Encountering God

Enjoying Friendship with God

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Daniel

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:10-11 NLT

At a recent ministry concert I had not gotten enough sleep and my voice didn’t have much range. I had also forgotten to eat or bring anything to eat and was feeling very weak. In spite of all this, and my headache, it was one of the best concerts ever!

I felt the gentle power of God’s Holy Spirit through it all. This reminds me of what the Lord Jesus said to Paul:

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now (Paul says) I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

I shared with the group how much Jesus loved them and talked about the implications of the Gospel and ended by saying, “You know, the bible tells us that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. Let’s see if we can bring some joy in heaven today by coming to Jesus or returning to Jesus. Won’t you pray with me?”

After the prayer I nearly burst into tears in front of them all when I heard Jesus whisper to my heart, “I’m so proud of you.”

So, what about you?

Are you prepared to bring heaven some joy today? Come to him!

Jesus said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus happens to be addressing Christians here. This is why I say it is wonderfully appropriate at the outset of every new day to open the door of our hearts and invite Jesus in to fellowship – to “share a meal together as friends” as he puts it. Enjoy your friendship with God today!

enjoyfriendshipwithgod

Here is a video of a song that fits this blogs idea perfectly.

Categories: Encountering God, Nursing Home Ministry | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thoughts about “normal” Christianity

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Daniel

So I read Mel’s post (the reblogged post) and this was soon followed by a few Facebook posts by Kris Vallotton (also below) about “normal Christianity” to include the miraculous. This is hotly debated topic in our house that gets discussed frequently.

The truth is, we don’t live in the miraculous like I hear some talking about. This is not our experience. I guess I’m aware of people who see miracles and God answering prayers like crazy (one of whom is Francis Chan who wrote “Crazy Love” – others include Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church).

So why don’t I experience what they do? Why don’t I feel like I have much clout with God? He doesn’t answer my prayers for healing… or does he?

Last Fall I was dreading the allergy season. I basically have a really bad stuffy head sinus cold for a month and a half. I felt the symptoms coming on and prayed real hard and the symptoms went away. I was fine. But, as I told someone just the other day, that the ragweed or “whatever” must not have been bad last year. I said it could be the prayers but I don’t know.

So why is this where my spirituality is at? Because I don’t experience what Kris Vallotton or Mel Wild talks about… but I want to. I think.

The Bible tells us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Just like learning to play guitar, you have to want it… and then you gotta practice.

So instead of actually applying myself to this end, I apply myself to finishing the Breaking Bad episodes on Netflix (or any dynamic equivalent of what amounts to a detrimental use of my most precious commodity – my time!)

Here is a story of my one bonafide without-a-doubt experience of being used by God to heal someone:

My mom had just come home from oral surgery. It was a particularly painful operation and the dentist had told my mom that patients have left him for good because of the pain of this operation. She came home expressed her concern and asked me to pray for her. In that moment I felt the powerful presence of God. His compassion. His decision to heal. His “unction” (kind of an old word but it came to mind). So I prayed, or rather cooperated with his prayer flowing through me.

My mom experienced no pain much to the astonishment of the dentist. He questioned me about it next time I was in to see him myself it became obviously apparent to him that it wasn’t because I was anything special. As I have said a hundred times in this blog. I never felt like I was a very good Christian… But, as Rick Warren states in the first chapter of his book, “Purpose Driven Life”: It’s Not About You!

So, based on Scripture and the encouragement of these dear brothers I am encouraged that I “can” pursue spiritual gifts and experiences of God and begin to experience them. Anybody else want to join me?

Now for those Kris Valloton quotes:

If someone teaches that there are no longer gifts of the Spirit…prophecy, healing, deliverance are not for today…all spiritual experiences and/or supernatural encounters have passed; Are not these people false teachers? Is it not just as dangerous to remove the power of God from the people of God, as it is to be deceived? In fact, isn’t this deception?

Paul warned Timothy about these people when he said, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come…people will “hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 5)

You must demonstrate the power of a superior kingdom with signs and wonders, to fully preach the the gospel.

“In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19)

There is two ways to read the scriptures, I can reduce the bible down to my own experience. For example, I read Mark 16:17-18, where Jesus says miracles follow those who BELIEVE. Then I say, “Well I believe and I don’t see miracles, therefore that verse must only apply to 1st century believers.

