The other day I awoke with a sense that the church had fallen into the trap of becoming a social services organization focused mainly on providing benefits for its members, when what we need is greater revival not greater benefits. The greater the awakening the better the revelation of the richness of our inheritance in Christ. The savior did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. For the church to find it’s full voice like the first church in the book of Acts, its members must find the place of full investment. If you look at that first church you will get a picture of their devotion to what really mattered. It was a devotion to prayer and the word and a gathering for fellowship and service. I believe they were urged by the Spirit to service. Their motive for coming was not how me and my family could be served, but How God could use me and what I could bring for His use. As a friend of mine who does mission work in Peru said, ‘it is those few fish in your hand that the master multiplies with His word of blessing when you invest yourself in the feeding of others.’ I am grieved that too often people act as though their greatest contribution is their tithe. God sits on the treasuries of heaven and commands their release, but what He desires is you; all of you! I see people who need Jesus to touch them, but only on their terms; they will not have it any other way–it is serve me or nothing. I thought about the story of Naaman and Elisha in 2 Kings 5:9-11; there Naaman was angry at having to dip himself in a muddy river Jordan when there were better rivers where he lived. We need the savior’s touch, but He says, ‘devote yourself to My fellowship and serve Me..give up yourself and you will see My move’. The Holy Spirit will not move at your behest or by your dictates, but He moves when we invest ourselves and wait on His cause becoming energized by His power. Often I see people just sit in church as though they get nothing out of it. You may disagree with the message or not like the method of delivery, and the greatest preacher you ever heard may be somewhere else, but none of those things are the real issue. The real issue is our own heart in that we get out of it what we are willing to put into it. I am amazed at folks who come from time to time; they come with a pre-disposition; they have all the advice and can tell you how things are not what they should be and how better off they were at some other time. Yet, they contribute little or nothing and wonder why they get what they get. What about your investment in His kingdom? Will you be part of the work by serving with an attitude that believes Jesus can take your small fish and add His touch to feed many who without your service would otherwise have nothing to eat. To you He says, ‘invest yourself in my cause and believe I will use you…all of you!’
Category: Impression
The Power of the Resurrection
Jesus is resurrection life. In the story of Lazarus, the point to Mary and Martha was not merely to bring them to an understanding of Jesus as savior and Lord. That they had already confessed. But that their experience could believe Him to be the savior for that day, that hour, that moment in order to resurrect their Lazarus. You see they loved their brother Lazarus, but Jesus loved him too. It is important that although Jesus knew what he had come to do and that the outcome would be to raise the dead, still He wept. Why? The word gives clear indication Jesus understood how it would all turn out. He wept over the condition of men’s souls and their faithlessness; He wept over their hardness to heart to believe; He wept over their grief and sorrow. I believe He wept in response over what the enemy meant for evil. All because Jesus is moved with compassion to care not just for Martha and Mary, but He cares for you. This familiar story makes a greater point of relevance to your life, that today, Jesus seeks to resurrect your Lazarus, but with power. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead to bear much fruit as the word says, ‘bringing many souls to Jesus.’ Many more can be brought to the Savior by the power of His resurrection in what you thought was dead, or of what you had stop believing Him to do, touch or redeem. Do you realize Jesus has wept over your condition? He weeps for what the enemy has done and wants to redeem your dead condition to raise up a powerfully able witness to deliver men from their state of denial and unbelief. He waits for you to believe Him for today, saying to you like Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this? I am the power to raise you where I live and move to do the unbelievable’. Jesus commands new life to your current state of condition saying, ‘come forth as my living testimony, I will raise you up to bring many others to Me’. Read John 12:9-11 and see many were brought to Jesus all because He cares to resurrect those He’s wept for. He cares for you and says, ‘Just believe.’
A Window Unto Harvest
Can a man be so greatly discouraged and yet encouraged both at the same time? I’d have given up, if I had not heard the sound that brought encouragement to my despair. There I was looking at the door given for me to walk through, however circumstances proved contrary and I found myself struggling with the work I’d been given to do. At that moment, if I’d been presented with other inviting options like door number 2 or door number 3, I would have given up on the first door. Door number one is always God’s best, yet ‘the enemy comes in like a flood’ to overthrow the plan of God and hinder your work with lies, fears and discouragement. On a day when discouragements came like clouds of gloom, a refreshing word came like gentle rain from afar. God used a brother from a distant place to send the word to encourage my life. That word God used to bring a window of insight. Now I had more than a door, I had one with a view to His glory; it was a word that could stir my heart to love and good deeds. God’s word is just like that! Amid your struggle, God’s word is right on time unfailing in its touch to remove the funk of confusion and despair. It is a refreshing rain sent from heaven to change your thinking and turn your life around. I was reminded of Isaiah 40:8 which says, “The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Did you get that? This word is not swayed by the temporal, but it is forever settled in heaven. It will not be guided by ‘pop-culture’ and what looks good to my thinking. It will instead give me insight and a purpose greater than something that is here today and gone tomorrow. My door now has a window where I see by the Spirit there is much increase in working beyond its threshold. I believe Jesus is saying, ‘will you partner with me finding a window unto harvest?’ Jesus says in John chapter 6, ‘the flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit gives life’. His word offers us an anointing that breaks off every yoke of oppression, so I can find a harvest in these days. The Spirit of God is saying, ‘lift up your eyes and see the window unto harvest.’ It will change your life and add much increase to your work—just beyond that door!
The Word of Life
The Word of God is an interesting tool. Hebrews 4:12 tells us it is sharper than any two edged sword. It is a sharp instrument of definition cutting shape into your life by getting to the heart of every matter. This word brings truth and makes a place for decision to everyone who will endure its precision cuts. It moves me to dwell with great thinkers and those who pondered the path of life. With this tool the Spirit of God moves me to the mind of Christ, when I would otherwise dwell with foolish thoughts and superficial things. Its reach is vast touching the heart of every matter making my life genuinely His by putting me on ready to be the vessel only He can use. Find yourself under the influence of this word. Read it exercise it and activate its power. It is the good news power of God to activate my role in the Kingdom. With this tool working in your life, you will see like He sees, hear like He would, and care like He does. Find yourself marked by this word in order that your outreach be His touch to save, heal, and deliver those who are in your field.
GraceLife 