Lukewarm

I wanted to share with you a revelation that Eva and I had some 5 years ago.  We were at a "crossroad" in our walk with Christ.  We wanted more of Him, we wanted to be closer to Him, we wanted His wisdom, discernment and more of His Spirit and presence.  Being so thirsty for Him we read a book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, I am sure some of you know about this awesome man of God and this book that transformed our lives forever.

As we read this book together we came across chapter 4 of his book titled "Profile of the lukewarm".  Lukewarm, a word that many of us do not like to hear.  A word that many of us love to point the finger at someone else and would hardly take inventory of ourselves to see if in fact we are lukewarm.  This was the hardest chapter for us to read in this book and contemplated should we skip over this chapter or not.  Although the struggle was there we knew that we had to read this chapter.  If what we seek from God was to be closer to Him as we have prayed for than this was essential, unmeasurable and vital to our growth in Him.  There were a lot of ouch moments in this chapter but I can tell you that it completely changed me, us!!!

In Rev. 3:16 says: "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."  Imagine this the the Lord of creation, who is slow to anger, long suffering, loving, merciful, kind, just, righteous and HOLY that He would say that He would spit you out of His mouth.  That the taste that you have in His mouth is so disgusting, that He does not want any part of it or even would want to change that bitterness to something sweet. That the Lord of all creation would spit you out of His mouth.  Today we are embracing lukewarmness.  We have compromised what we believe, we have conformed to the world due to lack of knowledge and revelation that comes from being in God's Word and we are complacent, meaning that we have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to what which we know is wrong according to the Word of God.  We are so worried about offending people that we fail to realize that the Bible is offensive and it will be offensive due to the fact that it exposes our sin and shows us how desperate we are in need of a SAVIOR.  Body of Christ, whatever you do, do not become lukewarm.  Ask God, as we did, to purge you and reveal to you where lukewarmness is lingering.  God is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle but a lukewarm church He will have no part of.  Let that not be our judgment......

New Wine

Last night I met with a pastor friend of mine.  As we spent time together in fellowship and discussing God's Word, we zeroed in on the following verse from Mark 2:22.

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” (ESV)

As I meditated on this portion of scripture a thought came to me that I would like to share with you.  Are you trying to mingle new wine with old wine?  Are you trying to force new wine in old wineskin?  You see in this parable Jesus is saying that when the Lord is doing something fresh and new in your life, it is time for you to put the old man, the old way of doing things, away and to step into the new.  It is time for you to let God put to rest the grave yard clothes that you have been wearing and put on new garments.

Let's look at this from a natural perspective.  When a company merges with another company, the first thing that happens is the old way of doing things are changed.  The new company comes in, evaluates the way the former company does business and comes up with a plan to streamline the business so that efficiency, profitability and growth will happen.  The old wine is removed and the new wine is implemented.  Now this can be a hard transition for some of us but the thing that amazes me is that no matter how hard the transition can be, you are willing to change, accept the fact that change has come and then you adapt to the change.  So if you are willing to do this in the natural, why not do it for God?

You see God wants to do a new thing in your life but you must be willing to give up the way you used to do things.  You need to be willing to let go of those things you used to hold on to.  You need to be willing for the Lord to take off your grave clothes and exchange it for a garment of righteousness.  You can try to put new wine in old wineskin if you want to be as the parable in Mark 2:22 describes but you will lose it all and it will be destroyed!!!  My friend, God wants and desires to do a new thing in your life.  Do not feast on yesterday's bread.  Do not put new wine in old wineskin but allow the Lord to take you to that new place where He would want for you to be.... Live today anew in Christ......

An attitude of gratitude

Psalm 118:24 says "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." As I meditate on this verse a thought came to my mind.  I wonder how many of us would be able to get up in the morning not knowing what the challenges of this day we would face, and say with all our heart Psalm 118:24?  How many of us going through our day, with its hardship, circumstances, and yes those people that rub you the wrong way, would be able to say with all your heart Psalm 118:24?

You see an "attitude of gratitude" requires us not only to rejoice when things are good, prayers are answered, or ways have been made.  But, in fact it requires us to rejoice in the midst of hardship, trials, sickness, loss of jobs and the things of life that happens to us on a daily basis.  I have come to realize that the more I focus on how big my God is, that "the things of this world will go strangely dim."   When I walk out Psalm 118:24, I realize that it is not necessarily the situation that changes, at that time, but I begin to change and when that change happens within you, then the tide changes.  When I am focused on rejoicing in the bad and the good, I find that things which were meant for evil, God makes it for my good!!!  You may say, Corey it is not easy to do this, I don't know if I can.  You cannot but God can.  It may not be easy but what is easier, letting go and letting God or continuing in the cycle of hardship?  My friend, to follow God and to rejoice in hardship is never easy but God is there for you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you  Let go and let God!!! Rejoice and I say again REJOICE!!!

So whatever you are confronted with today, the trials of today, the circumstances and hardship of today, I challenge you to write this scripture on the tablets of your heart that "this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it"

UNDIVIDED Solemn Assembly

On Friday, May 22nd, 2015 we were blessed to attend the UNDIVIDED Solemn Assembly hosted at Jesus is Lord Fellowship church in Toms River, NJ.  What a powerful time in the presence of God with anointed worship by Waiting for the Flood (www.WaitingForTheFlood.com) as well as prayer led by 10-12 local pastors from various denominations that came together in the most powerful way.  Shawn Hyland of Move the Earth gave a powerful message to encourage and challenge us all.  Rhoda Overgard ended the night with leading us in worship on the piano.

We arrived about 15 minutes late and there was no parking available in the lot and we had to park on the grass.  The air of expectancy in the place was electrifying and we were all blessed to be a part of this powerful night.  We are looking forward to other events hosted by UNDIVIDED and Move the Earth.

We are truly blessed by the friendship that has been built with Shawn and Glennys Hyland of Move the Earth and we have been blessed to minister alongside them several times in the past year.  We are so looking forward to the UNDIVIDED We Believe Pastors and Leaders Conference on Saturday, October 24th in Ocean Grove, NJ.

The keynote speakers will be Pastor Lloyd Pulley of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge (www.ccob.org) and Shawn Hyland of Move the Earth (www.MoveTheEarth.org).  There will be many breakout sessions led by powerful men of God.  Worship will be led by Waiting for the Flood and our very own Break Thru worship team.  There will be a new conference website that will be launched shortly.  Registration begins on July 1st.

For more info, click here.

Are you more concerned about filling up a place of brick and mortar, or are you concerned with filling up the Kingdom of God?