Apr 23
SIN - To Miss the Mark
If sin means to miss the mark, what mark are we talking about? That is the key question and the very reason I tackled the enormous subject of absolutes before I dared to lunge at this topic. You see we humans have this need to justify our thoughts and actions, especially those we know are less than spiritual. Often, we logically and perhaps with subconscious systemization, work through a list of criteria designed to prove we were not wrong or that what we did was not sinful. The way we handle this is to discard absolutes.
The problem with this line of thought is that we tend to think that we can easily detect right from wrong and good from evil and that it is personal because these things change with the situation and/or culture. This is seldom true or at least not fully accurate. Our motives are often impure, and our perceptions are jaded and so we, like the apostle Paul, think we are right – when we are woefully wrong. We then complicate matters by judging others from our jaded religious heights. This is especially true in the relativistic culture now growing within Christendom.
DETERIORATED THINKING
This jaded thinking causes a distorted understanding of things we know. One of the result is that we often do not get what we pray for because we ask “amiss.” Asking amiss or with the wrong motive and from a degenerate perspective causes us to ask for things that will not further God’s purpose or will. It may even battle against the very thing we deeply want. And as Marilyn wrote, we exert our will over God’s – knowingly or unknowingly. When we are immature we do not even know that what we do is less than righteous, thus it is not sin, it is immaturity. However, as we mature we learn and we recognize more of God’s ways and sin becomes an issue. God is very merciful with us Earthlings – especially the ones who are trying to live in honor of Him.
GOD’S PLAN
This is why it is important to know God, not just know about Him. The church in this era has taught about God, but few teach us the ways of God. Moses said that the way to know God is to know His ways. This is remarkable in light of the fact that Moses had worked many miracles before he made this statement. In effect he said, though I have done all of these things, I have no clue who you are, so help me to know you.
What I’ve noticed is this, like Moses, when we rely on external sources to fill the God gap in us we eventually fail. Why? Because, we have no root of Him in us – everything we experience is from the outside in. This is one reason revivals end. Individuals come to receive without the understanding that external Spiritual stimuli must produce internal change. This is called transformation. Without transformation revivals make us feel better, but our choices and therefore our lives are no different a year later.
TRANSFORMATION AND SIN
Without being internally changed by external spiritual stimulus we will revert to our old selves when temptation comes. In turn we fall. It is this deep internal “knowing” that allows us to resist temptation. Otherwise, as one of you noted, we will be like Adam and Eve, walking in the supernatural glory of God and still falling to temptation. This is why it was to our advantage that Jesus ascended to the Father and sent the One, True, Pure, Holy Spirit. As Jesus stated, He is with you and shall be in you. This “in you” is vitally important to transformation and the overcoming of temptation.
Thus the law is now written on the tablets of our hearts, hearts of flesh and not of stone. This law helps us to “know” the truth not just the facts. This law helps us choose the correct tree as the basis for any decision. This law, God’s law is remarkable and it is absolute in it’s application.
There are may things that we may believe are okay to do, but we will find that we can be or are blinded by our own desires for pleasure that war within our own members.
Jesus had nothing in common with Satan or sin. He recognized at every moment what was right and what was wrong. He had no agenda but the Father’s. He was not legalistic, He was life giving. He did not try to see how much He could get away with, but who He could impact and transform. His life holds the keys to full transformation and the resisting of any and all temptation.
WHAT IS SIN?
Sin is simply, anything that kills, steals from, destroys or deteriorates God’s design. This includes His creation, His Son, the view of the Holy Spirit, and our view of God and how we come to Him. His design is His will. Our will is to become indistinguishable from His will and to the degree we rebel against all that is His will - this is sin.
Blessings,
John Paul
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HELLO John Paul At a later date will you go into why most people arent transformed at a revival. I have read that since WW2 that most peoples spirit only half awake, how does all of this fit to geather. I really love your coffee talk. Hugs to you.
Somebody better get me some floaties or I’m going back to the wading pool. IT’S GETTING DEEP IN HERE…
John Paul wrote:
WHAT IS SIN?
You see we humans have this need to justify our thoughts and actions, especially those we know are less than spiritual. Often, we logically and perhaps with subconscious systemization, work through a list of criteria designed to prove we were not wrong or that what we did was not sinful. The way we handle this is to discard absolutes.
