What is the Normal Christian Life?

We are entering a season which requires deep fellowship and trust in Jesus.

He would have us move well beyond mere sin consciousness to ever-increasing sanctification by His Spirit. We must understand our identities as sons and daughters of Yahweh like Stephen and others did in Acts. 

May all who see this post and video (re)claim their original created value and identity. There is still SO MUCH MORE to know and experience.

CLICK for Jesus' Perspective on the Normal Christian Life

This is easily the most powerful teaching session I have come across on the Gospel and its power to transform even the hardest sinner. Allow God to enlarge and open your mind to the immeasurable power and glory of Jesus and His Gospel. Oh, that we would gain His perspective and get possessed by His Spirit of love!

Jesus' Teaching on Discipleship - A RESTORATION

Jesus has been challenging and asking me to reassess many things over the past year. This process has been really hard. It's extremely difficult to have all your paradigms shattered 2 - 3 times in a matter of 9 months. My experiences during this time have felt like one super-extended wrestling match with God. I have learned more in the last 12 months than the rest of my life combined. It's been exhausting, troubling but incredibly rewarding.

Did you know that every historical revival or awakening has taken place when the 3 - 4 following requirements were present?

1. Return to sola Scriptura
2. Re-reading of Scriptures in modern vernacular (as if reading again for the 1st time)
3. Rediscovery of Jesus (returning to our 1st Love)
4. Disciples regain their true identity and get possessed by the Spirit of Christ 

Here are a few extractions from the Gospels to ponder in regards to what made Jesus' model of discipleship starkly different; not to mention, at odds with the average church program today...

• Jesus modeled and trained His disciples to proclaim and share the Good News in the open air. You can count on two hands how many people were reached or delivered in temples/synagogues during Jesus ministry, according to the Gospels. He clearly taught and modeled GOing into the highways and byways, to those places that sinners gather, until the whole world hears. 
• Jesus' disciples walk according to the Spirit and do not give heed to the flesh because it ought to be dead. Jesus' model of discipleship is a lifestyle, while we have diluted His message and molded it to fit our desire for a more-comfortable, less-demanding ministry. We promote weekly, monthly or annual outreaches instead of equipping the Church to serve Jesus in/out of season. 
• The content of Jesus' preaching and teaching was far different than our quick-fix evangelism of "ask Jesus into your heart so you can become a forgiven sinner and get to heaven." Who doesn't want to make it to heaven? Jesus preached repentance and the arrival of the Kingdom of God on earth. He taught in such a way that heaven's rule would invade, pervade and replace our self-directed rebellious rule. Our desire for intimacy with God and pleasing Him by faithful obedience to Jesus' directives authenticates the validity of our adoption into His Kingdom. 
• Jesus commissioned His disciples to heal the sick; to do the very works that He did regularly in their midst. God's will is for adopted sons and daughters to avail themselves to teaching and training on how to walk in such power with true humility and grace. This power is for today. To deny that makes us guilty of the judgment in II Timothy 3:5. I did not make this stuff up. Healing the sick was a core competency included in Jesus' model of discipleship. Further, we are not commanded to pray and hope the sick get healed. We are taught to command sickness and brokenness to flee in His name. It's in my Bible…Therefore, I believe it regardless of my previous experiences or any respected theologian's past or present opinion. I will learn to walk in the Spirit as a son so that the Father can entrust true riches and power to me once I have proven to be faithful in the small things. 
• Jesus commissioned His disciples to cast out demons. While the world and the majority in the church debate over the actual existence of demons, countless souls wander the earth in fearful bondage to a power they don't understand or acknowledge. The world will again take notice when His disciples differentiate themselves from the fold with their authentic love and concern by getting messy and engaged in the battle to demolish strongholds. It's what Jesus did. We should be learning from Him to do the same works of the Father.

