Senin, 29 Juni 2015

Dead Men Cannot Die

“They overcame [the dragon] by
the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
and they did not love their lives to the death.”
REVELATION 12:11

No one can overcome a spiritual adversary unless they embrace the Cross. The ones who overcome the dragon do so by the blood of the Lamb and by not loving their own lives. Their testimony is: “not I, but Christ.” The blood, and loving not their life, and their testimony, all point to the same thing: these are people of the Cross. They did not love their own lives, but they gave up their lives; therefore God has raised them from the dead and they have entered into the victory of Christ.
You cannot kill a dead man. You cannot defeat a person who has already died. What more can you do to a man once he has died and been raised to life again?
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden

The Five-Fold Ministry: Still Needed?

“He Himself gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors
and teachers… for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come… to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.”
EPHESIANS 4:11-13

Does the Body of Christ still need to be edified and encouraged? Have we all attained to the unity of the faith? Have we all obtained the full-knowledge of the Son of God? Have we all come to spiritual maturity? If the answer to all these questions is no, then these foundational ministries – ALL of them – are still needed today. And if they are still needed, then God has not withdrawn them.
Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Chip Brogden

One Kingdom, One Master

“‘How hard it is for those who have riches to
enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were astonished
at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them,
‘Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches
to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God.’”
MARK 10:23-25

The point is not that every disciple must be penniless. The point is that in this Kingdom, Christ alone has the preeminence, and you cannot serve two masters. Why are riches such a stumbling block? It all relates to Self. For the rich man, Self is mostly represented in his riches. For the wise man, Self is mostly represented in his wisdom. For the good man, Self is mostly represented in his goodness. For the strong man, Self is mostly represented in his strength.
YOU are your biggest obstacle to entering in. Why? Because there is no room in the Kingdom of God for Christ and Self.
Source: The Irresistible Kingdmo by Chip Brogden

Having Him

“We know that the Son of God has come and has
given us an understanding, that we may know Him...”
1 JOHN 5:20

There is a difference between salvation and a Savior; between deliverance and a Deliverer; between healing and a Healer; between redemption and a Redeemer. The first is a “thing,” the second is a Person. This may sound self-evident and elementary, but before God the difference is vast, and in actual experience the difference is incalculable. If we are not clear on the matter of His Son we will find the Christian life very difficult, if not impossible, to live. I have the “thing” because I have Him; having Him, I do not need to search for the “thing” anymore. What do you have? An experience? A word? A doctrine? A belief? Or a Man? This is the difference between a living Christianity and a dead religion.
Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

Minggu, 28 Juni 2015

Throw Away Your Filters

Over the course of your walk, you have learned to be cautious. You have been cautious of who and what you open your heart to. But my child, I want you to come to me without any of that caution. In my presence there are pleasures that last forevermore. In my presence there is joy that fully satisfies.
When you are with me, you can open your heart widely and don't have to hold back. So throw away all the different filters you applied in your walk because you tried to protect yourself. My child, I am your protector. I am your lover, and I am your savior. I am with you every day and every step of the road that you walk.
So don’t be afraid and don't filter my love, but open your heart so that it can hit you right at the center and set you free. Amen.

Right Investment of Time

“Now as [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’”
ACTS 24:25

When the time is short we must make the most of every opportunity and waste nothing. Ordinarily if we speak the Word to someone and they send us away, the best advice is to leave. Unfortunately, Paul was in prison and could not get away. Felix sent for him often but nothing ever changed. In this manner Paul witnessed to Felix for two years without any result whatsoever. Clearly this was a ruse of the enemy designed to frustrate the gifted apostle and sap his strength.
Paul the prisoner had no choice but to come when Felix called for him; we who are free ought to be careful lest we find ourselves spending all our time talking to a Felix when there is a Cornelius praying to hear us speak the very words that Felix takes for granted.
Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Chip Brogden

Joy is Your Strength

Joy is a juicy, ripe fruit of the spirit that you can consume anytime you want. Just like eating a ripe and luscious fruit in the natural, its sweetness and freshness can refresh you and give you strength.
So partake of that sweetness in the spirit that I have given you and walk in My joy! Give all of your difficulties, circumstances, worries and problems to Me, and walk in the knowledge that like a child, you can run and laugh in my presence. So kick up your heels and approach the mountain before you like a child that is going to do something fun.
With Me you can do all things and have fun in the process!

Doing Flows From Being

“Put on the new man which was created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
EPHESIANS 4:24

What is the Christian Life? It is leaving our ground altogether and coming onto the ground of Christ. It is deeper than a changed life – it is an exchanged life. Over time we can accomplish a change, but we can do nothing to exchange our life for His Life. This, from start to finish, is God’s work, and it is a work of grace.
What, after all, is Righteousness? What is true Holiness? Christ is not righteous because He does righteous things; He does righteous things because He is Righteousness. Christ is not holy because He does holy things; He does holy things because He is Holiness. His “doing” flows out of His “being” – and OUR “doing” flows out of His “being” as well.
Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

The Field of Treasure

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden
in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes
and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
MATTHEW 13:44

For too long we have contented ourselves with what God can do for us and what He can give us. We come to the Lord with a need in mind, and the next day we approach with another need, and the following day we return with yet another request. This pattern repeats itself continually. We return again and again to withdraw a little more from the heavenly bank.
Surely we should let our requests be made known unto God, and we must also ask, that we may receive. But think: if a man owns a field, does he not also possess the buried treasure in the field? Does it not stand to reason then, that if we receive HIM, we possess all He has? How shall He not, with His Son, freely give us all things?
Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

The Strong Tree

A tree that is firmly rooted in the soil will stand many generations to come. The winds may come, the fires may even blaze, but when that tree is established, the tree will even rise again. It’s leaves will come forth again and life will revive from it’s limbs. Indeed, it will have even greater life than before.
So it is with you, when you are rooted in me. A part from me, you cannot stand. Unless your foundation is built strong underneath the surface, the winds and fire of life that come, will be able to defeat you. So reach your roots deep into me and let me establish you. From your roots will come strength and power and joy and every good thing you need. Abide in Me, child and I too will be seen in you. Amen.

