What is it about Humility?

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you." 1 Peter 5:6

Jesus was the most humble and meek man to ever walk the face of the earth. He was full of compassion and kindness, more than any has ever known. Can you imagine walking with Jesus, God Himself, the Alpha and Omega, like the disciples did? They were constantly stunned and blown away by His responses to whatever circumstances they were in. I imagine them continually just staring at Jesus and trying to figure Him out. It's like He was so human, and at the same time, so not of this world. Humility, meekness, kindness, compassion and mercy...these described Him well. He was not preoccupied with anything temporal, but everything eternal that had to do with people knowing the truth about God. In essence the truth that God exists (in human and bodily form), He loves like crazy, and turn from your sin and pursue the kingdom of God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Humility is the key that fits the door into the heart of God, period. There is no other way into that deep and intimate place. It is not ones gifting, or ones anointing (after all there is really only One who is anointed). It is not even how many souls someone might have won for the kingdom. Humility and meekness are what attracts the Spirit of God, they attract the favor of God, and they release the true kingdom of God.

Every time I choose to eat humble pie rather than be heard or have my way, Jesus wins. Every time I consider another better than myself, or I extend myself to the poor and broken, love wins. Pride must be demolished and it will only be crushed when the seed of humility grows to become the very shade which we abide under. Jesus is humility. Humility is not of this world. It really isn't folks. Yes, one can be nice and kind for a while, but true humility will count all things loss compared to knowing Jesus and making Him known. I am challenged daily to walk this out no matter what I am doing or where I am going. If we are to be made a statement as believers, please let it be for the fact that you own humility and it owns you. You are no longer your own master, but you have been crucified with Christ and you no longer live, but He lives through you, and me. This is good news. The old is dead, buried and gone. The new is here. Love always, no matter how hard and challenging. You will succeed friend if you choose this path. It is the narrow path that leads to life.

Words of LIFE...

How many times in your day do you receive a word of encouragement? How many times in your day are you looking to build someone up or encourage them? The choice is clear from the scriptures. We as the body of Christ have to choose to encourage one another. Yet so many times it seems the opposite. Why is that we focus on bringing one another down, or casting judgment on a brother? Why is that we are lacking the very thing that brings life and purpose for another? In short, we have lost our sense of identity. We no longer believe that we are royal sons and daughters in a kingdom not built by human hands. We have lost our way because we are acting as orphans and not true sons. Sons understand that they belong and are a vital part of the Father's plan. Therefore they choose to speak life always into another fellow brother or sister. I love the books of Thessalonians. They are filled with words to encourage one another.

Paul said,"we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:12

"Therefore encourage one another with these words..." 1 Thessalonians 4:18

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14,15

I would rather speak one word of encouragement than 100 words that are high and lofty but only beat the air. I would rather through my actions show another that they are loved than simply stating the obvious by lengthy sermons. It doesn't take much, but it takes everything sometimes when you yourself have not been encouraged to try and give courage to another. We must drink deep of intimacy with Jesus. Only by abiding in the lamb will we find out identity as sons and daughters and will we operate out of love and compassion.

Go and use your words carefully. Speak life and not death. You are called to greatness, and those around you will be better for the words you speak to them.

Fall Fun

To tithe or not to tithe...

There is much discussion these days in my heart surrounding the topic of tithing.  Is it still applicable today? What is the New Testament position on tithing? Should I be giving ten percent of my income to my local church? If you are in a church or have been a part of a church then I am certain you have also thought about this topic. Make no mistake, tithing is biblical, but understanding the context for the tithe is an important place to start. 

God is always after the heart, He always has been.  He wants us to live not under a law, but under freedom.  Freedom In Christ to do what is right, to be generous and extravagant. He has made a way for us to walk in freedom and liberty because He is not the new covenant by which we live in and through.  I really liked the way this article describes it.  I hope it helps you as well. Be blessed and be generous.

The following is taken from www.gci.org on Tithing:

Under the old covenant, tithing was required for the support of the old covenant ministers. The Israelites were required to give 10 percent — and their blessing was only a physical one! Christians in the new covenant have much better blessings — spiritual ones. How much more willingly ought we to give in thankfulness for the eternal blessings we have in Christ Jesus?

The Israelites were commanded to give 10 percent under a covenant that could not make them perfect (Hebrews 7:19; 9:9). How much more joyfully should we give to God under the new covenant? We have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which does cleanse our conscience (9:14). And yet it seems that in America today, even though we have so much more than the Israelites did, people give on average a much smaller percentage. Many people give less to the church than they spend on luxury items. Some people cannot give very much, but many people could if they wanted to. God calls on us to examine ourselves, to examine our priorities, and to be generous.

The old covenant gave us condemnation; the new covenant gives us justification and peace with God. How much more should we be willing to give freely and generously so God’s work can be done in the world — to proclaim the gospel, to declare the new covenant ministry that gives us true life, and gives that message of life to others?

People who entrust their lives to Jesus Christ do not worry about whether tithing is commanded in the New Testament. People who are being transformed by Christ to be more like Christ are generous. They want to give as much as possible to support the gospel and to support the poor. Christians should give generously — but giving is a resultof their relationship with God, not a way to earn it. We are given grace through faith, not through tithing.

Some people act as if Christ liberates us from the law so that we can keep more physical blessings for ourselves. That is false — Christ liberates us so that we can be free to serve him more, as loving children and not merely as slaves. He frees us so we can have faith instead of selfishness.

When it comes to money, the real question is, Is our heart in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we putting our money where our heart is? We can tell where our heart is by seeing where we are putting our money. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Jesus said (Matthew 6:21).

Love is the answer.

There is no higher law than the law of love.  How we love will determine how we live. There is no greater love than what Jesus Himself showed us through the cross, but also His day to day life in the way he interacted with people.

Pursue love...and Prophesy!

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Love is always the highest way. There is no greater gift than that of love. Gods love compels us and controls us. Love never ends, but will endure and grow forever.

Paul lays out a clear picture of what the highest purpose in everything is and should be, love. He does not stop there though. It is important to put on love, walk in love, live in love and prophesy in love. Paul says to pursue love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts and especially that of prophecy. The spiritual gifts are available for every believer. There is no favoritism or elimination factor when it comes to the gifts. I firmly believe as Paul says, that everyone can and should prophesy.

"For you can ALL prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged." 1 Corinthians 14:31

I love this! Prophecy encourages the believer. It is designed and only meant to build up one another. It is a form of encouragement and exhortation. It could be a simple word of hope, a scripture, a psalm, or a word of knowledge. It could be a vision, a picture, a constant sense, or a constant joy that God gives to share with another. The Holy Spirit is a great gift giver and He longs for His church to be encouraged and to encourage one another. Imagine if we all sought to build one another up! What a bright and shining light the church would be. Many on the outside would want in because of how contagious this type of lifestyle is in the Holy Spirit. Imagine happy Christians. I am convinced that when done in order, and we seek to honor God, that there is total freedom and transformation when we are all walking in the gifts of the Spirit. Let us seek to love loud and prophesy boldly. Everyone should be encouraged and built up.