Ps 86:11 NIV11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name
Wow it has been way too long since I updated my blog. It has already been a crazy, busy, and intense summer. I promise I will stay on top of it from here in.
God has been continuing to pour out his spirit on us as we are moving forward into all that this new faze of our ministry has for us. We have had Three outreach meetings in Johnson City, that though we have not seen a tangible change, have been a huge success! God has also been meetings us in a mighty way in our weekly prayer meetings where we have been crying out for or cities and preparing the way for our upcoming Camp Revolution. Wow, has it been awesome. The Lord has been leading us into a prophetic stream the likes of which I have yet to experience. It has been amazing. There have been many things revealed to us and I promise I will begin sharing them with you here over the next few weeks. For now, I we are in hyper work mode in preparation for Camp which is less than a month away! Where did the time go!! The young people have blessed me so much by embarking on a 30 day fast that will end the first night of Camp. When God first put that on my heart I never imagined I would get the response I did. I believe everyone of them has decided to lay something down as they seek the Lord for this 30 days. I get teary eyed every time I think about it. I know God is going to honor them and we are about to see something beyond what we can even imagine. Keep us in prayer. Amy and I are also heading to Cortland this Fri and Sat to minister at a youth explosion. I know it is going to be an awesome time! The scripture at the top is my prayer for today. In all that is going on, Lord, give me an undivided heart, or as the NKJV says "Unite my heart". I surrender my agenda and say "have your way".
Beyond Blessed
Pastor Josh
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Revival
John 6:26 - 27 (NKJV) 26Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him."
I am sure we have all heard about what God is doing in Lakeland Florida as well as all over the world by now. It is obvious that something is happening on the earth. But, every time that God begins to move in this way, there is always potential for the flesh to make it into something that it is not. In this passage, Jesus is addressing a crowd of people who have been looking for him because they are excited because they were excited about all the miracles they had just seen him perform. They were all there when Jesus had fed the five thousand, and had just seen Jesus appear on the other side of the river knowing that he hadn't been in the boat. They wanted to see more. They wanted to be blessed and fed again like they were a few days before. The problem is that they didn't perceive what Jesus was actually doing through all these miracles. They just knew that it was really cool and that they were fed. He then begins to tell them that miracles serve a purpose, but without knowing who he really is, they don't amount to anything more than a nice meal.
John 6:47 - 51 (NKJV) 47Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes £in Me has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
I love this! He says "your fathers ate the miraculous manna and guess what? They're dead!" Miracles always serve a purpose, but aside from Jesus there's no Life and no lasting fruit. I remember the renewal of 1995 when God met us in a mighty and powerful way. It was God and it had a specific purpose of healing and renewing for the body of Christ. But it was never suppose to be anything more than that. You see, what happened was people got so excited about the manifestations that they were all they became interested in. The Word, or "Jesus" got taken out of the mix, and, unfortunately, a lot of the fruit didn't last. Eventually there was no anointing at all and it became a flesh fest where people began seeing fairy dust and getting their teeth filled with Gold. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but God doesn't do miracles just to do miracles. There is always a purpose for them, and that purpose is always part of a grand plan. That plan is the Salvation of Gods creation. When the Word isn't the center and foundation of a revival it ceases to be God and there is no life.
I believe that there is no doubt that God is moving. It is an indication that people are hungry and God is answering those who cry out. We need to keep Jesus in the center and I believe we are about to see a great Harvest! Salvation should always follow a revival.Revival leads to Revolution! Let us keep ourselves open to what God is doing and be ready for him to do it in all of our towns and cities! Revival has begun and Revolution is hear!
