Good morning, Lord Jesus. You still say to me and to every one of Your disciples, “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Here I am, Lord; ready to come, follow You today. ...
Yesterday evening, two brothers in Christ and I spent a couple hours in a quiet place in the woods behind one of their homes to simply pray and listen. As I have stated, in two weeks I will be stepping out of my position as pastor of Toney UMC and beginning with my wife a renewed season of being on mission in my city to plant and grow disciples and simple churches. One of the brothers there last night is also an ordained Elder in the UMC who is also stepping out of his pastoring position to join in pursuing ministry in his community. The third brother has actively lead in church and addiction ministries and is discerning his renewed calling to be on mission for missions. As from my reflection this past Tuesday, we prayed into pouring into, “It may very well be that you have been given everything in life for such a time as this!” (Esther 4:14 paraphrase)
In my continued reflecting on last night, this morning I hear You saying in my heart:
Draw near to Me, then I can send you out. Spend time with Me, and I will multiply the moments of your day. Let Me fill you up with My Spirit, so I can pour out of you My love. Allow Me to empower you, that My power can flow through you. I am the Author of your faith. I am the Source of your success. I am the Lord of your life because you have believed that I am Lord of all....
In Your Spirit Jesus, this Scripture from Your written Word comes to mind to conform what I believe I’m hearing in my heart as Your spoken word:
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).
And these familiar Words are coming to life with a fresh breath of Your Spirit right now:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in Me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in Me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:1-11).
Simple Words. But powerful, intimate Words. Welcoming me to come and follow You, to come and spend time with You, so that my life bears fruit and my joy may be complete -- all because of a genuine, authentic, and deeply personal relationship with You.
By the power of Your grace, with this hunger You’ve put in my heart, I’m here to come follow You, to come be with You -- this day and every day, this moment and every moment -- morning by morning and step by step. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you drawn deeply into the Presence of God, deeply abiding in Him that your life can bear much fruit and your joy may be complete, 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
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth” (Psalm 110:3 NKJV).
My family and I returned from our vacation last night. Back to the “Real World.” I awoke this morning, made some coffee, and turned on the news. I watched an update on the war in Ukraine and saw for that over one hundred thousand Ukrainians from around the world have returned to fight for their homeland -- volunteers in the day of battle.
In some ways, the battle for the soul of Ukraine is a prophetic picture of the battle for the soul of the earth. At times the constant shelling of all we hold dear is unbearable: Covid, inflation, gas prices, attacks on our faith, mass shooting of our children…. while the seemingly indiscriminate bombing of the innocent is unthinkable. At times the odds seem overwhelming and victory, or even a return to some form of peace, a return to some type of “normal” seems hopeless.
But Your Word encourages us: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJV). And Your Words encourage us: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Lord Jesus, we look to You--for the people of Ukraine and for ourselves as the children of God, called by Your name throughout the earth and chosen to live out our lives and our calling through these times. By the stirring of the Holy Spirit within us, we volunteer freely on the day of battle. And this is the day of battle--the day of battle for our souls and for the soul of the world.
After the witness of the courage of the Ukrainian people, give us Your courage to fight the battles before us--“strong and very courageous” (Joshua 1:7). Put Your weapons in our hands and Your words in our mouths, with Your Spirit stirring in our hearts. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Armed with Your spiritual weapons and clothed in Your spiritual armor, may we run to the battle and volunteer willingly to take our place and make our stand in You, just as Your Word commands:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be stirred by the Holy Spirit to run into the battle and volunteer freely to take your stand in Christ, as Christ stand’s in you, to be victorious and more than a conqueror today and throughout these days, 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
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You're saying, see what You're doing, sense Your Presence and follow Your leading.
"Moses then called Bazalel and Oholiab and every skillful one to whom the Lord had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work; and they received from Moses all the freewill offerings that the Israelites had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the artisans who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed, and said to Moses, 'The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.' " (Exodus 35:2-5).
As I sit and look over the endless ocean and its vastness, it is easy to ask myself, “Why am I here?” What is my purpose in God’s grand plan for this earth? As the passage above reminds me, God, You've given each of us a skill to build up Your people and extend Your kingdom across the earth. With our freewill, we're invited to offer our gifts in service to You with "whatever gift each of (us) has received" (1 Peter 4:10). Together, we are the sanctuary You're building, the place of Your abiding Presence on this earth. And Your kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21).
Jesus, as I and those who read this devotion Your Spirit has given me, as we seek You, show us our gifts and our place of service to You wherever we are. Let Your Spirit stir in our hearts to come do the work of the kingdom of God. Wherever we are, we carry Your kingdom with us, for Your kingdom is within us -- at home, at work, in the market, in the church, down the street and across the oceans. And as we each do our part in this labor of love with the gifts of God, we find we are fulfilled. We find we have "much more than enough for doing the work that he Lord has commanded us to do." And we find Your heart for us is, "Well done" (Luke 19:17).
"Our God will make (us) worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in (us), and (we) in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your skills and the gifts of God within you. I pray He will stir in your heart to fully offer yourself and your gifts for the work and glory of the kingdom of God wherever you are. 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
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, filled with Your Holy Spirit -- I seek You and seek Your leading to begin my day in deep communion with You. ...
"For the waves of death encompassed me,
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me,
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I called.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry came to His ears"
(2 Samuel 22:5-7).
