Repentance - Have you done it?

Acts 5:31
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Repentance is often taught that it is something we must do.

The command is 'repent and be baptized'.

So, its something I must do...Right or Wrong?

No, its a gift. That HE might give (gift) repentance. Its a gift (like everything else GOD gives us). All we do is choose it, or accept it!

Here is the Greek word for repentance "metanoeó"
meta is the first part and it means "with or after"
noeó is the second part and it means "consider, or understand"

Or, after understand.
We get the idea of re-thinking our position and turning around.

Problem, its a gift - nothing we do!

Malcolm Smith uses a great word picture of the act of repentance and I will try to capture what he says to you.

Picture the great story of the lost sheep. Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7

Ok, you are that sheep (so am I) as the scripture says 'all we like sheep have gone astray' Isaiah 53:6

So, we are sheep but not only that we are, you are, a lost and missing sheep. Now, sheep dont run away (like a dog or cat) they aren't like that, but they meander. They see what seems like better grass just a little bit 'over there' and slowly make there way to it.

They don't know, but they are leaving the best grass (because the Shepherd, knows the best watering areas and grassy fields) but the sheep are not willfully leaving the Shepherd but slowly by small wrong choices drifting further away.

But this loving Shepherd knows HIS sheep and realizes that one is missing (thats you) and risks everything to go look for you. Leaving the others behind safely in the pen looking for the one that is in danger, although not perhaps realizing the extent of the danger. Here is the sheep, alone, afraid, confused, in the dark and crying for help, crying for love.

Are you like that sheep - not knowing what went wrong, or what is wrong, but you know its dark, and its not supposed to be like it is.

JESUS the Great Shepherd is looking for you.

Here is what happens next (its repentance in action). The Shepherd with great joy finds HIS missing one and doesn't scold it, but picks it up and as Shepherds do, wraps it around HIS neck (so that their legs are hung over the shoulders of the Shepherd). The Shepherd doesn't say 'Sheep, go home, now that I've found you!'

NO!

He so identifies with the fearful, lonely sheep HE carries him around his neck.

Speaks to the sheep ever so softly - they are closely connected, in fact the Shepherd is bound to the sheep as HE carries him.

Is the sheep with the Shepherd - Yes!
Is the Shepherd with the sheep - Yes!

The sheep doesn't know what happened, nor is it smart enough to turn and go home when it was lost. It doesn't have to - the Shepherd knows!

When the Shepherd picks up and carries the little lost lamb, HE Repents!
Remember its a gift right!
He turns around and carries the lost lamb home!

Does the lamb turn around and head for home - Yes!
How?
By letting the Shepherd, who knows the way, who knows whats best, who loves and is willing to risk HIS life for this one, repents and turns around and goes home!

Are you trying to repent?

Or are you letting go, and letting HIM direct you and carry you into HIS arms,
into the FATHER and into HIS kingdom itself.

The Kingdom of LOVE, The Kingdom of Power.

Stop running little lamb and let the Good Shepherd carry you home! John 10:11

Simple Words

Just a refresher on a few biblical words and what they mean.

Faith in the greek πίστις translated pistis means 'Assurance' but it comes from the word peithó which means 'to put your confidence' or 'put your trust' in.

A child excersizes faith in Mother, knowing what she is like and what Mother already has said and done in the past. A child knowing Mother loves them, has confidence (Faith) (Trust In) what Mother said she is going to do.

Obey in the greek ὑπακούω translated hupakouó means 'Listen or Hear'

Sometimes when our kids do the wrong thing, we may say "You aren't listening!" In short, you are not being obedient. Paul makes a very unique statement in Romans 6:13-18 that its your choice (you are free not to) use your various body parts (members) to listen to the voice of what they call you to do (sin) which results in failure.

Everything has a voice and is calling you. JESUS is calling you, but so is temptation and its our choice not to listen (obey) the wrong voice but listen (obey) what GOD is saying to us at this very moment.

