Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Easter is coming...what did Jesus leave behind?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Easter? Hopefully, it is that Jesus Christ sacrificially poured out himself for us, that we might live forever if we call upon him as our Lord & Savior! How quickly would we sacrifice ourself in a violent, hateful death for anyone or anything? We balk at treating others as we would wish to be treated, truth be known, as evidenced by our behaviors at times. Yet Jesus Christ, who died for us with such great humility, repeatedly calls upon us over & over again to be as he is! Jesus didn't go through the agony he suffered so we could get our ticket to heaven and then live as the world lives! To know him in a personal relationship as Savior is indeed essential, but how do we personally interact with him? How do we interact with our best friends? We spend time with them! We communicate with them! We have fun with them! How often do we talk to Jesus (not just asking for things)-spend time with him, just listening for his voice & enjoying his presence? How about this-how often do you have fun with Jesus-sing to him, dance for him, shout praises to his name? I don't know about your Bible, but mine says HE IS WORTHY of our praise! Jesus is our very best friend. If we do not know how to interact with him on a deeply personal level he is not our "LORD"-the Lord of our life should rule & reign over our life-that requires divine interaction - not weak prayers or worship, not useless rituals, but rather supernatural interaction- super natural - not common - not natural - that is what our Bible says! He is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. Father, Son & Holy Spirit are one in the same. I challenge you to read the SUPERNATURAL things he did in the Bible, for he is doing them today, & he will do them forever. A world of believers is suffering from a weak & watered down faith because they have not grasped this fact. There are few miracles because people fail to believe Jesus who the Bible says is always the SAME and they do not appropriate their miracles or use the weapons and tools he left us. The Holy Spirit is all but ignored in many churches today - believers and non believers alike fail to know who he is or what he can do if only we surrender ourselves to him. The Bible says that God uses the foolishness of men to confound the wise. If you think you are wise and are confused about the things you think are done foolishly for Jesus, you may need to seek him on a deeper level. It is my prayer that this Easter many more people not only come to know Jesus as Savior, but make him LORD of their life by allowing his Holy Spirit to operate in fullness rather than be quenched by the opinions and doctrines of mere men! He said that many would come in his name but he would say he never knew them...even those who did things in his name! Knowing Jesus requires, acceptance of him, love of him & others (as he loves them), and also allowing him to be at work in your life ruling and reigning over it. This is a message many who believe they are "saved' have failed to realize! If you are fighting or ignoring what the word says is the work of the Holy Spirit you need to ask if you are truly letting him have reign over your life? Jesus Christ, Savior & Lord, said he left the comforter, the counselor, the Holy Spirit. We learn in the Bible exactly what the Holy Spirit (same as the Father/Jesus) did & still does - as the Bible says the SAME yesterday, today, & forever. Selah! (think upon these things)