Good morning Lord Jesus, mold my heart today not around Black Friday, a day we celebrate materialism and selfish desires, but around Good Friday and/or selfless sacrifice of love for me..
“Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,” v24
The events of Acts 15 and the gathering of the council of Jerusalem was such an important event to Luke that he took great care to write about. Paul in Galatians 2:1-14 gives an autobiographical narrative to this event and provides some details. I suggest you read it.
Some people came from Jerusalem “sent by James” Paul says and persuaded Peter to withdraw from the fellowship of the table with the gentiles. Paul saw Peter’s, and later Barnabas’s actions as a threat to the liberty of the gospel for the gentiles. He publically called Peter out on this saying it was wrong for Peter to force the gentiles to adopt the Jewish way of life to be saved. Peter was distressed by the conflict his actions caused. Since it all started with messengers, people sent by James, then the matter had to be taken up with James and the Council in Jerusalem that was under the chairmanship of James, who was the brother of Jesus.
The council’s decision basically was to have the gentiles prohibit Idolatry, and sexual perversion and fortification. Where true religion and basic Christian ethics were involved, Paul was strong on teaching gentiles to avoid idolatry and fornication. But in matters of food and drink which were religiously and ethically neutral, he refused to lay down the law. No food or drink he maintained was “unclean”, even if it had been previously forbidden by the law of Moses. Even if the food had come from an animal sacrificed to a pagan divinity. It was human beings that mattered, not food and drink. If a Christian was considering whether or not to eat this or drink that, the decision should depend on the conscience of the fellow Christian. Paul always argued from the order of creation and the ethical implications of a law-free gospel. To which I say Amen!!!
Which brings me back to the verse I quoted above, “Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,” v24
There are unfortunately way to many persons and voices in the church today going out and saying troubling words and saying unsettling things which God gave them no authority to say, Scriptures gives them no authority to say, but they are claiming authority based on what religion, tradition, and personal preferences have to say. They declare and prohibit restrictions on not only food and drink, but dress codes, worship places and styles, restrictions on the means of grace of who can baptize, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and pray prayers of reconciliation. These things hinder people from encountering the gospel and encountering Christ. Paul was saying to the council that these things will turn away the gentiles, those that don’t know the gospel and Jesus, before they even hear it and then burden them while they try to listen the gospel. The same holds true in the church today. Most people today who do not attend church, who leave the church and walk away from the gospel, do not do so because they encountered Jesus and found him to difficult, but because they encounter at the door of the church hoops to jump through and restrictions to receiving the gospel and Jesus. They walk away from the church disturbed and troubled, never having encountered Jesus. A pole was taken asking people about spirituality, Jesus, and Christians. When asked about spirituality, people responded positively, there is a need for spiritual growth in people. When asked about Jesus, people responded positively. Jesus and what he represents has a positive image and message. When asked about Christians, the responses was negative. Why, when spirituality and Jesus are supposed to be at our core and what shapes and defines us do people have a negative response of Christians??
As I said in my previous post, because we have gone away from The Church being about and simply proclaiming simply Jesus: the simple gospel of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, ad the forgiveness of sins.
My family, I pray you will reflect over what people and voices are you listening concerning The Church and your call to be a disciple of Jesus that have no authority by God or Scripture to put their laws, personal preferences of traditions on the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. Honestly reflect if any of these extra voices in the church are coming from you? What hoops do we we at our church have in place that can keep people from encountering Jesus we need to remove?
Please share your reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
Good morning Father, Son, and Spirit, I begin my week in complete reliance of your love, grace and mercy every day and every moment of all my weeks.
“When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”” (Acts 17:6-7)
Today I am going to postpone our reading of Acts chapter 6 until tomorrow to remember and celebrate the life of a modern-day prophet, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr (MLK). Rev, King was shot and killed 50 years ago on April 4, 1968. Rev. King, as a follower of Jesus and in imitation of him, also led a non-violent revolution for social change and his followers were beaten and it cost him his life. I believe Dr. King was a modern day prophet. I read his 'Letter From A Birmingham Jail" this morning. For my reflection blog post today, I am using excerpts of MLK's refections in his letter. Read his words as they speak truth into our individual lives today and the life of the church.
“I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town…”
“But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth…We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed…We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal"…it was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers…”
“I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
“…Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation…”
“Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." …So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment….
