God's Grace

The root of compassion.

"We love each other because he loved us first." 1 John 4:19 NLT

If there is one need that we all carry with us regardless of age, socio-economic background or ethnicity, it is the need to be loved unconditionally. This need is built into the very fabric of our being; we want a safe place where we can go and be loved without fear of rejection, a place where even at our worst, we are not deemed an outcast, and we're still embraced. A person cannot truly grow spiritually unless they know that even at their worst, there is a place where they can go and still be embraced. Unfortunately, this goes against everything that a performance-oriented society teaches us, and because we live in a world so entangled in discord, political-strife, economic oppression, dissension, and war, it is very difficult to find that place where love does not come with several strings attached to it.

Church is supposed to be a place where we can come and receive this kind of love, but unfortunately, what you may often find in church is a polished version of what you find in the secular world, a place where you are accepted by God's grace in principle, but denied that love in practice unless you follow the right denominational rules (whatever those may be).

Author and pastoral counselor Paul Tournier made a very poignant observation when he said, "The Church proclaims the grace of God. And moralism, which is the negation of it, always creeps back into its bosom...Grace becomes conditional. Judgment appears...I see every day its ravages in all the Christian churches." The fact that Mr. Tournier said that he sees "its ravages in all Christian churches" goes to show that we have a long way to go when it comes to truly accepting the unique contribution that Jesus brought into the world - the message of grace. Our struggles accepting this message, ironically enough, also show that we are indeed fallible and need the very grace that we talk about. When we do accept this message of God's grace (love without strings), we will then realize that we have the same propensity for wrongdoing that is present in the lives of those whom we hate the most, a very humbling fact when you think about it.

We have so perverted the meaning of the word "love" that we have misconstrued it to mean some sort of mushy feeling that we get similar to when you are having your favorite meal or participating in a favorite hobby. But when this is translated to our interaction with others and we say that we love someone based on some quality that we find admirable in that person, or because of something that they can do for us, we don't really love them, we only cherish their ability to perform for us or make us feel good. You only know that you truly love someone when they cannot pay you back in return for the love that you give them.

If we are going to heal and be agents of healing for others, we have to first realize that God's love for us is not predicated on our ability to perform for Him. God is not some heavenly boss who is impressed with our consecutive weeks of church attendance, or record number of Scripture verses memorized or the fact that you have not used a cuss word in 5 years. To place our performance against the backdrop of Biblical law is to come face to face with our true debt and fallibility. It is only when we realize this that we can truly appreciate what it means to be forgiven and loved by God, and therefore pass this love on to others. Too often, however, we put the cart before the horse, telling broken people who barely know what love is themselves to "get at it, and love others..come on, do it!" But to attempt to love someone else when you barely love yourself is to only use another person to feel good about yourself...

It is my hope and prayer that wherever you are broken, you may experience the ravishing effect of true love.

Peace

Stephen Oladotun Akinduro

http://www.grace1971.blogspot.com/

P-A-I-N

Pain is not only a good thing, but it is allowed for the purpose of moving us closer to God.

Refusing to allow pain to be worked out in our hearts will not only hinder our own relationship with God, but the building of relationships with others. Whether it be our own pain, or the gentle exposure of pain in others, if we quarantine it off and deny it's existence - perhaps because of the effect it's had on our self worth - we miss out on what God really wants to do with us and for us.

I just finished listening to the latest podcast entitled "PAIN" (here) and it really is something to think long and hard on.

The truth is we often do the exact opposite of what pain is truly intended to bring about in us: and even with others. We tend to isolate the pain, pretend it doesn't exist, or even close ourselves (and others) off from the suffering of another saint for fear of what it would expose or even bring to the surface in our own hearts.

I agree with their analysis that the end result of undealt with painful issues not only hinders our building relationship with others - but it answers many questions I have had recently on the sad outcome of relationships with others. Exposing pain or painful areas in others (even if it is unintentional on our part) is not welcomed and is actually the beginning of the demise of a relationship which could have been very productive and fruitful for God's Kingdom.

