His Presence Is Enough.

Well the last few weeks have been quite a ride. For the past few days I haven't had any cash, I tried to find a bank to get my last 50 pounds (75ish dollars) that i can use but it was like God literally blocked my way. Every time i tried i failed, whether it was missing a train and the bank closing to the countless times a bank or ATM wouldn't take my American credit card. Finally I said God you just aren't going to let me have any money, that's just fine, I give up. I was a little annoyed. finally on Friday, right after my train stalled for 15 min to just miss the bank being opened, I went to church and worshiped. Side-note: This past week I have been greatly inspired by the quote from Heidi Bakers book, Compelled by Love. The context is that the government in Mozambique just took away all her buildings and supplies and she is left with 300+ orphans and no food to feed them or place to shelter them...So she decided to worship. Here is the quote: "I called together [some of my team] and we worshiped until we couldn't see our circumstances."  Wow. So I have had great opportunity to practices this as circumstances continue to get tougher and tougher as provision dwindles. So that Friday at church, made a choice, and i worshiped even though i didn't feel like it and even though my mind was busy with how i was going to pay for this and that, I worshiped until I couldn't see my circumstance, it took a while but at the end my circumstances melted away, and I was left with just Him. It was then I realized that all I needed was his presence. His presence was enough. On my way home the people giving me a ride pulled into an ATM and he said that the whole ride home God had been telling him to give me 50 pounds!! Amazing. Once I got it through my head, again, that his presence was enough, then I gave me the 50! Once I got his character back into my vision and his promises in my ears, I got the money. Because the best thing for me, for all of us, is the vision of Jesus. To keep our minds stayed on Christ. To be heavenly minded, setting our minds on things above, not things below. He is everything.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Is.26:3

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:4-9

Loving God: The Trinity

With some of the basic doctrine of the Trinity set in place in the previous blog (because it is important to know God rightly), we can now move on to love. This is where everything in Bible, in doctrine, in the character of God, comes back to. Love. We can have all the right doctrine, and believe it, but if we don't have Love, we have nothing. God is love and if we don't have a relationship with him we have nothing. I think it is best summed up in a song called Believe by Brock Human. He starts by stating what he believes, the Truth's of the Bible, but then he goes on to say, "I believe he loves me, and that's all I need to know." This may sound strange but the reality is that knowledge of God via study, theology, comes out of a relationship with the Trinity. If you really have revelation of the love of God you will want to know him! And it's the revelation of his love for us that is the motivation for everything.

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19. If we start with doctrine what can and often happens is that we fall in love with our doctrinal view or our dogmatic views. We believe in and love and fight to the death over the facts about Jesus that we believe to be true. The problem is it often stops there and relationship with the God-man, Christ Jesus, is missed. We know all about him, but we don't know him experientially, relationally, emotionally. The Bible turns into a fact book instead of a written expression of God's Love.

The Christian walk cannot be based on emotions, feelings, situations, or circumstance. The Bible is the Truth, Heaven is our reality. But goodness knows that if you are in a relationship of any kind whether friendship, or family, or especially marital, there are are emotions that come with. And not only emotions, all relationships take 2-way communication. This includes our relationship with the Lord.

God is love, thus Jesus (being God) is Love. Jesus is the Cornerstone, the starting point. Jesus, the incarnation of Love, is the foundation. Love is the foundation. If I don't have a relationship with God, I don't have Love. And "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 13:1-3, emphasis mine)

With all that said, I have been learning about the Trinity and my relation to and with, all three Persons. Often when I pray I will imagine myself on a grassy mountain over looking a beautiful mountainous landscape with forests and waterfalls, talking with Jesus. This is prayer, conversing with God. Try imagining yourself in heavenly places, which is actually where really are (see Eph. 2:6), talking with Jesus, it is wonderful! I have learned so much about God during these times spent with Jesus. But as of late when I go to "our mountain" it is not just Jesus that I encounter, but Father and Holy Spirit as well! These are obviously manifestations of the Trinity that look like the human people to help me relate to them a litter easier in conversation. This doesn't have to be what they actually physically look like, because it is clear that both male and female are made in God's image (Gen. 1:26), and God is Spirit (John 4:24), and to top it all off, no one has ever seen the Father (John 1:18). This is the same idea that the book, The Shack, talks about (A must read).

Sidenote: The same applies with these heavenly places that I am seeing, they are aids to show me heavenly realities (principles). Some believe that these 3rd heaven experiences (2 Cor. 12:2) are what heaven literally looks like, others will argue the opposite, for me it doesn't really matter, because when i get to heaven, i don't think the actual landscape of heaven will consume my attention as much as the Man from Heaven will.

Anyway, so I started meeting up with the Trinity on the mountain and at first I wondered why the Father and the Spirit had suddenly started showing up too. God knew what I was thinking and said that they had all been here the whole time, I just hadn't had revelation of that until now. So during my prayer times I start seeing myself on the mountain with the Trinity and we talk sometimes, other times we just enjoy each others company, (one time we even just started to throw the Frisbee a bit :) ).  

Sidenote: I know I am probably causing a few of you to be stretched as you read this stuff but all I ask is that you don't throw it out, but just take it to God and ask him about it's validity.

The fellowship with the God head that I have started to experience has been amazing! The only thing I can liken it to is Proverbs 8:30-31, (Jesus "Wisdom" speaking) "I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his (the Father's) delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man." The sheer delight that the Father has for the Son and the joy that the Son takes in his Father, is the same delight Jesus take in us! and we can take the same joy in Jesus as he does in his Father! The Trinity is a family. A family who loves each other so much, and who constantly are glorifying the other Persons of the God-Head. And here is what I took all the previous to say to you:

We are invited into the family and fellowship of the Trinity, through our union with Jesus!

