GREENE STREET LETTERS: Great Weekend

Monday, September 5, 2016

Great Weekend

Psalm 107:19-20
"Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

These verses from Psalm 107 have been the cornerstone of why I go and teach at various places. If you read Psalm 107, it reads like it was written to those who are in addiction.
The hearing of God's word is a source of healing to those who have cried out for help.
The journey to a new life begins with the infiltration of God's word into a heart that has been kept captive by sin. The word brings freedom and release. It uncovers the deepest and darkest part of man's heart and then offers salvation and reconciliation with God.

This weekend was one in which I got to see God at work on various levels. From time to time I will find myself being asked to speak multiple times at different venues. Saturday night found me at home (VRC). The message was very simple. It was a part of a verse that had lodged in my brain and heart, and would not go away. Ephesians 6:13 - When the day of evil comes. I'm never really sure how any message will be received when I teach it. In fact, my only real concern is that I am being obedient to what God wants to do in the meeting. As a pastor/teacher, you always hope that there will be a response to the message, but you realize that you leave that part up to God. He draws those forward that are open to receive.One of the ones who did come forward to receive was a five year old girl. She brought her stuffed animal with her, and wanted it to receive prayer also. The little girl wanted to be filled with God's Holy Spirit. How cool was that? We prayed for her....we prayed for her stuffed animal (don't get all theological on me here....she asked and I was more than obliged to do so). Her action of getting up and coming to the front opened a window of tenderness in that room.

Sunday morning found me at New Outlook Christian Fellowship. Rannie Childress, pastor, wanted me to fill in while he and his wife, Shirley, took a much needed break. Here again, happy to do so. Felt like God wanted me to teach from II Chronicles 20:3, the story of king Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Taught on the power of praise and obedience. Giving praise to God is more than simply singing the words of a song. It the junction where a heart that loves and trusts God allows the words of the song to be lifted into His presence. It is belief and faith in Him is brought out to face any problem or situation that may be headed our way, with the intention of destroying us. Destroying us either spiritually or physically. The power point found in this teaching is found in verse 17. You see, Jehoshaphat is facing the reality that there are three armies headed his way who intend to destroy him, his people, and his kingdom. The verse reads...."You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you". God told Jehoshaphat to not run away from this problem, but to go and out and face it. But to realize that it is God who will bring the victory.

Then last night, I spoke at Catalyst Recovery. The message went to the heart of sin/addiction.
John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
I shared how only God could give us the fresh start that we needed to escape the pain and destruction of addiction. That the birth a baby was the result of intimacy between a husband and wife. To be born again was the result of an intimate act between God's Holy Spirit and the human heart. We are a new creations spiritually, even though we aren't chronologically. It was a good evening as people came forward from prayer.

So for me, as I look back over this past weekend, the payoff is being able to teach God's word, and then see the Holy Spirit draw people as a result of what they have heard. Also, know that I am fully aware that I am the least in this whole movement of Spirit and heart. I am just the conduit through which the message flowed.
Have a great labor day....
And don't do too much work, o.k.?

God on you...
mbb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Great Weekend

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD