spoke the very words of God. (Jn.14:10, 24). If this be the case, shouldn’t we be found there? If His words are “spirit and life”, shouldn’t we be partaking in this “spirit and life”?

More importantly, if God said we should “hear him” don’t you think we should?

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Hear Him!” (Matt.17:5).

Not only are many putting man’s writings and teachings before Christ, but it would appear that they are building “tabernacles” for them just as Peter wanted to do for Elijah and Moses. Christ turned to them and said, “Hear Him!” Basically, don’t worship Elijah and Moses, hear my Son and worship Him.

Even Moses said 1451 years before Christ, “Him you shall hear.” (Deut.18″15)

Also what did God say to Moses? “I will raise up from  them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” (vs.18)

So, the very words of Christ are what God has spoken to us in these last days. There is no need to take up with anything else. By the words of Christ and God’s Spirit, we have all we need. The problem is that many have become too sophisticated.

I will end with a quote by Don Everts (I think he hits it on the head).

“It’s hard to remain focused on Jesus because we have become too sophisticated. The Gospels are so simple and straightforward that we sort of graduate on to Paul (or I might add, Paul Washer, Driscoll or Piper) where the meaty theology lies.”

So it is.

Children and the spiritual realm

I am convinced that children sense something in the spiritual realm. They of course can’t speak about it like you or I can.

How do I know this is true? Well, on numerous occasions now there have been little children that have come up to me, or have passed by me as I was either preaching or just standing there holding out a tract. They are diffidently attracted to what is going on in the spirit.

Their look on their faces tell some kind of story and it’s not superficial.

First off, I am talking about children in the age bracket of three to five years old. Their look on their faces is more than curious. Yes, you could say that when one of these little ones pass by as I am preaching they no doubt wonder in their little minds what is that guy doing. I will give you credit for that. But it is deeper than the surface of that thought. Especially when one is just standing there saying nothing.

Examine this case for instance:

Today, I was standing on several corners in the downtown area. I had just picked up some of my newest tracts from the printer. I had sensed that the Lord wanted me to just get them into their hands, He would do the rest.

So, I had noticed this mother of three children pass me by on three different corners at three different times. The first two times, I had pretty much noticed all three kids. Their ages where probably nine, six and five. Two girls and the youngest was a little boy of five (my best guess).

Each time they passed by they would all look at me as to try and figure out what I was doing. This is common with children, I have found.

However, the third time they passed by the little boys eyes caught mine before he came close, and we both kept eye contact as they passed by. The boy kept walking with his mother and siblings down the sidewalk. I kept my watch on him and he would turn around every few steps and look back at me.

They were almost a block away, when he turned around to see me. I leaned out a bit so he could see me because of the people standing next to the wall where I was. THEN I WAVIED TO HIM. AND GUESS WHAT HAPPEN NEXT?

HE WAVIED BACK! He was just about a block away. I prayed that God would raise him up to be all he was created for.

Now in my spirit, I know that this is very deep. It is deeper than I can grasp.

Is it because?

This little guy was someday going to be a real man of God that would turn the world upside down for Jesus?

Someday he would be doing the same thing? Standing their handing out tracts?

Did the spirit of God in him know what was going on and that is why the boy showed signs that he knew what was taking place, he just couldn’t come right out and say it?

Whatever was going on, I know it’s spiritual and I know that God loves little children and He is manifested in them.

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.” (can you imagine this?)

“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” (Matt.19:13-15)

This just came to me:

In heaven we are going to be with All the children that have died when there were young. Think about it. All the little ones that went out by no choice of their own. Those who where “aborted”. Those who where “killed”. Those who died because of some “incurable disease”. They all received a “Free Ticket” to heaven. How awesome is that! Does God love children or what?

“SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”    Amen.

Great is the mystery of godliness

God was manifested in the flesh (1 Tim.3:16).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn.1:1)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – (1Jn.1:1)

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1Jn.5:7)

“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Rev.19:13)

“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself (through his person) purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb.1:3)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Col.1:15)

God has come enfleshed in Jesus. For truly, Great is the mystery of godliness!

Remember Jesus!

“The call to focus on Jesus is a call to life” (a quote from the book “God in the flesh” by Don Everts, InterVarsity Press).

For the past few month’s God is calling me to a deeper, more clearer and more simplified relationship with His Son, Jesus. I am also falling in love with Him like never before.

I am not one that goes around recommending all kinds of books out there to read. I believe that the Bible should be our main book to read and study. If we are not careful, we can spend all our time reading everything but His word and thus be deceived by man and His teachings. So we need to be very careful. I have only read a few books over the years outside of the Bible.