If you are a Christian, you have an amazing family who love you in the Trinity! This is good news! In our union of course we don't obtain the divinity of the Holy One of Israel, but we do get to have perfect fellowship with them at all times! I will close with this verse that basically sums up everything I have been trying to say, and God always says it better anyway :)


"And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." (Eph. 2: 17-22)

Disclaimer:
As for the what I like to call "dreaming with God" or imagining yourself in heavenly places (i didn't use "visualization" because of it being tainted by the occult use.) the scriptures that come to mind are many but to name a few: Rom.8:5-7; Eph. 4:20-24, Col. 3:1-2 there are many many more if you want them. But you get the general idea. When I think about Jesus, or heaven or birds or anything, for me, maybe not for you, a picture almost always will come to mind. This is our imagination, putting a picture to the subject we are thinking about. I believe that since our spirit is currently in heavenly places, our spirit is seeing heavenly realities and since we also have the Spirit of Jesus in us, who also has seen the depths of the Father's heart and the heavens, it is not to far fetched that we might at times get pictures of heavenly realities as we focus on things above and things of the Spirit. Let it be clear that I do not promote or agree with the worship or deification of these pictures, but I do promote the worship of the One True Triune God who is communicating with me through them, just as he communications through nature or music. With all this said, I still want to make clear that no matter what we see, feel, hear, or experience, none of it is authoritative. Only the Word is. It is the final authority on whether our experiences are of God or not, no matter how wonderful or God-like they seem. All things must be checked through, and submitted to, the Scriptures.

This song based on Song of Songs 2 might help give you a visual of all this:

Dance With Me by Jesus Culture

Knowing God: The Trinity

As of late God has been revealing to me how much i can't grasp the sum of who he is. Every time I try to get my head around the Trinity, God shows me that I won't be able to, and that that is what is so amazing about who he is! There are so many passages of Scripture that give us glimpse into the Trinity and how God functions within the God-head. Here are just a few:

The Trinity:
Is completely unified. 
"Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness" (Gen. 1:26)

Are constantly glorifying each other:
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me." (Jn 15:26)


Loves one another and wants us to join in:
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." (Jn 15:9-10)


Is fun and full of joy and delights in one another and in us:
"...when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. " (Prov. 8:29-31)


Is distinct in 3 persons: Holy Spirit, Jesus, and Father:
"When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”" (Lk. 3:21-22)

Is One God:
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deut. 6:4)


 There is so so much more. But here's where's we might say, yeah i have an understanding of the workings and persons of the Trinity. Just when we think that we understand God's oneness: Deut 6:4, and his three-ness and the respective various roles of each: Father- Abba; Jesus - Son, Savior; Spirit - Counselor (This list not exhaustive)

It is then that God directs us to Isaiah 9:6 which reads:
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. "


WHAT!? This is a verse about Jesus, the Son of God, and yet it calls Jesus, Wonderful Counselor (isn't that the spirit?), and Everlasting Father (isn't that the Father?) Wait, is Jesus the Spirit? is Jesus the Father? or is Jesus the Son? Are they all just rolled up into one? are they all separate?

God's answer to all those questions: YES! (with a bit of a sly smile, i would like to think :) )

Whenever we limit him or put God in a box we end up believing wrong things about him. Here are two examples:

• The belief the God is One God with three different modes, i.e. sometimes God is the Father, sometimes the Son, and then other times he manifests as the Spirit ,but that they don't all exist at once. Luke 3:21-22 helps refute that. (Modelism)

• A further point of clarification is that God is not one person, the Father, with Jesus as a creation and the Holy Spirit as a force (Jehovah's Witnesses).*

• Neither is He one person who took three consecutive forms, i.e., the Father, became the Son, who became the Holy Spirit.  Nor is God the divine nature of the Son (where Jesus had a human nature perceived as the Son and a divine nature perceived as the Father (Oneness theology).* 

• Nor is the Trinity an office held by three separate Gods (Mormonism).*

The word "person" is used to describe the three members of the Godhead because the word "person" is appropriate.  A person is self aware, can speak, love, hate, say "you," "yours," "me," "mine," etc. Each of the three persons in the Trinity demonstrate these qualities.*

God wants to make himself known, and has gone to great lengths for us to "yada" him (Hebrew meaning: to know experientially) i.e. the cross. But please don't ever make the prideful mistake that you understand him or have him or even an aspect of who he is, figured out.

I shall end with an expert from the Book of Job. Job, who, while he didn't claim to understand God as whole, did think he had some aspects of God figured out. this is God's reply (Read all of Job but esp. 39-42 for context)

"The LORD said to Job: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Then Job answered the LORD: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”"

He wants to make himself known. But he wants you to want to know him and to seek him out! Go meet with him right now and ask him to reveal himself to you even more!

Please give a listen to:
I Want To Know You by Jesus Culture

* Taken from http://carm.org/trinity - For more info on doctrine of the Trinity check this out!

UK Update # 3 - Update From Frankfurt!

And a fun bonus clip of my favorite place in the UK: the English countryside

 

To see full annotations and notes, view videos on YouTube page.

UK Update # 2

 

For full annotations and notes view these from the YouTube page.

The Father's Best

While here in London my heart has ached for home, and I have felt very alone. I miss my family and friends. But it is here in this place, the place of the wilderness, where Jesus teaches us to lean. Song of Songs 8:5 puts it perfectly: "Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?" He is removing everything that i have been leaning on, only to show that He is sufficient.

