KEEP THE “MUSIC PLAYING” IN OUR LIVES

KEEP THE “MUSIC PLAYING” 

IN OUR LIVES


Jesus is Alive!

By praying and reading his word daily we can personally feel the effects of his presence and voice in our lives. Jesus appeared to more than 500 people post-resurrection. Because of his resurrection, there are, by some counts, as many as 2 billion Christians in the world today. Here is a list of Jesus’ appearances:
1. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, shortly after his resurrection. See Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18.
2. Jesus appears to the women returning from the empty tomb. See Matthew 28:8-10.
3. Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. See Mark 16:12,13; Luke 24:13-35.
4. He appears to Peter. See Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5.
5. He appears to his disciples, in Jerusalem, while Thomas is absent. See Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23.
6. Jesus again appears to his disciples, in Jerusalem. This time Thomas is present. See John 20:24-29.
7. Jesus appears to his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. See Matthew 28:16; John 21:1,2.
8. Jesus is seen by 500 believers at one time. See 1 Corinthians 15:6.
9. He appears to James. See 1 Corinthians 15:7.
10. He appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. See Matthew 28:16-20.
11. He appears to his disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven. See Luke 24:50-53.
12. He also appears to Paul, on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3-6; 1 Corinthians 15:8.
By George Konig www.konig.org

Welcome Happy Advent (Four Weeks of Preparing)

Welcome Happy Advent (Four Weeks of Preparing)
Thanksgiving Casts Out the Stronghold of Familiarity

Today begins the four weeks of Advent, which means "to Come." Thanksgiving not only looks back on our history but helps prepare for God's presence to be manifested (incarnated) both among us and through us in the world. The Kingdom of heaven is begun - heaven is where God fully manifests his presence to bless. Joy to the world.... He comes to make his blessings known. His presence brings blessing which gives purpose and momentum in life. His purpose sharpens our spiritual focus the sharpened spiritual focus leads to accomplishment and that accomplishment leads to contentment and contentment must be expressed with Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is not only response but also a great weapon. As we give thanks for God’s grace in our nation and our personal history, we become even more thankful for looking ahead for God’s coming in new ways to us. God came again and again in American history bringing revival and awakening, and we need Him again-not to take us away but to restore. One of the ways we get ready for his coming is to use thanksgiving as a weapon against an enemy called Familiarity. Familiarity breeds contempt because we take one another and God for granted. It is a stronghold for demonic lies, division, sin and pain.

A stronghold is a thought that has a strong hold on your life. Thoughts are like seeds. If received and nurtured they produce fruit in our life after their own kind. Fear, self-pity, envy, resentment, etc… cannot produce love, joy, peace or righteousness. In this Year of Proper Planting we must block negative and familiar seeds that rob us of a full life in God’s presence.

Use the weapons of Thanksgiving to break down the strongholds of familiarity being thankful for God's history in saving us and our nation and looking ahead to God coming to us and giving us purpose and sharpened spiritual focus that will lead to new accomplishment vision and faith and hope for the coming year.

Although we live with mixture and imperfection of God incarnate in our weak, human condition, remember that “we have this treasure in jars of clay,” 2 Cor 4:7. In Matt 13:53-58 people devalued Jesus’ ministry because of familiarity, but when we honor God and one another we receive and give blessings. God have mercy on us and help us to be thankful and fruitful.

What Evangelism Do We Really Believe In? by Pastor Dwight

Decades ago we trained people to ask questions like, "If you died tonight why would Jesus let you into heaven," or, "Right now do you know for certain you'd go to heaven." Over the years we realized people weren't even thinking about heaven let alone dying. Life was about friends, school, jobs and the pursuit of happiness, with the occasional concern for things that were wrong like Apartheid or greedy, selfish materialism.

We also realized we had problems trying to "scare the hell out of people" by warning them to come to the altar quickly so they wouldn't be "left behind" if the "rapture" happened tonight. That picture of God wasn't any more appealing than God meeting them at death's gate to tell them either, "You won the whole enchilada-enter heaven," or, "Too bad but you go to hell." On the other hand telling them to come and die on the cross didn't get people excited. Evangelism is hard!

For a while we wanted to preach prosperity but didn't have enough faith. We preached "the kingdom of God comes dominion of God over the whole earth, and you can be part of His victory," but we struggled with things like continued suffering and injustice and the continued failures of church leaders.

Many people are negative about even the big "E" word let alone knocking on doors or passing out tracts. And although we like people coming to us on Sunday, we let them find their own way Sunday afternoon through Saturday. We basically stink at discipleship and friendship outside of our "meeting."

How about evangelizing men with a challenge to manliness, courage and sacrifice for the greatest good? Invite them to Ziklag beginning Thurs eve Oct 14; or to share life with women on Friday nights, or to bake bread or make quilts?

What do see people hungry for and needing?

How about Evangelism into hope, joy, love and justice for the oppressed-"good news" which we proclaim from heaven's kingdom as already begun? Or invite neighbors to love through a food drive. Bring love through service or hospitality. Bring peace through our prayers for them. Bring hope because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead and ascension and tell them justice will come for the poor and oppressed because He returns as Judge to set things right.

What evangelism do we really believe in?
PD

Can We Live From the Unseen Into Seen?

Seeing and Living From Kingdom of Heaven in the Here and Now
Preview of the next series of messages beginning July 25 and continuing August 8

How do we walk in not only miraculous life but practical application of God’s love and grace in daily life?

It’s far easier to believe you can speak to a mountain to move out of the way (as Jesus said to disciples) when you are 30,000 feet up seated in an airplane than when underneath it and overwhelmed by it. Do we see reality by looking at the outward first or by seeing from within the kingdom? (From a resurrection and ascension seat with Christ - Eph 1:18-2:6 6 God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom because we belong to Christ Jesus.)

Can we live from the unseen into seen?

We're present in this world but the source of our life is by His presence, His purpose, His power, and the principles of His eternal Kingdom revealed both in His Word and in the natural laws at work all around us. We have jobs, responsibilities and roles here and now, but our life and destiny come from the there and then of Christ’s spiritual kingdom. Both natural and spiritual wisdom helped our founders establish a government with checks and balances. So we need balance and wisdom today, especially to discern and resist the evil of this present world and enemy.

What are we do? Rise above by practicing the celebration that is already going on in heaven. Practice praise and loving service. Hear and sing heaven’s music in your hearts now. See and hear the spirit-love-language of heaven’s covenant now. Then you can speak as if practicing how to think & live there.

If you don't plan on going to hell don't practice what comes from there: fear, worry, unforgiveness, unbelief, negativity, living under our circumstances...

Instead bring heaven here by beginning the day and conversations and work and relationships from the Kingdom within instead of reacting to things and people from without.

Matt 22:33 Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

Eph 1:18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

Acts 26:17 "'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.

Ps 36 You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light.

Ps 119:17 Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands.

~Pastor Dwight