My Response:
I am not sure if intellectualizing(systemization) sin is the best thing to do because it is a fallen spiritual condition. So how can something that is spiritual be handled through the process of reason and intellectuallizing in other words making excuses for why we sin.
This is another way of hiding our nakedness from God. God already knows our weaknesses before we even choose to repent, He is just waiting for us to catch up with our selves and to be frank and honest with Him and others regarding our weak natures so that He can be our strength and forgive us of our sins once we repent.
I think for the one who has fallen privy to their weak ways has an issue with trusting God even with their own weak natures due to shame, a false sense of perfection which has its roots in pride and arrogance so on and so forth. So, the danger of leaning on our own human understanding regarding whether or not to confess a sin to God or keep it to ourselves is an issue of mistrust, pride, stubborness and oftentimes arrogance, yuk, yuk, yuk……
The other day I went to confession because the Lord had convicted my heart that I was holding back His hand regarding the healing of my son Joshua’s autism/tourettes syndrome. When I was in the middle of praying for my son’s healing and deliverance based on a promise that the Lord had made to me years ago. I was shocked when this was revealed to me because I love my son very much and I always want to do the best for him. Then I asked the Lord what was in me that was holding His hand back and He revealed to me that I am not fully trusting in what He has promised to me regarding Joshua’s healing because I am always second guessing Him which of course is doubt and because of this bitterness has crept in the part of my heart that should be reserved for believing in the miraculous for my son, somehow I had blamed God for Joshua’s autism and so now I know that I need to release this lack of trust and cynicism and ask the Lord for His peace, faith, hope, and love to heal Joshua just because He loves Josh, because He loves Joshua more than I do!
And so the second question regarding sin should be: “Why do we sin and fall short of the glory of God”?
Now back to my life,
Blessings In Yeshua Hamaschiach!
Shirley C.
I forgot to add this most important thing…..
John Paul Wrote:
Jesus had nothing in common with Satan or sin. He recognized at every moment what was right and what was wrong. He had no agenda but the Father’s. He was not legalistic, He was life giving. He did not try to see how much He could get away with, but who He could impact and transform. His life holds the keys to full transformation and the resisting of any and all temptation.
My response:
Yes, because Jesus is the Son of God and Son of Man. Who was, Who Is, and Is To Come…. He was fully human and yet fully divine. The Perfect Human…. knowing sin in all its dimensions without ever sinning because HE IS GOD, The Great I AM, the alpha and the omega and the beginning and ending of all things which includes sin…At calvary He made a show of all the principalities and powers, and rulers of the world of darkness because of the power of His Blood which speaks far more eloquently then the blood of Abel, goats, heifers, etc…….
Peace
S.C.
John Paul,
A couple of years ago I was doing a message about the love of God and the issue of sin in our lives. I felt like God revealed to me why He hates sin, though never the sinner.
I felt that the Lord showed me that He hates sin because of the devastaing effect that it has on His children. Like how I would hate drugs and the effect that drugs have on my son, but never hate my son. God loves us beyond what we could think or imagine and hates those thing that hurt us.
So what I am saying is that God hates sin because He loves us so much.
What do you think?
Now i really like some of the things you touch on here.
you asked the question in the very beginning “If sin means to miss the mark, what mark are we talking about?”
I sort of see this caveman like guy, chipping away at this stone, this solid foundational place, and he is chiseling out a letter or message. You know and suddenly his chisel slips and the hammer goes down and bam, not only did he hit his big thumb and let out a few expressive words, but his chisel comes down on that stone tablet, and whooops.. theere is a chipping, a mark in the stone tablet that is not originally intended. That is how I see a missmark. God has mercy to cover it, he forgives the person who tells him about it, but it happened, and it wasn’t the original message intended to be chipped out of stone foundation.
JP, you wrote “Thus the law is now written on the tablets of our hearts, hearts of flesh and not of stone. This law helps us to “know” the truth not just the facts. This law helps us choose the correct tree as the basis for any decision. This law, God’s law is remarkable and it is absolute in it’s application.” I absolutely positively love this section, its good, its spiritual vitamins.