For the past couple years it seems we've been hearing about all these this world-wide plagues moving in on us in waves. Cover, global shortages, inflation, war in the Ukraine, mass shootings…Sitting her on the beach, It makes me think of a relentless army coming ashore in wave after wave of attack. But then, what You immediately bring up from my spirit and into mind is "wave after wave of glory." The glory of Your manifest Presence -- with us and within us -- that gives us the wisdom and the power to withstand every wave that would come against us.
In humility, we admit we cannot overcome in our own wisdom and power and confess we need Yours. In desperation and distress, we cry out to You, we call upon the Lord. In faith, we believe You hear the voice of our cries, You see the desperation of our needs. And in thanksgiving and praise, even before we see it made manifest with our physical eyes what we're believing with our spiritual eyes, we declare as the voice of the redeemed that "wave after wave of glory" will defeat all enemies and even cover the whole earth. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" (Psalm 107:2) For the Promise of Your Word will come to pass: "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).
You responded with wisdom and power for David when He cried out to You in his distress, as he faced the waves of destruction. And we thank You now that You are responding with wisdom and power as we cry out to You in our day:
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations of the heavens trembled
and quaked, because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
and devouring fire from His mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from Him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under His feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew;
He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness around Him a canopy,
thick clouds, a gathering of water.
Out of the brightness before Him
coals of fire flamed forth.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High uttered His voice.
He sent out arrows, and scattered them
-lightning, and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
the foundations of the world were laid bare
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
He reached from on high, He took me,
He drew me out of mighty waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
They came upon me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my stay.
He brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me, because He delighted in me"
(2 Samuel 22:8-20).
Deliver us, Lord! Draw us up out of the mighty waters of this strong enemy of destruction, too mighty for humanity to handle in our wisdom and power! Send Your waves of glory, "wave after wave of glory" to fill our heart and fill the earth with a great awareness of Your Presence, with all the wisdom and power we need to overcome. And we thank You now that You will even turn it all around into a world-wide repentance to see a world-wide salvation like the world has never seen! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be filled with God's Holy Spirit, with wave after wave of the glory of His manifest Presence, trusting Him to give the wisdom and power we need in our world to overcome and even see the great salvation of the Lord in our day, 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
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way of life in You today. ...
As I sit on the shore of the ocean this morning, the vastness of God and His presence everywhere and anywhere on earth comes into my mind. Sitting on the beach, with it’s billions of grains of sand, I am in a way like one of the billions of grains of people on this planet. And even though You have a world view of salvation, “God So loved the World” you also desire a deep personal connection with me.
The truth is: "O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your Presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I god down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there You hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night -- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.... And when I wake up, You are still with me!" (Psalm 139:18 NLT)"I bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence the pleasures of living with You forever!" (Psalm 16:7-11)
You are "right beside me." ...
What if I were to live my life believing that was true? ...
What if I were to live this day believing that was true? ...
If I truly believed You were right beside me, would I make different choices throughout the moment of my day. Would I be more secure and confident? Would I be more careful and diligent? Would I be more honest and faithful? Would I be afraid in the fear of the Lord or would I be fearless in the certainty of my Savior?
The truth is You are right beside me. Always (Matthew 28:20). You never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, You are within me by the indwelling of Your very Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16). You always know every thought in my mind and every desire in my heart. I couldn't hide from You if I tried. They don't make fig leaves that big anymore!
So no matter how it makes me feel or act, You are "right beside me" regardless. And in the light of that eternal truth, give me grace to live my life each day with a deeper awareness of that truth and Your Presence. It's a good thing. No, it's a great thing. In fact, it's a grace thing that I could never earn and never deserve, but only receive as the great gift of God that it is -- the gift of the ever-abiding Presence of my God who loves me and likes being with me!
Thank You, Lord! Help me learn to appreciate You and Your Presence more. Thank You for being "right beside me" every moment of my life forever. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you live this day and every day in the growing awareness of the ever-abiding Presence of God who loves you and likes being with you, 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
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships were made for.” ―Anonymous
I was so blessed to have attend the past three days the City2City gathering hosted by 1Body Church in Tampa, Fl. CPM/DMM leaders from 35 cities from San Francisco-New York, and Michigan to Houston and all cities in between attended. It was a gathering that encouraged me, convicted me, and equipped me for pressing into making disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ. I was blessed to have spent time with Neil Cole, author, missionologist, with a heart for missional discipleship, in Atlanta a couple years ago. Myself and others from ODC spent a year going through the 100 Movements Training with Neil. My time in Tampa reminded me and restored in me our call and commission by the Holy Spirit to be “sent ones.” Its one of Neal’s writings I am reflecting on, he talks about the Queen Mary.
“The Queen Mary sits prominently in one of the busiest harbors of the world. She has been there for five decades, unmoved. The Queen Mary is a hotel, encased in a rock jetty. Tourists come to Long Beach, CA and love to see this famous attraction. But visitors are only seeing a faint shadow of the ship she once was. She was once the finest cruise liner on the seven seas. During World War 2 she was used to transport injured military personnel. The Queen Mary was meant to be out on the high seas, but now she is on the AAA’s list of three-and-a-half star hotels. She remindeds me of a hollowed-out leader who only dreams of glories long past.
We are all familiar with the tragedy of the Titanic, but the Queen Mary is another sort of tragedy. If I had to choose a destiny, I would rather go out in glory on my maiden voyage like the Titanic than be stuck rusting in a harbor, never to make another ripple in the ocean. Award winning movies are made of the Titanic’s story, not the Queen Mary’s.”
