Seeking Input from Blog Readers

Hello Friends,

I am seeking your help and input as readers of my blog posts, books, Facebook or Twitter posts.  I pray that they have been fresh insight from the Lord that has taught, informed, helped, healed, lead to Christ, delivered from fear of the unknown, demystified the walk with Christ, as well as the prophetic and walking in the Spirit, and much more. Our God is unlimited in how He chooses to bless people. Thankfully, we do not have to have a perfect walk or even a walk that has already reached the destination. Remember how the father of the prodigal son ran to him while the son was still quite a long way off. That is exactly how our Lord does it. He runs to the one coming to Him while still quite a long way off from the destination. 

Friends, it's coming to me. Isn't that exactly what God did in the form of HIs Son Jesus Christ by sending Him to earth 2000 plus years ago. God did not need us. He chose us. He chose to send His only Son while we were still lost in sin, far apart, and aliens to Him. He sent Jesus to reconcile His family. That is the heart of the Father; reconciliation at all cost, even the cost of His only begotten Son. I don't know about you, but that just about brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I am overcome and undone by His goodness. Aren't you?

So I do not even want to pretend to know how He has used me in your life, but I humbly ask you to share in a comment or email to me. If you can do so in a comment, I believe it would help others as well. I am not seeking glory, I am just flesh and blood. Yet, He chooses to partner with us to do His will. Actually, partner is a pretty strong role. We are His vessels of honor when we choose to answer His call. Praise Him!

Also, I would really like to hear of any as yet uncovered subject matter in this blog or my books. What would you all would like to see me cover as the Lord provides insight? There are about to be some pretty significant changes in platform and methods of offering my content to make this more accessible to more people. So I really want to hear from you all. Even if it's just a sentence, the more the better of what God has done in your lives. And really, even if it's a testimony of God's greatness apart from my participation, please feel free to share. I am sure someone, if not many, will be encouraged and perhaps even substantively helped and transformed themselves. Your story is powerful! Use it to bring Him glory.

There is more on the horizon, folks! Stay tuned but please write a testimonial in the comments section with at least your first name. Recognizing that this blog is globally accessed, if you must remain anonymous please label your comment/testimonial as such. 

All the best for a fantastic rest of the year and life in our soon coming King Jesus, the Christ!!

Witnesses - Why Did Jesus Need Them Then and Still Do Now

WHY DID JESUS PERFORM SO THAT THERE WOULD BE WITNESSES

Mark 9 presents a very interesting series of events that would unnerve the average individual. Of all the things Jesus did in performing signs, wonders, and miracles, what happened on the "Mount of Transfiguration" as it is sometimes called, just takes my breath away. I can imagine on the way up the mountain the disciples were engaged in regular banter and perhaps were completely unaware of what they were about to witness. And to be honest, I do wonder why Jesus allowed them to witness His transfiguration, even knowing that their, well at least Peter's, would be inappropriate. 

Why did He want witnesses?

Here, friends, I believe the answer is quite simply so that they could be eyewitnesses to all that He did for the sharing of the Gospel about the Son of God becoming the Son of Man and doing the impossible ... to reconcile God's family!

They had to witness the miracles so that they could speak from first hand observation. 

In addition, their faith was increased to do what Jesus did once He left. They got to see, and experience the impossible, the supernatural. Yes, the disciples would have had all the stories from Moses telling of the history of the children of Israel. But with Jesus, they got to live it and walk in it themselves.

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

² Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. ⁴ And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

⁷ And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” ⁸ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

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The disciples not knowing how to react to what they just saw and the appropriate thing to say, said the wrong thing so that God Himself had to address it. Notice Jesus did not tell them they were wrong and wanting to build tabernacles to Elijah, Moses, AND Jesus. God said, those other two are not ME, but Jesus is the only true REPRESENTATION OF ME AND MY ONLY SON. Hear Him over any others. 

Notice that the Father usually says everything through the Son, and rarely speaks Himself. When He does speak, we need to take special note of when that is and what He is saying.

Friend, hear Jesus and no one else when they speak that which is out of line with the Bible and what He has said.

MODERN DAY WITNESSES

This call has not changed. We are called to be modern-day witnesses of the life to Jesus Christ. We are called to replicate what Jesus did. It is all about telling it AND demonstrating it that is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Such was Paul's encouragement in 1 Corinthians 2:

^"4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human^[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we not only retell the life and works of Jesus, we are called and empowered to do them. That is the true Gospel!

