Experiences

I haven’t written a blog lately for a specific reason. I recently finished a forty day fast with two wonderful brothers at Gateway. We embarked on this journey not knowing what God was going to teach us. All we knew was that God was calling each of us to an extended fast.

It all started back in January. I had begun to sense from the Holy Spirit that I was to enter into an extended fast. I tried to put it off… coming up with plenty of excuses. Then I received an email from one of my friends saying he was feeling directed by God to a forty day fast. He asked me if I had some information about an extended fast. He ended his email with “… and why don’t you join me on the fast?” Well that settled it. We agreed to meet for chicken wings (always begin a fast with chicken wings!). He invited a close friend and we all agreed that God was calling us to this endeavor.

Over the next forty days we encouraged each other and prayed for each other. We each had different experiences on the journey. But that’s how God works. He always personalizes our journey with him.

During the fast, I decided to refrain from writing. I didn’t want to be diverted.

Now as I reflect on my time during the fast, let me share just a few thoughts. Keep in mind that these thoughts are incomplete…

• God revealed to me that I had slipped into replacing faith with experience.
• God reminded me that he was not impressed with my experience.
• God desires faith… it’s the only way I can please him! (Heb. 11:6)
• It’s easy to allow your experience, education and knowledge to supersede God’s word.
• It’s easy to spiritualize your experience beyond God’s truth.
• Not all experiences are valid. Just because I experienced something does not mean that it is truth.
• All of my experiences must be measured, gauged and interpreted by Scripture.
• Ultimately I learned that I must be passionate, enthralled, captivated by God’s compelling purpose for my life.
• I’m the only person who can live God’s purpose for my life! (Ps. 139:16)
• I must live to please God, not people. I live to serve people, but I exist to please God! (1 Thess. 2:4)

What has God been teaching you?

Pastor Don

Counting Straws - Part 4

Let’s look at verse 24 again.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

I’m assuming you have already sought the Kingdom of God by asking Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior. I’m assuming that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. You are now a citizen of Heaven!

Another aspect of the Kingdom of God is found in the word kingdom. Another word for kingdom is the word realm. A simple definition for realm is “A royal jurisdiction or domain; a region which is under the dominion of a king; a kingdom.” Of course the kingdom we are talking about is the Kingdom of God. In his Kingdom, Jesus rules.

In one of his last conversations with his disciples, Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Jesus was saying, “I’m the King and all that there is, is my Kingdom, my realm.” As King, Jesus has the authority and right to tell us what to do as his subjects in his realm!

If indeed Jesus is the King, then it is only right for him to claim that he has all authority. His realm extends from heaven to the earth… and everything in between. And if you are still uncertain of the extent of his realm… it includes everything he made… which is everything that is.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. John 1:3 (NLT)

Here is the kicker – as His subject, I am responsible to do His bidding, His will. When I am obedient, then He will act in my life and circumstances. When I do things my way, then I forfeit His power in my life.

When I was 12 years old, my Dad sat down with me and shared some important thoughts. He told me what I needed to know as I prepared to enter my teenage years. Little did I know that it would be the last conversation I would ever have with my Dad. But I think he knew. He knew that death was near… that the cancer was winning. If you knew that you were about to have one last conversation with someone you loved very deeply, you would choose your words very carefully.

When Jesus had one of his last conversations with his disciples here on earth, He shared very important words. He told us what we were to do with our lives.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Here are a few essential ways by which we live for what is right:

• Seek to please Jesus rather than people. Why is this important? Only Jesus is King.
• Trust Jesus completely to meet all your needs. He has promised to do His part.
• Express your trust and faith in God by praying.
• Study, act upon, and obey the words of Jesus… even when they make no sense to you… even when it goes against “common sense.”

The key phrase in the Great Commission is “make disciples.” That is a command for all believers, not just ministers.

As you develop a Christ-honoring lifestyle, then you will experience the presence and the power of God!

Because He Loved

Jesus did it all out of love!

Okay… this is for all you church members out there.

In his last hours with his disciples, Jesus made a promise. It’s a promise that still applies to us today because we too are his disciples. Jesus said: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

The peace Jesus is talking about is not the peace of forgiven sins, although we certainly have a great peace because our sins have been forgiven. This particular peace comes when a person gives himself/herself fully to Jesus – nothing held back. In other words, the issue of Lordship is settled.

Obviously, this kind of peace is unknown to the unsaved. But sadly, many church members do not know this peace.

So can a person be saved and miss out on this peace? Yes. You see, you may have settled the Savior issue but you have not settled the Lordship issue. Have you truly given it all to him? Are you holding back? Jesus is Lord of all or he is not Lord at all in your life. Which is it for you?

There is a driver’s seat in your heart. There is room for only one person in that seat. So who is sitting in the driver’s seat? You or Jesus?

Now read this part carefully. One day Jesus will speak some very frightening, heart-breaking words. These words will be spoken to many “church members.”

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)

So do you really have the peace of mind and heart this Easter? I pray that you never hear the words “I never knew you.” Settle it today!

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…” Col. 3:15a