Henry David Thoreau once said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” There is nothing sadder then a beautiful song that is never sung. Many of our lives are beautiful songs yet to be sung. Many of us are like the Queen Mary—safe, secure, and not what we were meant to be. Many of us settle for lesser lives, for stories not worth telling. We are being called to a higher story, a bigger tale that will be told to future generations.
The Lord of the Rings is an epic battle of good versus evil where simple folk win the day against overwhelming odds––because they had each other and a cause worth dying for. In one scene, looking off at the ruins Sam said, “It’s like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?”
His spirits lifted as he went on, “But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.”
“What are we holding onto, Sam?” Frodo sighed, still recovering from the near defeat of the previous moment. Sam, determined to help his brother whom he would gladly die for, lifted Frodo to his feet, looked him sternly in the eyes, and said, “That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”
We all need a friend like Sam when we face the overwhelming odds in this battle. We also need to be a friend like Sam. The struggle against the evil that dominates this world is bad enough; to go through this fight alone is too much. We must have a small band of brothers and sisters who would give their lives for us, for the cause…for Jesus. We need to be such people. We all need something important enough, worthy enough to give our lives for. There is conflict. There is evil that wants to destroy you. There will be pain and loss in this battle with evil, but the struggle is worth it. Any great story has conflict; that is what makes the story worth the telling.
There would not be three major motion pictures, dozens of Oscars, and a billion dollars in revenue if there was no struggle involved with the Lord of the Rings stories. If the Hobbits never left home, but stayed in the Shire, under the party tree smoking pipe weed, we would not really be all that interested in the stories. The conflict makes the struggle compelling!
If we can stick together and pull each other through, much like Sam and Frodo, If we can defeat the enemy and win this war. “If God is for us, who can be against us?!” (Romans 8:31) There will be great stories to tell our children’s children. These are the days where stories of waitresses, retired engineers, high school kids, nurses, blue-collar workers, and simple gardeners, like Sam, in the power of the Holy Spirit, overcome incredible evil to bring change and hope back to humanity.
You were filled with the Holy Spirit and created for good works that have been foreordained by God for the destruction of evil strongholds and to set captives free! Do not settle for rusting in the harbor over the decades of your life. Please don’t! Set sail on the oceans of risk and let God lead you to stories that are worthy of being told, worthy of dying for, because God is worthy of It.
The great American author Mark Twain once commented, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Take 10 minutes now and watch the video by Francis Chan below on being sent in the Spirit. It was made to accompany chapter six of his book "The Forgotten God," but it ties in perfectly with my final message on the Holy Spirit on sending
This is number 24 of 24 reflections of mine on the attributes the Holy Spirit. I pray it has encouraged, convicted, and motivated you to obediently press into the life, full of the Holy Spirit you have been wonderfully created by God to live out. Please share any reflections or comments on this message or this time spent looking at the Holy Spirit below in the comment box below. Also, I would appreciate all comments and feedback on these past 24 messages on the Holy Spirit either below in the comments box, or privately to me at garyl@onedirection.community . God bless you my friends!
Much love!
Gary
Good morning Lord Jesus, wash me with your Spirit this morning and refreshen and renew my soul!
The Holy Spirit is a gift given to us by God to help conform us into the image of God in Jesus Christ. One of main way’s the Holy Spirit does this is by putting us into places where we are confronted by the truth of our lives. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:1). If becoming a disciple of Jesus means that my life needs to closely imitate his life, then the truth in my life: spiritually, physically, relationally, needs to closely imitate Jesus Christ. The role of the Holy Spirit is that of comforter, but before the Holy Spirit can be our Holy comforter, he first needs to be our Holy confronter.
The Holy Spirit uses every opportunity to confront us and conform our lives into the truth of Christ. He uses Scripture to speak through us and relate the truths of God written in the pages to areas of our lives and reveal were truth is present and where it is lacking. He also uses our prayer time when we open ourselves up to him and honestly let him speak into the secret places in our lives, that are not really a secret to him. “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Another major way The Holy Spirit speaks truth into our lives and holds us accountable to truth is through others in the body, in the relationship of deep, holy accountability. It may seem like an oxymoron, but we places our lives more completely into the hands of God, by placing our lives into the hands of others. There is a familiar verse to most Christians where Jesus tells us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20). When you read the passage, look at the context this verse is contained in, you will see that Jesus is refereeing here to deep, holy, accountability.
I shared earlier the remark by Jay Leno, “I will do anything to get a great and perfect body except eat healthy and exercise.” We laugh when we read this because we know that getting a great and healthy body is simple, it requires eating right and exercising. It is simple, but it is not easy. To become a disciple of Jesus is simple as well. It requires consistent reading of Scriptures, prayer, serving our neighbors, and holy accountability. Simple, but not easy. I am absolutely convinced in my time in ministry that the one thing that ensures all four are present in one’s life is Holy Accountability. The only thing that will prevent me from being the man in James 1:22-24, who looks in the mirror in the morning and says, “What a good Christian am I.” then lives his life in the flesh and a worldly manner, is accountability.
It is in the weekly gathering with one or two other people that true accountability takes place. Where someone asks you, “How is it with you soul?” “Have you read your Bible this week?” “Have you prayed?” “How have you seen God at work by serving those around you?” Close accountability allows others, who pray for you daily to see, hear, and confirm how they see the Holy Spirit working in your life and speak into it.
