Christmas Revelation

^“27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:27

In 2009 it came when reading the linage of Jesus, the verse “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16)  The revelation was that Jesus was ACTUALLY a man.  He had a mother and father.  He laughed, played, loved, lived; he lived a life……the life of an average man.  But, he was far from it, far, far, from average.  Not an earth shattering revelation, but it was what I needed; because I soon after read: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)  It was a great comfort to know that he had been where I was at; that Jesus, had walked this road of life before, and he knew my hardship.  He knew them, not just in theory, but also in practice.  In 2010 it came when my eyes landed on the verse “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28) God then led my mind to the scripture: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.   For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)  If I was given the task to place the savior of this world in a home, in a family, I do not think that I would have picked Mary.  I do not think anybody would have.  “Hath not God chosen the poor in this world rich in faith?” (James 2:5)  Mary helped me to see, that God sees not as man sees……Thank God for that.  In the year 2011 it came when reading about John; when I read: “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.” (Luke 1:15)  God then took my thoughts to the life that John lived: he wore raiment of camel’s hair, ate locust and wild honey.  He was an evangelist, preacher, no certain dwellings, and practically no material wealth to his name; he was persecuted, and eventually beheaded.  This man was great in the sight of God.  My Christmas revelation in 2011 was: this gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, requires sacrifice.

Every year I read the Christmas story and every year a new revelation.  God reveals something in it that I had never caught before.  The gift of spiritual revelation is a wonderful thing.  When you’re in the place and the Spirit comes down, the Bible comes alive to you, it fills and thrills your heart, and you walk away full, but longing for more.  I cannot explain it, but if you ever experienced it you know what I am talking about.  The gift of spiritual revelation is a precious, precious thing.  You will not find it under a tree, but it is a gift all the same.  It’s not something that you nag and beg for, it is given, and it is something that can only be found when you’re in the Spirit, and you will not have true revelation unless it is by the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2). 

My thoughts this week have been on the precious gift of spiritual revelation.  The gift that keeps on giving.   

Please reply to pgcollins65@gmail.com

Guest Week

I would like to thank Lauren D. Collier for contributing the creative material for this week’s post; as inspired by the Holy Ghost. 

My God bless all who read, and bless her for the effort.  I hope to hear from more invited guests in the future.

 

It's what we Leave

As we all walk together in this giant thing called life, we affect one another. Whether we are aware of it or not, we leave legacies behind us. Most of us won’t make history because most of us do not affect history much. There are those of us that are the “normal” people, we live, we love, and we die. We’re the people who don’t make the history books, the teachers, the plumbers, the secretaries, and the gardeners, the regular Joes who work a forty hour week and come home to our children. We’re just average people, but that does not mean that we cannot live an extraordinary life.

My Great-Grandmother was an amazing woman. She was a short thing but tough as nails. When the Great Depression hit it struck this country with an iron fist and yet somehow she was one of the ones who found a way to pick herself up again. She started her own ironing business and it became so successful that she had to hire help. This was before dry cleaning and business men needed things cleaned and ironed. It was hot and sweaty work I am sure, and yet she did it because she had too. She was one of the few people during the Depression who managed to get by without drowning in the poverty. It affected how she was though as well as my Great-Granddad, because they were always very frugal after that. After Pop-Po died we went through some of his things and found dress shirts in the drawers still wrapped that we had given him for Christmas. He was still using his old shirts and refused to open the new ones till he needed them. It was just how they were. I don’t remember much about my Great-Grandmother because around the time I was old enough to really pay attention, she developed a form of dementia. It could have been Alzheimer’s, I’m not sure, all I really know is she forgot things.

By this point Pop-Po was dead and Mom-Mo had been left behind. For a while she would still remember her children, my grandmother and great uncle, but after a while she forgot even them because she thought that they were children still. My grandmother would be standing right in front of her and Mom-Mo would be crying for her as if she wasn’t there. My parents would, and still do tell me stories of when she had the full capacity of her mind. She was lively and vivacious and had a wicked sense of humor. We have pictures of her in her eighties sticking her tongue out at the camera. She was the sort who knew exactly who she was and didn’t apologize for it.

I do not remember much about her on a personal level. Most of what I know, I learned from the stories people have told me. There is however one memory I have of her that is as clear in my mind as if it had happened yesterday.  One day, we went to visit her in the home and like usual we all hugged her without seeing even a spark of recognition in her eyes. This visit proved to be different however. As we sat down to visit she settled back in her rocking chair, closed her eyes and started singing. It took me a while to place it but she was singing an old church song. It wasn’t a song I knew, my church had long forgotten to sing it, but there was no doubt that the song she was singing was a song about God. Rocking back and forth with tears rolling down her face, in a time in her life when she had forgotten everyone, she still remembered Jesus. She is my legacy. She is my song.

