Without it, I would know hopelessness

Posted on October 24, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

I invite your review of my life, as it is oft difficult for a man to see the results of his own footsteps upon the land. Have I trampled over the innocent? Have I neglected the Lord’s Word in my walk? Have I followed the leading of my eyes, flesh and pride? Do I give honor, glory and praise to God or wash myself in self-recognition? What of my love for the Father? Do I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? Do I sin at each opportunity, denying the death of my flesh on the Cross with Jesus? Do I remain unchanged, pursuing the same ideals of my past or have I been transformed by the Holy Spirit of God into a new creature, unrecognizable by historical context? Do I live for this world, placing all my investment in capitalization of my worldly pursuits? What of the hereafter, am I storing up treasures for myself in heaven? Have I forsaken the practices and pleasures of Earthly citizenship, knowing fully that I do not belong within the roles of worldly accounting? What would you tell me about me?

I know what you would say, that I have fallen short in all of these areas of my life. I regret that your review would certainly be worse then my own introspection, but I believe that my grade would be failure at best. How is that possible, when I have tried so hard, done so much, chased the dream of Christianity? The resultant answer is undeniable, it is not about me, or the works I have done or continue to do. I cannot self-sanctify, I have tried my hardest and still cannot live up to what I believe the Lord requires. This purity, that the Lord requires is impossible through human achievement, it is solely a thing of Spirit, controlled and dispensed by God. What then is my job in this pursuit of perfection, this desire for the Lord’s likeness?

My job is to love Him, myself and you. I cannot extend the love of God to others without first expressing and accepting God’s love for me. If I do not understand His unconditional and Sovereign love for a man like me, who deserves no quarter, then I will never understand how to love others the way that I would wish to be loved. For, in understanding God’s love for me, I am humbled and prepared to offer that same requirement free love for others. Once understanding how God gave Himself for “my” salvation and to return me to a position where I may begin relationship with Him, I can no longer refuse this same gentleness, kindness, patience and consideration to the world. I cannot speak for God but this is how I would look at the love of my children. If they truly loved me and knew how much I loved them, irrespective of their worldly actions, then they would be free to extend that same kindness and care to others. I would consider it joy each time I saw them give love, especially where it was undeserved, for I would know that they were emulating and expressing their love for me through extension. This is the crux of all Christian belief, as Christ told us, that all the law and the profits hinges on this love of the Father and others. Without love there is no sanctification for lack of love denies the Spirit’s loving Hand upon our lives in transformation.

I have failed by every worldly standard, I have not great wealth, given by the sweat of my brow or as result of my talent and intention, I have no great understanding, peace of wisdom through my numerous pursuits of knowledge and meditation on serenity, I have no recognition for being that man who tolerates everything around him, never losing my cool, always extending courtesy even when offered anger. Thanks be to God that I have been set free by the Grace offered me in confession, humility and belief. I praise the Lord for that wonderful day when He took my sin upon Him as the perfect sacrifice, redeeming me to God, ending my war with the Almighty. Since, we have established that my efforts have not done a lick of good toward making me look like Him, I throw up my hands in worship to a God who loved me that much. Holy Spirit I commend my heart voluntarily to Your Work, as without it I am doomed to remain in likeness to my past. Hallelujah, I am free indeed. In Jesus Name I thank You for Your Love Lord.

Freedom understood

Posted on October 23, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Free from my own influences, my previous servitude expired. I thought that Freedom was easy to comprehend then I took some time and looked at my own warped/skewed comprehension and was amazed at my perpendicular view. Is freedom an aspect or facet of liberal decision making as the ethical relativist would subscribe? Doing whatever I wish, whenever I wish, with whomever I wish for as long and as frequent as my inclination permits. Shall I look to the fuel cell, knowing that my freedom is only limited by the amount of energy, money, time or imagination available? Do I “shop until I drop”, “do it til I’m satisfied” or “just do it” as Nike, pop stars or celebrities recommend? Shall I indulge every desire, knowing that unless I do I will be redefining or losing my freedom? Am I free at all in this worldly existence?