I felt a stirring in my spirit a few weeks ago when I began to search, read and study the life of Jesus in the four Gospels. I sensed that He was going to also lead me to some other books on the subject. Last week during a lunch break, I went over to the book section, and found a book titled, “The greatest words ever spoken” by Steven K. Scott. It is an awesome book that deals only with the words of Jesus. I spent my lunch hour checking it out.

Today, I went by a local book store where I minister out front from time to time. I tried to find this book, but they were all out. However, I found this book, “God in the flesh” and sat down with it for a while. What a fantastic book. If your interested in more about Jesus’ life, I highly recommend it.

Here are just a few quotes from it:

“It’s hard to remain focused on Jesus because we have become too sophisticated. The Gospels are so simple and straightforward that we sort of graduate on to Paul. Where the meaty theology lies.”

“It’s difficult to remain focused on Jesus because we too often give in to a culture that gags on Jesus. Over time we let his name slip from our vernacular. Jesus has always been a stumbling block.” (I might add, so get over it)

“So we become all about Jesus and the end times.” (or I might add, Jesus and the sabbath). “And our curriculum shifts, ever so slightly, away from the person of Jesus. Or maybe it’s Jesus and gifts of the Spirit, or Jesus and the church growth theory, or Jesus and worship styles. It doesn’t matter what specifically we are tempted to focus on, it’s the trying to focus on two things at once that enters us into dangerous ground.”

The Apostle Paul’s writing to the church at Corinth. “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor.2:2) “Paul knew that next to knowing Jesus Christ and him crucified, all else paled in comparison.” “Paul was a simpleton, when it comes right down to it. He wanted to know Jesus. And to know Jesus crucified. In the end nothing else mattered to him.”

Yea Jesus! He’s the best who ever lived! Let’s all get to know him more! We won’t be disappointed!

Good communication warnings

We always need to be aware of the other person or persons that we are talking to. Are we doing all the talking? Good dialogue is : one talks the other listens. Then the other talks and one listens. This is extremely important when we are “witnessing”. We must learn how to listen if we are going to be affective.
Also, in small group settings, we must learn to listen. We must give each person opportunity to speak. Nothing is worse then being in a group setting and two or three do all the talking, when there may be ten in the group.

I came across these “8 signs you might be boring someone.”
God bless you.

A recent Psychology Today article by Gretchen Rubin provides a list of clues that you might be boring someone during a conversation. I’ve certainly been trapped in conversations with people who didn’t understand how to pick up on subtle clues that their long narrative about a weird dream they had or a particularly awesome golf game they played were boring the heck out of me — and just the same, I’m sure I’ve been oblivious to those signs in others, as well. Have you been on the giving or receiving end of any of these signs?

1. Repeated, perfunctory responses.
A person who repeats, “Oh really? Wow. Oh really? Interesting.” isn’t particularly engaged.

2. Simple questions. People who are bored ask simple questions.
“When did you move?” “Where did you go?” People who are interested ask more complicated questions that show curiosity, not mere politeness.

3. Interruption. Although it sounds rude, interruption is actually a good sign, I think. It means a person is bursting to say something, and that shows interest. Similarly…

4. Request for clarification. A person who is sincerely interested in what you’re saying will ask you to elaborate or to explain. “What does that term mean?” “When exactly did that happen?” “Then what did he say?” are the kinds of questions that show that someone is trying closely to follow what you’re saying.

5. Imbalance of talking time. I suspect that many people fondly suppose that they usually do eighty percent of the talking because people find them fascinating. Sometimes, it’s true, a discussion involves a huge download of information desired by the listener; that’s a very satisfying kind of conversation. In general, though, people who are interested in a subject have things to say themselves; they want to add their own opinions, information, and experiences. If they aren’t doing that, they’re probably keeping quiet in the hopes that the conversation will end faster. Or maybe you just aren’t letting them get a word in — recently I was talking to someone who, though fascinating, didn’t want to let me contribute to the conversation. I enjoyed it, but not as much as if I’d been able to talk, too.

6. Abrupt changes in topic. If you’re talking to someone about, say, the life of Winston Churchill (I have a tendency to dwell at length on this particular subject), and all of a sudden the other person says, “So how are your kids?”, it’s a sign that he or she isn’t very interested or perhaps not listening at all. When someone makes this kind of switch, I have to fight the urge not to drag the topic back to what I want to talk about – but the fact that someone has introduced a completely different subject is a sure sign that the subject is not engaging.