What I have just shared are the exact specifics of what Jesus taught as His model of discipleship according to the Gospels. It's a tragedy that we hide behind religion and shrink away from His unmistakable call to give our lives away to this so we might revive and continue the Acts of the original disciples! To deny this is possible or meant for our time is pure unbelief. I'm not concerned if that sounds harsh because it's the truth, and sometimes we need to be rattled by it to get free!

If we can allow Jesus to convince us of our true, new identity in Him, then we, the Church, can become relevant again. Ask yourself this question with me…Are contemporary disciples of Christ truly relevant in culture today? What have we done with the Commission that Jesus left us?

Did you know that there is a really easy way to know what the world thinks about Christians in the west? A simple Yahoo search can tell us, and I already referenced this in my previous post. I simply typed in "why are christians so…". The rest was auto-filled by the 10 most common adjectives people use to describe christians in their searches. This must change because Jesus was the total antithesis of these things.

While I'm not exactly sure where my journey will go from this point, I do have my eyes and ears wide open listening for the Comforter to direct this wind forward. I long for the day when His people rediscover their clear identity and purpose. I long for the destruction of the sectarian spirit of denominationalism among Christians, which is on par with the High Places Yahweh so disdained in the Old Testament. I long for the day when we will walk in exceptional unity and power to His glorious praise!

The Reformation of 1517 was great in its narrow scope, but there remains so much need for more. There remains a truly urgent need for Restoration. I understand this sounds like a generalization, but my points above can prove it. Our observations of the worldliness in the professing church along with the degradation of our culture serve as additional proofs.

(Disclaimer: The true Israel/Church of Jesus is without spot or wrinkle and only composed of those born again and sealed by His Spirit. He knows all those that truly belong to Him). [Matthew 7:20-22]
I could also reference all of Jesus' parables that flow out of the Sower which speak to true and false profession/conversion. Take the Wheat and Tares, Good and Bad Fish, Doers vs. Hearers, Sheep and the Goats, 5 Wise & 5 Foolish Virgins as examples.

Here are a couple of good resources I've been feeding on to experience powerful renewal and restoration in my own life. I know these resources will encourage and strengthen others:

30 Days to a New You: Spirit-Fueled Change

Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Spiritual Battle

You Must Be Born Again...A Deeper Look!

There are so many urgent matters waiting to be uncovered in regards to events unfolding in our world. However, let me assure you that there are seriously more urgent matters within and facing the Church right now!

How often have I heard the Church referred to as a sleeping giant?. Why does the Church slumber when issues of righteousness as clear as legalized abortion persist? How about when the world starts to call evil good and good evil (see Isaiah 5:20)?

How could we let such things happen? Do we realize the magnitude of these things along with the urgency of our times?

The great awakening that is coming will take place largely WITHIN what we typically refer to as our church congregations. The same was true in Spurgeon's day, Wesley's day and it is infinitely more true today!

We Must Be Free from the Idol of Decisionism

Click the link above to watch a 5 minute video of urgent importance!!!

For biblical instruction here, check out this amazing video:

How to Speak to a Dying Man

Would Jesus or His Apostles Even Recognize the Modern American Church?

The credit for this article goes to Marcus Yoars.

By today’s standards in the American church, Jesus wasn’t cut out to be a pastor, nor would His ministry be highlighted as a model for church planters. Consider these facts:

Jesus had the greatest preaching, teaching and healing ministry in history. Thousands came to hear Him, followed His every move and lined the streets to get a glimpse of Him or simply touch Him. Yet amid His rock-star popularity, He intentionally offended religious leaders, challenged potential mega-donors and weeded out casual followers with tough teachings. Not exactly the textbook strategy you’d find today to grow your church, much less your Facebook likes and Twitter followers.

After Jesus spent three and a half years ministering to thousands, His church consisted of only 120 disciples gathered in the upper room. And even that was a low turnout, considering He had appeared to more than 500 people after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6).

But we know the rest of the story: how the 120 quickly became 3,120 and grew daily to where even unbelievers credited Jesus’ followers as those “who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). The truth is, we know that Jesus’ divine church-growth tactics surpass all others—with the proof being a global church that, 2,000 years later, refuses to die while it works to fulfill His Great Commission.

