The Great Commission- Discipleship

Discipleship is a process of a disciple of Christ maturing and growing becoming more like Christ. This process happens in our intimate relationship with the Lord and how He reveals Himself to us in all our circumstances. Reading the word of God daily, meditating, listening and learning to apply the Words of God to our life. Another very important way this process happens is through our relationships with others. The word process means a series of changes over a period of time that has an end. It starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus. It can mean to move forward, change, or preserve. Discipleship is a beautiful renewing process that takes place inside a believer that brings glory to God. God’s timing is perfect and He has a reason for this process in our lives. God loves us and cares more about what is on the inside and our hearts and the health of His church then what is on the outside. This process in our lives can be very hard at times so we need to trust God and care for each other.

God has been speaking to me for a long time in different ways and scriptures but I want to share a experience in my life that He was using in my life that relates. A believer moves forward from the past and is an over comer in Christ but also the experiences we go through can be used. I had a painting business from 1986 to 2008 and now that I have had time, God has allowed me to have a very different view that has been a blessing for me that I didn’t see when in the process. I have three thoughts I want to mention.

1) During our business it was always a process that never ended and was very challenging and messy at times. I was always trying to get it right or to perfection with no mess or problems. I strived to do the best at this but I learned over time that I had to learn to accept and grow myself in this process. It was unrealistic for me to try to fix things I couldn’t control. It was a long maturity process in how I learned to deal with people in this process.  Relationships are very important. A hundred employees on different jobs scattered all over Arizona, dealing with different suppliers, and working for many different companies with multiple people can be a very messy process at times. People make many mistakes, but the relationships are way more important.

2) As companies would hire us to paint these big building for sometimes X amounts of money. But more than not, they didn’t want to take care of the more important repairs on the buildings. They were more concerned about a quick fix cosmetically than the health and structure of the building. Most of the time it was to turn the building for a profit with wrong motives. We know God is more about right motives, the inside heart and health of a believer. Sometimes we spend more time planning and working on how things appear, which leaves less time to work on the important part to God the inside of a person. I think that’s where the process of discipleship comes in.

3) After the first few years of growing pains and going through many changes and many different employees in the business I got to where I could do bigger Jobs. When I started doing these larger jobs over a period of time, I was fortunate to finally have five guys that I chose to put in more of a supervisors or manager role to help run things. They had no experience with overseeing before and I went through many things with these guys over a period of ten years. There were great times and very trying times in our relationships. I chose to invest more into these guys and be loyal to them than to rent an office space for the company, buy trucks, hire estimators and worry about the size of the business. I think this way was different than the other companies I competed against and how they ran their people and work. I know at times this choice cost me in many ways but it also was very rewarding and it was a healthier way for the business.  Because they were put in these situations, places and were involved in the mess and process of the jobs and learning how to deal with relationships everyday, all five have went on to start there own businesses. This is now a blessing to me after going through all that process. I think in discipleship it is very important to invest into others and care about the heart and inside of others for a more healthy church. At times it may appear to be a slower process but in the long run it would be more healthy and pleasing to God.

In God’s word there are many scriptures that are about discipleship and the process. Hebrews 4:12 really explains what the word of God does on the inside of a person over time. “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”  The book of Ephesians really speaks to me about this process of discipleship.” From Chapter 4 through 5 speaks of the gifts Christ has given the church to equip the body of Christ to help each person continue to grow until we are all in complete maturity, love and unity in Christ. Speaking truth and love to each other and the process of putting off the old nature and putting on the new nature to be like Christ. To walk in the light like Christ and exposing what’s on the inside. 2 Timothy 2:2 speaks how important it is to be faithful in teaching and investing in each other.

I also like John 13:1-17 where Jesus on the night before His death on the cross showed by example when he served and washed the disciples feet. He showed them they were going to have to humble, deny themselves, serve, and help each other in love and unity. Verse 15 & 17 says “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.  Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” He knew they were going to be the ones to show this example from Him to the church in days a head. This is not just about calling a meeting and washing another believers feet it is walking beside someone in love and caring for them in time of need. When God calls you not when it is just convenient for us or when we plan it.  This is just as much about discipleship as reading and studying together.