7. Body position. People with a good connection generally turn to face each other. A person who is partially turned away isn’t fully embracing the conversation. Along the same lines, if you’re a speaker trying to figure out if an audience is interested in what you’re saying:

8. Audience posture. Back in 1885, Sir Francis Galton wrote a paper called “The Measurement of Fidget.” He determined that people slouch and lean when bored, so a speaker can measure the boredom of an audience by seeing how far from vertically upright they are. Also, attentive people fidget less; bored people fidget more. An audience that’s sitting still and upright is interested, while an audience that’s horizontal and squirmy is bored.

“The Superiority of a life lived in and for Christ”

“because of these outside darknesses that our inward light has an opportunity to shine so brightly.”

I found this on a weekly update that I get from Living Waters ministry. Hope you are blessed as I was.

“In a word, we are to live victoriously, truly, nobly, sweetly, cheerfully, joyfully–in spite of whatever may be uncongenial in our condition!”

“This is the lesson of all Christian life. We should not let the outside darkness into our soul. We should seek to be delivered from all morbidness and all unwholesomeness. We should not allow anything to crush us.”
JR.Miller

“Remember, your task in living–is to keep sweet, to keep your heart gentle, brave, strong, loving, full of hope–under the worst that the years can bring you of injustice, hardship, suffering, and trial.
Is your general attitude in life one of joy and sweet gratitude or of bitterness and frustration? I know a pastor who is a great inspiration to me. He says that the reason Christians get cancer, get laid off work, and loose loved ones, is to show the superiority of a life lived in Christ. It is precisely because of these outside darknesses that our inward light has an opportunity to shine so brightly! Remember the grief and anguish and crushing weight of injustice and suffering that brought Jesus to sweat great drops of blood in the garden? Outwardly our Savior was broken and bruised by his circumstances, but inwardly He was hopeful and strong. He knew who was in control. And he knew why He was being treated this way- because His Father had a plan. Despising the shame, our Savior drank the bitter cup of horrendous circumstances His Father had appointed for Him, and boldly took hold of eternal life and glory for those His Father had given Him. Don’t let your circumstances get you down. Take hold of the opportunity to show the superiority of a life lived in and for Christ.”
Kirk Cameron

Bitter over circumstances of life

He said several times as the bus approached, “don’t pray for me”.

This morning as myself and another lady where taking about Christ as we waited for the bus, I looked across the street and noticed a man walking. I yelled out to him, “God bless you today!”. He replied, “God doesn’t exist!”. I watched him walk over to the next bus stop across the street.

His bus came and I noticed that it parked there for a bit. I couldn’t see him because the bus blocked my view. Then the bus left, and there he stood. I heard him cussing to himself and the bus drove off.

I had been relating to this lady how a lot if times if we will listen to someones story we will begin to understand why they don’t want nothing to do with God.
Then I noticed the guy starting to come our direction towards the stop where we were waiting.(he was a ways down the road and unable to hear me). He immediately began to complain about how his bus wasn’t going to come for a while and that he would now have to take a longer route to get to where he was going.

I said that I was sorry that he couldn’t catch the bus that he wanted. He went into talking about how that God is mean and that he is the cause of all his problems. I assured him that that was not the case. He said that God is like a person who has a magnifying glass and goes around burning up ants. Such was his feelings towards God because of things that have happen in his life.

Then he said something that really let open the flood gates. He said, “where was God when my wife of 26yrs. cheated on me?”. He said that he had been a member of the “seventh day Adventist” church all that time. I assured him that it certainly isn’t about religion. He went on and complained some more about his problems.

Again I said that I was really sorry about his situation and tried to let him know that God loved him and is wanting him to turn back to him for his help. About that time, his bus showed up and I said that I would be praying for him. He yelled out to me, “don’t pray for me!” and got on the bus. I told the lady who was next to me, “well, he can’t stop me from praying, thank God for that”.

This is just one case of many people that have become bitter over circumstances of life. They have blamed God and have become angry and bitter toward him and anyone or anything that reminds them of Him.

These are tough situations to come across. It is all to common. People who have had experiences in life where people have hurt them or have let them down, basically have two choices in life.

1. They can turn to God and receive His forgiveness and thus be free from bitterness towards people that have did them wrong. Forgiveness can only be found in Jesus.
2. They can choose to not turn to God and hold on to that bitterness and thus become a person who is eaten up with all the cancer of bitterness.

All of us have had circumstances in our life that we could have chosen to become bitter over. By God’s grace that he gives us we can stay free from bitterness. Praise God!

Please remember this man in prayer. Thank you.

Celebrate His birth!

If you don’t do it during the “Christmas season”, than when do you do it? In March? May or April?

Most all celebrate birthday’s. We celebrate our own, our friends and family. Then why don’t we celebrate the King of Kings birthday? I know most of the reasons why, and here are just a few.