It is in this place where stuff we know about God in our head is tested, and its this testing that will move the head knowledge the 18 inches into our hearts, and solidify it. I have known for a while that Jesus has the best for me but lived my life in such a way that showed that I didn't believe it. I have often tried to gather via my own strength, what i thought would be best for me whether it be relationships, plans, dreams, etc... God has asked me put all those on the alter if I really believed that he had the best. I was clearly unwilling to put ALL on the alter, I thought just a few things here and there would be good enough, so God in his mercy put me on the alter and set me ablaze. My dreams, plans, etc...were all burned up, and I began to be refined. It hurts so much, but here is the firs fruits of it my friends: Jesus has brought me to a place where I actually believe that he has the best! That his will is not only the best for him, but it is the best for me too!!  

This isn't to say we can't or shouldn't have dreams hopes and plans, even those can often be God given. We just need to remember to hold them loosely, believing that if he does change them, then it really is for the best.

He really wants to bless us and take us on a wild adventure with him, and this is the proof: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32). He won't force us to come along. He lets us chose and we can chose our wants, desires, plans, and he will love us all the way through, but we will be missing out on so much, and it will be a lot more work when we realize that we are using our own strength to get to places in life instead of being blown by the Wind of God. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) We also come to find that when we go where we think is best, or do what we think is best, we wind up disappointed because it didn't fill that gap or satisfy us the way the will of God always does. We look for freedom, only to find that it's only the will of God that we are truly free. 

 

With that said, I have come to find that it is easier said than done. But God knows our hearts and even if we don't have strength to give up our dreams and ambitions, plans, he in his mercy will set things on the alter if our spirits are willing, despite our flesh being so weak. The fire of his mercy and kindness can hurt but it really is for our good. The best that he has for us doesn't always equal easy, comfortable, or fun, but it is all for our best.

Let us always remember that no matter the shaking around us, God's character never is shaken.

UK Update # 1

Sorry its taken so long, I wanted to get the videos edited and with spotty internet here and there it took a lot longer than I thought. The second video audio got messed up but if you turn it up loud you might be able to make out me saying that I made it but was now lost and trying to find my friends house :) But i found it eventually :) I miss you all!!! Enjoy!

Seeing Ourselves with the Father's Eyes

"He does not deal with us according to our sins,nor repay us according to our iniquities." Ps. 103:10

Over the last month Jesus has been daily reminding me of my righteousness (right standing) before God. My righteousness is not from me but I am clothed in the righteousness of another. Just as from the begining, sin could only be coverd by the life of another. When Adam and Eve sinned they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves that would eventually wither away, just like our good works or anything that we use to try to cover over our sins. But God came and saw fit to cover them in the skin of an animal. That animal had to die so they would be coverd, covered in the life of another. This is the Lord’s doing it is marvelous in our eyes.

Even though my righteousness is not from me, I often live like it is and worst of all I often approach and interact with God like it is. For example, the other morning I woke up and this lustful thought popped into my head, it was really annoying and it filled me with guilt all morning. Not guilt as in doubting that it was covered by the blood, but more so feeling bad about letting God down and really wanting to love him so well, but failing at it so often. Later that morning I was driving to go have coffee with a friend and I was praying that God would give me the words to say but in the middle of asking for that, I stopped because I felt that since I had "let God down", I probably shouldn't bother him with a request. Where as on a day where I feel like I am doing better, I have more confidence to approach God and make my requests known to him.

This morning though, was differnet. God spoke the same words to me as he did the other mornings but I finally "got it". He told me that not only did he take the punishment for my sins and keeps no record of wrongs, but that he also treats me as if I had never sinned! So now when I go to approach the Lord I can go with not only the confidence I have on a "good day" of not sinning, but I can go with the confidence of someone who has never sinned!! God does not punish me for my sins but he treats me as if I had never committed one. He really sees me as pure and holy. This is my identity.

Jesus give us yours eyes!

The root of the issue is unbelief in the Word of God. The enemy is whispering lies in our ear all day and when we give in, like I did, and think that God sees us as anything less than perfect, then what has happened is this:

We have put our faith in the words of Satan and have unbelief in the Word of God. 

Sounds really intense when we put it that way, but neverthless, this is the reality of it. Faith in the words of Satan and unbelief in the Word of God equals bondage. So to get free we just do the opposite. Reject the lies of the enemy repent for unbelief, and put our faith in what God says about us!

"Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Heb. 10:18-23)

No matter what you have done, let us run into the open arms of our Father, who has a ring and new robe waiting for us.



YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS SONG:
Dusty Road by Michael Ketterer

Week 5: All is for Your Glory

This week conviction fell heavy on me as the Lord exposed the hidden things in my heart by his Holy Spirit. The Lord showed me that there was a little hidden part of my heart that wanted just a little bit of glory, just a little bit of credit, to have my name in just one history book, etc... Ministry can so easily suck you in to thinking you are entitled to have a little bit of credit (after all you are working so hard for the Kingdom, right?). The fact of the matter is that the only thing a human is entitled to is an eternity in hell. That is the only thing we deserve. Thus everything else is a gift. We realized that pretty much every Christian has this desire to steal some of the glory. That's way we promote people, pastors, ministries, churches, etc... We look to people and to God.


After the conviction fell we started dreaming about what it would look like if we went about ministry without wanting our name somewhere. We wouldn't promote ourselves or our ministries, we would pass through a town, bring revival, and then leave without people knowing our last name! We would go to great lengths to be untraceable! So that the person who could get credit was Jesus! Of course I don't know how to actually do this logistically, but come on people! Dream with me! Dream of a movement of people who are all preaching the gospel, all saving the lost, all moving in power, all reviving the church, all disciplining, etc... What if it wasn't just a few "elite" people or ministries but everyone who called themselves a Christian was a doing all this. What if we did away with stages, and there were many that preached in many different locations on Sunday. What if everyone brought something to contribute (1 Cor.14) What if everyone actually read their Bible regularly? (Crazy, huh?) What if everyone had a prayer life? What if we looked to Jesus instead of pastors or ministers? What if we all heard from God for ourselves instead of electing a  "Moses" to talk to God on our behalf?

