Reality.

In Him we live, and move, and have our being. A little theology from Paul when talking to a few Greek blokes who were more interested in thinking than faith. Strange how not much has changed in our post modern culture. The reality is that Jesus Christ the messiah, is the answer to all questions that man can come up with. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords and His rulership is paramount. He is the Saviour, Strengthener, Provider, Protector, Lover, Father, Prince of peace, the be all and end of all that He Himself created. On the cross at Calvary He achieved for man what was totally impossible for man to achieve. Through His sacrifice He became the door which led to the Father, that door is open to all who will believe. Every single person on this planet right now needs, desires, longs, hungers to know they are loved by God, and that need is met through Christ.
Christ's sacrifice on the cross is amazing. But it didn't stop there. After Christ's ascension on the day of Pentecost heaven opened wide and God came to live in man. Unbelievable as it may seem God who is Spirit, will come and dwell in any person who had been recreated at new birth based on believing on Jesus. The indwelling presence of Jesus Christ is not a truth the church has majored on in general. But now the Holy Spirit is bringing revelation to the Body of Christ concerning not only the atoning work of Christ, but the reality of Christ in us the hope of Glory.
If we are not careful these scriptures will remain a cliché. Christ has come, re incarnated in the Church so he can live His life in and through us. No longer are we to live but Christ must live in us. We must believe we have been crucified with Him, and now He lives in us to live through us. No more a make over, but a replacement, no more christian humanism, but a childlike faith in His indwelling presence. He is what we need, not what He has to offer us. He is what people need not our fine words, or our great ideas. He is Love and the world needs Love, now as much as ever, if not moreso.

A Funny Thing.........

This morning the Lord said that He would send someone to me down at our local shops. So before lunch I donned my trainers and went for a walk, which conveniently brought me to the shops. Sitting on a rather cold steel bench I started to watch the people around me all the time asking the Holy Spirit if this was the one. After a lot of 'Nos' I was once again having to draw on Christ's patience, and determination to stick with it.
After quite a while I turned to my right and saw this rather large young woman about to cross the road and come towards the shops. I asked Daddy if this was the one. 'Yes'. The voice came to me. Not wishing to miss her I got off the bench and caught up her on the pavement. I introduced myself, expecting her to stop, but she didn't. So I quickly said, 'I just want to tell you that God loves you,' as she continued walking. She was pretty much past me by now but she turned her head and gave me a look that could wither a wombat at 100 paces.
I began to walk home feeling a bit deflated.
 'That didn't go well Lord,' I said.
'She gave you an ugly look as she feels ugly inside, and doesn't believe anyone loves her. I can use what you said to her. That's all I wanted you to do. Well done son.' Came the reply.

Still taking classes......

In the school of the Holy Spirit the term continues a pace. As well as the guidance class I visited the stronghold class the other day. The stronghold class is the place where the Spirit gently confronts me with lies I still believe that are buried deep within and have to be confronted so repentance can take place.
Daddy asked me. 'What are you afraid off?
Without me having to think I replied. 'I'm afraid you won't accept me based on Christ's work alone, but only if I do what you tell me to do.'
Then we had a little chat to get that straightened out.
'You do not believe you are good enough to be accepted', the gentle voice continued. 'You are right you were not good enough that's why I took you to the cross. Now your acceptance is based on My acceptance of Jesus, not on anything you have done or can do. Just repent and change your thinking, and every time thoughts rise up on this subject remember who you are in Christ.'
I wouldn't miss my time with the Holy Spirit. I'm a slow learner and most times it takes repeated lessons for me to get it. Iknow I have it, but it takes me time to get the knowing. Comprende?

Another lesson...

Yesterday in town I met a fellow Christian and arranged to meet up this morning for a spot of outreach, I agreed to bring along my 'free healing prayer' sign. At the agreed time he was nowhere to be seen and my sign was still in the bin liner. I waited another 15 mins. and by this time I was sure I had been set up by God as my friend was still missing. I had never been into town with my sign alone, now I faced one of two strategies. I could either get back on the bus and go home, or get the sign out and see what God was going to do.

I will be honest with you it took me a bit of time to air the sign after walking round town and discussing the situation with Dad. But I did manage it and sat on a seat in full view of a pedestrian crossing and a moderate pedestrian flow. I sat there and sat there and time seemed to stand still. I realised that this exercise was not about who God wanted to heal but for me to have my reputation shattered. After a long time an Indian lady and her small son sat on the bench next to me, and after a while her husband joined her. He asked me where he could buy cheap suitcases as he had been told Bridgend was the place. As I chatted with him he asked me what the sign was for as he couldn't understand it. So I had a good opportunity to explain to him that Jesus paid for our healing on the cross and I was just offering to pray for anyone who asked. That seemed to satisfy him, and the family moved off with goodbyes all round.

