I was listening to Francis Chan online a couple nights ago while he was preaching at the Passion Conference in Atlanta to thousands of high school and college students, and he began his message by highlighting the importance of taking God literally. It seems that this is a somewhat common argument among different groups of people within the Christian community, and I believe that Francis' stance hit the nail on the head.
A new idea on Heaven and Hell has surfaced among a couple big name preachers, and they have begun to emphasis that a loving God couldn't possibly send anyone to hell... implying that they believe there is no hell.
"This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
The writer blatenly states that there will be a punishment for those who choose to not know God, and that punishment is eternal seperation from Him; being seperated from God is absolutely hell. When I think on the stories of the bible, I find it impossible to not take God at his exact words, because He has followed through with all that He has said. Follow me to Genesis 6...
Background: The earth had never experienced rain when God instructed Noah to build the ark... God was so angry at the human race that he was ready to wipe out every single living thing; every person, every animal and every plant. However, there was one man that was righteous and blameless and God went to him and told him exact instructions...
God said to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! - Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout the interior. Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat- lower, middle and upper. Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat- you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal- a male and a female- into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals." So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
This is just one example of taking God literally. He said He was going to wipe out the whole earth with a flood, and instructed a simple-minded human being to create a boat that would protect his family and all the animals. Noah, who had never seen rain, was quick to move. He didn't try to manipulate and pick apart the things that the Lord had told him, or try to figure out exactly what he was supposed to do. He simply did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
Think about it...
We don't usually hear about God speaking audibly to us with instructions, not that he is incapable, or that he doesnt; but we do have the word of God before us, and we believe that it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).
A few commands come quickly to my heart as I write this...
Speak up for the those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. - Proverbs 31:8
This scripture commands us to act out for others. It is our duty and our responsiblity to protect all who cannot fight on behalf of themselves- unborn babies, victims of domestic violence, women and children held captive in the sex trade... It means to literally use our voices to fight for them. It means to get out of our comfort zones and to make a scene - to go into the depths of hell on earth to snatch those babies out of the darkness.
I also believe it's important to take this scripture and apply it to our prayer lives. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, and the authority we have over Satan and his schemes. It is our duty and our responsibility to intercede on behalf of the men who are enslaved by evil and who keep the sex trade in business - the traffickers, the clients, and the government. We should be on our faces for these men; taking authority over the evil in our world and loosening the binds of satan.
"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've recieved it, it will be yours." - Mark 11:22
You can pray for anything.
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them." Luke 10:19
We have authority over all the power of the enemy.
He has given us distict instructions, people. To speak up, to give thanks in all circumstances, to walk humbly, to pray without ceasing, to rejoice always, to never repay evil with evil, to pray for those who hurt us, to flee from all evil...
It is time to take God literally... We have the authority to defeat any plot from the enemy. All sickness, disease, depression, bitterness, rage, anger, jealousy must go in the name of Jesus. Stop being afraid to ask God for what you need - from His very lips came these words, "You can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've recieved it, it will be yours."
He wasn't kidding.
1.06.2012
1.03.2012
All Things New
I think we could all agree that we are getting tired of making New Years Resolutions that we never stick to... Every year around New Years facebook and twitter explode with people tweeting about how silly New Years Resolutions are because "you can change you ways any day of the year". Maybe you want to lose weight, or go to the gym everyday, or not drink as much, or laugh more, or learn how to do a something new, or study more, or say yes more often, or treat yourself to some "me" time. Maybe you have a list of things you want to put into action in the year 2012...
Whether you're one of those who don't believe in New Years Resolutions, or you're one that thrives off of them - consider these thoughts: Although it may be true that we can make adjustments to our lifestyles any day of the year, there is something about January 1 of a new year that paints the picture of a pure slate. 2012 is brand new. This year you can do whatever you want to do. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. What are your dreams? What is your vision?
This year for Christmas, my mom got each one of us a notebook and on the inside she had written Habakkuk 2:2-3...
Then The Lord answered me and said, "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it, may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it, for it will certainly come, it will not delay."
If you don't have a vision for your future or even for this year- ask the Lord for one. If you do... Write it down. The Lord has put dreams and passions and desire and a vision inside of you for an extraordinary purpose. You are here in this city, on this day for a purpose. No one else was created for the exact same reason you were. You are so important and you play a vital role in this place. Open your eyes, pick up your pen, and write down your vision. What do you want to do with your life? What do you feel the pull towards? What tugs on your heart?
Write it so plainly that a runner that rushes by will be able to read it. Keep it in front of your eyes, so that you do not forget it. Do not let the enemey rob you of your vision. If you don't see the fruit of your vision instantly, wait earnestly upon God... He turned water into wine, divided the red sea in two, knocked down the walls of Jericho, healed countless people, set captives free. He can surely handle your dreams. In fact, He is the one who gave them to you.
This is important people:
Do not ever be afraid to dream big. There is no such thing has dreaming too big. Jesus himself says that we must become childlike in our faith to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Do you have an imagination? Use it!