“There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are”….
“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.”
These words MLK penned almost 60 years ago to the church are as, or even more so relevant today.
My family, I pray today after reading this that if you will use this day, not for honoring yourself by seeking and serving to your needs and desires, but seeking to serve the needs and desires of others. Prayer walk your neighborhood, volunteer and serve in a community outreach ministry, and spend time in prayer of areas of injustice, poverty, and hate you are aware of in your community and the world. Do one simple obvious thing to to help or serve a coworker, classmate, or neighbor. In Jesus’ name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community., myself and my family, as we try to bring justice and grace to those on the margins God has placed in our path and I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2018 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Today I would like us to begin a time reading through Luke’s book of The Acts of the Apostles. I would like us to use this time as we begin the New Year, to as a community a spend 28 days of prayer and fasting over The Church in the World. our individual churches that are part of the body of Christ, and each of us as its members.
Yesterday my sermon was on Epiphany, the revelation and manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. I am asking all of us as a church, as a family, as a community of faith to come together as we begin 2022 and pray over a new revelation, a new manifestation of Jesus into the vision and ministries of our churches and our lives. I would like us to dedicate ourselves to pouring ourselves into his word and prayer as we seek God’s will and direction for our lives. To aid us in this I am asking us to commit to one another and join together in these 5 things:
1. Starting this Monday, Jan 1oth, spend the 28 weekdays that follow reading through the Book of Acts of the Apostles. There are 28 chapters in Acts, so we will read one chapter a each week weekday for the next 28 weekdays.
2. Start up/join in a Band Group. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ and to discern what we hear Christ speaking into our lives.. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, and a 30 second prayer over your church and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
I pray your will join in covenant with each other in these 5 things. I desire us to see and be part of amazing transformation of our lives, our churches, and those in our community. This is God’s desire as well.
If you have any questions or comments, please get with me and I would be more than happy to discuss them with you.
PIntro to Acts:
The Book of The Acts of the Apostles, or as commonly simply called “Acts” picks up where Luke’s Gospel leaves off, recording the birth of The Church and the early progress of the gospel as Jesus’ disciples took it from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world. The story begins with Christ’s ascension and the events of Pentecost. As Gentiles begin responding to the gospel, the focus shifts to Paul and his missionary journeys. Acts forms a bridge between the four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, showing how the apostles carried on Christ’s work and providing a historical background for Romans through Revelation. The Acts of the Apostles is the second of two New Testament books written by Luke. Like his Gospel, Acts was a letter to Luke’s friend Theophilus, written sometime in a.d. 62–64.
Today, as we read Acts chapter 1 and pray, some thoughts to pray on:
Pray over and into your personal, and church’s collective "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." v.5
Pray into the the power each of you received by the Holy Spirit v.8
Pray over your personal and our collective call as a church to witness to your community, the surrounding communities, our state and country, and unto the nations.v. 8
Pray for the return of Jesus. v.11
Pray that every member of your church will take seriously and embrace this call to pray and fast, and we will seek with one mind God's anointing and calling on us. v.14
Pray over your personal call to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. v.22
Pray over the leadership role in your church God is calling you to take up and step up into. v. 24
Pray, as we begin this time together, that each of us individually and as a church will seriously commit to devote time to reading and praying through Acts to understand what God wants us as a church to fulfill.
I want this to be as much a community reflection time together as possible. So please share your reflections, thoughts and new revelations Jesus is speaking to youwith each other in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
Good morning Lord Jesus, i seen to hear your heart beat this morning to tune mine to its rhythm.
As we come to the end of the first full week in 2022 I want to encourage you be saying I love you all and I was so blessed by your friendship, love, and life we shared together in 2022. However, I am EXCITED at the sense I have of what God has in store for us this coming year. I also sense it may be the most trying season of our life, but I know it will be one we will never forget and we will recount to all as a time God made himself known to us.
[18] … Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. [19] “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Lord Jesus, as I begin one of the first of many mornings in 2022, let my soul awaken as I speak out Your name and lift up my heart in the communion of prayer with You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about the Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:15-18).
The shepherds couldn't wait to go and see what God had done! They "went with haste" to see what was said. The word of the Lord, spoken through the angel of the Lord, who broke into their loneliness of life, "living in the fields," changed their fear to faith and they said, "Let's go now" and see! (v. 8)And when they had seen the Child who brought such "good news of great joy for all the people," they couldn't wait to go spread the word (v. 10). "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (v. 20).