Dying to Live

“If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for My sake will save it.”
LUKE 9:23,24

Resurrection Life is that which has died, but now lives. It has the mark of the Cross upon it. It has passed through death once, and death can no more touch it. If we have not already passed through death then we are constantly fearful of dying, but the one who has already died and lives again has nothing more to fear from death. As we are decreased through the daily carrying of our cross, Christ in us is increased, and the strength of His Life is matured through our weakness.
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden

Stand in My Strength

My child, when you have done all you can, and still the storm rages around you, sometimes what is needed is for you to stand in My strength. Do not heed the screaming of the wind, nor the debris flying around you. For every storm, there is an eye, and that place is in My arms. I will be your strong tower, your shield and your strength.
Some battles I give you the wisdom and weapons to fight. And some battles are for you to hold fast to the promises I have given you, and to watch Me fight the battle! So know that when you stand firm in Me, you will be a light and inspiration for others to be able to do the same.

Your Jar of Oil

“Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
2 KINGS 4:2

Every disciple of the Lord Jesus is at a different level of growth and spiritual maturity. But may I say that no matter how long you have walked with the Lord – be it several years or only a day – you have at least one “jar of oil” in your house.
Now what you do with that one jar of oil makes the difference between a victorious life and a defeated life. The single jar of oil is not much in and of itself. It is not sufficient to meet the demands of your creditors, nor is it sufficient to sustain your spiritual life. It is only sufficient when it is poured forth. The one who “saves” his life will lose his life, but the one who “pours out” his life will really have it in abundance.
Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

Keep on Shooting

Even as an archer doesn't just give up shooting arrows after just a few tries of hitting the mark, so do I want you to persevere, my child. I have given you many goals to aim for and I have given you many promises.
Those promises are yes and amen, and my hand is indeed upon you. Don't just give up shooting for them at the first sign of failure. Keep on going and allow me to direct you. Allow me to give you wisdom and strength, says the Lord.
I am the one who gives you the promise. I am the one who shows you the goal. Don’t be discouraged if you are not there yet, but keep on moving forward, placing your trust and all that you are in me, and me alone.
I am the author and finisher of your faith. I have called you, will I not also do it? So don’t give up shooting those arrows to reach your goal. Don’t give up standing on the land I have given you. Don’t give up speaking against the wiles of the enemy. For the victory is indeed yours, says the Lord.

Fighting FROM Victory

“Thanks be to God, who gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

Those who embrace the Cross have inherited the victory of Christ over all the works of the devil. This is the spiritual principle. The practical expression of this principle is seen when I demonstrate this victory in the battles of everyday life. If what God says about us is true, then we are not fighting FOR victory, we are fighting FROM victory – and actually, we are not fighting at all; we are merely standing in a victory that was given to us in Christ: “Stand therefore” (Ephesians 6:14).
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden

THE BIBLE AND YOU

THE BIBLE AND YOU
“There is, in a word, nothing comfortable about the Bible -- until we manage to get so used to it that we make it comfortable for ourselves. But then we are perhaps too used to it and too at home in it. Let us not be too sure we know the Bible ... just because we have learned not to have problems with it. Have we perhaps learned ... not to really pay attention to it? Have we ceased to question the book and be questioned by it?”
~Thomas Merton, from his book Opening the Bible

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
“The book of Job is known even by those who have no respect for God and his Word as that which best symbolizes the struggle of pain. Yet few have taken to heart what Job really says. I remember debating an atheist in which he quoted from Job and said that the answers given to Job were insufficient. I surprised him by telling him that Job would agree with him.

“Then I asked him if he knew what Job's answer was to that insufficiency he was offered? The man was silent. Job finds his answer in stages. He refuses to let one diagnosis or a great one-liner provide the satisfactory explanation for his situation. He starts his journey toward finding his answer for suffering and pain from the assumption of God as the Creator and Designer to seeing God as the Revealer of Truth, to recognizing him as Redeemer and Savior, and finally to experiencing him as the Restorer and Comforter.

“How fascinating, for here the three aspects of the Trinity emerge -- God the Father as Creator, God the Son as Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit as Comforter. This triune God is a Being within whom there is a relationship. For Job, the overwhelming answer to his questions was not found in an argument. It was not found in a theological, philosophical, or scientific proposition. It was not even found in his relationships with his friends or his family, or in the truth or falsehood of their analyses of Job's problems. Job ultimately found the answer to his questions and his fear - to his pain and his grief -- in the voice of God and his divine encounter with him. The answer to his questions was a Person.”
~Ravi Zacharias, from his book Has Christianity Failed You?