Monday, January 31, 2011

"Taking It Personally"

The Word of God speaks to and about you. This might seem like an odd reminder.

Not at all. What if I told you that far too many believers, perhaps even most, do not perceive the Scriptures as being directed toward themselves personally? And I'm speaking of course about the ones who actually crack open the bible on a regular basis.

The source of spiritual weakness within the Church is directly related to the lack of Scriptural understanding. 

Luke 9:1-2 (AMP) - "THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, (2) And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing."

Do you think Jesus is talking to you in this passage? Do you think this is the reasonable expectation of Jesus for all believers today?

Some, maybe even most will say "No, this was meant for the original twelve apostles only."

Well...then how do we explain these next verses?

Luke 10:1 (AMP) - "NOW AFTER this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit).  

Vs. 9  - "And heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come close to you."

Vs. 19 - "Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you."

Only for those seventy disciples?

Why in the world would we think that? How are we to believe that the Kingdom of Heaven has perpetuated itself all of these centuries without the charge Jesus gave His first disciples continuing through the ages? How is the Word of God personal to us if it doesn't include us? How does the Church even survive if we are not taking the Words of Jesus personally and seriously?

Matthew 10:7-8 (AMP) - "And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! (8) Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give."

 If we are not fulfilling this then the Kingdom of Heaven does not advance! It is not "at hand" but distant and far away.

No longer could we say with conviction, and with the original intent of Jesus,"Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  It just becomes part of the rest of the repetition muttered countless times without meaning or understanding. Religion pure and simple.

I live in these passages. I live in them and I act them out. No one leaves my church without the opportunity to be saved, sanctified, healed, and delivered. We see people healed and delivered almost every single week. We have seen many come to Jesus week after week.

Has this been your experience? It should be. It should be because it is the gospel. If we are going to call ourselves true disciples of Jesus Christ then we should be carrying out His charge in the authority He has given us.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

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