DOING as JESUS DOES

Following the King's Example..

Jesus came to earth to purchase people through his blood.  But he came for more than that.  His life on earth is to set an example of how we are to live our lives.  The term "Christian" actually means Christ-like or "little christs."  If we aren't living like him, then we have become "carnal."

So what is our example? What did Jesus do?  

Mark chapter 1 v. 29-39

We are called to do as Jesus does.  These scriptures pretty much sum it up.  So far, this has been his ministry:  To preach the gospel truth, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons.  Often, you find churches who want to do the first two (and some churches only believe in the first one), but Jesus calls us to do all 3.  He says we are to follow his example.   If we aren't doing all three - preaching the gospel (and i don't mean just the pastor on Sunday mornings, but ALL of God's children sharing his gospel in their community/environment), praying for healing, and casting out demons/setting people from from demonic oppression,  then we are lacking in following his example.  I don't mean we have to go LOOK for someone demonized to pray for, but if the presence of God is alive and active within us, the opportune time will come up... Demon's shudder at the presence of God.     

One last thing, this scripture says Jesus SPENT TIME ALONE praying to the father... He created opportunities in his crazy schedule to have ALONE time with himself and Daddy God.  We, too, must set apart ourselves from the world and have alone time with the Father - to just pray, and listen...  It's how we refill ourselves with his presence. If we are just pouring out and not being refilled, then we are going to run dry eventually.

Demons in the Church

Demons in the church...

In Mark Chapter 1, verses 21-27 - there was a man in the synagogue who had an evil spirit in him.  It's funny how many church goers today don't believe that evil spirits exist or could "possess" a person.  Truth is, Scriptures show us that there ARE evil spirits active today, AND in the church, and there are a number of people who are possessed or have demonic attachments, or are "controlled" by a demonic presence.    

In fact, as "holy" as churches are supposed to be, once a door to demonic activity is open, the said church can become a nesting ground for demonic presence.   I worked in a church once where someone in leadership told me God showed them a legion of demons in the church narthex (a religious term for religious churches... basically it's just a "foyer.")  Then, I worked in another church where a woman saw a reptile creature like demon and it actually had control of the pastor of that church.  Her description was amazingly accurate.   We are naive to think that demons don't enter the church doors or aren't concerned with the church.  We are even MORE naive to not believe that people can have demonic junk on them, and that we need to lay hands on them and pray for them...

Someone once asked, why is it that you only see people having demons cast out of them in charismatic, pentacostal, or non-denominational spirit filled churches?  Doesn't that prove that it's fake?  My answer is, no, quite the opposite.  The only thing that's going to bring a demon forth and set a person free is the PRESENCE of JESUS, the presence of his Holy Spirit.  You can be a Bible believing Christian church, but if the Holy Spirit is not active and moving in that church, nothing is going to stir in that person to set them free... The presence of the Holy Spirit must be welcome and active.   If we could see in the spirit realm, I think we would see a number of churches with demons attending them, standing over them, manipulating them as guards.

Going back to Mark verses 23-24,  IT WAS THE PRESENCE of GOD that brought this demon forward, manifesting itself.  I have been in churches during worship where someone possessed by demons fell down, foamed at the mouth, and the demon began talking through the person. It was authentic.  I know this, because on several of the occasions, I was the one praying for them (with others) to get rid of it/cast it out.  It's interesting because the churches this happened in were spirit-filled, believing in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, moving in the gifts of the spirit, etc..   However, I have never witnessed this happening in a traditional, denominational church such as methodist, baptist, lutheran, presbyterian, etc... and I have  been involved with all of them.  My question is why?  I know it CAN happen at these churches, but I have never witnessed it.  However, when I talk to ministers of such churches, they themselves don't truly believe in spiritual oppression, possession, attachments, etc..  They can be great, God-loving, fearing, Bible knowing pastors, but still not believe because they haven't experienced it.   Is it not happening because these churches aren't open to God moving that way?  Is it because these churches don't believe in this kind of warfare -relenting to set someone free because they aren't open to it, or is it because there is a lack of the presence of the moving, active, living, breathing of the Holy Spirit?  Is it because the presence of God that would bring forth such a demonic presence and remove it is not welcome in that church or setting? Or is that church completely LACKING the presence of God, thus, making it a dead, religious, rote church.

Could it be that many of the modern day denominational churches  are so void of a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit because they, like the pharisees of Jesus' time, are so steeped in tradition, religion, repetition, etc..  Have they become so much of a "machine" controlled by man that they have squeezed the presence of God out over the decades (and centuries)?   Would they be open to God truly moving and doing something that the defies the "normalcy" of the weekly service?  Imagine that- Imagine a pastor saying, "God, we just want you this Sunday... Show up... move in us... speak to us... breathe on us..."  Imagine if the pastor DIDN'T follow the bulletin if God truly spoke to him and asked him not to.. What would happen? What would this look like?  How would the church react?

SO WHAT DID JESUS DO?

Jesus cast out the demonic spirit from the man, IN CHURCH!!!!!  He set the prisoner free.  Likewise, we are CALLED to set people free from demonic presence/attachments, etc.  IN CHURCH (and out of church!)  By Jesus' example, a church SHOULD be a place to get healing or to be set free from demonic oppression.  It's so much more than a place to listen to sermons.  The presence of God (the Holy Spirit) must be welcomed in the church!  and the presence of God (usually manifesting itself during true spirit-led worship), will expose the demonic.  Then, just as JESUS did, we are called to pray and cast it out in the name of Jesus and set the prisoner free.  If he did it, then we are called to do it too!  

My first encounter with a prostitute

I was eighteen years old and experiencing my freshman year of college. It was a late night, and as I drove away from the school campus, I noticed a young girl hitchhiking on the side of the road. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh! Is she crazy, it's ten-thirty at night and these roads are dangerous! Must be a college girl without a car!"

Naturally, I pulled over and offered her a ride. She was this tiny, petite blonde headed girl, but wasn't quite dressed for school. Short skirts were in, though. I asked her, "Where are you going?"
She responded, "Where are YOU going?"
I was like, "um, home..."
She said, "I'm going this way."
At this point... I was completely naive... I had no idea who she was.... and she could tell, I think.

She said to me, "Do you like dates?"
"the fruit, date?" I asked in confusion...
"No.. um... "she snickered...turned in her seat, trying to look at my eyes..."Like dating... going on dates... you know.."
"Oh,... um.. yeah, depends on who its with," I answered.
"Want to go on one now?" She smiled.
I was getting a little nervous about where this was going..."Um... It's really late, and I need to get going home.. I have to be back at school at 7am," I told her to let her down easy.
...She frowned... then responded.."It can be a quick one!"
"I'm sorry," I interrupted..
"Are u sure," she said, "I need to make a quick fifty bucks!"
......
GULP! WHAT?????

I was like... "um! First of all... I don't do that! and if I DID, I sure wouldn't pay for it!!!!"
At this point I just wanted to get her out of the car as fast as possible. There was a parking lot up ahead, and she asked me to drop her off there.

As I stopped the car, I told her that whatever reason she needed the money, God would provide it for her, if it was a needed cause. I told her to lean on him. I shared Jesus with her. I prayed with her. Although she didn't get saved, I hoped I planted a seed. I told her she was worth so much more than she could ever imagine (and I don't mean money! ha) - in God's eyes... I told her that he valued her...

She left... I wanted to clean my car with sanitizer, but I knew that wasn't very godly. She was a real person. She had a real heart. She had real brokenness... she needed healing from a real God.

... I was still disillusioned by the time I got to school the next morning. I made the mistake of telling one classmate... by the next day, the entire class cracked on me. What was I thinking? It was a journalism class... they eat this stuff up.

Jesus calling the disciples to be FISHERS OF MEN part 2

.... Another thing that's really cool to point out in Mark Chapter 1, verses 16-20, choosing fishermen to be his disciples, is that the Bible tells us that IMMEDIATELY they left their nets to follow him. Fishing was their livelyhood. It's what they did for a living. It's how they fed themselves. It's where they got their income. It was a steady job. There's must've been something pretty amazing; pretty alluring about the presence of Jesus. There wasn't a doubt in their mind of what to do. They didn't question and say, "hmmm... well.. I'll be leaving my job, my stability, even what I'm talented in... How do I know this will work? How do I know I will be taken care of?" They didn't need to. Their encounter with Jesus led them to drop everything to follow him... A true encounter will lead you to do that... And as I mentioned earlier - Jesus used their gifts for his kingdom. They went from catching small fish for feeding the flesh, to catching human lives for God's Kingdom..

I have found myself struggling... as a currently unemployed minister - I have questioned if I should have gotten a "normal" career many years ago. Something that plays it safe. Something that is stable, feeds the family, etc... It's hard for ministers to constantly change churches, jobs, salaries, etc, especially for the family (who may have to change schools and friends as well). Just as I question such things, the Lord leads me to a book like John Eldredge's Wild At Heart, which tells me that I am doing the right thing. It tells us to live adventurous lives for God. It tells us to do what God has called us to do, regardless of what the world says, or the institutional church says (it is dead for the most part... just continue reading the blogs I'm posting about the book of Mark - you will see what i mean.)

God calls us to something greater. The majority of Christians learn to "play it safe", including many churches as well. But God wants us to let go of everything we know and to be SOLD OUT to him, following him WHEREVER he leads us... Are we willing to live adventurous, sold out lives for his kingdom? - To stop playing church, stop being Sunday Christians, stop living lives of "stability" for a chance of something GREATER for God's kingdom? What about Abraham? What if he didn't take the chance of leaving his hometown on a mysterious adventure without much "security" in sight? What if he said, "nah, it's too risky... I'll stay here where I'm comfortable in a predictable land, predictable life, keeping my insurance and benefits and 401k in a stable job, etc..."