Holy Spirit, as I read the words of the Christmas story again; my prayer, my desire, my "New Year's Resolution" for the coming year is that you awaken my soul again with the excitement of faith! Return to me a longing for my first love! (Rev.2:4) Stir up my spirit to go share all You've done for me! Like the shepherds, change any fear in me into faith. And forgive me for holding back the good news of great joy from others that turns their fear to faith and loneliness to praise! Let me truly be amazed at all You have done and be excited to go and see this God at work in my Community. This God who longs to bring into my life and those around me that same good news and great joy, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My brother and sisters, I pray this morning you will hear and receive the good new and great joy that angels are still proclaiming over your life today. I pray the Holy Spirit will use this eternal love song of joy to awaken your soul with an excitement of faith and a passion to tell all what the God of good news and great joy has done for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Begin The Year With A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Lord I begin my day in the complete acceptance of your love for me..
“What God has made clean, do not call common…”yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean…."" (Acts 10:15, 28)
Acts 10 is a removing by the Holy Spirit any barriers and the breaking of the binding chains of tradition, religion, cultural, ethnicity, nationality, family heritage, food laws, personal preferences and norms that were strongholds on peoples lives, and excluded them from the Gospel. As we begin the new year of 2022 I pray Acts 10 will also break any chains on your faith of habits, attitudes, Or identities that you picked up or were spoken over you in the previous years.
All things are clean. It is not the object or action that is unclean when used as God designed (sex, alcohol, food, money, time, opioids, tobacco, materials). All Idolatry and addiction is the perversion of something good. It is our abuse of them to fulfill own our personal personal desires, lusts, and lifestyles that changes these “clean” things to “dirty addictions.”
More importantly, all people are "clean" and able to receive the Gospel.
“Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him…..No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 10:34,.47-48)
I pray Lord will continue to free me in this new year from the bondage and chains of pre-conceived judgments, prejudices, racial fears, traditions, profilling, negative thinking towards another person. Free me from “cliquish” thinking that I am part of the ”in group.” Free me from thinking in terms of “Us” and “Them” to “We”.Release me from the control of the mindset of “Its the way we've always done it." Free me personally and all in our church as we move forward from any hindrances or clinging to style, format, meeting space, and doctrine.
I pray daily, "Lord, send us the ones nobody else wants." Let us truly embrace this, no matter who or what this looks like.
My family, I pray you reflect on what “clean” things you are making “dirty” by your abuse and perversion of your personal desires and lusts. I pray you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any prejudices or profiling of people you still entertain in your heart. I pray you ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart to see everyone around you as God sees them, created in His image. I pray today you intentionally begin this process bystep out of your comfort zone and share your love of Jesus with someone who is ethnically or culturally different from you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Begin The Year With A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, I worship You and welcome You here in my heart and every moment of this new year. ...
"she will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus was given the name chosen by God the Father. His name expressed His nature, His identity, His destiny. Jesus, the Son of God -- Yeshua in Hebrew, jesous in Greek -- means the Salvation of God.
Through Jesus, God saves us, heals us, and delivers us into the forgiveness and freedom and future we have in Christ. "There is salvation in no one else, for there is not other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The name of Jesus is "that name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Lord Jesus, As I begin this new year, I bow my knees and open my heart to speak Your name and confess You as Lord. In every way and everything I do in 2022, may you be the Lord of my thoughts and desires, Lord of my identity and destiny, Lord of my hopes and dreams, Lord of my relationships and fellowships, Lord of my provision and protection, Lord of my ministry and vocation, Lord of my gifts and calling, Lord of every dimension of my spirit and soul and body, Lord of every aspect of my life. All that I am and all that I have, I entrust to Your Lordship of my life. "(My) help is in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 124:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you begin 2022 on bowed knees and with an open heart desiring Jesus to be the Lord of every area of your life, as you call on His name and trust in Him as the Salvation of God, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support reaching those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thanks You!
Hey my church family and my friends,
I went to the Waffle House this morning and sitting at the low bar listening to people talking thier main conversation was about the upcoming College Football National Championship Game next Monday Jan 10th. This was no surprise and anyone whoknkows anything about sports and life in Alabama, knows that college football is king. So I want to remind all of my college football fanatics of the opportunity night Monday night provides you.