I always like to go back to God when I have questions about a matter, I don’t worry to much about doing right, I am more concerned about spending time with God and letting him adjust me into the ‘right’ standing. So many times I think people make it all so difficult. I like this entry, though I tend to be less inclined to think about sin these days, I am not really into ’sin consciousness’ i rather pursue ‘Christ-consciousness’ in every area of life, though each person is in their different stage of spirit growth.
I also like what you said in regards to transformation and revival. I don’t particularly beleive that God is a fan of revivals, as i think man needs revivals to awaken himself to God, though God would be perfectly joyous if a people loved him daily and never had a ‘revival’ because they didn’t need it. It seems the revival bug has apprehended alot of folks these days, and I guess if you are dead and need revived, then more power to ya! (literally) but I think our focus should be on Jesus and the kingdom, and that we should grow out of the milk of revival and into the meat (or super organic veggies for the vegans) of a daily life with God. This is preciously what happens when we allow ourselves to accept Gods grace and his law written on our hearts as you say.
I am doing a happy dance at this blog. it makes me joyful. i like it. i like it.
I would venture to say that sin is anything which comes between anyone and God’s presence operating full-force in their life! Wow-Amen
I would also venture to say more on this blog. Being ignored is a fact, thanks One of those, for your response to my caring about your child and you! Saw JP speaking from clan gathering
yesterday (not live)
many points pointed toward your child…JP…is it a sin that we do not gather our measures of faith for this child???? do expect an answer and even though it has been weeks since I stepped into this coffee shop, I shall watch for your answer. this is why it took a while to respond one of those.
Sin is wise, Sin is strong
In Jesus there is a lovely song
even when ya go wrong
Jesus is wiser, Jesus is stronger
and I love ya even if I come no longer
Bob
Previously you wrote below, which prompt me to search the Law to behold the Lord Jesus. And yes i agree with you, there are many things in the Law that we don’t know but it is sin. The Law covered topics like the tabernacle furniture, the righteousness of the Law, the Levitical priesthood, & various topics, & the amazing thing was it mostly all revealed different aspects of the Lord Jesus; He was seen in the sacrifices, the righteous life, the priesthood, the furniture, the judgments & so forth…
“Simply this, Jesus was the bodily representation or application of the Law among us. When we look at Him we see the Law of God applied.”
ok….I am enjoying a time of prayer and tea with the Lord and my husband and I couldn’t help but hone in on this one particular potential fiery question/topic that I would like to see on this blog and that is the question of “love”…How do we love and what are the different levels of love and how does it relate to redemptive suffering and where is the “Body of Christ” in relation to the 4 kinds of love in the Western Church? Are we ascending, descending or stagnate in the love realm and if we are how are we? and last but not least is the power of love greater than the power of sin in the Body of Christ at this time? Just something that I have been thinking on from time to time…..
Blessings!
Shirley C.
What’s stopping God’s love from fully manifesting in the church here in America. I am not talking any one denomination. I am talking collectively?
Hey JP,
For me this ranks up there as one of your most life-giving posts.
Your comments about revival and character are also intriguing. When I lived in New England, one of our pastors was a Brit who said that during the Welsh revival in the early 1900’s, the incidence of unwed pregnancies actually went up.
It’s kind of like when someone wins the lottery. Their character deficiencies get magnified. All of sudden they now have opportunity and access to do things they did not before. Where before they may have had an issue with lust in watching R-rated movies, now there’s nothing to stop the growth of them going to houses of ill-repute because they do not see they will suffer financial loss. Their actions reveals where their heart is at.
I once had a dream where my pastor at the time said to me, God is only anointing that which looks like His Son. I believe God also showed me that when the branch of the church that focuses mainly on intimacy with God merges with the branch of the church that focuses mainly on character development, the union of those two things (like in a marriage) will produce the dwelling or resting place of God with man. God’s glory will be able to remain on us.
I know I don’t know what I’m asking for when I ask this, but God, give us that day!
Blessings,
Dennis
P.S. I’ve been watching the Lakeland Outpouring, and one of things I most appreciate about Todd Bentley is his gentleness with people who are rough around the edges, or who may be exhibiting some immaturity. I see Jesus within him, what a blessing.
I watched some of David Blaine last night. At first I went into the video thinking he was just a good illusion artist. However, as I watched him longer I began to get the sense that he was doing more than illusions. Between his words and his actions I suspected he was tapping into the supernatural realm for some of his ‘tricks.’
