Empowerment

Empowerment

Burn for You - Toby Mac

This weekend I spend time with men of my Church at a Men’s Freedom Encounter.  The program builds to an encounter with God.  This was my second encounter retreat.  The first was on a smaller intimate scale.  This one was on a larger scale and only for men.  (The ladies will have their encounter in 2 weeks.) 

In the first small group session we were asked to consider our expectations for the encounter.  For me this time around it was about empowerment and encouragement.  In a couple of weeks I will be offering a teaching based on primarily Ephesians 4 about social justice.  This is a topic where the secular and atheistic world has grabbed hold and has been hard at work removing God from the dialog.  I had even considered not submitting a proposal.  But after encouraging words from my friend Eric (author of the blog: A Fehr Life) I submitted my proposal to the committee.  This past November I offered a teaching about integrity based primarily on Psalm 15.  So now I have to do it.  I have to walk the talk.  In this blog I have written several blog posts that will serve as the foundation of my message.  So much of my message is written.  I just need to pull it into a presentation that will glorify God (and make sense).

Last month during the 21 days of fasting and prayer God kept bringing me back to Ephesians 4 and several other passages that talk about how the Body of Christ is made up of different members.  Each member different and having a role to play in the larger picture.  We are not all of the same.  Equal is probably a word that has been misapplied in this larger debate and dialog.  Equitable is probably a better word.  Equal is exact sameness.  Equitable is reasonable similarities along with differences.

This weekend Encounter served to fire me up.  I gained the empowerment and encouragement I sought from the Lord.  During the fast He repeatedly showed me Scriptural passages that provided me His wisdom for how humanity should be in relationship.  Reminding me of the teaching in November that I should walk the talk.  And this weekend He said to me and showed me that through Him all things are possible.

So I will prepare my teaching for the coming conference on social justice.  I have an overwhelming sense of freedom to offer this teaching.  Although I anticipate backlash from those of secular, world, or atheist perspectives  I am confident that my Lord Jesus Christ has prepared me and it is for His glory that I will speak.  I offer myself to Him so that His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

I've got the Victory - Yolanda Adams

There Must Be Unity, We Must Follow Jesus’ Example

There Must Be Unity, We Must Follow Jesus’ Example

Racism and hatred is just simply stupid. It arrogantly implies that God messed up when He chose to make everyone different.  Social injustice and racism was nothing that God had in mind.  After each day of creation it was always said that it was good.  On the flip side however, it is also arrogant to have a discussion about diversity without God present at the discussion.  God is a God of love, mercy, and grace.  God does not hate His children and He is not mad at us.

We must recognize again that creation is His and it is our separation from God that has created the disorder in the world.  The devil seeks to split us off and separate us from people.  Satan's ways are through hate.  He will take any action necessary to keep disunity within the body of Christ.  “The fullness of God’s purpose and power can only be experienced as the Body of Christ functions together across the earth” (Mike Bickle).

Jesus taught us to love everybody, including our enemies.  He set before us the perfect example.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  (John 13:15 (NIV)).

While Jesus was on earth, he went to those who lived on the margins of life.  Is there not a better example of reaching out to each and every person?  Why then do so many people in the diversity and inclusion dialog want to exclude Jesus Christ?  No one did it better.  No one called together those who had been on the fringe of society.  How can this message of love be hated by so many?

Too often we want immediate change.  We want to snap our fingers and the world be just as we want it to be.  We need to remember that God's timing is perfect.  In our fleshly nature we want immediate gratification.  We want the change we desire now.  It takes some time to change the many years that the devil has been at work in the world. 

“Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day” (Arthur Gordon).  Throughout Ephesians 4 are the directions for living in unity in the body of Christ.  If we continue to push God away as a society, we will continue to struggle as a country.  We need everyone to recognize that His creation is good and each of us live as members of the body of Christ.  To live in the body of Christ is to recognize that each person has a part to play.  We need all people to repent and return to the Lord. 

All of Creation - Mercy Me

Nothing Could Ever Separate Us - Citizen Way

We Must Have God Present When we Discuss His Creation

We Must Have God Present When we Discuss His Creation

Plainly and clearly the divisions in our society are the work of the enemy.  Satan is happy when we have disharmony in society.   Divided communities offer entry points for hatred and bitterness to influence our interactions with one another.  The enemy prefers us to use a human approach, a fleshly approach.  The enemy knows that without God included in the discussion he can continue to keep the divisions and deceive us.

Genesis 1:27 and 31 (NIV) describes the creation of man and woman. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And verse 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

His plan is that we are all made in His image.  His plan is that we are all important and have worth.  We all have a part to play.  It is only after the fall that divisions enter humanity.  It is only when people think that their way is best that we corrupt creation and place bondage and oppression on each other.

Creation is God’s.  It is presumptuous to think that we know better than God does about His creation.  We were given the task of stewardship over His creation.  You may think your ways are better but when you decide to trust God, you realize that His ways are much greater.

All of Creation - Mercy Me

It’s time to end the judging and the divisions that permeate society.  We're called to be united in Christ.   In Ephesians 4 we are reminded about the instructions for living in community with one another.

Specifically in Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT) we are told to…

22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Over the years the more we have removed God from the dialog less of the goal has been achieved of having a more inclusive society.  Perhaps our minds have been filled with a human perspective theory perpetuated by atheists and those who have turned away from God that leaves souls empty because God is not in the discussion.  But so many discussions centering on diversity and inclusion intentionally leave God out. 

So many people in this debate say that there is no room for Jesus Christ in the debate, citing that often the division is caused by religion.  This is precisely the deception by the enemy we need to be vigilant to rebuke.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 (NIV)).

We cannot be pitiful and powerful at the same time.  You cannot be both victim and master.  So many people choose to live as a powerless victim and be offended by the actions of others.  Living offended by the actions and words of others consumes a great amount of your energy leaving you in a vulnerable place for continued attack by the enemy.  Forgive people quickly regardless of whether or not they ask for it because unforgiveness is poisonous to you, not to them!

13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3: 13-14 (NLT)).

God calls us to have compassion for others – even those whose lives do not follow God’s ways.  We need to continue to pray for wisdom and guidance.  God changes the hearts of people.  Your life as a Christian should make unbelievers question their disbelief.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34 (NIV)).

26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 26-28 (NIV)).

Until we bring God back to the discussion we will not achieve the intended goals of a just society.  Our God is an awesome God of love.  He is a just God.  We must all repent and turn to God.  The social movements many often reference were born in our American churches.  However, so many efforts are made to remove the faith aspect.  We need to have hearts open to embrace the Gospel and once we bring God back into the discussion we will have peace and unity among all peoples.

Freedom - Nicole C. Mullen

I've Got the Victory