Living in revival,
Pastor Josh
I am sure we have all heard about what God is doing in Lakeland Florida as well as all over the world by now. It is obvious that something is happening on the earth. But, every time that God begins to move in this way, there is always potential for the flesh to make it into something that it is not. In this passage, Jesus is addressing a crowd of people who have been looking for him because they are excited because they were excited about all the miracles they had just seen him perform. They were all there when Jesus had fed the five thousand, and had just seen Jesus appear on the other side of the river knowing that he hadn't been in the boat. They wanted to see more. They wanted to be blessed and fed again like they were a few days before. The problem is that they didn't perceive what Jesus was actually doing through all these miracles. They just knew that it was really cool and that they were fed. He then begins to tell them that miracles serve a purpose, but without knowing who he really is, they don't amount to anything more than a nice meal.
John 6:47 - 51 (NKJV) 47Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes £in Me has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
I love this! He says "your fathers ate the miraculous manna and guess what? They're dead!" Miracles always serve a purpose, but aside from Jesus there's no Life and no lasting fruit. I remember the renewal of 1995 when God met us in a mighty and powerful way. It was God and it had a specific purpose of healing and renewing for the body of Christ. But it was never suppose to be anything more than that. You see, what happened was people got so excited about the manifestations that they were all they became interested in. The Word, or "Jesus" got taken out of the mix, and, unfortunately, a lot of the fruit didn't last. Eventually there was no anointing at all and it became a flesh fest where people began seeing fairy dust and getting their teeth filled with Gold. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but God doesn't do miracles just to do miracles. There is always a purpose for them, and that purpose is always part of a grand plan. That plan is the Salvation of Gods creation. When the Word isn't the center and foundation of a revival it ceases to be God and there is no life.
I believe that there is no doubt that God is moving. It is an indication that people are hungry and God is answering those who cry out. We need to keep Jesus in the center and I believe we are about to see a great Harvest! Salvation should always follow a revival.Revival leads to Revolution! Let us keep ourselves open to what God is doing and be ready for him to do it in all of our towns and cities! Revival has begun and Revolution is hear!
Living in revival,
Pastor Josh
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Earnest Expectation
Romans 8:19 (NKJV) 19For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
How many of you remember the atmosphere in the world last year in the weeks leading up to the release, or "revealing" of the miraculous wonderful Iphone? I do. There was an intense feeling of anticipation and expectation in the air. You could actually feel it. Even people who had no interest in new technology, people who didn't even know what things like PDA, or mp3 or WIFI even meant, new that something very important was about to happen. My mother who has never been the slightest bit interested in a phone that does anything but call another phone, saw the teaser add for the Iphone and was suddenly struck with strong desire to have one of these beautiful pieces of wonder, not even having any idea what it was suppose to do. You see, the reason for this world wide expectation was due to a brilliant and ingenious add campaign. Apple began about a year earlier leaking little bits of information about something new that was going to be unleashed on the earth that was going to change the world as we knew it. Little by little they would release more information, but never enough to do more than make you wonder. They never even released a picture of it until a few days before it was released. This created such an atmosphere of anticipation like nothing before. People lost sleep just waiting for that great and wonderful day to arrive when all there hopes and dreams would finally be revealed, that once they had one of these Iphones they would finally be complete. Well we all know now that it is just a phone. Sure it's cool, but it is just a phone! But this phone caused such a stir in the world.
I believe that the same thing has been happening in the realm of the spirit. You can feel a change in the atmosphere all around you. The world is waiting for something, and they don't even know what it is. You see we also have a great campaigner working on our behalf and his name is the Holy Spirit. God is not a fool! He never reveals his whole plan to the world. He just gives enough information to create an atmosphere of anticipation, and to get the enemy nervous. When Apple was leaking little bits about the Iphone, it was doing more than just getting us exited. It was also making every other phone provider and manufacturer very very nervous. So nervous that they all began to scramble to make something, anything that would compare to the iphone. But the problem was they didn't have any idea what it was going to be! We often put Satan in the same league as God. We think he knows what’s going on. He isn't and he doesn't! Our God is a master tactician and never reveals his plan until it is too late for Satan to do anything but give up. I believe in the time leading up to Moses, and then Jesus that God had been leaking little bits of information into the earth about something that was about to happen. Something is coming. Something is coming. Satan got nervous and tried to take out a whole generation both times. I think the same thing is going on now. Satan has known for some time that something is coming out of this generation that is going to mess him up and he has been trying, I believe, to take them out. How? Through abortion, through destroying the family structure, by stealing their hope and their expectation for any possible good for their lives that has any eternal value at all. He has stolen their Identities, their sense of purpose, their peace, and in doing so is trying to steal their destinies. But we all no that God never loses control of history! His plan for this generation will be fulfilled! There is a remnant of young believers who are rising up with a passion in their hearts and the cry coming forth from their lips declaring, "Here we are, we will be seen, and we will not remain silent! Father it is time for us to be revealed!" That is their heart. Not, "let my dreams and ambitions be revealed" but "let your sons and daughters be revealed"! God is moving as we cry out to him. Get ready for things to change!
