Jesus said "GO"

I have been in a quiet time with the Lord and man I’m seeing so many things clearly---one of them is how I am and have not been advancing the Kingdom. Jesus said GO!  Go and be my witness. Go and make disciples.  And I because of my work in the church have let so much Bible knowledge and experience in ministry get in the way.  I am too busy, or I am already praying etc.  But today it was a set of lights that went on through Acts 1 and 2.  I’ve been reading Romans since the year started and this weekend it just clicked too.  Jesus said GO.  What pleases the Father more than anything? What touches the heart of the King? That we bear much fruit; that we do what Jesus did, talk about the Kingdom.  40 days Jesus was on earth after His resurrection and all He did was speak about the Kingdom.  The disciples shared with Him but they didn’t hide there---I have been hiding behind Christian service, work, and prayer. Don’t misunderstand me all is good and I do it with love for Jesus, but if this all keeps me from being a witness then how is that pleasing God???? Jesus said GO.  Go doesn’t means go only on mission trips.  It means go out to the mall, park, store etc.  We live in LA a salad bowl of culture.  The nations are here.  We are to be a House of prayers for all nations—my life is a house of prayer.  I can’t hide in prayer room/closet any longer. I don’t need to be told to go out by my pastors, I don’t need to wait to plan an event, I need to do this on my own.  Why? Simple---it’s about Jesus in me. And its about me wanting to be alive in the Kingdom.  John the Baptists was the greatest in the Kingdom during Jesus’ time.  What was his biggest job? Announcing the Kingdom.  What is our job today?  Same as John the Baptist

There is and has been such dissatisfaction in my spirit life for the past months. It’s not that I need to meet new people, change groups, do something different. I need to do what God has called me to do: Be a witness. His witness.  I need to do it on my own, without sounding a horn, and just see the kingdom expand.  If every one of us leaders, church servers, or any true Christ follower were to take this challenge seriously we would have much more people than we do---the thing is I’ve always relied on someone else doing the job.  And today it’s so clear---it’s my job. It’s everyone’s job.  God is not looking for much just a heart willing to expand His kingdom.  Seek first the Kingdom---this means expand the Kingdom first, put Kingdom matters first---I can do this because I received the Holy Spirit power already.  Everything else is details.  Everything else besides the Kingdom outside of the Kingdom is details and details will be added unto me by the King.  My job/role is to expand His kingdom. 

Every weekend at House of prayer I am to recharge/refuel and then go out during the week. Empty myself, refill, empty, refill.  A great cycle of power!

Join me in this challenge—this is when we start living and start living our true destiny and calling.

Adelante!

Bea Z

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Youth/ Young Adults/Singles Pastor

Be HIS Witness

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:7-8

This was Jesus’ response after His resurrection to the disciples.  What was the question you ask? “Are you restoring the Kingdom to Israel at this time?”  Jesus pretty much tells them look God in His own authority has periods and times set and these times and periods won’t always be something you will know or should know etc.  God has times and periods already in motion from the beginning of time to the end of time.  What is my role and function in this?? Jesus tells them after His initial response--- your role and place in God’s times and periods is to be a witness, and for this you will receive some help—my Holy Spirit. This might seem very Christianity 101 but how come it’s so hard to do that one thing? Be a witness. 

I’ve been pondering upon this for about three weeks now. I think sometimes too much knowledge of theology or the Word gets in the way of the supernatural pure power of the Holy Spirit. We want to explain everything by the theories and interpretations of the Bible. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying we need to put aside the pure gospel. What I am saying is sometimes like the Bible says; too much knowledge puffs up.  Too much theology gets in the way of me walking in the pureness of God’s spirit and simply being a witness.  On my way to work this morning something spoke to my spirit: “be my witness.”  Just that…and then it kept ringing in my ears—“you will be my witness.”  Sunday at church we heard pastora say “forget about representing the church, REPRESENT JESUS!” This is very true.  We are not called to be Jesus’ attorney and defend Him, he can do that on His own. We are called to be a witness.  It’s so true how easy it is to play church and just attend a church meeting and use only that meeting time to worship God in song and raising of my hands.  Nothing wrong with this—not at all, but God and Jesus His Son called me to something big— that as I do that something, I’m worshiping, investing in the Kingdom, and touching heaven!! Jesus’ answer is clear to all of us---the Kingdom isn’t just for Israel the Kingdom is for everyone and when you are a witness you are taking the Kingdom to the ends of the earth and to mankind. “Be my witness”  Jesus says.  He says this every day and until He returns.  That’s my calling---to be His witness. That’s the reason to fill myself with Holy Spirit power to—Be His Witness.

