Jesus is the Light

In speaking about John the Baptist, the apostle John writes, "He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him."

this Light coming into the world is Jesus.

John continues...

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

It is Jesus who has come into the world.

Now Jesus speaks, this is great...

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


again He speaks,

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Jesus has come, The light is here, it is Him.

I'm almost done. Jesus again,

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Jesus is the light.

A New Lamp

A 'New Lamp'

I have been released of His compelling to proclaim Entire Sanctification’s (ES) availability as his ‘primary’ purpose as I minister.

Profound is; the settling in of the premise that Jesus is the only one who can open a heart, and He will lead those He calls to this (or any) transaction when He concludes it is time, or needed. I’m exploring the truth that a person can be a ‘holiness follower’ regardless of any spoken prayer. A genuine invitation to Him happens in the heart. Words are secondary, an expression of our desire. “If a person were on an island, without a person to hear and spoke to God in their thoughts…..”

While ES is still for me the most significant moment in my life, I now rest that while it is available for all, in my life, it was for me, to enable me to be a vessel through which He can love those He brings into my garden. Through the crisis I experienced, He surrounded me with men who helped me discover; what was wrong, what to pray for, and how to live it. I believe; He will lead those He wants to hear my testimony to me, or I will find myself in their midst. But my testimony is diverse. My passion to see people engage Him in simple intimacy has become preeminent and grown beyond ES. I cannot ignore my (our) testimony, but we have so much to illuminate from our arsenal. He is so much bigger that any one transaction.
While the ‘narrow beam lamp’ of E.S. has been taken from my hand and replaced with a lamp shining a ‘new’ light, I am certain that a part of the spectrum cast by it will include ES. Beyond that I am not sure what will be illuminated. I suspect it includes my ability to empathize, but it’s only been a day or so, and I’m not very far down the path, and my eyes have not adjusted fully. I know I want to meet people where they are and encourage them to stop, look into His eyes, and embrace that freedom to look into His face without shame. He will do the rest, and tell me to proclaim ES if, or when it’s time.

I release this and die with some sadness, but I rest that these past six years of steeping is without shame, for I have been faithful to walk in the light He provided for my feet. The future is an adventure yet to be revealed and as I walk into it with Him I am so thankful I have Him to lead into the freedom, healing and life to the full He said He came to bring.

It is no longer I who live

"We're supposed to be dead!"

-Jesus via a man at Gideon

What to do

"Just breath,
keep walking,
and make sure He is on the throne".

-Jesus through Jurgen Von Treskow

Camp Gideon 2010

Gideon 2010

I’ve been there in the snow.
I’ve been there in the rain.
I’ve been there in the sunshine.

I’ve been there hurting.
I’ve been there hungry.
I’ve been there in peace and in between.

Every single time Jesus has been there with me.

He’s like that.

I have a friend

I have a friend.

I’m a lucky guy. I know a man who loves me. He allows me to tell my story; the story of the moment. I sometimes have difficult moments and when I do, I can cry, yell, cuss, whine or speak to him, and he allows it. This man is trust worthy; I do not have to pose for him. When the very foundation of my hope is rocked and I question my ability to continue, he remains. I have allowed this man to know me completely and this man still loves me.
This man is a gift from Jesus. You see some time ago when my world was falling apart I was in need of a friend; I knew it instinctually. I took a chance, although at the time I was so broken it was not really much of a chance at all, but rather simple, literal survival. Jesus gave me this man. I saw this man and the opportunity with the eyes of my heart, I just knew. I didn’t have time for putting on a face of content, or maturity. I was in need and I allowed it.
Life is really screwy. Honestly, sometimes don’t you just want to get through the day? Sometimes isn’t that all your capable of? Do you have moments where everything seems like a bloody war? I do.
I’m a passionate, abstract, emotionally charged man. Jesus loves that about me. When I’m breathing He gets to experience life as only He and I can. I have an immense capacity to love (and hate). I’m volatile. Sometimes when I’m getting crushed, I get overwhelmed. In those times I have a friend.
The world teaches us that when men reach a certain age (be it a number or perceived maturity), we’re not supposed to get crushed anymore. That’s crap. Life is difficult. Couple that with Jesus wanting to heal and free us of our chains, and diving into these feelings being the only way to do it, and you have a potential real mess (at least for me). I can’t do it alone. Isolation breeds dysfunction. I used to wonder why talking to Jesus wasn’t enough. I don’t have time for that question anymore. You see; I have a friend and all I know is that when I come to this man and express; my situation, frustration, brokenness, fear, anger, or rage I find healing and freedom at best and strength to continue at least. I hate how the world teaches that men should not need help. I wish every man had a friend like I have.

