REFRESH YOUR HARD DRIVE - Guest Pastor Jeff Jones

 

 

 

REFRESH YOUR HARD DRIVE

Guest - Pastor Jeff Jones

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2 NKJV
 

Don’t you hate it when negative thinking throws in you a funk?

 

When you think you can’t change, or that your circumstances will never change—that you are stuck in a rut?

That’s such a lie from the enemy. You see God has given us the ability to see some pretty dramatic changes in our lives if we’re willing to trust Him. Did you know that it takes faith to change? It takes faith to change the way you see yourself, change your circumstances, or even point the needle of your life in the right direction.

Thankfully the Bible promises us that with God all things are possible, all things are subject to change if we are willing to do what it takes to change.  I bet you’re already thinking that I’m about to tell you that it all starts in your heart, but you’d be wrong.

 

Actually real lasting change doesn’t start in the heart; it starts in your head, with your thinking.

There are a lot of things in my heart that I’d like to see change, but that’s not enough. For real change to occur, it’s got to move from our heart to our heads, and then ultimately to our actions. But if we never see ourselves changing, we’ll never change.

That’s where God comes in. He just told us that it’s possible to have our minds renewed to His word, to His promises of what our lives could look like.

I have to admit that one of my favorite passages in all of scripture is found in Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be light a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. 

It’s such a possibility filled passage. It paints an amazing picture of what’s possible to us if we take God’s promises beyond our hearts and get them into our heads, and think about them day and night.

It’s the same thing that God told Joshua when if needed to change His thinking, and the thinking of the entire population of Israel in Joshua 1:8

This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Eastern mysticism sees meditation as the emptying of yourself and then allowing random thoughts to come as you recite a certain mantra. But that’s NOT Biblical meditation.

 

To meditate God’s way is learning to replace thoughts of failure, inadequacies, or whatever negative junk is roaming around that head of yours, and replacing it with thoughts that are aligned with God’s promises. In Joshua’s case, he faced tremendous fear because God told him to mediate on being strong and courageous.

What about you? What promises of God do you need to be mediating, or thinking about day and night? Is it time to resurrect that dream you’ve put on the shelf? What do you need to do to get out of that rut?

 

It’s time to change your thought life, it’s time to refresh the hard drive of your mind and see yourself in a new light—the light of God’s promises. It’s time for you to fulfill God’s will for your life!

Prayer: "Father, I believe that You have a great plan for my life. I’m choosing now to stop all the negative thinking and start reprogramming my mind to Your promises. Great changes are coming my way as I align my thinking with Yours. In Jesus' Name. Amen." 

 Pastor Jeff Jones

 

God Has a Great Plan for Your Life

 

The High Priest by Guest - Rod Parsley

 

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. — Hebrews 9:12

Once a year the High Priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the Israelites. The High Priest set aside his robe and jeweled ephod when he went before God. He wore only a simple linen garment.

Jesus, is the High Priest of the new covenant, laid aside His glory and was utterly forsaken by God

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Humbled and alone, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies and applied His own Holy blood to the mercy seat.

The death of Jesus on the Cross was the final sacrifice for sin. He has broken forever the powerful hold of Satan over man!

Revelation 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

You do not have to submit to the works of your adversary. Your High Priest willingly shed His blood so you could be free

John 10:18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil

1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Christ in you is greater than the adversary in the world

1 John 4:4 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.

So you can live today in victory, overcoming every attack of the enemy.

Prayer starter:

Jesus, I am an overcomer in You.  I declare that in
Your strength, I will overcome every temptation,
weakness, and bondage. I will walk
in Your victory.  Amen.

 

The Path to Joy by Guest - R.T. Kendall

 

 

 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

may your Holy Spirit lead me on level ground. —Psalm 143:10

Nearly every person God uses a great deal - - has broken through the betrayal barrier before they were mightily used. It is not in the pulpit or on a stage or being seen by thousands when you break the betrayal barrier.

It is what happens when you are alone. It happens when you have nobody to comfort you, when you are being misunderstood, when people are pointing the finger at you, when everything seems to go wrong, and yet you say, "Yes, Lord."