Or the other way to read the scriptures is to change my experience to meet the standards and expectations of bible. Of course this requires a high level of courage and it is much easier to be complacent, and reduce the scriptures to soothe my conscience.

Mel Wild's avatarIn My Father's House

Aimee_AMA_approvalWhile we were in Los Angeles last week, I got a chance to tour the former parsonage of Aimee Semple McPherson, the founder of the denomination I belong to (Foursquare). As I was looking at some of the memorabilia of her prolific, larger than life ministry, I came upon the sign in the photo.

This sign is from a report by the San Francisco American Medical Association.

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Categories: Encountering God, Following Jesus | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

Snakebit? Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Daniel

Just before Jesus delivers the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, he references an Old Testament story about a bronze snake.

“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15 NLT)

The story is found in the book of Numbers chapter 21. It seems to me when I read the whole account of the Israelites wilderness travels that they are just like us… a representative sampling of all mankind. As the story goes, they, for the most part, don’t trust God.  (And, when I say for the most part I mean, like three out of over a million! I write about that here!)

LembasBreadThumb_zps350556f4

The recipe of the elvish lembas bread is a closely and fiercly guarded secret. Don’t mess with the elves!

The Israelites don’t trust the very One who had proven himself with miracle after miracle, the  One who protects them from the heat of the sun in the blazing hot wilderness by being their shade day after day, the One who is their light by night, the One who feeds them day after day with manna (a.k.a. elvish lembas bread) and water from the rock (there is a really cool video documenting the finding of the rock that was split)… and yet, they still didn’t trust him.

They were trying to get away from the very God who surrounded them every day. Because of their rebellion and sin, the devil has an in. Poisonous snakes come through their camp. Many are bitten, many become sick and are dying. Moses is told, “Make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Everyone who comes and looks intently at this bronze serpent will be healed.”

I’ve heard sermons about the bronze representing judgement and the serpent the curse, so here is an illustration of the curse being judged. Jesus says in effect, “I’m just like that! Come to me look intently at the cross. Consider what was accomplished there and you will be healed of your snakebite of sin.”

The following picture is for my mother-in-law who adores all the cuddly cute snakes of the world… even more than puppies if you can believe it (hehe!):

From the art of manliness.

From the art of manliness. “How to bite the snake back after it’s bitten you.”

and I couldn’t pass up throwing in this photo of a puffy faced puppy who had a run in with a snake: images-1 (Reminds me of my dog, named “Salvation”, who died saving my life from a rattle snake I was face to face with a long time ago.)

So, Jesus has saved us. Let’s all take a big breathe and give a sigh of relief. <Ahhhh!>

It’s over. Done. Finished. Accomplished. Time to celebrate!

Jesus endured the cross to free you from all your sin! You are now free to walk away from those deadly snakes and stop playing in the snakepit. Snake (sin) hunters, you are free to live your life joyfully instead of chasing down every last snake in your own life or in others. We can now point people to the cure instead of fussing over each others festering snake bite wounds. Rejoice in the cure and turn your eyes upon Jesus!

Scripture from Hebrews 12 to meditate on:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

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Standing in the Council of the Lord

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Daniel

One Sunday morning I woke with a Scripture burning in my mind. As I drifted in and out of sleep it just kept coming back and each time with more clarity and cross references.

The Scripture was this:

“But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.”
– Jeremiah 23:22 NIV

(Jeremiah 23 – for whole context)

Are you interested in turning people (most especially ourselves) from their/our evil ways? Me too. Well then, we must stand in his council to receive his words.

What happened next gave me an idea of what kind of words you would expect to receive in his council.

12998f1f593af92d280a12a971300d62He led me to Romans chapter 2:

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (vs 4)

So, shouldn’t we expect to hear wonderfully kind words?

I expect so.

Of course, it must be said that the above Scriptures are taken out of context. This does’t mean however that they aren’t true as they stand.

It’s just that Jeremiah 23 reveals that many “prophets” of that day were not willing to stand in God’s council. And as for Romans 2, well, I’ve included at the bottom of the page. (Romans 2)

The context is sobering.

It’s supposed to be.

Sometimes we walk through life “drunk” on messages that scratch our itch to feel good about ourselves. Messages that flatter our ego. I suspect we do this when we are unwilling to turn from our sins and turn to God. Or when we fail to submit to God’s way of making us right with himself in Yeshua.

Truth is liberating but oftentimes it’s also very hard to hear. Truth is never flattering to our ego. Truth exposes the sin in us and urges us to abandon sin and to embrace Christ (who is your life) Jesus (Yeshua).

