Not of This World

  In the world but not of it?

  

  How can we as believers live in this world and not be a part of it?

  Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values. As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to allow our minds to be corrupted by worldly views. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ. This is a daily activity and commitment.

JOHN 17:14-15

   I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them. The world hated these men, because they don't belong to the world, the same as I don't belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One.

ROMANS 12:1-2

   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

   Being in the world means we can enjoy God's creation. The sunrises, mountain ranges, the smell of flowers or the taste of fresh honey on hot bread. This is being IN the world. 

    Being apart (set aside) from the world means we do not conform to this worlds values or morals. 

    How else can we be a light in the dark if we are not set apart, different from those who are lost??

  In my life I have been both in the world and of the the world. Seeking worldly pleasures and riches. To be in and of the world, we become committed to making ourselves priority number one. Once we are no longer of the world, we have put God first above all else.

   Once I totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit, all things became clearer. I was a very lost puppy, whose heart had become hardened by the world. I have written some of my testimony. All my past was covered by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. Praise His name that he didn't pick and choose which transgressions he would forgive and which he would not, He forgave ALL of them.

   I challenge you to "set yourself apart" from this world and live for Jesus. Make a difference in this world by being different then everyone else. Allow Jesus to be seen thru you. 

  This is by no means the easy way, the easy way is just go with the flow of the world as it spins itself into destruction. Stand for Jesus. Stand for your faith. No compromise. Spread the good news of Jesus to all nations my brothers and sisters. Never judge....always with love and compassion. The same love and compassion that Jesus gives us every minute of everyday. God Bless

Unconditional Forgiveness For All

   Simon Peter denied Christ three times.

Mark 14:66-72


 ⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
   “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
 ⁶⁸ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
 ⁶⁹ When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.
   After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
 ⁷¹ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
 ⁷² Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

  John 18:15-18

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
   He replied, “I am not.”
 ¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
 John 18:25-27

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

   He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
 ²⁶ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.


Matthew 26:69-75


 ⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
 ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
 ⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
 ⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
 ⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
 ⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
   Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

  Peter denies Jesus three times. First to a servant girl, next to another servant girl (with witnesses) and the third time it was a servant from the high priest. This time Peter felt trapped and cursed that he did not know Him.

  Betrayal from a disciple that told Jesus just hours before that he would follow him to prison and even to death.

Luke 22:33

   ³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

 

  Jesus tells Peter that when he has turn back to Him and his brothers to strengthen them in faith. Jesus forgave him even before he had sinned against Him.

  Let me say that again, let it sink in, soak in it. "Jesus forgave him before he had sinned against Him"

  We serve an awesome God that offers forgiveness before we even know we needed it.

John 21:15-19

  ¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 ¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
   He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
 ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”


   Jesus forgave Peter completely, it was forgotten! He went on to send Peter out to spread the Gospel. Peter was the rock that His church would be built on. Amazing the man who denied Him in His hour of need, He had unconditional love and forgiveness.


   Have you ever felt that you have sinned beyond redemption? The blood that Jesus shed only covered some sins and not all? Who told you that????


  Jesus was crucified for all of our sins. True forgiveness.


  The next time you transgress, stumble or fall, ask for forgiveness and put it in your past. Christ has already forgotten all about it.


  My brothers and sisters I love you. I want you to know the freedom and grace He has given me. The amazing forgiveness and unconditional love that He has in abundance for all who ask and follow Him.

Radical Believers

Have you noticed? God is raising an army.


  Radical Believers are popping up all around. A new breed of Christians wanting the truth, the solid truth without all the trimmings. Believers who want to follow Jesus without compromise. Believers who want to share the Gospel without compromise!
   The radical believers who are coming will not look like the traditional believer. Some will have long hair or no hair. Some will have tattoos and piercings. The radical believer may look like a business man, in a suit with a short haircut. They all have the same desire in common....to share the message of Jesus, to help other Believers develop a stronger relationship with God.

  How many souls are not going to church for fear of judgement? How many avoid church because they have been beaten up by "religion"? How many use the excuse that the members are hypocrites, pretenders? One person on Sunday and another the other six days of the week?
   Just want to tell them to "get over it" and go to church anyway?? How's that working? Church attendance has been dropping steadily over the past several years. Churches are filing bankruptcy. Is it working yet?

   Are you a Radical Believer? Being a Radical Believer means to believe Love and Forgiveness not tolerance and compromise.
    Radical believers don't care what you look like or how much money you have in a portfolio. The care about your soul, your heart and your relationship with God.

  What are we really talking about? We are talking about the Believers of the first church. Everywhere they taught the Gospel, anywhere where these believers lived their faith. There was radical christianity! This was not because they were religious and adhered to manmade traditions but it was because they truly loved the people.

   They loved people exactly the way Jesus did!


Matthew 5:13-16

    ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

   ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

  Read the passage from Matthew again.. We are called to be Radical!!

 What made Jesus radical in his day???


   The world taught...hate your enemies.....work hard get rich......forget the poor... and show no mercy.
    Jesus taught....love your enemies....take no thought about tomorrow...give to others and show mercy.


   We are not called to be religious. We are not called to judge others. We are not called to force our opinions on others.
   We are called to be radical. We are called to love others, we are called to forgive others, we are called to share Jesus with others.

 Who do you want to be?

Rebel in His day, my Savior today

You never tried to win more secular appeal,

and water down your message with a slightly different feel.

  You never tried to be politically correct,

or skirt around the issue attempting to connect.

  You never shied away from critical debate,

or beat around the bushes when discussing human fate.

  You weren't ashamed to tell them who Your Father was.

  Never ran from persecution like human nature does.

  The above is from a popular song describing Jesus. 

  Read it again and think about how we Christians are following his examples.

We call ourselves disciples of Jesus, but do we really know what that means?

Definition of a disciple: is one who follows ones teachings; imitates the teacher by adhering to their teachings.

Definition of a Christian: One like Christ.

  Read the verses again, how do you compare??

   How often, when we are sharing our testimony do we water it down? not wanting to appear to be a "Jesus freak" or one of those religious zealots? or do we try to be politically correct not wanting to offend?

   Do you avoid certain subjects not wanting to get into a debate?

How does the image in the mirror look now? There is more to being a disciple then just going to church on Sunday or attending a Bible study. It is more then sharing the Word only when you feel like it. It is a Lifestyle.

  We need to be bold.

Mark 16:15

  And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news (the Gospel) to the 

whole of the human race.

Matthew 28:19

 Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  Todays world teaches tolerance. The media is dripping with it. Jesus was not tolerant, He  was straight forward in His teachings. Though Jesus was not tolerant, He was Love. He loved those that were astray. Tolerance is compromise, and Jesus never compromised His principles. When he came across those who were living in sin, He loved them.

  The lifestyles of today are off the grid, hedonism, homosexuality,polygamy. I don't agree with these lifestyles but I love the individuals who are lost in them. I love them as Christ would.

  Christians, disciples, believers whatever label you fall under, we need to stand up and be bold for Christ. Be bold telling others what He has done for us. Be bold loving those different from us as Christ would. We need to stand on His Word and Foundation. Pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit and take a Stand!