I have a friend that was given to me by Jesus. I’m a lucky guy. It’s a miracle. I had to risk; rejection, judgmental dismissal and betrayal but this man has proved trustworthy. I trust him with my life.

I just wanted to thank him.

Dear Friend,
I love you, thank you, well done.
Steve

My God Jesus

I have spoken quite a bit recently about my friend Jesus. I would like to take a moment and talk about my God Jesus.
As life happens, there are moments where I am compelled to engage Jesus in a fashion that does not resemble two friends just hanging out. There are times when it appears that my abilities fall short of my need in my circumstance. It is during these times I speak the name of Jesus. Some days I speak His name frequently. This ‘saying of His name’ I come to realize is me affirming myself of who I am, what He has done, and what He is capable of. It is reminder that He is God and I am His.
I have left behind the need to practice this by routine, (although to be honest it appears routine), rather, I practice this as a result of His Spirit’s lead. As much as I now know I have everything I need to respond to whatever life presents me, I still find myself capable of struggle. During these times of difficulty, I believe Jesus Himself, through His heart and Spirit that live within me, compel me to come to Him with my need or desire. I believe this glorifies Him and He is appreciative.
I have times of depression and anxiety and these times can ignite a response of fear, anger or isolation, which break relationship either; Him or the people in my life. It is here that I find the need within me that can be only be met by God. Sometimes this engagement of God can be rather casual, a simple utterance of His name. Always this engagement is humbling.
It is a reverent, beautiful, and awe inspiring place to be in the presence of a most powerful God; A God who is true, good, capable, and willing to rise and respond to the need of His beloved.

As I walk in the garden
And the ‘other one’ speaks my name,
I recognize a choice I have;
I call Him, and then remain.

I have what He gave me,
This is all that I need,
But the turning, and silence;
Is downfall’s bad seed.

This seed of independence,
This seed of no need,
This seed of forgetting,
I don’t want it to succeed.

If I ask He will rise up
And stand beside me
Put His hand on my shoulder
‘We’ are all that I need.

-Steve

Knowing God

Do I know God? I ask myself the question and it's a silly question. Between me, myself and my intimate allies, it’s a silly question. But I consider the answer I would give someone else and I find myself searching for words to describe a mystical experience.
Q. "How do I know I know Him?'
A. "Because he lives in me"
(A good, true answer in my ears, and true in my heart, yet somehow lacking to someone else's ears I suspect.)
A. "Because He caused and causes transformation in my mind, heart and life"
(Again true for me, yet it could be written off to any revelation based therapeutic behavioral management model)
A. "Because, after asking to be changed, healed, freed, and to have a life from Him, it occurred."
(I feel like I'm getting somewhere now, but still missing something somewhere, not airtight somehow)
A. "Because I hear His voice clearly. He initiates conversations and responds to my dialogue. He teases me, likes me, cries with me, and laughs with me. He likes it when I tease Him, and creates in me an ability and desire to love that was not evident or part of my nature before I met Him. He compels me to enter into situations contrary to my nature of self preservation. He leads me to freedom from what I am captive of. He heals me of my emotional and psychological wounds by accepting my invitation to come in and show me what ails me so I can ask for healing and freedom. Most importantly, I love Him and living without him would be more heartbreaking than I can imagine, it would be like death, or the lack of life. In all this, He loves me completely and in the midst of every flaw, shortcoming, screw up, or rejecting of Him on my part, I am never ashamed of myself when I'm with Him.
I know I know him because His nature and existence is contrary to the way of the world."
(that feels better)

Jesus’ prayer for Himself, me, and you

Jesus’ prayer for Himself, me, and you amazes me. It is enough for a lifetime of dialogue with Him about what He said. I’ve included two translations below. Do you think He meant exactly what he said?

