Bearing one another's Burdens.

The story is told of a young sergeant and his company moving in on the enemy, when suddenly they are ambushed by a rain of gunfire all around them. They are trapped, it seems there is no way out. The sergeant is hit in both of hi legs. He falls face down in the mud; afraid to move he lays in excruciating, agonizing pain... saying his prayers. Day turns to night and the scene quiets. the sergeant makes every attempt to make his exit but he is unable to crawl even ten yards. The pain is too much. Blood loss has begun to make him cold and sleepy, his body is loosing too much blood.
Then through the darkness he sees a silhouette of two men heading his way. He though for a moment it could be a rescue team for him; but then he heard them speaking in a language other than his own. It was the enemy. He could not take his eyes off the moving figures; it was as if he were staring death in the face, immobilized by a combination of fear and pain he sets there motionless. The men stop and investigate dead bodies near him and take weapons and boots off the bodies. soon they were right next to him, again he says his prayers and asks God for help. The enemy gets to his body and BANG, BANG, BANG. The man flinched and screamed ready for death. The shots were on target, fatal and they came from a rescue team. They knew his location and saved him just in time.

What would have happened if the rescue team would have never come? The young sergeant would have been captured, tormented and killed. The two enemy soldiers would have been too much for him to handle in his current state. Sometimes in our own lives it seems like we can't handle what is going on. We need an interceding member to make our load lighter or even outright eliminate the weight on our shoulders.

Let us go to scripture and see what God says on the matter: We are commanded to bear one another's burdens in order to fulfill the law of Christ. Galations 6:2 "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

What is Christ's law and how is it fulfilled? Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."" Christ's law is loving our neighbor and part of that is bearing each other's burdens. We cannot possibly deal with our own burden on our own, we need guidance and support. Our burdens and sin are like an immovable anchor around our necks, or a ball and chain limiting our ability to accomplish things. We need others to lean on for guidance and support and who also lean on us for the same things because it cannot be done without help.

How are we to bear the burdens of others if we are dealing with our own problems? The answer is revealed in scripture: Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Have we ever said "why does all the good stuff always happen to them?" This verse tells us we should be rejoicing with them, not complaining or feeling upset because these things didn't happen to us. If we share in rejoicing over them for their good happenings they should in return share in the sorrow we have and lift us up.

Why should we do such a thing, it doesn't make complete sense? I Corinthians 12: 27-31 "now you are the body of Christ and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." We are all members of the body of Christ and need to be acting as one body, so one members burden should become the burden of the rest thus the body may act as one. Sometimes we need to go to someone who has been through something similar for the support and guidance we need in order to get through it. Going to the wrong person with a problem will not provide a correct solution for it.

We cannot deal with sin on our own. Isn't that something. Let me say it again. We cannot deal with sin on our own. We could never carry our own sin alone, sin is an immovable anchor around our necks. There is only one way to have relief from sin (which sends us to Hell) and that is to put in in the hands of someone who has already dealt with sin. 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the spirit." Christ died, went to Hell and dealt with the issue of sin on His own and three days later rose. He did this that we may find deliverance from sin in Him. There is nobody else who truly knows how to eliminate sin, there is only Jesus. So turn to Jesus with your greatest burden, SIN and give it to Him for He will deal with it properly.

We are commanded to bear each other's burdens. Are we doing what we are commanded to do? Are we fulfilling the law of Christ? The best place to start is by submitting our burden and sin to Jesus because He is the only one who can always help. Jesus is our rescue team, He is there just in the knick of time to save us and bear the burden of sin, for us because nobody else can. Thank you Lord.

God bless.

Open Doors!

One of the hardest things about being a Christian is learning to hear the voice of God. There are many times when we may think we know what God wants us to do and when we act, we fail. What's the deal? Are we missing the message, or is it really that difficult. Doesn't God want us to be the gloves on His hands?

I am going to be truthful with you; I too go through seasons of failure. I have been meditating on purpose for a while now. There are so many people, myself included; of whom want to be used in mighty ways. People possesing the gifts to do so, but it doesn't seem like the right doors open. I was browsing some old pictures and I found something revealing. God gave me the answer when I was not looking for it. It was a picture of a door, removed from it's hinge, beat up and against a wall. What does it mean?

I began to think about doors and what they represent: doors represent a paths or ways access, it is an obstacle in the way, an open door grants the ability to go through and follow the path or way it provides, and a closed door represents inability to do so.

