Adonai

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Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
And the enemy surrounds me on every side
I know You are my shield

Thy Rod and thy staff, they comfort me
And I sing Your name, because I know You love me

Adonai
You prepare me a table
In the presence of my enemies
Adonai
You have good things for me
According to Your riches in glory


And You lead me to still waters
lead me to green pastures
Thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me
Lead me in the presence of my enemy

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The purpose of the church – drawing close to Christ

Recently I spoke to someone about what our purpose as a church was. I gave my best biblical answer as to what we were doing and how we were putting Christ first, then all things after that, like winning the lost and edifying the church. You know seek ye first the kingdom! Finding out what the king is doing! But something’s been stirring in my spirit lately that I understand but wanted to dig in the word for more before I speak. Sometimes we seek what we think is the kingdom. We find causes and purposes. I knew that the church is to win the lost and to edify each other and everyone to fall into their own place doing what they are called to do. But there’s something missing. The power of God. Christ In the gospels and the early church had power. The kingdom of God is not in word but in Power. 1Cor 4:20 It was the miracles and signs that drew people among other things. Do you think that some new form of religion would have taken off like that without a living Word? Some new doctrines and psychology? No… God moved with healings and miracles and teachings that had power in them, making the thoughts of men known and healing them. Gods shows his power because He loves us. It’s the demonstration of His love to draw us to Him and to the church.

We are doing a home church and with all the talk of “doing biblical church” everywhere, you can still wind up with a church that is dry or one that gets outa control! Just think if your church, with one speaker, disappoints you sometimes, then put 15 people in a room and you can have a big dry discussion that goes off on rabbit trails,sometimes, and all the same troubles could be multiplied. When the Spirit moves it can be beautiful though, but that’s another sermon. I notice though how easy it is to have discussions, and God is in some of them. I see Him edifying us. But the awkwardness of being in a home church leads to to many discussions. In my heart I know there needs to be more going on than discussions. The body of Christ needs to operate in the Spirit and their gifts. Teaching, prophesy, healing..etc.. Many times we try to do things biblically, but wind up still, with little move of God. Whether you are at a home church or traditional church, we need Gods presense power. We need to wait on Him till heaven hits earth. Every celebrated revival did this. It starts with prayer and seeking. Whatever it takes and then God begins to move.

So God had begun to lay on my heart this sermon on “focusing on drawing close to Christ.” This must be the church’s first goal. To many are trying to do works like they see in famous stories, but with no power. Or just trying to do church works. All kinds of churches feel like they have to keep some kinda “action” going on in church. Then sometimes they are in the flesh trying to act out the works of the Spirit. They stick to teaching and mens programs because they don't have to move in the Spirit to be a good speaker and have programs. Not that God doesn't use programs and teaching. God sometimes moves here and there, but we need the river!!! And not a map of the river. We need to get into the ocean and stop playing along the shore, telling people that we are swimming. We need to stop trying to climb every mountain, Cause “my Jesus in the tulips” is helping me, and pray til we get power to move a few mountains! I’m not saying not to do any works. I’m not saying to forsake works until you find power. But to many have not sought God. TO many are teaching DO this and DO that and the biblical example has always been to let God do through us, what we could never do. IF we are not found IN HIM we are sure to be shallow and low on life giving power to DO!

When God’s power comes, edifying the church becomes better. Not just feeding on the Word which is great, but the Word Himself(Jesus) speaks to us and through us and guides us supernaturally. We go to places in God in seconds that would normally take years.

When God comes, winning the lost goes from 3 converts a year to hundreds a week. If you have a church full of Christians that came from another church, that came from another church, that came from another…etc NOW you will have real converts. It would be a nice problem to have, and a wonder.

When God is near, teaching will not fall on deaf ears. Sinners will be pricked to the hearts, sin in the church as well, words of knowledge, prophesies and answers to peoples needs will come, people will come and come and come to Christ because we are lifting Him up, lifting up His example in His WORD. Nothing else is right. Draw near to Him and He, will draw near to you!