WE all as Christians need to get real, honest & true about these things if we ever want any hope at all of truly being Vibrant Truth-Bearers to this world, ie bearers of the flame of Jesus Christ.

The Heavy Load of Tradition

In regards to religious activities, did you ever wonder why people just seem to follow the motions of all the various traditions that have been passed down over the centuries?

Jesus told us the answer, he said this is like 'thinking as a child', and told us to instead think like men. What then followed in Paul's words, were specific points to consider -- especially those that centered around behavior when they were gathered together as a body.

I Cor. 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature ..

Paul said that if they were mature they would consider all the next points of which he gave examples.

One point was that when the church comes together, they should be careful to consider that all present had the Word of God. That all could speak, and that when revelation comes to a second person, the first person should sit down and be quiet. It's not difficult to understand that this is a sign of maturity, a willingness to be quiet and let the next person speak. It's also a sign of understanding, recognizing that this is exactly the way the Spirit works.

Why does the church not do that ?

It is because of the heavy load of tradition that has been inherited and passed down throughout the generations.

It takes courage to admit that your thinking is immature and anti AGAINST scripture -- against what is so clearly laid out as 'how to' be a mature church, primarily the fact that consistent consideration always be given to each other, the gift in all.

In Your Time of Need

There comes a time in life when we have to let go and trust all we are and can be to the Giver of life. There is a time of hurt that only God can understand, a time of deepest need that cannot be ministered to by a human friend. There is an anxiety that cannot be resolved, a pain that cannot be relieved, a feeling that cannot be healed by anything another may say or do.

It is only as we give up our desperate efforts and give God total control that we can experience true healing. This healing may not be as we expect, but entrusting our life to the Good Shepherd will ultimately be the best choice that can be made. For in giving your life to Him, He will take your burdens and hold you in His comforting arms. He is the only one who can truly understand. You are upheld in love and in prayer.

by Unknown

He Alone is Extra-Ordinary

Deep within us all, what we truly long for in life is to see the beauty of Christ -unfolded in others . His beauty is most evident in people, ordinary everyday people. Do you agree? He gave us a message of love and endearment towards the lonely, the outcast, the broken & the weary. He's not changed His mind on this. It's where Christ's heart truly is. He is most evident in the ordinary. He alone is extra-ordinarily revealed in the ordinary broken processes and wounds of lives.

It's so refreshing to break through our preconceived ideas / prejudices about others, even about God and what His plans might or might not even be. Break through our own ideologies and beliefs about what this means, this man called CHRIST JESUS living out His life on this earth. Often it seems we get stuck , stuck on what we believe / stuck on what we prefer or have been led to believe -when all along God's primary interest seems to be in you and I, the everyday people ; getting us on the same page as him, thinking like he thinks, seeing what he sees everyday. Instead of our prayers and thinking always centering around , Lord bless this , Lord fix this or do that, turning that around in the right direction and asking the Lord to simply fulfill the desires of His heart through me and change me, and simply reach out to those around me everyday. God is patient with us as He seeks to get us from being primarily centered upon ourselves ie of trying to get Him to go where we want to go, to thinking in terms of where He's invited us to come to, and where He already is

The Miracle of Belief

July 17th.
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST

"My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul was a scholar and an orator of the first rank; he is not speaking out of abject humility; but saying that he would veil the power of God if, when he preached the gospel, he impressed people with his "excellency of speech." Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the efficacy of Redemption, not by impressiveness of speech, not by wooing and winning, but by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of the Redemption comes through the preaching of the Gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher. The real fasting of the preacher is not from food, but rather from eloquence, from impressiveness and exquisite diction, from everything that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God - "as though God did beseech you by us." He is there to present the Gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get anywhere near Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the Gospel will end in making me a traitor to Jesus; I prevent the creative power of His Redemption from doing its work.

