Recently I've been extremely convicted towards certain habits, or lack there of, that I've been fostering in my walk with Jesus. One in particular. Ok not just one, but one more so convicting than the others lately. I would like to think that I love and honor people well around me. On rare occasions my actions don't match up well with that statement, but for the most part I think I do those two things well (and there's always much more room to grow in those areas). Ok so I want to love people and honor them where they're at. So let's say hypothetically I was worth a lot of money and I see a starving person on the street. If I love and honor people well then giving that man a meal would be my gut reaction. So if I have an infinite amount of grace on my life, an anointing by the Holy Spirit, authority given to me by Jesus, and a Father who wants to see himself manifest through salvation; where's the holdup? So if I possess all those things worth more than gold, and I know/meet a person dying and going to hell, and I'm a loving person, then proof is only in the pudding, per se. Right now I'm only speaking off the cuff so hopefully all of this will evolve and I'll get to some meat. Bear with me.
On many occasions, but two in particular Jesus gave affirmative commands towards those that followed him:
"And proclaim as you go, saying, 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'(which looks a little bit like) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. "
& the classic
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I with you always, to the end of the age."
There is this little hill I've been trying to climb over and realize and that is that the gospel of Jesus is only good news to those who already believe. To those who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, it's not good news. In fact when I share blatantly share Jesus with those around me the message (not my actions) is going to be offensive. Act in love but don't fear the offensiveness of the message. When the gospel is told it will offend spirit and soul, and then the beauty of it all kicks in.
What would it look like for an entire generation to live unencumbered by fear? Well as a leaders we reap what we sow. If our biggest fears are fear of man that places us into terrified positions of not sharing the gospel, not healing the sick, not casting out demons, and not raising the dead(because we're commanded to do all those things) then we reproduce disciples and children with the same fears that we have. But that is only a secondary reason to it. Jesus is calling each one of us to step outside of the 'comforts' of our fears and into the greatness of the provision He's providing through our obedience to Him.
Just do it, and do it everyday. And see God's kingdom fall by activating the faith inside of you by being blatant in the blessing. Get up. And go live like your supposed to. This includes myself.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. Isaiah 61:1-7
In areas of shame and disobedience God is not only restoring my portion but He is doubling it. He is giving beauty for ashes. Today is a new day, and with it comes new resolves. There will be so much more to 'tell' this season. There will be so much more to 'tell' today.
To grace under pressure,
Wes
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