We aren’t going to convince people to Christ so easily at this slow pace, that the church is at. The reason the bible, as a whole, is FULL of miracles is because that is what God wants us be…FULL of miracles and the glory of God on us. Look at the bible….from cover to cover…miracles and signs, as well as doctrine and life. How can you say that Gods power is not for today, how can you stay as a ship in dry dock with no water! God has been a jealous God in your life and let many of your plans fail because you have not spent the time on your knees, not searched for Him with all your heart. You may have let your gifts go dry. Stir them up again! 'stir up the gift of God that is in you" Covet the best gifts.1 Cor 12:31 Covet to prophesy 1 Cor 14:39
Pray until God comes. Pray without ceasing. 1Thes 5:17 Build your most holy faith by praying in the Spirit. The effective FERVENT prayer of a righteous man avails much. And So .... the Purpose of the Church is to, FIRST, be found ministering to God, THEN ministering to man. Christ will draw people and use us to do great works. Then the longing will be satisfied, that we have, to see God's glory in the church again.
All this is summed up in this scripture. Jhn 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Greg

In Him

In Him
Are we in Him?
What does this mean?
We do works, and sometimes God joins in. Some do works and it seems that God is with them constantly. We are encouraged to pray and press in more. “draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you”! James 4:8
It is better to be found In Him. Think about this!! God wants more from us than only works in our own strength. It’s almost like He lets us do things in our own strength to be able to see the difference, when He shows up. This encourages us to pray, and “pray without ceasing”. 1 Thess 5:17 Look at the priests garments not showing “any aspect of the flesh”Exodus 28:42,43, in the old testament, and of the holy anointing oil “upon mans flesh it shall not be poured”Exodus 30:32. So many scriptures separating our works in the flesh and our works in the Spirit. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.” Zech 4:6

God thinks more of our being “in Him” that he does of doing things “for Him”

Being In Him means we are in the Spirit…there is Love. There is power, direction and all good things.
Look now at Jesus 30 years of waiting, growing strong in the Spirit(Luke 1:80 ) for just 3 years of ministry.
Paul 14 years in the back side of the dessert (Gal 1:18 & 2:1) before he went to minister
The old testament priests that couldn’t minister until they were 30. And preparing for years.

God thinks more of our being “in Him” that he does of doing things “for Him”

You may spend an eternity of works and never change men’s hearts…but I TELL YOU one day in the Spirit and you can melt a mans heart and see him cry out to God, because God is with you. Don’t waste another day, seek Him while he can be found, pray without ceasing, consecrate yourselves to God and die to your fleshly works. On the third day( I speak figuratively) you will rise again in newness of life, and have works in the Spirit. Fruit that remains. Our works are wrought(shaped, planned, built, formed) in God John 3:21 It's ok to do works in the flesh or when we are not necessarily lead by God to do so, we are human and living on this earth, God will still enter into our works and give us grace....but this is an encouragement to pray more, obey the scripture when it says to pray without ceasing. learn to obey His voice. Read the stories of the old testament and even in the new almost every time that God did anything, it was accompanied by obedience of some thing by man, big or small.

All these things, that I’m speaking about, are the reason that we say that God doesn’t always move, or that God doesn’t always use me or everyone much. We can no longer base our views of "how God moves" on our experience, but we must try our experiences by the Word of God. The Plum line of all things.
Sometimes God may show up unexpectedly and bring the kingdom in our midst. Look at the disciples, how quick they were attained by Jesus and used. He always tried to get them to pray more, they took some time to realize what they had. Look at many in the new testament who were blessed by God showing up unexpectedly. But those closest to God were men who prayed continually, with fastings and battles. Those at the center of Gods move who were closest to Him. Tarried often in the “inner courts of the temple” in the “holy of hollies”.
God is waiting for us……

Ears to Hear!

We who have ears, do we hear? Can we hear the voice of God? With the subject of prayer, many have argued that our ability to hear is not as important as Gods ability to speak. Many things are true on each side of this argument and many peoples hearts are in different places. We can come up with many scenarios, and like a scientist, pour situations and God into a test tube to study! But the Word of God holds the view of our seeking Him, leaning in the direction of us seeking. He's a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Pray without ceasing. The stories of the man begging bread from his neighbor, and the woman with the unjust judge. God also reaveals himself to some, like Paul, who weren't seeking Him. And God shows up like summer snow in mens lives. To be able to hear is an awsome thing. We can hear Gods voice..it guides us into victory, delivering and warning us from trouble and breaking chains that we, on our own, couldn't see in ourselves and in others. To hear, we must hear with our ears of faith to do any miracle or receive anything from God. Faith comes by HEARING and hearing by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. So being an active reader of the Word, searching for life, hungering to be filled will assure that the Word will wash you, washing away unbelief and the mind of the flesh that still believes that what we see is the real world and not the shadow lands. Once our minds are out of he way we can see clearly the world of heaven all around us, in us, and will be mindfull of spiritual things, and a place with God that can bring answer to prayer, and a real power with God. We feel so at home on earth, but there's more in heaven than our minds can imagine! Run to Jesus.


So, we are to LISTEN! Listening is the main point that scripture points to! Have you ever known someone that is so caught up in something and doesn't listen to reason, or is so caffeinated that they can't find peace. God says "Be still and know that I am God." he was found in the still small Voice and not in the tempest in 1Kings. Gods voice comes in quietness many times, as we learn, listen, and are sensitive to the Spirit. We are the servants and he is the Master! We are to have a quiet trusting spirit about us.


In a group setting, there are many voices that God may use. God may speak through a quiet child or meek adult and then may speak in power, shouting as the walls of jericho fall in our lives. Power may come through the quiet and poower may come through the shouting! Fall in love with God and search Him high and low! Many are loud that don't hear the voice of God, and many are quiet and know no victory in their lives. To be found in the balance is of great worth. So sensitivity to others is good if we are loud! The quiet should learn to be open to the shouts of Jericho and also worship with their whole being in a different way as well...both may be worshipping with their whole being and yet be different. In all this ...Love will save the day....as God SPEAKS!!


Finding the presence of God is the treasure we seek. To have ears to hear, eyes to see heavenly things that make the things of this earth pale in comparison and only as a shadow of the real. We go there to live, to breathe the air of faith, there , to be washed, filled and to bring back to man things that no eye has seen, nor ear heard of.


So practise in your prayer time, insessant praise and prayer, and also quiet yourself before the Lord and Listen for His voice! All who seek Him, will find Him.

Luke 8:2&8
Heb 11:6
1Thes 5:17
Luke 11:8
Psalm 46:10
1Kings 19:12
2Tim 2:15
Matt 7:7

The White Horse Inn

The White Horse Inn was a pub in Cambridge, England where the early reformers would gather and discuss religion, doctrine and the early ideas of reform. The early prints of the scripture were passed along through there. They did so in secret, somewhat, to hide from the church of the day. So here we are online, gathering to discuss, hear each other, grow and learn and be sent out with more than what we had before.... Purification. If anyone has a word, psalm, doctrine, exhortation....let him give it.

Strangers in this world

Ever read this scripture! Telling us that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. Sometimes I feel especially that with my travelling around and working in different jobs, more and more like a pilgrim. I get the sense, more and more, that I don't fit in.... I think in my mind I am looking for a good place to live, a great job, good neighbors and prosperity. All these things are true and God wants these for us, but....we are also in a war. I used to keep a sign in my bathroom to remind me everyday to keep my mind on this. "Have you forgotten, you are in a war". Most of you already know what I mean, but for those who don't, we are in a world, much controlled by the God of this world, the devil. We carry the presence of God into this world, in much the same way that the priests carried the ark into the world on their shoulders.....if we are in Him. Yet at times for many different reasons, we fail....or prosperity fails.....we are at war and sometimes the devil wins battles. We know he'll never win the war....he can't.
We are strangers and pilgrims in this world, but we do have the family of God.... Recently and at different times of my life I've wanted to have more of my spiritual friends nearby. Over the years we've been separated across the country. Once we were all in one place and prayed and fellowshipped together. These particular friends I speak of were no normal Christians. Men who could bring heaven to earth, who moved in the gifts, had fruit in their lives and such. People that through my life I latched onto and made them close friends, because they walked with God. Nowadays, it seems that phone conversations aren't enough for me. I hope and wish that someday we could all gather again. I look at where I'm at in my city and them in theirs and think we'll financially, we are all stuck here, working hard every day, paying the bills. But I keep thinking that I'd almost rather move to where some of them are just for the fellowship and to keep encouraged. Although I am a stranger in this world, I am family to the people, in the kingdom of God. And when I am in a dry and weary land, I really see the importance of being hooked up with those who walk in the Spirit. I hope most of you realize that the average church, barely does. Many talk but not many walk. The kingdom of heaven is not in word, but in power. You can't always find that easily where you are. I think how unimportant my job here is and my career. Whats more important than bringing the kingdom of God near. Finding the elect and hooking up and having such power, with real unity(real unity...that's another sermon in itself), that darkness can't prevail. Then we can always have a haven to power up and come back to the source. A house of prayer. Don't get me wrong, I definitely believe in being where God wants you to be. BUT there is definitely a very scriptural principle of being prepared and being found in HIM before we minister to men. Listen.....Jesus himself spent 30 years growing strong in the Spirit, before the 3....YES 3 years of ministry.....Paul spent 13 years in the back side of the desert being changed and prepared for ministry....The old testament priests were not allowed to be priests until many years of training..and only after they were 30 years of age.... what extravagance and to the flesh....wastefulness on Gods part....these men were probably ready at 22 years of age by many standards....especially todays. God wants men who have learned to stay in His presence, and that does not come with youth. Please don't misunderstand me... I don't mean youth as in our earthly age, but I mean immaturity, spiritually speaking. Many are old Christians but have been stuck in a rut with those same sins for years. Some are young in the Lord, but their obedience is ripping the veil in their flesh, faster than normal. But with time being found in the throne room we are changed. Much like when we were kids and our parents preached at us about school, and about relationships and money and blah...etc. we hated it and some things it took us until our late twenties to figure out that they were right. Our parents lived in this tough world and had to pay for diapers, car tires, car problems, mortgage...and they came up short so many times that after a while.....THEY JUST KNEW...that you need to go to school to have a better chance just to survive, and not be struggling for the rest of your life. It's sort of the same with God, when we are found in Him and stay put, after a bit there is power, wisdom and much more that we would never have if we'd stayed in our spiritual youth for so long. Then we are really....ready. Some can become ready faster than others. It's all about how much gas ya poor on the fire.... and how long you BURN for...
God wants us in His Spirit much more than He cares about what city I am in. At least as long as I am searching for more of Him. Once the fog is cleared away, once the veil is behind me... I think where I live would be a minor thing. When power is around, earthly things are earthly things. Heaven is our homeland, and we'll take the land wherever God has us.......
So although we are strangers and pilgrims in this world....Think about this! We will be uncomfortable around the world, they will not understand us. Maybe our spiritual family is far from us, or we feel lonely. In God there is Joy unspeakable and full of glory. When we seek first His kingdom, and are found in him, when we are close to His family and link up with those that love Him most, though we are in a war, we will not lose! We can only win! Through our God we shall do valiantly, for it is Him, who shall tread down the enemy. We are strangers and pilgrims…only passing through? Yes and no. We are also a Royal Priesthood! Soldiers…the scripture says! Servants and freemen, and in all these things we will find, in God, more things in heaven than the earth can offer. Our kingdom is not of this world. We will live in the new heaven and the new earth. We are ambassadors! in this world. We are the priests that in Gods holines, cary the ark into this world. Almost gives you a new way to look at us being strangers. Not some beggar, or reject wondering the world, pushed down but more than conquerors!

Sola Scriptura

Ah, a breath of fresh air, to hear the words "sola scriptura". With every wind of doctrine and tradition in this world, to hear these words, makes me feel like all is well, all is right. There is a plumb line, The Word of God, and I remember.....The reformers and their persecutions, running from murderers, while they protected the Word of God. They came to the realization that when you can know the Word and keep it planted in your heart, that you can find God. Not just know about Him, but to have Him live in your heart. And the more you have of the revelation of the Word of God, the closer to God you are. Draw near unto Him and He'll draw near unto you. So the reformers protected the Word, and died for it's existence.
They said this phrase "Sola Scriptura" meaning only the scripture. They'd already seen the fruit of the traditions of men, theyd tasted religion and now after tasting the real Words of God, it burned in their hearts. They new every man had his own thoughts and ideals and here was the bible, straight from God himself. The judge of all judges, discerner of thoughts and end all to all arguments. With it was Gods power and might and beauty. Sola Scriptura was a phrase by holy men who wanted God more than anything and his Word was the final authority!