This began to disturb me and I realized if he were to go out and preach a message that we all had that ability within us and there was no one true God, everyone within his reach would believe him. He was showing signs and wonders in the streets.
I went back to absolutes. I have heard from a Christian leader that you don’t have to have a gift of prophecy or be a prophet to ‘read’ people. Perhaps it is true everyone can hone this skill to some degree? So, perhaps there are things which we consider to be supernatural that are part of God’s rules or natural laws? He also does other things besides ‘read’ people and it led me to think he is using God’s laws set in place without knowing God. And then, there is also the possibility the demonic is helping him out.
I began to think of those who said they healed the sick and cast out demons but did not know God. How did they do that without Him? Is it some law or principle set up that allows them to take hold of healing and deliverance? Anyway, I struggle with this because people are always crying out for revival and healings but is everything we need right here in front of us? Do we truly believe He heals?
If His absolutes are always there for us and there is the possibility to heal and deliver without knowing Him then is doing so a sin? Is doing good in this manner without relationship with Him a sin? So many questions!
One of Those
John Paul Jackson Wrote:
He recognized at every moment what was right and what was wrong. He had no agenda but the Father’s. He was not legalistic, He was life giving. He did not try to see how much He could get away with, but who He could impact and transform.
My continued response #1:
1. He recognized at every moment what was right and what was
wrong:
a.) Jesus never rejoiced in the wrong doing’s of men
or focused on it because He was the embodiment of
perfect love cause He was God. In 1 Corinthians 13
Love doesn’t rejoice in the wrong but rejoices in the
truth. Jesus is the truth.
My Continued Response #2:
Way too many times many believer’s are stuck
in a cycle of rejoicing in the wrong especially in
exposing wrong to the point that it turns into gossip.
2. He had no agenda but the Father’s. He was not legalistic, He
was life giving. He did not try to see how much He could get
away with:
A.) True
3. He did not try to see how much He could get
away with but who He could impact and transform:
1. Jesus didn’t have to work at it through strategy because
Jesus was God’s divine strategy sent to the earth (God in
the flesh) eventhough, Jesus did not have a sin nature in
Him, He in His divinity came to the earth to condemn sin
in His Flesh through the crucifixion on the Cross, He
became the final sacrifice for all sin by offering His
Body for the life of the world..In doing this He loved
perfectly, and justly for a people that didn’t deserve it
but only because He first loved us…..
Scripture: John 4:16 - For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten son that he whosoever believeth
in Him will not perish but have everlasting life for God
did not come into the world to condemn the world but to
save it.His only begotten Son……
My continued response #3:
We need to stop condemning christians that are struggling
with their faith…we need to start praying for those
that are struggling therefore putting love in action and
believing Jesus for the best result.
THE MISSION & VISION OF EVERY BAPTIZED BELIEVER
WHO ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CHRIST BEARERS……..
Isaiah 61: 1-9
The Spirit of the Soveriegn Lord is on me, because the
Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
freedom from the captives and release from darkness for
the prisoner’s
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s fsvor…………
and the day of vengeance of our God…..
To comfort those whose morn and provide for those who
grieve in Zion
To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes….
The oil of gladness instead of morning and a garment of
praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of
the Lord for the display of His splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and retore the places
long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities that have been
devastated for generations……
Aliens will shepard your flocks; foreigners will work
your fields and vineyards.
And you will called priests of the Lord, you will be
named ministers of our God…..
You will feed on the wealth of the nations,
and in their riches you will boast…
Instead of their shame my people will receive a double
portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in
thier inheritance and they will inherit a double portion
in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs..
For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and iniquity
In my faithfulness I will reward them and make a covenant
with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations and
their offspring among the peoples. all who see them will
acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has indeed
blessed!
I think I am done for now!
Blessings To You Always
Because He first loved You!
Shirley C.
Hi John Paul! I love this statement:
(Jesus) “had no agenda but the Father’s. He was not legalistic, He was life giving. He did not try to see how much He could get away with, but who He could impact and transform.”
Oh, I wish I could have the same said about me! That is my goal . . .
Thanks for another inspiring post.