You may think that the life that you are living is one that does not make much of a difference, but there is no reason why that has to be true. There are people who surround your life, who are influenced and affected by the decisions that you make. It may be that you are married and have a spouse, it may be that you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, it may be that you have a large family, or close friends at work, or it may that be you have a great-granddaughter, who looks up to you. I do not know who you come in contact with each day, but there is someone, someone, who is watching you. The legacy you are leaving behind will affect someone, and it is up to you whether your life will be a positive or a negative one. People walk around in today’s world and ask what it is coming too? They complain about our youth and the lack of morals and respect that they have, and yet they never seem to stop and wonder why it is that they are like that? Perhaps we’ve forgotten to teach them morals and respect, perhaps in today’s singular society we have begun to embrace this ideal that each person lives their life solely for themselves. How wrong we are, and how nice that would be if it were true. There are people in this world, drowning in their sin and they are dragging the ones they influence along with them. People think that their sin, whatever it may be, affects only them, when the reality is it poisons everyone around them. How much better would it be to live a life that generations after you can be proud of? There is hope for your life, there is a Jesus who loves you and gave himself for you, and there is a God who has all power to place you above the sin that contaminates this life. You have an opportunity to not only turn your life around, but in the process, influence those around you. Your legacy could be Jesus. What more could we attain, that is greater than that?

Proverbs 22:6
            Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Deut. 28:1-2

            And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

                And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

 James 1:5

            If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 2 Timothy 16-17

            All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Please send your thoughts to pgcollins65@gmail.com

Garage Sale?

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them”. – Ezekiel 36: 26 & 27

Nothing ruins a Saturday like cleaning out the garage.  In fact, I can’t think of a time when it was a pleasant experience.  First of all, if you’re bothering to clean it that must mean it is not neat.  Second of all, most garages, at least in my experience, are organized to the point that if you can find whatever you’re after, without it being a threat to your life, then it’s not yet time to clean.  In short, if you can get to whatever you need, and not die, it’s not time to clean; as long as the garage meets this criteria…..no need to clean.  So, that being said, when it finally gets life threating in there, cleaning is no fun because there is A LOT to clean.

I feel like people think Jesus is going to clean up their lives, like we clean our garages.  As if he is going to go into their heart and gradually remove one thing at a time.  Once complete, he will then sweep the whole thing out, and put back only what is needed.  Like most of us, with our own garages, this process of cleaning is so daunting, we usually wait until our situation becomes life threating before we bother.  Only, it’s hard to pray when your $15,000 dollar Honda is summersaulting into oncoming traffic, or when you’re gasping for your next breath amiss a sudden heart attack, and this is just speaking in the natural.  Some folks are long dead, before they are dead.  “Well what in the world does that mean?” ……… I am glad you asked.  It means that you remain in sin so long, the heart becomes callas and you give up hope.  Jesus doesn’t give up hope on you……you give up hope on him.  The scripture says that “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)  Not a whole lot of grey area in that verse.  The garage must be clean, and praise God that Jesus doesn’t clean out our lives, like we our garages.  He changes one thing, which changes everything. 

He changes our hearts……if we let him.  By altering this one thing, it alters everything.  Your desires define you; they drive you; where you go, what you want, what you choose.  “Out of it (the heart) are all the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) He takes the old heart and gives you a brand new one.  In one simple step your whole life is forever altered.  Your life can be an absolute mess, until you say “there is no WAY God can fix this.”  But he can, he will, just let him.  This is not an impossible task, or a long drawn out process.  It is an immediate, instantaneous, emancipation.  Conversion and Sanctification.  If you humble your pride and repent of you sins committed he will forgive and make clean, immediately.  If you ask for God to take away the old stony heart, that is bent to sin and “prone to wonder” he will, and give you a heart that is Sanctified to him.  He will do it, in a moment, if you let him.  Now, all the external circumstances are still there.  As I once heard, “if your broke before you go to the alter, you are going to be broke when you get up from the alter.”  Those things will not change, some things may, but what will change most important is your perspective; your disposition, your heart.  He will change one thing, which will change everything……If you let him.   

Any Thoughts?  I look forward to hearing for you.

  Pgcollins65@gmail.com   

Victory? Any idea when?

“And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the Lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest.  Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.” –Deuteronomy 3: 21 & 22

 “Birds sing in the dark” (words from Oswald Chamber’s devotional book “My Utmost for His Highest).  Birds sing in the dark, they sing announcing a sunrise that has yet to come, they have yet to see, but they sing anyway.  They have faith it will rise; as the morning before, and the morning before that, and before that.  Like the birds, we must wait on the Lord, on the sunrise, and praise him all in the while; praise him in the dark.  “For what?”  For the victory that is not yet come, but most certainly will…..Why?  Because he is God, and with him there is only victory.  He WILL fight for his people, for his children.  If we trust in the Lord and “praise him in the storm” maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not a year from now, but at some point, there will be victory; there will be a sunrise, in his own good time.  It is not easy to wait on the Lord when the world is falling apart around you, but ultimately when you’re in troubles and trials it comes down to: “do I believe that Gods way is best?”  If so, I will wait on his answer, wait on his leading, wait on the victory that he WILL bring, and not follow my own selfish desires, my own selfish escape plan. 

If you search the scriptures in them you will find great men, which had a great ability to wait before God.  Not just wait on God, but wait before God.  A situation would arise and they would take it to God; and wait on his answer.  Wait with a mind and heart to accept whatever answer came their way.   Waiting is an easy thing to do when you’re not in a hurry, everybody and their brother can go the speed limit as long as they have nowhere to be, but when they wake up at 7:45 am and they have to be in class or at work, promptly at 8:00 am; all the way across town…..now that speed limit is looking inconsequential.  When there is a problem or a situation on your door step and you begin to call on God, and call on God, and call on God; with no answer.  Now let see you wait, now let’s see your patience; your faith.  God is leading, the sunrise is coming, the Lord will provide…..wait…..trust God. 

It can be very easy to confuse motion with accomplishment; movement with action. While this may be true at the work place it is hardly the case in your spiritual life.  In your walk with God, still, can be very productive…….. “Teach me Lord to wait.”

Any thoughts?....... pgcollins65@gmail.com  

It's Personal

Personal, habitual Bible reading saved my life.  During a long space of my teenage years I relied on the euphoria of meetings (that meaning the emotional experience that comes from attending church), and the attraction of the “youth group” social atmosphere to keep me from falling.  Personal Bible reading was a practice, but it was not habitual, and it did not influence my life.  Please let me pause for just a moment and say that I am not against church or the gathering of youth, only that like Martha, when you begin to put secondary things primary……problems arise.  Blessings and emotion that come from attending church are the byproduct of a strong spiritual experience, but not the very experience itself.  Likewise, the social experience that comes with spending time with your brothers and sisters in the faith is beneficial to your walk with God (I believe); however it is not the bread that will sustain the spiritual man.  Due to the fact that meetings and “hanging-out” were the pillars that supported my house of cards, I frequented both, testifying and preaching not to save the lost, but because it was “what we did”.  However, if you could x-ray my spiritual man you would find a heart that burned with but a little flame……So, why am I bringing this up?

I believe that many Christians today are in this same condition.  Salvation is not in the social, nor is it divorced from it.  What brings about solid soldiers for the cause of Christ is…..no surprise here, a commitment to God’s Word; a commitment to taking time for it, to studying it, and to living it.  If this is done, I believe it will “iron out” a lot of the fringe issues that plague the Church- i.e. church attendance, relationship incompetence, gossip, clicks, church participation, decline in evangelism, watered down preaching, pride, politics, etc.  Not only that, it will do more for the Church than we probably can imagine.  The Word of God saved my life; and the lives of countless others.  The Word strengthens the inner man, the inner man is the individual, and the individual is the Church.  If your inner man is strong, the Church is strong, if you’re inner man is weak, the church is weak.  “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Matthew: 24-25)

How do we hear God?  We hear him through the Word (among other avenues).  Jesus was the Word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  He was the messenger when we hear him, we hear God.  He speaks the will of the Father;  through the vehicle of the Holy Ghost, and when you get the Holy Ghost inside it will open the scriptures to you and teach you all things (1 John 2:27).  But we have to read them, we have to hear them, we have to do them; or the house will not stand.  So I ask you, as I ask myself:  What are we emphasizing in our own lives?  What are we standing on?  What are we stressing to those that come behind us?  Not with our words, but with our lives.

 Jesus said:

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

The Word of God saved my life.

Any thoughts?  Please reply to pgcollins65@gmail.com

Whosoever Will

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” -  1 Corinthians 6: 9-11

Our God is a God of restoration.  He is a God of hope, of perfection, of betterment.  Are we not all thankful that God does not chose us the way the world choses us?  If a man walked into a job interview, drenched with the stench of alcohol and clothed in tattered day s old clothing.  Do you think he would get the job?  How many colleges do you think would admit an applicant that was illiterate?  The world does not accept, or venture to embrace what we could be, but rather what we are.  It loves those who by reason of strength, charm, or in some cases good fortune, have exalted themselves above the rest, and given all below something to envy ; or at the very least something to entertain.  God’s selection process is somewhat different, he cries “whosoever will.”

Imagine with me for a moment, imagine if a radical Muslim, known world over for hunting and killing Christians, say Bin Ladin, if he was still alive.  His fame, his person, everything that he is, centers on his zeal for persecuting Christians.  What if this man walked into your church Sunday morning?  What if he strolled right up to the pulpit opened the Bible and began to read Matthew 7: 7 & 8?  What would you do?  Would you believe him?  Would you be terrified of him?  Do you think it can’t happen?  It has already happened; the very quote at the top of this page was penned by a man such as this.  A man that vehemently persecuted the church, imprisoned preachers of the gospel; he made it his life’s work to alienate Christianity.  Then one day the Jesus stopped him in his tracks, and changed his life forever; are we not thankful that God’s selection process is somewhat different than the worlds?  I ask, if God can take a man such as Paul, a man that KILLED Christians.  If he can sanctify this man, if he can make a: preacher, teacher, minister, apostle, out of this man.  What can he do for you in your life?  He does not see us as the world does.  “He doesn’t see you for what you are, but for what you will be” (Uncle Johnny Rodgers).  You see a filthy, ruined, broken life.  He sees a white, clean, complete, testimony.  You see a sin enslaved prisoner.  He sees a prime candidate to be an ambassador to him, and a preacher of the ministry of reconciliation. A person that can proclaim to all who will hear “he did it for me and he can do it for you!”  Simply put, Jesus can change your life, if you give it to him.  As the old hymn goes “give up, and let Jesus take over.”

I don’t know who reads this every week.  I don’t who you are, or where you come from.  But I do know this, the person who gets up from an altar of prayer, will not be the same person who knelt to begin with.  That’s why it’s called conversion, and when God puts his Spirit in your heart it will burn out the “want-to” part of you.  That part of you that naturally “wants-to” disobey God.  It will take that part out and put in a new “want-to.”  A want-to that wants what he wants, and desires what he desires.  It will make you, well………holy.  That’s the gospel, and it is for whosoever will, not for whosoever is qualified.  You don’t get your life in order so you can come to God; you come to God because he can put your life in order.  Like a rose among the thorns, God can make something beautiful blossom from a sharp, barren, harsh, vine………If you let him.

Would you agree?    - feedback welcomed at pgcollins65@gmail.com

"Yes Lord."

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” – Genesis 22:2

Absolute. Obedience. 

Satan has always been a proponent of complication and confusion, and at times, perhaps, we can begin to think so lofty that we forget to just KISS (keep it simple stupid) it.  The human mind seems to match complexity with complexity; i.e. the bigger the problem or task, the bigger the solution.  Christendom today appears to be adopting the same philosophy; as if the churches at large are saying “Hey, if you want to get folks to heaven; turn on the spotlights, blast the music, and if we have a problem…….forum a committee.”  It seems as if we have abandoned the Old Ship of Zion, for the new and improved Zion Cruise Liner.  Do you think it’s about time we take a step back and examine what the Bible has to say on the subject?   If you search the scriptures you will find that Absolute Obedience always, and without fail……..worked.  It just plain worked; oftentimes in spite of man’s logic.  Think of Moses, called from the fields to lead a nation of people out of slavery; did his resume boast of management skills and leadership qualifications?  Gideon, the least of the least according to the Jews; commanding only three hundred foot soldiers he brought deliverance to the people of Israel.  Remember the three Hebrew children?  Recall Daniel and the lion’s den? Rehab the harlot?  What about the twelve disciples?  Those who were called to the ministry by our savior Jesus Christ……where would we be if they said “no;” what sense did it make to leave their livelihood to follow a man they never met before in their lives.   Think of Mary and Joseph, I sure am glad they refused to look at circumstances.  If you were given the task of where to place the Christ child, which demographic he will be born into, who his parents would be……would you have chosen Mary?  “For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called:” (1 Corinthians 1:26)  It is not a man’s merit that God looks on, rather his faith; and faith is manifested in obedience.  Absolute. Obedience.     

                Now more than ever Christians everywhere need to look in the mirror and ask themselves “Am I obeying God?  Absolute.”  I am obeying: whatever the cost, whatever the circumstances, whatever the consequences; am I saying “Yes, Lord.”?  Not because I want to get something out of it, but because I believe God, I love God, I believe and have faith that his will is best.  His way is supreme.   We are not always privy to the details.  It’s not for us to know the return on our: emotional, physical, or monetary investment.  It is our duty to simply………obey.  If we want to see change our country, church, homes…..we need not a complicated business model, or a grandiose idea.  We need only to believe God; we need only to obey God.  Simply obey.  

Absolute.  Obedience.

                Would you agree?

Comments, thoughts, etc. welcome at pgcollins65@gmail.com

Example A or Example B?