"I, if I be lifted up . . . , will draw all men unto Me."

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I wonder what His church would LOOK like to the world if we truly grasped this reality. It seems to me that everyone wants to be heard ad nauseum, that everywhere WE look including internet-land, the 'excellency of speech' is well & thriving. Imagine how Oswald describes this attitude: as a traitor to Jesus Christ!!

The Kingdom of God ... is not a phsyical kingdom, it's not a church building, it's not a ministry, not a preacher, in fact it's nothing we are looking at - instead the Kingdom of God is within. (Luke 17:20.21)

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. "

Leaving Ourselves in God's Hands

Jesse Penn-Lewis “...From that hour I understood, and knew, intelligently, that it was dying, not doing, that produced spiritual fruit. The secret of a fruitful life – in brief – to pour out to others and want nothing for yourself: to leave yourself utterly in the hands of God and not care what happens to you.”

How do we get to the place where we are consistently allowing this to take place in us ?

No Sweeter Name

Stick-to-it-ive-ness

Could a subtle definition of 'being religious' simply involve being overly concerned or preoccupied with getting others to 'see' what we 'see', or 'hear' what we 'hear'? I wonder about that.

Eventually given enough energy and stick-to-it-ive-ness, we will succeed in what we are doing, we will convince some, meaning we will get another denomination, another way of thinking, a following, mutual like mindedness.

However, isn't the root of this preoccupation really pride? Since I am right, therefore I must convince others.

Or does the root go deeper? Perhaps the really ugliness involves insecurity. Meaning that through the act of convincing of others, again and again, what we hope to receive back, is that we are the ones receiving the payback. We are reminding ourselves over and over how right we are. ( Addictive, eh. Doesn't it feel good to be right ? )

Unfortunately not only is that cycle often unbroken, but we are failing in the very basic & simple art of communication. Which is above all, to listen. How can we truly listen and consider another if we have an agenda, which is above all, that we insist on being heard?

Listening is really simply being content on the inside and secure, it just shows up so beautifully - on the outside! It's thinking of someone else and not yourself. It's love, it's caring, it's kindness, but somehow, through God's grace, all these things start showing up on the outside. God's way always seems to be so -- beautiful.

If think, if we are truly convinced within ourselves of who we are, that we are loved, and valuable and worthy in the eyes of our Father. We don't go down that road of being high minded without coming to the realization that we have gotten way off track. WE are truly secure and confident within: meaning that we trust Father and trust He is Lord. He will do the convincing in each and all of us, of course, beginning within ourselves. It will work itself truly from the inside out.

Off Track

When we are sidetracked or deceived, ie off track, we can be turned back to Christ. How many times do u and do I need to come back to Christ! Thank God for His grace and mercy and thank God for His burden for us to come back to Him when we are way off track. So often we do not even know where it is that we truly have ended up.

Paul expected that Christ would be formed in the Galatians even though they had gotten off track.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you"

Christ needs to be our focus and it is possible once you receive Christ to get off track, off relationship of our merging and focus with Him - One with Him. Thank God our Spirit does cry Abba Father and does cry and intercede with the Father on our behalf.

Have you been off track ? Are you off track today perhaps? I have definitely been off track that's why I find the book of Galatians so encouraging. Paul's certainty as he tells us it is no longer I who live, but Christ that lives in us. That cuts through to the very heart and truth of our being in Christ. Paul also tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin and to be living unto God in Christ. He died for us and Paul is just telling us to call upon Christ , Christ lives in us. Coming back on track is to focus in on the certainty of Christ being alive and living in us.

Christ Followers (Another Perspective)

A Moving Body

These video's are well worth watching.

Located here

Quote:

1 Cor. 12 describes a body that is moving, every part moving "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." 1 Cor 12:7

There was no such thing as a church service in the New Testament, it doesn't exist. If a believer from the 1st century went to a church service (as of today) they would wonder what on earth was happening! The thing they didn't want was 'services' because they were looking for a freedom described in 1 Cor 10-14 that is intimate and informal, where ALL are free to share; because all have a gift to share, & the body must be free to move!

end quote
(Beresford Job )

Saturate Us, O God!

