Today I have to ask the question of myself and others:
"When did Pentecost become a denomination instead of a way of life?"
Surely this is not at all that God intended when He sent His Spirit as a flame to the upper room where the disciples were praying and waiting for Jesus to send to them what He had promised?
Are we living today as though Jesus kept His promise, ensuring that there would be a continuation of His life and power in the earth when He had returned to heaven?
I am asking this question of myself, challenging myself, and anyone who reads this, to examine the question. "Am I living a pentecostal lifestyle?"
Is there visible evidence of the life and power of Jesus in my everyday life and relationships?
Is there any evidence of lives changed, healed, restored, as I encounter them and speak and pray?
Is there any evidence of this strength and power in my ability to walk daily in strength and overcome the things I encounter?
In this day, as we see the nations rage around us, it is time to ask again as Wesley did - "O God of burning, cleansing fire ... send the fire ... send the fire today!"
How often do we think about ourselves
as 'heaven's currency'? Each and every one of us has been created and 'deposited' on the earth for a distinct and amazing purpose. God put each of us together in such a way as to accomplish a plan that originated in His great heart - WOW, how amazing is that!
If we consider that when we one day stand alone before Him, the questions asked will not be about our sin (Jesus already took care of that) but rather how we allowed the precious currency of heaven that is invested in us to be spent ... might we view how we live and act a little differently?
Imagine being a big bag of gold coins dropped out of heaven onto this planet. :)
So now, there can be the odd coin scattered here and there, with some kind of minimal effect, OR there can be a bag given back into God's hands. As it is given back, He gets permission to spend the contents EXACTLY as He chooses, and of course, EXACTLY as He always planned. This should have maximum effect for His Kingdom, and leave us knowing that we are living lives that really make a difference.
In this current time, many have been tried and tested, sometimes beyond what we might consider to be a reasonable measure. Now, as we have been tried and tested, and refined by the process, God is going to be able to spend big handfuls of gold - we are just going to love what He is able to do with what has been worked into our lives.
Get ready to see God have a big spend up!! Your life and mine will never be the same. This is time to say "Here I am God ... Your precious currency ... spend me as You will for the blessing and extension of Your Kingdom on earth." Sit back and get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
We are both flesh and spirit, but we often consider flesh more real because this is what we can see daily in the natural realm.
We attend to the flesh because it is always there and very demanding.
Flesh is finite and will die and decay, and eventually cease to exist. It is VERY temporary.
Our flesh is merely the earthly temporary container of our spirit.
The spirit is eternal and will continue to exist when our flesh has ceased.
Our spirit connects us to all that is eternal and needs to be attended to and grown towards our eternal life.
Although we cant see our spirit with our natural eyes, it deserves more attention than our flesh because it will live FOREVER.
From a Christian point of view the question is where will the spirit spend eternity, in heaven or in hell?
Therefore, we begin to make choices in life that will take us in one direction or the other.
If we choose, we can be led by God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who He sends to counsel, teach, comfort and help us.
Though we cannot see Him, He is as real as our spirit, but far more powerful. He is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, now sent to work very powerfully in God's children.
John 14:10 (Amplified Bible)
….what I am telling you I do not say on My own accord; but the Father who lives CONTINUALLY in Me does (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power).
God has sent His Spirit to work in us as He did in Jesus. He wanted us to have what Jesus had, so that His life would be evident in us and others would believe in Him also.
Why?
Because He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE.
John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby) that He may remain with you FOREVER.
John 14:17
The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for HE LIVES WITH YOU (CONSTANTLY) and will be in you.
Jesus gives us the ability to know and recognize the Holy Sprit and promises us that He will be with us CONSTANTLY.
(Doves are not skittish birds and don’t fly away quickly! They just step aside quietly til the threat has passed and then carry on as before.)
John 14:26
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name (in My place to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (remind you of, bring to your remembrance) EVERYTHING I have told you.
John 14:27
PEACE I leave with you; MY OWN PEACE I know give and BEQUEATH TO YOU. Not as the world gives do I give to you. DO NOT let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (STOP allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and DO NOT permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and unsettled).
Thank you Holy Spirit that You are ALWAYS and CONSTANTLY with me. The PEACEFUL STRENGTH of God, abiding with me.
I choose to stay with You as You stay with me.
I choose to let You guard my heart and mind.
I choose to let you do the works of God, wherever and whenever You desire.
I desire to know You more and more, and to be taught and counselled and comforted by You.
I choose to live in eternal things, not waiting til my life ends, but engaging now with FOREVER and not being bound by the temporary and finite things that surround me.
Thank you for being My Life, My Way, My Truth.
Today I have to ask the question of myself and others:
