Friday, June 28, 2013

He is...

Isaiah 26:4 (AMP) - "...the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]."

He is the Undefeatable One. The Eternal Strong One. 

He is the All Sufficient Lord and God. The Everlasting God. The God of The Covenant.

He is our:

PROVIDER. HEALER. BANNER. SANCTIFIER. PEACE. SHEPHERD. JUDGE. RIGHTEOUSNESS. DELIVERER. SHIELD.

He is my:

Shining Sun of Righteousness. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Ancient of Days.

He is:

Emmanuel. My King. The Angel of the Lord. The Alpha and Omega. The First and the Last.

The Great I AM. 

SAVIOR.

He is mine.

He is Jesus.

He is my REDEEMER!

Is He yours?


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Which Nature?

Supernatural?  Natural?  Unnatural?

Pick one. I choose to live in the supernatural. Far too many choose the alternative, particularly just staying in the natural.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) - "But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated."

This is the importance of being born-again. Until that happens man in his natural state cannot receive the teachings and counsel of God. The Word of God says that it is actually all mumbo-jumbo to those who cannot discern it.

Makes perfect sense to me. I remember being on the other side of supernatural. Both the natural and the unnatural.

The unnatural is even farther away. It is a perversion of even the things of the natural.

Look at it this way. In our natural state from birth, and being born not with a propensity to do good, but actually evil (in other words, we will eventually commit sin), we are still designed to follow a natural order. For instance, it is God's plan that mankind procreate and multiply, so God's natural order of things is for a man to marry a woman. In the unnatural, extreme sin causes things to go haywire. Mankind will then try to change God's universal law by enacting laws for men to marry men, and women to women. It's unnatural even for unredeemed mankind.

Another example is that God has designed within the confines of the natural joining of a man and a woman, for the woman to become pregnant and carry that child through to birth. In the unnatural, mankind has now enacted laws to intervene and abort that process and kill the already formed child in the womb before birth.

Man even in his natural state will often make poor choices and slip into the unnatural.

The only cure for this is to live in the supernatural. I know it might sound space age or like science fiction, but it perfectly describes natural man becoming united with a supernatural God. When that happens we become supernatural as well.

It just means that we are now empowered to live above the natural state. We have a heightened awareness now due to the Holy Spirit regenerating our natural spirit.

Let's face it, the entire process is completely supernatural, so why would we shy away from understanding that it effects every part of us?

"Spiritually discerned and estimated". I have seen some real blunders committed even by alleged Spirit filled believers that has had disastrous results just because they abandoned their supernatural estate and reverted to operating in the natural.

Some have even slipped away further into the unnatural. It's the carnal flesh in all its perverted, anti-Christlike attraction. Shiny objects lead astray.

Living under the open heaven. Understanding our relationship and function in the King's Dominion. Receiving with glory this unsurpassable and limitless joy that comes with the supernatural release from obsessive religious "doing", and simply resting in the peace that is not discerned in the natural state.

Being.

How wonderful to allow God to just have His way!

Do you know what happens when you ask God for more?

He gives it to you!

Have Your way Lord, have Your way.

More of You Lord, less of me (LESS of YOU? How many can walk down that path with me this morning?)!

We want more. Pour it out today.


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Power Outage

When you were a child you played childish games. Freeze Tag, Flashlight Tag, Hide and Go Seek. There were rules that governed those games, but they seemed to change every time you played it. Someone would always try to invent a new rule or change and existing one to suit themselves in any given situation.

Religion does the same thing. Just as childish.

Acts 4:29-30 (AMP) - "29 And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, 30 While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus."

When did this change? Who changed the rules on this deal? Who usurped the authority of God? From power to powerlessness in 2,000 years.

Entire religious systems who allege to remain Christian, are teaching at seminary and denominational levels that this method of how Jesus and His disciples operated in the early church is no longer valid.

On what authority? Certainly not God's. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Acts 4:31 (AMP) - "31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."

 Boldness? Courage? Holy Ghost shaking? I know a few places that need that desperately!

However, instead of adhering to God's Word, they change the rules and say that this is no longer necessary. It's simply good enough to read about it.

Yikes. God help us. Really.

Is it any wonder that we have spawned generation after generation of tight fisted, miserly, spiritual weaklings, who'd rather lavish themselves with trinkets, baubles, and toys, as they are distracted by every shiny object Madison Ave. can throw in their path?

Acts 4:32-34 (AMP) - "32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. 33 And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. 34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales."

 Strength. Power. Ability. No lack. Supernatural generosity.

What happened to that Church?

It's been swallowed up in a vortex of carnal social atmosphere. Church is a club for many, not a living organism. People go to church for program, not praise. Religion, not relationship.

Praise God it's not that way all over. I think there is a long way to go, but I believe it is starting to change. It seems that more and more are coming out of the glitz and the glimmer of the post-modern neo-cathedral, and returning to the simple basics of the God designed, Jesus led Church. 

Simplicity with a soul. Truth with signs and wonders. No confusion. No distraction.

Receive everything that God gives you and recycle. Feel the power of God coursing through your veins as it leaves you and enters someone else. 

May the Living Breathing Body of Christ breathe its Fire into everyone we come into contact with!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Speechless

It's not hard to believe that there would be anyone who would argue against Divine Healing, Salvation, Deliverance, or any other grace filled action done in the name of Jesus Christ.

Except when it comes from within the Body of Christ from other believers.

In any event, wherever the opposition comes from (and it will), be prepared to offer the proof that cannot be argued against.

Acts 4:14 (AMP) - "And since they saw the man who had been cured standing there beside them, they could not contradict the fact or say anything in opposition."

Flabbergasting silence.  They COULD NOT do what opposers and naysayers normally say and do.

You can't argue against what is plainly standing before you.

This doesn't mean they will like you any better or support you. But it will at least get their attention. It might get a few over to the right side of things.

I can't imagine a church that doesn't operate in doing what Jesus and His disciples did. I just can't.

I can't fathom a person walking into my church and not at least having the opportunity to be changed and made whole. I remember the days when it wasn't like that, but when the Spirit of Christ gets a hold of you about that you are either going to yield to Him or be disobedient.

You cannot argue with results. You cannot throw your religion against a movement of God. It will sputter and fail.

Changed lives is the greatest form of evangelism there is. It was Jesus' preferred method.

Hallelujah, it is mine as well! Don't tell me my Jesus isn't real! Don't tell me healing and deliverance is not for today! I will SHOW you how it is real! I will PROVE to you it is real!

Get someone saved, healed, or delivered (SOZO). Bring them to a church where the Spirit is alive and moving. Get them somewhere where the proof is undeniable!

Jesus is alive! I can prove it! So should you!


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Monday, June 24, 2013

What Do You Want Others To See In You?

What do people see in you? About you? Do they marvel at your knowledge? Your expertise in certain areas? Are they impressed with your pedigree? Your level of achivement? Documented degrees of education? How about just that you're a sensitive, caring, and all around great person who would give others the shirt off your back?

All fine things, but nothing to boast about in the greater scheme. Society is fickle. Build 100 bridges and they will honor you with awards for being a great bridge builder.  Let those same people find out about one isolated and dishonorable thing you may have done years before and they will reign criticisms upon you that will erase the memory of anything good you have ever done.

Such is the eternal unworthiness of carnal achievement.

So...maybe a better way to put this is, "when they look at you, what do YOU want them to see?"

Acts 4:13 (AMP) - "Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus."

Peter and John were not Rhodes scholars. They weren't rabbinical sages. They were rough cut fishermen. It appears that at times they may not have even been successful fishermen. Jesus gave them identity. He gave them Himself. 

Jesus indelibly rubbed off on them. So much so that it was immediately recognizeable. They were looking at Peter and John, but they were seeing Jesus.

"...that they had been with Jesus."

I honestly believe, if the best we ever accomplish in this life is that, we will be completely satisifed.

He will change your DNA if you let Him. There will be nothing left that is unworthy. Would you be OK with you no longer being recognized? Could you live with being known simply as "being with Jesus"?

Galatians 2:20 (AMP) - "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

This is my personal verse that I live by. It says everything. I meet many people as a pastor. I communicate with and interact with them all week long.  I am often flattered by their kind words and remarks about me.

If my name is forgotten and Jesus is made known, then everything I ever wanted in this life will be fulfilled.

I know I'm not so hot. I know that anything good, or gracious, or kind, or compassionate, or loving, that somehow is able to fight its way to the surface, is not anything I could make manifest as a personal quality of my character.

Anything about me that is tolerable at all is strictly because of Jesus in me. I am a dead man. I no longer live. If you met me without Jesus you might not like that person. I hope you quickly forget me but remember Jesus forever.

Remember Jesus forever. Jesus forever. Jesus. Forever.

My wife Joan's favorite bumper sticker: "Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace."

No failures in Jesus because Jesus never fails.


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Friday, June 21, 2013

Just The Mere Mention Of That Name

I'm always guaranteed a response at the mere mention of Jesus. People will either roll their eyes, lash out at me, or just plain break out in a wave of joyful praise. Even sickness and addictions flee at the mere sound of Jesus.