What if I were to create the following controversy and state emphatically, “He who has not been set free by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is completely defined and held within the confines and limitations of; written/established law, rituals, thinking and scientific laws of this world and remains a shackled spirit confined within the jail cell of a languishing and finite body and will never understand or experience the truth of freedom”. Conversely, the Bible establishes clearly that he that has been set free by the Lord Jesus is “free indeed”. So, life within my own thinking, urges, authority and strength is chosen captivity where I might never comprehend freedom. I am not just trapped by circumstances, I am walled off from understanding the truth of my own mortality and its conscripted limitations. Living in Christ is not enlisting into another bordered or finite set of performance and legally designated limitations it is truly being set free to understand that “love” for God and people is the only guiding principle.

I hate the jail cell of this life, remaining captive to all the limiting parameters of worldly existence. Living in my own understanding is surrender to a life that will never understand freedom. Freedom is eternal life in God through Jesus Christ the King. Know Christ, Know Freedom. Praise You Lord for all of Your limitless characteristics. In Jesus’ Name.

Love them

Posted on October 23, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Love for God is forgiving them when they are stoning you for telling the truth about God. Father, I look at the examples set by Bible believers, I see the models in the world today, giving their all, their lives, their families for Jesus and I cannot but feel ashamed. I know that Christianity and being free of sin, law and the devil takes away the need for self recrimination or comparison, but I still feel bad when I see how little it is that I give. So many times I want to love them but end up criticizing or worse yet forgetting to remind them how wonderful they are. My dreams are of that day when I have done to others as You have done for us. When does the self serving end in this walk toward Your likeness?

Father so many are hurting, even the elect are challenged by holding out as the world spirals, hoping that they are ready for Your return. It is so hard to love in the midst of confusion and disarray, teach us to remain clear in our resemblance. You did not come to hate, you did not come to criticize, you did not come to settle once and for all which set of rituals is proper for worship, learning or service. You came to proclaim the truth and set the captives free, taking all the sins of humanity upon You. If you did this even for the murderers, skeptics, hypocrites how then may I hold anything against those who simply think ill of me. Forgive me for needing so much of Your attention in learning the same lessons over and over each day. I guess I should start by stopping my own self judgment for I have been set free, once and for all of my shortcomings, my sins and my failings. Maybe if I stop being so hard on myself, then the Spirit may teach me to be long suffering, tolerant and gentle to others. Thank you for the struggle. I have interacted with so many great people in my efforts to work out my salvation.

Praise You in Your Glory. Jesus is King.

Feelings, facts and faith

Posted on October 22, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Teach me your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord! Psalm 27:11-14

Determining direction requires analysis of facts and feelings, unless you are driven specifically by animal instinct. Making decisions based solely on “fight or flight” results in grievous error often representing greater danger than the initial stimuli. So, as we mature we either rely heavily upon fact or choose to trust our “gut” feelings or emotions. This presents a particular view of the world based upon our specifically chosen or learned filters. What then happens to humans who, out of response to circumstantial experience are forced to one side of this decision spectrum?

If the facts may be in dispute or my editor/analysis tools are skewed then I am subject to the often gushing guidance of my feelings. What then shall I do if I find myself continually driven by whimsy or emotional demand? Especially, when based upon shocking or lasting experiences my “emotions” are out of sync with reality. Shall I, as many do, resolve to making decisions solely based on data analysis and fact, determining to remain stationary until facts indicate otherwise? Or is there an optimal or linear function that prescribes the appropriate mixture of the two, so that I am neither dragged here nor affixed there? How then does this dichotomous relationship integrate into discernment and dependance upon God’s direction? Is there an override clause that causes me as a believer to make decisions in faith even when the facts and my emotions tell me otherwise? How can we achieve this “faithful” practice without surrender to God’s Will over our own? We cannot.

Determining that we shall adhere to God’s Word as our guide when our emotions and the facts tell us differently, demands choice and practice. God tells believers to “walk by faith not by sight”. This process is not possible under doctrines of self-reliance. We must be changed, renewed, transformed to a point where we trust in God dismissing alternate stimuli or relegating them to secondary or tertiary reliance. If what my senses and the facts tell me leads me away from God’s inerrant truth or guidance then I “must” be able to dismiss them. Without that understanding I will always be driven to making decisions based on the tools of worldly feelings and facts.

