WELCOME TO TRUTH IN THE WORD FELLOWSHIP
DON’T BE AN ACCUSER OF THE BRETHRENMatthew 18:11-13
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12"What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13"If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.…
In the Church today, there is a bad stigma that presents itself in every religion and in every house of Worship. When someone in the fold is struggling in an area that we may have already prayed through and overcome, well some people label those to be slackers. Sometimes we feel as though whatever area that our sister or brother may be struggling in is somehow worse than any area that we have struggled to overcome and may be struggling still. It is not our job, as children of God, to cast judgement on others in the Fellowship. We are not to accuse others of being slackers, not trying hard enough, not doing good enough. If we are considering ourselves to be somehow morally more correct than others, then we have a responsibility to be understanding about the struggles of others. If we have some seasons under our belt, and we understand how the God works, then we are supposed to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, so that we can be guided to do what It instructs us to do for others who are struggling. We aren’t supposed cast judgement on the situations of others.
Jesus gave us a perfect example on how to handle ourselves when we find ourselves in this position. In Matthew Chapter 18, Jesus and the disciples were in Capernaum. This was at the time when tax collectors were trying to collect taxes on Jesus and the disciples and Jesus told the disciples to go to sea, catch a fish and a coin would be in the fish’s mouth. He told them to pay the taxes with the coin that they would find in the fish’s mouth.
Later on, during this trip to Capernaum, the disciples gathered around Jesus to listen to Him teach. He taught on the subject of “who was the greatest in the kingdom”. After giving an example of how important children are, Jesus spoke of a shepherd. He said if one sheep left the fold, the shepherd would leave 99 sheep to go after, and find it. And rejoice when he found the lost sheep, even more so than he would rejoice over the sheep still left at home, safe and sound.
This passage tells us that when we see someone who has fallen, someone who is struggling with addiction, abuse, legal issues, or financial troubles, its not a time for us to worry about helping people who really don’t need any help. We must concentrate on helping those that are lost and can not help themselves.
Lets not be accusers of the brethren. Let us realize when someone needs our help and let us be led by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose for us.
ARE WE CAUSING OUR CHILDREN TO SIN?? EVEN IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS, WE CAN BE A BAD EXAMPLE IN AREAS TO OUR CHILDREN.
COLOSSIANS 3:21FATHERS, DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN, LEST THEY BECOME DISCOURAGED
Most of the time, not all of the time, but sometime, we as Parents think everything we do is right. We think that God has instilled some sort of judging scale that we judge our children on. We judge their behaviors, we judged their friends, we judge the music they listen to, we judge the food they eat, we completely rule their lives with judgement.
OUR CHILDREN, WHETHER YOUNG OR OLD, FIND THIS VERY DISCOURAGING.
So are we really loving them with the LOVE OF CHRIST?? Do we open our minds and hearts for understanding from God instead of self righteousness that strokes our egos and makes us feel that we are good parents, if we point out all the wrong that our children do?
When Proverbs 19 tells us to DISCIPLE our children, that doesnt mean pound them with hypocritical self righteousness. Yes, we as Christians want our children to live a certain way... But we should want them to live in JESUS' way not ours, because no matter how much we warm up the pews, we are still humans raising young humans that turn into older humans. We are human and our children see us just as that. They don't see us the way we see ourselves, like we are saving the earth for the greater good. They see our mistakes, even if it is the mistakes we make as parents.
EXAMPLE: Your child comes home with a new friend. He/She has a tattoo and is dressed in gothic clothes. We immediately drag our child into the pantry demanding they get rid of this kid who is apparently a devil worshiper. BAD BAD BAD
We dont have the right to judge that friend. We have a responsibility to find out more about them and why do they express themselves that way.
What we should do is open our minds and hearts, if the child is a devil worshiper, perhaps he was sent to you to lead him to the LORD.
EXAMPLE: Hey Jimmy who is your friend? Invite them to sit down to dinner with you where you can get a clearer aspect, as eating helps ppl let down their guard.. During dinner you find out that the friend is in fact not a devil worshiper but youth song leader in a contemporary Christian church.
We are from a different era. And we are supposed to be leading by example. Jesus Christ was completely non traditional and quite contemporary in His approach.
If you have a teenager that is non traditional or contemporary, dont freak out bc they paint their fingernails black or have spiked blue hair. Just dont judge them. Sit down and open up your heart, just as Jesus would, and find out why they express themselves the way they do. You may just have a leader on your hands and not know it. You will be surprise of the love, loyalty, respect for others that they have.
