With one accord!

The book of acts mentions the phrase 'with one accord' 11 times in the NKJ, 11 times when describing the actions of the Christians in the early church. People ask me why don't we see miracles and sign and wonders like there was in Acts? Are we doing something different to them? For me one of the answer's to that question is because we do not, as Christians, live in 'one accord' with each other, the sacrificial attitudes of the early church was phenomenal, we cannot expect to experience what they experienced if we don't live as they lived. We tend to have our own agenda's hidden safely behind our perfectly constructed 'white picket fences' and our beautifully pruned rose gardens, which hides what's really going on behind the front door.

We live for ourselves and find ways of justifying our actions as 'for the gospel'. I know this because I am guilty of this very thing, I say I'm living for Christ but actually the 'life I live for Jesus' is at best, mediocre. I choose the most comfortable path possible, if my actions and attitudes had words it would say something like this: "I'll lay down my life for my brothers and sisters but only where it's comfortable for me. I'll come visit with you and support you but I can't miss Grey's at 7pm or, I'm here for you but don't inconvenience me..." This is an abomination before Jesus, 'Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!' (Phil 2:6-8)

Being 'in one accord' is being unanimous, having mutual consent, being in agreement, having group unity and having one mind and purpose. ONE MIND and PURPOSE!! What is the one mind and purpose we should be in full agreement with but the mind and purposes of Christ?

If we want to see God moving in our midst with great power and if we want to see Him adding to our numbers daily then we need to live 'with one accord', with one heart, and one mind as the early Christians did. Only then will we see the power of God moving in our lives as it did in Acts. Their sole goal was to glorify God by taking the testimony of Christ's resurrection and life to all the peoples of the world. They didn't need fancy 'stuff', they were sold out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

How can we expect the power without the sacrifice, the gifts without losing our 'agenda'? If we truly desire for others to know the freedom that we know we will stop this petty in-fighting and live 'with one accord'. Consider this quote from Gandhi, he said "I like your Christ, but I don't like you Christians. You are so different from your Christ." THis cut me when I read it, there are many people in this world that can say that same thing in all truth. The world won't believe in Christ if we are so different from each other and from Christ, if we truly live with one mind and purpose we will see Christ glorified on this earth through the lives of the people we would never have expected it to. I can't help but wonder if the Christians Gandhi was talking about had got it right, how different would history and the testimony of Gandhi be? There is no righteousness outside of Christ, good deeds don't save us, we are saved by Grace alone.

Consider this prayer of Jesus before His crucifixion, this was one of the last times that Jesus could be alone with His Father knowing what was awaiting Him, "My prayer is not for them alone (His disciples). I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23 Can you see how desperate His heart was for us to live as one as He is one with the Father, where there is unity the Lord commands a blessing!

May we, the Bride of Christ in every nation of the world, live 'with one accord' for then we shall surely see the power of God in our midst, the power that sets the captives free and proves to all who choose to see that while we were and still are sinners, Christ died for our sins. Not only do we preach His death but also His resurrection, that God raised Him from the dead on the 3rd day, 'therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' (Phil 2:9-11)

As I said earlier my life is not lived 'with one accord', it's not easy, it's actually very difficult! It's much more 'fun' to come home early and play computer games or whatever it is that we like to do. I don't know about you but I'm not satisfied with that way of living anymore, there is no space for mediocrity in the Kingdom of God! It won't be easy but we have the Spirit of God in us who promised to lead us in all truth. It is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. So come brothers and sisters in Christ, begin to trust with me that God can change our attitudes and our agenda's. Let us trust in Him to live with one accord and we WILL see the power of God moving in our generation like none that has been seen before!!

Where Caterpillars come to die!

Have you ever seen a caterpillar preparing it's cacoon? It's an amazing sight to see! How a worm type creature, with no physical attraction, will seek out a peaceful place to be transformed. When the caterpillar is redeemed from the cacoon it is no longer an unattractive worm but a beautiful butterfly, a creature that causes even the most hardened of people to stop and acknowledge it's briiliant colour's splashed like a beautiful oil painting across it's wings. The process is a marvelous piece of nature!

To me that is the exact picture of what happens when someone truly meets Christ for the first time, I don't just mean a hearing of Him but a Divine revelation of the majesty of God, one cannot remain unchanged after meeting Jesus face to gave, heart to heart!

Like the Caterpillar a none believer will seek a peaceful place to seek this God that they have heard about, as they seek Him God wraps His loving arms around them and as they meet with Him they are transformed into a beautiful and majestic creature with only a slight representation of the former self! The old has gone and the new has come!