Jesus. Love Him. Hate Him. Disbelieve Him. Ignore Him.

Doesn't change a thing. HE IS WHO HE IS!

Acts 4:12 (AMP) - "And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved."

He is the single most important figure to ever walk the planet in all of world history.

He is your only hope of eternal life.

There is simply no other way to Heaven. Here or there.

He is one of the most despised and rejected figures in human history and He never harmed or hurt another living creature (Acts 4:11). He is the Creator of the Universe and all that's in it (John 1).

If you never meet Him in this life, you will in the next. He will either be your Greeter or He will be your Judge.

I know Him personally. He is my Brother and my Friend. We share the same Father.

I hope you know Him as well as I do. I hope you speak to Him often each day. 

At the mere mention of His Name situations and moments change.

Salvation. Healing. Deliverance.

Do you need any of those things today?

Listen...quietly...Jesus...Jesus...Jesus...

No sweeter Name. No greater comfort. No greater joy. No greater peace. Jesus.

Call on Him won't you? For any and all needs. Even now...

...Jesus...

All I ever have to do is just mention His Name and things change.



Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cage Rattler

It's always been Jesus. Century after century people have raged against the messenger trying to strike out against the Author.

Acts 4:10 (AMP) - "Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body."

This just isn't about the "whole house of Israel". We had a part in crucifying Him too.

If you're like me you have exchanged that for joining Him as the crucified.

Through this Jesus and His sacrifice, we have been set free. We are well and sound!

This still riles up the religious in heart. It is a threat not a joy. Much like Jesus threatened the livelihood of the Pharisee, so it is today with the religious. Relax. The people belong to Jesus.

The pure message of who Jesus is and what He did conflicts in places we should not expect.

Go ahead. Tell someone to shed their phylacteries and festive robes and stoles. Tell them that all they need is the Name.

They will lash out with sarcasm and controlled rage. Seething underneath over that you dare to challenge the religious correctness that is attempting to steal the thunder of God away from the Church.

Jesus is not ready to concede to that. 

Don't shoot me. I came out of that pagan ritualistic voodoo and it kept me entombed for half my life. I'm just the messnger with a warning in desperate times. Jesus is on the threshing floor. Are you the wheat or the chaff? The bug or the windshield?

Run. Run toward the freedom and liberty in Christ. Flee. Flee from religious staleness like you are running from a man with a gun. Flee from those who will drag you back to the Law we have been freed from.

Jesus. In all His pure and uncomplicated form. Savior. Healer. Deliverer.

He will rattle the cage.


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

ww.reallifect.com

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Is It Really Supposed To Be A Battle?

All of this "battling against the flesh" stuff has taken a life of its own. 

Let's clarify something. It's abnormal Christian behavior to be in a constant battle between your flesh and the Holy Spirit. It is not God's plan for you. His plan is that you would settle the issue once for all.

Galatians 5:16 (AMP) - "But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God)."

 What has happened is that it has become a huge copout. When failure in the flesh strikes Christians will cop a plea that they couldn't help it because "you win some, you lose some". Or worse, "that ol' devil just kicked my butt today, but we'll get him tomorrow."

They read verse 17 out of context with verse 16.

(17) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

Verse 16 says what to do, verse 17 shows what happens when we do not. It is not a condition that is without remedy. It is is a statement of facts which will occur if verse 16 is ignored.

Look at verse 18:

"But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law."

You see, what happens is when you concede your life to the power of the flesh, and say you continually fail in this "battle of the flesh and Spirit", Paul references it to reverting back to a graceless Law! He is essentially saying that it is normal to be yielded to the Spirit, and when we do that we will live a powerful victory in grace, not defeat under the legal system of "battling the flesh".

Understand something. There is really no battle. It's a "no contest". You can't battle the flesh. You are fighting yourself. It's like the house divided against itself.

Only the Holy Spirit can fight that battle and defeat it. The flesh needs to be crucified, not merely subdued. It's not a back and forth proposition of one day you win, one day you lose.

This is the way Paul says it should be:  "(24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires."

You have to take a stand and draw the line in the sand. Whom do you serve? Is it Jesus? If so, then realize the power that comes with that. If you belong to Him than that battle has been won already.

Why do you continue to live in flux, with your testimony being dragged through the mud everytime you fail? Or do you think that IS your testimony? Do you subscribe to the false notion that you are still "a sinner saved by grace", rather than the truth that you were once a sinner but now you are saved from that former life with the flesh crucified with Jesus?

