Living Word Christian Fellowship
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 14, No. 8 August 2005
Dear Family of God:
Learning something from God takes time, so it’s important we not give up on ourselves or others through the process. Every single Word of God will come to pass. Our responsibility is to reach out and grab it as it passes by. I’m talking about those times when we are confronted with a personal issue. Instead of shrugging it off until later, we should deal with it while the Holy Spirit is focusing on it. As we do, the results will come more quickly.
For example, I have always wanted to know God’s Love, God’s way. Well, I keep pressing into His ways and guess what? His love is being revealed so wonderfully; I never knew this was possible. There is such a calm reality about what Jesus has done and is doing for us right now. He loves us so much He does not want anyone to perish from His Presence. But do you know how many people just don’t get it? They don’t get it because they have never experienced the real thing. God’s love and His Presence are worth more than gold or money or possessions and they are worth all the cost of finding them. They produce such a change in us that we wonder how we ever lived without understanding it.
We are in a time of spiritual maturity that is bringing us to the fullness of that Love. With each spurt of growth, I realize that love is operating in a genuine and lasting way. Praise Him for the process of Calvary to the place of genuine Godly love.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
Full Reflection
Looking into the mirror,
Whose image do I see?
Your Word, O Lord, reflects perfectly.
My image slowly transforming;
Some days, though remembering,
I’m not the same.
It’s You, O God, I praise!
Your light shines forth
More and more.
The reflection, some days, is not so clear.
More intently into Your Word must I peer.
I put on the new man
Once again,
Until one day, my hope is realized,
That I am, yes, like Him, in the fullness of Christ
-Linda Hief
Love Of The Truth
2 Th. 2:10 “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Jesus has warned us about these days so that no one misleads us or deceives us. He is saying it is our personal responsibility to guard ourselves against deception. The way we do this is to establish in our minds what is truth.
The parable of the sower shows us truth comes by way of hardships. Hardships are tribulations and sufferings to bring us to obedience. If you are a person who seeks after comfort and ease, you will be prone to wonder towards deception.
1 Kings 13 tells us about a prophet, a man of God, who was obedient to the voice of God. He comforted the wicked King Jeroboam, but was told by God not to eat, drink, or return home the way he came. As a result of his obedience to God, the King invited him to stay for supper in the palace. The man of God refused and left.
When we find the man, he is sitting under an oak tree resting -–vulnerability in weakness – this is the setting for hardship and suffering – he was hungry. Deception tries to enter.
Now an old prophet had heard what happened and sent his sons to fetch him home. Obedience to the voice of God, the man of God told him No. The old man told him he was also a prophet or man of God and it was ok. By now the young prophet was thinking God had changed his mind!!! But vrs.18 says, “the old prophet lied to him.” God hates it when someone uses His name to cause another to stumble. Jer.23:36 says, (paraphrased) “stop telling people the ‘Lord told me, or the Lord says.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own thoughts, turning my ways upside down, so I will just take them at their own words and they will pay."
Thoughtlessly accepting a deceitful word, even if someone gives it “in the name of the Lord,” can cause us to get off the path of the Lord.
So the young man listens and goes with them. Then the true word of the Lord came to the old prophet for the young prophet, “Because of your disobedience you will die.” As soon as the young prophet left, a lion came out and ate him.
It wasn’t the obvious that deceived him. In his weariness he was looking for comfort – what a price to pay. Has God changed the way He looks at a thing? Or have we modified our way of life to avoid the inevitable?
Paul says the reason people are easily deceived is because they do not receive the love of the truth. Accepting and abiding in God’s truth make us sharp, able to discern error. Discernment is not based on intellect but truth.
Psalm 119:47 (KJV) “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”
If we are to walk free from deception we must allow the Holy Spirit to develop within us a consuming love for truth. HOW? Psa 37:3-7 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. (6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. (7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Feed on truth.
3 John 4 says “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Deception increases because the love of many waxes cold, substituted with the love of money, pleasure and self. And because of wrong priorities, people will be ever learning but never able to comprehend the truth. Seeds will be stolen; seeds will grow but without roots; and seeds will die because of worldly cares.
