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Ad  d your content here LET THE WORD GO FORTH!
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WHO ARE ''THEY''? ''THEY'' ARE U-S!!
When I came to realize it, somewhere during my youth, it truly was a surprise. One which shook me to my Core Heart. And even now, so many years later and after so many journeys looking for proof that it really wasn't that way...
I'm still surprised and shaken.
There are some teachings that actually lead people to believe that once you are a member of a certain kind of 'Christianity' (Faith, Belief, Church-type) it's against the rules to listen, hear, receive the Word of God from 'Other-kinds'...
But tell me this? Why are there four accounts of Jesus' Birth, Life, Ministry, Death and Resurrection? It's the same story yes?
Yes. But PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. We receive things in our own way. We may hear a quiet voice better, or need to be shouted at in warning sometimes. A word might register on us from one source, when another may be ignored. We may be in need of Comfort or Discipline or Guidance or Reassurance or being put on the spot before we'll admit that some changes to be made. God of course knows every ability and weakness we possess, and so thought this out very thoroughly before any of us were ever Created! That's why in His Word, we find everything we'll ever need to know about how to do what we need to do, and strive to do in His will. No matter where we come from, what language we speak, how much or how little we have...whether we're weak or strong or don't know which one we are from day to day.
That's why there are so many ways of teaching and preaching. And different kinds of leaders. The disciples approached Jesus one day and reported to Him that there was someone besides themselves (because they were being directly taught by Him) casting out evil spirits - telling him too that they had told the man to stop doing that. They maybe felt that they were the only ones who were learning it "Right". This is what Jesus said.
Mark 9 :39 "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40For he that is not against us is on our part.
41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea."
Jesus wanted them to know that a person couldn't be for Him and against Him at the same time.
Hear what He says..."If someone gives you even a drink of water in my name, because YOU are mine, he will still be rewarded. BUT...ANYONE (including them!) who offends even the least of mine would be better off tossed into the sea alive than what will happen"
We mustn't judge others and other 'religions' based upon what WE feel is right. Just because you've ''been doing it'' this way or that way ''All my life'' doesn't make your/your church/your parents'/ your race/your preacher/your 'clique's way the RIGHT way either! Jesus sent his disciples out to carry the gospel and not all of them went to the same place. Some of them spoke languages that others didn't speak. Some could relate to people others couldn't relate to. Some would be received in some places...others in others. And if having the ones He had taught those three years wasn't enough, He called another, turned him entirely from the purpose he meant to carry out, and told him to go out on faith alone, sending him to places that were even harder to get into, people who were harder to talk to, to make listen and accept.
And now...now we sit and bicker among ourselves...fussing and stirring dissension because we don't like the way someone else does it, says it, thinks it, shows it, needs it. THEY aren't doing it right! we shout, puffing our chests out with our surety that we're on OUR way to Heaven and they're not. Twisting the Scriptures till they fit in our pocket where we can whip them out and argue someone else down for our point of view.
Time to put away the Weapons we're forming against our brothers and sisters Church. That is NOT what Christ came and died for! NOT what He wants from us. NOT the Way.
When He said that His coming would separate people...HE WAS TALKING ABOUT BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS...even in the same household and family. HIS CHURCH was meant to STAND UNITED...to stand for the TRUTH of God's will through Him. To stand for the PROMISE God made that coming back to Him would assure our place in Heaven for Eternity. To show the world that lives in Darkness that Christ LOVES them...that everything He did was for all of 'US'! Those who won't hear have made their choice, and God will deal with that. Those who are reaching out for a Way out are sent one of 'US' to shine a Light into their Darkness and SHOW THEM how WE have found Salvation in Jesus. A bunch of words without a foundation of Love and Truth means NOTHING - Jesus wants you to REPRESENT HIM here on Earth, not walk around with Condemnation in your Heart for even your fellow Christians!
The PRESENCE OF GOD'S SPIRIT...that is the measure of a gathering of Christians. Not their faults, not their mistakes, because we ALL fall down and have to reach out to God to pick us up, dust us off, and set us straight again.
Confessing Jesus as He who came from God to Redeem us from our sins and Rose again that we might have LIFE, in and through Him. That is the measure of the Messenger (preacher, evangelist, or layman) who stands before the body of listeners.
Faithful Obedience to God...Serving and Ministering to the Lost, Hurting, Hungry and Helpless. Producing Fruit. That is the measure of a Member of the Body of Christ.
Name it what you will, and call it what you want - but, if YOU truly love the Lord and are Following His Way, if YOU truly are in Prayer and in Fellowship and in Relationship with Him, you won't have any trouble recognizing when someone else is speaking a word from Him, and it will ring in your Soul, in your Spirit, in your Heart as the Truth. Doesn't mean you have to pack up and move from 'your' place of worship, whether that be a building or on a screen. Doesn't mean that the way you've been doing it was or is wrong - for you. If you hear a word that the Spirit testifies as Truth, accept it, digest it, and Use it. It's God's way of reaching out to you, or reaching out to someone else through you.
Don't shut yourself into a box Saints. God is Spirit. God is Love. God is All, Created All, is in All. And all are a part of Him - remember that.
There is no 'Them. Only US.
Reach out to someone who may need you...or, if necessary, open your heart to receive something God may have for you through one of ''Them''. BE the Light!
Selah
Minister LP Johnson
Steward/Circle of Light- Ministries United
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
LET THE WORD GO FORTH!
Circle Of Light - Ministries United |
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