The Ramsey Discussions pt. 2 “The Heart of the Matter”
Of all the concepts I have learned in the course of my life, few have made an impression of the an impression like that of supernatural healing. Even more than that of supernatural healing. Even more than that, the Creator’s desire to heal His creation, often times using His creation, is exciting as it is humbling. This concept and realization are two things about the life of Jesus that bring a fresh vantage point when reading the Gospels. I must say that I am grieved and truly saddened that some who follow Jesus, as I do, relegate diving healing to something that happened just in the bible, and isn’t “for us” for some reason. I can’t escape the notion that: A. because I disagree with these individuals and agree with the bible (Jame 5:14-15, Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matt. 8:17, 1 peter 2:24) that they label me somewhat of a fanatic, lunatic, and lets not forget my personal favorite, a heretic, and B. that some of these individuals are closest to me, in the denomination that I used to so closely affiliate myself with, even as close as the pew in front of me on Sunday June 15th. I am not afraid, depressed, distraught, or disillusioned by their false misgivings due to my biblical beliefs, simply because they called Jesus these same such things. I bless those individuals and speak no ill or hate towards them as this journey of Christianity is a progression and as we continue to make steps, our eyes are opened a little more and we are warmed and see a little more clearly by the Son’s light of revelation.
Anyway, speaking of Jesus, I am continually amazed by all the healings, but I am equally amazed when I read of the compassion He exhibited in these cases, especially when dealing with the multitudes. I have found that certain times I experience that same feeling of compassion. However at other times I pass by someone in a wheelchair, or know of someone who is sick and I am completely devoid of that compassion, not thinking twice about their condition or how God can heal them. This dichotomy has been shifting in the balance of “more compassion, more of the time” (largely due, in part, to the two tours of the ‘great Florida outpouring’ healing revival in Lakeland Fl.), but the dichotomy still exists. Pondering the perplexity, I turned to Ramsey and posed an inquiry to the nature of this frustrating dichotomy. He paused for one brief instant and in the next simply spoke, “that’s the difference between stepping into God’s heart, and living there.” He went on to further elaborate that we are filled with compassion for some when we step into God’s heart, and we have compassion for all when we learn to live there.
please keep your eyes peeled for the next writing, which describes how i gave away my most prized possesion for an item they sell at mcdonalds…
Filed under Gospel | Comments (221)Reflections of the Gospel “The Ramsey Discussions pt. 1: ‘How much Does it Cost?’”
The following 2 blogs recount particularly meaningful insights from Craig’s brother-in-law Ramsey Bell in response to significant questions I had during our latest visit to Lakeland Florida. Ramsey’s insights were simple conceptionally and plain in their delivery, but upon further excavation they would prove to be fundamentally shaking, the vibrations traveling to the epicenter of where my beliefs mend with the person that I am. These vibrations have had a considerable impact upon that epicenter and even to this day they have produced a remarkable alteration that will last for the remainder of my existence…
I have experienced inexplicable growth and learned many things from Craig and the ministry of Awake International during my 5 month stay here in Moravian Falls. Of the many things I have learned, a key realization that Craig has demonstrated repeatedly over the duration of my stay is that”the price has been paid” for us through the atonement of our sins by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is something i have always believed, but in this environment I have seen it with a new aspect of profoundness, as it has taken a different meaning all together. Healing, provision, the anointing, favor, wisdom, and various other spiritual gifts are “freely” given, that is to say they are readily accessible as a part of a Christian’s relationship with Jesus Christ (made possible by only through His death in our place for the remission of our sins). In many meetings with Todd Bentley in Florida however, he often speaks of “paying the price” for the anointing. I never was certain what that “payment” entailed, but tried my best to understand it as spending significant time in prayer, and having a hunger for God and His glorious presence, as this made the most sense to me. I saw the validity in each and agreed with each vantage point, but was baffled at the thought of the two of them co-existing. I brought this introspective inquiry before Ramsey casually one day as we were sitting in a baseball dugout. He simply told me “…The price has been paid, but Christ still asks for everything.”
