When you Believe God has not Been Good to You

(Originally posted on: July 29, 2021) I often quote Romans 2:4, "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."  Yet as I was thinking about that verse today, I realized that when people believe God has not been good to them, it is often why they refuse to change their ways and repent of their sins.  They turn this verse upside-down by justifying their actions believing God is not good, so why repent.

People who believe God will prevent all bad things from happening to them or their loved ones end up hating God. They cannot find joy in the midst of suffering or trust in their hearts God is always good.  They have difficulty trusting in the love of God. (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16)  

Not only does God grieve with us, He intercedes for us (Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 & Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26). God is fighting for us, but we tend to sabotage our own lives by living in rebellion. 

Yes, sometimes God uses negative circumstances to test our love for Him, but in general, God does not intend for bad things to happen to His children.  Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God wants only the best for us. Does that mean God does not have any control? No, this means we will never fully know why bad things are allowed to happen because there is a war going on we cannot comprehend.  “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  I Corinthians 13:12  (my favorite verse) reminds us that we cannot understand why things happen as they do because we cannot see the big, eternal picture, but when we get to heaven, it will all be crystal clear.  This senseless world will make sense.

If we cry out to God, He will hear our pleas.  He wants to protect us and save us.  It may seem like evil is winning, and I do not believe that this world will ever improve.  In fact, I know it will only get worse.  Man’s desire for independence corrupts him more and more.  The mentality of not wanting to be told what to do is only getting worse. It is up to you to surrender yourself to God as well as your independence.  It is up to you to choose to live right and separate yourself from this world.  

People love to quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Yet they fail to pay attention to the part that says "to those who love God." Do you really love God or are you just demanding He fulfill your every prayer request and then pout like a spoiled child when you do not get your way? Jesus said in John 14:15," If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you refuse to turn off your ungodly entertainment, give up drinking, cheating, stealing, backbiting, etc. then why do you say you love Jesus?  Just so you can use the title of "Christian" to try to get what you want and then turn you back on God when things do not turn out according to your demands? Remember, you can fool people, but you can never fool God; you cannot manipulate the Holy of Holies to bend to your will!  

I Peter 1:16 says, "Be holy, for I am holy."  Besides this being an excellent verse to remind us to live righteous lives, it also reminds us that a holy God cannot tolerate sin.  If you are asking God to bless you in any way, be it a health, spiritual, financial, emotional, or mental issue, you cannot be wallowing in sin and expect Him to answer your prayers.  If you feel your prayers are being blocked, it may be that God wants to help you, but your ungodly actions are hindering His blessings. 

If we are honest, we can all admit that there have been numerous times in our lives we purposely chose to disobey God’s voice. Myself included.  In essence, we are making an active choice to separate ourselves from God and hinder our prayer life. Would you expect a boss to keep you on the job if you kept stealing or refusing to show up?  No; nor should you expect a holy God to turn the other way when you willfully choose to do the wrong thing.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

The key words there are “if,” and “humble themselves.”

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18

Humble yourself and admit you have done wrong.  The free gift of salvation begins with repentance and admittance of sin.  Then you must begin to and continually walk in holiness to please God (I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1). 

Romans 6:1-2 tells us God's free gift of grace is not to be manipulated and abused for our own selfish will, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Grace is not an excuse to live however you want because you are a “Christian.” The opposite is true. We need to have a holy desire to please our Creator and live a truly Christian lifestyle. We need daily self-evaluation and repentance.  

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  I Corinthians 15:31  

Daily very simply means we must crucify our flesh every day not just once.   Psalm 139: 23-24 should be a daily prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Bottom line here is to quit using the difficult circumstances of life as an excuse to refuse to do what you know goes against the Word of God. First evaluate your heart and actions to see if you are going against His will so He cannot help you. Then learn to focus on the eternal picture and see how much God loves you and  allow "The goodness of God" to "leadeth thee to repentance."