Remember, until we fulfill the purposes of God  we will be truly at peace with ourselves and our life.  The main purpose we are here is to be His witness. When we tap into this I promise we’ll find the answer to our questions.  And we’ll be at peace and rejoice that we’re a part of that question and answer Jesus had with His disciples thousands of years ago.

So go now and BE HIS WITNESS….

Chasing the Mysteries of the Kingdom.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”—Matt 13:10-11 NKJV

In this chapter Jesus is on a roll telling parables especially to explain what the Kingdom is like…the disciples are there and hearing these parables.  Obviously they ask Jesus why He spoke to the crowds in parables?? Jesus’ answer is pretty much; ‘you all have the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and they don’t’---now from this phrase we can conclude Jesus considered the disciples people either in the Kingdom or well on their way to being a part of it---the funny thing is this---in vs. 36 after Jesus has told about 4 parables about the Kingdom the disciples come to Him and pretty much say “ok, can you explain yourself?”  I love that Jesus goes right into the explanation—what I love even more is after He explains the first parables He goes on to tell them 2 more parables and then asks them, “Have you understood all these things?” (vs 51)  This is where the disciples were given the mysteries Jesus spoke about—not during the parables part but during the extra time spent afterwards explaining them!! You see Jesus didn’t speak and then BAM they got it!! They had to spend extra time with Him, walk with Him in order to GET it! DO YOU GET IT????  Is it clicking now?? Many a times I was the kind of Christian that thought I would grow in knowledge and mysteries of God and the supernatural by just attending church and/or a one hour prayer meeting.  These things aren’t wrong and they definately help in our growth but that’s not where most of my knowledge of the Kingdom will come from---it will come from Jesus Himself.  Jesus revealing His plans, ideas, thoughts, lessons etc.  It will happen in time spent outside of the regular “preaching/teaching” time. 

The disciples already had the promise of knowing the mysteries, but they had to go after the mysteries.  The mysteries didn’t come to them and land on their laps.  If they had decided to keep, the doubts/confusion to themselves about the parables, there would be no knowledge released…notice their questioning of Jesus wasn’t so they could prove something about Him.  They questioned to learn and grow.  Once He answered, they received and believed…it’s not like one question led to 10 more questions.  Sometimes our questions come out of a place of doubt or criticism of what God is doing---and in that case, they don’t honor God.  When Job and God went at it, God’s reply to Job was pretty much who are you that you need to be throwing all these questions at me??  I am God and that is that---now this won’t always be the case but we must make sure our questions are coming from a place of humble submission and a burning desire to grow. 

So today I ask myself, Am I chasing after the mysteries of Jesus?? Am I going into a session with Him expecting to come out with insider knowledge? I have to admit sometimes I do and other times I don’t—other times I do just to meet my devo obligation.  Nothing worst then spending an hour reading your Bible and coming out with nothing mysterious or revealed and just head knowledge---Jesus is ready and willing to release the mysteries…they are ours for the taking.

One thing is for sure once Jesus explained Himself He told more parables to test them.  He wanted to see if they got it.  I believe we are and will be tested even while in Kingdom to see what we know and if we’re really listening etc.  Jesus wanted to make sure these folks got His message about the Kingdom.  The Kingdom is so important to Jesus He spent most of His parables on it!

Adelante---

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Freedom

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.  So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”---Gal 3:23-25 NIV

“Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming. In other words, the law was our guardian leading us to Christ so that we could be made right with God through faith. Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under a guardian.” New Century Version

