Holy Spirit...

Everyday we see hundreds of people going about their daily lives. Some smile as they past, some frown, and some ignore you completely. I wonder what God sees when he looks at them. I wonder how he feels as he searches the very corners of their hearts.

The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift every given to man, short of salvation. I want to take a few moments and try to expound of the vastness of that gift.

Exodus 13:20-22
The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
I believe this is one of the first mentions of the Holy Spirit interacting with God's people. The word that best fits how to describes this is Paraclete.

Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (paráklētos, "one who consoles, one who intercedes on our behalf, a comforter or an advocate").[1] It may reflect a translation of the Hebrew word מְנַחֵם‎ (mənaḥḥēm "comforter").

Consoling one, interceding one, comforter, these are all words that describe the very character of God. It blows my mind that God cares so much. Another definition for Paraclete is as in the old testament when soldiers went out to battle they went in pairs. As it was time to fight they would stand back to back so that they were an unstoppable force. God always has your back. Even better, he sent his Holy Spirit to reside in YOU.

Acts 2:1-4
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

God I pray that every day you will fill me completely with your Holy Spirit so that I can be an instrument that you can use. I pray that your thought are my thoughts, and you plans become my plans. I want to praise you with every breath that is exhaled from my lips and with every step taken with my feet. Show me how to be more sensitive to the leading of your spirit. Bring people across my path that are hurting and use me to do your work. I just praise you, in JESUS name.

Church

Church is different things to different people. To some its a place where you go if you want to be a good person. To some its a place you go if you want to be a hypocrite. To others its a place where God is. To others still its a place where God would never be.

I want to express some of my thoughts of what a church should be, and my vision of what God has called the church to be and do.

I see a church that is the life-source of the town or city it is in. I see new life being birthed from it daily in forms of:
People coming to know Jesus.
Sickness being healed.
Bondage's of addiction being broken.
Lives being changed for the good of the Kingdom of God.
Entire cities prospering just because the local church is there and doing the will of God.
Broken homes being reunited.
Poverty completely gone from a city because of the church and them doing the will of God.
I see a church that is so influential that the whole city is asking for their help in everyday decisions.
I see a church that loves.
I see a church that is doing everything in their power to keep the whole world from suffering and bringing light to even the darkest corners of the earth.

What kind if church do you see?

It's been a while...

So, it's be a while since my last post. I have been thinking, reflecting, meditating, and praying about what to say to God's people. I'm teaching the youth tomorrow at Journey Church of Acworth (my church) and I just thought I would share a little bit with the world of what God has given me.

If someone can grasp even a small portion of who God is and the power that is within you through Jesus, they can change the world. He created the entire universe, but yet he cares more about YOU than any thing else in it. I like to think of it this way: God has things for me to do while I'm on the earth and he has a huge warehouse that says my name on it filled with stuff he has for me to use while I'm here for his work. I think the great thing that could happen is when I get to heaven Jesus would show me a warehouse with my name on it that is empty and he would say that I used all he had for me to use on the earth. It's not good enough for me to go to church on Sunday, or every other day the doors open, and then not tell one person about the kingdom of God. It's not good enough for me to pray once a day before I go to sleep and wonder if God heard it. It's not good enough for me to read my bible once a week and think that I'm somebody and know God's will.

It's about time. It's about passion. It's about the kingdom of God that is inside of me. It's about spending every moment in the presence of God! It's about making someones else's life better because your in it. God is love, so what should I be? LOVE. Love for fellow man. Love for my enemies. Love for the people that get on my nerves and love for my best friends.

God wants to use you and me. God wants you to know him just as well as he knows you. I want to challenge every person that reads this to put as much time and energy into your relationship with God as you do everything else in your life. Stir up a passion in your life for God so strong that you can't talk about anything else, that you can't think about anything else. I'll do the same.

Changes and Decisions...

I just realized how many decisions I have to make over the next year. Life changing decisions. I believe all decisions made could have the potential to be life changing. Sometimes God gives you the answers to the decisions. Sometimes he say you choose and I will back and bless that choice. I'm praying for wisdom right now. I need wisdom as I embark on my future with my soon to be wife. I never realized before how different decisions are when there is more than just your life in the picture. I want to do what's best for my soon to be family. I want to follow exactly what God's plan is. I'm at a cross road right now and I feel like this is one of those times where God says, "You choose, I trust you." I just need to pray: constantly, expectantly, and humbly.

It is Time...

It's time to stand!
It's time to shout!
It's time to dance before the Lord!
It's time to prophecy!
It's time to rise up and live in the power and authority freely given to us by the God of all the universe!
Let the Word of God stir our hearts!
Let the Holy Spirit break out!
Amazing things are on the horizon!
Wisdom is given liberally!
God's grace is infinite!
His power is overwhelming!
His favor is upon us!
His blessings are near!
In the darkness a light shines!
In the storm praise is lifted!
Mountains are being moved!
Burdens are being lifted!
All praise to God!
It is time for God's children to live!
It is time for God's children to die to ourselves!
Holy, Holy, Holy, is God!

A Move of God...

Let us dive into the book of Acts to see how God moved in the forming of the early church and apply that to our own lives.

First they (being the disciple of Jesus) were all gathered in one place. I believe this is extremely important to have a mighty move of God. God put other believers in our lives for a reason. There is just something amazing that happens when God's people are together.

Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

The Holy Spirit fell down unto them. What can we do as a church without the Holy Spirit? Nothing! Sure we can have a church and maybe even grow in numbers, but the Holy Spirit is needed to really be in line with the will of God for the church. I believe being filled with the Holy Spirit is a continuous thing.

Acts 2:2-4
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

There has to be something different about God's people. That day as the Holy Spirit enabled them, they began to speak other tongues, because there were so many different people, from so many different regions and languages. The people realized that there was something different about the followers of Christ that day, and even though some doubted, there was no mistaking that something amazing was happening.

Acts:5-13
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

The Word of God has to be proclaimed. Peter stood up and began to proclaim the word of God to the people. It is so important to be in the word daily. How are you going to tell others about what you don't even know yourself.

Acts 2:14-36
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

People were convicted and the salvation through Jesus was taught. When there is a move of God people realize who they are without God. God touches the very heart of the sinner. Conviction is not something people like to talk about, but it is crucial to repentance.

Acts 2:37-41
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Continued learning and discipleship is very important to becoming what God wants you to be. This is why fellowship with your fellow christian is so important. We must read the word, pray, and mediated constantly on the Word of God. We must be in agreement with out fellow believers. We must have support and be in one accord with our spiritual leaders.

Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Now GO!

Expectation...

What do you expect when you get up every morning? Do you expect that same old stuff that happened yesterday? If so, you will probably get just that. I believe expectation is the breeding ground for the miraculous.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

David, a man after God's own heart, expected great things from God first thing. He waited in EXPECTATION. Webster's dictionary defines expectation as: to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of. Every person that Jesus changed, whether it was through healing, spiritual guidance, or salvation had the expectation that he would follow through. Are you expecting great things from God today?