The Kingdom; True Freedom and Equality

 

Years ago I was at women’s meeting and the older women were talking about the decline of morality in our society.  As a young women in my early twenties I did not realize the urgency and importance of the conversation.  As I heard them talking about the end of the age being upon us I was literally thinking some of the comments were hyperbole and completely outlandish.  More than two decades have passed since I sat in the midst of those godly women and have come to realize that even their worse hyperbole can’t come close to the decline we are currently seeing today.

Only two in a half decades have past since that conversation and there has been a complete redefinition of truth, morality, how humans communicate, connect, entertain, educate and the list goes on and on. But the greatest concern I see is the church conforming to this redefinition and encouraging disciples to evolve since society is evolving. It’s a terrible day when alleged theologians, pastors and teachers are taking the Word of God and redefining it’s meaning in the name of love.

The message of the Kingdom of God is far more powerful and liberating than the co-exist rant our modern evolving society so easily embraces.  There is a depth to the absolute truth of the message of gospel that resonates in the spirit of man. What society has done is dilute the truth with its man made philosophies tearing down its original purpose which is to bring freedom to humanity.

The truth is the Kingdom message is one of true equality. The book of Galatians tells us there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Lord has no favorites however he does not rule His Kingdom like a democracy nor does He accept everyone’s opinions about anything and everything.  The message of the Kingdom does mean there are no ethnic, geographical, cultural or moral barriers for those who have repented by turning away from that which God calls sin. Only then is true forgiveness extended and a NEW LIFE IN HIM begins. When we are His and live according to the reality of the Kingdom we become a regenerated man, by the Spirit! How’s that for equality and acceptance!!!!! Now that is how God’s love wins!

To all contemporary thinkers, theologians, pastors and seekers who boldly declare freedom is found in the message that no longer stands on the infallible Word of God I would like to echo the words of George Orwell.

         “The more I hear people screaming freedom, freedom, the more I hear their chains rattling.”

EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME

 

Every human life has a time and within this time there are extraordinary moments in the ordinary of life. We may see these moments as random daily events but we are eternal beings and our words, works and gifts are destined for eternity.

This past weekend I had the privilege to attend a memorial service for one of my dearest friends father. Their father lived for Jesus his entire life. As I read the comments left on the memorial page there was one that struck a chord in my heart.  One of his army friends wrote how he remembered him saying,"I cannot get away from God".  From the opening of the service to the last amen you know this was a man gifted of the Lord in more ways than one. He was a Bible teacher, guitarist, songwriter, husband father and the list goes on and on. He served Jesus and his community as a minister for over thirty years.  He was married to the love of his life for 48 years and what a love they had.

As I sat and listened to his life story unfold, the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians resonated in my being “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.  I am confident if I were to ask his dear wife that co-labored with him was it easy? She would say we endured many trails and tribulations. However, I know this sweet lady would tell me:

Honey,

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

My life’s scale received some balance as I heard about this man’s life. Birth and death are the two-sides of the scale. Clearly we don’t have control of either however, with the Holy Spirits guidance, we can keep the scale in balance no matter what season of life we are in.

God's purposes for our lives are weaved into eternity and like a work of art they will be displayed for many to see. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Let us recognize the beauty in the here and now acknowledging the place and purpose each person has in the overall plan of God.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, stay focused, time is precious…………………

THE FORGOTTEN GIFT

In my last blog titled “Do you know Him” I briefly explored the theme of having a conscious relationship with the Holy Spirit.   As I mentioned I started to ponder on this topic due to a short conversation our family was having regarding the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the conversation has placed me on a several weeks journey of going back to the WORD and rediscovering what the scriptures have to say about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As I have combed the pages of scripture Old and New Testament I have asked myself several questions and am curious as to what others may think. Has the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit fallen out of our Western Christian church teaching? If so, why? Are we losing something important? How imperative is it to our Christian walk?  Have we redefined the term baptism in Holy Spirit in an attempt to correct what man perhaps has misunderstood or misinterpreted?

In my review of the WORD OF GOD I can say we are losing something vital. Why? Jesus last command to His disciples is to go out and be His witnesses carrying the message to the nations. But, He tells them they need to be equipped instructing them to stay in Jerusalem until they have been clothed in power from on high.  You see what the flesh cannot do the Spirit can do.  In other words what us human beings can’t reach in the natural can be reached with the Holy Spirit moving in us, through us and among us. 

Have you ever considered that before the disciples received the Holy Spirit they denied Jesus, they had unbelief, they questioned if He was the Messiah. We read after the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts this was not the case.  In fact it was quite the contrary they received power to witness and they went out with boldness declaring the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit and His baptism is the antidote that conquers fear, doubt, insecurities and defies all our natural circumstances.

In the church of Ephesus where Apollos served as pastor (Acts 18:24-28) the scripture gives us a good sense of who this man was.

   Apollos was an eloquent man

   He was mighty in the Scriptures

   He was instructed in the ways of God

   He was fervent in spirit

   He taught the things of the Lord

   He knew only the baptism of John—Nothing about the baptism in the Spirit.

When Paul visited Ephesus he opened the door through which the Spirits power manifested itself. The gospel message was there but they had not received the Holy Spirit in power.  Paul comes lays hands on them they received the Holy Spirit and they revolutionize Ephesus.

What caused this revolution? It was not Paul it was the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through men.  

Can we experience this same revolution in our lives, homes, schools, community and workplaces? ……Absolutely!!

I am convinced today more than ever we the people of God need a fresh baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember just like Peter, the word of the Lord, “John, indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord who was I that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11: 16-17)

Let’s run after the forgotten gift and pray, come Holy Spirit baptize me again!!