Romans 8:20 - 22 (NKJV) 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Living in the now,
Pastor Josh
How many of you remember the atmosphere in the world last year in the weeks leading up to the release, or "revealing" of the miraculous wonderful Iphone? I do. There was an intense feeling of anticipation and expectation in the air. You could actually feel it. Even people who had no interest in new technology, people who didn't even know what things like PDA, or mp3 or WIFI even meant, new that something very important was about to happen. My mother who has never been the slightest bit interested in a phone that does anything but call another phone, saw the teaser add for the Iphone and was suddenly struck with strong desire to have one of these beautiful pieces of wonder, not even having any idea what it was suppose to do. You see, the reason for this world wide expectation was due to a brilliant and ingenious add campaign. Apple began about a year earlier leaking little bits of information about something new that was going to be unleashed on the earth that was going to change the world as we knew it. Little by little they would release more information, but never enough to do more than make you wonder. They never even released a picture of it until a few days before it was released. This created such an atmosphere of anticipation like nothing before. People lost sleep just waiting for that great and wonderful day to arrive when all there hopes and dreams would finally be revealed, that once they had one of these Iphones they would finally be complete. Well we all know now that it is just a phone. Sure it's cool, but it is just a phone! But this phone caused such a stir in the world.
I believe that the same thing has been happening in the realm of the spirit. You can feel a change in the atmosphere all around you. The world is waiting for something, and they don't even know what it is. You see we also have a great campaigner working on our behalf and his name is the Holy Spirit. God is not a fool! He never reveals his whole plan to the world. He just gives enough information to create an atmosphere of anticipation, and to get the enemy nervous. When Apple was leaking little bits about the Iphone, it was doing more than just getting us exited. It was also making every other phone provider and manufacturer very very nervous. So nervous that they all began to scramble to make something, anything that would compare to the iphone. But the problem was they didn't have any idea what it was going to be! We often put Satan in the same league as God. We think he knows what’s going on. He isn't and he doesn't! Our God is a master tactician and never reveals his plan until it is too late for Satan to do anything but give up. I believe in the time leading up to Moses, and then Jesus that God had been leaking little bits of information into the earth about something that was about to happen. Something is coming. Something is coming. Satan got nervous and tried to take out a whole generation both times. I think the same thing is going on now. Satan has known for some time that something is coming out of this generation that is going to mess him up and he has been trying, I believe, to take them out. How? Through abortion, through destroying the family structure, by stealing their hope and their expectation for any possible good for their lives that has any eternal value at all. He has stolen their Identities, their sense of purpose, their peace, and in doing so is trying to steal their destinies. But we all no that God never loses control of history! His plan for this generation will be fulfilled! There is a remnant of young believers who are rising up with a passion in their hearts and the cry coming forth from their lips declaring, "Here we are, we will be seen, and we will not remain silent! Father it is time for us to be revealed!" That is their heart. Not, "let my dreams and ambitions be revealed" but "let your sons and daughters be revealed"! God is moving as we cry out to him. Get ready for things to change!