What a revelation for me!!! What a renewal and refreshing thought!! I used to always think and believe the law in the Old Testament was something so how you say limiting and demanding.  But no when it was in effect it was to be a guardian!! It was to say “hold people down” until Jesus came—until the fulfillment of faith came—until it was time to believe and live freely.  Now that we are living in the grace of Jesus, we live a life in freedom but not a freedom in our flesh but a freedom in spirit!  Our flesh’s version of freedom will not please God—it will please itself. That’s why the law was needed—so flesh pleasing wasn’t running wild and ruining people’s lives.  Now that we are justified by faith it means we are made righteous even though we are not always righteous.  This sounds so simple but God has been revealing this to me; so man I am understanding salvation more clearly. A result of this revelation is I’m loving more…I’m loving the lost more---I’m judging less. I am not thinking things in my heart that is condemning people no matter who they are---I’m not always successful in this, but I am allowing God to work in me.  I believe many of us especially those of who were born in the church need to have a revelation of true salvation and how it works. We need to understand the concept of grace and Jesus justifying us.  We like to justify ourselves all the time, but how does Jesus justify us? We no longer need a guardian we have Jesus, and our relationship with Him isn’t one of guardian and person needing guardianship but rather a love relationship with passion! A Passion for prayer and the word and passion for spreading His gospel. The reason I wouldn’t  and couldn’t evangelize before was because I didn’t have a true understanding of salvation and God’s gift etc. But man the past 2 weeks I’ve had such eye opening revelation on this topic---its given me the chills no joke. I have felt the fear of God like never before and a reverence for His work---its unexplainable. Yesterday I had an experience I was sitting down with my Bible and prayer journal in hand and started writing. All of a sudden as I was writing I started to weep and something took my hand and I kept writing. They weren’t my words—they were God’s words.  I wanted to stop writing out of fear---but kept doing it---and when I stopped read what I had written and God again spoke to my life. He was writing me notes on this topic based on my devotional time.  I was fed so much I went to church stuffed!! I kept thinking about this topic of faith and being justified by faith.  What justifies me is my faith---if I believe in Jesus for salvation I must believe Him for everything else. The enemy attacks our faith because that is what justifies us and opens us for blessings! 

We are no longer under a guardian---so why act like we need one??? In our intimate relationship with Jesus we know what we can and can’t do but it’s not a burden to us—but rather out of our love and devotion we just do!  We don’t desire anything of this world—we don’t desire the off limits---we want nothing to do with it.  So why would we act like we need a guardian?? We have Jesus and He has us;  there’s nothing more spiritually romantic that this!

Adelante!!

Bea Z

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Praise Him in front of other gods.

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.—Ps 138:1 NIV

As you know God’s been teaching me to worship and praise this whole month---and wow…so much to share and apply. But I wanted to pass this little bit of learned wisdom from God today.  Read the verse above---it’s very self-explanatory.  God wants our worship and praise to not just be at church or HOP meeting. He wants us to sing His praises in front of others; other gods it says here! What was David doing in front of other gods??  He says he would worship before them too!! Maybe he couldn’t help but be surrounded by false gods.  Today we can’t help but be surrounded by false gods or unbelievers. They are everywhere!! And are we singing His praises in front of them?? Are we worshipping God in front of unbelievers?? This is something I was challenged to!! Imagine if we can’t even step outside the comfort zone at church with worship…well we’re not going to do anything out there!! Worship to God doesn’t just involve and isn’t limited to the church building. Psalms is full of passages that says I will praise God anywhere and everywhere! I will ascribe to Him glory and honor. This means I will attribute many miracles and works to Him.  I will point the finger to Him when I tell people of what I have and receive!! Today while you work, drive, play, rest---worship God. When you’re in the presence of other gods worship God!  When you’re in front of the ones who don’t believe God is good sing His praises!!

This morning I received an unexpected gift from God! I needed a monitor to use at home with a computer that was gifted to me. My boss gave me a brand new monitor that had been gifted to him from someone else he didn’t use…brand new never used! Great way to start the week—God giving me something unexpected but I’m not going to wait for Him to answer or give me to praise Him. My morning started with praises, my night (last night) ended with praises, my week ended and started with praises---don’t wait for answers to praise! Praise Him in the doubt and uncertainty of any situation. Paul and Silas did---so can you!!

Adelante!!

PS.
Areli shared with me this morning how she awoke to Psalm 16 and I read it right after and check this out vs. 4 (NIV)

Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Right on with my experience below on previous email.  Not only should I praise in front of other gods but also why even mention their names? That is a form of me worshiping them. We as believers praise movies, actors, sport stars, worldly musicians more than the real God! Why even mention them? Why praise their works. Think about whose works you praise more?? Who do you give more credit to?? That is a form of worship.  Worship the true God.  Some may ask themselves…are we only to talk about God and Godly things?? Ummm…YEAH!!! At least me!! Why? How? It’s that thing called LOVE!!! Its that thing called OBSESSION!!

That’s what the Psalms are about---an magnificent obsession of one man and musicians obsession with the one true God.

Don’t worship the world anymore---enter into a new dimension of worship. One fueled by fasting and prayer and Word!

It’s the only way to stay afloat today!

ADELANTE!!
-Bea

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Generation Glory
Youth Young Adults Leader