Sin in the greek ἁμαρτία translated hamartia means 'Failure'

The word Save or Saved is שַׁע
in hebrew and translated as yasha means to 'deliver or avenge'

In the greek Save or Saved is σώζω in greek and translated as sozo means 'to heal, restore, make well, deliver'.

Here is the word 'Saved' in OT and NT.

Psalm 44

⁵Through You we will push back our adversaries;
Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
⁶For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor will my sword save me.
⁷But You have saved us from our adversaries,
And You have put to shame those who hate us.

Who are our enemies now? Other nations? Is this our fight? Ephesians, 6:12

I think our enemies are GOD's enemies. Our enemies (GOD's and mine) are:

The World not the people in the world. 1 John 2:15-17

Religious Institutions not the people trapped in these institutions. Matthew 23:1-4

Sickness, Disease, Demonized not those who are victims of them. Luke 13:16 & Acts 10:38

Death not those that die. 1 Corinthians 15:26

Also Luke 9:56 ...for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to
save them.

Here is why the more I give up - I gain.

If you add anything to JESUS it becomes sin.

When we don't see JESUS alone as our 'all in all' then we are adding to HIM. There is nothing that can be added to complete perfection. HE is complete and everything is made for HIM and is IN HIM.

see John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16

Ok, now some of you know we have 2 boys.

Here is my question, are they our boys because of what they do?
Or, do they lose their standing as our sons because they've done something wrong?

No! They are simply our sons and we love them.
In fact we already loved them the moment they were born, and prayed over them when they were inside Mom (before they were born).

We loved them first! Sound familiar?

Let me explain...

(don't make your own judgements, read on and ask the HOLY SPIRIT
to reveal JESUS to you)

We are not trying to make enemies here but trying to show you the freedom you already have in JESUS! Galatians 5

Ok, here it is:

If its...
JESUS plus my bible reading - sin (which means failure)
JESUS plus church attendance - sin
JESUS plus my tithe or giving - sin
JESUS plus my own good works - sin (I am not like other people out there) see Luke 18:14
JESUS plus my prayer time - sin
JESUS plus my bible degree - sin

Here is the Divine Formula:
JESUS plus anything = failure
JESUS alone = success

Because if its not LOVE its sin!
If its not done for the good of (others and JESUS) its sin.

Here's the deal...
When you receive HIS love and realize its nothing to do with you
and only HIS love that keeps coming to you then...

You will have fellowship and not have to.
You will give and bless others not have to.
You will pray not have to.
You will witness effectively not have to.
You will do good not have to.

What made the difference?

You stopped everything you were doing and put your attention to JESUS alone.

We stopped tithing and GOD has blessed us to give as HE directs.
We stopped going and doing church and GOD has given us sweet fellowship with other believers and seeing the power of GOD.
We stopped trying to read the bible everyday and now can't put the book down.
We stopped praying (because its what we are supposed to do, doesn't the bible say to pray without ceasing ...pray without stopping?) 1 Thessalonians 5:17
What a joy to be continually talking with and about the ONE you love who is in LOVE with me.

Here is the key:

The bible talks about, over and over again about Law and GRACE.

Moses gave you the law but GRACE and TRUTH came through JESUS! John 1:17

The law means something fixed - it cannot be changed or broken. Everything that GOD says is law, since it is unchangeable and cannot be broken.

There are laws of the SPIRIT of LIFE and the law of FAITH but more on those later. There are also physical lessor laws GOD has created in nature but we are not discussing that here either.

But the law the bible talks about (over and over again) is the levitical law, meaning you must keep it or die!
We sort of sum them up into 10 commandments. But the purpose of the law is simply show you GOD's requirement and mans in-ability to keep it.

JESUS said that "Don't think I came to destroy the law but to fulfill it" Matthew 5:17
(HE is the only one who can)

Why?

Because HE is the only real 'Christian' (if I can put it that way). You can't, by your own efforts, keep or get to HIS standard - impossible! Every religion, cult, self help, church denomination tries to keep there own interpretation of the law (rules and requirements) and if you keep these you are in 'good standing' or upright. But its a lie! You are not good - but evil and have cut yourself off of GRACE trying to live that frustrated, angry, sin heaped, cursed life.