God brought to my attention a few months ago another scripture in this area. Mark 15:21 “A certain man from Cyrene,  Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”   I like the verse in Mark because it speaks of Simon’s sons. I have read some commentaries on this verse and it varies. Simon was forced to carry the cross of Jesus, they don’t know if it was the whole cross or he carried the cross section. But I think as I have been reading this for a while now that I don’t know where Simon was with Jesus relationship wise in his own life and why he was there that day. Maybe just passing by or to celebrate the Passover.  But what a honor and blessing to be chosen to carry the cross with Jesus who is God in the flesh. I think when he carried the cross regardless where he was I think at some point during the process he looked into Jesus eyes and Identified with the suffering of Jesus carrying His cross and realized that Jesus was the son of God his savior and Lord. Because of this experience this changed Simon’s life and probably people around him who knew him like his two sons who were there with him.

We are called to each deny ourselves and carry our own cross and we all have a journey that the Lord has given us. I believe in this process or journey we are called to help each other and I believe that when we  encourage, teach, and love on others we sometimes probably don’t realize how God can use seeds we sow.  The impact it can have on each other and others that are around. We may not always understand why this process is sometimes hard with suffering but I believe this is a very important part of the process of discipleship that can be very fruitful and glorifying to God.

Psalm 126:5-6, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Galatians 6:1-3, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Bear one another's burdens, and  so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Hebrews 12:12-15, “Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and  make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint  but rather be healed.  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness  without which no one will see the Lord.   See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no  “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

The Great Commission - Disciple

A disciple of Christ is a person who accepts Jesus as their Lord and is a follower and learner of Jesus. Matthew 9:9, “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.” Follow is a verb and means to come after move or travel. To go after someone, follow behind them and observe and monitor. A disciple is called to deny themself and put on the characteristics of Christ. Mark 8:34, “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Galatians 3:26-27, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” A disciple of Christ gives their life to the Lord and they are reborn spiritually which is a miracle. Because of Jesus death for our sins, those who accept this truth are filled with the Holy Spirit and their relationship with the Lord is restored as if they have never sinned. Ephesians 1:4, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” I like a quote from Henry Blackaby, “Truth is a person” Jesus Christ. When you receive the Holy Spirit He leads you to all truth a relationship with the Lord and eternal life. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” The Holy Spirit placed in us gives us the power and desire to follow Jesus, study the word of God and learn to apply these truths to our lives to become like Christ. God can teach us in many different ways also through experiences. When I was a boy my dad used to hunt raccoons and he was very good at this. I would go with him sometimes all through the night. He was well known for how he trained his dogs. The dog was trained to never track another scent only the raccoon and to always stay on the trail faithfully until the raccoon was caught or went up a tree. Sometimes they would track for hours and miles even end up in another county what ever it took and would fight to the death. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who is God. Even though we are weak and frail human beings the Holy Spirit trains and teaches us and gives us the desire to want to pursue this relationship we have with Jesus and learn to become more like Him. Or maybe it should be like this, Jesus pursues us and gives us the ability to follow Him and sometimes He even has to carry us. Philippians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

A disciple of Christ in God’s word was called a ‘Christian’ Acts 11:26, or ‘the followers of the way’ Acts 9:2, or ‘church’.  Church is an assembly of people or called ekklesia which in Greek means to be called out or set apart. 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.” Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

A disciple of Christ is a son of God and every truth in God’s word becomes part of their life. They become one with Christ and receive a new identity in Christ, they become a new creation. 1 Corinthians 5:17,  ^“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Romans 6:3-4, “Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” A disciple is also baptized into the body of Christ which Christ is the head of all who believe in Him. The body of Christ is compared to a body of a person in God’s word. Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you  all.”

1 Corinthians 12:12  ^“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” The body of Christ is an amazing powerful creation of God. A holy, sacred temple for the Lord. A body is defined as a living organism. An organism is defined as an individual form of life or living thing. So the body of Christ is not an organization, structure, building, business, corporation, or to be compared to a worldly structure. Jesus didn’t come and die on the cross to start a worldly system or government. It is a group of individuals that believe in Christ that form one body that Jesus is the head of and lives through. It is a body of believers unified and filled with God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit to glorify God. A holy, living temple of God.  I Corinthians 3:16-17, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?  God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”  Ephesians 2:19-21 “A Temple for the Lord.  So, now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.  Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.   We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.”

