Category: Jesus Speaks

Fellowship is Essential

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

       “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mathew 18: 19-20.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

       The word ‘Amen,’ so commonly spoken at the end of most prayers, essentially means ‘I agree.’ Like so many Christian practices, prayer is meant to be exercised in community, as well as well as alone. No one can have a complete relationship with God until they share Him with others. When two or more gather together to celebrate Christ, his Spirit is made manifest in their hearts; those who are weak become strong and those who are empty are made full. An isolated Christian is a Christian who is weak and vulnerable to attack. To avoid fellowship with believers is to avoid fellowship with Christ himself.
       Some time ago, I regularly answered the prayer lines at my local church. After gaining a lot of experience, I was able to make some profound observations. Those who were not involved in a church fellowship, or a small group bible study, suffered great difficulties. Many isolators were addicted to drugs or struggling with some other terrible sin; nearly every detached person was stuck in a continual state of crisis. On the contrary, those who expressed a spirit of joy were actively involved in service work; they usually attended a small group fellowship; and they maintained close friendships with other believers.
       Are you involved in fellowship today? Do you have close Christian friends that you regularly pray with? Is your experience with Christ exercised in community, or in isolation? If you are not plugged into the body of Christ, go down to your church and ask them about weekly fellowships you might attend. They usually have lists, and you can always find one that fits your schedule. Make friends with other believers and pray with them regularly; become a part of God’s family and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Without fellowship, you will never know the fullness of God’s power in your life.
       “Lord heavenly Father, we come before You and ask that You help us to be members of Your body. We desire to share You with others, and to be in fellowship with our eternal brothers and sisters. May we draw near to one another as we all draw near to You. May Your Spirit flow freely between us. If we have isolated, give us opportunities to fellowship with others and to grow strong. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

A True Servant

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

        But Jesus called them to himself and said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10: 42 – 45.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

        As children we are often taught that dominance is better than submission, and that a higher social status means a better life. Many therefore seek to acquire positions of great power and authority. Yet Christ’s teachings are in direct opposition to such worldly principles. Those who follow Jesus must deny what they’ve been taught, in order to embrace the doctrines of genuine faith and divine humility. Only by abandoning the desire for greatness, can we completely and lovingly serve others.

        For years, young men from across the country have flocked to my home church; seeking to practice pastoral ministry. Many hopefuls were initially referred to a pastor named Romain; who employed a special technique designed to separate the qualified from the unqualified. As the prospects approached, he would hand them a broom and instruct them to sweep a portion of the church. Although many were obedient, some, feeling insulted, became upset. One common response sounded something like this; “I came here to be a pastor, and to teach the bible; not to sweep floors.” Pastor Romain knew then that they lacked a servant’s heart; they had not come to serve in humility, but rather, to acquire power and authority.

        Those who follow the Son of God must abandon the desire for worldly greatness in order to pursue lowliness and humility. By seeking to serve others rather than to be served, we become the men and women God has called us to be. We can serve in our church, at home, in the community, and at work. We can serve our families, coworkers, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers. Only through sacrifice and selflessness can we truly be molded in to the image of our great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

        “Lord Heavenly Father, inspire us to pursue and embrace humility. May we strive to serve others in sincerity and singleness of heart. Provide us with opportunities to place the needs of others ahead of our own; that in so doing, we might be living examples of Your great mercy and everlasting affection. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.

Demonic Possession

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

        “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, he goes through dry places seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when he arrives, he finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then he goes and takes seven other spirits, more wicked than himself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11: 24-26.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

        Evil spirits, although often considered to be a myth, are very real. They dwell within the hearts of those who deny God. When an individual receives Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, all demonic apparitions are expelled; the child of God is set free; the chaos and devastation of evil living subsides; the believer ceases to engage in self-destructive behaviors; their hearts are purified, and their minds are quieted. The dispossessed demons however, are not satisfied unless they are causing misery and pain. So, they often return to their previous hosts, stronger and more determined than ever. They tirelessly seek to turn the faithful away from God; sadly, some fall victim to their schemes and reject the Holy Spirit. Without the Lord’s protection, the blasphemer is again invaded by demons and their lives plummet back into destruction (a destruction far greater than any they had previously known.)
        I once met a man who had been a pastor for many years. After he had received the Holy Spirit, his life began to change in wonderful ways. He experienced an immense peace and began to preach the gospel with great enthusiasm. He served the Lord for some time before suddenly renouncing the faith. Soon after his denial of Christ, he joyfully began engaging in strange sexual deviancies with multiple partners; he also started smoking and boasted of his severe daily dependence upon alcohol. Additionally, as an atheist, he actively attempted to turn others away from the faith. I would occasionally see him out in the community from time to time; and he appeared to be physically and mentally deteriorating (a condition I could only attribute to demonic possession.) The words of Christ are true, in that this man’s situation is likely worse today than it would have been if he had never received the Lord.
        Demons are very real; they roam the earth, trying to possess those who are weak. Individuals who receive the Holy Spirit are no longer capable of being possessed. Unfortunately, some believers do eventually reject the Holy Spirit; in turn they are possessed and their lives plummet into even greater chaos. Maintaining our close relationship with God through prayer, bible reading, fellowship, and obedience, is the best defense against evil spirits [If you have never received the Spirit of God and you would like too, please contact me and I can lead you in a prayer of acceptance and faith.]
        “Lord Heavenly Father, give us more of Your Holy Spirit. Deliver us from the evil one and protect us from demonic attacks. Remain in us and continue to work through us; give us the strength to endure; may we never turn away from You; may we always continue in Your ways; and may we never return to the bondage of sin and death. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you.