Maybe your vision of 2012 is choosing every single day to forgive that person who tore you apart, and turned your world upside down... maybe your vision is to work for the FBI. You are fully capable of pursuing those dreams, because the bible says that we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. In Him, all things were created, and through Him ALL things hold together.
My vision for 2012 is to speak life into women in whatever form or fashion that takes on. I live in a sorority house with 85 other girls, and on a campus with thousands of students and hundreds of professors. There is no way that I'm here by accident - I have a vision, and I'm going to keep it before me to remind myself why I'm here.
My vision for life is to go into the very jaws of hell and rescue the souls of the women trapped in the Red Light Disctricts around the world. I want them to know that they were created to dance in white dresses, and that they have a reason to sing. I want to tell them about Jesus and the way that He delights in them, and that He longs to hold them and sing over them. I want these women to know that Satan does not get to lie to them anymore. I want them to know the Truth. I want to show them how grace works, and play with their hair, and teach them how to sustain themselves by working in different ways. I want them to know that they were not created to be enslaved to lust and rage and bitterness and depression and hatred. I want them to experience redemption. This is what makes me come alive. I have no idea how long it will take me to get there, or how much money I'll have to raise, or who I will be going with... If I'll find myself a million miles away, or on the streets of Los Angeles; but I do know that when I keep the vision in front of my eyes, and I walk in the way of the Lord, he will take me to where I need to be... every single day.
What makes you come alive? 2012 is a new year - it doesn't matter what you've done in your past, or the heartbreak that you hold onto. This year is brand new, and you have the opportunity to do whatever you want. Ask God to show you His vision for your life... Make this year a masterpiece. Your very own picture that proclaims the goodness of God for the world to see. This is what you were created for.
Find your passion, and pursue it. The world needs people who have come alive.
Whether you're one of those who don't believe in New Years Resolutions, or you're one that thrives off of them - consider these thoughts: Although it may be true that we can make adjustments to our lifestyles any day of the year, there is something about January 1 of a new year that paints the picture of a pure slate. 2012 is brand new. This year you can do whatever you want to do. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. What are your dreams? What is your vision?
This year for Christmas, my mom got each one of us a notebook and on the inside she had written Habakkuk 2:2-3...
Then The Lord answered me and said, "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it, may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it, for it will certainly come, it will not delay."
If you don't have a vision for your future or even for this year- ask the Lord for one. If you do... Write it down. The Lord has put dreams and passions and desire and a vision inside of you for an extraordinary purpose. You are here in this city, on this day for a purpose. No one else was created for the exact same reason you were. You are so important and you play a vital role in this place. Open your eyes, pick up your pen, and write down your vision. What do you want to do with your life? What do you feel the pull towards? What tugs on your heart?
Write it so plainly that a runner that rushes by will be able to read it. Keep it in front of your eyes, so that you do not forget it. Do not let the enemey rob you of your vision. If you don't see the fruit of your vision instantly, wait earnestly upon God... He turned water into wine, divided the red sea in two, knocked down the walls of Jericho, healed countless people, set captives free. He can surely handle your dreams. In fact, He is the one who gave them to you.
This is important people:
Do not ever be afraid to dream big. There is no such thing has dreaming too big. Jesus himself says that we must become childlike in our faith to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Do you have an imagination? Use it!
Maybe your vision of 2012 is choosing every single day to forgive that person who tore you apart, and turned your world upside down... maybe your vision is to work for the FBI. You are fully capable of pursuing those dreams, because the bible says that we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. In Him, all things were created, and through Him ALL things hold together.
My vision for 2012 is to speak life into women in whatever form or fashion that takes on. I live in a sorority house with 85 other girls, and on a campus with thousands of students and hundreds of professors. There is no way that I'm here by accident - I have a vision, and I'm going to keep it before me to remind myself why I'm here.
My vision for life is to go into the very jaws of hell and rescue the souls of the women trapped in the Red Light Disctricts around the world. I want them to know that they were created to dance in white dresses, and that they have a reason to sing. I want to tell them about Jesus and the way that He delights in them, and that He longs to hold them and sing over them. I want these women to know that Satan does not get to lie to them anymore. I want them to know the Truth. I want to show them how grace works, and play with their hair, and teach them how to sustain themselves by working in different ways. I want them to know that they were not created to be enslaved to lust and rage and bitterness and depression and hatred. I want them to experience redemption. This is what makes me come alive. I have no idea how long it will take me to get there, or how much money I'll have to raise, or who I will be going with... If I'll find myself a million miles away, or on the streets of Los Angeles; but I do know that when I keep the vision in front of my eyes, and I walk in the way of the Lord, he will take me to where I need to be... every single day.
What makes you come alive? 2012 is a new year - it doesn't matter what you've done in your past, or the heartbreak that you hold onto. This year is brand new, and you have the opportunity to do whatever you want. Ask God to show you His vision for your life... Make this year a masterpiece. Your very own picture that proclaims the goodness of God for the world to see. This is what you were created for.
Find your passion, and pursue it. The world needs people who have come alive.
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