You've been tricked into believing a lie. You have been tricked into a false identity. You have been tricked into catastrophic misinterpretation of God's Word. The result of that is a complete and total breakdown of truth to the point where you have become the polar opposite of who you are supposed to be in Jesus!

Let's right the ship.

"(25) If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]"

 Start walking in the Spirit. You have the power. It is your inherited right as an adopted child of the King.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Faith To Faith

Time for a faith check.

Are you living what you believe? Faith is not static. It is not an element that merely makes up the composition of what is defined as being "Christian".

It is not "easy believism".

Faith moves. It runs. It is fluid.

Simply put, faith gets more faith.

Romans 1:17 (AMP) - "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."

There is no getting around it. If you "have" faith you will live according to that level. It's like water. It will seek it's level.

The question is, "Will you respond?".

It's not good enough to just say you have faith. Your actions may deny that statement.

Do you live the faith you speak of. Do you walk the talk?

You will if your faith is well placed and you truly believe it. 

Springing from faith, leading to more faith, and continuing in that forever.

That's normal Christian living.


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Monday, June 17, 2013

Pay No Attention To That Man Behind The Curtain

There is always a "man behind the curtain".  The Distractor. Listen to this. Look at that. Walk this way. Check this out. 

Behind the curtain (veil) is a false gospel. It will drug you.

"Excuse me. Does this smell like chloroform to you?"

ZZZzzzzz...

The Word provides an easy fix. Don't look. Don't listen. Don't smell or taste of it. Accept no imitation. Caveat emptor.

Hebrews 12:2 (AMP) - "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Our Leader and Source of our faith. Cheap imitations are every bit as recognizeable as an Armani knock off.

Simply put, nothing compares to Jesus. Nothing the silver tongued devil spins is even close. However, shiny objects will have their way at times.

We will step over the wreckage on our way to glory.

Revelation 1:8 (AMP) - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all)."

 The Source and Finisher. Beginning and the End.

And ALL points in between.

He is the ONLY Worthy One.

Simply look away from the competition. The Competition isn't just looking to grab an ear. It wants your everything. It wants to dry you out. It will suck the very spiritual marrow from you. 

That shiny object that has had your attention is never really in reach. It's fake. An illusion. Transitory. It moves faster than you. It will always be just a fingernail away from your reach. It's Brand X.

The seemingly minor and harmless dalliance will bring tragedy. It will be disguised as something good and will addict you. In the end it will cut your throat.

The Mighty Ruler of all delivers! Jesus NEVER fails!


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Friday, June 14, 2013

Dynamic Worker Of Miracles

WANTED:  Dynamic Worker of Miracles. No experience or training needed or required. Report to Jesus immediately to begin working.

Sadly even facitiously such a notice would need to be posted.

Why?

Matthew 22:29 (AMP) - "But Jesus replied to them, You are wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor God's power."

Lack of knowledge of the Word of God and God's Power. It could be said that because of the lack of knowledge of the Word there is no Power of God.

If you don't know where to look, how will you find it (ears to hear, eyes to see, etc.)?

It's there.

Luke 9:1 (AMP) - "THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases."

Did you know this? That Jesus gives His disciples Power? In the Greek it's  "δύναμις". Translated as "Dynamis" or "Dunamis" which in English means "Dynamite", "Dynamic". As the verb "Dunamai" it means "Worker of Miracles".

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ at this moment, the Word says you are a "Dynamic Worker Of Miracles". Or at least you have an untapped potential to be.

Do not refute this just because you are not operating in it. Do not denigrate the Word of God simply because of ignorance or laziness. If the Word says Jesus gives this to His disciples, and you are a disciple, then you have this Power within you. Either you don't know it (ignorance), or refuse to use it (disbelief or laziness). In any event, it's bad. Very bad. It needs to be fixed.

Still not convinced?

Luke 10:19 (AMP) - "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."

Here, the Power is "Exousia", which speaks still of a dynamic forceful power, but in the way of "Authority" over the "dunamis" power of the enemy! Your Exousia cancels out Satan's dunamis!

Is there any misunderstanding about "I GIVE YOU!"?

Here is where it all boils down. If you are a believer, a disciple, Jesus says there will be signs of that following you around. There will be signs of the Power that He gave you.

Mark 16:17-18 (AMP) - "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well."

See how it works? He gives. We receive. We are.

Is this a fair portrait of yourself today? If not, why not?

That's the $64,000 Question for you today. "Why not?"

The $128,000 Question is, if not, "What are you going to do to change that?"


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com