Because JESUS isn't good enough for you, you need HIM plus something more...

I beg you, challenge you, dare you to ask GOD to prove it and try HIS way.
Which is JESUS only.

When you read 'law' in the bible change the word to 'self effort' and you will see the meaning more clearly because that is what the bible warns you not to do! Live your life by your own effort.

What was JESUS big fight all the time because it wasn't with the freaks, bikers, outlaws, gangsters, thieves, prostitutes or outcasts - but it was to the good people, the church going, the sabbath keepers, the law abiding.

Why?

Only the sick need a physician - if you are good, then you obviously aren't looking for help.
Mark 2:17

But for us, that know we are nothing (in me dwells no good thing Romans 7:18) and know that our good deeds are filthy rags (don't even get me started on our bad deeds, if our good deeds are already filthy). Isaiah 64:4-9

Then we are poor, wretched, dumb, blind and naked on our own. Revelation 3:17


Galatians 2:21

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Trying to do it on your own - puts you in a place where you set aside GRACE and CHRIST's death has no effect for you.

As we say around here "hurry up and die already".

What if we prayed like:

When we go to the LORD in prayer over an issue,

What If We Prayed Like, We Knew...

1. HE heard us the moment we prayed.


2. HE 100% knew the situation or trouble we were in.


3. HE loves us enough to do something about it to help us.


4. HIS answer to us would be 'YES'.


5. And we would trust HIM to do something about it.


6. We would be confident that HE would answer back in LOVE.


7. And we would wait in expectation until the situation resolved.
   
   

Because all of this is summed up in the word 'Believe'!

Didn't I tell you that if you believe, you would see the Glory of GOD!
John 11:40

Olympics and a Word from the LORD

As a sports lover and Canadian we like many of you watched
the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games.

The opening presentation was both entertaining and amazing,
and it also successfully try to display the many different places
and peoples that make our great land so great, which is a gift
from GOD.

But sadly, the games came at a HUGE COST. We are not talking about
the politics and budgets that bureaucrats like to argue over. The loss
was about the life of a fellow Olympian and fellow human which over-shadowed
and rightly so, the opening grand ceremonies.

The terrible news was of the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili,
a 21-year-old Georgian luger on his practice run, attempting
to fulfill a dream to participate for his country and family
in the Olympics.

We saw the Georgian Team, participate in their order of countries announced
and came in wearing black scarfs and arm bands to mourn the loss of their friend.

The stadium did the right thing by giving them a standing ovation as they
toured the track and announced the Georgian Olympic team was leaving.

I have now heard, that they might in fact stay and compete instead, but
Love allows them to make the right choice, which is what is best for them.

May the PEACE of the LORD, heal and comfort Nodar's family and friends
and their nation at this difficult time.

And of course the Olympics did the right things, by having a moment of
silence and mentioning Nodar many times in their speeches.

Finally it came to the highlight of the night, the lighting of the torch
and the only talk in Canada on every radio station was, who was going to
light the torch?

There was a delay and one of the Olympic Torch Arms didn't rise. In fact
the whole thing delayed a few anxious moments to get it going. If you didn't
see it, these 4 arms were to rise out of the floor and ignite the middle
pillar. Only 3 of the 4 arms lifted up!

The LORD spoke...

"The reason the 4th arm didn't rise during the 'torch lighting' ceremony
was to remind everyone of fellow brother who didn't rise yesterday but
died tragically. Light represents life, and by it not rising, it shows
that the Olympics is about unity and that is what I am about. You feel
a loss of unity with death - which is separation"

"It couldn't rise - when one of your stars didn't rise"

If we can remember that these are 'games' and as we say at home, games
are supposed to be fun. If they are not fun anymore - why do you play it?
But life is not a game, and the loss of medal or a match isn't something to get
angered about, when someone just lost their life.

"So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of
these little ones perish. Matthew 18:14

Covenants - What's your part?

