It’s always interesting to see how people respond when they discover that I am a Christian. With some age and experience I’ve discovered that most people have some type of interest in hearing more about the chance to get to know God. And their response to discovering that you are a Christian is one of hope. Maybe, just maybe this “Christian” guy might be able to point me in the direction of God.
Strange that modern culture has tried to misrepresent Christianity as something that people don’t want. True, there are some religious nut chases out there wearing a Christian label. And I can understand and emphasize with the world’s repulsion to “fake, plastic Christianity” (as my Pastor calls it).
But the truth is that the world is broken down. Their needs go unmet and their true inner desires go unfulfilled. The world abuses the innocent and the ignorant. And no one does anything about it.
You and I as Christians have the answer. God can meet the needs of this world and truly fulfill their inner desire to live out the purpose for which they were created. And when God comes on the scene, He doesn’t overlook anyone and has no tolerance for injustice.
Isaiah 59:14-15 describes the condition of our world pretty aptly, “Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.”
What would happen if we realized that we have what the world wants and needs? Truth would rise up in the street. Righteousness would rush in. Justice and equity would be restored. And if we dare to take our faith to the streets, the world will realize that nothing can be more “in” than Christianity.
Jesus has paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. What’s more, He has overcome every enemy, even Death, by rising from the grave and ascending into Heaven. And now we have His Spirit living in us.
Why are we still lying down? Why are we still standing afar off? It’s time for us to change the way the world thinks about God. And that starts with changing the way the world thinks about God’s people.
Cheers,
Jeremiyah
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Proof of Life
We had an awesome leadership training summit at our church last weekend. I was deeply inspired and convicted by some of the challenges that were issued to us. God is awesome.
This week I felt led to tell you a true story. About 11-12 years ago I was actually getting out of jail. I had been sharing my faith with my brother while I was in jail, but the drastic and sudden change in my life was a big shock. Who is this guy on the other end of the phone and what have you done with my brother?
Add the fact that I was caught up in a serious relationship with a girlfriend at the time and it was like my brother had lost his best friend. But I didn’t know any body else other than God who could get me through the experience of being in jail (and being away from the nice pretty girlfriend). And so with no other options, I threw myself into my relationship with God.
Thankfully, one of our close friends also got saved during the time that I was locked up. My brother, our friend David, and I had actually grown up together. David had a vision of Jesus while under the influence of drugs (“shrooming”). Whether or not the vision was from God, it so frightened him that David immediately left his old lifestyle behind and started serving God. And he began to start sharing his faith with my brother.
My friend David ended up leading my brother to the Lord. And so when I got out of jail, my brother, my friend David, and I were all hungry and excited about our relationships with God. David actually came to stay with us for a time.
Imagine the picture of three former drug addicts getting together every night to pray and study the Bible in my mom’s kitchen. My girlfriend was also living with us and she was not a happy camper. Among the other changes that I had made in our relationship, I was now moving into a place with my relationship with God where she wasn’t comfortable following.
We were best friends and spent every moment we could together. But every night when we would get together for Bible study, my girlfriend would refuse to participate. She would go and sit in another room by herself.
For the most part, neither my brother, my friend David, nor I had ever experienced the Holy Spirit on our own. Suddenly, at our nightly bible studies, God began to show up. The Holy Spirit would cause uncontrollable laughter, weeping, and incredible moments in prayer as we sat around the table.
And the Holy Spirit began to flow into every area of our lives. We all began to have dreams from God. We would find ourselves prophesying to people we met in restaurants. I worked at a printing company. And sometimes I would dream for hours while I was at work (day dream).
In lue of doing other things, my girlfriend and I began to read a fictional book by a Christian author based on the life of King Hezekiah. We were both deeply affected by the book as we recognized familiar struggles and experiences. Deep inside she began to become more and more open to God.
One night at Bible study, we were finally able to coerce my girlfriend into participating. Without any warming up to it, the Holy Spirit suddenly filled the room. And in an instant I felt led to read aloud from John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” I barely got the words out of my mouth when my girlfriend began to manifest demonically.
She picked up a chair and tried to throw it at me. But the chair hit the wall instead of me. Not knowing what else to do I just began to pray. My brother and David followed suit. She fell to the ground and began to explain that she had been tormented in dreams since she was a little child (having been seriously abused for a number of years). She had committed her life to Christ but the dreams had never gone away.
