F4S: October 2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I love the basic stuff, Him who gave it to us..

..and getting back to Him as well as to His stuff. Michael Catt challanges me in this area of basics and I never mind that. Anyways, here are seven areas where God really wants us believers to excel in: Faith. Speaking. Knowledge. Passion. Love. Giving. Finishing.
Isn't that way good ..or what!

The Bible says, "But as you abound in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us - see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.." (Read 2 Cor. 8:7 through 11). Why would we want to major on all the non-basic exotic stuff while the bulk of us ..it would appear.. can't even properly seem to apply and get the basics down.. that actually come from the Bible? 

Want a hundred basics on the person of Christ as well?

1. Jesus claimed to be God - John 8:24; 8:56-59 (see Exodus 3:14); John 10:30-33

2. Jesus is called God - John 1:1,14; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8

3. Jesus is the image of the invisible God - Heb. 1:3

4. Jesus abides forever - Heb. 7:24

5. Jesus created all things - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17

6. Jesus is before all things - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:17;

7. Jesus is eternal - John 1:1,14; 8:58; Micah 5:1-2

8. Jesus is honored the same as the Father - John 5:23

9. Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:55-60; 1 Cor. 1:2 with Psalm 116:4; (John 14:14)

10. Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6

11. Jesus is omnipresent - Matt. 18:20; 28:20

12. Jesus is with us always - Matt. 28:20

13. Jesus is our only mediator between God and ourselves - 1 Tim. 2:5

14. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant - Heb. 7:22; 8:6

15. Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life" - John 6:35,41,48,51

16. Jesus said, "I AM the Door" - John 10:7,9

17. Jesus said, "I AM the Good Shepherd" - John 10:11,14

18. Jesus said, "I AM the Way the Truth and The Life" - John 14:6

19. Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world" - John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Luke 2:32