This is the perfect event to use to connect with friends, co-workers, and those who do not know Jesus with this custom made event! Especially us ling in Alabama! We need to leverage this “cultural event” as it is the perfect excuse you have been looking for to Make a Friend, Be a friend, and then lead a friend to Christ.
1. Throw a Party
The reason is that it gives you plenty of ways to bless people and the excuse you have been looking for around a common interest to invite them into your house. Be like the Apostle Matthew and invite 3 types of people to your party: non-believer friends, Jesus and a few followers.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
Matthew 9:10-12
When you invite others, you get to choose the crowd you hang with. Usually, for Christians, this is a bad thing as we over filter who we invite. But notice who was at Matthew’s party: Scum, Jesus, disciples. All mixed, partying like it’s 31AD! Now, I am not saying some of my friends are “scum,” LOL! However, The more this crowd: of Jesus, followers and not yet followers hang out together, the better.
2. Encourage Story
Encourage story with everyone. Walk around asking people “story” questions, or ask people, “have you heard his story, it’s awesome…” Get your guests talking and listen. You learn so much about them during these stories. Be the story encourager at your party. Ask questions like:
1 How’d you and your spouse meet?
2 Why did you choose your career?
3 Who is your favorite NFL (College) team and why??
4 What do you like most about living here?
Really, any open ended question will work. However, don’t be weird about it. It’s not to bait and switch them from talking about beer and chicken wings to talking about how unless you eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood you can never be one of his followers. It’s so you can actually get to know them and their story so that when the opportunity comes, you know where their story needs redemption and who or what is their functional savior so you can point to the one and only Saviour who brings eternal redemption, now and forever. You’ll know how to serve them, love them and show them Jesus in the ways that will tell a story that will hit their heart.
3. Go Overboard with Food
You ever been to a party where there isn’t much food? It Sucks right? Don’t be that party…be a party that points to the Great Wedding Feast. Not only that, but take into consideration who is coming. Ask if any have allergies, or a special diet. When you take others into consideration, it shows you actually care and desire for them to be comfortable in your house. It also gives you yet another connection point to their story.
However, Don’t supply all the food though. Request and encourage people coming to bring food. Have people bring a main dish. The reason is that a main dish usually has a story behind it. Either of how they grew up, who taught them how to make it or nothing at all. But I usually simply ask, “Does this dish have any significance to you?” You’d be surprised how much story can come from chicken salad.
4. Connect Another Way
If for some reason you can’t invite them into your home, try to connect with them in another way. Ask them, “what are you doing for the game? Maybe they will invite you to a party they are having. Maybe you decide to meet them at a sprotsbar of other place to watch the game together.
5. Ask the Spirit For Guidance
Who is pushing into you currently for relationship? Ask the Spirit to show you these people. Maybe for you it is your CrossFit gym. Invite all 400 members. Or invite your whole office or class at school. You know that 95% of them aren’t going to come, so you will have 15-20 attend. But it gives you an open to invite them into a relationship with you, and is a personal invite.
Ask the Spirit for time with those people who are personally pushing into you and your family for relationship so you can ask them personally as well. Don’t let them merely get the Facebook invite, do it “old school” and personally ask them if they are coming and that it’d be great if they did. Everyone I have been given by the Spirit, and asked personally to come, almost everyone one of them has come. It’s awesome, even if one of them is a fan of my opposing team.
Ask the Spirit for guidance on listening to their story at the party and what you should say, or how you should listen or how to encourage further relationship. Remember, yes be competitive and scream at the TV, however this isn’t about a football game. This whole party is wrapped up in story, so use this to learn other’s stories. Maybe you do get into a deep spiritual conversation, but maybe you don’t. Don’t beat yourself up. The Spirit will tell you when to speak, when to listen, when to keep it surface level and when to go deep. Just because you don’t present all of the Romans’ Road to them doesn’t mean you should feel guilted and shamed. The Spirit doesn’t guilt and shame you, that’s the devil’s game.
The more the devil can guilt and shame you the more you will see them as “a project” and you’ll have an agenda instead of listening to the Spirit on how to just love them and show off Jesus. Sometimes silence is the loudest witness. Don’t let the devil fool you into thinking you have to speak the name of Jesus at every party for it to be a “successful” party. But, always be thinking, how can I make this party be a shadow of our feasting and banqueting God that wants everyone invited to his party?
