Spiritual and Physical Body Pastor Walt Scott 11-3-15

Christmas Message 2015 Pastor Sharron Scott

The Death of Covenant in America

by Pastor Sharron I. Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

7/16/14, revised 1/31/15

Is covenant dead in America? In order to answer that question truthfully or accurately, we need to define the word “covenant”.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines covenant as:

(literally, a coming together), which signifies a mutual undertaking between two parties or more, each binding himself to fulfill obligations...

What is the difference between covenant, promise and contract?

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines promise as:

An undertaking to do or give something. Frequently signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation, as in “the promise of the Spirit” (Gal. 3:14)

Webster's Dictionary defines contract as:

“a written, binding agreement between two or more parties”

If we explore the relationship each of these has with the others, we can see their differences. Covenant is a “coming together.” Two or more willingly become one in mind and spirit, binding themselves to each other to fulfill agreed-upon obligations.

Genesis 9:8-17

⁸Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him? ⁹”I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you ¹⁰and with every living creature that was with you-- the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. ¹¹I will establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

¹²And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

¹⁷So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

This is an example of covenant between God and all living creatures. It is an everlasting covenant. It will never end. It was spoken to Noah. Terms, conditions, agreement, honor, trust; all much deeper than a promise.

A promise is something one can do alone (to yourself or to God). You may do it FOR another person (for example, promising to never tell a lie again, promise to pay back a debt). It is something one takes upon oneself. Certainly promises are broken frequently. But a promise does not require action from another person, other than accepting and trusting. A “mutual promise” still is an individual action, as each party decides within themselves what they will or will not do.

Luke 24:49

⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus fulfilled God's promise to his beloved by sending his Holy Spirit. God's promises are never broken.

A contract is a legally binding document, signifying an agreement between parties. There is usually a “penalty clause” for severing a contract, which involves sever penalties. BUT it is agreed-upon by all parties concerned, as signified by signatures and seals. In my research I have yet to discover a contract in scripture. It may well be that it is a man-made documentation of a promise or agreement.

Now, taking a slightly different path, let's look at the word “honor.” (as a noun and verb) It is primarily a valuing, a price paid or received, i.e. to be paid honor, or to receive an honor. Or a reward for an act well done. Also to hold in esteem, as in to honor God. Valuing Christ, valuing a person. Honor bestowed by the Father upon him who serves Christ (John 12:26). As in the duty of children to honor their parents, the duty of all to honor the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It has also been used synonymously with “glorify; to have glory or be made glorious”. So honor is a thing, and it is also something you can do or bestow upon someone.

Deuteronomy 26:19

¹⁹He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.

Here we see that God is honoring his beloved faithful who are obedient, according to his promise. So he promised to honor his faithful people. Amazing.

How about the word “respect”? To esteem, regard, to honor. We can see that respect and honor are close, and may even be synonymous at times. And they both require that we hold “value”.

1 Peter 2:17

¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

I love this passage. It teaches us to respect, love, fear and honor appropriately.

Is there really such a thing as Covenant in America?

And now we will address the main question: “Is Covenant in America really dead?” If you were to ask any person under the age of twenty the meaning of “covenant”, chances are you would be staring at a rather blank look on their face. At least that has been my experience. There are some who are a bit more perceptive of what you are really asking, and from those you may hear the response, “It's something like a promise.”

Indeed, we can even venture to say that many of the over-twenty crowd would not have a more enlightened answer. I find that quite alarming. My reasoning is this: If the average person who has supposedly completed a secondary education, at the very least, cannot define the word “covenant”, can we safely say it is not taught in public education, or at home, or discussed in churches?

Why is this important? It is our belief that if we are not teaching the principle of covenant to our youth, we are also not teaching them the value of honor and respect. Oh, we would say that most of them are familiar with the term “promise”, and don't give much weight to it. We can fairly confidently say that the majority of us still remember the last time someone broke a promise they made to us. Many of us grew up realizing that a person's word means next to nothing in most cases. They idea of an agreement sealed with a handshake is amusing. “I give you my word” is an obsolete phrase.

How does this relate to or reflect upon respect? Well, within my scope of experience, when someone breaks a promise they have broken trust. There are exceptions to this, however I believe it to be true most of the time. And without trust, respect is non-existent.

So, if most people we have questioned about the definition of covenant believe it to be just another word for “promise”, and our theory on the validity of promises holds true, then most people think that covenants are also unreliable, and hold little to no value.

Let's tie this in with honor. If you were to ask the same group of young people (or anyone for that matter) the definition of “honor”, what would you hear? In my experience asking this question, the response I get back is “to pay respect to”. Or “to acknowledge an accomplishment” (as with the 'honor roll' at school). What does honor have to do with covenant? Well, let's think about that. If you have entered into a covenant, it certainly can contain a promise. It must contain honor and respect for all parties. We have also mentioned the word “trust”. Certainly covenant has a huge amount of trust involved. And parties involved must hold these core values.

In my experience, the covenant(s) I have chosen to enter into do not have any “escape clauses”. It is my solemn vow to keep a mindset and heart and core value until the day I die. It takes an “attitude of servitude”. That doesn't mean I won't make mistakes or trip up occasionally. I still have my human nature. But it means that the covenant is still in place regardless of my mistakes. And it also requires LOVE. Covenant is a heart matter. In covenant you must give of yourself. And you must receive from another. It is an exchange of “Agape” (pure, unconditional) love, although it takes two.

Now, if we do not teach this to our children in our words and actions, and they grow up not valuing covenant or even considering it a part of life, they will not teach it to their children. They will grow up without value of life-long commitments. They will not know how to properly honor and respect and value others or themselves. And to me that is a devastating thought. I already see this reflected in our society today. If they do not see covenant, grow up experiencing it as love, they cannot live it out.

I know this is a weighty statement, but look around; in our society, what is the divorce rate in and out of the church? How many children do you know who actually have and show respect to authorities in their lives? We all make mistakes, but how do we explain the recidivism in our prisons and jails? You see, to receive and participate in covenant, you must take responsibility for your own part. It is a huge undertaking. And it is, or can be a real Romans 12:2 journey:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I believe that until we begin to teach covenant, respect, honor, trust and value for authority, and live and walk in pure love exhibited to those in our own care, the deterioration of marriages and families will continue. The rate of homelessness and the mindset of entitlement will continue to grow. The misuse of funds intended solely for those unable to work due to serious physical or other disabilities will continue to increase and the funds will run out because of the deceitfulness of those “working the system”.

I believe this also spreads out into the workforce. If we do not teach our youth to value “working your way up the ladder”, and learning by experience, and instead continue to allow them to live off of others or wander from town to town without a home and be content to do so, we will continue to see the rate of unemployment rise.