Why, then, do we in the 21st-century American church focus on all the elements that Jesus didn’t? He focused on training and equipping 12 disciples; we focus on growing our crowds and spheres of influence, regardless of whether those people follow Jesus. He preached an uncompromising message of truth; we sugarcoat the gospel until we’re saccharine-high on deception. He walked among His enemies in love; we ostracize our enemies by blasting them for all their sins.

Indeed, most of the U.S. church is enamored with size over substance and microwave growth over true reproduction. Research shows that while 235 million people call themselves Christians, only 40 percent of those meet regularly with fellow believers and only a fourth (at most) read the Bible on a regular basis. It’s time we discovered the marks of the real church, measured by Jesus’ standards rather than our own trendy metrics. So what are those elements? Here are just a few.

1) Love. Jesus defined a premier characteristic of His church in John 13:35: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” If we can’t even love fellow believers—if we skewer each other over theological differences and cultural preferences—how can we expect the world to want what we have? Transforming the world with God’s love starts right where we are, on the home front, as we learn to love each other as Christ loved us.

2) Prayer. Jesus was constantly communicating with the Father, listening for His thoughts and seeing where He was already moving. Luke’s Gospel shows that little happened in Christ’s life without Him first praying. Why, then, do most church gatherings today focus so little on prayer? In trying to be culturally relevant and seeker-sensitive, we’ve conveyed that this essentiality of our faith—both individually and corporately—is secondary. That can’t be if we want to mimic Jesus.

3) Persecution. We in the West equate religious freedom and the lack of persecution with blessing. Yet when you look for the most powerful churches in the world, where the Spirit moves freely and in fullness, you’ll always find persecution. It’s time we wake up and realize that persecution galvanizes and unifies the body of Christ like few other pressures. Remember, Jesus promised persecution to those who truly follow Him (Matt. 5:11-12; John 15:20). When was the last time you saw this promise fulfilled in your own life or church?

4) Power. Jesus also promised that His followers would do greater works than He did (John 14:12)—a promise sealed by the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us. Wherever the early apostles and church went, the miraculous followed. Though there have been seasons of Holy Spirit revival in our nation, even charismatic churches today are de-emphasizing such things as praying for the sick, demonic deliverance or the prophetic. Making room for the Spirit’s supernatural movement isn’t an option; it’s the mark of those who truly follow Christ.

Would Jesus Recognize the Modern American Church?

America, Land of the Free?

Intense article…


Awakening from the Hive Mind Control Construct

It may introduce some concepts many are not familiar with, but that should not result in automatic dismissal of the historical and scientifically verifiable facts presented. The truth is strange and incredibly unpopular, but people will be greatly perplexed in the months ahead without it.

The Most Important and Valuable Commodity?

What would you say is the most valuable commodity on the planet?

I am convinced it is something of a tie between these 2-3 things:

1. Time
2. Information - To be more precise, accurate and de-propagandized information which is very hard to come by in this world today
3. Water - Although, if you have quality information and intel, you can easily find even underground fresh water sources (it really is a tie between the first couple of things but I included water here because I anticipated this potential objection)

Do what you will with this information below. I am long over trying to convince people of the dangers lying ahead for America. I understand it is more convenient and light hearted to pretend everything is fine while the tip of a massive iceberg looms ahead, but the consequences are always disastrous. 

The data and trends beckon your attention. I pray you have the courage to consider points that may be contrary to your basic presuppositions. 

This guy shoots cold hard facts in a calm and rational manner. I think we are foolish to completely ignore the warnings.

Click for Article on Historical Trends & Current Events

How Do "Secret" Societies Get Exposed?

I sincerely enjoy historical documentaries. Give me a quality documentary over a runaway Hollywood hit any day.

There are some seriously awakening nuggets in this one. I love how the creators put Freemasonry under the microscope, especially what transpired leading up to the 2nd Great Awakening.

Click for Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings