Monday, October 17, 2011

Assurance


For all of us who have been born again and our completely leaning on Jesus we find that in our discovery of him and in our desire to know him more we tend to learn towards different lanes in Christianity and focus on them. For me as most of you know theology, the concepts of faith, and Christian education, how do you grow a church & minister to the people of the church, have been my two main focuses on this journey. In this blog I want to share with you something that was reveled to me through the preaching of the word to encourage you in your faith because I know that we all go through tough times and we need to be reminded of the faith that is assured in the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This year has had its difficulties for sure at one point I was apart of two ministries and had to leave them, I moved back to St. Louis from Kansas city leaving behind a lot of good relationships, some of my friendships that I have had ended and for several months I was unemployed living off of the Grace of Gods blessings to my grandparents. When you look at all of the transitions that I have been forced into some people ask me “how did you make it” and I have to say at times I didn’t think the sun would shine again but I was never doubted that Jesus was the captain of my ship and designer of my destiny. For that I am thankful that God has given me a strong self constitution because when trouble comes and ,it will , I have been blessed to always know who is in charge and thankfully God has created a spot in my heart from past tragedies’ that has given me the strength to know that my redeemer lives. I want to encourage you that God can do anything but fail.
When I look at the ministries that I had to leave I realize that I learned a lot about the next ministries that I will be apart of and how to deal with myself around people and how to deal with Christians in the church and non Christians in the church. The most important thing I gained from the lost of those ministries is that your cant love people more than God. You can want what is best for people but you have to let God love them and change them and help them to grow. Don’t move from your convictions, stay with what you know and what you have been educated to know but the most important thing about ministry is to Love God and to worship him and in doing that the emotions of loving people will be balanced because if there comes a time when you have to leave, your feeling wont get bruised and you wont leave with hate in your heart for people and disappointment with yourself. So love God and worship him fully and don’t worry about the church critics, you just stay focused on Loving Jesus with your whole heart.
In moving back to St. Louis I was discouraged because I thought I had failed personally by coming back here but what I realized is that in a time of being by myself I have learned a lot about myself. And I know that God has great plans for me, so the transition has been “soul opening” because I have been able to spend a lot of time with my grandparents and mother and that has been priceless. Also in losing some relationships with people I know that some people are only meant to be here for a season, you cant get mad at people if they have to go for whatever reason and even if they cant say goodbye because here is the thing there is a reason their not going to be in your future because God is trying to get you somewhere and there presence is not going to help elevate you to where you need to go. So don’t be angry or upset with them just remember that your process is progress and the master is trying to make you into gold.
The book of Revelation is a powerful book because it deals with so many issues prophecy, theology depicted from the apostle John descriptions, revelations of the beast or the Antichrist figure energized by Satan and so many other important things. But for me recently I was encouraged by the preaching of the word when it comes to Revelation 19:1-8 read this:
The Sound of Hallelujahs
I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing, Hallelujah! The salvation and glory and power are God's his judgments true, his judgments just. He judged the great Whore who corrupted the earth with her lust. He avenged on her the blood of his servants. Then, more singing: Hallelujah! The smoke from her burning billows up to high Heaven forever and ever and ever. The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising, Amen! Yes! Hallelujah! From the Throne came a shout, a command:
Praise our God, all you his servants, all you who fear him, small and great! Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, and the sound of strong thunder: Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, and let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb has come; his Wife has made herself ready. She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

Beloved the beauty of the verse is that depicts those who are in heaven now. It gives you a front row seat those who are in the full presences of God now. They have no more suffering and no more pain. They have seen him with their own eyes and are experiencing him forever in eternity fully justified, fully sanctified and fully perfect. So what we must get out of this verse is this: Jesus Christ reigns for all of eternity as the Only True Everlasting God. What this does for you now here on earth is gives you complete reassurance that your troubles are not in vain. That your struggle will end in victory if you continue to trust God with you whole life and being. Even if the ship is sinking in your life be assured that one day you will see him for yourself if you don’t faint or give up. So hold on. Praise him, sing Hallelujah and make it the anthem of your soul because you win. Yes you are going to have many problems on this side of heaven and God is not going to bail you out of all of them because there are lessons in all of them but one day you will be with those who have made it to the shore praising and lifting Him up for all eternity. So when you’re pissed about life- Hold on. When your heart is broken- Hold on. When your kids are making you crazy and your money isn’t right- Hold on. When your family is driving you nuts- Hold on. When a love one is sick- Hold on. No matter what hold on because victory is coming and we have the facts right here in this verse that one day you and me and all those who hold on to our faith will see him. Jesus Christ reigns for all eternity- That is your assurance and the anthem of your soul. Be encouraged Beloved!!!