Questions like “Why should I respect that person? They don't respect me!”, “Why should I treat them with love? They don't treat ME with love!” and the inability to keep a job through tough times are symptoms of not being able to cope with adversity. Teaching our children to honor and respect their family and friends and co-workers and employers, as well as law enforcement and government officials, those serving our country in and for any type of government service, and the armed forces, directly effects how they will see themselves. Approximately less than 10% of US citizens have ever served in our military. It will also effect their ability to work well with others. And it will also determine how successful they will be in finding the mate that is right for them, and raising a family that will hold together.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to teach any of these values without GOD. Yes, I said it and I meant it. Without God present, it is not a covenant. “Civil union” is not marriage. There is no covenant in a “civil union”. We cannot, for our own convenience, re-invent or adapt or change that which God has created. Marriage is very specifically between a man and woman and God. It is a covenant that can't be entered into by any other combination of people. He would not be a part of that. He would not, and will never bless that. We can't re-define what God has defined. That provision was not given to us. When we try to do so, we are trying to be God.

“Civil Union” is just two people agreeing to “try”. Without God present in the hearts of both people, they will never truly be able to work through the hard times that inevitably come. Standing in front of a clerk's window and signing a marriage certificate is not marriage. At best, it is an agreement to “try”. Without the love of Jesus present in their union, there is only selfishness. And if BOTH partners do not have the Holy Spirit within them, they cannot give that love to another. They can't expect God to bless that marriage. Therefore it is destined to fail, or recede into a loveless partnership.

I truly believe that only with the presence of the Holy Spirit in a marriage can a man and wife learn how to love each other unconditionally. It is not an automatic thing. It must be learned. And it is a choice. Also, unless it is modeled by the parents, it cannot be present in the children. They cannot give what they don't have, and the children can't receive what isn't given.

If that foundation is not set in the beginning, then it is also not going to be present in future relationships, whether personal or professional. Again, we cannot give what we have not received. We cannot teach what we have not learned.

I also believe that, because of the world we have all grown up in, we must, MUST teach new Christians what covenant, honor, respect, and trust look like. We must teach them how to walk in these things. We must teach them how to respond to situations differently, with the heart of Jesus. It does absolutely no good to hand them a bible and tell them to read it, and ask questions when they have them. Or tell them to go to a home group. Those things are good, but when confrontation or difficulties come, how will they know exactly what to do? How will they respond in a crisis? Chances are they will revert to old, familiar behaviors and responses.

We must give them, and our children (grown or small) coping skills. Actual tools to use when they are confronted with life situations. Yes, it's great to give them scriptures, but showing them how to battle from a place of honor and respect is far more powerful. Learning how to “Stop and think--'Is that what love looks or sounds or feels like?' or “How does Jesus see this person or situation right now?” or “what would make Father God happy in this situation?” Then quickly ask Holy Spirit to give you strength to respond in love and to use you to be a blessing. Or ask yourself how you can be a blessing to someone on purpose today. Honor someone you don't even know. These are practical examples of how to handle daily situations in addition to scripture and prayer.

And quite possibly the most important, we must teach the value of HUMILITY. The definition of humility is “to be made low”. Bummer. We don't like that whole concept. But I prefer the mindset of placing my own needs and desires on the back burner, and thinking of the other person's needs first. To be humble is to honor others before you receive honor yourself. There is also false humility. God never asks any of us to be doormats. However, we must realize we are all equal in God's eyes. We are all his favorites. Therefore, to hold yourself above others is wrong. To have a humble heart is to realize that you are no better than anyone else. Just different. And if washing feet was good enough for Jesus, then it needs to be a part of who we are. In order to enter in to covenant you must be humble. You must be willing to think of others before yourself. And you MUST be willing to put God FIRST.

So you see, without these qualities—honor, respect, trust, humbleness, and without a heart-value for covenant, we will continue to struggle with life's circumstances instead of being blessed by God's Truth.

Connection at the click of a button?

The rate of development of technology is astounding. In one generation (my lifetime) computers have gone from being roughly the size of an industrial refrigerator in 1973 to being small enough to fit in the palm of your hand today. Communication has been made an instantaneous thing. This is good in some ways, but it has fueled the instant gratification mindset we saw begin in the 1970s. “Gotta have it NOW!” It has birthed socially impossible relationships. Relationships with absolutely no honesty, no transparency. Connection can and many times does exist only on the device, and can begin and end at the touch of your fingertips. There is no desire to (or need to?) connect physically, emotionally, relationally, beyond the image on the screen. The enemy enters in gleefully, knowing this is a field wide open to his manipulation.

Teaching your toddler to operate a tablet and play games on line has become a surrogate parent; many times in the guise of “expanding his/her knowledge base”. Please don't misunderstand, I don't think all computer use or electronic devices should be banned from early learning. I recall my children watching Sesame Street every day. That was nearly as controversial, as the television became the babysitter. You may love your devices, but I guarantee they will NOT love you back.

My whole point is, if you do not have time to sit with your child and interact on the tablet, or computer, or phone or even television, something is wrong. Your priorities are off. Soon you will be complaining that your child is not paying enough attention to the appropriate tasks. Soon you will find their ability to focus on the spoken word is greatly hampered. If your priorities are keeping your child quiet and happy so you can do what you want to do, soon they will find their happiness elsewhere. And it will affect their attention span in school, at home, and later behind the wheel and in the workplace. They will not have a work ethic, because they never learned what that means. Neither will they be able to connect on a loving, spiritual level, or function in a loving, affectionate relationship in a fully reciprocal way.

“Work ethic is a term you don't hear much anymore. The average person keeps a job 2 years or less, from the most recent polls. When a problem (perceived or real) arises, we switch jobs or just quit, instead of working through it. It is by working through a problem that things change for the better. If this skill is not learned at home by practice and by example, it is not taught elsewhere; therefore children will be flying by the seat of their pants, wondering what to do next. They will do what their feelings dictate at the time, which is not a good way to make decisions.

It is now normal to depend upon technology to connect with others, to entertain, and to inform and educate. Now, I'm not saying this is a bad thing. I have re-connected with lost family members and our ministry has connected with people all over the world via social media. But the good is contrasted by the very bad. We all are aware of pornography, pedophile sites, bomb construction instructions, terrorist sites and more that are available to anyone who can type in a search engine box. We know the good and bad sides of all of it. However, people who utilize electronics multiple times all day long (if not 24/7) are extremely sensitive about the topic of social detachment.

