In our everyday lives, it seems that nothing seems surprising to hear anymore – we “love” this thing or that, we are “dying” to see such-and-such, and so-and-so is “killing” us. All of these are common things said and heard, along with the all-to-common self-defeat talk that is so prevalent in our modern society. As you read this, I want you to try to think back over the past 24 hours and see whether or not anything comes to mind regarding your own speech. You see, our speech is far more important than how we may treat it. Let’s go to God’s word to build a case for this:
First, according to Genesis, we are made in God’s likeness and image. We have his attributes (and according to what Jesus said, we have His authority – Luke 10:19, for example), and we, like Father, are creators in our own rite. Proverbs 18:20-21 says that “From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it (life or death) shall eat its fruit.” Additionally, Proverbs 12:14 says, “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” And check out Proverbs 13;2, which tells us that a man enjoys good things from the fruit of his lips. Clearly, Solomon was trying to nail down a point in Proverbs by repeating this several times throughout his writings. Even Jesus said that, “"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37).
Imagine for a moment that you would INSTANTLY see come to pass whatever you would speak forth. What would your world look like, assuming this happened suddenly based on what you had been saying recently? This is where I believe we will stand to see the deepest impact. It has been my experience that most people don’t really believe in guarding what they speak because the impact isn’t usually immediate. Words are often like seeds: they need to grow first before they will ever produce a harvest. There can be a lot of time between what we are saying and the actual manifestation of it. Additionally, we can easily poison our “seeds” by other actions in our lives. For example, how many people do you know who are confessing health, but go around telling everyone of all their many ailments? Or how many have you seen who are believing God to help them in their finances, but keep telling everyone everywhere all about their woes and of how “un-blessed” they are? These are the easy ones. What about areas we don’t naturally tie to our words…like our actions? Are we speaking one thing, yet our actions showing another? Are we holding onto bitterness, unforgiveness, or sin? What about rebellion against authority? Ok, enough meddling, let’s move on.
Sometimes, we just can’t seem to help ourselves – we say things we shouldn’t. WHY? I am so glad you asked! Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Perhaps this is why we were instructed in Proverbs 4:21 to guard our hearts. We have to be careful what we allow to penetrate to our heart, because inevitably, our mouth is going to reflect exactly what lies in the depths of our heart. I would go so far as to say that word issues/ speech issues are simply outward symptoms of heart issues. The words we speak are a diagnostic readout of the condition of our hearts. My challenge for you for the next seven days is to carry around a notebook and a pen and write down what you catch yourself saying. You will be amazed when you stop and take inventory of your words of what you are really saying. I pray that all of our eyes will be opened to see, and that the Lord would give us a pure and clean heart of flesh, that we might speak His truth over our circumstances and into the lives of those all around us to effect change. Let me leave you with this thought: We were created in the likeness and image of God, so we are creators by nature. Perhaps the very reason we have not seen our prayers manifested is because we are begging God to do this or that, and not standing in our God-given place of authority and COMMANDING the thing to come to pass. Perhaps God is sitting back watching us to see when we are going to use all of the tools and raw materials He has given us to build the thing we are asking for. STAND in your authority, and COMMAND the thing that is not as though it were. Job 22:28 – “"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.”
Blessings to you and yours,
Chris
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Law of Love
The Law of Love
In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The Bible says in Romans 13:8 that we are to “Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.” Jesus said that the entire law can be summed up in two commands – to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 28:38-40). Lastly (for now), 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that whether we had all wisdom, or the tongues of men and angels, or faith to move mountains, or prophecy strong enough to reveal all of God’s mysteries, but was without love, all would be useless.