As you progress in life (that being life, as in life lived, and your spiritual life), you either polarize yourself to the Biblical truths that were manifested by Jesus Christ, or you draw back to the world (what is the world?  See 1 John 2:16 ); would you agree?  As you progress toward Biblical truths you find yourself becoming less and less like the world, caring less and less about the world, and ceasing to define yourself among their standards.  This type of growth is not always quick and easy, it can often be quite painful.  As difficult as this progression may or may not be, it’s necessary that you draw nigh to Jesus, if you wish to live a: wonderful, peaceful, content, happy, joyful, stress reduced, complete, wholesome, holy life, while here.  If you do not desire that-then feel free to do whatever you please.  What God has given me this week is a singular Biblical example that so evidently contradicts a great majority of the teaching that you will find in this natural world.

“12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”  -John 13-12-17

            Please take a minute to consider with me the above scripture.  Jesus- consider his Resume, his pedigree, all that he knew and could do.  Now take into account the disciples, their Resume, pedigree, and all that they knew.  Furthermore, I think most can assume and decipher that when you wash someone’s feet-it’s not a place where you are going to find occasion to be prideful.  It’s a gesture of humility, of servitude; this is the example that Jesus left, and the lesson he taught with his life.  Contrast that with the teachings and testimonies of the world today.  Jesus said that “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”  How many commercials do you see on TV saying the same?  How many billboards?  How many magazines, sports writers, news anchors…….college professors?  The clarion call of the world is happy are ye if ye do what’s best for you.  Happy are ye if you indulge yourself; eat, sleep, and rise up to play.  Please, take a step back and look around, do you not see a lot of people who are whole heartily embracing this: ME, ME, ME theology?  Of those people, how many are happy?  But then I look around, at a few, a very few, group of individuals following after the teachings of a man called Jesus, who left an example to serve and……they are HAPPY!  They are filled with joy, love, peace, and contentment.  These are not those that wish to be masters of their own lives, but those that have accepted that they are a servant to all, and to Jesus first of all. 

Imagine a household where everyone serves as Jesus served.  Imagine a church where everyone serves as Jesus served, imagine a country where everyone serves as he served; imagine a world where everyone serves as Jesus served.  Imagine if we followed his example.

Thought’s?

  please feel free to reply to pgcollins65@gmail.com

Where’s the fire?

If you are a Sunday School teacher, preacher, small group leader, etc. and you have just a few friendly faces to preach/teach on a weekly basis….do not be discouraged, because the “lips of the righteous feed many.”  Three months ago a little comment in a prayer meeting stirred my heart and challenged my life.  “If you want to have fire on your altars there must be sacrifice.” I have been thinking on that ever since, and God has blessed me this week with some scripture to go along with it. (It’s not worth anything if you can’t back it up with Bible.)

“But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.” Leviticus 1:13

         

            When I was a boy I wanted to play the guitar.  So, I saved my money went out and bought a guitar; Mom and Dad chipped in as well J  We also, went in together and paid for some lessons.  I began to learn a few songs, a couple tunes here and there, but soon found out that I did not want to play guitar as bad as I wanted to play: soccer, football, and basketball.  I wanted to play guitar, but not as bad as I wanted to go fishing, hang out with my friends, etc.  I soon came to discover that I wanted to play guitar, but I did not want to practice playing guitar.  I wanted the idea of it, more than the action it took to get there.  I wanted the glory of the skill, more than the sacrifice it took to acquire it. 

            “I want to be a light unto the world, a city set on a hill.”  “I want to shine my light each and every day.”  “I want the fire that the “old folks” had in meetings.”  “I want the pews of my church to be filled with people seeking salvation.” “I want…..I want…..I want….”  Have you ever heard these comments before? I have, because I have said these very words.  My question to you, and to myself is.  How bad do you want it?  We want to be lights unto the world, to our friends at school; to our co-workers in the work place, to those around us.  We want the fire of God to burn brightly within so all around will see.  But are we willing to sacrifice to get the fire burning?  How bad do we want it?  Do we want it more than our job?  Status? Reputation? 401k? How bad do we want it?  Or do we want the idea more than the action?  We want the “fire” our meetings, and in our preaching?  How bad do we want it?  Are we willing to sacrifice, and pay the price, to get the fire down?  If we want to have the fire, there must be a sacrifice. 

 It’s the fire of God that people see, they gather from the corners of the cold dark world to warm themselves.  It’s the fire of God that melts a sinner’s heart, consumes carnality, and leaves an ever burning flame of love towards man and God; this flame, the Holy Ghost fire that will ward off Satan’s hungry wolves.  We want it; we desire it, but how much?  Are we willing to pay price?  Are we willing to sacrifice?  God wants the heart, the inner most desire has to be for him and his will for you.  His will in your life must be supreme.  “If you want there to be fire on the alter, there must be a sacrifice.”  

