Cartel 66

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Wounded to grow stronger

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Proverbs 27:5,6 ESV

In His Power

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7, 8 ESV)

What a relief it is that there are things that God has told us not to worry about. But in the same vein, what a relief it is to know that He will give us power to do the very things he has called us to do.

I leave to Nepal in just one week. 7 days to pack, get mentally prepped, physically focused and spiritually armored up. It would sound like a lot if I weren’t resting assured that God has ordained the 4 of us to go. I could and would be overwhelmed at the thought of landing in a 3rd world country where I don’t speak the language and trying to find my way 7 hours north into the back country to minister to a people that I need to hike 4 hours to find and cannot truly communicate with. Wow, that does sound intense! Good thing I do have my Lord and my God Jesus Christ who has given me his Holy Spirit to empower me so that I can be his witness to the end of the earth.

One of the most amazing things about that statement is that when Jesus gave this charge to His disciples, they were in Jerusalem, and the “end of the earth” to them would have been the opposite side of the world, which is literally where I sit right now, Hawaii.

I am in a place that screams of His promise to work in and through His people. And taking hold of that promise that His Holy Spirit will empower me to do the same, I will go wherever He calls me to go, and as I go I will rest assured that He has things under control.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV) whether that’s flying to Nepal to give a cup of cold water in His name, flying to an outer Hawaiian island to minister to someone, or walking across the street to share the gospel, I know that through His power I can do all things and not even the gates of Hell shall prevail.

Rest in Him and his power today!

Mario

Shout to Conquer

But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. (Luke 23:23 ESV)

The same people who had just one week earlier worshipped him as messiah, had turned against Jesus and were now shouting for his death.

What struck me this morning about this simple verse was the phrase: “And their voices prevailed”.

The voice of the crowd prevailed over Pilate’s decision to release Jesus because he wanted to please them more than he wanted to act on his convictions.

As Christians we cry and moan about what the government is or isn’t doing. That they are taking God out of schools and prayer out of politics, yet our voices are mute. I find that we cry about it to ourselves more than we cry aloud to get something done about it. Our voices have the ability to do more than prevail, our voices can conquer. Or have you forgotten who your God is? That He is large and in charge? That He is the beginning and the end, alpha and omega? He is the one who fights, but we need to show up to the battle and shout!

Are you angry that our children are being taught homosexual family values, atheistic world views and that they evolved from monkeys and have no purpose in life other than to satisfy every base desire they have? Well they are, and we sit back praying for change but never stand up, fight or cry out for it.

May I remind you that Jesus said we are the church, His church, and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us? (Matt 16:18) that means we are on the offensive. We are supposed to be the aggressive ones! Yet we cower, whine and moan and do nothing.

Can we wake up? Can we cry out and not only let our voices be heard, but let them cry out so much that they prevail in all places! We are the unmatched majority! Why? Because our King Jesus plus just one person who serves him is a majority that cannot be stopped!

Let’s learn that, know that, and live that out loud! Fight and don’t get weary! For the Lord our God is with you!

Shout to Conquer in His name

M

Ready for war?

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

http://hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5881/The-Atheist-Declaration-of-War-on-Hawaii-Churches.aspx

All His

All for Him

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it…” (Luke 9:23, 24 ESV)

It’s all about perspective isn’t it? From the time we’re born we are told by the world to grab what we can, get ahead, win, consume, feast, lust, do what we want in order to live life to the fullest. And if it weren’t for the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead, then they might have something. You see, if there was no resurrection then we who are followers of Christ are to be most pitied. ( 1 Co. 15:9 )

The perspective of the world is that time is short and you need to ravage life for all you can, true hedonism. Take, consume, feast, etc. In the world’s eyes, this life is all there is.

But Jesus has called us to a higher purpose, has called me to a higher standard. That purpose and standard is Him and his glory.

Deny myself? The world tells me to enjoy myself. Seek pleasure. But if I’m to follow Christ, my heart cannot be about me and what I want, but must be about Him and what He wants.

Taking up my cross is calling me to daily crucify my wants and desires to rid myself of me. This is in complete opposition of what the world tells me I should do. To take up my cross is to put all that I am to death in exchange for all that He is and wants for me.

If our daily thoughts are self preservation, saving ourselves, then we’ll have a life filled with personal accomplishment, self satisfaction and a sense of safety all built around worldly things. Jobs, titles, trophies, 401K’s, savings accounts, etc. Not that any of that is bad or wrong, but of that is our focus, as followers of Christ, we’ve missed the point.

The crux of this statement is in this last part of verse 24 “but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Upon reading this, we immediately think of martyrdom. I know I used to. Then I started really examining it, losing my life for His sake is more about losing all I hold dear, letting go of all that I see as precious, in order for me to have empty hands to do the work he has called me to do.

As I look at my life thus far, all I have done and experienced, nothing is more precious and meaningful than when I was being used by the Lord to do His will and bring him glory. I have been part of some pretty amazing things for my career and not one of those things, not one paycheck, can even come close to when I am serving the Lord. My most amazing memories of my life thus far are filled with teaching God’s word, serving people is His name, and bringing smiles to people that need Jesus’ love. If that means I have wasted my life in the world’s eyes, so be it.

Our lives have been bought for a price and come with instructions. Let’s live to be worthy of his name. Take up our crosses as he did for us. Let’s lose our lives in His.

His way is better. His life is more fulfilling. His reward is more glorious than all the riches in all the world.

Lord, help me to release all I am to you. Please continue to show me where I need to be wholly consecrated into thee. Grant me the courage to give up all I hold dear in order that I may hold on to all of you.

Be blessed,
M