When Worlds Collide

  Bucking the system, going against the grain. Saying "NO" to worldly ideas and trends.

   Believers live in a world that is ever changing and ever moving away from Biblical truths.

  We find ourselves making decisions every day based on what?? What the world expects or what Jesus would have us to do??

  If we decide on the higher path and follow what Jesus would do, do we find ourselves wondering "Will this really make a change", "What will others think?"

  We are called to be "different" from a worldly prospective. Our nature should be about forgiveness, putting others before us. When Jesus spoke about "the last will be first" He was showing us a path to be followed.....Think of others before ones self. 


  I know some of the thoughts that go thru my head, " Does it really matter?", "They will just keep coming back for more handouts".

 Teach a man how to fish and he can feed himself, rather then give him a handout. I've heard this phrase all my life and Biblically speaking it falls short of what Jesus wants us to do or teaches.
  I believe that you must do BOTH, feed him and teach him how to fish, (buy him a fishing pole while your at it). That way his hunger is satisfied for now, but he also has the ability to feed himself. Just don't hand them a Bible, show them how to read the Bible and get the most from the Bible.

  I think most Christians today are willing to give a hungry person something to eat, but as Believers do we take it to the next step? Help him find a job maybe? Come back the next day to see what other needs they need met? Most throw them a couple dollars and move on....saying to themselves "I have done my good deed for the day, maybe brag about it, by casually mentioning it that evening.
  Believers need to take it to the next level, "What else can I do to help this person?"


 I watched the movie "Blind Side". Truly an amazing story on how one person made such a change in another persons life. I won't go into the specifics of the movie but it shows what can happen when we take it to the next level. If we are not careful we may learn something along the way and be blessed beyond our dreams!


 
We need to stop worrying about what others think and concern ourselves in what Jesus thinks of our decisions.

  The past few years have seen some major changes in my life. Some have been incredibly painful, while others have been an outpouring of joyfulness. I have seen the painful lessons that I have endured turn to blessings in the Makers hands.
  Believers need to be asking/praying daily for Jesus to lead them down the right path, then wait on the answers. The Holy Spirit will guide you thru all the pitfalls that come before us...if you allow it, ask for it and follow His leading.

  Does it really matter? Yes, it really does make a difference!
  What will others think? What does Jesus think?


I know it has been a while since my last post. Computer problems and life in general got in the way. Thanks for reading this short post, You can make a difference, be radical, step out and up in His name, and take it to the next level!!

Love you all and God Bless you always


  

Emotional Integrity

"Taking Control of My Thoughts"

   The first year and a half to two years after I rededicated my life to Jesus, I was voracious, I could not get enough, I would be doing two maybe three different studies at the same time.
   By the end of the second year I was teaching an adult Bible study on Sundays and usually leading another study during the week.
    I love to dig into His word, find little treasures. I heard the Lord when I studied, and I would get such amazing downloads from Him.


    Emotional Integrity was the latest download I received from the Lord.
     I want to start with Romans 12. I chose The Message for its ease of reading and not a literal translation. Read it in whatever translation you are comfortable with.....


<sup>Romans 12 (The Message)


   1-2</sup> So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 
     Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. 
      Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.


      ³ I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.


     ^4-6   In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? 
       So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.


       ^7-8  If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.


     ^9-10  Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.


    ^11-13   Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.


    ^14-16   Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.


    ^17-19   Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."


     ^20-21   Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.


  This chapter is easily summed up: Love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength.


   We are called to be bold, to step out and to step it up, it is imperative that we are intentional with our emotional integrity.


   Our cultures today constantly bombard us with "It's all about me", "Do it my way", "Have it your way", "Just do it", "You deserve it".
    Watch TV or go see a movie, you see all the emotions running the actors lives. Out of control emotions, deceit, manipulation, emotional mind games are just a few examples of poor emotional integrity. Sad thing is, we have come to see this as normal adult behavior.
     We have to know what emotional integrity is, and how to grow into it. If we are going to be steadfast in our calling, we must be intentional with it, not only in our own lives, but also when we minister to the world.