Truth is not a teaching – it is a person. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Those who love Jesus will embrace whatever He says that no matter the cost, they will suffer willingly to obey the Lord. Their refusal to compromise at the expense of the TRUTH is evidence that they are bearing the cross of Christ.
This type of submission is true humility. Humility does not oppose but agrees with truth. When someone accuses you of becoming a snob because you are walking in the truth, don’t accept their accusation. Continue to walk in God’s grace and He will keep you from deception.
-Pr. Steve
I am going to be sharing with you thoughts from my journal over the past few years. This is to show you how the Lord has brought about His Word in my life to minister to you and to show you how real this walk can be. Please read and understand by the Spirit about ...
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2004
Aug. 2: “You have come to a hard and difficult place. But I am bringing you to a place of certainty. Do not allow any hindrance to turn you back.” “O keep my soul and deliver me, let me not be ashamed.” (Psm. 25:20)
Aug. 6: Lord, you have brought me to a place where I cannot or must not rely on any person to meet my needs. You have given me wife, children, parents, friends, counselors, mentors, teachers, but none can take the place of Your direction or comfort. May all others always be second to You.
Aug. 13: “In My church one will respond and another will not respond. It is the separating of the wheat and the tares.”
Aug. 15: Lord, You have shown me a greater opening when the light is shining bright. I am standing in the dark waiting to go forward. The water comes in like a wave and goes out. I stand waiting. On the other side is the unknown. I am willing, Lord, but You must show me how.
Aug. 17: “I have brought you to this great place. It is in Me. It is of Me. It is My direction for you. Things will gradually change as I draw you into My presence. It is a right of passage for those who pay the price for My righteousness. Many do not find it, they are too busy working for Me. All that you have asked may be important, but what I reveal and offer is worth more. You have chosen the greater blessing. And you will not be disappointed.”
Aug. 19: Walking in a new place!
Aug. 27: “The power of sin was broken. You followed Me and believed My Word and you have seen how I forgive the sins of My people. Now let the strength of My Word guide you with every decision of ministry in My Kingdom.”
Aug. 30: We plead for your cause, O Lord. Do not forget Your people in this time of darkness. Let not my enemy triumph over me. May the release come that we may worship You without hindrance.
Ministry Minded - part 3 of 3
Encouragement for the Body
The result of being ministry minded is to be lowly. There is rest for the humble. Matt. 11:29 (KJV) 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Having faith is not ministering in our own strength. Rom. 12:3 (KJV) 3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We do not know best when it comes to ministry. Rom. 12:16 (KJV) 16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
We must learn how to take care. We miss opportunities because we are not ministry minded. We may say, “That’s not my responsibility.” We may not think through into a situation for the best outcome. We have not because we ask not, even in ministry opportunities. There are opportunities to minister to others and there are opportunities for others to minister to us, but we miss them if we do not ask.
The result of being ministry minded is to be sincere. You know you are sincere when others know your heart. Luke 8:15 (KJV) 15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
People need to know you are for them and you won’t leave. We must be examples of Christ’s integrity.
When you set your mind to be ministry minded, you will receive the ULTIMATE result of being ministry minded, being joyful.
Be joyful when the decision is made. 1 Sam. 2:1 (KJV) 1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
Be joyful when you are going through trials. Psa. 97:11 (KJV) 11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Even the minister’s family will rejoice: Zech. 10:7 (KJV) 7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
May we all strive to think of God first and others second. The Word promises that our needs will be met when we are led by the Spirit in ministering to others.
-Pr. S. Chad Ross
Weaklings or Warriors? - part 2 of 2
Roman’s 8:37, states that, “We are more than conqueror’s through Christ who loved us.”
In the original Greek language, the word “conqueror” is “hupernikao,” and it means to be more than a victor. That means that the outcome has already been decided and that through Christ we can overcome evil. Too often Christians try to battle in their own strength, only to lose the battle. While Christ is always with us, we have to acknowledge Him in all of our ways if we are to walk in His victory.