Close relationships with your spouse is something to strive for and nourish, but your one or two accountability partners need to be of same gender so you can honestly bring forth all your struggles, and they can relate to it.
Who are the one or two persons in your life that you are in deep accountability with? Who pray for you daily? Who you can call at anytime of the day or not with a struggle or a praise? Who know you well enough to speak truth into your life?
Read James 1:22-25,
Watch the following short 5 minute video by Francis Chan on being open and accountable to others. If you could not immediately name the one or two persons in your accountability group, (not Bible Study, small group, or church class, but one or two people you meet with weekly strictly for accountability) then pray to the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons you are to call and ask to be in accountability with you. I challenge you to do this by the end of the week. If you do not know how to get started, I have created a couple page guide with information and an outline for accountability groups we use at One Direction Community I would be glad to send you. in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
Please share you comments with us 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
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel 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!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Father and Holy Spirit. This morning I claim my place in union with you and receive all of your blessings that flow in that union.
The gift of the Holy Spirit we received through our faith in Jesus Christ sealed us in our adoption as children of God.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery to fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are of God, and if children, also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, indeed we suffer with that we may also be glorified with.” (Romans 8:14-17)
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12)
What does it mean to live as God’s child? It means to live as if I’m loved and cherished. It means to live as if I know that every need will be taken care of. It means to live as if I can go to my Father with every fear, anxiety, and hurt. It means to live as if I can go to my Father with every joyful moment, every tiny thing that excites me, and every new tidbit of information that makes me laugh. It means to live as if I have inherited my Father’s kingdom.
Because I have!!!!.
I belong and it’s time to start living like it.
My family, I pray you will read Gal. 4:3-7; Rom. 8:1-17, Ezekiel 11:17-20, Luke 23:42-43, John 1:12. Then pray to the Holy Spirit for an assurance of your adoption into the Kingdom of God. Pray for an assurance of your identity as a son or daughter of the Father. Pray for the confidence and boldness to start living as a son or daughter of the Kingdom. Whom shall you fear when you are His?
Please share your thoughts, questions or prayers as a comment below.
Much love!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, as I begin a new work week the first thing I desire to be worked on is me by your Spirit..
The word “law” comes from the Hebrew word ‘Torah.” Torah means more than just law. It also means teaching, or instruction handed down from someone to another. Torah, the Law, has a narrative about it, a story that is at the source of it's instruction. The story from which the Law of the Old Testament flows out of is this statement by God,” I am the Lord your God.“ God begins with these words constantly whenever he begins giving instructions to someone. Just a few examples of many are:
“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.” (Genesis 28:12)
“I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:7)
The prologue of God giving the 10 Commandments is:
“And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-2)
The law then is instruction and teaching that centers around understanding who the Lord God is, what he requires, and how we are to live under the lordship of God. It also reveals what we are to look like as disciples of God. Jesus Christ was the culmination, the completion of the narrative, the story of the law. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we received the ultimate, perfect instruction, teaching and understanding of how we are to live under the Lordship of God. He gave us an actual example of the fulfillment of the law, not written on tablets of stone, but lived out in human flesh.
When we accepted Christ as Lord of our lives, we were filled with the Holy Spirit, and we also then had the law fulfilled in us not written on tablets of stone, but in our hearts. It is the indwelling of Jesus Christ in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we now have the fulfillment of the law in us. The narrative of the law, the story of the Lordship of God continues in us as we are to be living examples, teachers, instructors, handing down the stories of God from one to another.
Three main things the Law centered around were: Justice, Compassion and Worship. These three things the life of Jesus also centered around. His life was one centered around justice, compassion, and worship. That is why all the laws hinge on the commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind,” which is worship. And “Love your neighbor as yourself,” which is justice and compassion.
Jesus freely worshipped the Father, brought justice and showed compassion outside of of the religious institutions, traditions, and norms of his culture. He demonstrated what free and radical discipleship looked liked. In the Holy Spirit you are free to worship God, bring justice, and show compassion outside of any religious, tradition, family, or cultural boundaries. You are not only free, but you are designed to exhibit Worship, Justice and Compassion in the most radical, undignified, spontaneous, and child-like ways!!!
My family, Read 2 Corinthians chapter 3, Gal. 4:1-7, Colossians 2:13-23. Then spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is holding you back from freely, radically, child-like, without any inhibitions, worshipping God, and loving your neighbors with justice and compassion. What traditions, religious practices, misconceptions, are binding you from expressing your love for God, love for Christ and passing on his story to others? in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections, questions, and/or prayers in the comments box below.
Much love!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I need you to wrap your arms around me this morning so I can wrap my arms around others today.
It was the Holy Spirit working in us, wooing us, placing us in the presence of Christ, before we even knew Christ, that began our “process” of salvation. The Holy Spirit seeking us is grace, a gift from God. It led us to a place of repentance and acceptance by faith of the saving works of Christ on the cross and in his resurrection, which is also a gift of grace. All the power of the Holy Spirit that it took to raise Christ from the dead is available to us and is at work in us in our salvation. And just like we could not initially save our selves, but it was the result of us seeking out the working of the Holy Spirit in us to place us in Christ, we can not daily live out our salvation without daily seeking out the the presence of the Holy Spirit. All the power of the Holy Spirit that was required in our initial salvation, is required for us to daily live out our salvation.