Filed under Gospel | Comments (18)Reflections of the Gospel: “becky”
the following blog was written some while ago…the reason im posting it is because I believe I have discovered the person that it refers to in the conclusion…enjoy…
Lately Ive been presented with the choice of sleepng in or going to church/meeting with God and in every case opting with the latter has yet to leave me felling disapointed. The same oppourtunity presented itself today as my insurmountable fatigue beseached me to to sleep a lil more and neglect my ministry oppourtunity. Recalling my prior expierence with this situation as well as my desire to honor my verbal commitment to the youth pastor, it really wasnt a decision to make. I always enjoy going to places (the drive) but espically tose trips that allow me to use the OK-74 highway. Its just so beautiful! With the warm setting sun and lush green meadows, random 4 way stops with gas stations where the other two ways have to stop but you are allowed to keep going. the feeling of 75mph on such a road with the window down and the wind surging passivelyat your face, sweeping over the broad, yet fitting lenses of my aviator sunglasses. great stuff. Its also always fun because there are little towns that you drive through marked by the quickly decreasing speed limit. This particular time the first town I would “pass through” would be the town where i would be ministering at. Crescent. When I was traveling in Derail (the praise and worship band i used to be in), we played there at a commuity center and it seems as if everyone remembered me from that time. One thing I didnt realize was how big skateboarding was there! So when I brought my longboard out it was a hit, due to its length and smooth ride. I feel like it helped me break the ice in a way. Most kids didn’t know that i was going to be the speaker, I was just a dude with a long skateboard. I liked that alot. One of the things I remember from my last visit was that they’re wernt any black people at all, so it was great to see 2 at the event. Making my way over to talk to them I felt myself at odds pondering how i owuld be welcomed by them, because im not a typical…well I dont dress/look like alot of black people, and this puts me at odds with them, I feel. As if they are expressing contempt for me breaking some unwritten code of conduct/dress by my expression of my creativity/ personality. Anyway upon meeting them I quickly found a commonality in the anticipation for the new season as shelby and adriene were sr. running and full backs for the highschool. That round of ammo proved somewhat effective, but ran out very soon so i made my timely exit and moved on. I knew that God would do the work (whatever it was) later. I had fun meeitng the students and Jenifer, the girl next girl who was feeding the goats, and listening to Walking Seven, the opening band. They looked like they were nearing the the end of their highschool journey and played really well. My set was shorter as time had dictated but the 5 songs I did with emotion that was mustered from the people that surounded the little trailor stage. this only intensified as adriene and shelby moved from afar to join the party people by the stage. It was as if i was rapping just for them. As I delivered each rhyme, we met eyes and each time they were nodding to signify that they could make out what i was saying and they were down with it. So with all the engergy it had begun with, the set ended, and i transitioned to the message. You dont have to have notes whn God takes you through a dark place oin your life and teaches you along the way. A young man, Trey I believe, whom i had talked with and gotten to know before the show (we instantly bonded because we were both black gospel rappers, i was just slightly older!!!) the whole time went up for prayer. I thought that this and meeting adriene and shelby and having those “odds” broken down with Gods truth over tracks was blessing enough, but then i met sara and her sister becky and her daughter torra love. Becky, torras mom, was old school penticostal or threw that vibe due to her long (ankle length) skirt and long hair, sans makeup/jewlery. for all the haters i say there something in that modest appearence. I thik its the unwavering adhearence to that such appearence. in talking with Becky I realized she was the person I wanted to marry. She as well as her sister and daughter reminded me of what its like to wait for Gods best. A woman of faith, modesty, purity, and an intimacy with God that focuses on knowing His heart. that knowledge expresses itself in everything she does and all that she is, making her truly beautiful. This beauty is exceptional and so extremely rare that ill know it when i see it, and there wont be any mistaking it. Ive often seen alot of these qualities in girls ive persued, thinking they were perfect for me, but all this while I was so sure and Christ was saying simply “they may be perfect, but not for you..” and “you could make it work, but ive got better” Meeting becky I realized this was true and that such a woman makes ripples of impact around those close to her like becky had done iwth her younger sister and two daughters. We stayed for over an hour talking about the things of God. She was astounded to see so many Godly concepts I had grasped at “such a young age,” and i was amazed at how her devotion to God had such an impact on me. God confirms all kinds of things and tells us what we need to hear. When it happens its almost never the same situation and likewise we are almost never the same, but it always is a blessing.
