Are you bold enough to share Christ? Anytime, anywhere, and as the Spirit leads you?

If I am bold to share Christ, I am shamed by people.

If I avoid sharing Christ, I am shamed by the Holy Spirit.

What do you think I choose to do?

Unfortunately for others, I am bold for Christ. But my motives are always pure. I promise.
I am guilty of caring too much.

Caring about peoples':

• Salvation
• Walks with God
• Walks withOUT God
• their marriages
• their kids
• their ministries
• their reputation
• their mental health
• their physical health

I care about people's lives. I really do. And when I see people make plain as day decisions in complete opposition with what the Word of God says, I speak up. Why not? It's only their salvation, their eternity, their lives they are setting up for bankruptcy, right?

For the record, it has been over a month and a half since I sat in church. I love church, but I've had kids taking turns with colds and flus and ear infections that well...tis the season I miss a lot of church from having sickies.

I state that so that I can say the next thing...I don't even have to go to church to see how diluted the preaching is. When will the undiluted Word of God be preached? When will people be passionate about living sold-out for God? As though there is "saved, but no fruit or holiness" as an option? No passion for Christ?

Folks, when I read the Book of Acts, the start of the 'church', the apostles were bold. BOLD. When I am bold out in the marketplace or with friends and family....oh dear, silence falls upon the crowd, and someone attempts to correct me.

I am so saddened that there is no sense of urgency upon the Body of Christ to share what the Bible REALLY says. Not the verses about 'believe and receive'...but the verses that tell us how to live...'be holy as I am holy' says the Lord.

I can see why so many men take on the mission to write books that call Christians out of their complacency. That's what it is - Complacency has plagued the body of Christ.

(Okay....Not ALL, but most...come on, there's a statistic that says only 10% of Christians read their Bibles...you can't disagree with me that 90% of the body of Christ is complacent...come on, they don't even read their Bibles. How can one be sold-out and passionate about Christ, if they don't even read the Bible???? Read John 1:1 and on...Jesus is the Word...therefore, you should read the Word!)

On another note, I totally acknowledge that my giftings and calling are completely different than many around me.

 

HOWEVER, Matthew 28 tells all: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL.

 

Why are so many pussy-footed to: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL?

People don't want to offend others. People don't want to be rejected. Hello, do you really think that person's lifestyle is NOT offending the Lord? Do you really think that Jesus is not being rejecting?

I think one thing is clear about me: I DO NOT LIVE FOR MAN'S APPROVAL. No way. Man is fickle, they are wayward, they are sinful, and can't even please themselves. So why try? Let's make a deal, you don't reprimand me for speaking truth of the Bible, and I won't reprimand you for NOT! No, I actually can't make that promise, because that too is not fulfilling the Word. Remember, Jesus, the Lord of lords, King of kings say to: GO and PREACH THE GOSPEL.

Present day, America in 2012 has become a time where everyone wants to do as they want, what feels good to THEM, but everyone needs to keep their mouth shut. Are you kidding me? Jesus died on the cross so that those who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Did He die in vain? Should we not tell the world the better way...the ONLY way?

Here's where society defaults to relativism. Guess what? The Bible that I read is very clear and concise on what we are to do. It's truly our survival guide to life, how can I be wrong to point someone to it when making some of life's biggest decisions?

Here's where I care...entirely too much. And after sitting down this morning in Acts 9:28 and reading about Paul 'speaking boldly', I find myself writing boldly.

Hey, I live by: When you do things GOD'S WAYS - You get GOD'S RESULTS!!!

I challenge every Christian to truly read and STUDY  the BIBLE, beyond a 'devotional time', and then challenge yourself to live a life that the Bible shows you, and the life God calls you to.

What are you naming and claiming?

I posted something this morning on FB and then went back to delete it.

It went something like:

It's amazing what God does with the little bit we give Him,

imagine if we gave Him more...

I typed this out after I had just sat down for a few minutes for my quiet time with Him. In the first few minutes, He gave me some great revelation of the next step for this ministry idea that I HE GAVE ME. And then is when I thought, "Wow God, I've only been here a few minutes, imagine what I would get if I sat here for 30 minutes...an hour..." And then I made that post.

A few minutes later, I had to fix my husband's lunch and then I randomly looked up info on a particular pastor. He has a large church, but is tied to the 'prosperity gospel'. After reading what he says and how he says it...I went back and deleted my post, as I was not intending it to parallel with that kind of teaching.

I am on a search for my own, God-revealed and confirmed, theology on this whole topic. Not sure why it's been so heavy on my mind to search it out.

Jesus said, 'Let it be according to your faith'....But can we elevate our faith above God's will?

I told my husband yesterday that the problem with the law of attraction, name it-claim it philosophy is that people's ideas, goals, desires, thoughts are elevated...and not God's will.

So what do we have faith for?

Romans 10:17: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Many have heard at a local church here that 'word' here in this verse is 'rhema' and it is. Do a lexicon search for the word 'word' in the Greek.

For me, I was raised 'in the Lord' to get a hold of God and see what He is saying personally to me...get a rhema from God...put myself in a place to receive a 'word' from God directly to me. Get direction from Him personally in regards to my personal life. This is then what I claim for my life. A word that God spoke directly to me.