Salvation is not received like a “Thing” that you receive from a giver, then you can possess it and pass it on to another without the giver being present. For instance, If someone gives you a pen, it is yours,. You do not need the person who gave it to you to use it. You can put it in your pocket and walk away and never encounter that person again. Salvation however is found in a covenant relationship with God. You step out of that covenant, and you step out of that saving relationship. Salvation if like a hug, nothing is physically transferred, and when you come out of the hug, you can not take it with you. It is like the covenant relationship of marriage. You could be married to a person, but if you are separated, living in different towns, seeing other people, are you living out your marriage? No. Are you receiving the blessing and joy God intended in marriage? No. Your living into your marriage covenant comes out of your daily love and desire to be with that person. Time spent with them, talking to them, and actively spending and enjoying time in their presence.
Your living out your daily salvation is only possible by your daily relationship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit. It flows out of your love and desire to be with God. By actively seeking and spending time with God through the Holy Spirit in prayer, in The Word, and serving and seeking him in those around you. Again, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit needed in my initial salvation, is required for me to experience my daily salvation. I can’t over come my desires of the flesh today without seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit today. I can’t have a relationship with my neighbor today and be able to love him as I love myself without having a relationship with the Holy Spirit today. And I can absolutely forget about loving my enemies, or loving those who curse me without the power of the Holy Spirit. I can’t love my wife or my daughters completely unless I see them through the eyes of God. And the gift of my walking around today in joy and glory because I identify myself as a child of God is only possible by placing myself like a child in the presence of God. John tells us in the beginning of his Gospel, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) The verbs “Receive” and “believed” are not past tense verbs as we understand in English. Things that happened once. They are verbs that reflect a past action that continues to the present. Those that “receive and continue to receive, those who “believed and continue to believe” have the right, the ability to live as children of God today.
My family, I pray as I have done this morning , you will also spend time in prayer with the Holy Spirit. Reflect on how you are remaining connected to Him. Reflect on how your are living out the daily joy of you salvation. Ask the Holy Spirit to increase in you your longing to be in deep relationship with him. To increase your desire to spend time with him in prayer, reading the word, and seeking him in others, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Read Romans 8:1-17, John 4:14, Joel 2:28-32.
Post any reflections, questions, or prayer requests in the comments block below.
Much love!!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel 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!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, pour your Holy Spirit into my heart this morning so I can pour hit into those I meet today.
Source of spiritual gifts:
God is at the source of all our gifts, whether spiritual or physical. He can use both through the Spirit to heal, set people free, feed the hungry, bring sight to the blind. We are called to seek out and use both spiritual and physical gifts given by God to transform and do miraculous works in our world. Volunteering to go read to an elementary child with a troubled family, will transform and change that child’s life as praying for wisdom and knowledge over the child. The two work hand in hand.
We all have spiritual gifts, and they are present and available to us today. Healing, prophecy, evangelism, prayer, teaching , Shepherding, are all gifts the Holy Spirit desires to give us and use to the glory of God and his Kingdom. They do not however come to us through our physical striving and our means, the gifts come to us through means of grace: prayer, time spent in Scriptures, fasting, The Lord’s Supper, acts of mercy. It is through these things that we receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit and practice perfecting them.
Jay Leno said, “I will do anything to get a great body except eat a healthy diet and exercise.” We in the church try to see God work around us and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and we will do anything to experience them except spend time daily in prayer and and reading the Bible. Why does the church today not see people filled with the gifts of the spirit like we read about in the first church, because people in todays church do not spend time seeking them.
God wants us to be a church full of power that witnesses acts of God’s moving among us. I want us to be a church that expects working of God to be a normal daily occurrence. If you look at places like Africa, China, and Korea where the church if growing at a remarkable pace, most of it is as the result of healings, prophecies, dreams, evangelistic out pouring of the Spirit, from a church that witnesses from a high expectancy of God’s presence in their lives.
What are your physical gifts and how are your using them to allow people to experience the kingdom of God today? What are your spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit wants you to use in the same way?
I pray you will take some quiet time in prayer and Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the gifts he has given you. Ask the Holy Spirit to whom you are to share your gifts with. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to people who can mentor you and encourage you in your spiritual gifts.
Read 1 Cor. 12:5-11, Ephesians 4:11-14, and Romans 12:4-8 and watch this video by Dr. Keener on Spiritual gifts.
Post your reflections and experiences with the revelation of God below and/or any prayer requests for revelation.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Jesus, in the silence of this morning I lay my soul before you and say you are worthy of everything you ask me to do in your name today.
Holy Spirit day 17: sends,
If you have not yet, you need to watch he movie “The Insanity of God.” It is based on the greatest book with the same title I have ever read on persecution in the church and Matthew 28’s commission to “go” and make disciples. This morning and the aspect of the Holy Spirit on my list I was to meditate on this morning was “Sends.” I smiled inside as “sending” is one of the core elements in the DNA of the church, but one of the elements that is obeyed the least.
My definition of a missionary is: Someone who is willing to sacrifice everything except the Gospel, for the sake of the Gospel.
The definition of a Congregation is: The act of assembling. A body of assembled people or things; a gathering.
Our goal is to become disciples of Christ, correct? Disciples meaning apprentices of Jesus Christ who imitate the life of Jesus, correct? Then which of the the two: a congregant, who’s goal is to congregate and gather in a building;: or a missionary who’s goal is to be sent and go outside of walls with the Gospel, which of these two life styles imitates that of a Jesus? A Missionary. So if the goal of The Church is to imitate Jesus and make disciples of Jesus Christ, why is it so consumed and focuses so much time and resources on making congregations instead of missionaries? Why is it’s goal how many people it can gather together on a Sunday morning and it’s focus on its seating capacity instead of its sending capacity? The church prepares, plans, and invests for Sundays when the church family gathers in the building. Why doesn’t the church prepare, plan, prioritize and invest as much in days when the church as a family “Leaves the Building” and serves witnesses in its neighborhoods? Gathering together and corporate worship is important. However, we gather together to equip each other and send us out.