Do not be Afraid of the Holy Spirit

 

You can watch this video titled "Do not be Afraid of the Holy Spirit" on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/juliesbiblejourney/

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Written by my Husband

 

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Written by my Husband, Mel

It is truly miraculous, how God used a handful of people, to turn the world upside down. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, is a record of the many journeys of the apostles, as they took the gospel of Jesus Christ to many lands. Luke gives us a record of the birth of the early church, starting with the ascension of Christ, and continuing with the ministry of Christ’s twelve apostles, as well as, other apostles, like Paul, and James the Lord’s brother. God used ordinary men to accomplish his work. Peter, James, and John were uneducated fishermen, but God who looks upon the heart, chose them to establish his new church.

God is not impressed with theological degrees, or the popularity, or outward appearance of a person, God looks for humble vessels in which he may work through. The apostles worked many miracles by God’s Spirit, in order to give validation to the message in which they were entrusted. The sick were healed, demons were cast out, and the dead were raised, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which they preached. God’s Word states, that these signs will follow them that believe.

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

I am a non-denominational Christian with Pentecostal, as well as holiness beliefs. I am not affiliated with the Charismatic movement or the Pentecostal denominations. I do not approve of television evangelists, prosperity gospel teachers, or the many counterfeit revivals that produce demonic manifestations.

I'm an old school Christian that is not into Christian entertainment, but into God's Word. I believe that we are saved by God's Grace alone and Not by our works. However, many churches are Not teaching their people about sincere repentance and getting the sinful bondages out of their lives. After we are truly saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross we need to learn to Walk in the Spirit and bear good fruit and not the sins of the flesh that will send you to Hell (Galatians 5). You cannot walk in the Spirit by your own merit. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that you are able to live an overcoming life and bear good fruit. You must turn the reins of your will and life over to God and let him refine you and make you into a reflection of him. If the Holy Spirit dwells within you then you must allow him to manifest the attributes of God. You can only put down sin in your life by surrendering to God's Spirit.

The true gifts of the Spirit, should be common place within the church today. A healthy church that teaches sound doctrine, will not quench God’s Spirit, but will allow God entrance to their services. God should not be put into a box, he should be allowed to speak, teach, as well as lead the service.

Many Spirit filled churches of 40 or 50 years ago, understood that they needed to let the Lord lead the service. They would earnestly pray and fast for God’s direction. I am 56 years old, and I remember the days when the majority of the Pentecostal churches still preached holiness, but today, many of them, have been snared by the lie of Calvinism. When the churches began to drift away from sound doctrine, the gifts of the Spirit ceased, or in some cases, were replaced by the demonic counterfeit experiences. God dwells in those, who are set apart from the world, God dwells in holy vessels. The Pentecostal movement, was birthed from the holiness churches of the turn of the twentieth century.

The Lord has spoken to me countless times, that many churches are either sick, or dead, and that is the reason why His glory (Spirit) is departing from them. A lukewarm church will be vomited out of God's mouth (Revelation 3).

 The churches need to teach people the necessity of having both the fruit of the Spirit, as well as the gifts of the Spirit, in their lives. You cannot trust most pastors to teach you the truth of God’s Word, you must study the Bible for yourself. When you are taught God’s Word by the Holy Spirit, you will know the truth.

In order to live an overcoming Christian life in these dark times, it is essential that we be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, he is the third person of the Holy Trinity and he indwells us, as well as ministers to us. It is God’s will that we all experience the fullness of God and that is only possible by receiving his Spirit. The free gift of the Holy Spirit is given when you are truly saved. However, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a second act of Grace, and is an immersion in power that is accompanied by spiritual gifts according to God's will and must be sought after by faith.

Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

There are examples within Scripture where the Spirit is given through the laying on of hands, but this is not the only way. One cannot put God in a box, this means that God does things his way and not according to man’s doctrines. Although there are many examples of the Spirit being given through the laying on of hands, the Apostles were filled with the Spirit in the house where they were seeking God.

My parents, both received the baptism in the Spirit while praying on their knees in their bedroom. At that time they had never heard of tongues, or Pentecostals. However they both felt a wind enter the bedroom and my Dad spoke in unknown tongues and my Mom interpreted. They were whole-heartedly seeking God and asking him for all that he had for them. My parents were later in the prophetic ministry for over thirty years and they witnessed many miracles done by God’s Spirit. The old time Pentecostals understood that you must seek after, as well as tarry for the Holy Spirit. This means that you don’t give up if you don’t immediately receive the baptism. A person must seek after the baptism earnestly with faith. You must surrender all to Christ and allow him to guide you and mold you into a vessel of honor.