Far too often today, I hear Christians talking and sounding nothing like love. One denomination is superior to another because they speak in tongues, or because they have more contemporary worship, or because their service is held at the “correct time.” We have all heard someone say that they belong to “Pastor so-and-so’s or Bishop this-and-that’s church” – and the air about how they say it may as well finish with “and we are superior to you.” Is it coincidence that the unchurhced world views Christians as hypocritical? Should we be surprised by this when as a whole, we set ourselves at odds with our fellow brothers and sisters based on which building we worship in, or based on the style of the service? We even have teachings on how this or that denomination isn’t truly Christian based on some fact. Should we be at all surprised then, when the rest of the world sets themselves against “church people?”
My friends, this should not be the case. Let me repeat myself for good measure: THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. God revealed many aspects of His character by the myriad different names by which He identified Himself, but the only time He called Himself an attribute was when He called Himself love. Today, I pray that all of our eyes would see; that our hearts would understand, and that our hands and feet would go forth in love. Christianity is not about fulfilling 5,000 do’s and don’ts; it is about walking in love. We are to speak the truth in love. Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hang on love.
I want to help you get free from false religious mindsets that have served as prisons. You are not a better Christian for checking off a list of to-do’s. You are not more powerful if you prophesy or less powerful if you don’t. Prophesy is an amazing gift of the Lord, and is extremely powerful, but prophecies will fade. Love endures. Powerful gifts do not cover a multitude of sins; love does. Emphatic teaching doesn’t cast out all fear; love does. Love of the Father is not a set of moral obligations and checklist. I don’t read my Bible or pray or go to church because I am “supposed to.” I do them because they flow naturally as a byproduct of my love of the Father. Love compels me to pray, to seek God because I am enraptured by His great love. Today, right now, you are far more powerful than you realize. Make a choice today to step out and to radically love those around you, regardless of denomination, or regardless even of religion, and I guarantee that you will see that you will see your entire world change right in front of you. Since God is love, let me end with this food for thought: “For Love so loved the world, that Love gave…”
In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The Bible says in Romans 13:8 that we are to “Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.” Jesus said that the entire law can be summed up in two commands – to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 28:38-40). Lastly (for now), 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that whether we had all wisdom, or the tongues of men and angels, or faith to move mountains, or prophecy strong enough to reveal all of God’s mysteries, but was without love, all would be useless.
Far too often today, I hear Christians talking and sounding nothing like love. One denomination is superior to another because they speak in tongues, or because they have more contemporary worship, or because their service is held at the “correct time.” We have all heard someone say that they belong to “Pastor so-and-so’s or Bishop this-and-that’s church” – and the air about how they say it may as well finish with “and we are superior to you.” Is it coincidence that the unchurhced world views Christians as hypocritical? Should we be surprised by this when as a whole, we set ourselves at odds with our fellow brothers and sisters based on which building we worship in, or based on the style of the service? We even have teachings on how this or that denomination isn’t truly Christian based on some fact. Should we be at all surprised then, when the rest of the world sets themselves against “church people?”
My friends, this should not be the case. Let me repeat myself for good measure: THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. God revealed many aspects of His character by the myriad different names by which He identified Himself, but the only time He called Himself an attribute was when He called Himself love. Today, I pray that all of our eyes would see; that our hearts would understand, and that our hands and feet would go forth in love. Christianity is not about fulfilling 5,000 do’s and don’ts; it is about walking in love. We are to speak the truth in love. Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hang on love.