God has spoken these two verses to me, in revelation over this picture; Revelation 3:8 (New International Version) "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Matthew 7:7-8 (New International Version ) "7 ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;" This became something so profound in my life I cannot contain it; God is so amazing.

Here's the end result. I saw a picture of a beat up door which has been removed and placed against a wall; walls represent defenses by the way. I saw the beat up door and it reminded me of the constant petitioning/knocking I have done for an open door. Then I noticed the door was removed from it's original place. The door was no longer serving its purpose, the doorway was cleared of its obstacle. The wall was cracked and repaired and on the other side of the door, this represented a defense which is impenetrable and a path that goes no place. Finally God showed me that the picture represented a focus. I have spent all of this time banging on a door, focusing on what was in my way instead of the way I was pursuing. God had already done what He said He would do. The door was not only opened but it was removed, thus opening "a door that no one can shut," and "knock and the door will be opened to you." My problem was my focus, I was depending on myself and how I was going to move that door, not trusting that it was already taken care of and having something called faith. I now can look at a perfect open doorway; perhaps freedom really was just a perspective away.

God bless you all and take your eyes of the obstacle and put your trust in the path God is defining for you; He will provide and His word will not return to Him Void.

Got Oil?

What could fully represent both ends of this transition? What can be both worthless and have insurmountable worth? What causes disgrace yet becomes beautiful? What can be made clean of which is filthy in essence? How could something be built-up when broken in many pieces?

What if I were to say the worth is discovered in the realization of worthlessness, the beautiful made perfect through trial and revelation of disgrace, the clean made from reality given of such filth, and the built-up, made by breaking down walls and structures.

Disgrace brings filth, followed by worthlessness, which will lead to brokenness. We are then; Built up, made clean and beautiful and given worth. However we are built-up because of this brokenness caused by disgrace, filth and worthlessness. It is then when we realize the worth in as such, someone cares enough to pick up the pieces and make us clean and beautiful.

Each one of us is born with sin, since the fall of man. It is inevitable. We live lives full of disgrace, idolatry, sin. We are covered in filth, surrounded by filth and sin. What things we think we may have accomplished are as dirty rags. Why would anyone, let alone God, care or even love us, we are not worthy of such love.

Matt: 25: 1-4 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. –Now Five of them were wise and five were foolish. –Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, -but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

We represent the bride of Christ and Jesus is a love-sick God. SoS 4:9 “You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart with one look, with one link of your necklace.”

Ravished: To seize and carry away, to over whelm with emotion, to enrapture, enthralled, to move, to delight beyond measure.

Sister = he knows us for who we are

Sister – spouse is not an insistial application. We man and woman are known by god for who we are and will not be in a marriage like man and woman, but will have the privilege of being with Him for all eternity on the most personal and intimate levels.

Jesus really is love-sick for us, He is absolutely ruined over us.

• All it takes is one true look …. Seeking and finding
• One sincere act of will…. The neck symbolizes a persons will.
• It all is valued, it all is important and you mean a whole lot to Him.

I remember when I first saw my wife walking up the isle on our wedding day, by bride was ready. It did something to me, it confirmed everything we went through to get there, it stirred my heart, shook it and I felt it… I felt pangs of pain in my body as I died to myself for my bride. She stole me in that moment. This was the most horrifically beautiful moment in my life.

When we take a real look, when we truly seek after and see Jesus for all he is; He is moved in the very same way. He is totally ravished in that moment, this is a moment when his bride is looking and willing towards Him, it is a moment when He realized how much worth it, it was to die for us.

Our lives are the preparation and walk up the isle, and Jesus is eagerly awaiting his bride. Matt, 25:1-13 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

We need to have spiritual oil, we need to be ready for the bridegroom when the time comes. We obtain spiritual oil through the pouring out of ourselves through prayer and worship with god, intimacy with God fills us up.

The Life and Work of Christ (Part III)

This is the conclusion to messages The life and Work of Christ Part I and Part II

How can all this be done? First we must Live Matthew 16:24 and Philemon 1:6. Matthew 16-24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Philemon 1:6 "That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." This is done through faith, discipline in the renewal of mind, laboring, and profession.

It all starts with faith and faith may be the hardest part. Faith is nothing more than absolute trust. To put faith in God is to trust Him completely with EVERYTHING. 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” To "fight the good fight," is to persevere in faith. Faith perpetuates the Christian walk, without it we are dead weight.