Praise you Father that you have given me the opportunity to learn from and be counseled by Your Holy Spirit. Give me a reliance upon that righteous and faithful direction even when the facts and my feelings contradict Spirit’s Word. At that point I will fully understand the Words of Isaiah and others which tell me to “Wait upon the Lord; Being of Good Courage”. For this is the position of faith to which believers commit their hearts and lives. Thank You so much, In Jesus’ Holy Name.

If it ain’t working…

Posted on October 20, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

All around us churches steeped in tradition are languishing, propped up by the faithful few, awaiting, praying for the inevitable. There is no power in the American church, no Holy Fire, saving, healing, sanctifying and transforming from the pulpits to the parishioners. Unbelievers come looking for love, healing and supernatural relationship and are met with pews full of warn out, bitter, elderly, stodgy people who call themselves Christian but resemble Him in name alone. Where is Christ evident in our eyes, hearts and lives. Where is the power of God’s love written upon our foreheads, so apparent that others come to see the Shekinah Glory. Where is the guiding, helping and counseling presence of the Holy Spirit, waiting to give you the words, the energy, the POWER of God to wield on Kingdom’s behalf.

The wicked agenda of self servers is winning in America because their is no other attractive option. Unbelievers are looking for examples of what it means to be blessed by God, yet all they find in the churches or in the desk next to them at work are worldly, frustrated, self-concerned and self-dependent hypocrites who wouldn’t know the grace of God if it bit them in the posterior. Through adherence to worldly, pagan or denominational practices that have no foundation in the Bible, for which most Pastors cannot name their origin or purpose have quenched the Power of the Holy Spirit, leaving Him outside knocking asking to be let in. No bright ideas will save these churches. No Pastor with fancy or spirited speeches will save these churches. No list of tithing special interest givers will save these churches nor will a conformance or capitulation to their tight-fisted demands. The only thing that will heal, build, purify and prosper these churches is a humble review and dedication to responding to the criticism and direction given them by Jesus Christ in Revelation 2 and 3.

We have grown lukewarm or worse yet cold, turning the body of Christ into businesses, that have light bills, food and rent bills which require X amount of monthly dollars. These dollar requirements for a “place of worship” force the pastor and elders into worldly servitude to the bank and other creditors. Additionally, the church is held captive by “special interest” tithers who control the purse strings forcing leadership to either maintain programs and processes that don’t work or pursue paths that are neither Holy Spirit inspired nor steeped in wisdom. Givers are shamed into giving by the passing of the a public offering plate, which is in direct conflict with God’s direction for Spirit inspired offering. We don’t know how many orphans live in our neighborhoods, we don’t know how many widows live within a square mile of our church, heck we don’t even know the people who live in the surrounding homes. We come to church for several hours, if that, and leave just as quickly as we arrived, turning the house of God into a worldly membership meeting that we endure until we can get on to the real business of our Sunday afternoon or Saturday evening. We have become a shell of the Body’s original intent. Perhaps the persecution we all know is not far in the future will once again give us a heart for God and His people.

We need to get about His business. We need to demonstrate our love for God by obeying His commands and answering His call for the remaining lost sheep. He will not prosper disobedient children, just as your Earthly Father would never consider rewarding disobedience. Look, I did not design God, He is not some custom organized servant for my or anybody’s worldly requirements. He is God. He gets to make the rules, not you and certainly not me. We cannot prosper our churches through our own power, authority, gifts or ideas for then it is no longer part of the Body of Christ it is now a self-help feel good shop for new age thinkers. These prosperity gospel clubs are full of the birds of the air who have come to nest in the bountiful mustard tree. They are certain to have true believers in their midst but the majority of these branches will be tossed into the fire at the day of harvest. If there are hungry sheep, I must do my best to feed them. If there are sick, blind, tired, fatherless or forgotten women or children, I have a responsibility to find them and offer assistance. If there is one person within hearing distance of my voice, who has not heard the Word of the Holy Gospel of Christ it is my duty to share the Good News so that they may be saved from eternal separation from God. If our church is dwindling then either what are doing is not what Christ intended or for some reason He has chosen to diminish us. Which is it in your case? If it ain’t working then do something else and you aren’t doing what Christ told you to do then I would start the list of “something else” with complying with His direction.

