THE CALL
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
Romans 10:15
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
THE IDEAL RESPONSE
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?”
And I said, “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.”
THINGS TO PACK/NOT TO PACK
Joshua 1:9
I command you-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
SAYS WHO?
Exodus 4:12
Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.”
Genesis 28:15
What's more, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. I will someday bring you safely back to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised."
YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CALL
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?”
And I said, “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.”
REMEMBER:
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
So please share with me (us) what this ALL means to YOU!
What is evangelism?
Personal and Corporate:
What’s YOUR testimony?
What WERE you like?
How DID you come to need/know Jesus?
What’s YOUR LIFE like now?
When was the last time you shared this with someone….lead them to Christ?
Please note:
This blog entry was inspired by Malia Parker's work, John and Sonja Decker's sermon and further inspired by a great discussion with Shelby Yanaga. Thanks to you all.... GOD ROCKS!
Malia is currently a Campus Minister (call her Pastor Malia, she likes that) at Oregon State University with Every Nation Campus Ministries (www.everynation.org).
If God leads you to pray for her and/or help support her efforts for the growing Kingdom of God, please call her at 541.908.2529 or email her at maliaeparker@yahoo.com
Pastor Malia is in Hawaii for about a month, before heading back to OSU, so please contact her if you'd like more information and to hear of the wonderful work she's doing.... write her, call her, or look for her comments on this blog entry.
John and Sonja Decker are Evangelists with the Foursquare denomination...They have written and taught internationally on, "Doing What Jesus Did." Buy the book! Read the book! DO WHAT JESUS DID!
Shelby Yanaga is a minister-at-large in Hawaii...based at Mana'olana Foursquare Church and a super dear friend and brother-in-Christ.
GOD ROCKS!
Monday, July 25, 2005
Only God can be God!
Way too often, we take (okay, try to take) control of our lives….it usually results in something less than beautiful, something less than great, and something less than what God would have for us….
I try so hard (to my detriment) to hold on to “my life”. After all, it’s mine, right? Hmmm.
So, for me to believe this I am required to ignore some scriptures. Gosh, isn’t it easy to highlight and delete scriptures on an electronic version. But it makes a huge mess of the written word to cut those same scriptures out.
Back to my point of this blog, I’m to release my hand from the wheel, let go of the tiller, to release the reins: to exchange my life with that of Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NLT).
I like how the Message says the same passage: “Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The live you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (MSG)
So when I let go and let God—to allow Christ to have total access and control of my life things begin to really change. The change is radically different than I could have ever dreamed or imagined…So when I’m weak He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). When I can’t deal with a situation or I don’t understand it, I turn to God and His wisdom is accessible to me (James 1:5). When I allow God’s possibilities to reign true, things are no longer impossible in my life (Luke 18:27). Good stuff!
When I realize my position of submission to God others are blessed; others discover they are loved—even through me (1 John 4:7). And when I don’t know how to intercede for them or how to pray about something the Holy Spirit supplies the guidance I need (Romans 8:16). In this position of submission, I move out of the way, away from the helm, away for my rule to Christ’s rule in my life and I am filled with the fullness of life that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19).
Only God can be God!
(Reflections on “An Exchanged Life” from “Experiencing God Day-by-Day” by Henry Blackaby)
I try so hard (to my detriment) to hold on to “my life”. After all, it’s mine, right? Hmmm.
So, for me to believe this I am required to ignore some scriptures. Gosh, isn’t it easy to highlight and delete scriptures on an electronic version. But it makes a huge mess of the written word to cut those same scriptures out.
Back to my point of this blog, I’m to release my hand from the wheel, let go of the tiller, to release the reins: to exchange my life with that of Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NLT).
I like how the Message says the same passage: “Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The live you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (MSG)
So when I let go and let God—to allow Christ to have total access and control of my life things begin to really change. The change is radically different than I could have ever dreamed or imagined…So when I’m weak He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). When I can’t deal with a situation or I don’t understand it, I turn to God and His wisdom is accessible to me (James 1:5). When I allow God’s possibilities to reign true, things are no longer impossible in my life (Luke 18:27). Good stuff!
When I realize my position of submission to God others are blessed; others discover they are loved—even through me (1 John 4:7). And when I don’t know how to intercede for them or how to pray about something the Holy Spirit supplies the guidance I need (Romans 8:16). In this position of submission, I move out of the way, away from the helm, away for my rule to Christ’s rule in my life and I am filled with the fullness of life that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19).
Only God can be God!
(Reflections on “An Exchanged Life” from “Experiencing God Day-by-Day” by Henry Blackaby)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
The Passion of Christ-His Love
Instead of writing out my thoughts, I want to use scriptures as the point and basis of this blog….so pull out your Bible as you follow along with each point/sub point. Let God’s Word speak to you…..