If you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you will most certainly know it, for you will either feel God’s Spirit upon you, or you will experience one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Most people speak in unknown tongues when they are filled with the Spirit, but not always. The evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is one or more of the gifts of the Spirit at work in your life. 1 Cor chapter twelve lists the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 12: 4-11 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The gift of speaking in unknown tongues comes in two forms. There is a prayer language that benefits the believer only, and there is the giving of a message in tongues to an assembly that must be interpreted. Here are scriptures concerning the prayer language.

1 Cor 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

The apostle Paul teaches that the gifts of the Spirit must be done in an orderly manner. 

1 Cor 14: 26-33 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Here are some more scriptures on the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:14-20 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

The Beginning, Middle, and End

Every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending, right? Well, this same concept applies to our walk with the Lord. I am not speaking Genesis to Revelation, but our individual relationships with Jesus Christ.  

Your story as a Christian began before you were born.  John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "The world" means every person who has or will ever live on this Earth.  Therefore, Jesus died for your sins before you were born.  Salvation is a free gift you do not have to earn.  This is the beginning for all of us.  However, from there it is up to you to decide what will happen next.

As with any gift given to you, you have the free will to accept it or throw it in the garbage.  And even if you accept it, you again have the free will to fully use it as intended, only use it when it is convenient for you, or put it on a shelf and ignore it entirely.  In other words, we must actively choose the precious gift of salvation by making the decision to repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our hearts. It is also an active decision to keep walking the walk and daily repenting of your sins lest you lose your salvation. 

To be clear, I do not believe we are saved by our works, again, God's salvation is a free gift we could never earn. However, we must show the utmost respect for this gift and as it states in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" In other words, we are not to abuse the grace of God and use it as an excuse to sin.

If you do not continue striving for holiness and following the principles of Jesus Christ, you put yourself at great risk of losing the precious gift of salvation. I am not talking about every little mistake you make, but willful rebellion, the active choice to go against what the Bible says and refusing to repent. 

We need to continue to grow in our walk with the Lord and make a daily decision to give up our sinful habits. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."   Daily means daily, not just denying your sinful nature when you feel like it or are asking God for a favor.  This also means choosing to follow Jesus and His ways of righteousness. It requires daily self-examination and repentance.  For Jesus also said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And 1 John 2:4 makes it abundantly clear, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."  

In doubt of what is right or wrong, read the Bible. If God (not man) says something is wrong, it is as simple as not doing it. Here are some examples (see also Revelation 21:8 at the end of this writing):

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [quarreling], emulations [jealousy], wrath, strife, seditions [rebellion], heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [drunken parties], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

I think that list is pretty clear for what we should do our very best to avoid as long as we live on this Earth that God so loves.  No one is or ever will be perfect, but the key is to strive for holiness, this is what pleases the Lord.

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24

As with every story, the plot must develop and grow lest the storyline become stagnant. In fact, the middle of our stories is really the key to how it will end. Wasn't that point above? Well, yes and no. Aiming for a pure life is vital, but God wants us to do more than just try to avoid sin. We need to grow in Him by reading the Bible and praying, as well as treating others with love and kindness. 

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

This is essentially telling us that we need to do more than just understand the basics of salvation (milk) but to grow in the Lord by studying His Word as much as we can and seeking to know the will of God (meat). The more we study and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we read, the more discernment we will have and the more we will desire to please the One who willingly endured torture on a cross for us.