–Renae
DEEP IS RIGHT!! I’ve been with you all along here and haven’t been able to comment that last couple of times. Something is truly going on in my body, soul and spirit that I can’t even put words to. I will try to put words to this thought because I think it is significant. I couldn’t even read the commments from others before I write. I have recently been unmasked by the Holy One. I have been a believer for twelve years and God just showed me that I have had a deteriorated image of Him that I have served. It was like I was shown that the God I have served all along was/isn’t Him. Yikes!! I have been uncovered as one who serves a created being and not the TRUE LIVING ONE. This is very upsetting because I want nothing more that to know Him, hear Him and experience the fullness of Who HE IS!! I still am working through all of this and I sincerely want to hear and discern the VOICE of MY LOVING DADDY! I feel as if I know less than I ever have and am faced with all kinds of doubt in my ability to discern. I believe GOD is about to do something in my physically body (namely my ears) and I have to wait for it. I am wondering why it hasn’t happened yet. But the more I ponder I feel the reality that in His Holy Presence I would be consumed and cease to exist. All of this is TOO Awesome for my little brain and I sincerely need to know His Goodness because fear tries to paralyse me. God is showing me that I haven’t really TRUSTED in Him to protect. I find it hard to reconcile the pain of this world and basically know that my mind is in need of transformation. I need to rest in Him but don’t even really know how to be quiet. Pray that I will be able to silence myself in order to truly hear HIM. I am sick of asking amiss!!!
Florida revival, and “Why Revivals End”:
I have been watching the revival meetings, currently happening in Florida, on God TV (http://us.god.tv). Yesterday, I actually picked up a bible and read it (the book of Samuel) after avoiding bible reading for a long time. JPJ’s word was timely for me:
“…like Moses, when we rely on external sources to fill the God gap in us we eventually fail. Why? Because, we have no root of Him in us – everything we experience is from the outside in. This is one reason revivals end. Individuals come to receive without the understanding that external Spiritual stimuli must produce internal change. This is called transformation. Without transformation revivals make us feel better, but our choices and therefore our lives are no different a year later.”
Baby boomers might remember the “Tears Are Not Enough” album from years ago. Amen to that. I love seeing what God is doing in Florida; more importantly, though, the fruit of once again witnessing and experiencing God’s touch is that I’m feeling the hunger to go deeper…
In a revival meeting, several years ago, (Abbotsford, British Columbia) JPJ taught the following, which I wrote in my bible:
-Keep your heart pure
-Be a diligent student of the Word
-Ask the Lord for the desires of your heart
-Be willing to accept loving, accurate pastoral feedback in order to grow and mature in gifting
-Be hungry, humble and teachable
-”The Church is God’s vehicle for accomplishing what He wants to do on the earth.”
How have I done? Hmm… not too shabby, not too great (my nose is growing)… alright, let’s be honest: how about, “Man, I’m lazy!” Yet I know I’m not alone, so I refuse to take delivery on condemnation… I know where I need to go…
I also recall JPJ saying something about the size of one’s spiritual sword being commensurate with the depth to which a person gets into the Word…
And then some notes here about credibility, character and favor in relation to the road to authority…
Okay, that’s it.
I’m picking up my bible RIGHT NOW (of course my needy formerly stray cat suddenly jumps up on my lap and my stomach starts growling and…)
Gotta go.
Dear John Paul & Fellow Bloggers:
I am so sorry that I gave the wrong verse to the scripture.
Eventhough this is not sin, it is a sincere mistake. What I was referring to was John 3:16 not John 4:16. The following is the
correct verse and scripture….
Sincerely,
Shirley C.
Scripture: John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten son that he whosoever believeth
in Him will not perish but have everlasting life for God
did not come into the world to condemn the world but to
save it.His only begotten Son……
A little off subject here but I just finished reading
“The Shack” by William P. Young. This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. This is a must read!!!!!
JP have you read this? My pastor Mark Chironna recommended it and I encourage others to read this. When you get to the part where Mack encounters the Trinity, Father, Jesus, and Spirit you want want to put the book down.
Thanks JP for your service to the Kingdom and the revelation you have brought to the body of Christ. I always hear Wisdom and encounter Truth when I open my spirit to your ministry. The harvest is coming in because there is a generation prepared to collect that which the Lord has died for and they carry The Heart Of The Father. The Apostolic and Prophetic generation is here and the multitudes are seeking. Arise harvesters and go into the enemies camps and take the spoils for the spoils are the souls of the lost. This season the enemy does not realize there are great portals opening and supernaturally allowing the Army of God to go in in mass quantities and retrieve the true riches of the Kingdom, those in which Christ died for. This year shall mark the beginning of the great harvest says the Lord.
