Hinderenses

Greetings in Jesus name. I know it’s been a bit too long since I posted last, but sometimes I get so busy.

Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Youth Camp in Conway Arkansas. Bishop Collins and his family were very kind and I really appreciate their hospitality.

Being a Youth Camp, there were a number of young people there that were seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It reminded me of those days when I too was seeking it. And as I remember, many of the same things that hinder a person from getting the Holy Ghost can also hinder those who have it from living an overcoming life for Christ. So I’ve decided to list a few things, along with my comments, that I think hinder both those seeking the Holy Ghost and those who have it. This is by no means complete, but I hope to touch on some common issues.

1. Lack of Faith

This is the big one isn’t it? Without faith it is impossible to please God. This is because without faith we cannot do anything for God, whether that be to heal the sick or receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I often pray that the Lord would increase my faith. I want to be effective. One thing that often affects people seeking the Holy Ghost is that they don’t believe that they can/will receive the Holy Ghost when they pray.

2. Distractions

Remember the seed that fell on the ground where the thorns were in Jesus’ parable of the sower? The cares of this life choked it out. Distractions can come in the form of one’s job, entertainment/toys, social pressures (exp: “I wonder what John or Jane thinks of me?”), work around the house or church (building decks, mowing lawn, cooking, even playing an instrument), money issues, or people who come in and do annoying things to hinder the church service. I also might mention people to scream in your ear and/or beat on you while you’re trying to pray. It’s okay to tell someone something occasionally at the alter that you’re trying to help... but a lot of the nonsense that I’ve seen go on is completely counter-productive and a distraction.

We all live in this world and we all have work to do and things to take care of so to some extent, distractions will always be there. But having said that, we should go to great lengths to make sure that those distractions do not interfere with ourselves or someone else who is seeking something from God or trying to work for Him. This may mean leaving some non-essentials alone.

3. Lack of Preparation

This one is related to the one above. Often times when we really need to press in there and yield to the Holy Spirit or accomplish something for God we can’t because we are not prepared. When a man goes to build a structure he must prepare himself first. He gathers his tools, he hauls in his materials, he makes sure he’s wearing the proper gear, and he has his building plans in hand. If he just jumped out there and tried to start building, he wouldn’t get very far. Likewise, let’s be prepared for the Lord to move. Let’s pray and fast, and seek God’s face on a regular basis. Let’s prepare a little more each day. That way, when the Lord is ready to move, He won’t have to wait because we are not ready.

4. Lack of Wisdom

This is the last one that I will list today. God didn’t call us to play dumb. If there is something that is hindering yourself or someone in your church and you have the ability to do something about it, by all means do it. Now, of course I mean within the bounds what is Godly and in order. Understand the things that new converts and seekers of the Holy Ghost go through. Know your own weaknesses so that you can pray that they be removed. Don’t lie to yourself. So many people lie to themselves and ignore obvious red flags. Also realize that it’s often easier to pray in church when you have people praying with you, than when you are alone. James said that if a man lacks wisdom, he should ask it of God who gives liberally.

Well, that’s my short list. The real list is much longer. But I think that if these four things are taken care of, living for God becomes a lot more fruitful and victorious.

God bless and keep all of you in Jesus name!

Effectual Fervent

Greetings in Jesus name. I thank

the Lord once again for an the

opportunity to write my thoughts

to all off you. I am not feeling the

best as I write this, but I appreciate

the prayers of my friends and fellow

soldiers for my benefit. James says:

Jam 5:16 ...and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed. The effectual

fervent prayer of a righteous man

availeth much.

The term effectual fervent in that

verse comes from the Greek word

energeo which means to be active,

efficient, to be mighty in. It also means

to shew forth self and to work. In other

words the man praying that prayer

is in a state of action. He is a man

(or woman) that is working. This is

not the idle Christian who hopes aloud

for this and that. He is not a vain repeater

of words... he is efficient. This is someone

who has faith and thus their prayers shew

forth themselves. This is a soul that is

serious with God, not merely hoping and

asking, but doing a work with their prayer

and expecting the recompense of it.

For no man goes and hires on to a job

unless he expects the wages of his labour.

Likewise, the man who prays the effectual

fervent prayer expects to see results from

his prayer. And he is righteous that his

prayer will be heard.

Our labor is a spiritual one, and the fruit

of our work is of a heavenly nature.

Sometimes the greatest work we can do is

to pray effectually and fervently to our Father

who is able to give the increase of the harvest.

Let us then be all the more ready to labour

in our prayers, realizing that they accomplish

much if we are fervent and live a righteous life.

Let is pray expecting to recieve that just reward

of our labours. And let us remember the words

of our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my

name, that will I do, that the Father may be

glorified in the Son.

Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my

name, I will do it.

God bless and keep you all. And remember:

Be the elect.

The Hospital and the Grave...

Greetings in Jesus' Name. Today I

walked into what was supposed to be

a hospital. No, I wasn't sick, I was

attending a conference there. But, had

I not been told previously that this was

as hospital, I might not have known it.

There was not much to distinguish it as

a hospital. I saw no obvious patients,

I saw no registration desks, and not

anyone who looked like a doctor.

I did however see a large multi-story

cylinder of glass towering over the

parking area. Inside this monolithic

fixture was a massive chandelier

about the size of a small motor home.

Inside, the walls were trimmed with

finely polished wood and various

extravagant materials. The feel was

that of a great concert hall or palace.

I felt slightly out of place walking into

this architectural art piece carrying some

mundane metal equipment.

Inside the conference room, which

was undoubtedly but one of many

laden with the cutting edge of technology

and style, the CEO of the operation

lectured at length about how much care

was put into the appearance of the place,

supposedly all for the benefit of the

patient.

However, when she began to speak of

the actual treatments and medical science

employed at this grand facility... there was

nothing new or remarkable at all. It was

the same old treatments and practices

employed for years by almost all hospitals.

There was no cure for cancer, no great

new innovative treatments, no greater hope

really for anyone suffering... just a grand

facade at the patients pocketbook's

expense.

I wonder how Jesus looked standing at

the grave sight of Lazarus that day. We

know He was at the edge of a small town

on the way to Jerusalem. We know his

garments were not fancy or laden with

fine materials. There was no great

chandelier of towering glass column.

There were no elaborate conference rooms

or even a podium for Him to speak to His

audience.

There was but an old grave with a stone

laid in front of it and a dead man decaying

inside. One victim of illness, many mourning

rural people, and the embodied almighty God.

His operating room was the crude grave,

His reception area was the open outdoors,

and His instrument was the power to heal.

He thanked the Father for hearing Him,

stretched out his hand, the hand that grasped

the worlds, and the operation... was a

complete success.

My point? Be not decieved by the way

things appear and stand not in awe of the

vanity of man. For in man lies no answer,

and no hope. For all of the glory of man

can not save one life or one soul.

Do not get swept away with the tide

and society and the glory of it. For its glory

is superficial. Place not your trust in these

things that seem so great, and yet are

so hollow.

Trust God. Really trust God. Depend on

Him. Count on Him. For He is the supplier

of our needs and the only living hope for

mankind.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed

be the man that trusteth in man, and

maketh flesh his arm, and whose

heart departeth from the LORD.

God Bless!