This, coupled with a lack of value for honor, respect and covenant in a child's upbringing are a petri dish for disaster in families, schools, workplace and government. You see, it's easy to connect emotionally with someone you only chat with on line, or visit on video chat. You can always have “a bad connection” or just flat out “hit the red x” if you get bored or disagree with that person. You can even block them from making contact with you in the future. How does this teach the life skills needed to develop relationships? It certainly does not teach the value of appropriate physical affection. I would even go so far as to say it separates people further, putting them in danger of only seeing and knowing what that person chooses to reveal (or manufacture) on line. You may meet in person, spend time together, sometimes you marry. But somewhere down the line the real person will be exposed. Yes, this can happen in physical encounters, and does. But I believe physical presence makes the difference. We cannot learn discernment of character if we don't see the person physically and look into their eyes. And we all, every living person, need physical touch. You see, we were given sensors by our creator God, not just in our hands but in our eyes, ears, mouth and brain. The flat image on a computer is deceiving, and after a while we forget to use these sensors. And that is where danger begins.

Putting it all together

In a society where the majority of our time is spent in front of some sort of impersonal device (television, computer, phone, tablet, video game), how do we teach the value of covenant, honor, respect, and trust? And why is this important?

Let's take movies and television, for instance. Most of us will agree upon the lack of value for respect, honor, trust and other positive values, in the media. Let's carry this thought through. IF we are spending most, if not all of our spare time this way, and these core values are not contained in what we are taking into our minds, what will the behavioral outcome be? Your behaviors will only be changed by those things you value. You must perceive or find personal gain from them.

If a child grows up in a home where he or she is constantly subjected to aggressive behavior and language on television and in real life, they will manifest those same behaviors, unless somewhere they are shown other options. And they are shown value for those options. If children are not taught to respect others, and are allowed to do what they want, when they want (including screaming when they don't get their way—until they do-- or constantly and rudely interrupting when others are speaking), and if they are not raised by parents who value and respect each other, the problem becomes generational.

I personally see a connection to all of this and our decreasing church attendance. I believe that children aren't brought up to value anything that they don't perceive to be centered around their lives. They hold no value for God or a church family. “After all, what's God ever done for me?” This is evident in their immediate gratification mindset; they won't work to earn anything, and won't wait for what they want.

So where did Covenant Go?

So, is covenant dead in America? I believe it is drawing what could be its last, staggering breath. What will our country be like if covenant, and all its values completely disappear? I don't want to know. I believe in the majority of cases that the concept of being “dissed” has taken on a whole new meaning. Honor is a joke. Respect is something you only have out of fear. Trust is non-existent. In many cases this is true, but not in all.

Somewhere in America there are families who sit around the dinner table without their cell phones, and talk about their day—with each other-- and learn to listen in order to understand. They help each other clean up after dinner. The children (yes, even the teenagers) listen to, obey and honor their parents. When they run in to problems, they ask their parents for help and advice. The family prays together, goes to church together and the kids even SING in church! They work together. When someone within the family or community needs help, they make a point of doing what they can. Somewhere in America there are whole communities of families who honor God, worship together, and value each other. They love our country and serve in whatever capacity they are able.

“Yeah, right.” I can hear people thinking this as they read. Is this your reality? Or have you come to the point where you believe this is euphemistic thinking, and will never happen? Well, I know it can.

We are the only country in the world who openly acknowledges that it is covered by God. What do I mean, and how can I make a statement like that? Think back when you used to recite the pledge of allegiance:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

No other country in the world says that. NONE. Why is that important? We are primarily a Christian nation. Now efforts are being made legally to remove the name of God from everything—curriculums, government buildings, our pledge of allegiance, music, art, insurance policies, and many other places. What does this teach our children? What does it show to the rest of the world? Think on this—God is love. Removing God...remove love. Do we need love in our government? Oh, you betcha!

We are God's people. We have his favor, if we choose to receive it. We don't have to earn it; it's already there. We just need to believe and receive. What difference would this make? When you believe in God, you must respect, love and honor him. If, as a Christian, you have surrendered your life to Christ his son, and received him as your savior, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, you must love yourself and others equally.

If you are a child of God, you are covered by him (to be “under God”). He protects you, guides you, is always with you. This doesn't mean nothing ever goes wrong. It means, just as with our own children, when we fall he picks us up. He loves us unconditionally. He will never, never leave us or forsake us. What is the value of that? When God is present, we have no successful enemies.

I believe if we as the body of Christ and as a nation walk in our faith, according to the core values of the word of God, and live as examples Jesus taught us to be, our nation will better reflect the heart of God. You see, he entered into covenant with us. His word shows us over and over again how he has made allowance for our failings. How he has loved us in spite of our bad decisions, and still loves us. I believe that the Everlasting Covenant of Jesus is available for us all. Individually, and as a nation.

Yes, we are a “melting pot”. I am not saying we have to convert everyone to Christianity. That's not our responsibility. You heard me right...that's NOT our job. It's God's job. OUR job is to be Christ to the world, starting right here in our own families, towns, counties, state and nation. We are to emulate the example Christ gave us. In order to do that well, we need to stay in fellowship with the body of Christ, and immerse ourselves in God's word. We need to be in Christ, and he in us, as he is in the Father. This is the example the world needs. When they look at us, they need to see Jesus. That is our responsibility. Why?

If we treat everyone, regardless of ethnic origin, religion, economic status or other factors, as equals; with love, respect and honor, whether or not we agree with their choices-- they will begin to see who Jesus is. If we do not, then we will appear to not have the same values Jesus did. Indeed, it would appear that we do not value Jesus as we value ourselves. We owe the world an encounter with Christ. When we treat them with love, we are giving them God.

Jesus Christ rose from the grave three days after dying for us on the cross. He sits next to his Father in heaven for eternity. Eternity in heaven in the presence of the Father is also available to everyone, regardless of our past decisions. All we need to do is ask Jesus to forgive our sins and become our savior. But to do this, we must believe in him.

It is only through love, honor, respect, covenant, trust and value that we can convey the grace of God. And it is only through the grace of God that our country can be mended and made whole. Somewhere down the line our value for entitlement superseded our value for honor. Our wants and selfish desires have taken the place of caring for the needs of others. It would seem that America's core values have drastically changed from honor above all, to “personal rights” and entitlement above all.

Yes, you may find qualities of kindness, honor, gentleness, respect and core values in other belief systems. But they are based on teachings of people who are dead. We have a living God, who gave us his living word. A God who pursues us relentlessly because his love for us is so deep. There is no other God above him. His goodness and kindness follows us all the days of our lives.

You see, we have forgotten what we believe. And if we forget, we don't pass it down to our children. And if we don't pass it to our children, they cannot walk in it. If they don't walk in it, all God's core values perish. Without the core values of God's word, our nation will falter and perish. We will succumb to the powers of this world, rather than find victory in Christ.

Yes, we say we love our country. Do you stand and sing when the national anthem is played and/or sung? Do you remove your hat and salute the flag? We say we want to see our country thrive. But what we dwell upon, we bring into being. What does your life reflect? Are you a person of honor? Do you walk in a lifestyle that reflects the values of Christ? Only in Christ can we see victory. Only in Christ can we overcome the enemy. Only in Christ can we recover what we have lost.

God entered into covenant with his people. He heard “one nation under God”, and he believed us. He was present at the signing of our Declaration of Independence, and our Constitution. He is doing his part. Are we?

I want to encourage you to walk in integrity. Bless others daily. Live up to your promises. Be honest and trustworthy. Resist temptation to take the easy way out. When others meet you, they need to meet Jesus. Be the good news of Christ, and teach this to your children and grandchildren. Show them the freedom of living “under God”. And be the person you want them to grow up to be.

These are life decisions that can be difficult. But it's all about decisions. God gave us, through the Holy Spirit, the gift of self-discipline. Use it. Ask for help if you need it. We can change our nation, or we can allow others to.

We must not let Covenant die, or our country will follow suit. At least that's the way I see it. I encourage you to thoughtfully put together your own personal covenant with God. What will you do for him for the rest of your life, even unto eternity? What will you covenant with him?

He gave you his one and only son, who is the Everlasting Covenant. What will you give him?

I believe in the victory of our country over evil. I believe in our victory over self-centered mindsets. I believe our country is the greatest country on earth. I am grateful to God every moment of every day that he created me at this time to live here in this place. I am excited at the possibilities we have before us. But I must consciously decide to walk in grace, truth, peace, honor, and all that God is. I must give my life for what he stands for. I must surrender my life to him. And I do, every moment of every day.

God is waiting patiently for your decision. He's holding up his end of the covenant. Are you?

Grace and peace to you, and may God bless you, and God bless America!

The Consequences of Reacting in Anger

by Walt and Sharron Scott, Senior Pastors

Let Go and Soar Ministries

12/4/14

We feel a responsibility to respond to the resent unrest that was sparked by the Ferguson, Missouri incident with Michael Brown, in New York with Mr. Eric Garner, and the 12-year old boy with a pellet rifle from Cleveland Ohio. All of these situations could have been resolved much differently. Instead of being proactive, the persons involved behaved re-actively in anger. This is applicable to both sides.

As citizens we are told we are not to respond with deadly force unless confronted by deadly force. We believe and have been told that the police are trained to use deadly force only after all other options are exhausted, although it seems they oftentimes ignore these options. We also feel that training which teaches respect for authority, law enforcement, and for other people in general is, in most cases not being taught in our homes. What does seem to be on the curriculum is enabling, entitlement and privilege. Violence as reaction to adversity has become the norm in a world where reacting in anger is acceptable. Let us be very clear about one thing: anger is what we feel when we don't get our way. How we react or respond to that anger is a CHOICE.

In the last 50 years videos, games, TV shows, books and movies have become so death oriented, so violent, that it has made death and violence a “normal” part of life. Games such as those on Xbox, Playstation, videos readily available on the internet, and the myriad zombie and vampire movies and TV shows available during what used to be considered “family time.” Superheroes have even changed, resulting to violence to achieve their victories. This is all considered and viewed as “normal” until it happens to someone you love. Suddenly it is not just a movie or game or a story any more. It becomes very real.

So, on both sides of this coin, civilian and law enforcement, fear and disregard for the value of human life is evident. Those children we raised are the ones now involved. These incidents would have much different outcomes if we taught and followed the principles and example of Jesus Christ in our homes first, and also in our schools.

Why does dialogue, negotiation, and reconciliation only seem to take place after death and destruction? Why do we never seem to think first or learn anything from our history? We refer to all of the lessons taught us during the civil rights movement in the 60s and 70s. What does that tell the world about our professed Christian faith as a nation?

We are, as followers of Jesus Christ, who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”, supposed to emulated his example. We are instructed to love God, our neighbor, and each other as he loves us. Christians are supposed to represent the Body of Jesus Christ—his Church. Each member doing their part to represent and support this Body. Instead, it seems that many of our hearts, minds and bodies have chosen atrophy or, at the least, apathy. All of the excuses we hear with regard to age, health, time, and so on are just that—excuses for not getting involved.

Triune God is the priority in all things. He is the provider for all you are, have, or will ever need. Don't stagnate in your comfort zone. Step out, speak out, be the Good News.

The enemy satan wins when we react in any way that doesn't model the example Jesus Christ left us. We know as a nation we are far from perfect, but our objective and goal should be to achieve the highest level of excellence that we are capable of achieving.

Let's all do our part, as “One nation, under God, indivisible” in answering the prayer of Jesus Christ as stated in the Bible, John 17:20-26. 

Integrity

By Pastor Sharron I. Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

July 27, 2015

Integrity is one of those core value words we don't hear much in casual conversation anymore. I remember when I was growing up I used to hear “He is a man of his word” or “She is a woman of integrity.” It had a really good, lofty feel to it. But it seemed like a nearly unattainable goal in the world I grew up in. It was what people who dressed nicely, had lots of money and higher education had—at least in my little 9 year old reasoning.

Not that I didn't dress nicely. But we definitely did not have much money when I was a kid. I didn't know that. I just knew that there were people with really nice houses and nice cars and lots of stuff we didn't have who lived a few blocks up the hill from us. Hmmmm did that mean they had integrity?

One of my little girlfriends lived up there. I lived on South Ramsey Drive. She lived on North Ramsey Drive. We had chickens in our back yard, and a goat in the yard next to the garage. She had a toaster that disappeared into the wall when you were done using it!

I remember one day I decided to go visit her. I walked up to her front door, and introduced myself---in my best British accent. When my friend's mother asked if I was from England, of course I said yes. What was I thinking!? My friend wasn't there. She would have known I wasn't telling the truth, and busted me for it right in front of her mother.

I walked back home, and apparently this woman obtained my home phone number. She had called my mother before I even reached home. My Mom questioned me about it, then walked my tush back and made me apologize, and admit I had lied. It was horribly humiliating. And I never spent time with my girlfriend again. It was a mutual thing, but mostly her mother's decision. I guess I wasn't worthy. I had no integrity.