20. Jesus said, "I AM the True Vine" - John 15:1,5

21. Jesus said, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:25

22. Jesus said, "I AM the First and the Last" - Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13

23. Jesus always lives to make intercession for us - Heb. 7:25

24. Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1:9

25. Jesus cleanses us from our sins by His blood - Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:9

26. Jesus forgives sins - Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48

27. Jesus saves forever - Matt. 18:11; John 10:28; Heb. 7:25

28. Jesus discloses Himself to us - John 14:21

29. Jesus draws all men to Himself - John 12:32

30. Jesus gives eternal life - John 10:28; 5:40

31. Jesus resurrects - John 5:39; 6:40,44,54; 11:25-26

32. Jesus gives joy - John 15:11

33. Jesus gives peace - John 14:27

34. Jesus has all authority - Matt. 28:18; John 5:26-27; 17:2; 3:35

35. Jesus judges - John 5:22,27

36. Jesus knows all men - John 16:30; John 21:17

37. Jesus opens the mind to understand scripture - Luke 24:45

38. Jesus received honor and glory from the Father - 2 Pet. 1:17

39. Jesus reveals grace and truth - John 1:17 see John 6:45

40. Jesus reveals the Father - Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22

41. Jesus bears witness of Himself - John 8:18; 14:6

42. Jesus' works bear witness of Himself - John 5:36; 10:25

43. The Father bears witness of Jesus - John 5:37; 8:18; 1 John 5:9

44. The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus - John 15:26

45. The multitudes bear witness of Jesus - John 12:17

46. The Prophets bear witness of Jesus - Acts 10:43

47. The Scriptures bear witness of Jesus - John 5:39

48. The Father will honor us if we serve Jesus - John 12:26 see Col. 3:24

49. The Father wants us to fellowship with Jesus - 1 Cor. 1:9

50. The Father tells us to listen to Jesus - Luke 9:35; Matt. 17:5

51. Everyone who's heard & learned from the Father comes to Jesus - John 6:45

52. We come to Jesus - John 5:50; 6:35,37,45,65; 7:37;

53. The Father draws us to Jesus - John 6:44

54. The Law leads us to Christ - Gal. 3:24

55. Jesus is the Rock - 1 Cor. 10:4

56. Jesus is the Savior - John 4:42; 1 John 4:14

57. Jesus is the King - Matt. 2:1-6; Luke 23:3

58. In Jesus are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Col. 2:2-3

59. In Jesus we have been made complete Col. 2:10

60. Jesus indwells us - Col. 1:27

61. Jesus sanctifies - Heb. 2:11

62. Jesus loves - Eph. 5:25

63. We sin against Jesus - 1 Cor. 8:12

64. We receive Jesus - John 1:12; Col. 2:6

65. Jesus makes many righteous - Rom. 5:19

66. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit - John 15:26

67. Jesus offered up Himself - Heb. 7:27; 9:14

68. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time - Heb. 10:12

69. The Son of God has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20

70. Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith - Heb. 12:2

71. Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession - Heb. 3:1

72. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven - John 14:1-4

73. Jesus is the Light of the world - John 8:12

74. Jesus has explained the Father - John 1:18

75. Jesus was crucified because of weakness - 2 Cor. 13:4

76. Jesus has overcome the world - John 16:33

77. Truth is in Jesus - Eph. 4:21

78. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ - Phil. 1:11

79. Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come - 1 Thess. 1:10

80. Disciples bear witness of Jesus Christ - John 15:27

81. Jesus died for us - 1 Thess. 5:10

82. Jesus died and rose again - 1 Thess. 4:14

83. Jesus was a ransom for many - Matt. 20:28

84. The Christian dead have fallen asleep in Jesus - 1 Thess. 4:15

85. Jesus rendered the devil powerless - Heb. 2:14

86. Jesus is able to save completely - Heb. 7:25

87. Jesus came to serve - Matt. 20:28

88. Jesus came to be a high priest - Heb. 2:17

89. Jesus came to save - John 3:17; Luke 19:10

90. Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God - Luke 4:43

91. Jesus came to bring division - Luke 12:51

92. Jesus came to do the will of the Father - John 6:38

93. Jesus came to give the Father's words - John 17:8

94. Jesus came to testify to the truth - John 18:37

95. Jesus came to set us free from the Law - Rom. 8:2

96. Jesus came to die and destroy Satan's power - Heb. 2:14

97. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets - Matt. 5:17

98. Jesus came to give life - John 10:10,28

99. Jesus came to taste death for everyone - Heb. 2:9

100. Jesus came to proclaim freedom for believers - Luke 4:18

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Whole World Is Needing Fearless FisherMEN More Than Any Other Type..

..Of Men, Because The Whole World Is Filled With Those Needing Thee Fisher Of Men ..The Most. 

You already know that Jesus Christ was the ultimate Fisher of men ..and of people.. and that this God-first lifestyle that He exhibited is what He calls every believer to in our day. Are you allowing Him to make you into an effective fisher of people? Do you pray for others around you in their brokenness to repent and come into a personal relationship with God? I challenge you to do this starting today. 
   
It's important that men are men that understand the times we live in. I'm currently looking at 1 Chronicles 12:32 that speaks, "of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." God could give us this same understanding and wisdom. 

I'm looking at the words of Paul where he commanded guys to, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity" (1 Cor.  16:13-14).

I'm reviewing the book of Romans (now in chapter one).. "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due" (especially vv. 26, 27). 

More and more, we are living in a confused culture gone astray. Romans applies for people today in our impure sex and pleasure focused society!

You already know that any dude can become a dad for mere pleasure's sake, but becoming a real and balanced father is a different story. There are few fathers today, who beget godly children. Yes, becoming a fearless fisher of men and biblical disciple-er of people in Christ is a completely different story indeed.

May I ask you a few questions? Did you personally have a dad who put Christ first in the home and out, you know exampled His love and effectively made disciples by faith? Did you have a good example to follow in the home? How would it be, how would things change, how would if affect our cities.. if guys in your country and in mine chose to get some Holy Spirit backbone if you will, along with a hatred of sin, and a love for all people? Of course God loves us all the same, He can use us all too, but how would it be in your family if you sold out completely to the God of the Bible ..on His terms, and then from that overflow of grace and wonderful relationship, went and shared your faith tactfully with anointed confidence?

Q: So why is it rad-important for guys to take a stand today, to go against the unholy, worldly influential tide and become real men?

A: It's because when a teenager turns from their sin and believes on Jesus Christ, 17% of the time their whole family will then follow suit and also become believers in the Lord because of their prayers and godly witness. When a mom turns from sin and believes on Jesus Christ, 34% of the time her whole family will follow suit and also become believers in the Lord. But when a father turns from his sin and believes on Jesus Christ, then 90% of the time his whole family will also follow suit and become believers in the Lord unto eternal life. (Dr. Erwin Lutzer told me this).  

I have spent this entire week around over 2000 of the most confused of men that I've ever met, who literally don't know what they are at all. It's very sad to me, because God has a better plan for them. And many have spent thousands of dollars changing themselves, and some have been open enough to tell me that they were abused by their dads as children and others have confessed that they are not happy at all. In fact the corporations that they work for, have spent piles of money sending them and others to Dallas so that they could learn to feel comfortable in the workplace. They told me that is why they are here in the Big D through Thursday.  