I want to help you get free from false religious mindsets that have served as prisons. You are not a better Christian for checking off a list of to-do’s. You are not more powerful if you prophesy or less powerful if you don’t. Prophesy is an amazing gift of the Lord, and is extremely powerful, but prophecies will fade. Love endures. Powerful gifts do not cover a multitude of sins; love does. Emphatic teaching doesn’t cast out all fear; love does. Love of the Father is not a set of moral obligations and checklist. I don’t read my Bible or pray or go to church because I am “supposed to.” I do them because they flow naturally as a byproduct of my love of the Father. Love compels me to pray, to seek God because I am enraptured by His great love. Today, right now, you are far more powerful than you realize. Make a choice today to step out and to radically love those around you, regardless of denomination, or regardless even of religion, and I guarantee that you will see that you will see your entire world change right in front of you. Since God is love, let me end with this food for thought: “For Love so loved the world, that Love gave…”
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Making Right Decisions
Making the Right Decisions
So many times in speaking with people, I hear a very common theme of longing to be in the perfect will of God, but far less frequently do I hear of people having complete clarity on what the Lord would have them to do with whatever prospective options lie in front of them. So often, the will of God over any situation seems so mystical and encrypted, and having clarity can be difficult. With so many voices speaking – logic, reasoning, societal influences, opinions of family members, coworkers, and friends, etc. – choosing the right path can sometimes feel like trying to find the proverbial needle in the haystack. I want to share with you briefly a few quick and easy tests to help you make the right decision. Would you be willing to try three easy steps to determine their impact? Let’s begin:
First, follow peace. Sounds simple enough, right? Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Additionally, Jesus said in John 16:33 that “These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” Also, Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11 tell us to “seek peace and pursue it.” Everyone has engrained deep within an innate compass that dictates peace and apprehension. God’s word tells us to seek peace – and even promises that He will keep us in peace and will reveal (speak) things to us so that we can have peace. Jesus was called the Prince of Peace, so naturally, we can deduct that His Kingdom will be that of peace. We can tell from this that seeking after peace and allowing His peace to rule in our hearts will always lead us toward the Kingdom of God, and thus, the right decision.
Secondly, stay within the realm of where you find favor with God and man. Psalm 5:12 in the NKJV articulates this wonderfully: “For you, LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor will you compass him as with a shield.” When Elijah’s favor was gone at the Brook of Cherith, along with the provision, and he heard the word of the Lord and followed God’s favor to Zarephath, where he saw miraculous provision. Favor is defined as the state of being held in high regard or as something done out of goodwill. Essentially, then, we can see that when faced with a decision, we should see where we have favor, and align ourselves accordingly.
Along with following peace and favor, I would also suggest being single-minded and not continually jump back and forth between two (or more) options. James 1:5-8 promises that we can ask God and He will give us wisdom, but goes on to say that if we are double-minded, we are unstable, and should expect to receive NOTHING from the Lord. Ask the Lord for wisdom, seek peace, and believe you have received your answer when you pray. Then, go on about your day and EXPECT to get the wisdom to make the right decisions, and follow the path of peace and favor! I pray that everyone reading this and being faced with difficult decisions to make, no matter how large or small, would ask, believe, and receive Your wisdom for the situation, then would follow peace and favor each step of the way. May each of you have ears to hear, eyes to see, and wisdom to discern every situation you find yourself in.
Blessings,
Chris Reed
PO BOX 700055, Tulsa, OK 74136
So many times in speaking with people, I hear a very common theme of longing to be in the perfect will of God, but far less frequently do I hear of people having complete clarity on what the Lord would have them to do with whatever prospective options lie in front of them. So often, the will of God over any situation seems so mystical and encrypted, and having clarity can be difficult. With so many voices speaking – logic, reasoning, societal influences, opinions of family members, coworkers, and friends, etc. – choosing the right path can sometimes feel like trying to find the proverbial needle in the haystack. I want to share with you briefly a few quick and easy tests to help you make the right decision. Would you be willing to try three easy steps to determine their impact? Let’s begin:
First, follow peace. Sounds simple enough, right? Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Additionally, Jesus said in John 16:33 that “These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” Also, Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11 tell us to “seek peace and pursue it.” Everyone has engrained deep within an innate compass that dictates peace and apprehension. God’s word tells us to seek peace – and even promises that He will keep us in peace and will reveal (speak) things to us so that we can have peace. Jesus was called the Prince of Peace, so naturally, we can deduct that His Kingdom will be that of peace. We can tell from this that seeking after peace and allowing His peace to rule in our hearts will always lead us toward the Kingdom of God, and thus, the right decision.