The LORD spoke to me yesterday morning:

PAPA said, "In the old covenant the way it worked
was that you would do all that is required (keep all the laws),
then I would do what was required at MY end."

Note: there were 613 laws required to keep. Summed up in the
10 commandments. JESUS is the only one that kept them.

PAPA continued, "Now with the NEW Covenant the way it works
is that you do what you are required to do (just like before),
but your part to do, is simply believing, and I will do
what needs to be done at my end (to fulfill)."

This was a great reminder to me to simply 'rest'.
Faiths highest pinnacle is 'rest'.

Leaving it in GOD's hand, and then declaring the outcome
before it manifests and resting.

That is the walk of faith.
That is the life of abiding.

Isaiah 64:4
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf
of those who wait for him.

Want To See More Miracles - check your heart!

A few nights ago - I had a dream.

(By the way, you can ask the LORD to teach you when
you sleep - simply ask and believe!)

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind
instructs me in the night. Psalm 16:7

Anyway, here it is:

Me standing up with a big pencil and huge eraser in each arm.
The pencil was the size of a hockey stick and the eraser
the size of a pillow. Huge items.

Then I awoke...

I asked the LORD, "what does that mean".

(note: I am getting more and more used to living my life
asking the LORD, "what does this mean" or "what is YOUR take
on a given subject". You need to hear HIS voice to lead you.

Most of you have already heard HIS voice, you maybe didn't
recognize it or the devil stole HIS words away. Remember the
devil does this very thing!

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path,
and the birds came and ate it up. Mark 4:4

As soon as the word is scattered - immediately as GOD gives
you HIS word (HIS take on a situation) the devil eats it or
takes it from you.

- we explain it away
- we say it can't be GOD its too good!
- we can't remember it too well
- we hear it but another thought crowds it out.

Remember the seed is GOD's WORD. Luke 8:11

We use the term when speaking of 'planting a seed' when
someone shares a little idea or drops a thought on someone.

But the seed is originally GOD's thought in you, or to you.

Here's the meaning the LORD gave me.

The pencil relates to what I write (meaning what I add, like add to a conversation etc..)
The eraser relates to what I erase (meaning what I 'take away')

We have the power and authority to bind and loose. Matthew 18:18

Bind means to "Add"
Loose means to "Take -Away".

What we speak, or what we don't allow in our speech
is what is Added or Taken -Away.

When we speak what HE says, or don't agree with what someone
or the devil may say. We are Binding or Loosing.

JESUS looked at Peter and said "Satan, get behind ME..."
see Matthew 16:23

HE spoke to the fig tree and said "May fruit never grow on
you again" Matthew 21:19

He commanded the storm or sickness. What HE said was the
higher command over the situation.

HE also told everyone that their sins were forgiven (bless the LORD)!
Matthew 9:2 also Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20 & Luke 7:48

We have the same opportunity.
JESUS said; "If you forgive any one's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them,
they are not forgiven." John 20:23

We have the power to speak and say (our only requirement is to believe)
what JESUS said and it will manifest. We also have the power to take
away and forgive like sins, or take away and erase lies people say or believe
and it will be done.

1 Peter 4:11, the apostle says: "If any man speak, let him speak
as the oracles of God;"

The key?
You must enter into the life of GRACE. The GOSPEL is GOOD NEWS - its
all about HIS AMAZING GRACE (and nothing more).

Secondly, once you enter this kingdom of GRACE, you must believe
and speak it.

2 Corinthians 4:13
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit
of faith we also believe and therefore speak,"

Have you entered into HIS Kingdom by GRACE?

ONLY GRACE?

Now start getting to know JESUS better, lean on HIM for little
things and see HIM come through. Never basing it on your own
'good works' or things you've done, but simply on HIS GOODNESS
alone.

Once you see all HIS love for you, its easy to believe.

Because Faith (or believing) works only through love!
Galatians 5:6

Lay your own 'good' and 'bad' down.
Take HIS GOODNESS and LOVE (by believing it and not trusting your own)
Speak what your heart is believing, based on what HE says!

This is the way, miracles occur!

Dont doubt only believe!