Here's how you can break through the betrayal barrier:

1. Affirm from your heart that what is happening is God's idea. What is designed to get your attention may be a turnoff, yes, but it is God's idea to do it this way.

2. Realize this is possibly the greatest opportunity you will ever have to know Him intimately.

3. Pray more than ever. Spend every minute you can in secret with Him without the television on or people interrupting you. I don't mean for you to become a recluse or retreat into a monastery, but seek Him with all your heart.

4. Walk in the light God gives you. Confess any sin God brings to your attention. Accept any form of new obedience He puts before you.

A person may be in the spotlight before thousands or behind the scenes as a quiet, self-effacing intercessor. In either case, such a vessel of the Holy Spirit will have had to discover God for himself or herself during the hardest of times.

This is so that you will believe in God even if nobody else does. To discover God for yourself means that you believe the Bible and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead even if your hero or mentor denies the faith.

And what brings about this kind of maturity is breaking the betrayal barrier. This is the path to pure joy.

Excerpted from Pure Joy (Charisma House, 2006).

 

 

Unstoppable Believers

 

Today I visited the Palermo Bible Family Church where Pastor Michael Jacobsen gave the Sunday Sermon taken from Acts 5:17-33 

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people, and the Priests and church leaders were moved with anger and shut them up in the prison.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

The next morning the officers reported; “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” One came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.  And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

The apostles were bold in their defiance to preach and teach about Christ Jesus.

Here in America we have freedom to carry our Bible and speak about our faith.  In other lands over 160,000 Christians and many Preachers have been murdered for their faith in Jesus.

“You can count on me” said Peter to Jesus, but shortly afterwards he denied Christ three times.  After Jesus was crucified the disciples were humiliated and hiding in fear.

After Pentecost they became BOLD in defiance, BOLD in their verbal witness, and BOLD in their lives in a new way of living.

Question:  Would you go to jail for your faith?  Think about it and be honest.

Here in America, slowly our freedom is being taken from us.  We are being stripped of our Christian heritage.  No longer is the Bible and prayer in our schools.  Yet other religions are being taught there.

Pastor gave an illustration of a teacher wearing a shirt with Christian words.  The principal told him to remove his shirt and never wear it again at school.  The teacher said, there are others who wear shirts with profanity and dirty words propagating evil.  Until you tell them to remove their shirts, I will continue to wear mine. 

Jesus told us to Love God with all our hearts and to love people.  We must not shut up our bowels of compassion.  This is what I believe and thus is what I will do.

Question:  Will you share your faith in Christ? 

God arranges for us Devine appointments for us to witness.  God will take situations and turn them into opportunities.  Everything that happens is God ordained.

There was a man called by God to preach.  He hesitated.  God said, you were not my first choice.  God continued, you were not my second or third choice.  The man said, I may not be your first, second or third choice, but I will go and preach. 

May we all be as these disciples; an Unstoppable and Bold believer.

 

 

Healing Room Experience

 

The auditorium to pray and meditate after visiting the Healing Room
Three artists are painting in the center of the circle

Healing Room Experience

 

Arriving at the Bethel Church, Redding, California at 8:00 am, my daughter Judie and I were given a registration form requesting information, and to itemize what was it we wanted Jesus to do for us today.

Soon a lady asked a group of us to follow her down a hallway and take seats along the wall.  She encouraged us to understand that it is God’s will that we be well and in health.  She was led by the Holy Spirit to ask of anyone had back problems, to raise their hands.  Several hands went up and she invited Jesus to come and minister to them and to us today. She prayed over a few and soon she asked our group to follow her to several small class rooms. 

A minister stood at the front of the class room and gave us scriptures about Jesus teaching, preaching and healing the sick.  She reminded us that Jesus is present with us today and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

After the short teaching on Scriptural healing, we were escorted into a large room, where music was playing.  A gentleman called a number that was on our registration form, and a group of us followed a lady into an encounter room.  We were requested to take seats along the wall. 

We could view many in the center of this room, being ministered to.  As we sat waiting, a minister would approach, and not necessarily in order, would select a person that God was showing them.  My daughter was chosen and I waited as others were taken first. 