Secondly, stay within the realm of where you find favor with God and man. Psalm 5:12 in the NKJV articulates this wonderfully: “For you, LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor will you compass him as with a shield.” When Elijah’s favor was gone at the Brook of Cherith, along with the provision, and he heard the word of the Lord and followed God’s favor to Zarephath, where he saw miraculous provision. Favor is defined as the state of being held in high regard or as something done out of goodwill. Essentially, then, we can see that when faced with a decision, we should see where we have favor, and align ourselves accordingly.
Along with following peace and favor, I would also suggest being single-minded and not continually jump back and forth between two (or more) options. James 1:5-8 promises that we can ask God and He will give us wisdom, but goes on to say that if we are double-minded, we are unstable, and should expect to receive NOTHING from the Lord. Ask the Lord for wisdom, seek peace, and believe you have received your answer when you pray. Then, go on about your day and EXPECT to get the wisdom to make the right decisions, and follow the path of peace and favor! I pray that everyone reading this and being faced with difficult decisions to make, no matter how large or small, would ask, believe, and receive Your wisdom for the situation, then would follow peace and favor each step of the way. May each of you have ears to hear, eyes to see, and wisdom to discern every situation you find yourself in.
Blessings,
Chris Reed
PO BOX 700055, Tulsa, OK 74136
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Honoring Men and Women of God
How often do we speak of how much a man or woman of God has blessed us? All the time, men and women in leadership in the Kingdom of God give freely of themselves – often to their own detriment. In reflecting this week through various trials, I couldn’t help but think of men and women who have truly given of themselves, and have been a tremendous blessing to ME. I am sure each of you reading this can think of a time when someone gave of their time, their resources, their energy, and their anointing to bless you, help you, encourage you, get you delivered/ healed, gave you wisdom, or any combination of the above. Romans 13:7 tells us to “Give to everyone what is owed them: if taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” It is clear that we often share our gratitude with a “thank you” or a letter of appreciation, but how often do we really show our gratitude by something that costs us?
Let me present this from another angle, one not so spiritual at all: I buy my mother flowers regularly. I don’t buy them for her because she loves the flowers (she does!). I buy them for her because I want to honor her with the flowers because of all she has done for me, and even more so because I want her to enjoy the flowers while she is alive. I don’t want to just send flowers to her gravesite one day. What I am trying to say is that we should bless and honor and truly show support for the men and women of God who have forged the way for us, or who have helped us along our journey. 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14 says, “11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?... 14In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”
My challenge for you is this: find the men and women of God who have been a blessing to you, who have helped you grow to where you are today, and bless them by financially supporting them. Most of them have never, and likely will never, ask you for money. Bless them anyway, without them having to ask! Here is my simple challenge for you: buy them lunch. I realize you may not be in the same state or even country as he or she is, so I mean this figuratively. Literally, I mean, give them an offering equal to you buying their lunch. If you can only afford a 99 cent cheeseburger, so be it. If you can afford to buy them steak and lobster, then by all means, do it! Show the men and women of God in your life your appreciation, and bless them!