Take some time this week to ask, “Spirit, how can I ensure that what I say and do Monday night will be a shadow of your Story” (It’s a good thing to do everyday!)
Listen. Then obey what the Spirit gives you.
If you do that…no matter what happens, your gathering will not be a failure, but will have happened by the power of the Spirit to bring people along as far as he wants them to so they might know more about the only story line that ultimately matters. And who knows…maybe he’ll show you even more about his Story so you can marvel at how large his Story really is, yet how much he carefully and specifically loves and hears your specific “small” requests.
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Please share your thoughts or comments
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please begin 2021 by a commitment to partner and support myself and my ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End and Everything in between (Revelation 1:8). Be with me this day and every day, from beginning to end and every moment in between. ...
"And He said to me, 'It is done! I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:6-8, NKJ).
Lord, I thirst.... I thirst for the water of life that flows freely from Your fountain. I thirst for Your "living water" (John 4:10). Let me drink deeply every day -- drinking in Your Word, drinking in Your Spirit, drinking in the Presence of God here in my heart, mind, soul and strength. You are the Fountain of the Water of Life. You are "the Fountain of Living Waters" (Jeremiah 2:13). "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). So as I open wide my spirit to You, let Your water of life "become in (me) a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
Lord, refresh my soul and renew my faith with the fullness of Your life. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart so that I desire and choose the things that lead to life and not to death. Empower me to overcome. Align my heart and soul to "inherit all things" You've prepared for me and for all love You and honor You by embracing Your grace to give You our hearts (Revelation 21:7). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be filled to overflowing with the living waters from the One who is the Fountain of the Water of Life so you can pour out living waters today bringing life to all the Lord touches through you today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to start my day in the communion of prayer, in the intimacy of personal, spiritual relationship with You -- heart to Heart, spirit to Spirit. Make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, one in ministry to all the world until I feast with you at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. ...
"Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).
Now is the time to have settled in our hearts the question of who is Lord of our lives. Now is the time to choose whether I would surrender my life rather than renounce my Savior. Let me have the humility to choose now so that I will have the courage to choose then on a day that may come when I find out just how sincere my faith truly is and what a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ I truly am.
Many are already being forced to make that choice today in our generation. Many will be forced to make that choice in the times to come, according to Your Word:
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:7-14).
Lord Jesus, give me grace to hold fast to You, that I many endure to the end -- not only enduring, but faithful to be proclaiming with my life the good news of Your mercy and love throughout the world, to the ends of the earth, in testimony to all nations. Draw me closer to You every day that I will have to the courage to die for You if that day may come and the courage to live for You every day that comes now. Give me courage to overcome. Give me the grace to stand firm in my faith no matter what may come. Give me the conviction to be convinced of the truth that Jesus is Lord and worthy of laying down my life even in the face of death. As You said long ago: "If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:34-38). You asked Your first disciples, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8) I pray You will find faith in me on that day to come and find faith in me every day between now and then (Luke 21:27).
"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:5). Lord, let pleasing You be the central desire of my life. May I die to self to I can live for Christ. By the power of Your grace, may I be able to say with the sons and daughters of God, the disciples of Christ of every generation, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who love me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, embraced in the strong arms of your heavenly Father, to endure in your vibrant, personal, intimate faith in Jesus Christ until the end. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my spirit; stir my heart; order my steps; lead me to honor You through my life today. ...
" 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure' -- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints" (Revelation 19:6-8).
With the body of Christ that is whole, with the bride of Christ that is holy, I want to be ready for the coming of Christ on the Day of the Lord (Ephesians 5:25-27). And at the same time, I want every day to be the Day of the Lord in my heart and through my life now (2 Peter 3:1-18).
Every day counts; every moment matters; every choice has consequences. So let me "be careful then how (I) live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time.... (Let me) not be foolish, but understand with the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). "The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever" (1 John 2:17). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, let me be ready. Let reprioritize the things I put on my slander to remember as important those things that are important to building your kingdom. Let me use my time well let me use it to do the will of God, Let me live out my salvation daily that lets me live forever, and let the Almighty One who reigns forever live in me now. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be whole and holy, ready for the coming of the Lord, now and forever, living out the will of God today all by the power of the grace of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Be King and Lord of my life today. ...