Now, of course many want money. But do they want money because their motive is to give most of it away to feed the poor, hungry, and afflicted? Or do you want the comfy life?

Hmmmm. Sometimes people who are truly sold out for Christ (and only God knows the deep true intentions of their hearts....), sometimes receive a ton of money in this life...but they do the true work of God with it.

So then, we claim God's spoken rhema to us regarding this life. For some, it may be a word of 'being a missionary in Africa'...if God has a plan for you to be in Africa, then start praying for it and believing in that....that is His calling for you. Now, do you think that this missionary is going to receive a fancy new Mercedes in Africa? What would they need it for if they lived amongst a tribe in the wilderness where there are no roads? Wouldn't make sense if their calling was to take the Gospel to the poor, tribal rural people, right?

See where I'm going with this.

I think that there are 'prosperity teachers' making a lot of money right now...not because what they are teaching is TRUTH...but because that's what society, even Christians, want to hear. Think about it. America is the most gluttonous, extravagant society I have witnessed. Gas hog cars. Buffets. Fast food restaurants on every corner. Super sized fries, super sized garages...3-4 car garages...usually packed with STUFF - not even cars. Are you kidding me? Of course they will give to the church/ministry who is say 'give more so you will receive more...God wants us to be rich here on earth'.

Do you think Christians are looking for permission to be extravagant and pour themselves out at 16 hr. days at work to drive the fancy car? Think about it. Two income families so that they can afford 'the best' while the school and after-school care can raise their kids. Does that sound like God's will for families? Who is teaching the kids about the Lord and manners? The public school? I don't think so.

I don't know. I'm "old-skool". I'm content with nothing. I wear second hand clothes, because...well that's what's in the budget...but then do I need something else? Why buy retail when I can find a $50 pair of jeans in great condition at the Goodwill for $2.99?

I drive a 2 year old car, that we got used. But I'm even over that. It's nice...but is it necessary? Yes, I need a car (and one w/ A/C because I do live in one of the hottest cities on the west coast and it's more for my 2 little boys to not sweat to death...), but not one as nice as I have. Imagine who I could bless with that extra money that I'm spending on my car?

Single moms abandoned by their husbands. Hungry people because they can't find a job in this troubled economy. Cold people on the streets, despite why they are there...they are still cold.

God will make more for you as you give more....think of Jesus who took the 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed thousands. That's where it's multiplied. That which you give is multiplied so that more is provided for the needy...Is this making sense? We could help keep people's lights on, water flowing, bellies full, and bodies warm with our 'more'. And we can trust that God is doing 'more' with our 'more'. Giving our 'more' away extends the love of Christ. Our 'more' extends the provision that people were praying for. Imagine being the 'answer to prayer'...but you not receiving the credit, but God.

Contentment comes from knowing that God used you and feeling His presence in 'giving more'. Does that make sense?

I'm trying to still make sense of it. Solomon was the richest man, but even he fell away from God as he worshipped the gods of his pagan wives.

Money is not bad.

The love of money is.

Read 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:10, and Hebrews 13:5.

 

 

So...in our searching for 'more'...we need to search our hearts. Do we want more to spend on wanton pleasures? What is wanton pleasures? In the greek it is: to live luxuriously, lead a voluptuous life...See 1 Timothy 5:5 and James 5:5.

 

So...in our searching for 'more'....we need to search our motives. Do we want to spend more on ourselves, to live luxuriously...or do we want to spend more on those who don't have anything...and even more so, who don't Jesus?

 

To throw you another curve ball and in my search for 'the right answer' (which I'm still not sure what it is...I'm still searching....), I've heard:

 

"Well of course it's okay to live comfortably."

 

Qualify comfortable. My comfortable is nearly extravagant to the poor who live in rural Mexico, tribal Nigeria. My comfortable could be conservative and humble to the Kardashians...okay, maybe my lifestyle would be more like poverty to them.

 

My point is: What is comfortable?

 

Well, in all this questioning, I think it points us back to finding out what is God calling you to. There is this super rich, millionaire woman that I've heard of. She is gorgeous...and a millionaire. Yet, she has a platform to speak to the rich and those who want to be rich. And she is sharing the Word of God too...so has God called her to preach the Gospel to the rich so that their hearts can turn toward His purposes? And who will the rich listen to? The RICHER!

 

However, there are the poor and needy. Do you think the poor and needy can relate to the rich...or vice versa? No.

 

And there are those in the middle? Middle class. Just trying to pay their bills, stay out of debt, get out of debt....who do you think they will receive from?

 

So where are you? What is God calling you to do with what you have...and what you don't have?

 

It all comes down to finding out what God's will is for YOUR life, what God's calling is on YOUR life. And then YOU being content and obedient to serve HIM where HE has put you, with what HE has given YOU!!!

 

Claim what God has spoken to you personally*...and let me know how it turns out.

 

 

****Note: In order to hear God...you must put yourself in a place to hear Him. Setting time, quiet time aside for prayer and the Word, seasoned with some fasting from time to time, as the Spirit leads is the way to find out what you need to know from God, your Maker and Creator who has a special plan for your life. Just by the way.

...this topic will lead to more posts...stay tuned.

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