Soon a man in his mid 40’s came to me and invited me into the healing center of the room.  A second gentleman joined us, and I was told to wait for one more team member which was a young oriental girl. 

 

On my registration, I had listed three things I needed:  1. Healing for my deaf ears as the nerves were damaged from Bronchitis attacks.  2. Direction as I am leaving my traditional formal church, and 3. My hair is thinning. 

The gentleman, stated that they would be laying hands on me, and was I alright with that?  I said, "Absolutely."

The girl took my hand, and the men held their hands close but not touching my ears.  At that time, I can’t say I felt any change, but I did feel God’s touch.  They spoke life to my body and to my ears and hair.  I shared that my church asked me to stop all verbal witnessing and to write it out.  The Gentleman looked at me and said, “Sister you have a voice to speak and I proclaim a door of utterance to open for you.” 

As I considered this room, I thought three team members was wise, safe and beneficial to all who were being ministered to.  I thanked them for their ministry and hugged the girl.  I was told to find my way to the auditorium where seating had been arranged in circles.  My daughter was resting stretched out on some chairs, so I took a seat next to her. 

Sample Painting in the main room

As the music played, there were artists in the middle of the room, painting as they prayed.  Most of the art was in abstract form.  People were sitting here and there meditating about their experience in the healing room.

Along the wall was a short set of bleachers, and I could see several women writing on note pads.  Soon one of the women came to my daughter and set down a hand written prophesy or word of knowledge for her.  It assured her that she was not alone and that Jesus had been with her as a little child and loved her deeply. 

 

Judie was resting in the Lord, so I prayed and waited.  Soon I was visited by one of the ladies and given a chalk drawing of blue water coming from above into a pool where orange lilies were growing.  She read from the back of the art, “The season of refreshing waters is now straight from His throne, splashing into a pool of living water, Life, Life, Life; Growth, Growth, Growth.  The peace lily painted in orange represents His Peace, His Passion, His Presence for you.”

I thanked her and told her, “I receive that.”  I folded it up and put it into my purse. 

Another girl came up to me and handed me a drawing of a blond girl with hands raised, a crown on her head and a red heart on her dress.  She had written a prophetic word, “You are His Princess. Shining in dark places.  You make Him so happy every day!  You delight in Him and He in you.  There’s nothing more you can ever do. ♥ Cause he loves you!  You have a heart for his lost children.”  I thanked her and blessed her. 

I was still sitting and holding this piece of paper, when another lady came and sat on my right.  She said, “I see you already have one, But God is telling me to share this with you.”  She handed me a half sheet with a large apple she had drawn.  She asked my name, and I told her “Hazel.” She added my name to the prophetic word, and then read it to me, “You’ve been picked by the Master’s hand.  You bring the Father so much Joy and Sweetness, Hazel.”

I was so triple blessed to receive these three hand written drawings and the kind words that caused me to sense the Lord’s approval on my life.

Taken from the Church web site:  http://bethelredding.com/ministries/healing-rooms

We at Bethel Church, exist to glorify Jesus Christ through physical healing ministry

The Healing Rooms is a ministry that is pursuing the Holy Spirit and His healing power. We are creating a place for Him to bring life, wholeness and love to those who are suffering from physical ailments. It is a place where passionate, joy-filled believers gather to host the presence of God and see Him bring complete restoration and healing.

All are welcome and there is no cost. Those who wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Bethel Healing Rooms may do so at one of our offering boxes.

Due to the high demand for our ministry, our focus is not on emotional healing or spiritual deliverance. For these please contact Bethel's Transformation Center. We do not take prayer requests over email, but if you want to connect with a pastor to pray with you over the phone, click here. You may also receive Skype prayer from the Healing Rooms on Saturday mornings.

What your Saturday in the Healing Rooms will look like:

1.            Register in the South Lobby of Bethel Church between 9:00 and 10:30 AM on any Saturday.   Here you will meet a host who will escort your group through the following stages:

2.             Encountering the Healer - this is a group experience in the East/West Fellowship Room

3.             Worship and experience God's presence in the Encounter Room until your group is called

4.           Receive prayer from one of our teams in the Healing Room

5.           Attend the 30 minute "Walking in God's Best for Your Health" in the East/West Room

Jesus Laughs at the critics.