If you have done what is taught in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way that they should go and when he is old (key word old) he will not depart from it, if you have done this, then there should be no cause to worry. And the self expressions will lead to greater things, like leading other non traditional people to Christ
Welcome to GRACE STONE: TRUTH IN THE WORD FELLOWSHIP
…38"This is the great and foremost commandment. 39"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." An elderly man approached me with somewhat of a confession. The gentleman stated that he drove up to a local convienent store. Outside of the store there were a few men standing in the parking lot. They were apparent, to him, to be Muslim, being dressed in dishdasha (outerwear) and kufi (hat). The men seemed to be loafing about and the aged man immediately began to speak racial hate words to himself and assumed the worse out of the men. A few days later, God dealt with the Man's heart. The gentleman once again visited the store. The same "Muslim" men that were at the store a few days before were there as well. This time the men were dressed in work clothes repairing the roof of the store. The Holy Spirit pricked the gentleman's heart and showed him that he was sinning by hating the people of any certain ethnic group. God spoke to him telling him that the evil seed of racial hatred that was instilled in him as a little boy, 70 some odd years ago, needed to be addressed and brought under the Blood of Jesus. He brought it before the Lord and asked for forgiveness. Now, at 79 years old, this seasoned man has a true desire to serve all of mankind with a true loving heart.
I found this article on HEARING GODS VOICE. Have you ever wondered "if" that was God talking to you. Please read this... It will enlighten and strengthen your prayer time and overall walk with the Lord.
| Through it, you will learn how to hear God's voice, and have full two-way dialogue with Him, guaranteed. Get your 3 FREE Videos today. Enter your information in the form above for instant access. |  |
| Streaming Audio Dr. Mark Virkler introduces "4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice" Listen to this 62-minute teaching online with the embedded player:
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Get this article in PDF: 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice
Christianity is unique among religions, for it alone offers a personal relationship with the Creator beginning here and now, and lasting throughout eternity. Jesus declared, "This is eternal life that they may know [God]" (Jn. 17:2). Unfortunately, many in the Church miss the great blessing of fellowship with our Lord because we have lost the ability to recognize His voice within us. Though we have the promise that "My sheep hear My voice," too many believers are starved for that intimate relationship that alone can satisfy the desire of their hearts.
I was one of those sheep who was deaf to his Shepherd until the Lord revealed four very simple keys (found in Habakkuk 2:1, 2) that unlocked the treasure of His voice.
Key #1 God's voice in your heart often sounds like a flow of spontaneous thoughts.
Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him (Hab. 2:2). Elijah described it as a still, small voice (I Kings ). I had always listened for an inner audible voice, and God does speak that way at times. However, I have found that usually, God's voice comes as spontaneous thoughts, visions, feelings, or impressions.
For example, haven't you been driving down the road and had a thought come to you to pray for a certain person? Didn't you believe it was God telling you to pray? What did God's voice sound like? Was it an audible voice, or was it a spontaneous thought that lit upon your mind?
Experience indicates that we perceive spirit-level communication as spontaneous thoughts, impressions and visions, and Scripture confirms this in many ways. For example, one definition of paga, a Hebrew word for intercession, is "a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting." When God lays people on our hearts, He does it through paga, a chance-encounter thought "accidentally" intersecting our minds.
Therefore, when you want to hear from God, tune to chance-encounter or spontaneous thoughts.
Key #2 Become still so you can sense God's flow of thoughts and emotions within.
Habakkuk said, "I will stand on my guard post..." (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that to hear God's quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to first go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts and emotions. Psalm 46:10 encourages us to be still, and know that He is God. There is a deep inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits that each of us can experience when we quiet our flesh and our minds. If we are not still, we will sense only our own thoughts.
Loving God through a quiet worship song is one very effective way to become still. (Note II Kings .) After I worship and become silent within, I open myself for that spontaneous flow. If thoughts come of things I have forgotten to do, I write them down and dismiss them. If thoughts of guilt or unworthiness come, I repent thoroughly, receive the washing of the blood of the Lamb, putting on His robe of righteousness, seeing myself spotless before God (Is. 61:10; Col. 1:22).
To receive the pure word of God, it is very important that my heart be properly focused as I become still because my focus is the source of the intuitive flow. If I fix my eyes upon Jesus, the intuitive flow comes from Jesus. But if I fix my gaze upon some desire of my heart, the intuitive flow comes out of that desire. To have a pure flow I must become still and carefully fix my eyes upon Jesus. Again, quietly worshiping the King, and receiving out of the stillness that follows quite easily accomplishes this.
Fix your gaze upon Jesus (Heb. 12:2), becoming quiet in His presence and sharing with Him what is on your heart. Spontaneous thoughts will begin to flow from the throne of God to you, and you will actually be conversing with the King of Kings!
Key #3 As you pray, fix the eyes of your heart upon Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the dreams and visions of Almighty God.