Romans 8:20 - 22 (NKJV) 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Living in the now,
Pastor Josh
Thursday, May 22, 2008
In our Day
Habakkuk 3:2
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
This simple prayer has become the hearts cry of Amy and I. Habakkuk actually asked and expected something from God. We sometimes get caught up in the "lingo" of our faith and pray to God with such a religious attitude. We say things like "Oh God just do your will" and "I know all things will work out for the good". Of coarse that's true and that should be the foundation of our prayer life, but this prayer is one of desperation, perseverance, and expectation. Habakkuk saw a great injustice in his day, and wanted to know what God was going to do about it.
Chapter 1:2-4
2How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save? 3Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
This looks like a lack of faith, but it is not. Sometime God wants to see his people get mad! Habakkuk was not mad at God, he was angry about the injustice. He was tired of just sitting and watching so he went to the only one who could do anything about it. When I feel like I am being ripped off unjustly somehow by someone that I may do business with, I call the company and complain until I get someone with authority that can do something about the problem. I don't want some generic answer read to me in broken English by some unconcerned Indian employee getting paid minimum wage to answer phones. Most people will just settle for that and say "well, I guess that's the just the way it is" "It will all work out in the end". No! The moment I pick up that phone I have a determination to get the Justice I deserve and am not going to hang up until I get someone who can make that happen. God is waiting for us to approach him this way. I am tired of watching people die and just sitting by casting a quick generic prayer towards the heavens hoping maybe something will happen someday. It is time to get aggressive! Get violent! Jesus said when you want something "knock, and then knock some more", and "ask, and then keep asking". I am ready to see with my own two little eyes what I know God is able to do. I have become passionate in my prayer life. God restore your great works in my day!! I know who you are and what you can do. We need to see it now!
This is how God answered Habakkuk:
1:5
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Amen!
With violent determination,
Pastor Josh
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
This simple prayer has become the hearts cry of Amy and I. Habakkuk actually asked and expected something from God. We sometimes get caught up in the "lingo" of our faith and pray to God with such a religious attitude. We say things like "Oh God just do your will" and "I know all things will work out for the good". Of coarse that's true and that should be the foundation of our prayer life, but this prayer is one of desperation, perseverance, and expectation. Habakkuk saw a great injustice in his day, and wanted to know what God was going to do about it.
Chapter 1:2-4
2How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save? 3Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
This looks like a lack of faith, but it is not. Sometime God wants to see his people get mad! Habakkuk was not mad at God, he was angry about the injustice. He was tired of just sitting and watching so he went to the only one who could do anything about it. When I feel like I am being ripped off unjustly somehow by someone that I may do business with, I call the company and complain until I get someone with authority that can do something about the problem. I don't want some generic answer read to me in broken English by some unconcerned Indian employee getting paid minimum wage to answer phones. Most people will just settle for that and say "well, I guess that's the just the way it is" "It will all work out in the end". No! The moment I pick up that phone I have a determination to get the Justice I deserve and am not going to hang up until I get someone who can make that happen. God is waiting for us to approach him this way. I am tired of watching people die and just sitting by casting a quick generic prayer towards the heavens hoping maybe something will happen someday. It is time to get aggressive! Get violent! Jesus said when you want something "knock, and then knock some more", and "ask, and then keep asking". I am ready to see with my own two little eyes what I know God is able to do. I have become passionate in my prayer life. God restore your great works in my day!! I know who you are and what you can do. We need to see it now!
This is how God answered Habakkuk:
1:5
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Amen!
With violent determination,
Pastor Josh
Monday, May 19, 2008
The angry Lion has been unleashed!!