Let me just tell you, this IS where the church is headed. Jesus is here, Jesus is revival. Where the presence of God dwells, idols fall on their face. God will share his glory with NO ONE. "I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols." (Is. 42:8)

There is a movement that is starting to swell and rise like a tsunami wave and it is going to build and build until an army emerges (Joel 2),  but in this army there is no one or two leaders, Jesus is the only leader and there are too many people following Jesus' commands (obeying the Word), doing too many amazing things for God that it cannot be recorded and years down the road when people look back on our generation they wont be able to point to any one person, but all they could say is, "We don't know how it started or who did what, all we know is that God moved on the earth in a way that has never been seen before, and anytime we tried to get a name of a person or ministry we only got one name, Jesus, and these nameless faceless ministers of the gospel were bringing hundreds of millions into the Kingdom of the Living God."

Is anyone else excited to lay down their desire for a name, for fame, glory and go unrecognized and uncredited in exchange for the Holy One of Israel receiving his due reward? May the Lamb receive the reward of his suffering!

Let us go out with out wise words or cleverly crafted sermons that are created to impress people and show people our knowledge of the Bible or our vocabulary in hopes of getting just a little bit of recognition. But lets instead, with simplicity and clarity, preach the foolishness of nothing but Christ and him crucified!

All is For your Glory - Cory Asbury
The Reward - Jonathan David Helser
Jesus, All For Jesus - Robin Mark

Week 4: The Wonderful Cross

My friends. In the past week, Jesus has gripped me once again with the weightiness of the cross and the gravity of his grace and mercy. As revival historian Ray Hughes spoke last week the Spirit fell on our class and there was mass weeping and repenting as we all got revelation of how much we are so distracted by everything else in life and all too often forget the simplicity and severity of the sacrifice of our God hanging on a tree.

A a friend of mine would often say in his sermons, "The cross levels the playing field. It shows that we are all the wretched that God had to die in order that we be saved. But it also shows that we are all that loved, because God did die for us." It is said of Evan Roberts, known for his role in the Welsh revival of 1904, that one day while at a training school for ministry, he considered himself backsliden when he looked upon a cross that was hanging on the wall and didn't weep. We all might react in different ways but the point is that the reality of what God has done for us should stir our hearts.

The cross is the climax of all history. Everything in the Old Testament points to it, the gospels give its context and details, and everything from Acts on points back to it. My friends, there are untold depths of revelation that cross carries just waiting for kings to seek them out. (Prov. 25:2) Let us all take sometime to remember this great act of love, take it off the shelf, and put it back onto the center stage of our lives once again.
Let this be a daily meditation: "O the wonderful cross."

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross all who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine that were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all

The Kings Way - Jason Upton
Lead Me to the Cross - Hillsong

Week 3: Freedom in Christ

The first nine days here at YWAM Kona were spent getting free of a lot of things that have hindered us for most of our lives if not all. The root of a lot of our bondage comes  from unbelief. We simply don't believe that God's Word is true. Now I, like most of you, when asked would always tell people that God's Word is true, but the problem is our lives don't reflect it, and if we really believed it, our actions would testify of our belief.

"Even though we know all the promises of Scripture are true, it is easy to lose focus and become weighed down with cares, defeat, past hurts, hopelessness, and other areas of sin that keep us in bondage. These hindrances steal our intimacy with Christ and the joy of our salvation. Put simply, getting free, is about becoming more like Jesus and reflecting his love and power to everyone around us." *

"Freedom is not just about changing our behavior, it is about letting God change or very being! The goal is not to learn new information that we can store away, but the goal is transformation" *

Four basic areas:

• Repent - of believing the lie of Satan instead of the Truth of God
• Receive - Know/believe that you have been forgiven and move forward
• Rebuke - the enemy and his past hold over your life
• Replace - the spirit of ___ with the Truth of who God is and who He created you to be.  i.e. "I am___"

The first step is that you have to want to be set free. Some people have been in bondage so long that they are afraid to live life without it. Then you need to identify the sin and bondage that you want to be set free of, here are just a few: Shame, rejection, unforgiveness, anger, fear, passivity, body image, spirit of death (suicidal thoughts, self hatred, etc..) Then repent of believing the lies that the enemy has been speaking to you, and call sin sin. Then rebuke the enemy in Jesus name and finally ask God how he sees you via his Word and prayer (and if available, prophesy). Here is where unbelief is killing us and where I have been experiencing real freedom: Finally we believe what God says about us in that area and receive his identity for us and actually walk in the faith that this is who we are.This does not remove temptation from our lives or the enemy telling us lies, but what it does is in those moments, we are able to say to the enemy, NO! That is not who I am, I am______!

I hope this makes sense. If not or if you would like to learn more on getting free from the bonds that you were never meant to carry, then let me know!

If you want to hear the exact teachings we have heard on this in full check out the Circuit Riders podcast and listen to "Freedom to revival", "the unoffendable heart", and "Faith first, feelings second" by Brian Brennt

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/circuit-riders/id449476756



"[It is God] who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we trust that he will still deliver us" 2 Cor. 1:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"  2 Cor. 5:17

* Taken from:
"Knowing Christ intimately. Experiencing Life Abundantly." by Brian and Christy Brennt

Break Every Chain - United Pursuit

Week 2: School of the Circuit Riders - YWAM Kona

The more you know God, the more you will love him.
The more you love him, the more you will be able to love people.
Gods keeps no record of wrongs, if you are in Christ he has erased all record of your sins. They are gone. Live like it. Then go and do likewise and erase the record of wrongs done to you and view others through that clean slate, just as you are viewed through it by the Father.


