Sugarcoated Gospel 12-3-10

Josiah Elias

12-3-10

Sugarcoated Gospel

If we don't make the decision to take seriously the word of God and what He has commanded us to do, we will never go much further than what we see right here. This will be it. There are many many black and white points in the Bible that we all claim to believe yet cannot get ourselves to abide by. This is dangerous because it leaves us at a place where we think we're ok, when truthfully we're not.

The people that we love really need to hear the raw truth of the Gospel and not have it sugarcoated to make it seem like it says what we all want it to say. Some of us don't want to change certain things, so we abuse grace and mercy to make us feel better about our blatant sins.

Lets make sure we understand one concept that's vital for us to know as believers. Its the fact that when we ask Christ into our life, we literally become a son and daughter of the King and therefore are receive an inheritance. We literally become heirs to the throne.

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Gal 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

LITERALLY AN INHERITOR OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GODS BECOMES YOURS WHEN YOU BECOME A SON! You are grafted into the family! Everything then belongs to you! You become worthy of an inheritance.

Keep that in mind.

Now read this knowing that you have an inheritance in Christ when you are in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident (shining, manifest), which are;

adultery,-Jesus said that if you even look at a woman to lust after her, than you Fornication,-Sexual relations with someone other than your spouse.

uncleanness,-Impurity, physically or morally.

Lewdness,-To be sexually unrestrained, vulgar, vile, wickedness.

Gal 5:20 idolatry,-Worship to a heathen God. In essence worship directed towards anything other than Yahweh.

Sorcery,-Witchcraft.

Hatred,-Hostility, to hate.

Contentions,-A struggling together in opposition, strife, fighting.

Jealousies,-To be hot, to boil, to glow, to be jealous, envy. 

outbursts of wrath,-passion, to blow smoke, indignation, strong stern fierce anger.

selfish ambitions (strife),-to stimulate to anger, or provoke to anger.

Dissensions,-Disunion,division, strong disagreements.

Heresies,-A belief or doctrine contrary to the accepted doctrine of a faith.

Gal 5:21 envy,-Ill will, jealousy, spite.

Murders,- The killing of another human being.

Drunkenness,-Being intoxicated, Getting Drunk.

Revelries,- To lie or stretch the truth, also rioting.

and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is a whole list that I'm sure a bunch of us, fit into some of these issues or perhaps more than one. Its funny to find drunkenness right next to murders. They are in the same category! We think that if we don't murder we're good, cause only the really bad people do that, but we don't think twice sometimes about getting drunk. Or being jealous so that it fuels our anger, our hatred, causing dissension, or having sex outside of marriage.

SOMEONE HAS TO TELL YOU THAT, IF YOU CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THESE THINGS YOU ARE SOOOO WRONG AND YOUR SOUL IS LITERALLY NOT OK.

This is pretty black and white. Those who practice such things will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. You cannot continually practice these things and think that you are fine?! DECEIVED IS WHAT YOU ARE! I know its pretty tough to hear these words, but the truth, somebody had to tell me, and somebody has to tell you...the truth.

We tend to get ourselves in a place of justifying our sin. If you've been a Christian any length of time, you'll know what I'm saying when I say we justify our sin. Make it seem like its not as bad we others, or not as bad as we've been in the past so therefore its not so bad.

DON'T JUSTIFY YOUR SIN! GET RID OF IT! Every little thing. Get rid of it. You know that it wasn't that long ago, that if somebody found out that you were messing around with another boy or girl sexually, that they would literally treat you different. You were like an outcast. That was a huge no go! People would see you so differently. Now I'm not saying that the way they necessarily see you is correct, but there was this standard of holiness that they were shooting for and when people fell short of it, that was a big deal because holiness was so vital!

1Pe 1:16 because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Blam! Right there, no way around it! We're going to make mistakes and God knows that, that's why His mercy endures forever, and He is so incredibly gracious! But we have to be striving for holiness! Striving to be like him, not playing this game that makes us thing that we are OK with God cause we come to church on Wednesday or Sunday, nothing changes throughout the week and we have a tragic accident and slip away into eternity in the flames of hell! It happens all the time. The high school in Poway has literally several students that have died way before their time. Way before they ever thought that their lives would end so suddenly.