You know what breaks my heart in this process? The fact that other 'butterflies' will tell that caterpillar they are too 'far gone' to be transformed! We judge people by their actions and resort to threatening of a place called hell instead of loving and accepting them for who they are. The caterpillar doesn't have to bring anything into the cacoon but itself! How can we expect people who are meeting God for the first time to have it 'all together', we suggest atleast some cleansing before being enveloped in the cacoon of God's love. That is rubbish! Who are we to judge people because they 'sin', are we all exempt from sin? None of us are perfect and if Jesus accepte us as we were how can we not accept and love others as they are? Or job as 'believers' is not to do the 'changing', our job is to do the loving and accepting! Paul calls us Ambassadors of Christ, the only value Ambassadors carry is that of the country etc they are representing!

What does scripture tell us? Let's look at a man called Zacchaeus, this guy was a tax collector in the time of Jesus' life on earth. These guys were considered absolute scum, nobody wanted anything to do with them, a normal person on the street would never be seen with one let alone a Rabbi! But Jesus doesn't love as the world loves, as we see here in Luke:

''When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. I must stay at your house today.' so he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner'.''

Luke 19:5-7

Jesus not only spoke to Zacchaeus but He went and stayed in his house and most probably ate a meal with him. Why? Zacchaeus had sought a 'peaceful' place to catch a glimpse of this Man he had heard about, One who had healed many sick and performed many miracles. He sought a spot away from the croud to try and see for himself. Just like the caterpillar going into it's cacoon, Zacchaeus was changed! He was a new creation after meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus promised to repay back 4 times those who he had cheated and all Jesus did was offer His friendship and acceptance, no harsh words of how much of a sinner Zacchaeus was, just love and acceptance! And as a result a once decietful and dishonest man found truth and salvation, who would believe a caterpillar like Zacchaeus could become a beautiful butterfly!

Next time a 'caterpillar' comes to die somewhere near you, don't judge, don't point out their obvious external short comings! Point them to Jesus, accept them, love them, as Jesus did and maybe one more may be won for Christ, maybe one more will transform into a beautiful majestic butterfly!

'Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.'

1 Peter 4:8-9

The Breakers Journey

Testimony taken from For Today's new album 'Breaker'...

The Origin:

Fear,

Pain,

Confusion,

Rejection,

Powerless,

Helplessness,

How can I break this cycle of

hopelessness when I’m broken soaked in the spirit of anger.

With the roots of bitterness

rooted in the marrow of my bones,

flourishing through my soul,

oh my soul...

The Valley:

Sick and tired.

Trapped.

Body wrapped with sharp pain because my body wasn't made to contain all this rage.

My mind wasn't made,

my eyes weren't made,

my soul was not made to behold what shackles my soul now.

Bound by memories of being innocent.

Uncle sinning against me sexually.

Momma knew he was molesting me, smacking me across my face. I could do nothing.

Pops wasn't around to give me the time of day.

All I wanted was a time and place where I could be loved.

A hug from my mom was too much.

So I turned to lust on the net while I was hooked like a fish

as I click, click, clicked to watch porn flicks trying to find intimacy,

or an outlet at least.

But as I try to breathe and be at ease I see my mom in hell and the devil's breath on the glass,broken, this is my aftermath.

brokenness is my aftermath

The Encounter:

As I was thinking back,

back to a day,

where it was mid-day,

but the sky was black like midnight.

Seeing a lifeless body impaled by nails

suffering at the blast of hell,

caught my attention cause it looked like a blood bath as I

looked past and saw a broken man

soaked in the white hot wrath of God and I asked why.

I found some answers in His bloody face.

A face I began to recognize in the background of every instance of my life, I ignored.

Suddenly sense these spirits flooding, soothing my rude, rude soul.

Though ruined by the world’s view,

He wooed me,

though crude and without a clue and

screwed up out of my mind

He pursued me ‘til He made me holy.

Whole.

The Commission:

Life

Love

Forgiveness

Acceptance

Stripping demons right off my back trying to leach life off me,

get off me and feel my father's fury, oppressor.

One day you'll feel the full blast of his vengeance, Beelzebub above but for now I'll love.

Cause I got strength.

He blew courage in my backbone.

Now I'll stand straight and militant lining up in Jehovah’s battalion,

knowing you can't challenge Him so we march forward.

Swift as eagles, set like talons ready to grip souls from your grasp, slick snake in the grass my Lord sees you and vengeance is His.

But for now I retaliate,

propelled by a holy man made to heal ‘cause I know how bad it hurts.

Full of madness at first but now

gladness bursts out the seams of our beings ‘cause we overflow with the oil of joy

the ointment of the anointed

mending any torn soul

healing any broken bone

He is here.

He was there.

He is peace.

He is faith.