  Emotional Integrity starts with learning how to take our every thought captive for Jesus. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
   We have around 10,000+ thoughts a day run through our minds, how in the world do I suppose to keep control over that?? It takes training!, but most of all you can not do it alone, you need Jesus. When Jesus left this world He sent a Helper to help us in our daily struggles and to help us accomplish the Great Commission, the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 2, Pentecost. 

John 14:15-19
    If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 

      "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 

      And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

      even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.                 

     "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

      Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 

    Emotional Integrity, Keeping our thoughts captive.  


      Your walking down the street and you see an attractive man or woman. How far do you let your mind run with it? or does it continue to go down paths of lust?
       When you get a text or an e-mail, Do you try to read between the lines? She said this, but I think she meant this: see how quickly we let our thoughts run free?
       Your best friend ignores you and walks by without saying "Hello". Do we think "What did I do?" do we think to ourselves "If they are going to treat me this way I won't be their friend!"
       See how reading into something allows our thoughts to control our emotions. The truth of the matter could have been they were focused on what happen in the car earlier, maybe a problem with their child. It had nothing to do with you but you have already become emotionally out of control. You have made it all about you.


   Our thoughts are not reality!


   When we minister to others we must keep our thoughts captive and not allow ourselves to judge that person.
     I have always said "Say what you mean and mean what you say"
     Can you tell I'm not very good at being "politically correct"?


   Another way to look at it is "Where my thought life goes, my life goes also"
   What this means if our thoughts are righteous and noble, our life will reflect that in how we live and our actions and decisions.
  Proverbs 25:28
       Like a city whose wall are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.


     If we allow the lack of self-control to persist in our lives we will become desensitized to controlling our thoughts. We will begin to to justify our decisions to our own gains. Each thought will give birth to another going a little further each time. One day our thoughts will give way to actions....like adultery. Our one thought that we allowed to go free and un-challenged is now causing pain for others and yourself.
     What other examples are there of our thoughts controlling our emotions/actions? Envy, pride, jealousy, anger, deceit. How do any of these benefit our walk with Jesus?


      Have you heard someone say "the devil made me do it"? Satan might have tempted them, but they chose an action.


      I have given some examples of keeping Emotional Integrity, as you can see it all starts with our thought life.

      
Your probably thinking about times when you allowed your thoughts to run free and un-challenged, that's good, you have to recognize it first...now keep them captive. It takes training our thoughts every day. The world is full of triggers that want our minds to run free. 


When your thoughts start to break free..PRAY. 
Your on your way to emotional integrity.
   
      

"Play It Safe??..Be Bold!!!"

 Hebrews 11:6

   “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

One of the myths that has been crippling to Christianity for years is that Jesus has called us to “play it safe” "be tolerant"…when that was not taught or how Jesus or His followers followed the scriptures. 

Acts 20:24
      But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 




Galatians 2:20
       I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 


       Jesus did not "play it safe" , Paul did not "play it safe" , the disciples did not "play it safe". We are called to be bold as the church did in Acts.

Acts 4:18-31
       So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." 

  And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 

  For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. 

  When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 

  And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 

  who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 

  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- 

  for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 

  to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 

 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 

  while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 

  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

    Do you shy away and avoid sharing your faith or your testimony with others for fear of persecution? In the face of great hardships and persecution the "Acts Church" chose to pray for boldness. They did not "play it safe", they stepped forward in the name of Jesus.
     I am not saying they condemned and judged...NO.. they loved and spread Jesus's message with compassion. Risky?? no not at all, they had a great insurance policy! They had Jesus in their hearts, living in them, they were filled with  Holy Spirit and God was on their side.


Romans 8:31-33
       What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

           He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

           Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 

   How do I know if God is leading me or if it is my own idea? That's a great question. How many times have you done nothing because you lacked the faith to step forward? When I have a leading I believe to be from God, I ask myself three things.

1.) Is it in direct conflict with the word of God? The Holy Spirit will not lead us down a path that is in conflict with the word of God.

2.) It stays on your mind, dominating your every thought. The more you dwell on it, the more brilliant the light shines and the hotter the fire in you to "make it happen"

3.) Seek the advise of Godly brothers and sisters. Do they affirm your thoughts? 