Now we come to the end of our story. But do we? For Christians who have not merely read the Words of the Lord, but obeyed them as well (But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22), there is no end. There will be an end to this Earth and our mortal bodies as they now exist, but there will not be an end to your existence.  This is why the beginning and middle are so very, very important. If you want to spend eternity with Jesus, you must press forward in attempting to always do the right thing, or your end will be in the lake of fire, not in paradise forever.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:1-8

The Lord of the Harvest, Written by my Husband

 

The Lord of the Harvest, Written by my Husband, Mel 

Luke 10:1-2 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

The entire world is a mission field and if you belong to Christ then you are called to share your faith with those who are perishing. You do not need to be a pastor or have a degree in theology to be a missionary for Christ, only faith. The Lord is looking for willing hearts who will be vessels that he can work through. God is not pleased with man made denominations or seminaries, because they tend to stifle the work of his Holy Spirit. God is looking for humble people who will reflect the love of Christ. Peter and John were uneducated men but they were vessels that God's Spirit could speak, as well as work through. 

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 

Peter and John were not trained with the theology of man, but by the Master himself. God's Word teaches us that we need to study to show ourselves approved, a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. This means that we are not to only just read God's Word, but to study it, so that we may interpret the scriptures correctly and teach others sound doctrine. We  should consume God's Word, because it is spiritual food that will teach us God's ways and lead us to Christ, our only hope of salvation. If a person is truly filled with God's Holy Spirit, then his Spirit will teach us his ways and open up our minds to understand scripture.

 John 14:25-26  “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

All a person needs is the Holy Spirit to teach them God's Word, not the schools of man made doctrine which are Spiritless. 

If you pray for divine appointments, God will bring people to you so that you may share your faith with them. I have witnessed to people in Wal-Mart, on hiking trails, as well as to my neighbors. If  you make the most of every opportunity to share your faith when engaged in a conversation, you may plant a seed of faith in someone. You may plant the seed, then God may raise someone else up to water the young plant, then yet another person to reap the harvest. God's Word teaches that everyone who sows faith into another's life will share in the reward for their salvation. I have noticed that people get very defensive, as well as sometimes hostile, when you share your faith with them, this is because their conscience is being pricked by God's Spirit. Quite often you are getting through to them when they become agitated, so don't be discouraged by their reaction. We are living in a lost and dying world, and you may be the only reflection of Christ that someone will see, so always keep this in mind when someone is being offensive. If you were on a boat and saw someone drowning, wouldn't you throw them a life preserver, or even possibly dive into the water to save them? Or if you saw a young child playing in the middle of the road and a semi truck was heading their way, wouldn't you try to save them? True love warns people of danger even if they don't want to hear it. People all around us are dying spiritually, and it is up to us to share our hope of salvation which comes only from a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ with them. So I encourage everyone who is born again, to become a worker in the fields of the Lord, for they are truly ripe for the harvest!

Will You Answer the Call?

 

How many of us pray, "Here I am, Lord, use me?"  Now really be honest; how many mean it?  If God said, "Wonderful, now go serve Me in homeless shelters and retirement homes," would you do it?  If God asked you to go overseas on a mission trip, would you quickly pack your bags?  Not so easy to literally answer the call, is it?  The harvest being "truly great" means the whole world is our mission field.  Schools, workplaces, grocery stores, and the Internet are all places we can witness to people.  But what about spending time with the homeless, incarcerated, and mentally ill?  What about telling the homosexuals their lifestyles are wrong, but non-judgmentally tell them that God loves them and wants to see them repent, change their sinful ways, and come to His Kingdom?  Are we willing to be bold for Christ and go against the popular opinion?  Would you travel to Africa (or other countries) and risk your life to witness to the starving people whose lives are terrorized by war?  

Here's the truth: God will not call you to a place you are unwilling to go.  What He will do is soften your heart and gently try to encourage you to go where He needs you to serve.  God is a gentleman; He will not make you go anywhere you feel uncomfortable.  If you really have zero desire to go overseas, chances are that is not where God wants you to go.  We are not all called to be missionaries in foreign countries.  We can and should minister right where we live.  I am very shy.  Therefore, it is not likely God will call me to public speaking.  However, I can write for the few that read my blogs as well as serve dinners for the homeless and work with children.  I can show the love of Christ to co-workers and even strangers.  However, If God did call me to a more outspoken ministry, I am certain He would gift me with boldness.  My husband has been involved in street ministries in New Orleans during Marti Gras as well as ministering on the streets of Kansas City, MO and Little Rock, AR.  He is also a gifted pastor and preaches bold sermons.  