Habakkuk said, "I will keep watch to see," and God said, "Record the vision" (Hab. 2:1,2). Habakkuk was actually looking for vision as he prayed. He opened the eyes of his heart, and looked into the spirit world to see what God wanted to show him. This is an intriguing idea.
God has always spoken through dreams and visions, and He specifically said that they would come to those upon whom the Holy Spirit is poured out (Acts 2:1-4, 17).
I had never thought of opening the eyes of my heart and looking for vision. However, I have come to believe that this is exactly what God wants me to do. He gave me eyes in my heart to see in the spirit the vision and movement of Almighty God. There is an active spirit world all around us, full of angels, demons, the Holy Spirit, the omnipresent Father, and His omnipresent Son, Jesus. The only reasons for me not to see this reality are unbelief or lack of knowledge.
In order to see, we must look. Daniel saw a vision in his mind and said, "I was looking...I kept looking...I kept looking" (Dan. 7:2,9,13). As I pray, I look for Jesus, and I watch as He speaks to me, doing and saying the things that are on His heart. Many Christians will find that if they will only look, they will see, in the same way they receive spontaneous thoughts. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. ). It is as simple as that. You can see Christ present with you because Christ is present with you. In fact, the vision may come so easily that you will be tempted to reject it, thinking that it is just you. But if you persist in recording these visions, your doubt will soon be overcome by faith as you recognize that the content of them could only be birthed in Almighty God.
Jesus demonstrated the ability of living out of constant contact with God, declaring that He did nothing on His own initiative, but only what He saw the Father doing, and heard the Father saying (Jn. 5:19,20,30). What an incredible way to live!
Is it possible for you to live out of divine initiative as Jesus did? Yes! Fix your eyes upon Jesus. The veil has been torn, giving access into the immediate presence of God, and He calls you to draw near (Lk. 23:45; Heb. 10: 19-22). I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened.
Key #4 Journaling, the writing out of your prayers and God's answers, brings great freedom in hearing God's voice.
God told Habakkuk to record the vision (Hab. 2:2). This was not an isolated command. The Scriptures record many examples of individuals' prayers and God's replies (e.g. the Psalms, many of the prophets, Revelation).
I call the process "two-way journaling," and I have found it to be a fabulous catalyst for clearly discerning God's inner, spontaneous flow, because as I journal I am able to write in faith for long periods of time, simply believing it is God. I know that what I believe I have received from God must be tested. However, testing involves doubt and doubt blocks divine communication, so I do not want to test while I am trying to receive. With journaling, I can receive in faith, knowing that when the flow has ended I can test and examine it carefully, making sure that it lines up with Scripture.
You will be amazed when you journal. Doubt may hinder you at first, but throw it off, reminding yourself that it is a biblical concept, and that God is present, speaking to His children. Relax. When we cease our labors and enter His rest, God is free to flow (Heb. 4:10). Sit back comfortably, take out your pen and paper, smile, and turn your attention toward the Lord in praise and worship, seeking His face. After you write your question to Him, become still, fixing your gaze on Jesus You will suddenly have a very good thought. Don't doubt it; simply write it down. Later, as you read your journaling, you, too, will be blessed to discover that you are indeed dialoguing with God.
Some final notes: Knowing God through the Bible is a vital foundation to hearing His voice in your heart, so you must have a solid commitment to knowing and obeying the Scriptures. It is also very important for your growth and safety that you be related to solid, spiritual counselors All major directional moves that come through journaling should be confirmed by your counselors before you act upon them.
God already knows you're doing bad...
2nd Samuel 7:14
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;
DO you ever fell like God is punishing you. Like there must be something really messed up going on in your life?
In this passage of scripture, God was speaking about David. David was to be King and God wanted him to know life was not easy and that He already knew David would fail in some areas. But, Because God is God, He tells David He already knows that David is going to mess up. And because David served the Almighty God and was His son, God Said He would chastise him with the ways of this world. God knew that being a servant in His Kingdom was going to be harsh enough on David, and when David would fall, not if, when David would fall, he would find his chastisement in the ways of this world.
This life is hard. Not one of us is perfect and doing everything right. No matter if you think you are. You are not. But our Heavenly Father already knows we are going to do something we don't have any business doing, something that isn't according to his plan. And because WE ARE SONS OF THE LIVING GOD, the lessons in this life are our chastisement from God.
He is not punishing His children. Life is.
If you are in a trial, if you are struggling in an area in your life, step back out of it. Stop getting beat up by this world. You are a child of God.
Seek in His Word the directions on how to get out of whatever you are going through.
Evaluate your life and
Change some things around.
And life won't beat you up anymore.
Be strong and safe in the Lord.
In Jesus's name, Amen