The Holy Spirit then told me not to leave town until a certain time and that I wasn't to put the sign back in the bin liner until I reached the bus station. On the way back to the bus station I was directed to give a lady selling the big issue £5. I found the lady who is from Rumanian [I think] and knelt on the floor in front of her and asked her if she spoke English. She indicated a little so I gave her the money. I asked her name, and explaining I was a Christian, asked if I could pray for her. Well this little lady's face was beaming and all she could say was, 'Thank you', 'Thank you very much'.  What a privilege to be able to enter the lives of these dear ones whose culture and background is so different from mine. Thank you Jesus.

Buzzing....

 

Well its mid week and everything is tickety boo. Five weeks into the lifestyle change and I can't believe the buzz in my soul. I know my spirit man is hunky dory, but now my soul is catching up. Great dollops of grace have been afforded to me from Pappa to move from carnivore to Genesis 1:29, but more than that the strongholds that I struggled with have disappeared. Any residue of guilt has evaporated, and the Gospel is becoming a powerful force in my life. On track to complete reliance, and obedience to Jesus, allows Grace to flow more freely. Yesterday I had to be humble before Father as He told me to lay down all my political interests, and ambitions; which have been with me all my adult life, and to become an activist for Jesus. I don't know what else will go, but you know what I don't give a rip. Jesus will have the pre-eminence in my life and I welcome it.
Its fine and dandy in the Glory.

 

More Discipleship...

An idea I had for a long time was to ask if I could pray for anyone seeking a a job outside our local Job Centre. This morning on my way to the bus station I stopped beside the centre and waited until a young man and a girl hand in hand came towards me. I politely asked if they were looking for a job, they answered that they were. I said in reply that I could not give them a job, but asked if I could pray for them to find a job. Go for it, or something like that the lad said. His female friend seemed a bit embarrassed, but I launched into prayer regardless. I shook the lads hand after I had finished and they went into the building. I moved across the way a little and paused for thought.
'Did I tell you to do that?', a soft voice whispered.
'No.' I replied quietly.
'So then why did you do it?'
'I thought it was a good idea'.
'Son I'm telling you I don't need your good ideas, all I ask you to do is what I ask you to do. Is there any part of that you don't understand?'
'No Daddy you have made it plain enough even for me.'

More Lord.

In the Holy Spirit academy classes are tailor made for each individual irrespective of gender, age, or nationality. I have been in a class called Discipline for a while now. I don't know if anyone else has been in there with me but it's not so much hard, as 'focussed'. The basis of the 'instruction' is the obedience to what God is actually saying, not just in the word, but from the very Word Himself.
I'll give you an example. Recently God was re-emphasising His explicit desire for me to tell people He loves them. I won't bore you with the issues I flung up over that since the nineteen eighties, but you know God, He is persistent. He told me that I was to speak the words to the people.
'Signs and wonders are good, social action is good, relationships are good, but you must speak the words to the people. Just as in Jesus's time man is accountable to the words he hears.' So we have been developing that together in the practical part of the lesson. Just the other day as I was reading from John's gospel, and focussing on Christ's willingness and desire to do the Father's will, and not His own I came upon these scriptures.
'Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge [however]; for the [very] message that I have SPOKEN will itself judge and convict him at the last day. This is because I have never spoken on My own authority, or of my own accord, or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders......... John 12:48,49. Amp.
Having a desire to live like Jesus is the green light for the Holy Spirit to get to work. As it was for Jesus so it is for us.

Amazed.

Earlier in the week I was thinking where me and memsahib could go today for a drive as the weather is still gorgeous. I contemplated some options but my mind came fixed on going to Chepstow. I thought it was a good idea to take some photos in the area and also to check my reservation in a local hotel that I had made last year for the Beachley Old Boys Association shindig on the 18th. After a leisurely picnic in the castle grounds, and a walk down to the river Wye I went into the hotel reception. No I was not on the list for the 18th. and the manager who 'does the emails', wasn't in till 3pm. There was a room available, which in itself was fantastic as Chepstow gets full up for the BOBA get together. It was a double and cost £10 more than the single I had already been promised, so I booked it. I told the receptionist to tell the manager I wasn't a happy chappie and left telling her I would dig out the email from the Hotel and bring it with me so I had leverage for a £10 pound discount.
I'm amazed that the Holy Spirit can drop a thought into my mind that not only gives me a great day out but prevents an incident when I turn up at said Hotel later in the month and find I'm not booked in. It has happened to me once before in my home town Tiverton when I booked for a rock and roll weekend and I had to sleep on the lounge floor of the B&B because the person who took my booking and didn't write it in the calendar, had moved on.

FELLOWSHIP

In John chapter 15 Jesus gives quite detailed instructions as to how we are to live our lives. The analogy with the grape vine, something His followers would be familiar with, teaches us that without Him we can do nothing. But again it's not Him giving us strength to live our own lives, but a clear indication that He is the vine and we are the branches. We are to allow His life to be lived in and through us. Then Jesus states that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. As we abide in and have fellowship with Him we will hear His voice and out of love we will obey.
That's how Jesus lived His life. Secure in the Father's love for Him, He returned that love by obeying the Father's commands.
Daddy said to me this morning that He wanted to show me His commandments are not irksome, as He knows how apprehensive I can get over the thought of His commandments. Too much military influence in my life, firstly from my lovely natural Father, and then with my own Army experiences.