You can be a Christian and still be demonically oppressed. Demons can leave your spirit but stay in your mind. And so we prayed for her and she actually felt the demonic presence leave.
Still full of the Holy Spirit, we went through my parents house and anointed every door and window with oil rejecting any demonic spirit and praying for God’s blessing over the home.
I’ve never forgotten those nightly bible studies. And ever since then God has continued to move in my life through the power of His Holy Spirit. The dreams, visions, and powerful moments in prayer have never gone away. It’s like God gave me proof of life. Proof that He was there and that I had a new life inside of me.
The Holy Spirit isn’t supposed to be someone you randomly encounter every now and again. He wants to walk with you every day of your life. He wants to fill you with dreams and manifestations of His power every day.
It’s my prayer that as you’re reading this that God will give you that ‘proof of life’ in a new and powerful way.
Cheers,
Jeremiyah
This week I felt led to tell you a true story. About 11-12 years ago I was actually getting out of jail. I had been sharing my faith with my brother while I was in jail, but the drastic and sudden change in my life was a big shock. Who is this guy on the other end of the phone and what have you done with my brother?
Add the fact that I was caught up in a serious relationship with a girlfriend at the time and it was like my brother had lost his best friend. But I didn’t know any body else other than God who could get me through the experience of being in jail (and being away from the nice pretty girlfriend). And so with no other options, I threw myself into my relationship with God.
Thankfully, one of our close friends also got saved during the time that I was locked up. My brother, our friend David, and I had actually grown up together. David had a vision of Jesus while under the influence of drugs (“shrooming”). Whether or not the vision was from God, it so frightened him that David immediately left his old lifestyle behind and started serving God. And he began to start sharing his faith with my brother.
My friend David ended up leading my brother to the Lord. And so when I got out of jail, my brother, my friend David, and I were all hungry and excited about our relationships with God. David actually came to stay with us for a time.
Imagine the picture of three former drug addicts getting together every night to pray and study the Bible in my mom’s kitchen. My girlfriend was also living with us and she was not a happy camper. Among the other changes that I had made in our relationship, I was now moving into a place with my relationship with God where she wasn’t comfortable following.
We were best friends and spent every moment we could together. But every night when we would get together for Bible study, my girlfriend would refuse to participate. She would go and sit in another room by herself.
For the most part, neither my brother, my friend David, nor I had ever experienced the Holy Spirit on our own. Suddenly, at our nightly bible studies, God began to show up. The Holy Spirit would cause uncontrollable laughter, weeping, and incredible moments in prayer as we sat around the table.
And the Holy Spirit began to flow into every area of our lives. We all began to have dreams from God. We would find ourselves prophesying to people we met in restaurants. I worked at a printing company. And sometimes I would dream for hours while I was at work (day dream).
In lue of doing other things, my girlfriend and I began to read a fictional book by a Christian author based on the life of King Hezekiah. We were both deeply affected by the book as we recognized familiar struggles and experiences. Deep inside she began to become more and more open to God.
One night at Bible study, we were finally able to coerce my girlfriend into participating. Without any warming up to it, the Holy Spirit suddenly filled the room. And in an instant I felt led to read aloud from John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” I barely got the words out of my mouth when my girlfriend began to manifest demonically.
She picked up a chair and tried to throw it at me. But the chair hit the wall instead of me. Not knowing what else to do I just began to pray. My brother and David followed suit. She fell to the ground and began to explain that she had been tormented in dreams since she was a little child (having been seriously abused for a number of years). She had committed her life to Christ but the dreams had never gone away.
You can be a Christian and still be demonically oppressed. Demons can leave your spirit but stay in your mind. And so we prayed for her and she actually felt the demonic presence leave.
Still full of the Holy Spirit, we went through my parents house and anointed every door and window with oil rejecting any demonic spirit and praying for God’s blessing over the home.
I’ve never forgotten those nightly bible studies. And ever since then God has continued to move in my life through the power of His Holy Spirit. The dreams, visions, and powerful moments in prayer have never gone away. It’s like God gave me proof of life. Proof that He was there and that I had a new life inside of me.
The Holy Spirit isn’t supposed to be someone you randomly encounter every now and again. He wants to walk with you every day of your life. He wants to fill you with dreams and manifestations of His power every day.
It’s my prayer that as you’re reading this that God will give you that ‘proof of life’ in a new and powerful way.
Cheers,
Jeremiyah
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