    Proverbs 15:22 tells a to seek counsel to be successful. 

  If you can answer "Yes" to all three questions, with no reservations, I believe your on the right track. Be bold, Step out there.

Romans 8:28

      And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 Christians can not sit at home and hide. We cannot go to church and fellowship and turn a blind eye to what is going on outside the churches doors.

    There are around 2.2 Billion people in the world that profess to be Christian, that's about 1/3 of the worlds population. It is the #1 "religion" in the world. 

     What would happen if all those who profess to be christian acted, taught and shared the same as those in that little church in Acts did.. with boldness??

   Brothers and sisters make today, the day you really start living as Jesus taught. He lives within each and every one of us. We can make a difference. The great revivals of the past were started with and love and compassion as Jesus taught. They (revivals) did not become great by spreading fear and judgement.

   God bless you always!

rebel.deacon@gmail.com

Taking the Giants out of my Life

   Do you have giants in your promised land? 


I do.  


    Have they been there for so long that you are comfortable with them?  Have they set up camp and become so much a part of your life that you have given up what is rightfully yours? Maybe it’s been so long that you have decided they are part of the ‘deal’, every rose has it thorn? 


   I say no,  I’ll stand with David!  Have you decided that ‘everyone else’ is ready to live with them there, even the warriors, have you decided  ‘I’ll just make do’.  Really?  Why should we settle for less than the fullness of what our LORD has for us? 


   The first time the chosen of God came across giants in their promised land, they gave into fear and it cost them 40 years wandering in the desert wilderness.  No thank you…..  I will learn from what they did.
   But, you say, ‘you don’t understand my situation’, 

   OK, but I say back to you, are you going to believe more in the circumstances you can see or more in the God to whom you belong?   
    Read the accounts in Joshua and ask the Lord to open your eyes to the treasures buried in them.

   First, the Lord didn’t lead them to conventional victories. Is that what you are expecting?  In each battle, they had to trust Him and believe Him, just read about how they took Jericho.  Quietly marching in circles for a week?  What do you think those people thought, on both sides of the walls? The account is in Joshua 6.

   Now, take the principle into today. 

   Joshua was listening to the Lord.  He was open to His leading and he was quick to do exactly what the Lord led him to do.  He didn’t analyze it, he didn’t argue, he didn’t question and he most definitely laid down his pride. 

    Is the Lord telling you to be still and wait in His presence?  Is He telling you to give all you have in worship, yell, jump, even dance? Now, I am not talking about sitting through the first 30 minutes of a church service singing the words off the screen, I am talking about real worship… Alone or with a group, on your face or dancing with all your might, in tears or in joy, in silence or to Petra, real all out worship.
     He is also asking you to forgive, to love, yes even your enemies.  Do you respond with irritation and frustration?  ‘What does that have to do with this horrible stressful mess all around me?’  Everything.  All you see is the reality you are experiencing.  You can remember the past and speculate the future, but He sees it all, He knows the end from the beginning and He knows right where you are and how to get you to where you need to be.  He knows how ‘this’ all works out. Are you with Him or are you going to wander in the wilderness demanding your way whining about how He is against you? The Israelites did it for 40 years, how long will you?

   His ways are not our ways.  He never does things the way we think He should.  I don’t know about you, but looking at my track record when I’ve tried to make it work my way versus when He does things His way, OK, Jesus does it better than I do.  


   What about you? 

   Have you really given Him a chance to do it His way or are you too locked into your circumstances that you lose sight of the fact all the giants Joshua and Saul and David fought are defeated and dead and Jesus is alive, victorious and active! 


  In fact, if you back up to the end of Chapter 5 of Joshua, Joshua is out scouting Jericho and encounters a Man who identifies Himself as The Commander of the Lord’s army, think about that, what commander goes to a battle field with out His army?  So if He was there, so was His army…..  Who’s victory was Jericho?  It was the Lords victory, do you think that battle only took place in the situational natural realm? No, I say I can’t wait to get to heaven and watch that battle in HD replay of the spiritual realm.