 

Some ask, "Is Bethel Church, Redding, California a danger to your spirituality?"

 

I can see Jesus laughing at some who doubt that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

  

I realize that many “Traditional churches” do not agree with the ministry at Bethel Church and other ministries like them.  Their criticism is that Bethel is teaching false doctrine but I wonder if anyone is being saved, healed, and delivered at the critic’s non-believing churches.

When Jesus was on earth, he did many strange things such as mud on blind eyes, spitting on people, walking on water, multiplying bread and fish, and “Casting out demons.”  King David and Miriam danced madly before the Lord with Joy, and were criticized.    Many did not like the way Jesus preached.  Is it any wonder that a ministry today is attacked where people are saved, blessed, healed and released from bondage?

 

My Visit to Bethel Church was very beneficial to me and encouraging.  I do hope you are blessed by the following testimonies from some that have been healed by the power of Jesus at Bethel Church, Redding California.

Testimonies of Healing at Bethel Church Healing rooms. 
Click web site below.  
https://www.facebook.com/bethelhealingrooms

 

 

Full House

Ministry at Bethel Church, Redding, California

 

Our visit to the Sozo session was completed by 3:00 pm and the Friday evening service was not scheduled to begin until 7:00. 

My daughter and I decided to get something to eat and then visit the house of prayer on the church campus.

 

Standing alone on a beautiful knoll was the Modern looking house of prayer.  Inside we viewed many young adults kneeling or laying on the carpeted floor.  Some appeared to be sleeping rolled in a sleeping bag.  The atmosphere was peaceful, but we did not stay.

 

FYI

The house of prayer is a centralized prayer room where worship and prayer are offered to God day and night in our city  (Redding, CA).  Our prayer and worship sets consist in some devotional worship times, corporate intercession times, and corporate times of  meditation on the Word of God. Our prayer sets are all characterized by antiphonal singing, in which prayer and singing are intermingled with the Word of God in prophetic interaction. The prayer room is open for anyone to participate during corporate prayer times. All sets are lead by The Watch staff or by worshippers from various churches in the area.

 

The hour was now 5:00 pm and Judie wanted me to see the church campus on the other side of the parking lot. 

 

As we walked closer to the church we could see many people congregated outside and at a snack area where you could purchase coffee, sandwiches and snacks. 

Through a door we entered where the evening service was to be held in two hours. 

Already almost every seat in the auditorium was taken or saved.  A band was playing music as they practiced for the service. 

It was already a Full House.

“Perhaps we should find a seat and relax,” my daughter suggested.  Two seats together on the back row called our names and we claimed them.

As the time for the service neared, there was standing room only, and an announcement was made about an overflow room with direct TV.

 

The service began on time with lively music and worship choruses, drawing the people into the presence of the Lord.

Around 8:30 pm missionary Heidi Baker came to the pulpit and ministered for about an hour.  She then dismissed those who had to leave and about 100 people departed leaving around 1000 still in their seats.  Rev Baker called those forward who desired to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and many went to the front. 

 

She knew there was not enough room at the alter for all to come, so she urged the congregation to seek the Lord in their seats, or kneel if they were able.  

 

The tangible presence of the Lord was touching many as they worshiped Jesus.

Around 11:00 pm my daughter and I moved closer to the front, but many young people were lying on the floor and there was no room for us to enter.

We decided to go to our hotel as we intended to return by 8:00 am in the morning to the Healing Rooms. 

 

Our visit continues to the :   Saturday Morning Healing Rooms – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Sozo

 

Why would I want to attend a SOZO session at Bethel Redding, California? 

Sozo is not a counseling session but a time of interacting with Father, Son and Holy Spirit for wholeness and pursuing of your destiny.  http://www.ibethel.org/sozo-overview

 

SOZO is the Greek word translated “saved, healed, delivered.” Sozo ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry aimed to get to the root of things hindering your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With a healed connection, you can walk in the destiny to which you have been called.