"They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
Every day the world is at war with our faith. The wisdom of the world is at war with the wisdom of heaven; the ways of the world are at war with the ways of heaven. But we should not be surprised, as if something strange were happening. You said from the beginning, "In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
You have overcome the world. You are the King of the kingdom of God and "(Your) kingdom not is of this world" (John 18:36). And now through faith in You, Your kingdom is within me (Luke 17:21). Because You have overcome, I can overcome, for You are in me and I am in You (John 15:5). In relationship with You and by the Presence and power of Your Spirit at work within me, I am one of Your "called and chosen and faithful."
You've not called me out of this world, but to overcome this world--all by the power of the grace of God at work within me (John 17:14-19). Empower me to overcome the wisdom and ways, the temptations and trials, of the world around me today. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done, here in my heart in the midst of my world today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you will take time in Scriptures and prayer to connect with the Spirit of Christ within you to overcome the spirit of the world around you, as You make Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords in every area of your life. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus, As deep cries out to deep, I lobg for your presence as I sit and wait on you.
“Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!” (Revelation 16:7)
Most of us in a church and individually know what we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer” by heart. In that prayer we confess and claim that God the Father is “Our Father” and that “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That includes your will for each one of us. We claim you are omnipresent, omniscience. Ominpowerful; that you are present everywhere, you know everything and you have power and control over everything, including our lives.
Your presence and the impact and effect of your presence is constant and never changing on all of creation. Most of what we call your “judgments” or “wrath” are the results of us going against or trying to change what is unchanging. Sort of like gravity. It is unchanging and constant throughout the earth. Its presence affects and has a form of control over almost every thing we do on this earth. A person climbs up and goes on top of the roof of a 20 story building. They defiantly state gravity has no effect on me and jumps off the roof and fall 20 stories to their death. You could say the gravity killed them. That their death was caused by the judgment of the unchanging law of gravity. When it was the individuals choosing to defy gravity that caused its death. Gravity is not going to be altered by our will.
This is similar to God’s unchanging presence, holiness and impact on all of creation. Our pain, hurt and struggles result from our times of defiance of God’s holy presence and existence, when we go against His laws and “jump in our flesh desires,” challenge an try to change His unchangeable nature to conform to our mature, and pain and struggles result. We could blame it on the “Wrath of God” when the cause was really our stepping out against His constant hole presence. God’s holy presence is not going to b altered by our will.
My family, I pray this morning you say the Lord’s Prayer again out loud. And When you say, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” you let those words soak into your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to conform your life to His will, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus, speak to me this morning as I long to her and be filled with your words of life..
“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:6-7)
My heart is saddened and in mourning this morning. I saw on the news how a 15 year old boy last night shot and killed mother, Another news story came on about 3 teenage boys who attacked and robbed a couple in a parking deck. Ley another news story was about two teenage boys, carrying a grudge between them and the guns to settle it, exchanged gunfire at a high school football stadium filling an innocent 8 year old girl in the stands. I ask myself the obvious questions: How and why could they do something like that? What influenced them, put thoughts in their head, taught these young teenagers, some not even old enough to drive yet, to even think of doing something like that? These young boys were not part of ISIS, Al-qaeda, LRA, or other militant extremist groups where they were indoctrinated with hate and trained to kill. The violent acts by all these young boys were made in America.
They were influenced and discipled by evil in our culture and the world through peers, TV, the internet, violent games and other means. Our youth’s moral and value of life are being formed, and they are being disciple 24/7 by the word around them. We as a followers of Jesus and members of His church are called to more than sitting in our living rooms shaking are heads and asking why, We are called to proclaim the gospell, to all the earth - “to every nation, tribe, language, and people,” and this includes those who live in our neighborhoods and our youth. if we do not share the message of the gospel of hope and love with them, then the only message they will hear will be of fear and hate. It we do not speak the truth of who their identity is in Christ they we believe the lies told them by society. We can shake our heads and ask why, but none of us have clean hands. If you are not sharing the gospel with someone every day, you are surrendering and silencing the gospel, the “Good News” in a persons life and are abandoning them to hearing only the “Bad News” from the world. Our silence in sharing words of love leaves a vacuums to be filled with words of hate.