Crucifixion
The Physical Aspect
Death by crucifixion is horrid…at the time, and even perhaps today this was seen as the most painful and harsh way to die. The process took a long time and very agonizing….You may want to do your own research on what happens to the body and how it sends signals of pain and suffering to the brain….In short this is what happens:
Dislocation of Joints – Shoulder sockets and strain on arms and upper body
Dehydration
Lactic Acid and Electrolytes imbalance progressively worsens
Labored Breathing
Rib distention
Push up to inhale (Push/pull against spikes in feet and wrists)
Suffocation
The Spiritual Aspect
The Sinless Son of God Carried our Sins—God Forsakes Christ
Why Would Christ Do This?
To Absorb the Wrath of God
Galatians 3:13
Romans 3:25
1 John 4:10
John 3:36
Revealing the Wealth of God’s Love and Grace for Us
Romans 5:7-8
John 3:16
Ephesians 1:7
To Allow His Love to Cover a Multitude of Sins
Ephesians 5:2
Ephesians 5:25
Galatians 2:20
John 15:13
Matthew 20:28
Christ prayed at the end of his life, John 17:24
In his suffering and death, John 1:14
Revelation 1:5-6
To Reconcile Us to God through His Love
Hebrews 10:14
Colossians 1:22
1Corinthians 5:7
Romans 5:10
Hebrews 9:14
To Bring Us to God through His Love
1 Peter 3:18
Ephesians 2:13
Hebrews 10:19
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 2:9
John 17:3
How Are We to Show Our Love in Return?
Recognize We Are Not Our Own
Romans 7:4
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2 Corinthians 5:15
Acts 20:28
Share the cure!
Jesus shared it with us; someone shared it with you; you must share it with others
Titus 2:14
Mathew 5:16
Luke 24:46-47
Matthew 28:19
Crucifixion
The Physical Aspect
Death by crucifixion is horrid…at the time, and even perhaps today this was seen as the most painful and harsh way to die. The process took a long time and very agonizing….You may want to do your own research on what happens to the body and how it sends signals of pain and suffering to the brain….In short this is what happens:
Dislocation of Joints – Shoulder sockets and strain on arms and upper body
Dehydration
Lactic Acid and Electrolytes imbalance progressively worsens
Labored Breathing
Rib distention
Push up to inhale (Push/pull against spikes in feet and wrists)
Suffocation
The Spiritual Aspect
The Sinless Son of God Carried our Sins—God Forsakes Christ
Why Would Christ Do This?
To Absorb the Wrath of God
Galatians 3:13
Romans 3:25
1 John 4:10
John 3:36
Revealing the Wealth of God’s Love and Grace for Us
Romans 5:7-8
John 3:16
Ephesians 1:7
To Allow His Love to Cover a Multitude of Sins
Ephesians 5:2
Ephesians 5:25
Galatians 2:20
John 15:13
Matthew 20:28
Christ prayed at the end of his life, John 17:24
In his suffering and death, John 1:14
Revelation 1:5-6
To Reconcile Us to God through His Love
Hebrews 10:14
Colossians 1:22
1Corinthians 5:7
Romans 5:10
Hebrews 9:14
To Bring Us to God through His Love
1 Peter 3:18
Ephesians 2:13
Hebrews 10:19
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 2:9
John 17:3
How Are We to Show Our Love in Return?
Recognize We Are Not Our Own
Romans 7:4
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2 Corinthians 5:15
Acts 20:28
Share the cure!
Jesus shared it with us; someone shared it with you; you must share it with others
Titus 2:14
Mathew 5:16
Luke 24:46-47
Matthew 28:19
Must Love?
Deuteronomy 6:5
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. (NLT)
Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! (MSG)
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (NLT)
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” (MSG)
Mark 12:30
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. (NLT)
So love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. (MSG)
Luke 10:27
… “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind….” (NLT)
… “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence….” (MSG)
No matter what version of the Word you read from, nor no matter if some scripture describes the love we must have for God as fourfold or threefold, the significance is the requirement for each one of us to give the Lord our God—Total Devotion. Get it?
What part(s) of this command are you withholding from God?
(Is God withholding any portion of His love from you?)
Why are you withholding love?
(Why do you feel God is withholding His love for you?)
Do you fear loving God with total devotion?
(Does God fear loving you with total devotion?)
Do you fearfully love God with total devotion?
(Does God deserve to be fearfully loved with total devotion?)
Who is God to you?
(Who are you to God?)
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. (NLT)
Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! (MSG)
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (NLT)
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” (MSG)
Mark 12:30
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. (NLT)
So love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. (MSG)
Luke 10:27
… “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind….” (NLT)
… “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence….” (MSG)
No matter what version of the Word you read from, nor no matter if some scripture describes the love we must have for God as fourfold or threefold, the significance is the requirement for each one of us to give the Lord our God—Total Devotion. Get it?
What part(s) of this command are you withholding from God?
(Is God withholding any portion of His love from you?)
Why are you withholding love?
(Why do you feel God is withholding His love for you?)
Do you fear loving God with total devotion?
(Does God fear loving you with total devotion?)
Do you fearfully love God with total devotion?
(Does God deserve to be fearfully loved with total devotion?)
Who is God to you?
(Who are you to God?)
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