Ministry does not have to involve money. At the moment, I am not able to bless others monetarily, but I would if I could. What I can give is my time.  

Therefore said He unto them, "The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few: pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest."  Luke 10:2

There are many examples in the bible where God called His children, and they answered the call.  I am not using myself as an example to follow, but these Godly saints.  Here are just a few:

When Mary was called to be the mother of Jesus Christ, it is easy to assume she was terrified.  Yet, she said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."  (Luke 1:38) She had one of the greatest responsibilities in the world, and yet she said was willing to serve.  She did not question the reality of a virgin becoming pregnant with the Son of God.  Her faith was truly great as she was quick to be willing to serve God.

In Mark 1:16-20, Jesus meets Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and asks them to follow him.  Verse 18 says, "straightaway they forsook their nets, and followed Him."  Then Jesus meets James and John.  When Jesus asks them to join, verse 20 says, "they left their father... and went after Him."  In Mark 2:13-14, Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) who, when Jesus asked Him to follow, Matthew "arose and followed Him."  Notice there was no hesitation in these first five disciples that were called. 

In Exodus 3, God dramatically calls to Moses from a bush that is on fire but does not burn.  When God says, "Moses, Moses," he says, "Here am I," but then argues with God that he is not worthy to serve God due to being poor of speech.  Perhaps he was shy or stuttered, we don't know.  What we do know is that although God was angry with Moses' impertinence, He agrees to send Moses' brother Aaron as his mouthpiece.  God chose Moses (as He chose all before and after) because God sees a broken vessel willing to be used by and for God.  God would not take no for an answer, and reminded Moses that He would be with His servant and Moses would be more capable than he could ever imagine.   God knew Moses was the right man for the job not just to go before Pharaoh to demand he free the Hebrew slaves, but also to be the leader of those he helped escape from Egypt.

Also consider the prophets that were willing to prophecy even after being badly mistreated: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, (etc.) as well as Paul, Silas, Peter, and Barnabas (etc.).  They were all willing to answer the call even though they did not all see their predictions come to fruition in their lifetime.

There are so many others I could name that willingly said, "Here I am Lord, use me," such as Samuel, David, and John the Baptist, (etc.) in some form or another, but for the sake of time, I will move on.

God does not demand perfection.  What He expects is one who is willing to be obedient not only to what he/she is called to do, but to follow the laws of Jesus Christ.  No matter how willing you may be to serve, God wants vessels that are clean inside and out. 

And the Lord said unto them, "Now do ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness?  Ye fools, did not He make that which is without make that which is within also?"  Luke 11:39-40

In other words, wearing a three-piece suit and sporting an expensive haircut are not requirements for serving the Lord.  Having the lifestyle to back up the words you want to preach is much more important.  I have many flaws, but if I try to tell you not to cheat on your spouse while lusting after a man not my husband (which I would never, ever do), I am merely a hypocrite and have no place writing a blog.  Why do you think the false "grace for everything without repentance" message is so popular? Sadly, it is because so many that stand behind the pulpit are into pornography and other habitual sins of which they do not want to let go.  We must clean up our act before serving the Lord.  And not just by our moral actions, but by our attitude.  Don't walk into a homeless shelter and sit at a table with them and witness about the love of Christ than walk outside and insult the people inside.  Most of us are all one or two paychecks away from being in the same situation, so please do not judge them for losing their homes.  Do not go into the inner cities if you cannot love your fellow man no matter what color his skin is. 

Don't minister with a condemning heart, but with a heart of compassion and a goal as a healer, not a criticizer.  I see my job as attempting to lead people down paths of repentance while making a daily choice to continue down the roads of righteousness based on the teachings of Jesus, not based in the teachings of Julie or anyone else.  I want people to understand God's grace and salvation are free, but we still need to keep our garments clean less we fall away and wind up in Hell.  (Backsliding away from salvation is in the Bible, readers, these are not my theories.) I want to see my fellow man in heaven worshipping at the feet of their Maker, not tormented by flames. 