            I never learned to play the guitar, I always found time for something else, and something, I wanted more……..

Thoughts?

"Been there.....done that."

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

When it comes to directions there is no substitute for a personal guide.  I mean, maps are fine, and GPS is great, but when you got a guy who has been there before-that’s as good as it gets.  What God has blessed me with this week is the thought: “Jesus is a high priest who has been there before.”

Before Jesus they had the law.  What was the law?  A long list of rules that the people of God had to follow if they wanted to be the people of God.  In this law there was “rituals” that had to be performed.  If you sinned or disobeyed you had to take one of your best farm animals (which at the time was precious to you), and you had to kill it, burn it, this would absolve your sin.  Here is the thing though, not just anybody could “perform” the ritual.  Only a certain group of folks could.  These folks were the decedents of Aaron (Moses brother), known as the Levities, commonly called priests.  Ok, essentially the priest was the “doing” end of the law.  They could do what needed to be done according to the law, but you really did not “know” these men.  One would come into office, do his work, and then he would die, and the next one would come into office, do his work, and he would die, and so on and so forth.  However, if somebody insulted you in the market place and you got angry and sinned, they could perform the sacrifice for you, but they could not take away your desire to be angry, they did not understand your bitterness.  They could not remove that hurt and replace it with love for that someone that offended you.  They did not understand.  If your best friend betrayed you, and sinned against you, they could take away the sin of the betrayer, but not your pain.  They could not sympathize.  They could not understand.    If a loved one died and you don’t sin at all; the high priest can do nothing for you.  They can’t take away the sadness that comes with their memory, the hurt that comes when your reminded they are no longer here.  They cannot give you peace, they don’t understand.  But friends, “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)  Jesus has traveled this road before.  He knows the hurt of being offended, the pain of being betrayed, and the sting of loneliness.  Jesus understands, he has been there, both in thought and in practice.  He is our great and everlasting high priest.  Not only does he understand, but he knows how to help, because he has been there before.  Our Jesus was tempted, tried; he walked this earth, bled, and died.  He did all this without sin, so that we can do the same.  He wants to get you to heaven, and you need him to get to heaven. 

So, trust his directions, and let him take over.  If you trust in him he can keep you free from sin down here, and lead you all the way to a home in heaven………..they say it can’t be done, well, why not?  It’s been done before.

Thought’s on the subject?  Anything you would add? ----please send to pgcollins65@gmail.com

What’s the pulpit saying on the subject?

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  ¹⁵ These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 

-Titus 2: 11-15

 

My mind seems to be transfixed on three Biblical truths that pulpits in America need to be preaching.  This is not to say that they are not, only that it must be so, if they are to call themselves churches and this nation Christian.  

First truth, without a genuine and true REPENTANCE there can be no salvation.  I fear all too often that people view God and his Son as a taxi cab, merely a vehicle that they can “catch a ride to” wherever they are going.  “Sure, I will pray this little prayer, go to church now and then, and say I am a Christian.”  “Hey, if it helps me with this problem or gets me over that hill, why not?”  And maybe not.  Maybe this is not always a conscious effort or decision within the mind of the cab rider.  In fact I don’t think it is, I feel most people are just doing what others around them are doing; and the preacher/pastor is telling them that, that is all there is.  However the Bible says otherwise.  Jesus says otherwise.  He said that “if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  Whosoever will save his own life shall lose and whosoever shall lose his own life for my sake the same shall find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)  When you begin to preach this truth- some folks will say “Uh, cabbie, can you let me off at the next corner please?”  But not all will say that, some will find God…..But don’t you see?  We must preach this.  We must tell people that unless you die out to yourself, your way, your wishes.  “God all that I am, was, or ever wish to be is now yours.”  “You are supreme and I don’t want to go or do what I used to do.  Be who I used to be, I am done with all my sinning business.”  A soul must get to this place if they are to truly save their life.  If they are to truly find God.  But is your Church preaching this?  Do we truly believe this?  What is the pulpit saying on Sunday morning?  Are they telling you what will get you back in the door next Sunday?  Or what will help you find God?

            The second truth that I believe every pulpit in American should be preaching is a call for every converted soul (a soul is converted at the place of repentance) to be Sanctified.  Why? Because the Bible calls for every converted soul to be Sanctified.  “This is the will of God even your sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)  Some may not call it Sanctification per say; some may call it born again, or filled with the Spirit, perfect love.  Whatever you call it-the pulpits of American must preach that the Holy Ghost has to, and will indeed enter into, a willing, forgiven, heart; burn out all carnality, (the want to sin) and create a new heart that desires to serve/love God.  This is the standard” “you must be born again.” (John 3)  When this happens the Holy Ghost will keep you from sinning, and present every man perfect in the sight of God.  But you must sacrifice yourself. (Romans 12:1-2)  You must give up all your plans, ambitions, and wishes.  Again, a lot of people get out of the car right here, but not everyone.  So what is your preacher saying on this subject Sunday morning?  Did you discuss Sanctification last Sunday in Sunday school?  Ask him about this coming Sunday…..we must preach this, we must live this.