God is so faithful!! Well, Amy and I just returned from Virginia where one of our closest friends Jason Peaks and his church Open Door of Suffolk held there second annual Worship conference. Wow was it awesome! I'll be honest, it was not something that I originally had much desire to attend considering the distance, timing (we are sooooo busy right now) and the fact that we come from one of the greatest "praise and worship" churches in the world were I am honored to be submitted to one of the most anointed Pastors and worship leaders of all time, but God began dealing with me about taking our place in this particular circle of ministry. God has been doing an awesome work in this generation, my generation, and I don't want to miss anything. We are the ones that are going to carry the fire into the next age, and we need one another to do that. Well, like I said it was awesome. God moved in a mighty way, pouring out his spirit bringing clarity to what he has already been speaking to all of us individually. He confirmed many things to Amy and I and I believe anointed us afresh and anew for this new season we have entered into. Pastor Mark Holcomb, one of my hero's for sometime now, spoke, and let me tell you, this man is operating in a level of anointing he has never walked in before! I watched in awe as God used him in a mighty and powerful way. As well as Pastor Mark, another new hero of mine, Pastor Robbie Hilton, spoke the word of God with such power and authority that I was blown away. It was also the first time I had the pleasure of seeing my little bro Jason preach, and he didn't disappoint! The whole experience was a much needed time of personal Revival.
It didn't end there though!! This Sunday was a continuation of Gods power and anointing that I don't think is going to end anytime soon. My pastor preached a prophetic message the likes of which I haven't heard him preach in a long time. I was fighting back tears the whole time. As he delivered the word I felt something so heavy happening in the Spirit that I was overwhelmed. As it ended I couldn't shake the heaviness that I began to rest on me, and continued in prayer as we then began the all day Sunday Revolution youth day. As the rest of the leaders led the young people in a series of fun events, I withdrew my self to the office to pray, and try to figure out what God was doing in me. Before the service I felt led to lead the pre service prayer that we do before every service, not knowing what to expect, but with a strong feeling that God was about to mess up our agenda! He did! The lives of everyone in attendance will never be the same. God poured out his spirit and grace on all of us, speaking prophetically to almost everyone individually, and challenging all of us to ask for what we wanted to see him do, and that he would honor his word and give us what we asked for. I Got what I asked for!! It's not over. Greater things are yet to come!!! This is just the beginning.
My father-inlaw had a vision on Sunday morning. He said he saw a fierce dog that was chained up, and was consumed with anger and a passion to be released, and was pulling with all his might on that chain. But as he looked closer, the dog became a lion. It was ready for the kill, but was unable to do what it intended to do as long as it was chained. Sunday, the angry lion was unleashed. Hear the sound of the lion of Judah, roaring again!!
Psalms 18:7 (NKJV) 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
In earnest expectation,
Pastor Josh
It didn't end there though!! This Sunday was a continuation of Gods power and anointing that I don't think is going to end anytime soon. My pastor preached a prophetic message the likes of which I haven't heard him preach in a long time. I was fighting back tears the whole time. As he delivered the word I felt something so heavy happening in the Spirit that I was overwhelmed. As it ended I couldn't shake the heaviness that I began to rest on me, and continued in prayer as we then began the all day Sunday Revolution youth day. As the rest of the leaders led the young people in a series of fun events, I withdrew my self to the office to pray, and try to figure out what God was doing in me. Before the service I felt led to lead the pre service prayer that we do before every service, not knowing what to expect, but with a strong feeling that God was about to mess up our agenda! He did! The lives of everyone in attendance will never be the same. God poured out his spirit and grace on all of us, speaking prophetically to almost everyone individually, and challenging all of us to ask for what we wanted to see him do, and that he would honor his word and give us what we asked for. I Got what I asked for!! It's not over. Greater things are yet to come!!! This is just the beginning.
My father-inlaw had a vision on Sunday morning. He said he saw a fierce dog that was chained up, and was consumed with anger and a passion to be released, and was pulling with all his might on that chain. But as he looked closer, the dog became a lion. It was ready for the kill, but was unable to do what it intended to do as long as it was chained. Sunday, the angry lion was unleashed. Hear the sound of the lion of Judah, roaring again!!
Psalms 18:7 (NKJV) 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
In earnest expectation,
Pastor Josh
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Greater Things Are Yet To Come!