Salvation, the Love and Grace of God are pure joy, this is what unbelievers crave. Lord let your light so shine through my life and my eyes that those thousands of miles away must come and see the burning fire that you have lit within my heart. I am not the light but that doesn’t mean that I cannot be the best darn lantern ever conceived. Shine for those around you, go find the sick and the lost, then bring them back to fellowship with Saints. Don’t just sit on your keester waiting for them to come in the front door, especially when you refuse to open it up while Jesus is knocking.

He is true

Posted on October 20, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

My courage comes from a steadfast belief in God’s faithfulness. What does that mean, you ask? I am frightened, especially in this era of nuclear, meets biological/chemical, meets fanatic environment where it remains only a matter of time before they accidentally succeed at something horrific. The economy is frankly enough in itself to scare the pants off of all those who hoped to someday slow down or retire. Our nation continues full speed toward moral relativism and liberal lax-ism, without any regard for majorities, voting or historical/Biblical reasoning. Now you throw in a smorgasbord of Biblical signs/observances, basically you have a mad scientists recipe for hysteria. I am scared for our children, hell I am scared by our children in their entitled, foundation-less, naive stance that everything should be free coupled with an ideology that everyone should just plain get along. Everyone will remind you that some form of golden age enlightenment will somehow free of us what the agreed upon prognosis appears is leading us straight toward self implosion. All of this matters, it is just that no matter what can and will go horribly wrong, I have more belief and faith in God’s promise that He has this all in control. If not for my understanding and resolve in the character of God, by all rights, I should be totally berserk with fear, but I am not you explain that to me without getting into a discussion on the existence of the Almighty Sovereign, One God of this and every universe.

God created, then Jesus overcame this world, following our inability to recover from being duped by our own flesh and satan. God’s enemy would have us lay down and be paralyzed or completely motivated by fear. That is my largest cause for pity, mercy and understanding for those who do not yet know Christ, in that, they are susceptible to that fear control. That is why the Lord told us that He did not give us the spirit of fear, so that we might remember when it comes upon us to seek His face and turn away from the controlling influences incumbent to fright. Don’t get me wrong, I use fear as a guide to tell me when to be cautious, as it is an emotional signal that something is odd or dangerous, but I do not believe that fear should be the guiding influence for any of my actions. There is one exception and that is the reverent fear that accompanies a limited understanding of God’s nature, for wisdom may not exist without a rational fear of and respect for Almighty God. But I serve the Lord I do not serve my fear, my sin or any other deceptive influence, outside my control. God will always show up, so there is nothing that I need be afraid of because He is my shield, my shelter, my salvation.

As we enter an apparent new segment of the last days, fear seems common to all men. I am so sorry for them as this fear is evidence of the absence of relationship with God. Father let me see there fear as an opportunity to point them to the comfort only available after a meeting at that Old Rugged Cross. Forgive me for nurturing, sponsoring or inflaming anyone’s fears, let me be an encourager not a bellows for the enemy’s paralysis of men. I fear Your wrath alone. Let me use this fear to sponsor a burning fire within my heart. A fire, born of the desire to seek out and pull back men from the edge of abandon. Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to live free of fear and judgment.

Decision, transition and maintenance

Posted on October 19, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Adam, Eve, Noah, Job, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Joseph, Moses, Zipporah, Joshua, Rahab, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra, John the Baptist, Christ, Peter, Andrew, John, Matthew, Mark, Mary, Paul, Timothy, James, Jude.

Nothing happens until a decision/choice is made. From the outset when our ancestors fell from God’s original intent it was accomplished through considered or rash choice. Our walk has always been to the largest part, directly based upon the choices we have made and those choices are always; what God wants for our lives on one hand and what we want on the other. There are no other positions in this life. Though many would wish to provide additional options, looking to the lives of each of the above named Biblical characters, the review produces a single analysis for reflection. Each of these people were given God’s direction, law or wishes and made a decision as to whether they would comply or serve some other motivating force, emotion or god. Once the choice was made each of these characters was faced with the subsequent circumstances based upon the previously declared decision.