 

My daughter Judie, encouraged me to come with her to Redding and apply for a Sozo time.  Each of us would have a ministry person to assist us individually from 1 to 2 hours.

The following is a brief outline of my meeting and it is edited.

The lady asked how does God speak to you?  Is it a voice, pictures, or dreams?

I told her I have never heard an audible voice, but God speaks to my spirit, as I pointed to my chest.  Of course He speaks to me through His word.

Why are you here and what are you asking Jesus to reveal to you?

Briefly I shared how a door of ministry had been shut for me and that I was seeking direction for making new decisions for 2015.

I explained that my roots are Pentecostal/Charismatic but I have been attending a formal Denominational church for 5 years.  Similar to Episcopal, Catholic, Lutheran.

Why did you leave your Pentecostal roots?

I explained how God revealed to me there was a misuse of funds, and the Pastor and I had a disagreement.  He told me to leave and not come back.  I admit I was angry and decided to find an established church that was NOT Charismatic and take a rest.

Why do you now want to leave the formal church?

Each service has a time to express “Joys and Concerns,” so each month (for 5 years)  I have been sharing a short devotional at the “Joy time.”  My last sharing was considered too long and unknown to me a meeting of the council was held as some had complained to the Pastor that they did not like me sharing.  Pastor wrote me a letter explaining their feelings and stating from now on, we are requesting that you NOT share verbally, but you can print out your story or sermon and leave it on the table in the fellowship hall.

How did that make you feel?

Actually there has been a stirring in my spirit and the letter was a sign, that the door of ministry has been shut for me in this church.  I love them and pray God’s best for them.

The lady led me in a prayer of forgiveness for the Charismatic Pastor and a release and cutting of all ties to him and that church. 

Then she led me in a prayer of forgiveness for those who have criticized my sharing, and a cutting of all soul ties to the Denomination church.

She suggested that I take all that is mine, and leave all that is theirs and sever the church relationship.

She suggested I find a “closet” or special place to daily pray and seek God’s guidance.

She prayed and asked Jesus to show me what He wants me to do next.

She asked if Jesus was telling me anything at this time. 

Be Still and Know that I am God

I told her no, but I feel at peace.

There is more - - our visit continues - -

Friday Evening Service CLICK HERE

Saturday Morning Healing Rooms – CLICK HERE

 

When Your Hopes Seem to Be on Hold

When Your Hopes Seem to Be on Hold

by Guest - - Holley Gerth

 

You have not been abandoned or forgotten. God is working, and when you least expect it, in a way that you may hardly even recognize at first, He’s going to fulfill all He promised.

You are His servant, and it will be to you as He has said. No matter what. 

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor  with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33 

With the Christmas season just past and a new year beginning, the words above keep echoing in my mind. I’ve heard them since I was a child — I imagine you may have too. But this time I heard something new. A whisper of the hopes that must have been born in Mary’s heart that day.  Because the angel didn’t say - -
 Your joy will turn to sorrow before this story is done.
Your son will be misunderstood by most and rejected by many.
He will be crucified right before your eyes.

No, the angel said . . .

“He will be great.”

“He will be given a throne.”

“He will reign and His kingdom will never end.”

I don’t know what was going through Mary’s mind as Jesus’ life unfolded, but I can imagine what may have filled her heart at times: Confusion, questioning, wondering if she heard God wrong.

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you even do today?

Then here’s the hope Mary gives us: Just because what God has said to us doesn’t look the way we pictured doesn’t mean it’s not real.

Jesus is great.

He does have a throne.

He is reigning over a Kingdom that will never end.

It just didn’t happen the way Mary probably expected. What got her through?

I imagine Mary kept praying that same prayer she did when the angel first spoke to her: “I am the Lord’s servant. May Your word to me be fulfilled” {Luke 1:38}. Perhaps she softly spoke it as she leaned over a manger. Maybe she uttered it every time she overheard rumors and gossip about Jesus as she stood in the local market. I wonder if she offered it as a cry of grief and surrender at the foot of the cross.

It is the one prayer we must never stop praying on the road to our hopes and dreams. 