How Dead People Do Battle With Sin

How Dead People Do Battle With Sin

I want to fight, today all I can think about is a raw bare knuckle match between me and a worth opponent, blood and sweat flying in every direction. It’s probably because I have been listening to the Christian Metal group ‘For Today’ all of today, actually that exactly it. What with lyrics like:

“…Let my name be feared at the gates of hell, as I exalt the Saviour. The One that died to buy my victory, and gave me a new name. Let my name be feared at the gates of hell, as I exalt the Saviour. In the name of the Holy One of God…”

For Today – Devastator

and

Tell me, where are the ones with the heart for warfare, The ones that died to say, "This is the price you pay"? Step up! There is no glory without death. Step up. Who will answer the call? Death is glory!”

For Today - Phoenix

It’s no wonder I feel like a fight, with lyrics like that who wouldn’t want to run out and headbutt a demon with the Word of God pouring into someone’s life? Which brings me back to the topic of “How Dead People Do Battle With Sin”. As a Christian we are in a battle, between Life and Death, between Sin and Righteousness, between Heaven and Hell. Paul wrote in Romans 7 that when he desires to do good, evil is present. We are in a battle. If we are genuinely following God our hearts long to honour and obey Him as He calls us to, as He calls us to be Holy as He is Holy. So what holds us back from Holiness? It’s pretty clear to me that the biggest obstacle in our pursuit for holiness is sin, sin infects the life that the Spirit puts in us, sin is like a cancer of the heart that causes us to distance ourselves from God as shame and guilt fill the places He wants to fill. So if our goal is holiness and our obstacle is sin, how do we overcome sin?

Sin, what is sin? Most of the translations of the word ‘sin’ in the bible mean ‘to miss the mark’, to miss the mark of God’s Holy standard and Righteousness. Where does sin come from? Well we know sin entered the world when the serpent tempted man to disobey God in the Garden of Eden. So sin must come from satan. The goal of sin is to cause us to disobey God, satan’s chief end is get us to disobey God. He knows each one of us have evil desires (James 1:14) that war within us so he plays his cards just right to try get us to act on them, and if we are not diligent he will be successful. So our obstacle to being holy as He is holy is the enemy who is hell bent on destroying us and removing us from the grace of our Lord Jesus. So for us to overcome sin we have to overcome our enemy the devil, already you are probably thinking that sounds a lot easier than it is because he is much, much smarter and more powerful than we are. If we go up against him without faith in God, without His grace and covering we will find ourselves beaten senseless, probably to an inch of our lives!!

Consider Acts 19:13-18…

“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.”

Ok, did you see that? I mean 7 sons against 1 guy? This sounds like a Steven Segal movie to me but what is key here is that the evil spirit in the man said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”. That is one scary thought, which leads me to another question... Is my name known in hell, I should seriously hope so!

The key to overcoming our enemy and sin lies in our identity in Christ, James said “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. So we know that it is possible to overcome our enemy, but if we cannot overcome the enemy in our strength then we most definitely cannot overcome sin in our own strength. So if the key to overcoming sin lies in my identity in Christ, what exactly is my identity in Christ? The answer for me is one who has died to sin but is now alive in Christ, one who has been crucified with Christ, one who no longer lives but it is Christ who lives in him, one who is a new creation, one who is in every sense of the word.. dead! So picture a corpse in a tomb, do you think they struggle with sin? Do you think they struggle to look at something else when a beautiful woman walks down the street wearing what looks like nothing more than an eye-patch? Do you think they struggle to tell the truth, even if it hurts? I somehow don’t think so, why? Cause they are dead of course. Our old self struggled in sin, but our new self is alive and hidden in Christ. Our old self is like that corpse in a grave, dead.

What matters when you are dead? If we can approach sin and our enemy with that state of mind, that we in ourselves are dead and that Christ is fully alive in us then it is Christ who overcomes not us. If we are hidden in Christ, He fights the battles for us. If we choose to go back to the old ways of the old self, even for a moment, we will find ourselves powerless to the power of sin. Sin has no power over you if you are dead!! There is no glory without death, Jesus is our hope of glory (Col 1), there is no hope without death. Die to yourself, if you need more scripture consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 10: 39,

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

and the words of Paul in Romans 6:3-7,

"Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin."

...Because anyone who has died is free from sin... Will you lose your life for His sake? I can promise you He can do a lot more with your life than you could on your own.

So in closing what happens after we die? Do we cease to exist? Do we just walk around saying, ‘oh, I’m dead, so if Jesus wants to help that person He can do it, I mean He is alive in me, all He has to do is turn the autopilot off and take control…’ Very thankfully no, this quote from you guessed it ‘For Today’ puts it perfectly for me:

“I will rise from the ashes of my own death to abundant life under the cross,

and I will not be turned back,

But I will come with an army;

For He will raise up a generation to seek His face.

Now is the time for those who have died to rise,

And lift the sound of our voices high;

Kingdom come!

Kingdom come!”

For Today - Phoenix

#justathought