When I was growing up I didn't hear any words about how I was perfect or special and didn't need to pretend to be anyone else. I had embarrassed the daylights out of my Mom, and she wanted to save face and make sure I never did that again. Well, it worked. I never did. But I DID develop a really great British accent later on in high school!

We can ponder whether anyone in this little story had integrity. But what's most important are the perceptions. This woman thought I was a little liar, hence I had no integrity. My mother just felt I needed to learn a lesson. She thought integrity was unrealistic. I know that, because she taught me that it was acceptable to lie if I didn't want to do something my friend did. Did I feel either one of these mothers had integrity? Well, I didn't quite know the concept of integrity, but on a child's level I responded with what I knew. So what does that tell you?

Well, we are adults now. So let's look at integrity from an adult vantage point. Certainly we can agree it is a positive attribute in anyone. Let's see what Webster's says:

Integrity: 1. an unimpaired condition: soundness, 2. adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values 3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness syn see honesty, unity

Our thesaurus and book of synonyms says:

Integrity: 1. uprightness, honesty, probity, rectitude; truthfulness, veracity, candidness, sincerity, forthrightness; trustworthiness, faithfulness; justness, fairness, Inf. Square shooting; honor, goodness, decency, morality, moral fiber; conscientiousness, scrupulousness, principle, virtue; courage, intestinal fortitude, Sl. Guts, backbone.

2. unity, oneness, wholeness, entirety, completeness, totality.
3. soundness, intactness, perfection, flawlessness, mint condition.

Now that we have heard man's interpretation, let's hear what God has to say about it: *NOTE: Strong's concordance substitutes the word “blameless” for integrity.

(Genesis 20:5-6)

1 Kings 9:4-- “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws (5) I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever

Job 2:3—The the Lord said to satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Job 2:9—His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?

Job 27:5—I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.

Psalm 7:8—Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my integrity, O Most High.

Psalm 25:21—May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord is in you.

(Psalm 26:1)

(Psalm 26:11)

Psalm 41:12—Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

Psalm 78:72—And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

Proverbs 10:9—Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 11:3—The integrity of the upright guides them, bu the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

(Proverbs 19:1)

(Proverbs 20:7)

Proverbs 29:10—The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

Titus 2:7—In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (8)and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned

Wow. God says a lot about integrity. Here's what I think the characteristics of integrity are:

To be--

1. Honest at all times, gently and with love, even when it's uncomfortable to do so
2. Respectful in your words and actions toward others (and yourself)
3. Reliable—be known for doing what you say you will do
4. A person of your word—if you agree on something, stick to it
5. Trustworthy—do not divulge confidences, even to solicit “prayers”. Be known for your honesty.
6. One to follow through, follow up—Complete what you say you will do, and make sure it is sufficient.
7. Caring, compassionate—love with the heart of Jesus. Think of others before yourself.
8. Self-sacrificing—give of your time when necessary, and your possessions as well.

I find it interesting that an object can “lack integrity”. That means it has a fault that makes its performance unreliable. If a piece of metal has been bent, its “integrity” has been compromised.

So what does a lack of integrity do in an adult? As a parent, if you lack integrity your children sense it. They will act accordingly. If you lack integrity, it is virtually impossible to teach your children respect. They don't see the value in it. If you tell your children you are going to do something, then don't follow through, they know they can talk you into whatever they want. If you say “no” and then give in, that is a lack of integrity. And it sends all the wrong messages about how to function in this world. Conversely, if you tell your children you are going to take them to Disneyland, and then come up with excuse after excuse as to why you can't, time after time, they learn you are not a person of your word. They won't trust you.

In the work place, if you are frequently late, gossip, speak ill of your boss, take advantage of your co-workers, complain, and are generally selfish, you probably won't have a job very long. And it will be difficult for you to find another that is worth having.

In the community, your integrity, or lack thereof, follows you (or precedes you!). People are very suspicious of a person who they believe lacks integrity. Even those who walk in that dim light themselves! It can affect how people conduct business with you in the market, the bank, at the doctor's or dentist office, even church.

So I think we all agree integrity is a valuable characteristic to have. What if you were not raised in an environment of integrity? How do you obtain it? Our first and best resource is God's word. The example of Jesus is the best I can think of, but there are many many people in the Bible who model integrity. Esther, Ruth, David (at times), Moses (at times), Daniel, Joseph, and the list goes on. Truly the only faultless example is Jesus. How can we live up to His example? We are “mere humans!”

The answer, of course, is that we are not “mere humans.” We are new creations, born again and washed in the blood of our risen Savior. We have access to the great Counselor, the strength and power of God given us in the Holy Spirit. So we truly have no valid excuse.

How does God wish for you to be known? We have the answer to that question, because He sent His only son as our example. Is that how you wish to be known? Is to be Christ-like a true desire in your heart? Here are some suggestions as to how to walk the path toward integrity:

• When faced with adversity or temptation, CHOOSE to make the right choices. If someone has offended you, think about what Jesus taught us; forgive and turn it over to God. Jesus taught us to “turn the other cheek.”

• Jesus was not a doormat. He stood for justice. When you see someone being mistreated, do something about it. Speak up. Don't act out in violence, but defend those who are helpless.

• Care about your body. Do what you know to be right—eat right, in correct quantities. Drink lots of water. Take vitamins. Get plenty of exercise. LEARN TO SAY NO TO YOURSELF (and the enemy). Do not use laziness or food as a way to reward yourself. If you are overweight, chances are you need to adjust your attitude about yourself and about food. Do all of the aforementioned according to what you know God wants for you. Because you know it's the right thing to do. That's integrity.

• Adjust your attitude about other people. Ask Holy Spirit to show you people and circumstances through the eyes of Jesus. Ask Him to show you things through the heart of Jesus. If you do this, and receive what He shows you, you will never see things the same way again. You will speak less harshly, you will be less critical, more patient and tolerant. And you will see yourself as equal to, not above or below others. This step is very important.

• Most importantly: Make God your priority. Place Him first above all others in your life. Yes, even your spouse or your children or your job. Begin each day with praise and thanks, and ask God to show you any hidden sin. Confess, repent and then pray for others FIRST before you pray for your own needs. Spending five minutes in prayer thanking God and telling Him what you want isn't very intimate. But it's a start. Develop a heart for intimacy with God. Quiet yourself and ask Him to speak to you. Even if this means getting up 30 minutes earlier, it is well worth it. Allow God to dictate how long your prayer should be....not your clock.

• Get deep into God's word. Read about His characteristics: Psalm 103, Exodus 34:6, 1 Cor. 13—because God is love. Ask Holy Spirit to remove anything within you that is not of the character of God. You see, we are called to be a light on the hill. A beacon. When people meet us, they need to meet God. It's not an overnight process, and we must be patient with ourselves. Love is patient. We want them to want what (who) we carry.