Will we have the courage to stand in his council and receive his words? I think this will mean far more than simply becoming Bible experts. It actually requires interaction with God and some sort of real relationship. You might have to get scary close to your Maker. It may initially be unpleasant as He undoes the work of the enemy (and where we have partnered with him) and set us free from slavery to the brutal taskmaster of our pride.

Will we have the courage to prayerfully read his words that were so carefully chosen by our Papa God to lead us to salvation? Jesus said that he never spoke anything that his Papa wasn’t giving him and that his words will lead us to eternal life.

“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” (John 12:49-50 NASB)

Here is a portion of Romans 2:

God’s Righteous Judgment

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness,forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” (Romans 2 NIV)

Of course it must be said that this was taken completely out of context as well. Please read the whole book here. And by the way, this book was taken out of context too, so please read the entire Bible starting here. And it must be said the entirety of the Holy Scriptures are taken out of context if you don’t have a relationship with the author, so… ask Jesus for help to begin a relationship. It just might be that simple.

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First Contact With God

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Daniel

My Testimony Part 1:

I had a powerful encounter with the living God, my loving heavenly Papa, at the age of eleven or twelve. Let me tell you how that happened and the events preceding it.

I grew up in a Christian home and had prayed to receive Christ, willfully and intentionally, on my eighth birthday. For the next few years I really enjoyed life! Especially being ten. That was a great year! I remember having this reflective moment as a ten year old, ‘Life is SO good!’

Shortly thereafter a neighbor introduced me to his dad’s Playboy magazine. =(

For the next few years I struggled with lust. The reason I get into this horrifying and shameful topic is because it was the prelude to my first amazing encounter with God.

I was in my treehouse struggling once again with lust and then the most amazing thing happened.

shekinahlight_600God showed up.

I knew him immediately. There was no mistaking it. This was God, my Creator, my Savior. I cannot describe to you how amazing it was. He was brimming with fatherly love, there was no judgment, just compassion. I felt the energy and holiness of his presence. I perceived him in the spirit realm beyond the mirage of what C.S. Lewis call the shadowlands (this physical realm).

He respected my free will and told me telepathically (this is how everyone in heaven most always communicates… get over it), “If you continue in this I will have to hand you over.”

As with most every time God says something to you, the understanding came with his words. I knew he was referring to Romans chapter 1:

God’s Anger at Sin

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. – (Romans 1 NLT)

So this was stage one. God abandoning me to do what I desired (or “hand me over” as some translations put it). I knew he didn’t want to hand me over but he respects our free will. We get to decide what kind of lives we want to live. I believe that to a large degree, we decide our destinies. Our free will matters.

I did not choose wisely.

An evil spirit entered me that day. It provoked me to sin. Mentally abusing me day after day. I grew to hate myself. I’d cut myself and bash my head with rocks at times. Eventually I turned to alcohol and other vices to numb the pain.

I would have times where I would turn back to God and find some relief but I didn’t have much of a support system to sustain following Jesus.

The encounter with God that day was life altering. I knew God was real. I couldn’t ever walk away from this. The rest of my life will be seeking him, coming back to him, following Jesus.

I want to encourage you with a few Scriptures that have encouraged me in this pursuit of Christ and really has formed a proof, like a mathematical proof in geometry, that I have eternal life and am secure in the love and care of my Good Shepherd and loving Papa.

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” – Jesus, (John 6:37 NLT)

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” – Jesus, (John 17:2-3 NKJV)

Did you catch that? If you come to Jesus, he won’t reject you. He can’t! The fact that you came to him shows that the Father has given you to Jesus. He then promises to give eternal life to all those who the Father has given him.

I have since had several other profound encounters with God that have changed me. He met me when I came back to him at the age of eighteen. He’s taken me on spiritual journeys. Came and commissioned me for my calling at twenty. He meets me in dream after dream – which I am particularly fascinated by!

Jesus stood before me in the spirit once and looked me in the eyes while I was reading the prodigal son story in front of a crowd. In fact, I sense his presence and experience his fathering every day. He is merciful, forgiving, gracious and so very good and loving to me. He is anxious to do the same for you. The reason I tell you all this is to provoke you to seek the Lord. He guarantees that you will experience him if you seek him with all your heart.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD”. (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)

Have you ever had an encounter with God? If so I’d like to hear about it. Leave a comment!

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