There are about 300 people in our school, burning with revival fires in their heart, who are sold out on making Jesus famous in all the world. They are people who devote themselves to prayer and the Word of God. They are ones who love outrageously, who are full of faith and empty of cynicism and critical spirits, who are are passionate about the Word of God, and who walk in the power of the Spirit as they preach the gospel and love the least of these. Ones who speak truth, but so long as its coupled with love and ones who show love by speaking truth. We are about to see one of the biggest moves of God in history in the next 10 years. God is raising up a generation who are after one thing. Jesus. Knowing Jesus. at all costs. and then going out in simple obedience with a faith that obeys every word he says, without question, in both the big and little things of life. The wave of revival is coming and Jesus wants you to be a part of it. Are you willing to devote your whole life to this man Jesus? Are you willing to make your first priority to know him? and your second to making him known? This is what you were born for. To know him. God is going to use every vessel that is willing to go after him with wreckless abandon, to change the world in our generation and to complete the work of the great commission. I am serious. Wycliffe Bible translators predict that every tribe tongue and nation will have the Bible in their language by 2025. Matt. 24:14 says, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will  come." I don't know when Jesus is coming back but I know that time is short.

Simple obedience is the door. Intimacy with God is the key.

You guys...wow. For me personally, I really am having trouble articulating in words what is happening in me here. The best way that I can describe it is Jesus is doing a total cleansing. In the last few days I found that I was so full of unbelief, so full of a criticism, judgementalism, pride, and fear. But Jesus has done a major house cleaning in my heart and I have NEVER been so free in all my life! Basically, in the culture that all of us grow up in is so full of unbelief, criticism, etc and we are mostly blind to it... but because we are saturated in it, when we, or anyone, step out in faith we think, "Wow, that person has a lot of faith and are fearless" When the reality is that person is has just had a moment of or an act of faith when that is how every second of everyday is supposed to be lived. Does this make sense? I hope so, I am trying to articulate something that i really don't have words for, but let me put it in really simple terms: THERE IS SO MUCH MORE FREEDOM, MORE FAITH, MORE LOVE, FOR EVERYONE WHO IS IN CHRIST! WE HAVE YET TO SEE A SINGLE PERSON LIVE AN AVERAGE CHRISTIAN LIFE!

This is the best I got but if you want to hear the teachings that are rocking everything in our lives here at YWAM Kona then check out "The Circuit Riders" Podcast on iTunes for free! It is so worth the time listening. I can't recommend it enough.

Week 1: San Diego

Go West, Young Man!

Today I head out west to San Diego to stop over for a few days to see some friends on my way to Kona, Hawaii where I shall be doing a YWAM seminar called Circuit Riders. God is so faithful! 2 weeks ago I had no money, as of a few days ago I have it all! Thousands poured in from all over and made it possible, just in time, right on time. I am really excited about this trip. It is the first step in my future move to London on Sept. 15. I really feel that God is going to take me deeper into his heart and reveal more of his heart, love, and power. Pray for me as I come to mind. I want to know him! While on this trip I shall try to post at least on video blog a week to update you guys! May the Lord bless you today and give you your daily bread!

Soverignty and Freedom

Lately God has been growing my faith in his goodness and kindness toward me. If you had asked me a few weeks ago if God had the best plan for my life and that he works all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose, I would have said absolutely. I believed it, in my head,and I knew that's what God was like, but when hard things happen it really exposes your faith in his Word. Do you really trust that God has the best for you? Do you really believe that he works everything for your good if you love him? As God has been growing my faith in his Word and his kindness I have found his sovereignty so freeing! Even when things that I don't want to have happen happen, I can still delight in the fact that this will work out for my good! I can just sit back and rest in his arms and say I will go wherever, but if you don't want me there, then I don't want to be there. To know that he is in control and that he is crazy about me has given me such joy and peace. Rest in his kindness my friends. Trust in his plan. He is sovereign and he is good.

Finally, I Surrender - Misty Edwards

Life Update/ Opportunity

The Vision: “To mobilize prayer and mission through discipleship”

Dear Saint,

I pray that Jesus would richly bless each of you in deeper fellowship with him and greater revelation of his love for you. Give your lives to knowing this man Jesus. Not just about him. Know HIM! (Phil. 3:7-9) He loves you so much.

Ever since my first mission trip to South Africa the Lord has been developing in me a heart for the nations, and a call to go to the ends of the earth. Last August during a time of prayer, I felt the Lord call me to take the next year to prepare (via devoting myself to prayer, Scripture, and fellowship (Acts 2:42)) and then in  September of 2011 to move to London, England to start long term missions in Europe. Initially, when I heard this I thought, “Finally! I am off to do what I was born to do!” But the Lord quickly rebuked me and told me that he was not sending me to London to “do missions” but that he was sending me there so that I would know him more. I was instantly convicted, realizing that I had been making missions my focus, when really missions and ministry is just an overflow of us getting to know God ourselves. So I dove into the Word and prayer and Jesus taught me so much during these times of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. During one of these times I prayed that the Lord would prepare me for London because I had no idea how to prepare myself. The next day I got an email from a friend who told me that I should consider doing a seminar with YWAM this summer called School of the Circuit Rider. (www.fireandfragrance.com/locations/school-of-the-circuit-riders/) The school is a 7 week intensive focused on evangelism and simple church planting in unreached people groups and closed countries. The Lord gave me the go-ahead and so from July 7- Aug. 27  I will be participating in this seminar. After that I will come back to Holland, MI until Sept. 15 which is the day I will be leaving for London.