We do not want to have fear of man. We don't even want to really pattern our lives around what others think of us. But we DO need to care about who we are in the kingdom and how we portray Jesus in this world. It's not so much about what people think of us, but more about what they think of the Jesus they meet in you.

When I was young I thought integrity was laughable. “Corny.” Undesirable. Unattainable. Because that's all I knew. Now, as an adult I treasure the gift of integrity. I do not strive for it. I daily ask that God help me walk in it.

If you are a parent or grandparent, model integrity to children. Show them the benefits. Teach them honor, respect. And teach them to know the majesty of their Father God. All of these things are what will bring change to this world, and to God's people. “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.”

Be the person you pray each new Christian will become. Be the kingdom on earth, now. Bring Jesus to the world in truth. If you walk in integrity, pre-Christians will not doubt what you say and do. Be the truth:

In John 8:32—Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (32)Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Walking in integrity is walking in freedom. When you are tempted or you see something that reminds you of who you were in the past, you can now say “That's not who I am anymore.” Praise God.

Be the person of integrity God created you to be. Show the world who God is, by showing them who you really are. Go ahead; it's worth it. He's worth it. And so are you.

Are You Doing Your Job?

By Pastor Sharron Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

February 18, 2015

God created each of us individually. He has numbered the hairs on our head. Each one unique, each one extremely vital to His plan for the world.

We know this. We also know that each of us was endowed by God with irrevocable gifts and “callings” if you were. In other words, God created us with a plan and purpose in mind.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Why? I believe that God's greatest desire is for the earth to return to it's perfect state—as it was in the beginning.

Genesis 1:1-

How can the earth possibly be returned to its pre-sin state? Well, perhaps not perfection. Close to it, however.

Because each of us was created for a purpose, and that purpose has to be good because it was formed by God; each of us has a job to do which utilizes our unique capabilities, talents and gifts. And we are to use those for the purpose that God set forth for us at the time of our creation.

Why doesn't God just wipe the earth clean and start over? Because he promised he would never do that again. (rainbow covenant)

I believe God set in place at the time of Christ's death and resurrection and ascension a plan to restore the earth. Before Jesus it was impossible, because the old law was still in force. Sin=death. After Jesus sacrificed his life by becoming our sin and dying on the cross, it became possible for us to renew the earth. How?

Receive Jesus. Receive his reconciliation, his cleansing, his forgiveness. Then walk as a new creation in Christ. Now that which was impossible before is now possible through Christ (1 Cor. 4:13)

Will we choose to be lazy Christians, not taking responsibility for the state the world is now in, living as “good people” until we die and go to heaven? Or will we take that responsibility, and find out what it is God created us uniquely to do, and DO IT?

You see, the world is an intricate, complex place with many, many problems. But just think about the possibilities if each person walked out their passion, according to their calling by God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Each person, whether it be a doctor, scientist, naturalist, Mother, Father, musician, contractor, pastor, teacher, prophet, evangelist, apostle, etc. would have an effect upon his own environment. Each person would impact the world for Christ, exactly the way they were created to.

I believe that God has created us this way because of our prayers to him to solve the problems of this world. It may seem simplistic, but when we do not follow our God-inspired passion, we are adversely impacting the world. We are cheating the next generation and generations forward from the changes we could have made. Improvements and solutions we could have brought about.

So many people leave their passion in order to “make a living”. I did. My decision was not a wise one. Had I been strong enough to pursue my faith calling, my life would have been very different. Having said that, God was able to use the mess I created, after I confessed and repented, and once again renewd my calling. Now, I am finally living out my purpose. I have no regrets—I don't believe in regrets. I love my Father God and know that he loves me enough to use whatever I give to him, surrendering a little or everything; all for his glory. I am not aware of changing the world, but that isn't important. Only obedience in faith is important.

If we have faith and believe what Jeremiah 29:11 says, each of us can and will indeed change the world. At the risk of mimicking “It's a Wonderful Life”, we each have our footprint on this earth. Had we not been created, the world would definitely be a different place. Our impact may not be realized in our own generation, but quite possibly may be seen in our children as adults, or their children, and so on. Remember, it was Solomon who built the temple, not David.

If I decide to carry an unexpected baby to term, and bring him/her up in a loving home, doing my best to provide and care for him/her, that person will grow up and have an impact on the world. What that impact is depends on two factors: that person, and God.

We are a people of choice. God allows us to pattern our own lives based upon our own decisions. I believe, however, the bottom line is this: do we, or do we not listen to God's voice? I do believe he speaks to us all, whether or not we know him, believe in him, accept him as Savior, or reject him. He does continue to call us to him.

Some call it our conscience. Some say it's “instinct” or their “gut”. Some know it as the Holy Spirit. But each of us has a voice we know to be our indicator of right and wrong. That gut feeling that we need to listen to, or pay the consequences for our decision not to.

Let's look at a few examples. Say a little girl was impacted by a kind nurse when she had to have her immunizations. She decides she wants to be a nurse and help people when she grows up. Let's look at two possible outcomes:

1. She comes from a very poor family who cannot put her through nursing school, so she grows up hearing about how impossible and impractical her dream is. She therefore either--
   1. Defies her parents and becomes such a fantastic student that she receives a scholarship and goes to nursing school, or
   2. Gives up, drops out, and repeats the perceived and encouraged failures of her parents. Quite possibly giving birth at a very early age, and writing her future patterned after her own mother.

OR

2. She comes from a middle or upper class family who supports her in her dream, and ultimately can make it possible to achieve it. She therefore either:

1. Is grateful for their support and does well in school, moving forward to college and ultimately realizing her dream.
2. Defies her parents and teachers, because her peers do not support her, she falls into destructive behaviors.

I'm sure we are all familiar with situations such as these. But you see, there is another alternative.

What if this beautiful young lady had met Jesus? What if she received him as her Savior? What if she learned that the passion she had within her was placed there by him for her specifically? What if she learned a sense of responsibility for walking out this calling? Would this then make a difference in her decision making process? I believe it would.

We all live life according to our situations and circumstances. I received a scholarship in Journalism. I later transferred to a major in linguistics. I had a passion for Jesus, and a passion for languages. You can see the possibilities. But my scholarship ran out, and my 2 part time jobs didn't pay enough to keep me going. I was offered a job for a very good amount of money. I took it, deciding that I couldn't “make a living” as a linguist.

Maybe I was right. But you see, I made the decision for all the wrong reasons. I didn't have a family that helped me make decisions based on God's will. I was basically on my own as far as my faith was concerned. Without a mentor a young person is quite subject to the world's way of thinking.