An intensive saturation

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"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received a spirit of sonship, in which we cry out, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15

When we merge with God and allow Him to flow and pass through us, the first benefit we receive is that He imparts His life into our being. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This indwelling implies an intensive saturation of the Spirit throughout our being, which results in life being imparted into us. Although prayer has its answer, even if there were no answer, by our allowing the Triune God to pass through us we obtain the greatest benefit—the divine life is imparted into us. When we exercise our spirit to cry "Abba, Father," two things take place in us—the Triune God passes through us, and while passing through, He imparts life into our being.

The second benefit of allowing the Triune God to pass through us is that we get cleansed and purified. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This means that in our drawing near, God Himself draws near to us and begins to pass through us. This has the effect of cleansing and purifying our being. However, we should not think that this is merely an automatic thing that happens without our cooperation. "Cleanse" and "purify" are both in the imperative mood, indicating our responsibility to confess and deal with the Lord as God passes through us in an inward way. As we merge with God flowing in us, our sins are exposed and cleansed, and our double heart is exposed and purified. If you want to get into the Lord's light, just spend time with the Lord and draw near to Him. Your hands will be cleansed and your heart will be purified. This is the effect of allowing the passing-through of the Triune God.

- Bill Freeman, The Supplied Life

With God All Things are Possible

But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

(Matt. 19:26)

Everything that God has called us to (is impossible with man) but truly all things are possible with God. This is a great contrast, God's ways of doing things. Perhaps God designed it to be this way. Do you think so ?

That we might know His power, and that His power would be made known to us. It cannot truly be made known to us if through man we can do it, or think we can do 'it' . Remember how sad the rich young ruler was when he realized he could not do it. (Mar. 10) ?? The law could not do it, but through Christ it was achieved & done. It's the same reasoning. It's the same contrast.

Source / Man = Impossible

Source / God = Possible

On the one hand all is impossible it seems, but in Christ thru the Father, all things are possible.

What a contrast!

Our Source and Supply

“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:2-3). When the Lord said “to humble you and test you,” He meant “to measure you.” When He said “to know what was in your heart,” He meant that they would find themselves coming short of God’s standard. All of their pain and failures were allowed by God to lead them to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. They were pushed beyond their capacity in order that they would be escorted to eat divine food. Not to “live by bread alone” meant not to live by the natural life. God was seeking to escort them to Himself, to learn to live by Him as their source and supply.In the same way, God humbles us through environments that we cannot cope with. It is at those junctures that we need to quickly trust Him! The feelings of “too large a task!” are the escort leading us to Christ. We need to recognize these escorts and allow them to guide us to live by manna, by Christ as our bread!

(www.allathisfeet.com)

J E S U S , the Most Unique Man Ever in All of History !!

How is it that  a Wonderful Man called Jesus can have such an impact upon your heart, upon my heart, in fact on  all of humanity and throughout all the ages ?  What an incredible God! He is!    But how is it that This man can have such an impact on us, yet  in the natural did not have a lot going for Him?  For example, He didn't  have a house, He had no money, He was not honored by any people around him, rather they rejected Him and walked away from Him most times, neither did He have a  great job,  most people didn't like what He said really, and His trial to convict Him was illegal,  last, He was crucified on a hill in Golgotha overlooking a garbage dump, and there He was taken to die for you and me.

How is it that despite this, He can and still have such an impact on my life and the life of others? ? ?

RESURRECTION.  RESURRECTION. RESURRECTION. 

The life He lived was and is so powerful because of the resurrection.  This is the life that He died to give us.  Because He conquered death we now have hope in Him.  BECAUSE He conquered death hell and the grave, and destroyed the powers of this world, He now lives in us.  