            The third truth that I believe every pulpit in America should be preaching is the Biblical definition of growth in grace.  Not to be confused with sinning under grace.  Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could have a “free meal ticket.”  As if he was to say “sure, indulge yourself on all the fatness of the world, but remember who is covering the bill every once and a while.”  “And make sure to thank me for it.”  Jesus died so that we might be DELIVERED from all that.  Not even in the world any more, but raised up, and made to sit together in heavenly places (if have questions about this statement please write to pgcollins65@gmail.com).  Real growth in grace is the chastising rod of the Spirit that comes after we have received the Spirit (i.e. sanctification).  For example, you used to go to concerts before you got Sanctified, now your friends are going to a concert this weekend.  So you go, while you’re there you look around at all the people reaching out to touch the lead singer……….you think, hmmmmm, this is a lot like idol worship…you begin to feel the keen sting of the Holy Ghost (like love you know it when you feel it), then you say man I don’t need to be here.  Now concerts are off limits, God told you not to go so you don’t go anymore.  He has grace enough to give concern to our ignorance, and grace enough to help us with it.  Why? BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN; just listen to the Spirit.  That instruction may not be for your buddy, but it is for you, and you need to listen; and they need to respect your conviction.  Also, you might be reading your Bible (as you should be doing, everyday) the Bible says to you “come out from among them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you.” You begin to think “hmmmm”, Friday night is coming up and my buddies are going to a friend’s house where there will be drinking, and poker, and other sinful activities.  The scripture says that I should be separate, maybe that’s not the best place for me to be…..maybe I should go to church instead, because it’s Friday night and they have meeting tonight.  Growth in grace.  Granted, these are elementary examples, but the crux of the matter is: listen to God when he speaks, and for him to speak you need to engage in conversation.  How? By reading your Bible, and praying…..daily.  Please excuse if I am sounding a little to “preachy”---let me simply say this; if you want a good lesson on how to grow in grace read 2 Peter 1:1-11.  It says more on the subject in a few short verses, than I could say in many lifetimes.  America needs growth in grace-is your church practicing true growth in grace?  Biblical growth in grace?  What’s the pulpit saying on the subject?

            What we preach, teach, and most importantly…LIVE.  Is far more important, than what is in our bank accounts, how many Facebook friends we have, or who is going to win American Idol.  America needs a revival, the WORLD needs a revival, and it starts with the individual.  It starts with you….it starts with me.  It starts from within.

Thought’s?  Questions?  Comments? –please send to pgcollins65@gmail.com

The I AM

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” –Exodus 3:14

I AM THAT I AM……when Moses inquired of…”wait stop” “who’s Moses?”  Oh yes, sorry, Moses-arguably the most prominent figure in the Old Testament, the Israelite man chosen by God to lead his people out of their enslaved state in Egypt (see the book of Exodus).  Ok, when Moses inquired of God what he should say to the children of Israel when asked “who sent you?”; God replied to him the I AM sent you.  What God has blessed me with this week, and in weeks prior is the thought…why did he say “I AM”?

            I must confess that this is one mental rabbit trail that yielded a fluffy white bunny.  I say this because, at least for me, they so often do not.  I AM- two monosyllabic words that convey an absolute presence.  Only God can make a statement that he truly has absolute presence, because only God can exist in the three “tenses” simultaneously and indefinitely.  Only God can exist in the past, present, and future.  He was here before the world began, he is here right this very instant, and will be here long after we are gone.  He is the I AM.  The statement that God told Moses to make was a statement of fact, and of unquestionable authority.  The word AM, implies that he already was; it also conveys that he currently is.  Finally, it gives lenience to the fact that he will continue to be.  “God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM.”  He is all that you see, he is everything that will be.  He is “above all, through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6) You are a grain of sand, I AM the cosmos.  You are a rain drop, I AM the atmosphere.  You are a snow flake, I AM the Himalayas.  “Look down Moses, you see that ant toiling at your feet.”  “That is Pharaoh to me.  That is your cares and concerns in my eyes.”  The children of Israel will follow you, because I AM THAT I AM.  You tell them that the I AM sent you; you tell them that is who is in your corner.   

            God charged Moses with the task of staring down a tyrant, and leading a nation out of bondage.  He performed that task, not because of the man he was, but because of who he trusted.  So if God is calling you to go and do, then go and do……always remembering that the I AM sent you.

Please reply with any and all thought, questions, concerns….grammatical corrections J- to pgcollins65@gmail.com

         I appreciate and enjoy reading all the feedback that you send- Thank you.