God has designed all of us for something... we know because it drives us... it's a passion within us... but it was given to us to use to advance God's kingdom. Sometimes we kill the dream by "reality" - or with fear of failure or lack of stability... We don't become crazy all-out who God wants us to truly be.

It's like God calls us to stand on the edge of a cliff to see how beautiful and crazy life can truly be... but we are afraid - afraid we'll fall... afraid God will push us off... and guess what? He does... he pushes hard if we dare stand up there and see the beauty of true life... and as we fall (and freak out), He shows us that with his Holy Spirit - we can FLY!!!! And it's the most amazing trip we've ever been on.

FYI - what we are called to, regardless of our gifts, is to radically change lives for Christ... That doesn't happen by playing it safe or living predictable, stable, secure lives.

about the Bible

...I've really been digging into my Bible a lot lately. I've been reading it for years and have read it entirely through several times. However, there is a big difference between reading to teach (which was my fulltime job up until November) vs. reading to LEARN....

I feel like God has given me a fresh new perspective lately when I study his word... Things I'm seeing that I haven't in a while... It's becoming so alive to me.. and yet, I have suffered so much pain by the church, others who call themselves Christians, etc... Their pain infliction hasn't hurt me just emotionally, but has hurt my family, my finances, my reputation, etc... As I'm reading the Word, God is speaking and showing me that I'm not alone... A lot of the false accusations by the church, jealousy by leaders in the church, oppression in the church, religious biggots, unhealthy traditionalism, etc, happend in Jesus' time too... and even more so. It brought me much comfort. I'm beginning to see things more clearly - especially about much of our modern day traditional churches... And how they actually challenge the character and nature of who Christ really is.

Anyways, as I was studying the Word, here's some notes I made. Hope they make sense to you and speak to you in a fresh way... basically, I just comment any verse that stands out to me, what I feel God may be saying to me, and even ask questions or comments regarding to it.

Mark Chapter 1

Verses 10-13 says that when Jesus was being baptized by John, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove. A voice from Heaven said, "You are my son, whom I love, and I am well pleased with you..."

These words were POWER words from the Father - words of encouragement and support. They were needed to be heard BEFORE Jesus' temptation in the desert. These words were given to encourage Jesus - so he could remember them - to endure the temptation.... Imagine facing such opposition WITHOUT this encouraging powerful pep talk from the Father...

Verse 12 and 13 tells us that he was then led to the desert to be tempted by satan. He was alone, stripped of food, friends, fellowship, probably even the presence of the Father. The desert is a place of loneliness. It's a place of dryness. It's the place where we are tested. Moses, Joseph, Jacob, Abraham - the Israelites - they all had their desert or wilderness experience. Most great people of God will encounter the desert/wilderness at some point in their life. It is the true place of testing and growth... some never make it out.

Fishers of Men - what's your gift?

verses 16-20
Jesus calls fishermen (his first disciples) to be FISHERS OF MEN. Why? Because God calls us in our gifts. He uses our God given talent and skills to do his will - to minister and to share his love and truths to others.

It would be ODD for God to take a mathemetician and ask him to write a book on humanity or love. No, instead, God would lead him to do something with finances, or some form of calculating. The Mathemetician would help people with their finances, or speak to those who understand his lingo. There is so much he can do with his gift - and God will call him to do something related to his talent or gift. You wouldn't see Dave Ramsey writing a book on the gifts of the Spirit or of Prophesy. He would write a book using his own gifting - he'd write one on finances...

Whatever God has gifted us in, that's how he wants to use us. Not everyone is designed to be a head pastor or a worship leader, but we are ALL called to minister through the talents, gifts, and abilities we were given by the FATHER.

~matthew

Forgive You

You shoot your venom at me.
I watch as it protrudes from your insides,
Welling up in your soul, thickening your spit
To a cancerous swell on your tongue
And I am numb by the sting
You leave on me
Cursing my flesh by lying lips
As you sip deep sips of poison
From your stream of insecurities
And the need to feed your demon within
That preys off sin and pain
That stains your almost non-existent soul…
You still hold me a prisoner
By the careless words you spoke
And I soak in the blood of the lamb
To be set free and wash your sting from me
And you’re still trying to kill me
But I forgive you

Love Reminiscent

Chocolate kisses in the night
Tell me you love me
As the twinkling lights
Highlight the glow of your
Rosy cheeks and strawberry smile
And for a while
I’m taken back to that place
Where we first fell in love -
Children playing grown up games
Defamed by adulthood
And child-like dreams robbed
Through the curse of Adam and Eve,
But still I believe
We can live this fairy tale life
If we try…
Escaping in the night
Below the mistletoe
And dimmed lights
Caressing and blessing our souls
With that same gentle touch
That took my breath away
So many years ago,
And I know you are the only one
Who could ever make me feel this way…

My childhood sweetheart,
My wife, my bride, the lover of my life…