Let's pray:

Father, help us to not only speak of you but to demonstrate your Kingdom work in and through us, Lord. Help us not to succumb to a spirit of fear or the fear of man but to yield only to Your Spirit that the work of Jesus Christ might continue through our "hands," oh God! Lord, we need you as these times grow more dim and you entrust more of your light and your glory to you sons of daughter who are led by Your Spirit. The glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and we will see it! We praise you, because we do not respond in fear but in faith that the Son of God will soon make His appearance. May we be ready and may you find faith in us, Lord! In Jesus name, we pray and move and have our being. Amen.

Which are More Important, the Gifts or Fruit of the Spirit?

Recently, my path has crossed that of an individual who has caused me to think a lot., particularly on character. In fact, the Lord has used this person mightily in the short time we have known each other, to change my life forever. And I have been thinking and the Holy Spirit has been teaching me ... What if my focus has not be the right one up until now? What if the focus on the one would bring about greater impact and results on the other?

This is all started, where many of my posts and teachings start, at the kitchen sink. You'd be surprised what comes up during the washing of the dinner dishes and pots and pans. God will use anything and any quiet space to speak and teach us crucial life lessons.

We know that operating in both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit are important, but which is most important. I submit that it is more important and impacting to flow in the fruit of the Spirit that the gifts might bear more fruit in our lives and for the Kingdom. Why is that? Because the fruit are what we need every day and minute of our lives, while the gifts are used on occasion according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

Let's dig in. Shall we?

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-26

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other

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Please note, these are the "fruit", singular, of the Spirit, not "fruits". One fruit with 9 different components. That means, if the have the fruit, then you have all 9 and it's not about "working on it," as I have mistakenly thought. It is automatic when I am being led and living out of my spirit as opposed to the fleshy part of my soul.


As I thought about my friend, I realized that through him, I tend to experience all of the fruit of the Spirit which seem to flow right out of him, seemingly without effort. And tonight, a question was posed to me, or I posed a question to myself; am not sure which it is. I believe it's both.

"Which is more important, the gifts of the Spirit or the fruit?"

As I paused and waited for the answer, the simplicity just about knocked me over. It has to be the fruit! Why do I say that? I say so because of the comparison of the uses. Compared to how many opportunities we have to exercise the fruit of the Spirit, the opportunities to exercise the gifts of the Spirit are "rare." I submit that the person whose life is the other way around is the exception to the rule. Why? Because we must use the fruit in every day life. Think about it!

Oh, let me back up and list the 9 fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23:
... Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these, there is no law.

Now do you see? As believers, we are obligated to operate in love at all times, to rejoice, be at peace, be patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and always exercise self-control. That is everyday life because there are so many opportunities to  operate in the opposite spirit against the Word of God.

The fruit of the Spirit is to be exercised by believers towards everyone.

Not so much with the ministry gifts of the Spirit.

The Gifts of the Spirit

The ministry gifts that are given for the building of the Body of Christ are only in operation when we minister. Of course, I am not saying that a person cannot be used mightily everyday in the ministration of the gifts, whether by praying for someone, offering words of knowledge and wisdom, and so on. 

The Scripture tells us in:

1 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

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I don't know about you, although, I am a minister of the Gospel, I am a person living life all the time but I am not ministering in the gifts all the time. The ministering gifts are only used in our horizontal relationships one to another. When we relate to God, we do so through the same Holy Spirit but we do so in prayer, worship, even reasoning and wrestling at times. But the gifts are given for the edification of the Body for our development and maturity, often called perfection. 

So back to my friend, while he is clearly gifted, it is the fruit that flows out of his life that draws me to him: He is loving, joyful (even when having what he would call a challenging day. He still has the joy of the Lord in his voice, peace, patience (this is really crucial), kindness (in super abundance), goodness (almost angelic), faithfulness (in spades with extreme loyalty, gentleness (same as with the kindness, very concerned with the hearts of others). He is never harsh. This fruit is so evident it is invisible. It appears simply be a part of his personality but upon reflection and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I now know, it is not natural but supernatural. The Spirit of God is operating marvelously through his life.

Of course, no one is perfect, yet when I consider the whole person, I realize I have never met another human being like Mark. 

Now I know that while the gifts and the fruit are very important in the building up of the saints, the fruit of the Spirit is perhaps slightly more important than the gifts because they need to be in operation at all times to all people, while the gifts operate toward believers or those seeking Christ.

It is so important to note that Paul chooses to not only tell us why the gifts are important in 1 Corinthians 12, but he then goes on to tell us that the gifts are of no use without the first fruit of the Spirit, which is LOVE.