As a pastor I struggle with this. Do you know the word “missionary” is not found anywhere in the Bible? It is because all the writers of it as inspired by God did not even think of, and it never crossed their mind there being a distinction between Christians who “go” and those who do not. “Going” and sharing the Gospel is at the core of being a Christian.. And it never crossed God’s mind as well or He would have inspired them make that distinction. All who call Jesus Lord are called to the mission of God, “mission-ary” and the movement of God.
Why is it that if people do not sit inside the walls of a church building on a Sunday morning, they feel like they have not been to “Church.” I believe it is because Christian’s in the west have been conditioned and conformed through tradition, cultural norms, pastors and parents, and to some extent the use of shame to believe this. This understanding of “Church” is not Biblical.
Now hear me, I am not in anyway against corporate gatherings of prayer and worship I encourage people to go. When someone tells me they have a solitary, personal faith I cringe as that belief is not a desire of God but a desire of the enemy. I am against solitary Christianity. I have a social view of holiness. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism believed in social holiness. There is a need of the body to gather and encourage one another. Yes its goal is to equip its members, however this equipping is for scattering of its members into its communities and unto the nations. However, like a pendulum that should be centered between congregating and going, the pendulum of the church in America has swung way past center to the side of congregating. The Church in the west in unhealthly and un-Gospel focus and has swung way out of balance towards congregating. This unhealthy balance is now our norm, what we are comfortable at, and what we default to.
Yes, we need to be marked by a growing love for God. But we need to be also marked by a tangible love for others! Observable engagement with the Holy Spirit, our discipleship must encompass the whole Gospel. It must transcend personal salvation and embrace the mission of God. Our story has to more than attending church gatherings, hearing the gospel and how Jesus enables me to go to heaven when I die. It must include how I am willing to die for the spread of that gospel. It must include our on going engagement with the “Missio Deo”, the mission of God. This is the sending ministry of the Holy Spirit. We must repeatedly remind ourselves that Christianity it is not about us! Not about surrounding ourselves with people like us, and who like us! The announcement and demonstration of the Gospel happens out there, not in here, as we as disciples live missionaly incarnate lives in our community.
My family, Read Matthew 28:18-20, John 17:14-19. Then watch the short video I have attached by Francis Chan on being sent by the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to please reflect throughout the day on your being sent, in Jesus’ name.
If you would like to receive a link to watch “The Insanity of God” movie, ask in a moment to this post or email me at strat318@gmail.com
Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends! post your thoughts, reflections, questions, and prayers below in the comments below.
Good morning Lord Jesus, as a co-heir with you in the kingdom of God I take my place this morning to help usher in your kingdom.
“Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1Cor. 2:
Good morning, since my post yesterday a day has past, Have you prayed and then asked one or two people to be in an accountability group with you?
Everything we know of about God, of God, of have experienced from God come through His self revelation and His desire to be known to us. God is pretty clever. If he did not want us to know He existed He could have pulled that off pretty easily. He just never could of created us. For all of eternity God’s essence was that of Father and of love. In a period of time he chose to to become creator and created us. Out of self-revelation he created us in his image. (Gen. 1:27) Creating us in his image is not so much a reference to who we are, but to who God is. That His desire is so great to be known to us and through us to the world that He actually created us to contain his image, His glory. You will not find this in the deities of Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism.
To further reveal Himself to us, God sent His Son, Jesus, so we could actually scratch, sniff, touch, and see God. And so we could be restored to the full image and knowledge of God, Jesus suffered death on the cross, descended into hell, redeemed all sins, rose from the grave, and ascended to the Father.
Then to take it over the top in His desire to be know to us, not only did God create us in His image, become flesh so we could see His image, complete the saving works of the cross to restore our image, but He gave us the gift of His Spirit so He could actually physically and spiritually indwelled in us!
Hear me this morning! With joy in my heart this is my wake up shout at the top of my lungs to you, to all people, all nations, and all the world to hear!
GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW HM!!!! GOD IS SO DESPERATE AND HAS, AND IS, GOING TO THE MOST EXTREEM MEASURES OUT OF HIS DEEP LOVE FOR YOU TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU!!!!
The Holy Spirit is in you and desires to lead you, teach to, and assist you to become the holy revelation of God. Ask Him this morning for a deeper revelation of Him! I have some Scriptures for you to read: 1Cor. 2:9-16, Eph. 3:14-21, 1John 4:13
But before you do, take a little time and write out your own personal “Bible Prayer” of sorts. As I have written this reflection, I want you to stop and write a prayer of thanksgiving for the Holy Spirit and His presence and revelation over this time you are going to be spending in The Word. Spend time writing it out or typing it out in your phone or what ever you are using. , Then stick it in your Bible, or save it to your phone or tablet, however you read his Word. Then, pull it out each time at the beginning of your devotion time before you open your Bible and read it. This will open you heart and mind to experience God and receive the Holy Spirit in the words you are reading, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Post your reflections and experiences with the revelation of God below and/or any prayer requests for revelation.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I seek you Holy Spirit to move in me and guide me thought my day today.