Thoughts on Baptism

I was baptized (fully immersed) in 1997 at a Pentecostal church in Ottawa, Ontario. I gave my testimony of conversion (which was in 1995) prior to water baptism as was the tradition at this congregation. I was so excited to have a few family members and family present during this. Later in 2000, my husband and two girls were baptized, together in a swimming pool, in front of family and friends (see above photo).

I remember when I got baptized how my parents and others reacted. They simply didn't understand why I would wanted to get baptized as an adult for one simple reason: that they, as good parents, had me baptized as an infant. My baptism in 1997 therefore gave me an opportunity to share with them, and others, why I needed to be baptized at this point in my life.

Infant baptism: my three children were all baptized as infants. I had no scriptural understanding, and certainly not of baptism. I just assumed it was the Christian religious thing to do, something that all Christian parents with infants should do.

After reading scripture however, I can now see that baptism is not intended at all for infants. There is no instance of scripture talking about water baptism as appropriate for infants. Instead water baptism is reserved for those who have understood and placed their faith in Christ. Having identified with Christ through faith, baptism follows simply as an outward sign to others, which is for the purpose of declaring their faith to now be in Christ alone. Water baptism means we now identify with His death and resurrection. Obviously infants cannot make this conscious decision to follow Christ. They certainly cannot understand what baptism even signifies.

Certainly the method of sprinkling water on the head of an infant does not agree with biblical baptism. Christ was not sprinkled upon, He was fully immersed. It does not agree with the apostles teaching which was handed down and that we are supposed to be following. I believe infant baptism to be a teaching that was wrongly introduced by early church leaders, one that went horribly astray & even against what Paul & the others commanded. It's true, perhaps they did not have the fully compiled Bible at their disposal at that time (for reference), which could perhaps explain the reason that things went so wrong; yet they could have easily corrected these errors once they did have the Bible, compiled & for reference. Unfortunately that didn't happen; instead many wrong, false beliefs and teachings continued to be introduced, embraced and adhered to and are yet today.

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PS: I think the idea of dedicating your infant or child to Christ in front of other believers to be appropriate and full of faith. However, as that child grows, they will still have to see themselves as sinners, in need of salvation. This because we are only saved through unmerited favor. Otherwise there will be no appreciation for what God has truly done for them on the Cross. In fact, children growing up 'in the church' so to speak can be very self righteous and think that they somehow 'deserve' to be saved. They can be very proud. However it's so true: those who are forgiven much (of our many sins) are those that love much.

Ouchhh !!

I thought this was soooooo funny I just had to share! God Bless you all!

the Bread of Christ

Showing Forth Christ


What kind of communion was Christ talking about during the last supper that he had with his disciples? What was it that he wanted us to do, 'in remembrance of him?"

It has been my conviction for some time that he wasn't talking about a ceremony or a ritual to be performed (a certain amount of times per month or per year). But that is exactly what the visible church has done, they have made this a ritual, one to be performed again and again, religiously by adherents. If you follow this ritual, they say that you have participated in the 'communion' of Christ's blood and bread. It's easy to understand how the intent and significance therefore has been completely lost. When Christ referred to his blood & bread, he warned us to think about His sacrifice ('ie not take His blood & bread unworthily) in favor of simply following a tradition.

When Paul refers to the "bread of Christ's body and drinking the blood of Christ's body", he is first of all, talking to a church that is seriously struggling with many things. They needed to be pointed to Jesus, to really deeply consider what had happened on the Cross for them. They needed to do this in light of where they were now at and what they were struggling with. Think about Christ. Think about what happened on the night Jesus was betrayed, think about what His death really meant for them. The sacrifice He had made for them. Obviously, they were not doing this at all when they were coming together.

To truly drink of the cup of His blood and partake of the bread of Christ, is to really consider and judge our own consciences to see whether we are examples of His death (death to self). Are we truly partaking of that BREAD, that bread being offered to us in light of this?