Hope you don’t mind me writing that JP. actually it just came out without warning.
Love ya!
Shannon
So JP could part of the process of transformation be the journey of ‘difficulties and trials?’ In the natural or the external, it looks as though we are not prospering or succeeding. Nevertheless, God allows it and even hides us. His dealings with the motives or our hearts is normally always a painful experience, but what peace, if the outcome is learning the road to surrender and humility, as this will mark us for eternity!
Geetings from Gibraltar!
Shirley C said…
“We need to stop condemning christians that are struggling
with their faith…we need to start praying for those
that are struggling therefore putting love in action and
believing Jesus for the best result.”
Compare Lk 22.32
One of those… Some years ago I saw a man on a tv program that was doing some things that appeared supernatural. I didn’t feel that it was just a trick but felt disturbed in my spirit. We may have seen the type of magic that Simon was noted for. Acts 8.9 We know who has the greatest power though.
Nina… Hold on tight!
Robert… Welcome back.
God Bless
David
John Paul,
Someone recently told me he believes righteousness is contextual. He based that thought on Gen. 6:9 and 7:1. These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.
And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
He believes this leads to the idea that while God’s standard of righteousness does not change, His grace is increased when a man desires to walk with God in the midst of a sinful culture or environment. Example: A girl grows up in an abusive environment. She shows other people love, and wants God but she ends up a prostitute because of the environment or culture she experienced. This versus a woman who chooses to be a prostitute to make money for elaborate living.
He says there is more grace for the first one than the second. What do you say concerning this. I know my thoughts, but I would like to know yours if it is appropriate to this particular blog subject.
Robert, I am increasingly agitated for my child’s healing. There are testimonies of healing all around me. People point me towards watching the outpouring in Florida. How is that going to help us? I feel like screaming ‘God what about us?’ It is like being a parent and watching all the other kids get picked for the kick ball team (they got healed) and my kiddo is still benched. I ask God a lot of questions but don’t know the answers…why the wait?…what is wrong?…give me faith…give someone else faith…is it spiritual?…is there not enough prayer?…is there not enough faith?…is there something wrong with our family?…what can I do?…what do I not do?…do I drive across the country for some person to pray?…could we have some encouragement?…could you talk to us about what you are doing?…is the wait so that more people get to know our child and their faith is encouraged once healing comes?…what?…where?…when?…how?………could it be you want my child to stay this way?…am I not surrendered enough to your will?…when do I fight and when do I let go and trust?…….and on and on and on. I am not laid back at all concerning the issue on healing….God does it!!
Where was the clan gathering video you watched? Is it online? (by the way, Robert, I don’t want to monopolize space or change the subject with my kid so I’m going to back down on entries concerning this topic…this blog is not a prayer line…I’m not ignoring you and appreciate your concern)
(sorry for the interruption JP)
Will, I wish my relationship with God were so clear cut and easy as you make it sound. You are unique if what you say is true. It would be nice to always get the answer when I asked questions. But, for me and so many I have heard from, answers do not pour over in visions and dreams and revelations…or even a still quiet voice. What is sin and what is not isn’t so clear cut for everyone. I suppose if God is speaking all the time then I and those like me just don’t get it (I still try though). Also, revival is so very important to me and to many others. One of my lifelong prayers has been to be able to see revival leaders in my lifetime and to be able to be right in the thick of things when revival breaks out. I’ve see the first part….now for the second part. I love to see God whoosh down and burn people up with enough hunger to send them halfway across the world just to be with Him. I betcha God smiles at that. What hunger and passion and desire! Please God let me be a part!
Hey shannon, I have read the book the shack, and i thoroughly enjoyed it as well. I normally don’t read fiction books, but that book has an energy all of its own. Someone gave it to me and I didn’t read it for a while on the basis that it was ‘fiction’ but everyday it was like that particular book was calling out to me to read it. all the books on the shelves were no match for this relentless cry and soon I read it, and devoured it.