I've gone witnessing during the Mardi Gras before in New Orleans (full-on culture shock to the max), but this week has motivated me even more to pray for all types of people, especially for men to become godly men. I pray we all could be motivated to follow after the Son of Man who loves these people the most (Jesus Christ) and to go fishing.. allowing Him to be Lord in this ..yes, takin' part in daily worship of God first, and then taking part in His Great Commandment and Great Commission.. in that order ..for, "Jesus called out to them [His followers], 'Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!'"  (Matthew 4:19). 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

When ya come across an argument..

..or fleshly fight—perhaps a verbal or violent conflict with anger or evil dissension. Guess what.. it indeed means that at least one of the persons involved has a pride problem. Hey, confidence can be good, but all haughtiness, hubris, arrogance and rebellion against delegated or direct authority stinks ..and uglifies.
“By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” ~ Proverbs 13:10
Q. Who was the first one to have such a prob? Hint:  Mr. Lu-Cifer. 
You know that debating about a non-essential, biblical issue is indeed fine. Who wouldn't want to do that at some time or another? But please don't argue, I mean fight over words or methods with other so called believers, especially in public.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

In order to fish for your friends..

..and even for soon-or-later-on-to-become-friends, for the purpose of seeing our winsome Christ catch them to eternal life, a believer must have hearers. And to have hearers a believer must legitimately gain people's confidence. Do people trust you? This is elementary, but allow the Spirit's grace to make you sincere, victorious, consistent and honest.

Too many these days are shady or twisted with wrong motives, but God's love, purity, and integrity are so important. The Bible says…

"An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies" (Prov. 14:5).
 
"A prayer of David. O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips" (Ps. 17:1).

Witnessing for a true believer ain't a "got to" or some kinda legalistic strain, it's an prayerful and therefore easy, fruit-bearing "get to" sorta thing ..of grace. It's a privilege and joy! Jesus, our Chief example Fisher, described that bearing His yoke of Lordship for any disciple, would be easy

about.me/kVs

gplus.to/BeReal 

  

I'm currently thinkin' about this.. following after Him and then fishin' with Him ..takin' part in the Great Commandment and Great Commission.. in that order, "Jesus called out to them [His followers], 'Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!'"  Matthew 4:19


"He knows the way that I take..


..and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

"Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces." ~ Matthew Henry

"Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins." Psalm 25:18

"Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ." ~ C.S. Lewis 


I don't feel that trials, testings, opposition, afflictions, temptations, pain, and persecution (..which to be honest I haven't really experienced yet cuz I wouldn't really call it that when a joint-toking Rastafarian dude with long dreads throwin' unripe green mangos at me as hard as he could ..for simply telling him that Jesus loved him.. as I we were peacefully walkin' together on a May Pen sidewalk in Jamaica) are for me at all. Never will. Hah. Sure have had a gobs of this though. Don't really think I've had more than others.  


Personally if I was God, man, I would have never allowed this kinda stuff into people's lives or situations, but hey, I'm not God. He's much wiser.

Then again it's this kinda stuff I can't stand that God has indeed allowed in, that He effectively used to get my attention (started prayin' like I meant it and did..), and now that it's past ..for now.. I am glad that He did allow it. If you are personally going through some suffering or any of this kinda junk, believer, then please know that it's cuz He loves you so HUGELY, and he hurts along with you in it, but He longs to draw you in so near until you are close enough to His heart and countenance, so that you'll see how much He really does care. Sure, and you'll sense some of the depth of His agape love for ya more, cuz it'll be reflected in His gaze towards you. Hang in there with Him, it'll all be worth it after the trials have passed. 


Witnessing of Jesus, rejoicing, or praising Him are not always what we feel like doing sometimes, but these are choices we can make and it's God's grace that can make this easy. He is so worthy!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Choosin' to..

..praise God; bless and thank Him from the <3 ..pray fervently, wisely apply the basics of Scripture, fish tactfully, reelin' em in with joy.. and avoid even the appearance of evil.
 
Why? You are set before a watching world daily.
 
They say you're either His shining missionary of sorts or a mission field, you're either in Christ gathering people unto the Lord or scattering em. Believer, I just love how the Chief Fisher has perfectly shown us how to live and how to fish for the Father's glory.
 
Jesus said "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (Jn. 13 15).

 

Monday, October 10, 2011

God's goal ain’t really to make everything around you on earth "right"..

..I mean, pre-second coming. Don't many of us act like that's His current goal that we're going to indeed help Him with? It's all about us in the Western world (you know many of us feel that way huh).

 

No God's current goal is to help you get right, through His Son. Yes, so that He can bless and use you to help others get right. What's better than getting right with Him? Nothin'!

 

Suppose you gather, gather, gather and could gain every mortal as a friend, every widget as a toy, every pleasure, luxury, fashion and cool amenity or every bit of fame or the dollars that there is to get in this whole world.. and then lost your soul. Would it really satisfy your deepest hunger or thirst? Perhaps you have and now you're very old. Was it really worth it? "Here" is very brief and there in eternity is so, SO, S-O long. 