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John 17 (New International Version)
John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Footnotes:
a. John 17:6 Greek your name; also in verse 26
b. John 17:17 Greek hagiazo (set apart for sacred use or make holy also in verse 19

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John 17 (The Message)
John 17
Jesus' Prayer for His Followers
1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:
Father, it's time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.
6-12 I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I'm not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
They'll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).
13-19 Now I'm returning to you.
I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn't join the world's ways,
Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
I'm not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I'm consecrating myself for their sakes
So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
20-23 I'm praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they'll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you've sent me and loved them
In the same way you've loved me.
24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

Regarding Jesus

Regarding Jesus: did you ever;

Tease Him?
Tell Him a joke?
Ask Him to leave you alone for a minute?
Let the answering machine get it?
Not return His call?
Lie to Him?
Laugh with Him?
Give Him your opinion?
Make a suggestion to Him?
Comfort Him?
Casually thank Him?
Encourage Him?
Give Him the night off?
Do something so He doesn’t have too?
Run and let Him chase you?
Surprise Him with something?
Defend Him?
Hold him accountable?
Forgive Him?
Release Him?
Allow Him?
Make Him something?
Give Him something?
Receive something from Him?
Just sit quietly with Him?
Ask nothing more of Him?
Touch him?
Kiss Him?
Love Him?

I really love that guy….

ok

Ok. I post this testimony about crisis a couple weeks ago. Absolutely brilliant! Go ahead! Put a target on your head! Absolutely brilliant…. Anyway, since that post, I’ve had what seem to be innumerable opportunities to practice and access this healing I profess is available. I won’t bore you with the particulars, that’s not my intent here, but I would like to say; that while the trials (life) have been hard moments, and while the adrenaline flows through my body causing my legs to feel weak, and the appropriate anxiety cause me to be on heightened alert, as I look back, I have responded well. I did not; default to anger, blow up relationship, harm others, run away, abuse mind altering substances, go soft, hide or shut down.

Through the grace of God I have managed to remain engaged, default to wisdom rather than emotion, communicate, share, seek advise and council, and perhaps most significant, engage in conflict in health.

So yes, thank you Jesus, You are faithful. I find freedom, healing and life as I walk with you.

I think my next post will be about how light His yoke is.

A few days ago I posted about crisis. I soon heard this song. I find Jesus in it as the hero wrestles with life. He gets good advice.

Password "Jesus" then let Him speak to your condition.


Unknown Caller Lyrics - U2
(Written by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen, Jr.)
Sunshine, sunshine
Sunshine, sunshine

Oh, oh
Oh, oh

I was lost between the midnight and the dawning
In a place of no consequence or company
3:33 when the numbers fell off the clock face
Speed dialing with no signal at all

Go, shout it out, rise up
Oh, oh
Escape yourself, and gravity
Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak
Shush now
Oh, oh
Force quit and move to trash

I was right there at the top of the bottom
On the edge of the known universe where I wanted to be
I had driven to the scene of the accident
And I sat there waiting for me

Restart and re-boot yourself
You're free to go
Oh, oh
Shout for joy if you get the chance
Password, you enter here, right now

Oh, oh
You know your name, so punch it in
Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak
Shush now
Oh, oh
Then don't move or say a thing


Here's a link to hear it if you wish


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLpFwdqY7lI&feature=related

Ache

Can you imagine having a loved one who refused to be your loved one because they thought they were just not worthy or capable?

Can you imagine the ache your heart would feel if you said, “Its ok, I’m not concerned with your opinion of yourself, please come here.” Only to have them reply something to the effect that they still wanted to have things in order first?

Can you imagine the ache when they refused relationship because they wanted to finish the book about how you worked in history before being your lover?

Can you imagine that person saying, "I don't do enough for you to deserve this kind of desire on your part"

Can you imagine the loss?

Crisis of the heart is a good thing

Crisis

Think about the word crisis. I suspect we can all remember a crisis in our life. I also suspect the memory is not a good one. Perhaps we remember a time of painful trauma such as; loss of a job or dream, fear, divorce and broken relationships, or personal failure that caused harm to ourselves, others, or the ones we love.

Now consider the first definition in Webster’s.

Crisis (n)
1. A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.