To have Absolute trust and faith forces ones mind to go into a state of logistical delirium. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is irrational to the logistical mind. For this reason we must discipline our mind to accept and believe what does not seem to be physically attainable. Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Here we see, the more we feed our mind spiritual meat the greater our faith. Our mind must be made subject to the things of God in order to have absolute faith.

We must also labor towards the things of God. This is done through a few vehicles: Holy Sacraments, service, and perseverance. This helps us to live Philemon 1:6 and confines our spiritual gifts, wisdom and faith. Another thing we may labor with is the exercise of Profession. This uses our faith, the fruits of disciplining the mind, and laboring to build our faith up. Confusing? Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Profession is a tool used in our daily walk with Christ. It includes: confession, corresponding actions, affirmation, reckoning or counting, acknowledgment, audible and quiet meditation, seeing what God sees, quiet or audible agreement, audible and mental thanks, thanksgivings through giving, and praising God for what He has done. All of these things exercise ones faith through the meditation of God's Word, reflection and thanksgiving as well as claiming the promises of God with authority.

With a firm understanding of the foundation and work of Christ' Work and love; Christians may have a clear view of life as well as enter into rest. We have reviewed near every aspect of Christ' Work and the application therein, now go and labor towards rest. As a Christ said.... "It is Finished."

The Life and Work of Christ Part II

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF YESTERDAYS MESSAGE THE LIFE AND WORK OF CHRIST PART I

With the basic foundation laid out We may now get into the length, depth, breadth, and height figurative of the "Four Dimensions of the Work of Christ."

The first dimension/precept/phase is the Crucifixion. It is easy to understand Jesus died on the cross for our sins; there is no mystery in that. However; there is more to it. The first phase a Christian must go through is self-death. Romans 6:6-8, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” When one dies to self, only then may life in Christ be achieved. Romans 6:10-11, "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This confirms the need to die to self. Christ' work on the cross initiated salvation, when we invite Him into our lives we must learn how to die to self. Matthew 16-24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."

Following Jesus is a necessity and Colossians 3:1-3 tells us the basic truth as to how, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” To aid us along in Christ we should live Philemon 1:6 "That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." According to the great commission we should share the gospel with others, if we are focused on "things above not on things on earth," we will be effective ministers for the Kingdom.

The second dimension/precept/phase is Christ' "Descension, confrontation with, and subsequent stripping of the power the devil had over man." (TSF Four Dimensions of the Love of Christ.) Jesus had to have descended into hell to defeat Satan; this is shown in God's infallible Word: Ephesians 4:9-10, “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” In dimension one; Jesus had to die as Sin so He could deal with, and defeat it in dimension two of His work. Colossians 2:15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” This will bring us into the third dimension of His work.

The resurrection marks the third dimension. Now there has been atonement for sin and the defeat of Satan, Jesus conquers death itself. Romans 6:9, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” If we die to sin, put trust in Christ' defeat of Satan we too, being in Christ, need not to worry about death for it has no dominion. The Resurrection also marks our rebirth as a new creation. When we take up our cross and die to self, Jesus defeats Satan and we are born annew of incorruptible seed. 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." We are born again as new creations free of the bonds of sin, perfect and white as snow. How worthy of praise is our Lord who creates in us a new creation!

Finally we have the Ascension. Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” This is the rest we are to "labor towards." The final result of the Christian life is REST dwelling with Jesus in the "heavenly places." When we walk in The Way and claim the promises and works of Christ on our lives; we may obtain rest. How marvelous!

Tomorrow I will Have the Complete wrap up of the message, please check it out, otherwise there are too many loose ends in the message.

The Life and Work of Christ Part I

I have a nice treat for you guys, I will be teaching on the life and work of Christ for the next three days. Please visit me each day to get the full potential of the teaching. Enjoy!

The ultimate goal of a Christian should be to become "Christ-like." It is by comprehending the work of Christ in proper context whereby one may reach understanding and a Christ-like walk as well as rest. "My people are destroyed for a lack of Knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) For this reason it becomes a must for Christians to understand the work of Christ and its applications and enter into rest.

There are four dimensions of the Work or Love of Christ referred to in Ephesians 3:17-21, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." The work and love of Christ is not one dimensional, it makes up every perceivable realm of reality. The work of Christ is meant to be something people can live in, not just follow.

We are told in Isaiah 28:9-13 of "......precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:..." These precepts and lines each are four and represent specific doctrines and knowledge to be understood by those "weaned from the milk..." or no longer living in the sense of "natural man." It is meant to be understood by new creations in Christ because the "natural man" cannot comprehend it fully. There are also four measures of depth outlined in Ezekiel 47:1-5: ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep, and over the head deep waters to be swum in. These represent "to me" walking with God through each of the four phases of Christ work as they occur in me.