The Spirit applies in us and nurtures the fruits of the Spirit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. As you read this list and ask your self “What exactly are the “fruits of the Spirit? You will arrive at the answer: These all make up the character of God. And since the character of the Father is the same as the Son, these “fruits” also make up the character of Jesus Christ. We see these personified in all the narratives of the life of Jesus in the Gospels.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to imitate Jesus not only in words, and deeds, but more importantly, in character. We could be right and say the right words but if we say them without love and gentleness we are wrong. We could do the right deeds but if we do them without joy and kindness they build up nothing. Stepping up as the spiritual leader of your family without patience, goodness and self-control is destructive.
These gifts of the fruits of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit wants to give us is nothing less than the character of God. Jesus breathes in us and tells us to receive the Holy Spirit so by the Spirit’s indwelling in us, we can be conformed with his actual character and that of God. That is the only way we can possibly live into God’s command to be Holy as I am Holy, by the indwelling of the Spirit in us and the fruits, the actual character of God in the Spirit.
People listen to people of the character of God. People follow people of the character of God. Your character will either open or close doors to sharing the Gospel and/or discipling other people.
My family, read Romans 15:13; Galatians 6:16-25, Matthew 3:8-9; James 5:7-12. I pray you will spend time with the Holy Spirit looking at your character. What “Fruits of the Spirit” are you strong in? What fruits are a challenge to you? Pray over you character. Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in obtaining the character of God, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Practical application of this message; Are you in an accountability relationship with another person or two? I am absolutely convinced that nothing helps an individual to maintain the character of God more than deep, open, vulnerable, loving, real accountability. It helps prevent someone from being the person in James 1:23-24, who looks in the mirror at home and says, “What a good Christian am I!” then goes out and lives like those of the world. If you are not in deep accountability with one or two people, (not a small group or Bible study. True accountability happens in 2-3 people) then I challenge you to enter into one by the end of this week. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons to invite into accountability with you.
Please share any thoughts, comments, stories you have on the Fruits of the Spirit, Character or accountability with us below.
Much love,
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I thank you for always seeking me, help me today as I begin a new work week, to always seek you as well.
Paul says in his letter to the church in Galatia that the works of the flesh are obvious. Those things we do and desire when we simply do what we want, apart from God, or when we think we are alone and God cannot see us. Paul’s list of things was his personal list, it is also my list, and is a list that applies to everyman and woman when they live apart from the Spirit of God: "sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things". (Galatians 5:19-21)
The Message Bible restates Paul’s words this way, “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Paul say’s that those who do these things, live in the flesh, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. He is not just talking about God's kingdom after you die, he is talking about God’s Kingdom here on earth, his Kingdom that is present now! Living in the above is hell. It is a dark life style where manipulation, depression, greed, and abuse of self and others thrives. I have been there and spent way to many years living, no existing (as I was not truly alive) like this.
Paul goes on to say, that in contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (5:22) The Message Bible explains it this way, “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
When we surrender to and live our life led by the Holy Spirit, we don’t just exist, we live!! We get a taste of heaven. We experience light, hope, love, true friendships and find our true identity. We inherit and enter into the Kingdom of God on earth.
But, to enter into the Kingdom of God we have to leave our “kingdom” at the entrance gate. To be controlled by the Holy Spirit, requires us giving up our control. It requires going “all in” with God.
My family, I pray you desire the light of God’s kingdom enough to walk out of your kingdom. I pray you surrender to the Holy Spirit and want God to have total control of your life, Ijn Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Read Romans 8:1-17; Galatians. 5:16-25, John 1:11-13
Watch the attached video by Francis Chan. Then please add any reflections or thought you have, or any prayer requests on being led by the Spirit.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is present in each of us who through repentance and faith have been saved by Jesus Christ through the merits of his death, resurrection works on the cross. His presences in me is my only source of holiness. His indwelling in me is what allows me to hear from and experience God and Jesus in prayer and the searching of Scriptures. It is his presence in me that assures me of my salvation in In Jesus Christ.
Since I am Arminian in my soteriology (theology of salvation) and do not believe like my reformed brothers in predestination, that some are eternally chosen elect of God and some are eternally chosen as reprobate. And since I do not adhere to a “works” based salvation, where if my good deeds out weigh my sinful deeds I am saved, How could I ever truly be sure that I am in God’s grace? That my assurance was not of pride and arrogance given to me by my flesh, but by the workings of the Spirit inside me? It is through praying and reflecting on it, such assurance I immediately and directly perceive when my spiritual senses are rightly disposed. Then the Spirit of God witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God. And the testimonies and witnesses that I am a child of God and not a child of the devil I am able to see clearly. As John Wesley put it, “as you distinguish day from night.”
And that just as God did not remain distant from me, a completely heavenly being, but became incarnate so I may better understand and have a closer relationship with Him on earth, also now my assurance that I am pleasing in God’s sight is not something that can be confirmed only in heaven and realized on the last day when I discover if I was one of the elect or the reprobate, or if I completed enough good deeds to offset my sinful deeds. But my assurance I am saved is something that can be confirmed in me by the spirit of God in me and realized all the days of my life in this world, including today. For which I say, “Praise God!”