Quite a different picture when you allow this ‘event’ to impact your world for the better!

Is there something in your life that you desire would change for the better?
Is there something that burns in your heart that you wish God would reconcile?
Are you addicted to something such as; self destructive behavior, drugs, or coveting that you want changed?
Is your relationship with Jesus cold and reduced to intellectual concepts?
Do you desire freedom from what holds you captive?
Do you seek healing from what ails you?
Are you keenly aware that this life you are living surely does not resemble this “life to the full” Jesus says He desires for us?

My friend this is a crisis of the heart. This is opportunity! This is a good thing!

I encourage you to stop. Stop avoiding, distracting and ignoring. Go to the source of Life.
Jesus is a person. He speaks to his siblings. He will give you everything you need for the crisis! He will provide! How ridiculous the notion that God would lead us to the well and not allow us to drink. How mean that we would have to achieve some level of wisdom before He would allow us to be His friend. How sad that a God would withhold Himself until such time that we are wise enough to grasp doctrine.

This is not the God I have come to know.


If these longings for life are from God, would He not provide a conclusion worth reaching for? Would He not provide the means by which you will discover what the chains are that hold your heart captive?


I’m not saying it’s not scary. I’m not saying it will not confront us in the darkest recesses of our mind and heart. I’m not saying it’s always fun.

I am saying that if in fact He is God and capable of all things, He can restore your heart. I am saying He will download a new operating system by which we can discover; that right here and now, we can have and live, “Life to the Full.”

In my life, I have found it worth it.

Crisis is stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or for worse, is determined.

A crisis of the heart is a turning point toward a new trend called life.

The Opportunity

Met a man.
To be honest passed judgment before he said a word.
Kind of missed it
The opportunity
He wasn’t aggressive enough I guess
I was there, but a little busy
Re met him
I listened.
Pretty cool guy
He came to my garden looking for Jesus in guys to hang around with
We sat
Probably 45 minutes
He talked, I talked, and we talked
He listened the first time
He didn’t miss it
The opportunity
He created it
The opportunity
He made himself available
That’s the opportunity
I did too
The second time
Glad I did
He’s brave
He stayed
He could have disappeared
And I would have missed it
The opportunity

Rest

I suspect many people come to a church service seeking something they do not have or want. Consider these things people may be seeking:
God
Forgiveness
Purpose
Freedom
Healing
Friends
Belonging
Empowerment
Distraction
Community
Help
Escape
Hope
All these things speak to unfulfilled perception of need. Sometimes the need is desperate. I can identify with the empty, broken longing, the urgency, and the exhaustion.

How about Rest? In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus speaks regarding peoples perceptions of Him as they interact with Him in their search for God.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I believe Jesus said these things because He knew something about a deeper need for some people, and His Spirit considered these words important enough to make sure they got included in the Bible.

Rest.

Do we offer rest?

Demonstration of His love

Do you think it is correct to say that when an individual enters into relationship with Jesus, some demonstration of love will result? Be it: service in a fellowship of believers, engaging in relationship for another's benefit, or helping meet the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual needs of another, I see it play out every time. As I rifle through the people I have known in my life that I have concluded are in such a relationship, I cannot think of anyone who did nothing and simply assumed a posture of 'waiting it out' until heaven.

The one constant I conclude is evident is Jesus.

He's just like that.

I believe as we disciple people in Kingdom living we should include the notion that when he is ready, Jesus will lead us into this type of demonstration. To me it's exciting! Like Christmas morning. I can't wait to see the gifts someone receives.

Yet we must be cautious, if we are not careful, people may think a demonstration is a criteria for a relationship with Jesus rather than a result.

I believe He came first for you and I. To offer freedom and healing. As a result of that freeing and healing, we find life and as I look at what that life typically looks like, it always ends up in that freeing and healing being given to another.

Camp Gideon 2010

Camp Gideon 2010

A few years ago, some of us men were led into the wilderness. Jesus spoke to us there. We believe there is biblical precedence that God meets men in the wilderness, when he is away from his normal realm of influence. Think about Moses, Abraham, Elijah, the other prophets, and Jesus….

We also believe there is significance in men, gathering as men.