The state of swimming as just mentioned is relative to "rest." Christians are to labor towards this rest by doing four things: Learning, Knowing, Deciding to believe and deciding to trust. When one has faith they have decided to trust fully. We enter into rest when we learn the promises of God, Meditate on them, believe in them and put our trust in them. John 6:28-29, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

To best understand Christ' work one must understand the nature of man. Romans 7:15, "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." Man works against himself; although we know what is right, what is healthy and want to follow these things, by nature man does the things they wish not to do. For this reason one must understand their nature before they can grasp Christ' love and work.

The fall of man in Eden marked all to follow with what some call "original sin," or a corruptible seed. This is the seed of Satan: 1 Corinthians 15:45, "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." The corruptible seed was placed by Satan in the soul of man. The soul is defined as "(Greek – Psuche - soft) Breath, referring to breath as in the natural breath of life; a soft breeze as opposed to a blast of air. Soul is the place - our emotions and our mind are the battleground." This differs from the spirit of man which is defined: "(Greek – Pneuma - powerful) A current or blast of air, breath or breeze; figurative of the human or Holy Spirit, innermost being." As we can see from the scripture the "last Adam" or old Adam represents man before the fall, a "quickening spirit." After the fall man became a "living soul" as a result of the corruptible seed sown by Satan.

There is a promise however; man is not to be slave to corruptible seed forever. Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." God is speaking to Satan here and we see the first promise of deliverance. "her seed" is Jesus Christ and "thy seed" is sin. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

With this promise we may receive the incorruptible seed: 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." We are reborn by the word of God and of an incorruptible seed. We are reborn by Jesus for He is the word of God: John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." There is a new creation in Christ.... Thank you Jesus!

Mission Statement.

I have had many people asking me, who I am and some what my purpose is in all of this. I feel it proper to post my mission statement. This statement is not unique to myself and should relate or help define God's purpose for all Christians.

Mark 12:33 "To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." This is the calling God has on my life. I am to love God with all I have; truthfully I believe one never really owns a thing but their life. My reasoning is this: All the things in this world are but a whisper in the wind, hardly worth noting as anything significant in comparison to eternity. Things of this world will come and go. Things one acquires with money, work, and time which are not eternal, one does not own. For these things are left behind; "taken away," so to say, after their time comes. The only thing a person is given which will always be; no matter what ones choices are, is their being. Ecclesiastes 5:15 "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand."

Having said this I ask myself this question, "whose life am I living?" Although this life is "my" life initially, God wants it all. I could offer Him my every success and act and give all the glory to God, but for me this is not enough. He wants everything.

It took me a while to understand this as a baby Christian but as He worked in me this question came to the surface and I needed an answer. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." This verse is so incredibly convicting to me. My life is no longer "my life", it is Christ's life now. Now He has it all and in good reason too. I say, "dying for me is what He did, living for Him is all I can do."

I fully submit my life to Him because He gave His for me, 1 John 4:19 "We love Him because He first loved us." Christ governs this life because He earned it with His life. My sacrifice is my own life, John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." I want to offer the greater love to Jesus.

In submitting this life to God it is my duty to follow his will. This is where Loving my neighbor comes in. This is the base of my ministry. All I can do is love. Loving my neighbor requires me to put them on a higher level than myself. If I know the joy Christ brings and I have blissful eternity, and I don't know if those around me do. Then I am convicted and motivated to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them to paradise (through me if it is His will), to allow Christ to lead them to him using me as a vessel of ministry. Loving them is giving them a chance to feel what I feel and know what I know, because I want them to experience it. This nation is in dire need of God, this world is in desperate need of Christ. It is my calling to offer my life as a utensil of outreach. Using my gifts to better the kingdom of God and lay up treasure in heaven.

I will endure as my God sustains me and fight the good fight, do the good will, and live the good life. I will submerge myself in the good word, seek goodness, and trust in goodness. For God Is GOOD.

If you have not written a mission statement for yourself, I encourage you to. It is something you can look back on to keep you on track and give you direction. Everyone was created with a purpose thus there is a mission. Seek the purpose and mission God has for you, write it down and keep it. Give it to your friends and let them know what you live for. If you like post your statement as a reply to this message so many more can check it out.

God Bless