I like to think of it this way, every member is connected together and Jesus the Head our master is called living water in God’s word. Jesus living water lives and flows through and from each members heart and into each other. Jesus set us free to be yoked to and clothed in Him worshiping the creator not things man has created. Living water from Jesus and the Holy Spirit flows and brings healing, cleansing, restores, revives, refreshes, renews and transforms. A pond is stagnant and produces leaven.  John 4:14, “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 7:38, “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”  Ephesians 4:16, “For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.”

The great Commission

Matthew 28:16-18 “Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.   When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Before Jesus was crucified He told his disciples what would happen. That they would desert Him but after He is raised from the dead to meet Him in Galilee. Mark 14:27-29 “On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike  the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” Jesus came to save and whoever accepts Him as there Lord and savior He will never leave them and they will have eternal life through Him. The timing of this is not stated but according to all of Jesus appearances to people and the time to travel to Galilee it would have been after eight days after His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven. The disciples where in Judea up to eight days after- John 20:26 “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

The great commission is a command not choice to all who believe in Him. Jesus says I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth and I command you to do the following. Go and make disciples in every nation. Each believer is to take Jesus and the good news to the world. Where ever you go or travel make disciples. I will talk about a disciple later. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we are baptized we are united with God the father, Son and Holy Spirit. We become one with Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit. We are reborn spiritually and become a new creation and receive a new identity in Jesus. Jesus comes alive in us and he lives through us. We are baptized into the Body of Christ, Jesus is the head of the church and we are unified by the Holy Spirit. Teach the disciples to obey all my commands. Being a disciple of Jesus is to obey His commands. Discipleship is helping, teaching, and encouraging each other in the body of Christ to obey His commands. Speak truth in love Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Jesus promises to be with us while each of us do our part of the great commission till the end when he comes back for His church.

The great commission is about taking the truth about Jesus and the good news to the world. I don’t think it is always about numbers. I am amazed at the sacrifice and love I see from people to do this. Some we will never hear from in this life but God knows. Making disciples and reaching the lost can be done in many different ways. Reading about the great commission in a meeting with mature believers for 30 years over and over is not making disciples, reaching the lost and doing the great commission. It is about Jesus living through you and stepping out and living a life of faith to do this. As far as I can tell this has very little to do with our personality, speaking or how we look. Gifting, abilities or resources, position, degrees, power or money. It has to do with Jesus and power, love, and faith in His name. It’s not a competition and I’m sure not an all star at it but maybe it’s more about the heart, attitude and helping others to do their part. I think we will be all called to a different part of this and all of us will have challenges when we set out to accomplish this. I just think it is important to be humble and help others. I think we can all have a struggle at times finding our place in this command.

I think this command is a blessing from the Lord and when we disciples of Jesus attempt to do the great commission we step into a different arena and battle. Satan the enemy sure doesn’t want you to be in this arena. He will come in very deceptive ways. I will just mention one that I have been a part of in my own life and in the life of many others. Satan doesn’t care how busy you are just as long as your not doing this command. If a person has their plate full of activity and none of it is the great commission then we may want to examine the activity. I think it is easy to get snared into this. I think we can have a tendency to take all the gifts, abilities and resources given to us and create a way or system that takes us away from the example or way Jesus done in His word. When you read the book of Acts when the church first started what did the church get started with. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and a small group of believers. They passed on Jesus death, burial and resurrection  to each other. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.  He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.  After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.”

In Jesus command we have everything we need. God the father Son and Holy Spirit, His word, and each other the body of Christ. We can use gifts, talents, abilities, resources, positions, degrees, and etc but I think when we look to these it may lead us away from the example Jesus set. The main thing is our faith in Jesus and allowing Him to work through us as he wills. I think when we do the great commission with the same Faith, hope, love and grace that Jesus gives us and the with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Teach, nurture, love and build up others just like the example did with the twelve. I think this will lead to a more healthy church full of disciples with deeper relationships which takes a lot of time instead of perfection, performance, comparing gifts and abilities, huge numbers, a report card, back biting, and doing it for all the wrong motives.

