Greetings All;
One of the disheartening things about our beloved world is that there are so many hungry and desperate people. Not enough food, water, security, shelter and resources for millions, even billions. This desperation has hit so many homes here in America. There has always been hurting, desperate people in America but with the economic meltdown we're experiencing, that sense of desperation has hit so many who thought themselves to be secure forever. Perhaps in all of the suffering and fear something of great value may surface. When there is nothing and no one else to turn to, perhaps America and many in the world will turn back to God. Perhaps the natural desperation that many feel will turn into a desperate hunger and cry for the living God. I'm not sure why it often takes difficult times for people to turn to the Lord. However, many, even in the church, who are not personally impacted by the current economic condition may yet find themselves still not having that sense of unquenchable need for a visitation from our Lord. It's amazing how close one can be drawn to God when times are tough. What's even more amazing is how close He has always been. It is we who so often don't recognize His divine presence. This economic drought will at some point end, at least for a season, but will that sense of desperation for His presence also end? One song writer wrote: "I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee." Whether you are directly effected by these tough times or not, is that your plea? God still feeds the hungry, not just those in need of food but those hungry for His presence. Even when it seems He can't be found, He is with you. You will find Him when you seek Him with your whole heart. "Every hour I need Thee....." May the peace of God be yours.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Peace and Blessings to you all.
In recent weeks I have been preaching/teaching about the importance of protecting and conditioning our minds (thoughts/imaginations), the importance of walking in the Spirit and the importance of taking care of and presenting our bodies as "living sacrifices." Here are just a few thoughts from this past Sunday's message "When the Fire Falls:" In Romans 12:1 Paul admonishes his followers at Rome to present their bodies as living sacrifices. Sin finds expression and fulfillment in the flesh. This is why in chapter 8 of Romans, Paul says: to be led by the flesh is death, but to be led by the Spirit is life and peace. It is in our flesh where battles rage between holiness and wickedness, a battle, I might add, which we all have lost. "We know all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). This is precisely why we need a Savior. However, Paul indicates that this presenting of ourselves on the altar of God is our choice and responsibility. Interestingly, we often want and pray for the fire of God's anointing to fall on us without the presenting of ourselves in the position to receive. In the Pentateuch we find where God commanded the Israelites to present to God offerings (animal sacrifices) as a sin offering. The slaughtered animals (lamb, doves, pigeons) were laid on the altar in the Temple as a Burnt offering. When Solomon dedicated the Temple of God, 2 Chronicles 7 says "when Solomon finished praying fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple." If there is no burnt offering on the altar God's fire cannot come. We often want God's fire to fall in our temple (our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit), yet we stand beside the altar but refuse to get on. Beginning at verse 11 we see God answering Solomon's prayer, after fire fell on the burnt offering. Is it possible that the reason so many believers have no fire and seem to pray with little response from God is because we refuse to present ourselves as living sacrifices on the altar of God? Many have lost that sense of desperation for God. When you go to church, do you go expecting an encounter with God or do you go expecting to fellowship with friends? No burnt offering, no fire. Need revival in your life or in your church? True revival is not a result of human planning but is initiated and sustained by God. It comes to desperate people who are willing to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto the Lord. This is your reasonable act of worship. Get on the altar of God, pray and let the fire of the Holy Ghost fall in your life.
Let me know your thoughts by sending your comments.
I want to welcome the Hazel family and the Vick family who are our most recent members of TMI-ATL. Mother's Day the Vick ladies, mother and three daughters ministered a wonderful dance together. I also want to congratulate Minister Irving Moody who has graduated from the Samuel DeWit Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, one of the best schools of theology anywhere. Pastor Gardenia, the TMI family and many others are so proud of his hard work and commitment.
Until next week know that I'm praying for you all and may our great God bless each of you.
In recent weeks I have been preaching/teaching about the importance of protecting and conditioning our minds (thoughts/imaginations), the importance of walking in the Spirit and the importance of taking care of and presenting our bodies as "living sacrifices." Here are just a few thoughts from this past Sunday's message "When the Fire Falls:" In Romans 12:1 Paul admonishes his followers at Rome to present their bodies as living sacrifices. Sin finds expression and fulfillment in the flesh. This is why in chapter 8 of Romans, Paul says: to be led by the flesh is death, but to be led by the Spirit is life and peace. It is in our flesh where battles rage between holiness and wickedness, a battle, I might add, which we all have lost. "We know all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). This is precisely why we need a Savior. However, Paul indicates that this presenting of ourselves on the altar of God is our choice and responsibility. Interestingly, we often want and pray for the fire of God's anointing to fall on us without the presenting of ourselves in the position to receive. In the Pentateuch we find where God commanded the Israelites to present to God offerings (animal sacrifices) as a sin offering. The slaughtered animals (lamb, doves, pigeons) were laid on the altar in the Temple as a Burnt offering. When Solomon dedicated the Temple of God, 2 Chronicles 7 says "when Solomon finished praying fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple." If there is no burnt offering on the altar God's fire cannot come. We often want God's fire to fall in our temple (our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit), yet we stand beside the altar but refuse to get on. Beginning at verse 11 we see God answering Solomon's prayer, after fire fell on the burnt offering. Is it possible that the reason so many believers have no fire and seem to pray with little response from God is because we refuse to present ourselves as living sacrifices on the altar of God? Many have lost that sense of desperation for God. When you go to church, do you go expecting an encounter with God or do you go expecting to fellowship with friends? No burnt offering, no fire. Need revival in your life or in your church? True revival is not a result of human planning but is initiated and sustained by God. It comes to desperate people who are willing to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto the Lord. This is your reasonable act of worship. Get on the altar of God, pray and let the fire of the Holy Ghost fall in your life.
Let me know your thoughts by sending your comments.
I want to welcome the Hazel family and the Vick family who are our most recent members of TMI-ATL. Mother's Day the Vick ladies, mother and three daughters ministered a wonderful dance together. I also want to congratulate Minister Irving Moody who has graduated from the Samuel DeWit Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, one of the best schools of theology anywhere. Pastor Gardenia, the TMI family and many others are so proud of his hard work and commitment.
Until next week know that I'm praying for you all and may our great God bless each of you.
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