The answer to this determines whether we (as individuals and collectively when we do come together,) if we TRULY are examples of Christ's death by showing forth His life.

"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat OF THAT BREAD, and DRINK OF THAT CUP." (11.28)

Paul said many were sick and had died because they were not truly an example of this (they had never examined their lives, consciences) but instead were just living after their flesh.

We do need to be chastened when we do this. WE are God's people whom He has chosen to be his examples to others. If we fail to appreciate and consider the bread and blood of Christ, we will not be showing forth Christ to others, but we will be showing forth instead many things which will not convince a lost suffering dying world that Christ has truly risen, and chosen to live in a people. We will be proving the opposite.

Though we can't make ourselves worthy in any way, we can by partaking of the Bread which HE OFFERS US, show forth Christ to others. In that sense, we do become worthy, but it's only through partaking of THAT BREAD that He offers us. (11.26)

"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

Today :)

Today, my husband & I had the privilege of getting together with a few other couples for the purpose of simply sharing the life He has given us & to rejoice in the hope within. He is so good. Now you might think, so what, don't Christians do that all the time?

Well, for us, we left the institution in 02 which was followed by a home group for a couple years. But since that dissolved, it's literally been years for us to be in a group setting. I admit it was really exciting as well as awkward for myself, at the same time. I am not sure that makes sense, even to me, however I hope you get what I mean. As much as I was excited, I wasn't sure what my expectations were, or even if I had any, or what they should be. It's just it's been so long for me. I don't think in these terms anymore. I am not sure if that's a handicap at the moment for me. I just haven't thought a lot about these things tho I admit I thoroughly love people, I love being with them, I love life, I love sharing, interacting, there's just no end to the river of Christ and He is so beautiful and vibrant in His people.

Perhaps now that I think about it, the word is surreal; I felt like I was just sort of gazing or peering into the group setting. I enjoyed simply watching and observing the way they interacted, shared their hearts, their beliefs. People are just so darn interesting! lol. What was amazing is that there seemed to be a continual shared eagerness to learn and to grow. That was inspiring and you can't help but also feel encouraged by their faith.

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On another note, I was reading the Bible on the way there and I was meditating on Samuel again. I re-read some things from a few weeks ago, and thought I would share what my thoughts were.

David found himself on the run from Saul, and ended up finding refuge under the favor of King Achish, King of the Philistines. In fact Achish so favored David, that he said of him,

And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

David found the hand of protection of God amongst the Philistines. God chose to use Israel's enemies as a way to favor David, protect him and look after him.

Today I was wondering what all of Israel (those in Saul's camp) thought of that arrangement. The majority of the perceived children of God, ie Israel, would have been a part of Saul's camp. Not David's. There would have been much murmuring against David, and judging him, slandering him. Many numbered against the few. In today's language that could mean being labeled one of many things. Apostate. Lost. A betrayor. Left the faith. an outcast.

But the fact remains, that David's heart was so wonderful and so fixed on the Lord. David was able to look beyond the established religious order of his day and serve His God in fear and admiration. He didn't count the cost. He certainly did not hold anything against Saul, in fact he respected him because of the fact that God had chosen Saul. Saul relentlessly hunted him down and showed no mercy, and his pursuit against David drove him mad. He was not able to truly see how merciful David was and that he sought no harm against Saul. David was so devoted to God that even in the midst of living within the enemies of Israel and being hunted down by God's people (use that term loosely), he chose to repeatedly trust God and look to Him as His One and Only steady source of strength and guidance. He never waivered in his belief of God's absolute goodness. It's so amazing to think that David went through so much and yet his faith never wavered.

Even when he returned to Ziklag, and it was burning,their wives and children taken captive by the Amalekites;

Even when his own people and he cried until they had no more tears;

Even when they were going to stone David (his own people) because of the loss, it says , and David strengthened himself in the Lord. So now not only is all of Israel after him, but his own people are seeking to kill David!

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Sam 30:6