            I don’t know what will happen in Europe but I have many dreams and visions. The vision that God has given me for my life is this: “To mobilize prayer and mission through discipleship”. My heart burns for the unreached people all around the world but 97% of them are located in an area called the 10-40 Window. This is the geographic area 10 degrees N. latitude to 40 degrees N latitude from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Europe is the backyard of this window and I feel a call to mobilize missions and prayer, via discipleship, into the 10-40 Window. I am teaming up with an organization called 24/7 Prayer (www.24-7prayer.com) Part of what 24/7 Prayer does is it partners with teams/communities of people that goes into really hard and dark areas, to literally move into the neighborhood and from there to work outward starting with just loving the neighbors building relationships, and creating opportunities for discipleship, worship, study of the Word, and prayer. It’s more or less bringing the church to people instead of the people to a church.

London for me is thus a starting point, training ground, and maybe a home base, from where I will, Lord willing, launch myself and others into places throughout the world where we would team up with missionaries already based there and just help join in both long and short term. And also pioneer missions to people and places that most missionaries or NGO’s would never go b/c of the risk (both physically and emotionally), but to places where God is already up to something,  and where we just get to go join him and find out what he is doing to display his love to a people. This won’t be random or reckless, but born out of obedience to the Word and with an ear to heaven in prayer. As we go, I pray that our hearts cry will echo that of those throughout the ages who cried out, “So that the Lamb may receive the reward of his suffering!”

       I feel lead to give you an opportunity to pray about partnering with me in prayer or if the Lord leads, financially. Quite honestly I really don’t want you to do anything more or less than what you feel the Lord calling you to do, so please pray about it and then obey. If  Jesus is leading you to commit to partnering with me through prayer then please send me an email at christopher.maybury@gmail.com and you will be added to my prayer team and you will receive a weekly prayer update via email. If Jesus is leading you to give financially, information is at the bottom.

        Thank you so much for being in my life and for praying about your involvement in this part of the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus.

Your Brother,

Chris Maybury

 Checks should be made out to:
“Engedi Church” with “Chris Maybury - Missions” in the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to:
Engedi Church
710 Chicago Dr.
Suite 300
Holland, MI 49423-3074

Preaching the Gospel

A friend of mine said this in a sermon he was giving and it really stuck with me and I wanted to share it with you.

"You have all heard people say, 'Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words.' (A quote by St. Francis of Assisi) But this is like saying, 'Feed the hungry, and when necessary, use food.' Most of the time people use this St. Francis quote as a cop-out because of the fear that they have of actually talking about Jesus to people."

St. Francis coined this saying as a reaction to people during a time when peoples lives weren't matching what they were preaching. If we are really going after God he will change us and our lives will reflect his more and more, but we are to use our words. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. You can tell what people are putting into themselves by what they talk about. If you are saturating yourself in Jesus, what do you think you will be talking about? It will come out in everything, and not forced or because you have to. It will be so natural, you won't be able to help it! Let's devoted ourselves to knowing this man Jesus, and as we do both our lives and our speech will increasingly reflect the King.


The Reward - Jonathan David Helser

Discipleship

God has called us ALL to be missional. That means everyone who calls Jesus Christ Lord. Whether it is overseas or across the street, we are all called. But what does being missional mean? For most it can just be hip Christian lingo, but at its core I believe it means that we are ALL called to go and make disciples. (Matt. 28:18-20)

One important thing to notice is that Jesus didn't say go and make believers. Jesus said go and make disciples. The two are very different. The Scriptures are clear that even the demons believe, and shudder! (James 2:18)  This may sound harsh, but the reality is that there are many people who believe in Jesus that are on the road to hell.

Matt. 7:20-24 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"  These people were not only people who believed he existed but that they even wanted to do, and did, the things he did  i.e. prophesy, cast out demons, do mighty works. But even so they missed the point. The goal isn't doing something FOR Christ, the goal IS Christ! (Phil. 3:14)

To know Jesus and to glorify his name is the point of life. (Phil. 3:7-11)

It is out of a knowledge of him that you won't be able to help but make him known. Mission and ministry is just an overflow to those around you of YOU getting to know Jesus. Do you know him? The word 'to know' in Hebrew is 'yada'. It can mean: to know experientially. One place it is found in Gen. 4:1 "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived..."

Physical intimacy = physical 'fruit' (kids).
Spiritual intimacy = spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-24, and more disciples)

We must know this man Jesus! We must know our God! (not fully yet, of course) But how? The process of getting to know Christ IS discipleship...becoming a disciple of Jesus. You cannot lead others where you have not first gone yourself and thus you must be a disciple of Jesus in order to go and make disciples. Making disciples is teaching and equipping others on how to get to know Jesus for themselves. Some examples are: teaching them the importance of and how to read the Bible, pray (including how to hear/discern the voice of God), and the need for fellowship. Acts 2:41-42 is a perfect example of this. In verse 41, 3000 people come to believe in Jesus, but it doesn't stop there! In verse 42, we see that the first thing they did was start to devoted themselves to fellowship/breaking of bread, prayer, and the apostles teaching (the Bible: taught from old testament and wrote the new testament). Keep reading the rest of chapter 2 to see what happens as you become a disciple of Jesus.

This is not a light or easy thing and is easier said than done.
But the cost of discipleship is high.
It will cost you everything.

Why do this? Why be willing to give it all up? What do we get in return, one might ask?

