Something About Community

^{Isaiah 58.6-11
6} Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

⁷ Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

⁸ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward.

⁹ Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;

¹⁰ and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday;

¹¹ and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

I read this scripture yesterday and found it completely fascinating that we hardly ever hear what Isaiah shares here from the Lord as remedy for what ails us. How often do you find yourself in "darkness" only to scamper about looking for light in places other than the Lord. Perhaps you even go to Jesus for the light, but you are completely fixed on asking Him to do for you.

In this text we are told plainly to look out for others and the result is that we will be satisfied by the Father in all of the ways we need to be. What I see here is that in looking out for others we are provided for beyond what we could even forsee. He's even got our back!

So here's the scenario, I'm in a dark place and I decide to not allow that to tell me to focus on me...I go and serve others. I meet the needs of those who are possibly even worse off than me...I show love and kindness in the midst of the world giving me the finger and I do as unto the Lord. The Bible says, that when I do that, then the light I need will, "break forth as the dawn". In other words, who can stop it!?...after that or even at the same time, my healing will manifest...I'm talking about a holistic health, body, mind, and spirit....as that is going on, righteousness is headed on before me...So I will have a more clear path ahead of me and even if trouble is ahead I'm assured the Lord has been there prior to me and has made a way for me...Not only that the King of kings Himself is my reward! He will lead me "continually"!...He'll satisfy me with water in the desert and the Spirit of God within me will fail not.

The coolest part about this scripture is that most all of the beneficial aspects occur before I've even prayed. Prayer is mentioned very late in the text. Long past me receiving the favor and grace of God in my life. I cannot tell you enough, GO. Do something. Your "religion" is of no use to anyone, including God. Do something with yourself and the manifold blessings that God has bestowed upon you...He's given you stuff to the ends that they'd be used for the ministry of reconciliation, which ministry belongs to you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Next time you find yourself in a dark place, or needy...meet the need of another. Keep the faith and wear the crown. God bless and keep you in His care. Holla.

PJ

Go?

Hello peeps. Go. It's a trip to me to see this command used over and over by God as instruction for those that He has bid come. Without question coming is very important, for if you don't first come to Him you have no basis for standing at all.
The cool thing I'm noticing today is that God always says, "Go" after you come. For instance; Abram, come here, I have something for you. What is it God? A new name. Cool, what's my name God? Abraham. Awesome what now God? Go. Moses. Yes Lord? Come here and bow down. OK Lord. What will I do now Lord? Moses, go. Are you getting the idea?
You cannot deny that if we have been called to God, we have been sent by God. Problem is that we know this and yet we don't go. Not going is disobedience, and willful disobedience at that. Ouch! Right? But should I hold my peace and let you go on in disobedience that you should miss the blessings that lie in wait if you would just go? Heaven forbid.
I have good news Saints. God wants to partner with you on a mission that only you can fulfill. All you have to do is go. He will fill your mouth with the words to say, he will grant and endow you with the power that you need, and he will provide all that you have need of. Best part is, he'll get mad glory and you will be blessed indeed.
I hope this transmission has encouraged and empowered you to do something. Keep the faith, wear the crown, and GO! Holla.

More On Abe

Hey! I'm back and want to talk a little more about our friend Abraham, father of many nations. In his story perhaps you will find some of yourself as I have over and over again. Following are my thoughts for today...
Abraham's faith was put to the test of time in waiting for the son that God had promised him. What we sometimes overlook is the fact that in Abe's desire for a son was wrapped up all of the things that made a man a “success” in Mid Eastern patriarchal society. An heir was everything. In Abe's case because of the passage of time, the birth of Isaac would've been a great relief to him in that his faith would now be evident to those who may have ridiculed him for following God and giving up the things that he did. Kind of an, “Aha! I told you!”.
But why would God now ask this man for the son that He'd promised to give him to make his name great? Well, is it possible that while Abe was put to the test in the area of faith, patience, and waiting on God; could it be that while he was indeed growing in relationship with God over this period of time; could it be that Abe had grown to love God for what He could do for Him and not merely for who He is? Could he have been “using” God as a means to an end? Is it evident at this point that Abe loved God unconditionally? No it isn't.
What do you have affection for today above or equal to God that God may have given you?
I pray that me asking you this question will cause you to ask it of yourself and answer with great trepidation and sincerity. When you arrive at an answer take time to pray and thank the Lord for revealing to you an issue of life, then act on it accordingly.
God bless and keep you in His care. Keep the faith and wear the crown. Holla.

PJ

The Blessings of Abraham?

Hello peeps! It's been a while since I've taken time to collect my thoughts here. I was just thinking this morning about the blessings of Abe and how we all seem to chase them in some form or fashion. What I mean is that success, money, true love, and a "cool life" are what we all seem to want. Many of us have blindly placed our faith in these things hoping and believing that they hold some key to happiness. I won't dare tell you that these "things" cannot influence happiness, but they are not what you think either if that's the stream you're swimming in.
Back to Abe. Many peeps in the "prosperity wing" believe that we are entitled to the blessings of Abe. I believe that they are correct in that we should expect God's blessing on us as His children. I do however want to point you to the fact that for Abe to receive the blessings of Abraham he had to "go". In Gen chapt 12 he's clearly instructed to leave his country, his peeps, and his father's house to go to a land that God would show him. God called Abe to leave all that was familiar; his friends, most of his fam, and all of the safety trappings that we've all grown accustomed to. Not only go away but go to some unknown destiny. Abe was asked to give up wordly hopes and things that the human heart desires for God's sake.
I'll tell you this, you may indeed have claim to the blessings of Abe. That being said the route to receiving them is like his. Surrender. Go. Give up wordly hopes and the things that the human heart desires.
Faith in God for the blessings of Abe are just like all of the other gifts of God. By grace through faith? Certainly, but also with surrender, obedience, and sacrifice.
I'm finished for now. I welcome your commentary as always and would love to answer your questions. God bless and keep you in His perfect peace. Holla!

PJ

Made Alive

Yesterday I spoke on being made alive. The Bible term for this on both sides of Christ is, quicken. God wants to quicken us, or make us alive through the power of the Holy Spirit. As a believer and more importantly a follower of Jesus the Messiah we have the presence of the Holy Spirit as He has come to make a home within us. The Bible though talks about there being an additional thing that happens in the lives of believers when we get tired of being tired.
Make me alive and quicken me should be as prevalent a request in your life as any. The God kind of life can only come from God quickening you. Don't accept so easily what is. Press in, press on and go further into what could be. Plainly, God has more for you. You can have it, but you must get to the more His way and not your own. Cry out this week and whenever you need a shot of His life, quicken me O Lord.
Maybe you are at a place in your life where you are tired of the status quo. Maybe you are at a place in your life where you just want it settled that you are going all the way with the Lord. Take this opportunity and ask God for His life to invade your life. Pray as David did, quicken me Lord.
If you'd like to follow a line of thought regarding these matters and the Holy Spirit in general check out the weekly teachings tab at www.crosspointok.org or you can find the same teachings at iTunes by searching Pastor James Greggs or CROSSPOINT. Church, Vinita, OK.
I welcome your thoughts. Keep the faith and wear the crown. Holla.

P. James

My baby girls are growing up.

A few thoughts concerning signs and wonders

I'm just gonna go...you ready? Signs and wonders are relevant to the problems that people face. Our greatest problem as humanity is that we are alienated from our Creator and God. Every other power aside from reconciliation, no matter how mighty or awesome is inferior to it; because it directly addresses our problem. So that being said, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate power of God to mankind. Choose to use it and grow in power.
Holla.