If your goals have anything to do with fame or money, then shame on you!  Serving God is all about bringing glory to God.  We should want to decrease so God can increase.  When I pray that God would empty me of me and fill me with Him, I am sincere in my prayers.  I do not want to shed the light on what I have done, but on the Love of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Obviously, if you are behind a pulpit, you will receive a lot of attention.  If you publish books or end up on the radio, or television you may get some semblance of fame.  As long as you use your notoriety for God's kingdom and do not heap riches on yourselves as the television evangelists do, God very well may bless your life with wealth.  But keep the focus off yourself and keep your ego in check.  Give glory where glory is due.  It is difficult for me to put it into words so this paragraph makes sense, but I think it's pretty obvious there are lines that can be crossed when we preach, write, or serve just to get attention and make ourselves look holy. 

If you are willing to answer the call to be a servant of Christ, serve God with a pure heart, pure motivations, and pure lifestyle.  Whatever your motivation is to serve, God knows your heart, always keep that in mind.   

Don't give up and keep praying.

 Ever notice that whenever someone starts to come around to the Truths of the Bible, Satan immediately steps in to try to discourage them and makes them doubt what God's word really says?

Don't give up and keep praying. Spiritual warfare is very real and they need you to keep fighting on your knees for them!

Ephesians 6:11-12 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Do you stand out? Part 3

 

If the world can't tell whether or not you are a Christian, then how do you stand out?  When you claim to be a Christian, trust me, people are always watching and waiting for you to act in an ungodly manner so they can call you a hypocrite. Instead of being a bad example, your lifestyle should point to God so strongly others want to get to know Jesus. 
  

God does not want us to fit in with the world.  Yes, we are to be kind-hearted to all, but there needs to be a limit with how close we become to the world.

Let's explore a little why God does not want us to be unequally yoked.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness...  for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18- 7:1   

 

It is not wrong to be friends with unbelievers, but you should not be overly involved in their lives lest they drag you down (Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; 1 Corinthians 15:33-34). You cannot blame anyone if you backslide, you are responsible for your own actions, but why tempt yourself to give in to doing things you know are wrong and that go against the will of God?  It is better to keep relationships shallow with those who practice things that we know go against the principles of Jesus Christ.  In other words, we should not be so closely knit with the world we become "unequally yoked."  

Too often Christians who are on fire for the Lord allow the cold influences of the world to cause them to temper their desire for the holy things of God.  Whether it is out of wanting to fit in with your buddies who make fun of you because you refuse to go to the bars with them, or your coworkers who laugh at you because you will not dress provocatively, or your family members who make sarcastic jabs at you because you have given up movies, television, and secular music.  Whatever the reason, you have given in to peer pressure and compromised your holiness beliefs just to be liked by the world. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

As Christians, our goal should not be to please the world, but the please the Lord.  Notice in Romans 12 it says that not conforming to the world is "good and acceptable and perfect."  Not that anyone can be perfect, but God honors our efforts.  Considering the amazing gift of salvation Jesus graciously died to give us, striving for holiness truly is our "reasonable service."  

Galatians 1:10 puts it this way, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

I know it is not easy sticking to your values when you feel rejected by those who you care about the most.  However, and I do not say this to be cruel, but to be bluntly honest, your TRUE friends will NOT make fun of you for your morals, and if they do, they are the wrong friends.

Don't forget, Jesus was despised and rejected by his family and friends and ridiculed by the very people He came to die for.  And He is still mocked today.  We can endure the criticisms and remain steadfast in our beliefs when we remember our Lord and Savior went through the same rejections, only on a much, much larger scale.

The goal of every blog and video I make is always to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.  The biggest frustration some of you face is trying to be Godly in an ungodly world. You get tired of being the odd one out in groups and not getting invited to join others because they think you are too judgmental.  But if you are truly desiring to please your Creator, the best way to feel strengthened is to consider what the Bible says. Think of it this way: would you rather be uninvited to parties, family gatherings, etc. because of your moral beliefs, or uninvited into heaven because you compromised and gave into ungodly behavior just to be liked?