My family, I pray today you will meditate on how none of us have clean hands and that these violent acts are made in America, made by the absent presence of the church that is not sharing the gospel daily. I pray the Holy Spirit will convict and motivate you to speak words of love and truth to those you come in contact with today and every day, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Good Shepherd, and Your sheep hear Your voice. Speak to my spirit, my Shepherd, as I begin my day centered in You, embraced by my Father, listening for the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned!" (Revelation 11:15-17 NKJV)
There will come a day when You set all things right -- a day of "restoration of all things" (Acts 3:21). "We, according to (Your) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). On that day, with all the "loud voices in heaven" we will proclaim with hearts full of joy and praise the ultimate fulfillment of what You have promised -- "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!"
But every day between this day and that day to come, let Your kingdom come into my world as Your kingdom comes into my heart. Change my world today as You change my heart today. "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within (us)!" (Luke 17:21)
Holy Spirit of God, fill me afresh today (Ephesians 5:18). Fill me with Your "righteousness and peace and joy" -- right with God, right with others, right within myself; at peace with God, at peace with others, at peace within myself; and full of joy! "Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation" as You renew a right spirit within me and change my world around me because Your Spirit arises and shines through me! (Psalm 51:12; Isaiah 60:1) Let the kingdoms of my world become the kingdoms of my God and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, today! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray the kingdoms of your world will become the kingdoms of God, as the King of kings and Lord of lords rules and reigns in your heart by His Spirit with His righteousness and peace and joy today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
“Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voice…But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets....So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So I took the little scroll from the angelʼs hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.” (Revelation 10:1-3; 7; 9-10)
The “powerful angel” is Jesus. “His face like the sun and legs like pillars of fire” are the description of Jesus in chapter vs. 1:14-15. “Wrapped in a cloud” comes from Daniel 7. “Rainbow above his head” illustration in v. 4:3. “Voice like a roaring Lion” references “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” in v. 5:5.
The mystery that is being fulfilled is the restoration of the kingdom, that is what was revealed to the prophets. The righteous dead will be resurrected, the Davidic king will be restored as king of kings and lord of lords, and it will be a completion of the old testament covenant that Israel will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. But God can’t restore the kingdom until sin is taken care of in the covenant people. That is the mystery announced to the Prophets. Paul tells us in Colossians this is the mystery that has been hidden for ages has now been revealed., Christ in You, the hope of Glory! We being restored into the image of Christ.
The open scroll: because it is opened it means what it contains has already been revealed. It is the Old Testament, and the covenant of the promise to be delivered from sin and to restore people to live in covenant with God, be who they were created to be. So the old covenant was “as sweet as honey” in the mouth. It promises the resolution of the 5th and the 6th trumpet, the end of sin and its destructiveness. But, the Old Testament never fulfilled the promise, so it is bitter to the stomach. The promise is sweet, but the fact that the OT and the Law could not actuate the promise is bitter.
“Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” V. 10:11. The “they” are God and Jesus. They are the only two mentioned in this portion of John’s vision. We, like John who now have this knowledge, are to share this truth to the fallen Babylon, those who are without knowledge of Jesus, outside of his covenant, and outside of His salvation. Prophets in the Old Testament were mainly not about describing a future vision, but calling people to repent to the known truths about God and from the way they were living their lives outside of those known truths. They stood in the gap and mourned over their neighbors and community that were living ”lost lives” and intentionally and desperately loved them enough to speak the truth to them.
My family, We are about half way through the season of Advent. The “New Year” season of the church where we have a clean slate, new commitments of faith we can make, and new hopes for the coming year. I pray today you will break out of and repent to the silence of your faith, and “prophesy to many people.” I pray you will ask the Holy Spirit for a heart that mourns and weeps for those who do not know Jesus. I pray you will actually share with those around you the truths your know of Jesus; intentionally, out of desperate love, as if their lives depended on it, because they do. In Jesus’ name. Please ray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to please join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Open the eyes of my heart this morning Lord Jesus to see only you..
