"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.

  

No More Lies and Deceptions

  What lies are you listening to????

      Your not good enough?
      You will never change?
      You will never be loved? or love again?
      You can not do anything right?
      I'm just too far gone for even Jesus to forgive.

  Have you ever said any of these or something close to yourself?

   I have told myself these lies before and more then once. When we make a mistake or make a bad decision, we tell ourself, "I can not do anything right" or "I should have known I would mess it up".
When we allow ourself to become depressed, all of these and more scream out that "we are worthless."

   My brothers and sisters these are LIES. When you start telling yourself some of these statements, you need to ask yourself "Who told me that?" I promise you they are not from Jesus. No where in the Bible did Jesus ever say anything close to these statements, in fact He did quite opposite. These statements come from the pit of hell, from the deceiver himself. The deceiver wants you to be depressed, he wants you to feel worthless, he wants you to feel that you are beyond forgiveness. That his trap, to keep you down, to keep you in the dark and to keep you bound in his chains.

    Jesus died on the cross, more then that he was crucified, beaten, mocked and shed His blood so that we ALL can be forgiven. His blood covered all sins, not just the so called little sins. All sins.  A sin is a sin.

   Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

   Therefore now there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

    Be sober-minded; be watchful. Satan prowls around like a mad lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

  What other lies have you been listening to?

I must earn Gods approval................I am loved and accepted unconditionally apart from any works.
God will crush my personality..........God resurrects a new spirit in me that loves and can be loved.
God will take away my freedoms.....God sets us free from the chains and darkness.
I am garbage and without identity.....I am His beloved, precious in His sight, chosen and authorized to be  an expression of His heart to the world.


  Whenever you start hearing those lies, counter back with an absolute truth. Go in the bathroom, in the closet or just say it out loud. "Who told me that?", then make statements of faith to defend yourself from the deceiver.

      Your not good enough?... Jesus died for me. I know I am good enough for Him.

      You will never change?... I am a new creation in Jesus. Jesus changes me from the inside out.

      You will never be loved? or love again?.. Jesus' love flows thru me. I am His beloved.

      You can not do anything right?.. All things work together for those who love God. (Romans 8:28)

      I'm just too far gone for even Jesus to forgive.....There is no condemnation for those in Jesus.

   The power of positive thinking has been known to change lives. Imagine the amount of change we will see in our lives if we put God first.

   This ministry wants to help everyone. We are all called to spread His word to all the nations. Sometimes  it is the believer in our own backyard that needs the help. The one who feels he/she has slipped too far and lost too much ground to finish the race. This simply is not true! Take a look at Peter. He denied Jesus three times when he should have been there and supported Jesus. By the worlds standards Peter would not be forgiven, he would have been labeled a coward for not speaking in defense. Think you have done worse? No, I didn't think so. What did Jesus do? Did Jesus banish him or simply ignore him. No, Jesus forgave him and built His church with Peter. Amazing, unconditional love and forgiveness from our savior Jesus.

   I can not say or write enough of what Jesus means to me; a forgiven sinner. I have never known a more pure unconditional love. He is my life. I want to share what Jesus has done for me personally and what He wants to do for you. All you have to do is ask Jesus to forgive you. It really is that simple.

    Stop the lies that are holding you back. Stop the lies that are keeping you chained in the darkness. Stop the lies that keep you from running the race. Stop the deceptions that have weighed you down.

    Trust Jesus, He will never let you down. Believe you ARE worthy of His love! Believe you ARE important and special to Him. Believe He wants you and has a project that He has picked for you.

    If you have questions feel free to leave a comment. As believers we need a firm foundation on Jesus' forgiveness, what it means to us and what it can mean for the unforgiven.

    God bless you all always.