worship in the storm Matthew 14:25

The first time I really truly recall worshiping God was when I was seeking Him and the truth and He starting revealing Himself to me in different ways. I would just try to listen and be real still because I realized He was real and changing my life day by day. The first time I recall what I would describe as worshiping in the spirit was when God took me to a place that only He could do. For the most part up till that time it seemed like I had a fairly decent plan for myself and my family. I was in a place where I felt really close and peaceful with the Lord a place of deep rest. Then slowly we started losing our business we had for 25 years and all our investments were going south. He also started restoring our marriage and started opening up this new journey or road we are on now which brought me to a more deep relationship with the Lord which again was done by Him. There are a lot of things that happened in this time, the best way to describe it in a short way would be to say that He led us into a big storm where we didn’t have control and major changes took place. I like Matthew 14:22-33 to help explain what happened. Jesus led the disciples into a huge storm where they seen Jesus walking on the water. Peter asked to walk to Him on water and he stepped out in faith took his eyes off Jesus and failed. This is a great teaching for us to stay focused on Jesus and yes everyone has failed. But I like the next three verses, 31-33 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.  Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.” Peter and the disciples would do great things in Jesus name in the times to come but what I like here is when Peter came to a place where he cried out for Jesus to save him and the others saw Jesus was the Son of God and they worshiped Him. Sometimes Jesus’ mighty power is seen and people’s lives are changed when a person is taken to a place where all they can do is humble themselves and cry out to the Lord. When we were led to this storm I was in a place where all I could do was ask Jesus for help day after day. That’s where we changed, we saw Jesus work in our lives in a deeper way and we worshiped Him in a more thankful deeper way.

The part you just read was written four weeks ago and this bottom part on Thursday the 19^th.

There is something very interesting that happened back at this time in 2007 that the Lord has tied into this scripture and writing this. When I was going through this time in 2007 it was a place where there were many changes from the Lord in our lives but also a place of very little activity. So I was in a place where I needed the Lord deeply and spent a lot of time with Him. During this time there was a happening that took place that is hard to explain exactly and I have not told many about it. For one thing I don’t understand it completely and can’t explain it fully, but regardless it happened and it ties into writing this. When God begin this work in us at the time I went through a two month period where I woke up exactly a 3 a.m. every morning. This is not some weird teaching, a cult thing or some demonic thing. When this first started happening I didn’t know what to think, and when I woke up I was in a state of readiness spiritually and didn’t go back to sleep. As this went on night after night I would pray a lot which some of the prayers were groaning like in Romans 8:26. I would read and study a lot but mostly a time of prayer for our marriage and mess we were in and listening to God. To wake up every night at exactly the same time 3 a.m. for two months straight I don’t think is a common and every day happening. Even though this was a storm, struggle and a weird challenging time God also did amazing things in our lives.  There was freedom, restoration, healing physically and spiritually, our marriage was restored, and we walked away from this time with a deeper relationship with the Lord. When it ended it was over and I quit waking up at that time. If I did wake up after that time I was very tired and fell back asleep like normal.

So what does writing this have to do with this strange happening back in 2007? I wrote the top portion of this four weeks ago. I was going to post it and went to hit the button but didn’t. I don’t know why something just didn’t feel right and it sat shrunk down at the bottom of my computer. About a week ago Tuesday the 17^th someone ask me about something that happened about this time in 2007. After I decided to re-read an article that I read in 2007 when this happened. In the article this scripture that I wrote about earlier mentioned Matthew 14:22-33 in verse 25 it says 3am or fourth watch or 3am to 6am depending on translation. 14:25 “And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.” I have read this scripture a lot of times but I have never notices verse 25 about 3 a.m. or fourth watch.

I believe the reason that I didn’t post this four weeks ago is God wanted to show me not only did I use this scripture for what happened back then. But also how verse 25 and the fourth watch related to me waking up at 3 a.m. before I posted this. I also believe why this happened is for me to share this experience with a brother that is going through a similar situation. Even though I don’t fully understand this completely I’m very thankful for what happened then and how God worked in the process of writing this. He continues to teach me in His time and move in my life in ways that I know is from Him and I’m very thankful for.

I truly believe I was called at that time to pray during the fourth watch for many reasons only God knows all of them. I called out to God for help and he helped us and that’s when I really first remember worshiping in the Spirit which I can’t fully explain.

Worship in the Spirit

I wanted to write what the Lord has spoken to me regarding worshiping God in the Spirit. I don’t have this figured out in my own life or if I can even explain properly what God has been telling me. But I have learned by writing this and meditating on it and I feel it has help me come closer to the Lord. So this is a disclaimer and I think it varies and is different for everyone.