Wow! The first Binghamton meeting is done and man was God faithful. It was a great time and exactly what God intended the first meeting to be. The attendance was not great but I know that the Holy Spirit showed up. Thank God he doesn't have a minimum attendance requirement! Lexie, Scott and the worship team where operating at a new level of their anointing. God spoke to us prophetically as I took the pulpit about following Jesus "Now" and counting the cost of being a Revolutionary. No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit to be a disciple. It was not the word I had prepared, but I knew that was going to happen, and it was awesome. The spirit of God was so thick and powerful, and the anointing was there to receive the word of the Lord. We all left the meeting different than when we arrived. I know this is just the beginning of something we have only imagined in this city. Greater things are yet to come, and greater things have yet to be done in this city! Keep us in prayer as we continue moving forward into all that this next season holds for us. It is going to be a busy summer, and one of Gods Glory and Power, and we are in a state of high expectation and anticipation. Praise God!!
Blessed in all things,
Pastor Josh
Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Blessed in all things,
Pastor Josh
Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Friday, May 9, 2008
Tolerance?
2 Thess 3:13-16
13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Sometimes we are too tolerant of trouble makers in the body. This is not the only place were we are told to not keep company with brothers and sisters in the Lord who are in rebellion and are causing dissension and discord. We need to avoid fellowship with them “that they may be ashamed”. It is not a bad thing to make someone feel ashamed if they are in sin. It is only then that they will be compelled to repent and be restored. We get too scared to push people away, but in truth, it would be better if we did, because then they would be in a position to be restored.
We need to remember that they are not enemies, but brothers or sisters in danger. It is our duty to admonish, or warn them, of the danger they are in. If we remain quite in the name of tolerance, or "understanding" we sell them out for our comfort and potentially offer them over to a death sentence, and at the same time voluntarily allow a deadly poison to dwell within our camp.
2John 10-11
10If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
We are not doing anyone any favors by trying to be sympathetic. We are just encouraging there sin and ignorance and actually becoming a partner in there sin.
2Cor 7:9-10
9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death
If they are never allowed to feel shame, how can they repent. If they don't repent, how can they be restored.
It is never easy to be "hard" on people, but it is necessary. I believe that there has been a period of grace for those believers who are living on the edge, with one foot in the church, and one in the world, to give us a season to prepare us for what Gods wants to do. But that period is coming to an end. The spirit of God is moving forward, and those not up to the challenge will be crushed between the "flood of dissipation" and the River of God, leaving them crippled, incapacitated, and even dead. This ministry is going forward!!
Keep us in prayer, for tomorrow night begins the Binghamton Outreach. We are in great anticipation of what God is going to do.
Ever in motion,
Pastor Josh
13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Sometimes we are too tolerant of trouble makers in the body. This is not the only place were we are told to not keep company with brothers and sisters in the Lord who are in rebellion and are causing dissension and discord. We need to avoid fellowship with them “that they may be ashamed”. It is not a bad thing to make someone feel ashamed if they are in sin. It is only then that they will be compelled to repent and be restored. We get too scared to push people away, but in truth, it would be better if we did, because then they would be in a position to be restored.
We need to remember that they are not enemies, but brothers or sisters in danger. It is our duty to admonish, or warn them, of the danger they are in. If we remain quite in the name of tolerance, or "understanding" we sell them out for our comfort and potentially offer them over to a death sentence, and at the same time voluntarily allow a deadly poison to dwell within our camp.
2John 10-11
10If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
We are not doing anyone any favors by trying to be sympathetic. We are just encouraging there sin and ignorance and actually becoming a partner in there sin.
2Cor 7:9-10
9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death
If they are never allowed to feel shame, how can they repent. If they don't repent, how can they be restored.
It is never easy to be "hard" on people, but it is necessary. I believe that there has been a period of grace for those believers who are living on the edge, with one foot in the church, and one in the world, to give us a season to prepare us for what Gods wants to do. But that period is coming to an end. The spirit of God is moving forward, and those not up to the challenge will be crushed between the "flood of dissipation" and the River of God, leaving them crippled, incapacitated, and even dead. This ministry is going forward!!
Keep us in prayer, for tomorrow night begins the Binghamton Outreach. We are in great anticipation of what God is going to do.
Ever in motion,
Pastor Josh
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