WE GET CHRIST!

He is worth everything, but you aren't able to see much of his worth just as a believer, you must become a disciple and draw near to him and seek him out. As you do, He will be found by you and he will draw near to you. The heart of the Father longs for relationship with his creation, you don't have to work hard for his acceptance or nearness. In Jesus, you have it! Christ was left and forsaken by the Father so you wouldn't ever have to be.


If you are convicted and think you might not be a disciple, praise God for his merciful Spirit that convicts us and his kindness that leads us to repentance! Step #1 is to start doing what the disciples did and devote yourself daily to prayer scripture and fellowship. (There is no certain amount of time or any rules or regulations at all, JUST GO AFTER HIM!)  And please know that it is really ok if you don't understand the Bible, or know how to pray or have friends who are themselves disciples. Pray that God would open your eyes to his Word, and that he would teach you how to pray (Matt. 6 is a great place to start), and seek out people who shine Jesus and start hanging with them often.  It is not too late! Start now! Our God is SO merciful and he loves you! The cross is his love on display.

If you are a disciple of Jesus but aren't disciplining anyone then start praying that the Lord would give you people to pour into what the Lord has poured into you through your time of following and getting to know more and more our savior and friend, Jesus.

"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 am with you always, to the end of the age.""

Songs of Discipleship:
Take My Life - Chris Tomlin
Oh Lord, You're Beautiful - Jesus Culture

Worship

I recently was given the opportunity to temporarily lead worship at a church while they are in between worship leaders. I have never done this before but when I prayed about it, I felt that the Lord told me to do it. It has been one week and I have learned so much, but in that realized, that I have so much to learn.

I once heard it put this way: "Worship is breathing out what God has breathed in." It is simply a response to the love and the life he has lavished on us. Everything we give to God is something that came from God in the first place.

It starts with worship in the garden as Adam's life is an act of worship as he enjoys the created world with his creator. And it ends in worship as we look ahead to the new heavens and new earth we find that once we see him in his fulless we will be able to declare that he is worthy of our worship. Worship is what happens in heaven, and at the center of all the worship is a throne, and on that throne sits the Only Worthy Three in One. “You are worthy to take the scroll  and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Rev. 5:9)

When we see him in his fullness all we will be able to do is worship. But until then, the more clearly we see him, through spending time with him, in the Word, prayer, and fellowship, the more we will not be able to help but worship. But it starts with catching a glimpse of him. Tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.


The bottom line is that worship is all about God. Too many times I have left a worship service and told people that I thought it was good, or bad, or whatever, but quite frankly it just doesn't matter how it was for me because it is not for me to begin with! The question we need to be asking ourselves is, "Was God pleased?"
Hebrews 11:6 says that, "...without faith it is impossible to please God..." The Lord isn't looking for a certain sound or style, he is looking hearts worshiping in spirit and truth, operating out of faith and not out of dead works, or the traditions of man. He doesn't want people worshiping just because this is what they always do on Sunday, or any day for that matter. He wants a people who can't help but worship, a people who desire to sing their guts out, or to dance with all their might, or to paint the scriptures into vivid color using the words of poems or acrylic paint. He is looking at your heart...what is he seeing?

My prayer is that you would not feel any condemnation of guilt, because for those in Christ, there simply is none. But rather that you would be moved to worship, with a heart full of faith responding to the beauty and the goodness of the Living God and his finished work on the cross. Don't get me wrong, I think it is wonderful when that we get often experience the presence of God and that we can be changed more into the likenss of Jesus, but it just is a nice bonus, not the point.

We aren't meant to muster up worship by are own strength but rather we are compelled to as we see Jesus more clearly, experience the love of the Bridegoom King, and sing back the breathe given to us by the One who first breathed life into the dust, sung his song into the clay.

Song that have drawn worship out of me:
Intimacy - Jonathan David Helser
Abba - Jonathan David Helser
Savior - Hillsong United
God, I Look to You - Bethel Live

Simple Devotion

 Acts 2:42 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

In light of the last blog, God has been putting it on my heart to really start to devote myself to scripture and prayer on a daily basis. (Fellowship and eating with people are my default which i love to do so it doesn't require as much discipline.) I personally have felt led to shoot for 2 hours of prayer and 2 hours of the Word a day. I don't make it the full time everyday, but that is what i am going for. When I don't make it, I repent and go for it the next day without getting hung up in legalism, guilt, or condemnation.

From time to time you might here these amazing stories of God moving in crazy ways through people around the world, but let me tell you these are just a highlight reel. If you look at people who God is doing amazing things through, behind the amazing things is simple devotion.

To be honest, as I have been in prayer, I don't feel much or get much and often feel unproductive. And when i read the Word I don't remember too much of what I have read and don't get tons of revelation. But what I have been finding is that, in the past 2 months of doing this, I have never grown more in my life!! It is not about feelings or us getting something out of it. It just isn't about us! It is just that he is worthy to be sought after. And yet simply being in the Word and in prayer changes you. It is incredible! I am finding I have more faith, more boldness, more passion, more knowledge, and more authority when I speak, than ever before! But it has all come from committing to getting in the Word and prayer everyday. This is not for the spiritually elite, there is no such thing. This is for everyone who is in Christ.

There is no certain amount of time, no formula. It is simply that the more you are in the Word and prayer, the more you are changed into the likeness of Jesus. Right now, I urge you ask God how much time he would have you commit a day for this and if there is "no time in your day" then what would he have you delete from you schedule? This is easier said than done. But Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, and quite simply, he is worthy to be sought after with all of our heart, mind soul, and strength. His love is what drives us, seeing his work on the cross, the price he paid to be with us. And when we encounter his love in the word and prayer, it makes it worth it all. So let's submit to Christ and surrender our lives and schedules to him and go after him like never before!