Let me present this from another angle, one not so spiritual at all: I buy my mother flowers regularly. I don’t buy them for her because she loves the flowers (she does!). I buy them for her because I want to honor her with the flowers because of all she has done for me, and even more so because I want her to enjoy the flowers while she is alive. I don’t want to just send flowers to her gravesite one day. What I am trying to say is that we should bless and honor and truly show support for the men and women of God who have forged the way for us, or who have helped us along our journey. 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14 says, “11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?... 14In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”
My challenge for you is this: find the men and women of God who have been a blessing to you, who have helped you grow to where you are today, and bless them by financially supporting them. Most of them have never, and likely will never, ask you for money. Bless them anyway, without them having to ask! Here is my simple challenge for you: buy them lunch. I realize you may not be in the same state or even country as he or she is, so I mean this figuratively. Literally, I mean, give them an offering equal to you buying their lunch. If you can only afford a 99 cent cheeseburger, so be it. If you can afford to buy them steak and lobster, then by all means, do it! Show the men and women of God in your life your appreciation, and bless them!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sowing and Reaping
Review of Sowing and Reaping
In tough economic times like these, one of the first things to pop up in conversation is naturally, finances. Experts say save, pastors say give, and we can’t help but wonder “where is my harvest?” We as the Body of Christ have heard many promises, many gimmicks, and many strategies…but what is the truth on the matter? Is it really “name it and claim it?” Or is it “sow it and reap it?” Or perhaps, the truth is something different altogether. In seeking the Lord on this matter, here is the reality of what I see, and what I have heard the Lord saying:
I have seen (and have sown) major “seeds” sown in faith, with no result in the natural. I have seen poor widows give their last, and still struggle financially. I have also seen faithful believers experience miraculous provisions – in fact, my own spiritual father, after hearing from the Lord and giving a specified amount to a specified place monthly, was blessed with a new car, totally paid for. So, then, what is the difference? I believe that the answer is multi-faceted, but primarily two-fold: First, obedience is better than sacrifice. If the Lord says to give $1.00, and you give that $1.00 as He has commanded you, your reward will be for obedience. On the other hand, giving $1,000 without being told to is commendable, but does not necessarily bring in a harvest. Why? 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” Obedience is the key here. Additionally, Ecclesiastes 5:1 warns us to “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” WOW! So God’s word warns us that simply offering sacrifices (offerings) vainly is not only foolish, but evil. The key is OBEDIENCE – and not to the man standing and collecting the offering, but to the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, what is the purpose? Is it for your own vainglory? James 4:2-3 says, “You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” My spiritual father asked for the purpose of being able to minister; not to puff himself up. I know this is a touchy subject, and one that has been abused and misused so badly that it has left many devastated and wounded within the church. Today, let’s establish balance on the giving and the prosperity message in two simple steps: (1) Obey the Lord out of love; and (2) Ask out of the motive of love. When we fully obey, we shall surely eat of the good of the land, and we will be blessed not just for our own divulgence, but far more importantly, we will be blessed TO BE A BLESSING!
In tough economic times like these, one of the first things to pop up in conversation is naturally, finances. Experts say save, pastors say give, and we can’t help but wonder “where is my harvest?” We as the Body of Christ have heard many promises, many gimmicks, and many strategies…but what is the truth on the matter? Is it really “name it and claim it?” Or is it “sow it and reap it?” Or perhaps, the truth is something different altogether. In seeking the Lord on this matter, here is the reality of what I see, and what I have heard the Lord saying:
I have seen (and have sown) major “seeds” sown in faith, with no result in the natural. I have seen poor widows give their last, and still struggle financially. I have also seen faithful believers experience miraculous provisions – in fact, my own spiritual father, after hearing from the Lord and giving a specified amount to a specified place monthly, was blessed with a new car, totally paid for. So, then, what is the difference? I believe that the answer is multi-faceted, but primarily two-fold: First, obedience is better than sacrifice. If the Lord says to give $1.00, and you give that $1.00 as He has commanded you, your reward will be for obedience. On the other hand, giving $1,000 without being told to is commendable, but does not necessarily bring in a harvest. Why? 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” Obedience is the key here. Additionally, Ecclesiastes 5:1 warns us to “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” WOW! So God’s word warns us that simply offering sacrifices (offerings) vainly is not only foolish, but evil. The key is OBEDIENCE – and not to the man standing and collecting the offering, but to the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, what is the purpose? Is it for your own vainglory? James 4:2-3 says, “You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” My spiritual father asked for the purpose of being able to minister; not to puff himself up. I know this is a touchy subject, and one that has been abused and misused so badly that it has left many devastated and wounded within the church. Today, let’s establish balance on the giving and the prosperity message in two simple steps: (1) Obey the Lord out of love; and (2) Ask out of the motive of love. When we fully obey, we shall surely eat of the good of the land, and we will be blessed not just for our own divulgence, but far more importantly, we will be blessed TO BE A BLESSING!
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