Our annual adventures began innocently enough. “Lets do a retreat and call it an ‘Advance’” (because men don’t retreat, cute huh?). We secured a camp named ‘Gideon’ which is owned by our denomination. It has an older structure with; a nice industrial kitchen, a large room with lots of tables for eating or whatever, a living area with a fireplace and questionably comfortable furniture, three or four bedrooms containing five or six double bunk beds each, bathrooms & showers. All this on 165 rolling acres with paths, beaver ponds, streams, mature forest and grassy fields. It’s located south of Canton near Carrolton and Mechanicsberg.

Some of us get there Friday about noon. We cook the food ourselves. We have a late dinner Friday, (about 7:30), because some guys get there later. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner Saturday, and breakfast Sunday. There’s junk food and always coffee in the pot. We leave about noon Sunday after we clean the place up.

We hang around a lot. Usually there’s a ‘guy flick’ Friday night, you know, battles fought, beauties rescued, adventures lived. Guys are on their own there, some read, some work on stuff, some sleep, seems like there's always a conversation going on. (I think I want to play cards this year.)

We intentionally go without a plan. No guest speakers, no hard agenda, no workbooks, no expectations other than the hope that Jesus will join us there. If there is one thing we encourage men to do, its to go for a walk, alone, with Jesus, and ask Him to speak to you with the expectation that He will. Inevitably, men come back with a story, and inevitably it seems some get shared when we sit around Saturday night and wrestle with God and each other. Wrestling with God...., that’s always a highlight. Sometimes we argue with each other, but always, we love.

Some of us host it, but Jesus is the leader. If a pastor shows up, he’s just a guy. No man is higher than another. We believe Jesus is capable of meeting and providing for each individual man’s needs right where they are. We do share our story if we feel like it, but that occurs as the Spirit of God leads. We don’t expect that we can ‘fix’ each other, we don't try too. That’s not our job. If someone has some wisdom for you, you’ll know it.

Jesus always shows up. He has every year, sometimes in quiet, sometimes in conversation, once in a book, once in a movie, a couple times in the kitchen, sometimes in tears, always in the woods. We’ve seen and/or experienced mental, emotional and spiritual healings. We’ve seen friendships formed. We’ve seen release from oppression, delivering of commissioning, and rest received. We’ve seen the receipt of energy to return home to our garden. We’ve seen God in the lives of men who seek Him.

If you come, you’ll be on your own because you’re a man. Do what you want. Come, rest, wrestle, eat, whatever.

This year we’re going March 12, 13 and 14. The cost is $85.00 and you bring some small thing (bread, pop, chips). Scholarships are available. We’re collecting money and taking reservations now. Come by the church on a Wednesday night or Sunday morning or reply to this post with your information if you need to be contacted. Pastor Adrian can also put you in touch with us.

Bruce Polovitch
Keith Marino
Steve Grace

His hand on the faucet

Jesus builds the church
From John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day”.
From John 12:32
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

It’s God’s responsibility. All our actions and works mean nothing unless He draws to Himself.

Our attempts to measure our success in numbers and dollars and service ultimately reflect whether the Lord is drawing people to our church because of its program or adjenda? This puts the relationship into the position of being a puzzle. Have we drawn the right conclusion from reading? If our numbers are down or flat we must not be doing it right or Jesus would draw more people to us.

I am a staunch believer that when Jesus enters a life, some form of demonstrative service will result, (weather it is evangelical in nature or humanitarian), because that is the nature of Jesus, to lay down the life. Accept His offer; he will do it to you when and how He chooses.

I suppose if I met Paul we would have a good time. I believe; he was anointed by Jesus Himself, had Jesus’ heart within him, and tried his best to explain what he knew and learned from Jesus to a bunch of humans. But as wonderful and inspired as his letters are the words of Jesus are greater.

I believe the responsibility of the institutional church is to first lift up Jesus, what He accomplished on the cross and why He had to depart so the Holy Spirit could come. I believe if we do that, lift him up, He will draw people to Himself. We then bear witness to the truth of what is happening to them (something I think is critical).Then, I believe as people interact with us and see how we work out our faith, He will speak to the hearts of His people. They must then choose to respond “yea or nay” to His leading (just like always).

Giving whats yours to give

Nothing can be given to God unless He has first given it to you.