Because the moment we refuse to say it is when we have made what we want about us. The moment when we have stepped into God’s place and demanded that things turn out the way we thought they would. The moment when we can lose faith because what we were really trusting in was our own expectations.

Say that prayer, sister/brother  

Say it on your knees in desperation with tears streaming down your face. Shout it at the top of your anger-filled lungs. Whisper it with the last bit of strength you have left. Because God is faithful, and what He has spoken will come true. Not the way we pictured. Not the way we planned. Not the way we would prefer. But it will happen {Isaiah . 55:11, 2 Cor. 1:20}.

You have not been abandoned or forgotten. God is working, and when you least expect it, in a way that you may hardly even recognize at first, He’s going to fulfill all He promised.

You are His servant, and it will be to you as He has said. No matter what.

Share Your Gifts and Talents

Click HERE to view Sundays Digested Sermon “A Call:”

 



Today is Martin Luther King Day and a guest post by his Spirit Filled Niece

Answer The Call To Share Your Gifts and Talents

Guest - Dr. Alveda C. King, Atlanta, GA

Stay Tuned Into Heaven's Frequencies

As things are being unraveled and uncovered, light is shining in the darkness.

"...the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." Matthew 4:16

This is a season for accepting the call to "share your gifts and talents" and to say, "Yes," to God's call to give, serve and receive.

 

This is not the time to hoard, worship or covet your natural and spiritual gifts and talents... and we're not just discussing material goods here.

This is the abundant season of sowing and reaping every good gift. Every blessing you have sown, in both dry and fertile seasons, every untarnished gift and talent, will be multiplied and put to use for the Master's Kingdom work.

We are about a couple weeks into 2015, and the melee is almost deafening. Yet, in the distance, there is a "still, small voice" calling to us.

Yes, America is waking up to the truth that racism still exists in our land. We know that anger and violence are lurking about. Yet, in the distance, there is a voice crying in the wilderness, compelling those who hear to use our "gifts and callings" to make a difference in 2015.

Don't be "glued" to television, print and cyberspace, human-generated "news reports." Rather, stay tuned into Heaven's frequencies. That's where God is; where miracles and blessings flow. Be "in the world, but not of the world."

Be Good Stewards

Do Not Hide Your Gift

As to gifts and callings, people often ask, "What's your gift?" as if God limits each person to receiving one gift, be it natural goods and talents or spiritual enablement.

Some people are still looking for their one gift or talent. Others, as in Matthew 25, bury the one talent and never receive the rewards of increase (see Matthew 25:14-30).

"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine." Matthew 25:24-25

Don't be afraid like the servant in the account above. What can we do instead? We can be like the good stewards:

"And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:20-21

That's where our rewards and blessings are. As we increase our "measure of faith" flowing in the fruit and gifts of the spirit, we join in the revival that is blowing through our communities.

Yes, we can share our gifts in loving service in our spheres of influence. We can speak truth to people in positions of authority. We can overcome evil with good. When people complain, offer solutions not sympathy.

 

When violence threatens, extend the "olive branch" of peace. If you are a singer, sing a song of peace and love. If you are a dancer, do a peace and love dance. If you are a doctor or a lawyer, follow Christ. Defend the poor and heal the sick.

Everyone Can Serve

Yes, we have price tags on our gifts. After all, in most cases you can't pay your electric bill with a melody or a foot massage. It takes money to get about in this realm, on the low frequencies of life. But, if we worry too much about charging for our gifts, natural and spiritual, we could just miss the "love boat."

 

Don't be stingy this year. Give and it shall be given unto you. We're not just talking about money here. We're talking about the unusual generosity of heart and soul. People need love. People need the Lord.

So answer the higher callings of life by sharing the gifts and talents generously .

My Uncle MLK Jr., inspired by Jesus Christ, once said: "Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve."

"...Whoever would be great among you must be your servant..." Matthew 20:26

This will be a blessed year. We all have a chance to be great this year. Just get busy serving, giving and sharing. God's gifts and blessings are sure to abound.

Happy New Year.

Dr. Alveda C. King, Evangelist and Author
Alveda King Ministries and Priests For Life