 

This ain't politically correct to voice but Billy Graham said, "God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'" How true. Do ya ever feel unloved and unlovable?

 

"Salvation is from our side a choice, from the divine side it is a seizing upon, an apprehending, a conquest by the Most High God. Our 'accepting' and 'willing' are reactions rather than actions. The right of determination must always remain with God." ~ A.W. Tozer
 
"He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent." ~ Augustine 
 
"You're born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there's a Loophole." ~ Billy Graham

 

When ya think about it, the only hope there is for recovery of our families, our churches, our cities, our schools and our countries is for each of us individually to walk in close fellowship with Jesus Christ with right thoughts and a right spirit inside, so that we can then rebuild our lives on the unchanging solidness if you will, of His uneditable, non-changing Word that is right. Do ya long for real refreshing? Sure God loves to bless His children, but have ya become one yet? Can't make yourself one. Have ya turned and believed


Follow at: 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sometimes it takes no words to witness.

Sometimes things get pretty turned around. Shine bright anyways!

Engaged and it was only three weeks before he was to be married, but Bonhoeffer was taken to the gallows in Germany and then executed at age 39. Man! Hate that when decent people die and evil folk live on. So many inequities.

At 33 innocent, blameless, and sinless Jesus suffered not one illegal trial but six of em (see Mk. 15, Lk. 23). Very serious all that happened.

"Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, 'Do you answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!' But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled" (vv. 4-5).

It's part of the irony of eartly exsistence when common sense is trumped by hard or even soft-core folly. It still happens.

"Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong on the throne." ~ James Russell Lowell

That will change. Will we before it's too late....allow Christ to change us from the inside out?

Droid-post

Saturday, October 8, 2011

We believers would do well not to...

..view ourselves as already arrived.. sinless and without the ability to ever blow it again via sins of omission or commission. Be genuinely humble. Beware you who think you stand in perfection lest ya bite the dust real hard and come up with gravel jammed in your cheeks.  

"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none." ~ Thomas Carlyle

The Apostle John said, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us"  (1 John 1:7-10, nkjv).

Saturday, October 1, 2011

P. God, in Jesus' Name we PRAY that You’ll make us more sensitive to Your voice so we can have ears to hear and apply the truth.

Please revive, heal, quicken, and remove the stoppers from our ears. Take away the blinders from our eyes. Please strongly woo, draw, and rekindle us with Your fiery passion within, so that we will earnestly seek You and obey. Never want to drift, become biblical... or forget the nations, the ignorant, or the misinformed peeps You care about. 


"God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus." ~ Missionary Jim Elliot


And we also...

PRAY for right motives and attitudes, with pure thoughts. Wanna be uncompromising spiritually and compelled by Your ceaseless agape love.  

PRAY for those hurting, confused, hardened and brokenhearted who live right near us!

PRAY for other believers that we know that really need Your supernatural touch today, Your refreshing Words, Your unique uplifting ministry, so that they too will be re-amped so to speak about simply knowing You and helping others.

PRAY for our family members, coworkers, and friends who used to profess you as Lord, but for some reason or another have taken a stride from Your side!

PRAY that we can, by faith, lay up treasures in Heaven, by daily giving heed to Your Word, instead of becoming distracted by lesser things.

PRAY for new strength inside, provision, and better health ..physically, emotionally, and spiritually.. so that we can serve you with godly wisdom, proper zeal and a new vibrancy.

PRAY for those who haven't yet met You, but have indeed met some carnal believers who sadly have misrepresented you with strange attitudes or words, yes, and for those who are currently angry at You and all believers because of this junk.

PRAY for those half committed believes who have one eye on this world's system to meet their needs, instead of both eyes dead-bolted on Jesus to do that providencing.

PRAY for others near us who feel indifferent towards the things of God and do not believe in You at all. Please do whatever it takes to get their attention soon, so that they won't miss out on all You graciously have waiting for them.

PRAY for those who enjoy mocking what's good, and who actively attack believers with anti-Jesus, hateful communications etc. Please stop them in their tracts so they can have at least one glance in Your direction. You did that for angry Saul who instantly became our exceedingly blessed Paul.

PRAY for the lost people around us to soon understand the Scriptures they've heard or will hear, and to grasp what we've been telling them about the Gospel and Jesus Christ, because our time here is so limited and there is so much at stake.


We want to hear "Well done," Father God. We never want to be pushy, Lord, but do want to be found blameless with zero idols.. and be found above reproach and clean as we represent you well among all who will listen ..or not listen. Thank you for the Bible that says, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ"  (2 Thess. 1:11-12, nkjv). You can make this happen and be glorified in us. Thanks.