1.We are too caught up in the “material giving” to others and “Christmas” just crowds it out.
2.We don’t know for sure when He was born, so we just don’t do it.
3.We don’t care to celebrate His birthday because He has already died.
4.We are satisfied with celebrating His resurrection (Easter), but not His birth.
5. There is just too much controversy regarding His birth.

Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at what took place when He was born. Hopefully this will spur us on to take a second look at why we should celebrate His birth.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

“When they (the wise men) saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:1-2, 10-11)

Also in Luke’s account of the birth of the Christ we see “Glory in the Highest” and we see “good tidings of great joy”. Who was also praising His birth?

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, toward men of goodwill!”

“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” (Lk.2:13-14, 20)

So if the Angels in heaven rejoiced over His birth, shouldn’t we? And if the Angels where rejoicing in heaven, what do you think God himself was doing? Setting there with his hands folded with a sour look on his face?

Come on, Rejoice!!!!!!!
It’s the Saviour’s birth! Let us rejoice! Let us worship Him!

More on the subject of the “casual Christian”

I also have been seeing the words “casual Christian” around latley. Today I received an e-mail from Andrew Strom at http://www.revivalschool.com that has to do with the subject.
It is written by Darren Smith who is the founder of Streetscape Ministries,
an awesome ministry to the homeless seeing miracles on the streets
in Galveston, Texas.

IS THERE Any SUCH THING AS a CASUAL CHRISTIAN??
-by Darren Smith.

Is there any such thing as a casual Christian? I have heard this
term a lot in recent times and to tell you the truth it makes me sick.
But, as I have thought about this subject and spent time looking
around at the body as a whole, I venture to say for the most part
it is true of most of the church today. Before you get angry and
stop reading, please hear me out. How many believers do you
know that are really sold out for Christ? When I say this I mean
that Christ is the central focus of their life. I mean a person that
has died to self and relies on Christ for his substance, willing to
sacrifice even to the point of their well being, to serve the Lord.

For a long time we have heard sermon after sermon on giving 10%
to the church and yet from the modern church accounts, only 30%
of the people give 10%. This is sad but considering that most of
that doesn’t go to do the work of the ministry, its not surprising. I’m
not teaching on the tithe system, I’m using this as an example on
the casual attitude of believers. But I want to take it much deeper
than this and ask some very hard questions. How much of your
time do you give to the Lord? Do you spend more time on you
than you do the Lord? More on entertainment or hobbies than
service to the Lord?

Many times people tell us that we would love to come and help you
guys in the street but we are just so busy we simply can not find
the time. I wonder if they ever stop to think that we have to sacrifice
and make time ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining,
the Lord blesses us and I wouldn’t be anywhere else, but it requires
sacrifice for us to be here as well. I want you to see that if you are
willing to serve, God will bless you. We have people all the time
say, “I have never seen God’s power and grace like this in my life.”
Many of these guys have been in church all their life and have never
ministered to anyone.

Another response we get is, “I’m not called to do that type of ministry.”
Oh, really? I believe we are all called to take the Gospel to the
world, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and to take care of
the widows and orphans. To be able to put off these things places
you in the casual realm. Many will go to church once a week and
then go right out and serve themselves all week without doing
anything for the Lord. Trust me, “I didn’t have time” will not help
them when they stand before the Lord.

What makes this so sad is that many of them will never hear a
message on repentance and total commitment to the Lord because
this type message is not popular in the modern church. It doesn’t
fill the offering plate or the seats. Instead we hear funny stories
and jokes from the pulpit as well as humanistic teaching on self-
help and prosperity. This system has created the casual Christian
which is no Christian at all. So many have been converted to a
false religion of self and greed and what is worse, they think they
are fine because everyone they know is a casual Christian as well.

When they come in contact with a sold out believer, it makes them
uncomfortable. When they hear a repentance message they label
it extreme and harsh. These same casual Christians see the world
going to hell around them and are not affected at all. The thought
of sacrifice is foreign to them. Material wealth is equated with
blessings from the Lord – after all, many pulpits teach this for self
enrichment – so in their mind it’s OK.

The reason I write this is for an awakening. We all must look into
our heart and see if we are sold out to the Lord. We all have areas
we can improve and should! We must get this type of word out
and the body must mobilize for the battle. We all will have to
sacrifice, but we were not put here to live our best life now – our
best life is yet to come when the Lord returns. I know this is very
convicting, but it must be said. We must repent and give our whole
life to the Lord and that means everything, all of us, everything we
are and all we could ever become – we must give it all to the Lord.

So I ask you again, is there any such thing as a casual Christian,
or maybe more important, are you a casual Christian?

-Darren Smith

http://www.streetscapeministries.com/