Like Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, I beleive every beleiver should own that book. it is so unreligious, and so full of truth, that its hard to beleieve its a work of fiction.. I am actually impressed that mark chirona is recommending it, since there is parts in the book that some find controversial.. good for mr chironna!
from a home run to a strikeout that’s the Grace of the Father for His children ever growing in Him Thank You Father for pouring out your love all over the world starting in Florida sin is always a choice as a new creature in Messiah i chose life and to keep my cloak of humilty on always His mercy draws me closer SHALOM
At first I thought you didn’t publish my email. Then I saw it. I was so encouraged. It’s like, okay, JPJ was cool with that one, I’m on the right track, I’m going to keep on reading the book of Samuel (I took a course in it at Regent College in Vancouver years ago… I got an “A”, but I subsequently failed Life)…
After soaking, I went over to the house of a very wounded, foul-mouthed, self-professed Marxist but essentially kind friend. He started his usual colorful diatribe (”been there”) regarding some computer problems, and I just looked in his eyes and PRAYED… suddenly he started apologizing, saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’m just so sorry…”
I KNEW what had happened. The LOVE OF JESUS was flowing toward him… I know he felt it… I was SO confident that it was “not I, but HIM…”
He needed to dump VISTA because of incompatibility with his grading program (I’ll make “no further comment” right here).
I “just happened” to have an unopened $100.00 Windows XP disk handy (”long story” to me; short one to God). I told him, “This is our gift to you. And there’s something that you’ll never be able to prove. You’ll never be able to prove that God didn’t see your frustration and prompt you to phone me about another matter, because He knew that I had something that would solve your problem.”
How do you argue with that?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT. Just the fact that you are doing this blog is pulling us all together and is SO encouraging. Love back to you (we know the Source of the Love) and Diane, your children and even your pet if you have one (do I sound like I’ve been drinking? I have, but only from The River)!
Good fruit:
I look at you, Todd Bentley, Rodney Howard-Browne, our beloved pastor Che Ahn, et cetera and I think, “WOW… look at the One on Whom they are fixing their eyes… I see Him more clearly these days… and He’s AMAZING!”
Thank you for your (plural) decision to stay close to Jesus, so HE can flow through all of you.
It seems like many of us are coming back from the land of apathy (it’s an outbreak! Holy Ghost arsonists everywhere!)…
As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Chronicles of Narnia: “Further up and further in…”
We touch the heights of True Ecstasy, and yet…
“Deep calls to deep, in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers have swept over me…” (Psalm 42)
Forget the floaties (I loved that one, incidentally)… WE’RE GOING UNDER.
He’s equipping us with SCUBA gear…
Or maybe it’s HSCUBA…
Holy Spirit Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus…
Hee hee hee…
Klunk.
Grace is free no charge love covers a multitude of sin from sinner to saint the transformation is instant when you accept jesus into your heart the working out process of becoming more saintly is the grace poured in and the junk poured out submitting to the Father resisting the enemy not my will be done but your will Father Shalom
Very kind David.
On your thought about the magic, as hungry as people are for the super-natural will Christians be ready for all the miracles that the dark side performs in Revelation???
As I fall deeper and deeper into God’s wisdom I remain aware of how wise the enemy is! And Jesus looks at the Father with his old words “How long must we put up with them”
Hold on tight…to your faith!!!
Hey, I have stood on faith that this monster knot on my shoulder would be removed by God. actually, 10 years ago is was a golfball, now a grapefruit. I am on the edge of letting them cut it out and I feel true mutiny…would ya pray
for me to have a clear call as this could be an end to this long dusty path, or ? So wise is my foe!
Truly lovin’ ya all,
Robert
Sin is missing the mark.
John Paul wrote, “When we are immature we do not even know that what we do is less than righteous, thus it is not sin, it is immaturity.”
But God demanded a sacrifice for sins committed unwillingly in the Mosaic law. We sin without knowing it and we’re held accountable as well. And Paul said that EVERYTHING done without faith is sin. Sin is missing the mark of God’s perfect nature, whose righteous standard is was manifested through the Law. That’s why we focus on sin. Because it permeates everything we do and think. We sin on purpose. We sin accidentally. We were born in sin.
It is this reason we desperately need Christ to save us from sin.
It is too bad to read the writings of a noted Christian teacher downplaying the nature of sin.