"Supernatural Love"

"Supernatural Love of Jesus"

    During the Korean War, a South Korean Christian, a civilian, was arrested by the communists and ordered shot. But when the young communist leader learned that the prisoner was in charge of an orphanage caring for small children, he decided to spare him and kill his son instead. So they shot the nineteen-year-old boy in the presence of his father.
   Later the fortunes of war changed, and the young communist leader was captured by the United Nations forces, tried, and condemned to death. But before the sentence could be carried out, the Christian whose boy had been killed pleaded for the life of the killer. He declared that he was young, that he really did not know what he was doing. "Give him to me," said the father, "and I'll train him."


   How many of us would be able to do that, invite the person into our home to care for and love on as Jesus would have done? A "Supernatural Love".
    The rest of the story....


   The United Nations forces granted the request, and that father took the murderer of his boy into his own home and cared for him. Today the Young Communist is a Christian Pastor. 


   We don't always know the big picture, or what God's plan is, all we have to do is  TRUST.


   Four years after the Titanic went down, a young Scotsman rose in a meeting in Hamilton, Canada, and said, "I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought John Harper, of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck near me. 'Man,' he said, 'are you saved?'

'No,' I said. 'I am not.' 

He replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

"The waves bore him away; but, strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, 'Are you saved now?' 
'No,' I said, 'I cannot honestly say that I am.' He said again, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,’ Then He took off his Life Vest and gave it to me saying… you need this more than I do. Shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed.

I am John Harper's last convert."

Rev. John Harper

   The giving a ones life for another is the ultimate act of love. A "Supernatural Love"

   The definition of love today in our culture has become blurred, whitewashed and made to fit todays worldly views. Today "love" is used to gain leverage over another. If you love me then you will do as I ask or If you loved me you would not do that.- Leverage-

  If you really want to love like Jesus, you have to be truthful. Tolerance has become the catch word of todays world. Do not let someone tell you what the world has re-defined love to mean. If a man is an adulterer, you love him like Jesus would. Hate the sin, but love the sinner. You can not be tolerant of the sin. Regardless of what the sin may be, the person involved knows it is wrong, they may be trying to justify it, but in the end they know it is wrong- a sin. We love the person, Love the Hell out of them!

   I have my own testimony, my stumbles, my falls so to speak. I have friends who are battling their own set of stumbling blocks. Addictions, pornography, adultery, homosexuality. I love my friends and I pray for them daily. I do not on the other hand tell them it is ok to continue on the road they are on, enabling them to continue to justify their own sins. Enabling someone to continue sinning is not love.


   Are you afraid that they will get mad at you, maybe decide your not much of a friend after all?? Let me ask you this.. What kind of a friend allows their friend to continue to run for the cliff to jump?? What kind of a friend helps an addict by doing drugs with them or suppling?? Not much help there,.. is there??


   A "Supernatural Love", when you love enough to be straight forward and honest with your friend. Loving them so much that you want them to know Jesus. When people start seeing Jesus in you, you are on the right path to love like Jesus.


  Whenever someone sins against you or does you wrong. Make a decision to forgive them right then, don't judge them...forgive them. Are you saying they don't deserve to be forgiven?? They have hurt you all your life to the point of almost ruining you? Jesus shed His blood to cover all of our sins, the sins from yesterday and the sins we have yet to commit. Remember love like Jesus, a "Supernatural Love"


   Mark 11:25-26 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”


  Love like Jesus! This means to forgive them, ask Jesus, through His strength and love help me to forgive them. Doesn't mean you have to tell them that you forgive them. The forgiveness is between you and Jesus. You will know when and if the time is right to tell the person who transgressed against you that you forgave them.

    John 15:1-10¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

   Like the branches on a vine, we grow daily as we abide in Jesus's love. We reach out to others and love like Jesus. The greater our trust in Jesus, the more compassion we will have. 

     Brandon Heath's song "Give Me Your Eyes", is a wonderful song as well as a psalm to God. Worth listening to the words. It's a prayer to help each of us grow in His love.

   




  May God bless your walk with Him today. Allow Jesus to work through your life so others can see Him. Forgive, Love and keep Praising the One Who is worthy of all our praises. Brothers and Sisters, I love you and I pray that each day you find a new way to show the world what Jesus has done in your life. Love like Jesus- A "Supernatural Love"!