It is a holy presence in me that is more than a feeling. It is constant in me, at times even more so in the valleys of my life as in the mountain tops. And the Holy Spirit is constantly calling me into a deeper state of holiness, as he reveals to me areas in my life where I have not let his indwelling in me to enter into, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Through prayer and in the Spirit, I seek each day to be more Holy, more like Christ, a process we Wesleyans call Sanctification. Day by day we hope to become more sanctified, more set apart in Holiness for God, with the goal of complete sanctification. For me not to believe this is possible in my life today, and only after I am dead as some believe, would elevate sin above the merits of Christ on the Cross.
My family, Read Rom 8:1-17, 15:13; 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Eph. 3:14-21; 1 John 4:13-15. Spend time then in prayer and ask God’s Spirit to witness to your Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh in you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my freinds!
Please post any comments, questions or reflections you may have below.
Holy Spirit Come!
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Click on the link below and take 3 minutes to let the words of this song pour over and into you.
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:16) I love this passage of Scripture. It is one that we need to reminind ourselves of daily . When was the last time you prayed for the Holy Spirit to remind you that you are God’s son or daughter? When you fell in love with Jesus and trusted him as your Lord and savior, the Holy Spirit was poured into you. The Spirit of God totally transformed you spiritually and physically into a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17
Gen 1 describes the first (physical) creation. John 1 describes the new spiritual) creation. But this does not play into a false dichotomy between "physical" and "spiritual"; The first creation was both physical and spiritual. The new creation is really a re-creation, of the spiritual (first), but also the physical. In spite of John's "spiritual" emphasis, the "physical" re-creation should not be overlooked, and is something we often do. This is emphasized in John 2 with the changing of water into wine, in John 11 with the resurrection of Lazarus, and the emphasis of John 20-21 on the encounters, details and results of Jesus' own resurrection.
I think many in the church fail to embrace their complete adoption by God through the Spirit. They accept they are “saved” and a Christian but they never experience the fullness of their adoption. A child who is an orphan can get adopted by a family. They can sit through the adoption process, see the papers signed, and understand in their head they are no longer an orphan. However,, do they trully understand what the love of being part of a family is? No, that comes from experience, from time spent in the family. The child experiences it if their first, then all their birthdays with that family, when they prioritize them with a celebration of their life. They experience it when an orthodontist says it will be $5,000.00 for braces for them, and their parents do not hesitate to pay the money but do so telling the child they are worth it. The understand it later when the child now driving, gets in an accident and wrecks the family car; and no shame is directed towards them for wrecking the car, but joy and relief that they were not harmed. They feel it in the loving arms of their parents and kisses at night, and hear it in their prayers over them. The child at day one had a legal understanding they were adopted into a family, but fully understanding what a gift it is came after years of participating in the family.
Many people accept Christ, go through the Baptismal proceedings in a church, and walk away with the legal and head knowledge they are saved and adopted into the family of God, but unfortunately never experience the complete joy, love, hope, strength of that adoption, because they never place themselves daily in the embrace of their Father and never fully participate in the life of their church family. They go through life living as an orphan, secluded from the family, and their identity is that of an orphan.
My family, Read Romans 8:1-17 and John 14:15-20. Watch the short video I have attached on adoption by Francis Chan. Then take time to pray with the Holy Spirit over your identity and you adoption into the family of God. Reflect on how you are participating in and experiencing your gift of adoption. What are you missing out on? Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you to fuller participation in your salvation. Prayer for a more fuller understanding of your identity as a child of God, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
Please post your comments or reflections below,
Much love,
Gary
P.S: I am so glad you are part of my family!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, In the early morning I begin my day by seeking your Spirits presence to continue doing a new work in me..
Yesterday,, I looked at the Holy Spirit proceeding from God, being completely God, and yet part of the triune of God. Today I also look at Jesus as a source from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds.
The incarnation of Christ was the act of deity taking on flesh and entering into community, entering into the neighborhood with men and women and journeying in life with them. It was a relational move by God in which inaccessible, intangible divinity became accessible, real, and tangible, in the everyday life of humanity. God changed forever the way He would be encountered from an exclusive “temple” based “you must come to me” to an inclusive “personal” based “I will come to you” reality. God moved from leading His people from a distance through the exhortation of prophets and words carved in stone, to leading by example through personal discipleship in the Word made flesh.
It’s the Holy Spirit that makes anything resembling Jesus’ incaractional living possible in me. For it is the penetration and presence of the Holy Spirit in my being that is my incarnation. Any hope I have of my life imitating Jesus’ life in character, love, submission, mission, ministry, and power completely depends on the indwelling of Him in me through His spirit.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I must continue to prioritize and set aside time to take in deep breaths of His spirit. I must keep as a priority to continue pushing deeper into the Holy Spirit and seeking His indwelling both individually in my life, and collectively in the life of my church., as if my life and the life of his church I am trying to establish on earth completely depends on it. Because it does!
John the Baptist says Jesus baptism will be one the Holy Spirit and fire, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11) Luke tells us the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was as fire, “And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Read today, Matt 3:11; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; John 4:14, 20:21-22; Acts 2:1-3.
My family, Pray for Jesus to give you the renewed life-giving breath of the Spirit today. Set aside time to breath it in. As you breath it in, I pray that like a breath blowing over warm coals, the breath of the Spirit rekindles a fire of passion in you. A burning of the first love you had in Christ. (Rev. 2:4). May a flame of compassion consume you for your brothers and sisters around you who’s coals are dark and cold so that you actually hold out to them the light of the Gospel, the spark to create a fire in them. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
In the comments block below, Please share any prayer requests for a renewing breath of Christ’s Spirit. Please share any stories of renewal to give us hope and reasons to praise.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