According to Daniel 7:25 the enemy will wear out some of the saints of God, but that is not the way it has to be for us. While coping with all of our busy schedules, we dare not neglect our time of seeking God and reflecting upon His will for every part of our lives. As warriors with Christ we must understand that the victory is ours if we remain willing to forsake everything but God.
Isa 9:5-6 (KJV) “For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire. (6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Truly the battles belong to the Lord, and Isa 9:5-6 gives us a view of the spiritual significance of Jesus Christ as our victorious warrior. The power and authority are the Lord’s, and He will counsel those who trust in Him until they reach the victory. His reign is everlasting, so we know that even today we can have the victory as well as the perfect peace that comes with it. If we as warriors can keep Christ as our passion, and let Him burn away all of our weaknesses, the Kingdom of God will not only manifest, but will increase as well.
Col 1:27 (KJV) “To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
One of the most important reasons for transformation from weakling to warrior is that God be glorified in His earthen vessels. The world will know when they see the warriors of God, because the glory of God will be revealed in our lives.
Psa 40:3 (KJV) “Many shall see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Walking in the power of Christ’s salvation will cause others to know His wonder and will transform born again Christians from being weaklings into warriors.
-Kurt Thurston
Arise - Become - Build and Shine - part 2 of 3
Amplified and KJV
Whose we are, who we are, and who we become govern what, how and why we build. Through the Old Testament figures of Cain and Noah, we find contrasting motivations for building, motivations which still determine the vanity or value of our becoming and of our building. Whereas “…Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch” {Gen 4:17}, “… Noah built an altar…and offered burnt offerings on the altar (a place of sacrifice)” {Gen 8:20}. Following the urging of their leaders to “Come let us build us a city and a tower, whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves…” {Gen 11:4} later resulted in Babylon, a place of confusion which God destroyed. Of those who build for their own carnal recognition and glory it is written, “Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] after their own names” {Ps 49:11}. A “city” is a place guarded by waking and defended by watching, a coming together of houses. Of our natural and spiritual houses (lives), it is essential that the Lord Himself be our Builder and Protector: “Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.” {Psalm 127:1}.
“For [of course] every house is built and furnished by someone, but the Builder of all things and the Furnisher [of the entire equipment of all things] is God. And while “Moses certainly was faithful in the administration of all God’s house…In his entire ministry he was but a testimony to the things which were to be spoken [the revelation to be given afterward in Christ]” {Heb 3:5}. According to his own testimony, the apostle Paul “like a skillful architect and master builder…laid [the] foundation” upon which another then built {I Cor 3:10}. As one who built upon Christ, the only sure foundation, he cautioned: “But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it.” He then warned that “the fire will test and critically appraise the character” of every person’s work, “whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay [or] straw” {I Cor 3:10, 13, 12}.
Recently, as I read the following scripture, I was struck with the promise of a people “yet to be created.” “When the Lord builds up Zion, He will appear in His glory…Let this be recorded to the generation yet unborn, that a people yet to be created shall praise the Lord…So that men may declare the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem” {Psa 102:16,18}. Immediately I thought of our becoming “a new creation,” not just as individuals but as one new man, the whole of whom has become qualified through a formative process, growing from born-again babes to mature sons who are to be dispatchers sent forth to manifest and proclaim the Messiah and His Reign. Just as Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that “…the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God” {Luke 1:35}, Christ is being formed in us individually that we may become yet another new and holy “thing,” the revelation of Christ’s life, power and nature upon the earth. Even as the Father prepared a physical body for His Son, He is even now creating a unified body of believers. This thoroughly framed, complete and never-before “thing” includes Jesus as the head and the members of His Church as the body, for “… a body hast thou prepared me” {Heb 10:5 KJV}; “You have made ready a body for Me [to offer]” {Amp}.
Even as we, His people, co-labor with Him, the Lord is building into us the nature, character and authority of Christ that as a collective, united, intricately-made but unconquerable body, we may become “…a city set upon a hill [that] cannot be hidden” {Mat 5:14}. Again we see the co-laboring required, for even as the Father creates and builds, so we are urged to continue building on the only solid foundation, that of faith in Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” {Jude 20}.
-Ruth French
No comments:
Post a Comment