The Nature of Being First

 Generally speaking there is dynamic of firstness to break new ground.

John the Baptist was different he stood uniquely out from all of his predecessors. He stood with so much power and wisdom but he served a purpose that would out pace his life.

John said...I AM the voice of the one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord.

This is my desire...to have such exactness about my place in this world to know that I am not the main event I am just the path layer.

A closer examination of that person in particular lets us know that there was frame work around his birth that lets me know there is something happening here.

The Role of Father and Mother had alot to do with John being who he was....and it began with there obedience.

I love how all of this just keeps coming back to simple obedience....not some mystical manifestation but a simple response to call made by God.

PRAYER

So Lord I bend my knee and i come with contrition and I ask what is your call.... I laydown my judgements of this moment. Forgive me for any of the sin that I have committed. The efoor t

James - The Manifesto

 James - The Guidebook of Practical Faith Applications

James 1

- Don't avoid the pressure life creates, it is on assignment from God to prove your faith in him concerning you situation(S).

- Use your faith when you talk to God, Remember what he has said and speak to him accordingly. ( It may change your prayer).

- Esteem the values of what it means to live rightly before God , above for living for yourself.

- Remember there is still something to gain in God, in this life and the next.

- Temptation comes from within, there is nothing special about what you are looking at or dealing with.

- Temptation is used as test to reveal our hearts disposition before God.

- Everything good that God has from you come from Him does not reflect the world in anyway.

- Lead with your ear. allow our actions to do the talking.

- Make actions to be consistent what his word has revealed...this is acting in faith.

 James 2

- Hold your faith untainted by the values of this world.

- Allow your faith to drive you to action.

- Faith is a process that produces an action (cause) ( belief > faith > works)

- Faith is can only be identified by the works it produces.

James 3

- One call teacher of the law receives a greater condemnation, the cost of knowledge plus inaction.

- The tongue a unruly beast if controlled and tamed you can bridle the body.

- The principle thing on truth being in you is that is should flow from your mouth and if it directs your path and mind can set the course to peace.

- Measure your conversation against the consistency from which you have received of the lord.

Living Under Lordship

 Introduction

We may not be under the law but that do not mean we are not under authority. Paul the one who made this statement later says

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:2

This is not to be understand that we free from one law to obey no laws...neither are we to assume that the law only goes into affect because of the prior but rather that the laws as we understand them are affirmation of a truth that we can partake in.

Speeding Law not equal to Law of Gravity....We abide by both but one dictates how action is performed another dictate how we should behave.

The LORD Jesus gave me a specific command this morning while I was repenting.

" Go back to James and extrapolate(my word) the tenants for living and business these will guide your actions." "The place you have arrived at in your frustration and lack is perfect and this is from where I wish you to live and speak. With only the understanding that only word you have is the I gave, the only peace is what I have given....this is the lack the emptiness I desire." " Now everything begins to change...as your transform and conform to my word I will change your appetite, you will think differently, you will see differently you will hear differently."

And he continues

Yea, you will speak and I will cause your spirit to give utterance of my word and of my truth. Yea , a word of fire will proceed forth from your mouth and I will allow the place of famine to fuel your progress. I will turn the nothing into abundance...You sacrifice of tears into laughter in victory. I will cause my spirit to come upon and through to bring about my word and my holy judgement. Yea, I have selected you in this season and for this time. If you look with your eyes instead of through them you will not see, but should you look through your eyes with my eyes you will see deliverance, healing and breakthrough... not only for you but for your childrens children.

To this Lord I said in the dark and speak the word of your truth. I will speak your word and do you will. I will set my feet on the path you have laid. I will use the faith you have granted me to live this life you have given. I declare and decree that this body, mind , spirit belongs to you. Oh that you would heal my hear and cleanse me as I go. I will not make this a precondition, I live to do your will.  

What is Love? Week 2 Script

 Review

We talked about the need to ensure that we as disciples seek out a functional definitions of every aspect of our lives...even our love. What is principally important is that as disciple we see to make our minds acquiesce to the truth of God's word rather than attempt to fit God into our own experience. When we do this we unleash the transformative power of God into being to make us to meet His standard.

" Don't lower the standard of His word to meet your expectations, Raise your level of discipline to meet His Standard."

Agenda

Today the agenda is to examine a few passage of scriptures to get very basic understanding of how the world love is being used and is defined in the scriptures. ( Two Scriptures Per Slide/ Demo the Interlinear)

Tool of Interlinear allow us to do a literal translation between the original word in the manuscript and the chosen word in the English translation. This helpful because it allows us to grasp more closely the context of the passage.

Discovery

The only word used in these selected passages of scripture is AGAPE. God's kind of love. We are COMMANDED in the scripture to give this kind of love on every level. If it were apart of our natural inclination to love in this manner then Jesus would not need to command it.

" It is NOT natural for us to LOVE for us in this manner."

What is natural is for us to love the way we want to....as disciple we then have decision to make. I dont care about the world because they dont have God's spirit and therefore His mandate to live like he said. 

Jesus in not so many word says that our INTENTIONAL EXPRESSION OF LOVE in the same way we received it in our salvation we are to OFFER to one another. At point this done the world will know(experience) that we are of Him.

The Move

Its time to repent. If this has landed on you the way it did for me its time to repent. The standard set forth by Jesus our Savior and Lord has not been met. 

If you are on the fence allow me to ask some questions.

Can you say have real love and connection with other people who share the faith you share without concern for denomination or creed?

Can you point to someone who has demonstrated this kind of love toward you outside of your family or spouse?

Has anyone said, I am astounded that you are able to love people like that?

If there is even a hesitation any of these questions then you have missed the mark. But thanks be to God that he is faithful and loving. Luckily the path way to redemption from this sin is found in the same cross that saved.

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Another translation says - In this love consists ( or is made up of). I encourage you give a holy attention to how it is that God loves YOU. Its personal look at how treats you , look at what his word declares about you .... Look at Him and as you look your heart will be touched and your mind will be changed.

Appeal

This is the message of the kingdom that if we turn him he will change us and use as a instrument of change in the world. Consider the light of the word today and take that first step and do what you see out of this text. I would that you share this and start up a dialogue with those closest to you and look to intentionally express this love that you have been given. Thank you for your time.

No New Commands

 This morning the Lord spake to me and said " I want you to do intermittent fasting this month I really want you to get in my face. I want to help establish something in your life so that you begin the work."

The cool thing is this is not new. I have been embarking on completing a fast for about year now. I have learned the value of fasting but I have not completed one before so by faith I am going to start with this basic form of fasting and prayer.

• The course of Joseph’s life was entirely redirected by God, and yet he reacted with grace and obedience. How difficult would it be for you to make massive life changes like Joseph? Why?
• I would argue it would be difficult but then again not. When man approaches his God moment where it before Him and the Lord he is usually aware of it. If i in his position I am pretty sure I would have followed the same path. T
• God entrusted the care of his Son Jesus to a man without much in the way of monetary resources. What does this show about God’s view of wealth? Of parenting?
• I never considered that as full thought. The provision that God gave for parent Jesus was needful as it fit in the the prophetic vision of Christ. But he didnt leave them with money but did pick them with skill as Joseph was a carpenter. I would assume that God places the highest value on what we can impart to our children rather than pay for what our children can have. The main difference between awareness and experience.
• Joseph was a man of faith. What have you learned from Joseph’s life that has strengthened your own faith?
• After short examination of Joseph I find myself in a very similar place. The energy to take what it is that has been placed before me and make it work. Recognize full that what I have is what I have been given and to ultimately trust God to do what need be done in my life.