The Truth

I’ve been on a journey, searching for truth, not someone’s opinion of truth, not truth as it’s been taught, but truth as its written in the word.

Not detracting from what I’ve been taught or from Church, but I believe the Word of God directs us to seek a closer, deeper walk. To not be satisfied with crumbs or less, but to strive to feast at the Master’s table.  The Bible is plain about the importance of having a Preacher, but it is also plain about knowing the word, the truth for yourself.  Paul said in 1st Corinthians, be followers of me even as I am of Christ.

How do we know if someone is following Jesus if we don’t know what Jesus did and said?

I believe the Opinions can be swayed by emotion, lack of information, lack of coffee and what about being a little carnal or lacking prayer.  Opinions really have, or should have no place in the governance of the Body.

We must know that we are being led by a True Man of God as he is following truth.

According to the internet, there are 33,000 +/- “Christian” denominations in the U.S. alone. The Bible only mentions One church, the Bride of Christ.  Why do we have so many kinds of churches? The simple answer is opinions!

Opinions about what color the carpeting should be or the color of the song-books doesn’t really matter.  The Opinions I’m thinking of effect the soul. The “Oh, you don’t need that” or the “Gods not doing that anymore” opinions is what I’m referring to.

How do we get beyond allowing Opinions to fracture our churches? Take Opinions out of it and work it out with Fear and Trembling.

Philippians 2:12 tells us –
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

We must study to show ourselves approved unto God.

I believe that the book of Acts is relevant, available and obtainable today.  My personal experience aligns with the book of Acts, chapter and verse and is verification for me of the power and relevance of the book of Acts.  But my Heart is not to be a Pentecostal, my Heart is to be a Biblical Christian, to worship the Living God and to be pleasing to Him.

For the Record, I never want to be seen as discounting anyone’s relationship with God.  God’s ways are bigger than mine and yours, and thankfully I am no one’s judge.   As I walk through this life, I see the hand of God in places that I first didn’t expect it and secondly am a little confused and at the same time Overjoyed by it.
But as I’ve said for years “I want all that is my birthright as a Christian.”  To shun or deny any scripture just because it contradicts or does not align perfectly with what we’ve been taught is dangerous.  How does it align with the Word, that’s the yardstick we must use.  If it’s Bible and it was ever given to the Church, I want it.
I want my Daily Benefits as promised by the Psalmist that go along with my Salvation.

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

God’s Love

The Bible tells us in John 3:16 and many other verses about God’s Love for mankind.

It is abundantly clear that He Loves us.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Our Love

Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Luke 10:27
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

As with any healthy relationship Love must be reciprocated for the relationship to endure. There must be communication and there must be a desire to please the other party of the relationship.  You must put them first and remember that in a successful relationship  100% +100% = 100%.

50/50 won’t do it, anything less than your all is not enough.

Jesus already gave His 100%, now it’s my turn.

I believe with all my heart that we need to get to a place that our service to God and in our Church services where they are centered around Loving Him above all else.  I’m not saying everything in our services is wrong, but I firmly believe we need to reevaluate our lives and our walk with God.  Put God back at the center. If we are not worshiping Him/Loving Him as the center of our walk and at the center of our service to Him then we will end up walking in the ways of a man.

The most beautiful service recorded in the Bible was in the Upper Room in the second chapter of Acts. Now consider this, not a single person in that room had ever been to a new testament service before. They had no idea what church was, let alone how it was going to be. They only had an Unyielding, unrestrained Love for Jesus Christ.

They Loved God, in unison, with purity of heart. Nothing else mattered, and the Holy Ghost came in like a flood.  Church has gotten so choreographed and programmed that we hamper a move of God to not upset the flow of the service.  God wants to demonstrate HIs Love and Mercy in our church services. He wants to be a part of our lives in and out of the Church House.

It takes dedication, sacrifice and a made up heart and mind to serve God properly, but if unfettered Love is the foundation of your relationship, then you truly can “count it all Joy.”

Trying to live for God without truly Loving Him is a lesson in frustration and a recipe for failure. You’ll soon get bored with Half-Hearted Christianity.

Love Him first.

When your walk starts to feel more drudgery than victory, check your Love. Check your relationship.

Stay tuned. More to come soon.

God Bless You richly.  Please comment and share.