It doesn't always work out the way we plan. So many people plan to mess around during high school, have a wild college, than settle down when their in their 30's and do the whole God thing and get married...it doesn't always end out that way. Don't take the chance.

I hope this strikes some fear in your heart to want to be right before God.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It should be a dramatic benefit that we have other Christian, Godly people in this house to help each other out! We need this! But what good is it, if your Christian friends will only give you the same advice as your worldly friends? When your friends are struggling in here, we should be pointing them to God first and foremost! Above anything else! Let me just tell you from experience, when you invite God into the situation, He takes care of so much more than you could on your own.

Sometimes we don't need a shoulder to cry on because our boyfriend broke up with us, we need a slap in the face that tells us to get our act together and stop dating around with dumb guys that are gonna just try to have sex with you. Not saying that that's how we should deal with everybody every time, but you know what, it would do us more good sometimes to get smacked up and told right to our faces that we are wrong, or deceived than to be babied and patted on the back being told that everything’s gonna be ok.

If your thinking that right now that this is the worst blog you've ever read and who am I to talk to you like this, its probably cause your the one who's struggling with these things, and that's the rebellion within you rising up that needs to be cast out and replaced with the Holy Spirit. Someones gotta say it...I can do it as well as the next guy. The people who get upset with a message like this are the people who really need to hear it. Need to go ahead and get mad that someone is telling you, your wrong and messed up and need to change, than go home all upset and let this sink into your heart. Just maybe you'll start to question yourself and wonder, what if he's right...what if I think I'm ok with God, but I'm on the fast track to eternity with out Christ. Then you'll be coming back thanking God that someone had the gull to stand up here in front of you and tell you to get your act together.

Mat 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!(worthless)' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool(dull, stupid)!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

Mat 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Mat 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mat 5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Mat 5:26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Mat 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.'

Mat 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Mat 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Mat 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Jesus takes it to the extremes in this packages. It doesn't seem like he's playing a game, obviously He doesn't mean what He's saying here literally...but in a sense there is a very firm command here. Why do we take it so lightly. Don't make the mistake of taking it lightly any longer.

If the people who already regularly attend church really got saved, than we would have a massive revival right here right now. With the people who already attend church regularly having a revelation of their souls status with the Lord.

Don't sugarcoat the Gospel. Take it for what it says, and don't let what everybody else is doing just take the kick out of it and make you think that things are ok when their not. Its time to get your hearts right.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Its because we love people why we preach to them, Jesus. The Truth.

Josiah Elias

~Revival SD~

Against Our Own 11-22-10

Josiah Elias

11-22-10

Against Our Own

I was driving down the freeway the other day, pondering some of the things that have been happening in the lives of those around me. So much drama, complaining, fighting, disagreements, depression, sickness and it seems like the breakthrough was just out of reach. It's not that there was anything so drastic that it was life threatening or devastating but just these obstacles standing in the way of so many people and they were reaching out for help. The more I began to ponder on what was going on in these situations I realized that just about everything appeared to be within our control. Something that could have been prevented if the individuals involved would have just practiced some self control or integrity. As I continued to ponder this, the Lord showed me something about tactics God had used in the Bible to fight the enemies of the Israelites. I shared this lesson with the Sunday Night service last night but I felt compelled to get it out to as many people as possible and because I still feel like its the word of the Lord and that it still needs to be spread. I heard that other pastors and guest speakers are sharing the same message. So clearly its a word to the church in general. Hear it. Now Let me break down for you this tactic I'm talking about.

Here is Gideon after he has rid himself of 10's of thousands of soldiers to a measly 300 and they are supposed to fight off the Midianites who have well over 120,000 soldiers. This was their tactic.

Jdg 7:20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!"

Jdg 7:21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.

Jdg 7:22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

Now did Gideon and his 300 strike down over 120,000 with their swords or not? Technically no. What God did was created this confusion amongst the camp of the Midianites and they started killing each other off! They turned their swords on themselves. Self-Destructive you might say. Here's another account.

This is Jonathan and his armor bearer charging up a mountain to fight the Philistines; which is one of my favorite stories in the Bible! They go up and began to take on this army by themselves and then Saul finally catches wind that his men have attacked the Philistines (Jonathan & the armor bearer) and he goes up after them to start fighting and this is what happens.

1Sa 14:20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man's sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.

Again, we find the same tactic. God is not using only the sword of Jonathan to destroy all the Philistines rather He's turned the swords of the Philistines against themselves as they begin to destroy each other. The Lord brought confusion amongst them and they fought against themselves. God even said He would do the same thing with the Egyptians.

Isa 19:2 "I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

We see now that there is a reoccurring tactic the Lord is using to destroy the enemies of Israel. Now hold onto that thought for just a brief minute.

The devil does not have the ability to create. He mimics and perverts what has already been created. The ideas and concepts of God, the devil takes them, perverts them and utilizes them to come against the Kingdom of Heaven. Fortune telling is a perversion of the prophetic, healing ointments and other mental meditations for healing are a perversion of the gifts of healing. Love which IS God has been perverted to a lustful cheap thrill, drunkenness on alcohol is a perversion of drunkenness in the Holy Spirit. All of these things and much more were originally created for blessing and enjoyment, and usefulness with God at its center. However, the devil will do everything he can to pervert them and use these tactics to his advantage.

Now back to the topic at hand. Remember the tactic the Lord was using to destroy the enemies of Israel, the devil has taken this very tactic and brought it into the church. Allow me to explain.

When we as believers have these fights amongst ourselves, it is literally in the spirit, bringing our swords out to fight amongst our own camp. My gossip, is a sword swinging at my brother or sister. My attitude towards my leadership, are swords flying towards my own camp. The rumors I spread, yup swords. You can paint the picture however you like, whenever there is unresolved disagreements in the family of the church it quite literally it us fighting against ourselves. Turning our swords on our neighbors.

The reason why I want you to be aware of this is because the enemy could be using this tactic to create strife and division amongst each other here and if we're not careful and don't recognize what the enemy is trying to do than his trickery ultimately destroy us. We cannot let this happen. It may not literally destroy us, but it can certainly prolong what God is intending for us to move into spiritually as a body.

Understand this. When you have an issue with someone else in the church, the issues between the two of you doesn't just involve the two of you. Fact is, your conflict affects the entire body! Why is this? When you chose to be a Christian, you became adopted into a FAMILY!

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

As a family, we move together as unit, everywhere that we go. So when there is division or strife amongst the family, the whole bunch comes to a hault until that issue is resolved. The mouth is a sword. This is the most common way we bring the sword upon our own.

Isa 49:2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me."

One more thought for you to chew on.

Sometimes we turn the sword on our own companions and we don't even realize it. We're so oblivious to how we treat people that we don't understand that we are slowing down the progression of the entire church with our mindless gossip and other silly offenses. This needs to simply be highlighted to you so that it can be eradicated. You can do one of two things or preferably both. You can ask the Lord to show you what faults you have in this area and I'm sure that He will be happy to reveal them to you. Then you will be faced with the responsibility to do something about the way you have been acting. Don't be offended, swallow the pride just for a moment and tell the Lord thank you for revealing this to you so that the whole body can proceed forward with what He has in store for us all. Its so worth it. The second thing you can do is to ask someone within the church whom you trust and respect to honestly tell you if you struggle with this problem. Now brace yourself, you may hear something you don't necessarily want to hear; but again its so necessary to get this issue uprooted.

Here is what Jesus has to say on the topic.

Mat 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.'

Mat 18:17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Jesus is basically saying that if you have a problem with a brother in the Lord then go to him and try to resolve it. If he won't listen, do everything you can to bring reconciliation! Bring in some others to talk with him, bring in the church to talk with him! Do whatever it takes to make things right! Why is this so important Jesus? The following verses gives us a hint as to why its so vital.

Mat 18:18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Mat 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Interesting that in verse 18 which we quote so often because the idea of it so cool. We pray all the time, “YES GOD WE JUST BIND THIS SPIRIT, & WE BIND THIS AND THAT IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND WE LOOSE THE KINGDOM IN THIS SITUATION, WE LOOSE MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS!” Then we sit back and wonder why we don't see any manifestation of everything we just supposedly bound, and loosed. I wonder why? Is it perhaps that because we have not done what Jesus said to do in the previous scriptures! If we haven't reconciled our issues with our brothers and sisters, maybe that offense that we are still carrying negates the authority to bind and loose things that we should be able to. That offense, that unresolved issue, that sword that we have brought against our own camp hinders the moving of the Spirit of God in your life, it clogs the direct access to the authority promised you simply because we cannot reconcile. Again in verse 19 we wonder why when two of us agree on anything then it should be done for us by the Father in heaven, and when it doesn't happen we just think, “awee this doesn't work! This promise is broken!” Not so. The sword turned against your own brother because you can't stop talking trash about him, complaining about him, whining about her, spreading rumors about your friends, talking behind their backs is hindering your breakthroughs. Not just for you BUT FOR THE ENTIRE BODY YOU ARE ATTACHED TO!

Now I'm not saying that this principle is an absolute and that God isn't Sovereign and can't do anything He pleases. I know many times He sovereignly blesses us and extends grace and mercy and still pours out His Spirit upon us because He is longsuffering and patient. But the idea is very biblical and clearly an issue that needs to be overcome in today's church if we are to move on.

Please take an inventory of your life and see if this is something that needs to be cleared out of your own heart. I beg you don't be selfish and carry that offense, because you are hindering the rest of us in this family from receiving what the Lord wants to do in our church and circle of friends. When we can overcome this, honor each other, respect one another, and LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST COMMANDED, I believe we will see such an easy flowing of the Spirit of God in our midst. We won't have to pray for hours to see it, we won't have to fast for months to receive it. The presence and power of God will be heavy and near with nothing clogging or hindering it. Then there will be such a release of the Glory of God in our midst we will be progressing to the next level in the Spirit that God has for us to obtain as a family and WOW do I want to be there!

Thank You Jesus. That you offend our minds to pierce our hearts! We have to be broken so that we can be put back together again. Our hearts desire is to be blameless before You God. Please help us Holy Spirit to be exactly that, blameless. May this shift happen within our church and bring about a mighty outpouring in Jesus name, amen.

So Much Love For You All,

Josiah Elias

~Revival SD~

We Need His Eyes 11-17-10

Josiah Elias

11-17-10

We Need His Eyes

I wonder how we really see people in life. When we go through our day certainly we see a lot of people but what do we really see? Male, female, white, black, tall, short, fat, skinny, druggy, middle-class, upper-class, poor, rich, snobby, cares what people think, doesn't care what anyone thinks etc. Most of which is probably stereotypes anyways. We see a lot of people with our eyes, but we certainly don't often see them with our heart, or as I would like to say, “Through His Eyes”. Jesus saw people with a perspective that nobody else has ever seen people through. Simply because Jesus had such an intimate relationship with the Father, He would see people through the eyes of the Father. When everybody else saw loser, He saw winner. When they thought scum of the earth, He thought royalty. But why is it so difficult for us to do the same thing?

My goal in this blog is not to only get you thinking about how you see people, but to allow this perspective to provoke you to do something about how you interact with people. Apparently in many of our lives our own pride and fear overrides how we care for people. Its not supposed to be that way. But the fact of the matter is it does much of the time and that's a sorry fact. I see people who are lost and going to hell and my heart goes out to them, I want to reach out to them. I see toddlers with diseases or youth with health conditions and I know in my inner man that I should be able to do something about this! Not because I'm anything great, but because Christ me is GREAT!

Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

When I look at the life of Christ and what He has commanded us to do, I see no excuse for not making an effort to share this love with those around us. We all know that we need to do it but rarely do we act on that conviction. THAT IS A PROBLEM! I know that in my own life, this problem is going to cease and I'm going to make a great effort to see people through His eyes; allowing that to motivate me to reach out to them. We can all probably quote the Great Commission off the top of our heads, but only a few of us could say truthfully that we are living the Great Commission daily. Doesn't this convict you? It convicts me even writing this. Things have got to change Christians!

Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

I have a friend who goes out and preaches every single day! He is radical in how he delivers the gospel fearlessly to literally 10's of thousands of people in the streets all the time. He gave me this analogy. “You see Josiah, its like these people are drowning and I carry a life-vest. Or their in a burning building and I have the capability to rescue them...they are lost and dying and I have the answer to life. If there was somebody physically dying right before our eyes, we would do everything in our power to save that person, when spiritually we know that they are lost and dying and we carry LIFE everywhere that we go and yet we don't utilize the spiritual life-vests that God has given us.” Tragic. People have told this friend of mine that if he was in another country he would be dead by now for sure, yet we in America are so blessed to be protected by the 1st amendment rights that we so rarely utilize. Who knows how long it will be before those rights are stripped from us and sharing our faith in this country will become increasingly more difficult. When that happens we're really going to be regretting the fact that we didn't take advantage of the rights we had as U.S. Citizens to share our faith publicly while they were available.

Mar 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

In order for the Lord to work with them, and to confirm the word through the accompanying signs, they had to go out and preach everywhere! It was when they were faithful to go out and preach the gospel that the Lord obviously supported what they were doing with signs, wonders, and miracles! Therefore, people were getting saved left and right and being delivered from all kinds of oppression! We simply cannot let our pride or fear override our love for the lost and the desire within us to reach lost souls for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sure they thought John the Baptist was a freak but look what he did for the Kingdom of Heaven. He preached a radical message that nobody had preached before him. He prepared the way for Jesus! What an honor!

Mat 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mat 3:2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Mat 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.' "

BEFORE I SHARE ANY MORE...ANSWER THIS QUESTION TO YOURSELF. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE JESUS? YES OR NO? Now read on...

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Mat 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Mat 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Luk 8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him.

Luk 9:6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

That's just a few. That's what Jesus did. Who can argue it? What about the apostles???

Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Act 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Act 8:25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Act 10:36  The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

Act 11:20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Act 14:7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

Act 14:8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

Act 14:9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

Act 14:10 said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.

Act 15:35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Are we getting the picture yet?

Act 28:30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,

  Act 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Tit 1:3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

We can sit here and dish our scriptures on the importance of doing this, but for some reason today's church has this blockage that just seems to subconsciously discard this command and think that we're okay without it. Or perhaps that someone else will do it, but its not for me. WRONG! This is why its so important to see people through His eyes. When we can learn to see people from His perspective and care for them and love them, we are fulfilling His commandment to love one another and sharing of our faith will follow.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Joh 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

See them the way Christ see's them and we will be moved with compassion to want to throw them the life-vest that each of us Christians carry. We will be provoked to reach out to those around us. But something has to rise up within us that says “THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW IS NOT RIGHT AND SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE; STARTING WITH ME!” You can change the way you think right now and simply ask the Lord to give you His eyes! Its a prayer I'm convinced He's been waiting for us to pray. Be careful however, if you pray the prayer than you will be saying to God that you are willing to see people the way He see's them and not just to see them, but to be challenged to do something about it. When you leave your house and you begin going out to run errands or go to school or work, you will begin seeing people differently. This will challenge you to do something with your new perspective on people. Don't just pray the prayer because you know its the right thing to do, pray the prayer when you truly want to live your life a little bit more like Jesus. When we can see people the way that He see's them, we will be moved with compassion to reach out everywhere we go and within our families. Let it start with you. Time is running out.

God, Give Us Your Eyes.

Josiah Elias

~Revival SD~