   What does that have to do with you and your situation?........... Everything!!


     If you think there are not heavenly warriors fighting for you, you are mistaken. You are a child of the Most High God, The Commander of the angel armies, do you think He is not fighting for His child?  Be still and know HE is LORD, listen to what He would have you do.  

   I have seen giants totally defeated by waiting on Him and through praise and worship.  I may still have a few giants in my land, but they are defeated, I read the end of the story, Jesus already won!  

     My friend, sit at His feet, be in His presence, He knows how to lead you in victory in your battle, worship Him and praise Him for the victory you don’t see yet, because I promise you, it is there.

 

Stop the Enemy Attacks!

  Stop the world I want to get off! Why me? or maybe...HELP!!!!

   Have you ever felt this way? 


  You want to give all you can but you feel nobody is interested or misunderstands your intent. Are you sitting around waiting for the next shoe to drop? At every corner the enemy is shooting flaming arrows at you, when you try to stop and think about where you are in Jesus you get a barrage of brimstone darts hitting you?


  I know first hand how this feels. Over the past couple years it has been one attack after another, challenging my faith, challenging my marriage and challenging my commitment to ministry. My wife and I have been assaulted on all fronts. Yet we stand together on the foundation of His word.


  Where do we get the strength to keep running the race? It all comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus.


   Some attacks are so subtle that you don't recognize it as an attack. You feel irritable, looking for a reason to explode. Everything that you gave to Jesus, all the hurts, pains and problems that you gave to Him you feel them falling all around you. Jesus didn't let go, you are trying to take them back on your shoulders. You are wanting to solve the problems on your own. Why?

Mat 11:28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

  When we lay our burdens down at His feet, we take up His yoke. Remember as children when we would be in a tight spot or maybe did something wrong. We would go to our parents seeking support and refuge from the storm. When our parents told us not to worry, they would stand beside us through the storm, we felt relieved- they had taken on our burdens and were going to be there for us.

   Jesus does the same for us and more. Jesus does stand with us when we bring Him our burdens. He stands beside us and sometimes in front of us, protecting us. His love and promises are unconditional. Jesus will NOT let you down or turn away from you.

   When you lay your troubles at His feet, it is taken care of then! We must remember NOT to pick them back up again but let the Master take care of them.

   That all sounds good doesn't it? Is it really that easy? simple? Yes it is! but we must do our part.

   Our part is to keep the faith, dig deeper in His love and worship God.

    When I feel the attacks from the enemy coming at me or when I am in the middle of an attack I praise Jesus, that a sinner such as I have a wonderful Savior that is always there beside me, holding me up, holding me tight in His love and compassion.

     I put on worship music. Whatever you listen to when you are worshipping God. It can be more contemporary or it can be an old standard. I close my eyes and allow the music and lyrics to take my mind on a journey.

     I read. I might be reading the Bible about His promises, His love or His compassion. I might read a book about one of the many saints around the world suffering from persecution. The ones that have been through such attacks, such as Richard Wurmbrand "Tortured for Christ", or Brother Yun "The Heavenly Man". I find so much inspiration in these works. Sometimes I just go online and read other believers testimonies.

    I find these stories remind me that I am not alone. That in Jesus is where my faith and strength come from, not from my circumstance.

 That is the key! My strength, my joy, my confidence are rooted in my personal, intimate relationship with Jesus!!!! not in my worldly circumstances.

Heb 6:17  So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 

Heb 6:18  so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 

  What is holding you back? Give your burdens to Jesus and be truly free.

Luke 12:3-12

  Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 

  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 

  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 

  Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

  "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 

  but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 

  And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 

  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 

  for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." 

 You are important and very special to God. He has a wonderful plan for your life. It does not matter what mistakes you have made. You are not your past. Our life journeys are a testament of His love. The darkest of sins is made white as snow by His grace and love.

Rom 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We are all called for His purpose. The moment you asked Jesus into your heart..you were called.

My brothers and sisters in Christ be calm. When we feel an enemy attack..pray. Then dive into the river of His grace and love.

rebel.deacon@gmail.com

Feel free to e-mail me any questions. God bless you always.