We know that in the beginning Adam and Eve were in perfect fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden. Genesis Chapter 1-3. When sin came in all humanity was separated from this perfect fellowship with God. From that point till Jesus came God had His people build alters, the Tabernacle, and the Temple to worship Him. In Exodus through Joshua God freed His people from Egypt and as they traveled and camped they lived in shelters. God gave them the plans to build the kind of tabernacle they would assemble, tear down and reassemble as they followed God. There was a court yard, Holy place, and the Most Holy Place where God dwelt. The high priest went in for the sins of all the people once a year with a rope tied around him in the presence of God. The rope was in case the priest died in the presence of God. In 1 Kings chapter’s 5-8,

1 Chronicles 28 thru 2 Chronicles 8, God had King Solomon build a temple where His people could come and worship Him. Solomon’s father, King David was a great man of God and loved the Lord and desired to build the temple. 1 Chronicles chapters 17, 21 & 22 tell this story. An angel led King David to the land where the temple would be built and he built an altar there. But it was God’s plan that Solomon would build the temple, even though he was young. 1 Chronicles 22:6-8, “Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. “My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God,” David told him.  “But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.”

In 2 Chronicles 5 they brought the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the temple into the Most Holy Place. Verse 7-10, “Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’S covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.  The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles. Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.” In verse 13-14, “At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.” In 2 Chronicles 7:15-16 God tells Solomon this; “My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.  For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.”

This is very brief but it reminds me that everything was built according to God’s plans and timing. Including the process and preparation the priest then had to go through to be in the presence of God. The sacrifices people made to be in the presence of God and the attitude of their heart. Because they were approaching a holy, powerful God and He required them to come in His presence with a pure heart, fear, and reverence. How special it is to be in the presence of God and how easily it can be taken for granted. This is an extraordinary gift we have been given from God and is one of most importance in our life but how easily we can be led astray from worshiping our Lord.

When Jesus came and died on the cross for the sins of all humanity and the curtain was torn in the temple that separated us from the Most Holy Place with God. At that moment and till Jesus second coming all who accept Him can receive the Holy Spirit come in the presence of God and have eternal life. Mark 15:37-38, “Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” What Jesus did is hard for the human mind to fully grasp.

To be able to worship God in the Spirit is a beautiful happening or process that can take place in a person because of what God has given or does inside a believer in Jesus Christ. These verses help me understand how this can happen in a person. We have to accept Jesus as our Lord and savior and we are reborn spiritually. John 1:12-13, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”  John 3:3&5-6, “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  When we are reborn spiritually we receive the Holy Spirit and God gives us a new changed heart.” Ezekiel 36:25-27, “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.  And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

Jesus explains to the woman at the well in John 4:1-26 that a time is coming soon when you won’t have to go to a certain place or temple to worship God. I will be inside of you, your body will be a temple of the Holy Spirit and you can worship me anytime anywhere. John 4:23-24, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

You can read God’s word, even the demons know God’s word, come to the temple and raise your hand in worship and serve and help others. But you cannot worship God in Spirit and truth without His Holy Spirit in you and a new heart that he gives you and being cleansed by Jesus. John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Colossians 2:11, “When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature.” John 17:17, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in us we have a heart that desires to worship God and the freedom to worship God in the spirit when we want.

Compassion Queen Creek

I wanted to write a short thought on my experience at Compassion Queen Creek. I was very blessed and thankful to be able to be part of the event this year. I walked away with a great feeling in my heart. I wanted to share what the Lord spoke to me while I was in some meetings and at the event.

When I was first asked I was a little careful because of others things we are involved in. I signed up with my wife to serve as a life connector which is walking patients to their appointments. Carrie brown asked to meet with us and we were asked to help her lead in this area. I decided to just help how ever I can. Carrie did a great job as a leader with us and every time I walked away from a meeting I had this great feeling in my heart from the Holy Spirit. I thought man what am I getting myself into.

As the event got closer we were asked to go to a Compassion dinner and it had been real busy and I almost didn’t go. Carrie asked if we were going to be there and I felt the Holy Spirit keep telling me to go when I had said “no.” but I went. I was really tired of meetings but I went and just relaxed and listened. I was very blessed at the meeting to see how a group of servant leaders came together in love and unity from the Holy Spirit to go over about what was about to happen in 4 days at the event. The Lord really spoke to me while I sat there and listened at the meeting. On the way home and the days up to the event I just kept thinking that this is something that doesn’t happen every day. I was truly glad I went to the meeting to see this.