Some transitioned into a long term life-style based upon their desire to serve God, keeping themselves set apart from the poisonous taints of this world, remaining in service to the King. Others, whether out of misplaced fear or internal ambition chose to disobey God’s prophets, pursuing outcomes that inevitably brought them to significant episodes of danger, corruption, loss and eventual death. The unmentioned factor throughout most of Man’s History is the collateral impact or damage that these choices did to siblings, families and descendants. Offspring were often forced to endure years and some times centuries of brutality, inequality, struggle, exile and corruption because their ancestors chose to turn their faces from God’s Righteous Direction. We are currently in such a transition with the bulk of humanity clearly struggling due to decisions made by our grandparents. The quizzical component is that we also have the same “choice” to make for ourselves, separating each of us from the misinformed or poorly determined ancestral choices. The unique Glory of God’s forgiveness and Grace through belief in Jesus Christ puts an immediate halt to the sins of our past, including those poorly made choices of our predecessors, freeing us to pursue God’s initial and remaining intent of maintaining our purity.

That has always been the struggle of the Earth. Itself a crucible meant to lure away the passions of each man’s heart to the point of eventual freedom or corruption. Again the same two choices remain. The Lord has always commanded that we be the keepers of the Holy Fire, cleansing ourselves and remaining illuminated as the Lord’s beacon, beckoning humanity to the foot of God’s Throne. All things associated with goodness in this world, kindness, purity, love, innocence, truth, character, patience and service, stem from their capacity to maintain exception from the self serving detractors involved with being entirely human. We must gravitate toward Godliness through being cleansed, set apart, designated and remaining faithful by a power beyond the capacity of mortal or angelic influence. Our decision, transition and purity is defined and commanded by God, all other choices are foolishness, leading to eventual and certain demise for us and our children.

Choose God through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. Be transformed by a renewing of your mind through Grace and sanctification. Keep yourself pure, being filled with Spirit, shining His light, drawing the world to His truth in salvation of humanity forever. Praise God in Jesus’ Name.

Why Revelation Now?

Posted on October 18, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Epistles make Christianity applicable. So many wonder, “why should I care about reading the Bible?” I mean, all that people really want is some insight into this life, how to deal with the emotions, inconsistencies and trials. Folks, reading the Bible provides all that and an endless repository/access to the wisdom of the ages, while delivering the greatest prize, a growing relationship with God. Taking that into account wouldn’t you believe studying/learning the Epistle written by the Apostle John dictated by Jesus Christ, given to Him by God Himself would be an important part of any believers success preparedness? That Epistle of which I speak is also called “Revelation”.

The Book of Revelation is for believers seeking Christian maturity, those of us who desperately want to tie the entire Bible together and discover the reason for the sense of urgency behind repentance, salvation, sanctification and service. Why is it so important to take stock in Christian teaching? Why did the Apostles continually warn Christians to be ready, ready for what? Why should I be concerned about the current state of worldly affairs, truly what does it have to do with me? Isn’t everything that God said would happen going to happen no matter what I do? Is there a practical method of applying what I’ve learned to this life while preparing an understanding of the hereafter? What is going to happen to those that don’t believe in Jesus? Can I avoid that and does that escape mean that I have a responsibility to those who are still held captive? What is going to happen to my family, this country, the world, how about the devil? All these questions are valid and deserve a clear answer. Please don’t be surprised but all these questions are adequately and completed answered in a thorough study of Revelation.

As Revelation is so complete, so precise so in depth, I cannot do the Lord justice by telling you in a paragraph all that may be found in its body. I must however, beg, plead, insist, implore and guarantee you that it will provide the kind of hope, understanding and knowledge necessary to surviving the trials that will soon face this entire world. Maybe you will heed my warning and begin today, I pray that is the case. I ask the Holy Spirit and other believers be provided as your guide so that you may fully comprehend the urgency and gravity of the days in which we reside. I pray for your edification, health and peace, in the name of the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ the King.