So you see, even this young lady still has hope in her life, even if she didn't initially realize her dream of helping people. The deciding factor is this:

SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST.

Only in surrender do you find total freedom. I know, our brains are not hard-wired to think that way. It makes no sense. Surrender means defeat in this world. However, in the kingdom, surrender means only one thing:

TOTAL VICTORY.

Only in surrender can you realize your true calling. Only in surrender can you know your true identity in Christ. Why does that matter?

Remember when I was saying that each of us makes an impact on this world? Well, in Christ, that impact is positive. He will ALWAYS use your life for good. Always. What is the alternative?

Surrender to the world, and the prince of the air. Satan. Yep, there is no in-between. It's an all-or-nothing world, and we need to make our choice. Satan will NEVER use your life for good. And if you are not surrendered to Christ, guess what? You are surrendered to satan.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Our God knows exactly what decisions and circumstances we face in our lives, and what we will do. Here's the deal: even if we do not surrender to him, and we live our lives selfishly and don't care a bit about others, we still have a chance to impact this world for the good. How?

Let's look at another example, taken from a movie we recently saw:

A grumpy, lonely, greedy, wealthy old man lies in a hospital bed, dying alone. No one wants to be with him, and he has pushed everyone away. But he knows he's dying. BUT--

A neighbor of his realizes he is gone, and finds out he is in the hospital dying. This neighbor knows Jesus, and does not hesitate to share his faith. So he calls his pastor, and asks him to visit this man, just in case he decides to make that decision for Jesus.

The pastor and the neighbor, and their sons go to the hospital. The boys are very young. The neighbor introduces the pastor to the dying man. He is rude and turns his back on the pastor, but decides to turn back around at the sight of the two boys holding their father's hand.

They sit and chat with him. But he begins to have problems breathing. The nurse comes in and checks his vital signs, and shakes her head very slightly to the pastor. The man does not have much longer.

One of the boys whispers to his father, “Daddy, does that grouchy man know Jesus?” His father tells him he's not sure. The little boy steps forward, looks at the old man, grabbed his hand and says, “Don't you want to go to heaven? Don't you want to see Jesus? He loves you, even though you are grumpy and not real nice. Just say you are sorry and he will forgive you. And you can go to heaven.”

The old man whispers “Jesus, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I want to be with you in heaven.”

The nurse comes in shortly after that and disconnects the monitor, because the old man had slipped away at the end of his prayer.

I know, it's a nice little story. But think for just a minute. How did the pastor impact the lives of others? He brought his son. He showed love to the old man. He responded lovingly to the neighbor's request. He allowed his son to observe, and to speak.

How did the neighbor impact the lives of others? He cared for a grumpy old man enough to call the pastor. He accompanied him and introduced him. And he brought his son.

How did the pastor's son impact the lives of others? He watched. He took in all that he saw and experienced. How did all this effect him? The future will tell. The possibilities are endless. Will he surrender to Christ? Will he have a calling to be a doctor, a pastor, a missionary, an evangelist? You see, with Christ in the picture, all things are used for the good of those who love him.

Now, what if that neighbor hadn't made that call, and didn't go to the hospital? He would have to answer to Jesus for that decision. Who knows that he may have been created for such a time as this? It could well be that his purpose was to make it possible for this one man to become a child of God. And If he had not taken his son, who knows what the effect would have been? Yes, maybe there could have been more opportunities. But possibly not. Is that a chance anyone should take?

Esther 4:14

“... and who knows but that you have been created for such a time as this?”

That old man now knows Jesus. The young boy might become the next Billy Graham. Or President of the United States. The neighbor's son may become a pastor, doctor, missionary. And the neighbor? Well, he and the pastor, and maybe the nurse have just witnessed an amazing event they will never forget. It will effect them in ways they can't imagine, for the rest of their lives.

You see, we each have a job to do. Listen to God. Sometimes he speaks in that still, small voice, a whisper in your mind's ear. Or sometimes it is an undeniable witness.

Find Jesus. Surrender EVERYTHING you are, have and will be to him. And ask what he has for you to do.

It is then, and only then you will find freedom, purpose and total joy. Ask it, live it, walk it.

Say yes to him, and change the world.

Dunamis-- The Power of God

Dunamis—The Power of God

By Pastor Sharron Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

April 18, 2015

Strong's Concordance defines dunamis as “(miraculous) power, might, strength”

God our Father-Creator spoke, and the world was formed. He breathed, and Adam had life, and the breath of God. These actions, the movements of God are called “DUNAMIS” in Greek.

God the Son used DUNAMIS on earth when breathing life into the dead, healing the sick and delivering the oppressed and possessed. He exhibited this power when suffering and dying on the cross. His very blood carries this power. Indeed, his name alone bears it.

He rose from the dead, entered hell, obtained the keys to life and death, and returned to heaven by this power. He returned to earth and ate, drank and prayed amongst his beloved by this power.

In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus told his apostles “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Why?

In Acts 2:1-47 we read the account of Pentecost, where the beloved were doing what they were commanded; waiting in the Upper Room for the gift of God. Not knowing what specifically this was, or when exactly it would happen, or what it would be like, they obeyed. What ensued was the most amazing experience any group of humans could ever have-- a powerful encounter with the DUNAMIS of God, His Holy Spirit. They were spiritually set on fire and breathed into, and began to speak as they never had before. God's Holy Spirit, and his power, now lived in them. The sound was so mighty that people could hear it from far away. Suddenly, our words had power.

Standing with his brothers, Peter, for the first time in his life, stepped into the forefront and preached his first sermon. In Acts 2:14 we read a most eloquent account of what more than 3000 people were seeing and hearing. He miraculously connects the experience with scripture he has known most of his life-- Joel 2:28-32, and Psalm 16:8-11. He declares the glory of God through Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension.

He brings to the crowd's attention that they, the people crucified Christ. This horrified the people, and caused them to ask what they should do! They did not want to stay as they were. Peter brought them to receive Christ right then and there, telling them that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He would live in them. He also told them that “The Promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “Will call” indicating future action by God. This was for all people, forever.

If we refer back to Peter's recital of Joel 2:28-32, we will realize what exactly that means. Men and women, and children as well will receive the DUNAMIS, the Holy Spirit of God. About 3000 of them accepted his message and immediately became members of the body of Christ. And they took this home to their families. Remember, Peter said it was for their children and all people!

When a people carry within them the DUNAMIS of God, the Holy Spirit, what does that mean? We know that God is the same yesterday, today and always. We know that what God does for one, he intends to continue doing for others. He would NOT give this DUNAMIS, this gift of the Holy Spirit to more than 3000 people, after telling them through Peter, that it was “for all whom the Lord our God will call” and then never do it again.