I was asked to lead in the patient waiting area. This is where all the files came to be connected to all the patients for their appointments in medical, vision and dental. It was busy, a fast pace but a huge blessing. I was blessed to work with everyone and two great servant leaders named Doug and Michelle helped me with this task. All the life connectors did great and the best thing is we got to be in contact with every patient. Another great opportunity from the Lord to glorify Him and help others.

Gary and Jennelle Esquivel do an unbelievable job letting others do their part and trusting the Lord. I was amazed to see all the servant leaders and their hearts to help others. There was a lot of moving parts and it took a lot of work to make this happed from many people. I think to myself what a great job planning and preparing for the event. But the best thing is way beyond the planning and meetings they trusted the Lord to do His work at the event and through all the people who served. I’m sure not everything worked as planned and was perfect. But they keep their focus on what was the important thing, serving the people and each other with God’s love and compassion. I believe God always wants to do something greater than we can do.

John 13:34-35 ~ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 17:23 ~ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Ephesians 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Awesome stuff

Worship

I wanted to share what the Lord has been showing me on worship. I think this will be hard for me to communicate and it has been brought to my attention how I have fallen way short in this area lately. I think everyone worships the Lord differently and I don’t think this I have this figured out by far.

I was reading a book at the beginning of this year, The Three Battle Grounds by Francis Frangipane on spiritual warfare. There is a chapter on worship in the book that really made me think about my own life. Then for the next month the Lord just kept putting worship in front of me by sermons, devotionals, and daily reading in the word.

I think it is clear from the beginning that God made us to worship and glorify Him. Which is great, but when we are not worshiping Him we end up worshiping many other things that take His place. This was a real problem for people in the bible and still is for us today.

I will use an example of when God sent Moses to free His people from slavery in Egypt. Part of Exodus 6:1-9 And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the LORD.’ You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.  I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.  I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the LORD!’”  So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

The main point in this scripture to me is Moses told the people what God said but their hearts were hardened to God and discouraged by their enslavement to their circumstances. That’s the way we were until God opened our hearts to Him and set us free from our slavery to Satan and the world. Exodus 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. Its clear from this verse that God wanted to free is people so they could worship Him. I like this quote from Os Hillman: ‘Interesting that God didn't say, "to serve Him." Above all else, God desires our worship. A person cannot enter into true worship of God while still in slavery and bondage.’

“One does not have to penetrate deeply into the revelation of John to discover that both God and the devil are seeking worshipers. In the mist of warfare and battles to whom will we bow, God or Satan. You will remember that the Lord’s call to the Israelites was a call to worship and serve Him in the wilderness. But when trials and pressures came they fell quickly into murmuring complaining and rebellion. Their worship was superficial self-serving and conditional- a form without a heart of worship. The same condition of shallow worship can prevail in much of Christianity today. As soon as the pressures of daily living arise or temptations come, how quickly we can rebel against God and resist His dealings. The enemy has easy access to the soul that is not protected by the true worship of the Almighty. For what we bleed when we are wounded by satanic assault or difficult circumstances is the true measure of our worship. You see what comes out of our hearts during times of pressure is in us but hidden during times of ease. If you are a true worshiper your spirit will exude worship to God no matter what battle you are fighting.” ~ Francis Frangipane

A human mind will limit God. The real basis of idolatry, other than ignorance, is that self-willed man refuses to surrender himself to worship God as He commands. Remember, worship is our response to God, and it occurs in many ways every day.

The two things that really speak to me about this is, that worship is not just Sunday mornings during music at church although I really love to listen to music and prepare my heart for a great word from God. I love to worship God this way. But it is the attitude of my heart toward God and my response to Him even in difficult times. God set us free to worship and glorify Him. When we are focused or enslaved to our circumstances we limit God and sometimes our focus and heart is not on worshiping Him. There are so many things in life we can be focused on that keep us from worshiping God. Even the calling or good works we do that God has given us can be an idol for us and enslave us and keep us from worshiping Him in the spirit.

Galatians 4:9 & 5:1 “But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

I like the NIV translation, it says ‘miserable principles.’  Worshiping God in the spirit is a beautiful thing. The enemy is a very crafty  and certainly doesn’t want us to be in this place with God. I think we have to cheat the system and fight for this. If you live by everyone else’s rules or expectations you will be worshiping something else. 1 Corinthians 7:23: “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”  In other words please God and worship Him in the Spirit, don’t become enslaved in trying to please others or miserable principles.