In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.” Revelations 9:6
If we could see in advance the consequences of our sin, no one would do it. However, sin allures us, we feel it empowers us and that we will benefit from the sin in some way. And so we embrace it. The first time you succumb to a a sin usually nothing happens. The sky does not fall, you get away with it, you benefit from it, it pleases you, and so you do it again. For a certain way on that trajectory you are in control. You hear people say, “I can stop at any time.” Yes you can, up to a point. Yet at some point in time you pass an invisible barrier that the sin has taken control over you. You cant say no. It is at that point you begin to experience the torment of sin. At that point you begin to sense the destructive dynamic of your sin, of what it is doing in your life, and you wish you could be free of it. You stop for a day or week, but then you fall back into it, The sin has got it’s hooks in you.
I have had people in my time in ministry come to me and talk about their sin. Wishing they could end it, wishing they could get rid of it, but they can’t. They are living in the present a foretaste of hell. They are experiencing the torment and suffering of their sin that has become their master and God. The now have an evil king ruling over their lives that desires to destroy them. “They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” (Rev 9:11) Both the words Abaddon and Apollyon mean “Destroyer”. And because of the weight and torment of their sin and being a slave to the destroyer king, verse 9:6 is not a future prophesy, it is a reality to them today. “In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.” Revelations 9:6
The essential act of Satan is destruction. In these passages we see the torment of sin. What can free you from the bondage of Satan? What can free you from the torment of sin? The answer is in that old hymn, “What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus… No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
My family, I pray today you ad“mit any sin that is controlling your life. I pray you claim it, confess it, repent of it, claim the blood of Jesus over it, and release, and seek the help that may be needed to come out of the rule of the destroyer. Who the son sets free, is free indeed! In Jesus’ name. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, here in the embrace of my heavenly Father. ...
"When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:1-5).
As I woke this morning, I thought of the cross. I thought of Your suffering and sacrifice, Your mercy and love. I thought of Your holy humiliation that our human minds can't begin to comprehend as You cried out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). And then these words came to my heart: "Astonished Silence."
Your Spirit brought to mind the silence of heaven when You opened the seventh seal in the Apostle John's Revelation. There were "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 7:5). It was the same on the day of Your death at the cross: "Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed His last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:50-51).
Every prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in You, as are "all the Scriptures" of the Word of God (Luke 24:27). You are the very Word of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). And this morning, I see a parallel in this prophecy of Revelation and a partial fulfillment--one in the eternal realm of heaven with the Lamb of God who stands at the throne and one in the historical realm of earth with the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Revelation 5:6; John 1:29). And in my heart I hear, "Astonished Silence."
In the midst of the earthquakes and darkness on that holy day of Your sacrifice and death at the cross, and in the midst of the ultimate judgments that must come upon the earth and upon those who would reject Your mercy and love, I sense the "astonished silence" of heaven. With all of heaven, I'm astonished that God would die for me, astonished that the fury of hell and the mercy of heaven could meet at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, at a moment in time on this earth but forever timeless in the eternity of heaven--and astonished that all will not humble their hearts to receive all You've done for us at such a cost. With the silence of heaven, I am astonished at Your sacrifice of love I have no words to express. ...
As I ponder these thoughts in my heart this morning, I can hardly speak at all. I simply say, Thank You, Lord Jesus….. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you experience the mercy and love of the One who sacrificed so much for you at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, yet necessary for the salvation of your soul and mine, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be single-minded and wholehearted in my intentionally-directed focus on You alone in these first moments of my morning. ...
"... These are the words of the holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 'I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut'... " (Revelation 3:7-8).
Lord, You are holy and true. Your heart is good and Your motives are pure. You can be trusted in every way with everything. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end ... and everything in between.
And You know me. You know every desire I'll ever have, every thought I'll ever consider, every choice I'll ever make. You know the thoughts and intents of my heart better than I can ever discern or understand. You know what's of the Spirit and what's of the flesh; You know what comes out of selflessness and what comes out of selfishness. You rightly discern and You rightly judge, for You alone are the holy and righteous One.
So I trust You and I ask You to open the doors before me that align with Your perfect will and plan for me. And I trust You and ask You to shut the doors that do not. In all honesty I admit I have much to learn, but this much I know: You know what's best. And I want Your best. It's in Your best for my life that I'll know the fullness of Your peace and joy for me and everyone around me. That's the desire of my heart, as best as I can discern and believe; and that's my prayer. So I believe by faith that will and that has come to pass (Psalm 21:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will trust God with all your heart and ask Him to go before You opening and shutting doors to help direct your steps into His perfect will for your life. May you know the fullness of all His peace and joy for you and all those around you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