God desires that all shall be saved. ALL. Would he withhold his DUNAMIS gift from some, and only give it to others? That makes no sense. Not when we read Peter's words. God our Father NEVER reneges on his promises, never misleads, never plays favorites, never lies. You can be assured what he gave to the apostles, the 3000, their families, and others, he also intends for you.

Why? Well, to answer that we need to go back to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis we learn that mankind began making ungodly decisions that have adversely affected God's once-perfect creation, the earth and it's people. BUT because of his love for us, he planned for our redemption through the shed blood of his only son Jesus, and through that sacrifice the gift of his Holy Spirit, his DUNAMIS power. The pure expression of his love.

You ask again, why would God do this? By giving us this DUNAMIS POWER, he has equipped us with everything we need to repair the damage we have done to this world. John 3:16 begins “For God so loved the world....” We make the mistake of time and time again crying out to God to fix our world, and clean up our mistakes. Just as in the Garden we had to pay the consequences for our poor choices, we have to do that now. WE are responsible for the restoration of the earth and God's people. And this we cannot do on our own, with our own capabilities. History has shown that.

Now let's understand one thing very clearly: this is not about the power of mankind. This is not about us being filled with power to use for anything we want. We have a great deal to learn before God will use ANY of us. And that's the point. The Dunamis gift is an open channel by which God uses us, his creation, to do his will here on earth, not like the 80s cartoon characters Pinky and the Brain, who wanted to “take over the world!”

What do we need to do? First, we must totally and completely surrender our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits to God. We must ask him to separate us from our sin, and ask for forgiveness. We must REPENT, which means change our way of thinking. And we must BELIEVE that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was for US. We must BELIEVE what scripture teaches. We cannot serve God without total surrender. That takes TRUST in God's love for us. We must trust him enough to lay down our lives for him, accept his perfect will for us, and then become obedient to his will. Even to death. Stepping out, taking risks, WITHOUT THE FEAR OF MAN. What does that mean?

Fear of man means you don't want to rock the boat, so you live a “normal” life, hoping that God can use that in some way to bless someone. Because if you step out in faith and witness to someone, or declare healing for them, or speak an affirming word over them, they might run in the opposite direction. Or you might be ostracized. You think “No, God can use me in my everyday life, without me taking risks.” Or “If I take a risk I might blow the only chance I have with that person to witness for Christ.” Or, “I received Christ. Now all I really have to do is be a good person until I die and go to heaven.”

One thing I have learned is that the Word of God does not EVER return void. And any word spoken for him is his word. He can use even our stumbling, bumbling attempts to make HUGE changes in someone, reaching even the most desperately lost people. It is HIS power, not ours. That's a fact. Oh, it may not be apparent to you immediately, but your words on behalf of Christ speak life into each person EVERY TIME. It may not take root and grow for years, but you must have faith that God is at work through you. Don't be selfish enough to think you need to see results each time. God knows what he's doing. And he's always doing.

If you are having difficulty believing this whole thing, I would venture to say you have never recognized or experienced a miracle in your life. A healing. A deliverance. A shocking move of God. OR you have, but have been blind. Pray for God to open your eyes and heart today, and you will begin to see his DUNAMIS. This I promise.

If we, the Body of Christ, do not step out, take up the authority given us by Christ through his torture, death and resurrection, and receive the DUNAMIS power of the Holy Spirit and utilize it in our own lives and the lives of others, Christ died for nothing. We have failed to take the responsibility of cleaning up our own mess. And we dishonor God.

And, in my question that shocks many, I ask “What if Jesus is waiting for us to finally get this before he returns?”

We MUST confess our sins, repent, surrender, accept our authority as given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18, our Great Commission. We must receive the DUNAMIS power of the Holy Spirit, and the responsibility to use it to carry out that commission. We must heal each other and this world. We can minimize drastically the number of people that have to experience the Great Tribulation, spoken of in the book of Revelation. We can become the New Jerusalem.

What are you waiting for, an act of God? Well, we've already received that if we have received Christ. I can assure you, we have nothing left to wait for. God has done everything.

God is just waiting on us. When you die and go to heaven, and sit and talk with Jesus about your life, you will not be able to say “I didn't know!” Now you do know. What will you do with this knowledge? I personally intend to follow God's lead and obediently do whatever he calls us to do to change this town, this county, this state, this country, this world. It may not look like much at first, but it will happen-- in a mighty wave!.

Allow yourself the luxury of imagination for a moment: what if (and we are talking God's what if) every one of us made this decision? Immediately? And began to walk it out in our own homes, and lives? What would our towns look like? What would change? I'd personally like to see this. You see, when we gather together --“whenever two or more gather together.....” the DUNAMIS POWER is multiplied. More love, more power. It starts with YOUR choice. Don't wait for someone else to do it. It is YOUR responsibility.

God didn't give this gift to you to keep for yourself. He never does. He gives you gifts to give to others. But you can't give what you haven't received. Won't you receive him today?

If you have not yet done so, or if you'd like to re-affirm your vow to him, I invite you to pray this prayer with me:

“Great and glorious Father God, Majesty, I love you. I believe in you, and I thank you for creating me. I am grateful to be living in this moment right now.

I believe that mankind sinned, creating a separation between you and me. And I believe you love me so much that you sacrificed your only son Jesus on my behalf. I believe he was tortured to heal my sicknesses, he died on the cross as a substitute for my sin. Because whenever mankind sinned, something had to die. He died to create the everlasting covenant between me and you.

I believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and captured the keys to life and death from hell. He ascended to be seated at your right hand. And I believe he made it possible through his life and death, for me to receive your DUNAMIS POWER, your Holy Spirit.

I believe I have now received that power, the Holy Spirit, as I have received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior now and forever.

I surrender my life to you now, and will walk in obedience to your will and your Word. Show me what that looks like, dear Father. I long to do my part to change this world, to honor you.

Thank you, Lord. Amen

If you prayed that prayer, or one like it, I believe you have received Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the DUNAMIS of God. This won't take all of your problems away or mean life will always be easy, but realize that God loves you and will NEVER leave you. The life of a follower of Jesus is challenging, and He is worth it. Surround yourself with powerful people who will lift you up and show you who you are in God's eyes.

As for the rest of us who have already received Christ and the Holy Spirit, again I ask, what are you waiting for? POWER UP! Step out! Take risks! After all, no matter what you do, it's not dying on the cross.

Bless God and each other. And let there be peace on earth. Amen.