Two songs of surrender:
Finally, I Surrender - Misty Edwards
I Surrender - Kim Walker

The Glory of God

"It's all for his glory!" was really cliche to my most of my life, but something is happening recently that has left me starting to take a serious look at this phrase and its implications.

On my January 17, my 25th birthday, I woke up and found myself praying this: "God I thank you for 25 years but quite frankly if you won't be incredibly glorified, and your kingdom radically advanced through the rest of my life, I would rather you just take me now." As I thought about what I just prayed in my hazy, just-woken-up state, it hit me that if this life is all for his glory...then it just isn't about me, my wants or desires. And it's not that God says I can't have desires, but rather as I am changed by being in his presence his desires become my desires.

I do believe that life is all for his glory, all over the Bible God is quoted saying, "I will do ____ for the sake of my name." Thus we need to look at the implications of this. Two of the many areas that I have noticed the implications in are in worship and relationships.

Worship: I used to go into worship to get something out of it, whether feeling, revelation, or just a good time with friends. The implication of it being all for his glory...it is not about me getting something or whether i feel like worshiping. The truth is he is worthy of my worship and his worth doesn't change based on my feeling like worshiping or not. So I just have decided to sing my heart out and worship with everything i have, especially when i don't feel like it. And it has been amazing!

Relationships: Specifically, guy-girl dating relationships. In the past I found that my motivation for wanting to get into a dating relationship has been either: "I like her", "She likes me", "I'm lonely", "We really like each other", "She is perfect", etc... In all of those scenarios, it is all about me.  In the Bible God clearly lays out his reason for people to be married. It is to put on display, to the world, Christ's love for the church. It just isn't about us. Now if people have gotten in relationships for selfish reasons I do believe God can and does work despite this in very cool ways through them. But what if we were to be willing to wait on God to lead us into these relationships? I am not saying you have to have a radical dream or vision as confirmation but rather just the peace of know without a doubt that you are in obedience in marrying a person. The example of Christ is that he woos into marriage. Dating today (in general) really has just turned into practicing for divorce. When the feelings are gone or times get tough, they break up. But if people were getting into relationships to display God's love for the church to the world, there would be no more divorce in the church, because God doesn't break covenant no matter how awful his church gets.

Since that day I have been waking up and praying, "God you woke me up today, so you must receive your glory through my life and your kingdom must be advanced through me today." And everyday I have prayed that, God has given me and opportunity to advance his kingdom some how, whether in a big or little way, through praying for someone, sharing a testimony, healing a sick person, going out of my to show God's love to someone who people don't give the time of day, etc... This has really helped me humble myself in a lot of situations by just simply remembering that it just isn't about me. To Him be the glory forever.

My friend wrote a great note about relationships if you are interested here.
Also this song says it all so beautifully: Jesus, Lover of My Soul

...Because the LORD Has Anointed Me to Proclaim Good News...

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Is. 61:1-3)

A friend of mine really challenged and encouraged me the other day by walking up to a stranger and asked her if she had ever heard the gospel before, told her briefly, and told her that God loved her so much. When I asked why he did that (because, unfortunately, this is not normal), he told me that he had committed to telling at least one person about the good news of Jesus and praying for at least one sick person a week. He pulled out Isaiah 61 and said that he looked at it like it is a résumé.
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___Insert your name here if you are in Christ___
777 Golden St. - 777.777.7777 - believer@emial.com

Education:
1) The Word of God
2) The Spirit of God

Certification:
Received the Holy Spirit from the Father through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Skills & Specialties (Anointing):

1) Preaching the good news of Jesus to the poor
2) Binding up the broken hearted
3) Proclaiming freedom for captives
4) Releasing prisoners from darkness
5) Proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor
6) Comforting all who mourn
7) Providing for those who grieve in Zion
8) Bestowing on those in Zion a crown of beauty, oil of joy, and garments of praise

References:
Isaiah 61
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This really convicted me and I am feeling a tug to start acting on the things i have been anointed to do. I've been given the Spirit and anointing but haven't done much with it. I want to be able to say to someone who is on bondage, "You're in luck! I happen to specialize in setting the captives free.", etc...

If we don't start living into, and living out, our vocation, who will?

In actually starting to do this, if you don't share the gospel often or pray for the sick regularly, it can be very intimidating. I tried to work up the courage to share the gospel with two guys at a coffee shop yesterday and I ended up chickening out. But that is not going to stop me for at least attempting to make this apart of my life. My friend who witnessed to the stranger the other day admitted that he was really nervous and wasn't really good at sharing the gospel yet and he sometimes sees the sick healed, sometimes not, but that doesn't stop him. I can promise you that as he keeps up this commitment of praying for at least 1 sick person and sharing the good news with at least 1 person a week, he will get better and better and more effective each time. God has promised, that if we are faithful with a little, he will give us more. (Matt. 25:21, Lk. 16:10)

If you are in Christ you have been given the ministry of reconciliation. As ambassadors for Christ, we are charged to implore the world to be reconciled to God, just as through Christ, we were reconciled. (2 Cor. 5:18-21)

I challenge myself, and you who are reading this, to make some sort of commitment or effort in this direction. Whether you commit sharing with and/or praying for 1 person a day or week or month or anything at all...Church! Just do something!

Please know that this does not take the place of YOU knowing the person of Jesus Christ. 
Beware, you can do a lot for Jesus but still never know him. (Matt. 7:21-23)

Intimacy with Jesus drives us out to be his hands and feet.
Love God, and you will love people.

You have to hear this song. Every Captive Free by Matt Gilman