I have seen too often people who claim to be Christians praise the Lord on Sunday, curse with their friends on Monday, go the bar on Friday night, and to a movie full of violence, sex, and/or the occult on Saturday.  Then when back in church on Sunday, guilt sets in and they repent and feel on fire again.  However, as soon as they try to speak about the Lord to family members or friends, they are made fun of, and their fire gets doused with the coldness of the people they care about the most. Make no mistake, God will spit you out of His mouth if you cannot make up your mind whether you want to please Him or the world! 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:13, 15-16

Your buddies did not die for you so you can have eternal life (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John  3:16)!  Your family members will not be the ones judging you after you die (And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12)!

Now is the time to choose Jesus over the world and repent for all the times you have allowed the world to douse the fire you had for the Lord and quench the flames you had for pursuing righteousness. 

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15  

Now is also the time to be bold for the Lord and be the influencer for His name, not the other way around! Jesus ate with the sinners, but He was not the one changed, the sinners were!

Now I want to also address the issue of being unequally yoked in marriage. What do you do if the unbeliever you are unequally yoked with is your spouse? If you are currently married to an unbeliever, it is clear that the Lord does not expect you to get a divorce, but just the opposite ("For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence," Says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 2:16).

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed.  1 Corinthians 7:10-16 & 27

Also consider:

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV - all other verses listed are KJV)

Live your life by a good example, and you very well may lead your mate to Christ.  Do not be a nag when it comes to differing beliefs because that will just drive a deeper wedge between you.  Stand firm in your faith and do not compromise in your love for the Lord.   Most importantly, do not give up praying for him/her.  There have been many instances where the believer’s kindness and patience paid off, and their loved one eventually became a Christian as well.  Unless your partner is doing something immoral, illegal, or causing you and/or your children harm, stick to your wedding vows and follow the principles of the Bible to be type of spouse God wishes you to be.    

If you are unequally yoked with your mate, do not give up praying for him/her!  Continue to be a witness without being a self-righteous or judgmental nuisance that only pushes your loved one farther away from the things of God.  Also, if you have not done so in a while, consider offering to pray for your mate’s specific prayer requests (silently or out loud, it is up to you) to show your love and compassion for his/her needs.  If it would not cause dissention, consider hosting or leading a Bible study group at your home for a few weeks or months (even if it is for youth or a gender-specific group) as your mate may be more likely to attend (or at least overhear) what it being taught in the safety and privacy of his/her own home.

Do you stand out? Part 2

 

If the world can't tell whether or not you are a Christian, then how do you stand out?  When you claim to be a Christian, trust me, people are always watching and waiting for you to act in an ungodly manner so they can call you a hypocrite. Instead of being a bad example, your lifestyle should point to God so strongly others want to get to know Jesus. 

 

Aside from appearances (as addressed in part 1), there are many issues we need to consider when it comes to being separate from the world.  Please prayerfully consider the areas addressed in the below verses and ask God where He would like you to change so that you can stand out for Jesus.  What is your vice: alcohol, drugs, bad attitude, gossip, filthy talk, sexual perversions, television/movies, occultic/New Age practices?    

 

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21   

 

Do your friends, co-workers, and family members even know where you stand on such issues?  Are you ashamed and/or afraid to speak out?  I know it's not easy.  If you are too timid to say anything, you can still walk away when someone is telling a dirty joke, gossiping, asking you to drink with them, etc.  Pretty soon your friends/co-workers will respect you and will quit talking about such things in front of you. If they do not, just keep walking away, because they will get your message whether they acknowledge it or not.  I know because I have been the “odd” Christian at all my jobs where co-workers were more careful with their language around me, told their dirty jokes out of my earshot, and quit asking me to go to bars.  Not all the time, of course. There was one man who used to shout “Hallelujah!” just to irritate me. After about the tenth time he realized he would not get a reaction from me, he quit doing so.  He later told me he admired my stand and saw a Light in me that he envied and then I was able to witness to him in words rather than just in action.  And that’s just one example of many I have experienced.   

 

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 10:33   

Also remember:

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

 

The best reason of all to want to stand out from among the crowd is to want to please Jesus Christ. He gave His very life for you and is preparing an eternal paradise for those who faithfully follow His ways. He forgives every sin you repent of and wants only the best for His children.

The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4

 

 Also:

 

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:13-16

  

And finally:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.   And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2