Filed under Gospel | Comments (15)Either God is a Liar
A considerable majority of people don’t believe that in addition to this world, there is a parallel world that also exists. Of that majority, a vast number of those people are Christians. I do not doubt their conversion or commitment, although we are called to make loving judgement based on the fruit that ones life produces (drawn most notably from matthew 7.16, Matthew 7.20 and also Luke 6.43, John 15.4, John 15.8, John 15.16 and Romans 7.4), but looking at the life of Jesus, which will always be the primary source and subject of authority in my entries, it is unquestionably clear that He believed in the existence of another reality that occurs in-step, that is to say side-by-side, with the reality that you and I experience every day. These realities are sometimes referred to as “realms.” The everyday, sensory, “what-you-can-see, taste, touch, feel, hear” reality is known as the “natural realm,” but there also exists a realm which often transcends the information that we gather from our interpretation of our brains sensory inputs. It is often beyond what we can see and hear . This realm is known as the above-natural or “supernatural realm.” This is the realm where God works and lives and where heaven is found, and also it is from this realm that Satan works. It is superior to the realm of the natural and the effects of this reality have significant bearing, as experienced here in the natural, both good and evil. While both exist in-step with one another, an element of the supernatural realm is always exercising its influence over the natural. When the evil influence of Satan is exercised, the effects of sickness, death, poverty, and sin are seen in our lives and in the world. A common misconception is that this is not an “evil influence of the supernatural realm” but rather “normal life ” or ” just how the world works.” The partial truth in this misconception is that Satan was given dominion over the earth (temporarily, through Adam’s disobedience-romans 5.12), and so the nature of satan (”to kill, steal, and destroy…” Jn. 10.10) is commonly seen on earth. Conversely, when the supernatural power/influence of the Kingdom of God is manifest in the earth, it always subverts the effects/influence of Satan and darkness often producing results that are frequently awe-inspiring, and astounding as most people are acclimated to a “natural realm view” ,with no regard to the supernatural, and so these “supernatural” results are “impossible,” or more graciously “exceptionally unlikely, or improbable,” because such a realm, where they would be characteristic, does not exist. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus proves the existence of these two realms, as well as the possibility of humans to sanction the conformation of the natural realm to the realm of the supernatural (Christ did this being FULLY HUMAN, by walking in right relationship with the father). Jesus exemplified this in the many “miracalous” healings signs and wonders he did. His motive (in addition to true love) is uncovered when He teaches His disciples to pray. In the last part of that prayer (matt. 6.10) He prays “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, or in other words “may your kingdom be established here on earth, as it is established there in heaven.” It is very apparent that Christ was doing this, every time he performed a miracle-establishing the kingdom of God on earth, just like it is in heaven. In Gods kingdom or domain (kingdom=king’s domain) in heaven, there is no one sick, poor, afflicted, or bound by sin (as satan can have no dominion in heaven) , so whenever Christ healed, delivered, or provided he was simply asking God to make the situation on earth like it was in heaven. Two things were required for this to take place: faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith (hebrews 11.1) enabled Jesus to look to heaven and see with His heart how things are in heaven, and earnestly believe that the natural could/and would conform to look just like heaven. The power of the Holy Spirit was what enabled Jesus to be fully human and perform such miracles, signs and wonders and was always present whenever he commanded an earthly situation to conform to the Kingdom of God (matt. 12. 28). I dont think that we can relegate God to a formula, but in this aspect i dont think its a mystery. When Jesus came across a situation in the natural that didnt line up with how it was in the “supernatural realm” of the Kingdom of God, He prayed in faith and believed commanding the situation to line up with the Kingdom of God in Heaven, and it was the power of the Holy Spirit that made it so. He was able to subvert the influence of Satan in the natural, because while satan has dominion over the earth Jesus had authority over satan, therefore satan has no choice but to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ (given to HIm by the Father-matt. 28.18). The exciting news about all of this, is that Christ gave us (believers/disciples) that same authority over satan and is dark influence over this world, so that we can also bring the Kingdom of God into “everyday” situations (sickness, poverty, sin) by the power of the Holy Spirit (matt. 10.1,5-8, matt. 22.18). More than that, Jesus Christ himself PROMISED that we (believers/disciples of Christ) would do “greater things than these” if we simply believe and use the eyes of our heart to see things as they are in the Kingdom of God in heaven and in faith command the natural to fall in line with the supernatural (John 14.12). Furthermore, Jesus said to his disciples that these “signs” will follow those that believe; that they will cast out demons, speak with new tongues, get bitten by snakes and not die, be poisoned and not die, and lay hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover (Mark 16.17-18). Shortly after this he ascended into heaven, and its funny what the disciples did….they believed what he said and began to attempt to do what he said….turns out “the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (mark 16.19).Lets go home…Ive only arrived at this point after dropping everything and moving away from everything ive ever known to a strange land. This bold action of faith has brought me to a total dependance upon God, and a side effect of that is a new revelation of what Jesus is talking about when He speaks of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was kingdom minded and thats all he ever did on earth was establish Gods kingdom. His death and resurrection enabled us to do the same by the power of the holy spirit, in an effort to make disciples. From this place I currently reside, getting ahold of this revelation, my thinking has been challenged, and transformed to the point that miracles are the “norm” and situations in the natural, are merely opportunities for God to showcase who He is and for His glorious kingdom to be established on the earth. Miles and miles away I ask, what is happening in our churches? Not the buildings we go to, or the denominations we entangle ourselves with, but what is happening with us-the “church” of the “living” God. Are demons being cast out, are the lame walking, the sick being healed??? And if so at what frequency? From what ive seen where i used to live, miracles signs and wonders rarely ever happen, and if a miracle happened, people are like “wow” and are actually suprised, when Gods people should not be suprised at miracles because they are supposed to follow us that believe in him, and He has given us the power (by the Holy Spirit) for these things to happen. So my conclusion is this: either God is a Liar,or we simply dont believe… written in love to make you thinkgospel
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