Do you FEEL a need?

“Let not conscience make you linger.

Nor of fitness fondly dream.

The only fitness he requireth.

Is to feel a need of him.”

The above quote is actually a verse from the song “I will Arise and Go to Jesus.”(also known as Come ye Sinners)  It has been what God has given me this week; specifically the line “The only fitness he requireth is to feel a need of him.” 

            I wonder how many today really feel a need of God.  Or rather, how many feel a need and don’t recognize it is actually God they need.  The sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost is a wondrous miracle.  When the Holy Ghost sanctifies your soul it becomes your greatest supplier, and your greatest need.  When the Holy Ghost comes into your heart he supplies you with the power to live holy, and the ability to understand spiritual things.  It supplies you with the: mind of Christ, assurance of salvation, conviction to abstain for doing, unction to continue doing.  It can move on a church service; lift up the hands that hang down and confirm the feeble knees.  It is the “doing” end of God, if you please.  A never failing supplier of all that we need.  Why? Because God is a never failing supplier of all that we need. 

So if this supplier is so great, then why is there need?  Well………let me tell you about the river Nile.  In ancient times the Nile supplied nutrients to the soil and water to the crops.  This in turn supplied food to the people.  However, none of this was possible without the rains falling and the Nile flooding its banks.  Without the flooding of the Nile, there was no water, and if there was no water, then there was no food.  The people had an absolute need for the Nile, and what it supplied.  As do we with the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost i.e. Sanctification).  We stand in absolute need of the living water that flows from the throne itself and cuts its way into a human heart-this river of life that can flood the hearts of men and supply all our needs; “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”(John 4:14)  It can bring nutrients and feed the seed of faith which God has planted, this- combined with our obedience to His wills, ways, and wishes can bring about a bountiful crop.  Without this flooding, without this river, we are desolate and dying; poor and broken.  We have an absolute need of the Spirit, sinner and saint alike; the separation between the two is simply the realization of the need, and a whole hearted commitment to plant your life within the Nile’s flood plain.  The Holy Ghost is our greatest supplier and our greatest need.

So if you are reading, and find yourself in need of a flood-Arise and go to Jesus; plant yourself by his life giving waters.  Repent of your sins and be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  “The only fitness he requireth is to feel a need of him.”

Questions, Comments, Thoughts,……Concerns?

Please reply to pgcollins65@gmail.com        

More like Mary

I look around at my fellow Americans today, and it seems as though we are always “on the go”; consumed with our “have-to’s”, “need to’s”, and “want-to’s.”  We “have-to” do this or that, RIGHT NOW.  We “need to” do this or that, RIGHT NOW and we “want to” do this or that right now.  We live in a culture that pushes urgency, and some things require urgent attention, however, do you really need to check your Facebook at the dinner table?  Do you really need to respond to that text while you’re driving?  When did the thoughts that are birthed in our own minds become ill equipped to occupy our time?  What is so wrong with just sitting down and TALKING to one another?  Not talking and texting.  Angry birds playing and texting and talking.  Youtube watching, angry birds playing, texting and talking.  Youtube watching, angry birds……Ok, I think you get the point.  This week God has blessed me with the thought: When did we declare war on being still?            

In this day and age we have more automated “stuff” than we ever had.  We have more time saving devices than ever before; for the first time in human history you can know virtually anything you would like to know in .068 seconds.  Why ask God when I can ask Google?  Why read the Bible when I can read the commentary?  Seriously, I don’t have time to wait on the Lord, I got places to be.  We have more technology in place than any generation before us, yet we seem to be busier than ever.  The simple fact is…we all have 24 hours in a day, we each one choose what to do with that twenty four hours, and all these gadgets and gizmos have an off button.  God will not compete for your time, you must give it to him.  You must be still, I must be still.  A conscious decision to turn off the world and wait at the feet of Jesus, while not glamorous, is so very profitable to our spiritual wellbeing.  It is good conversation and communication that keeps a relationship healthy-and Jesus wants us to pine for his time, he is ready and willing to pour out blessings, and daily load us with benefits.  Not only that, you will find that your one on one time with God can be so much more entertaining than anything that comes with a cord or has a screen.  So, why bring this up?  Why should we be so concerned about what everybody else does with their private time?  Well the truth is…I am not all that concerned, at the end of the day, people are going to do what they want to do, but let me offer this outlook before you go. 

The Church is built of individuals, the stronger the individual-the stronger the Church.  If you want things to get better in your community, home, church…..if you really want revival in this country.  It. Starts. With. YOU………..and it starts with me.  We must be the people, and if we be the people, he WILL be the God.        

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Thoughts? Please respond to pgcollins65@gmail.com