The QUESTION that CHANGED my LIFE

-by David Ryser.

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school
of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly
searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with
Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across
a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short
version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece
and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution;
it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and
became an enterprise. Some of the students were only 18 or 19
years old--barely out of diapers--and I wanted them to understand
and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding,
"An enterprise. That's a business." After a few moments Martha,
the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not
imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was
self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless,
I acknowledged Martha's raised hand, "Yes, Martha." She asked
such a simple question, "A business? But isn't it supposed to be
a body?" I could not envision where this line of questioning was going,
and the only response I could think of was, "Yes." She continued,
"But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or
spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the
presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were
on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was,
"Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." I didn't dare express that thought
aloud. God had taken over the class.

Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about
her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a
business, isn't that a prostitute?" There is only one answer to her
question. The answer is "Yes." The American Church, tragically,
is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we
love Him? We don't even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

... I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not
know God--much less love Him. The root of this condition originates
in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what
we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would
bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him
for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we
can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business,
merchandising His anointing. This should not be. We are commanded
to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ--that's pretty
intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love
someone we don't even know? And even if we do know someone,
is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or
prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha's question again one day, and considered
the question, "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?"
I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does
what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but
only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, "What would
happen if God stopped paying me?"

For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover
my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of
God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He
never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him? Please
understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The
issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is
the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings
in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have
earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any
conditions? It took several months to work through these questions.
Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by
my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed
with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in
my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved,
but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God.

So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute?
There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for
that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both
places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no
substitute or unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I
mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another
look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime). We must choose.

-Dr. David Ryser.

Matthew 8:23-9:6 There's Power in the WORDS of Jesus

There is real power in the WORDS from Jesus and HE has given us the HOLY SPIRIT to be able to use those very WORDS to do the works (miracles) HE did on the earth and in even greater ways. So where do we get the idea that we Christians don't deal with healing and deliverance? Do we think we don't have demons running to and fro in this world?

The Bible Study:
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Digging Deeper:
http://lastharvestfellowship.com/DiggingDeeper/DD24.php

The Digging Deeper Download Study Guide
http://lastharvestfellowship.com/DiggingDeeper/DD24.pdf

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Bless you,

Pastor Ken

A Nugget from Nehemiah

God of Heaven, hear my prayer: Open our eyes to the needs of this world. Let us mourn and then see the need and then do something about it.

The interesting part of this passage is the description of what he did
Nehemiah after their time of mourning, the Lord gave a
prayer in four parts:

* First he praises God for His faithfulness and mercy (v.5)
* A confession made by the collective sins of the people (v.7)
* Recognized appropriateness of the trial of God (v.8),
* and asked God to Success and give grace (v.11).

The earnest request of Nehemiah contains a valuable insight
discouraged for, no matter what happens around the world physical
around us, God is in control. He is able to make all
things, even our mistakes, they are within His plan.

If you're discouraged, uses the words of Nehemiah to make your
own prayer. "Jesus, I confess all sin in my life"

recognize the authenticity of His Word, and ask His help as you
fall down, only to get up and try again.

The Lord is faithful in all things. Do not let the disappointment block
His incredible love and power.

In the second chapter of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17-20), we also see Nehemiah
uses the same "problem" to motivate others.

Traveling to Jerusalem to assist in rebuilding the wall of destroyed city, immediately, he took the opportunity to testify others about the goodness of God.

Then they said how the hand of my God had been good and in verse 18, we see that the people gained confidence in the Lord, and began to help with the project.

In verse 19, we notice that while working, Nehemiah was challenged by skeptics and scoffer, friends and enemies:

Nehemiah told them all about God's love and greatness. His faith never wavered.

Despite their questions, the prophet remained strong, giving glory God, and resting in that
trust.

Once more we can learn a valuable lesson from the example of Nehemiah. When faced with the difficult task of rebuilding the wall destroyed our own family, community, city, state, nation, world, be not afraid of your enemies, nor collapsed under the pressure of the skeptics. The Lord had given you a task, and it took the decision to perform no matter what obstacles that were presented in your path.

What is the source of your confidence?

The foundation of faith Nehemiah was firmly based on God's promises. How about your faith?

What do you think? Share your thoughts here

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Overcome Anxiety

The Secret to Counteracting Anxiety

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by
prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God; (7) And the peace of God, which
surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts
and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (11) Not that I speak
according to lack, for I have learned, in whatever
circumstances I am, to be content. (13) I am able to do all
things in Him who empowers me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If we have learned the secret, we shall know how to
counteract anxiety. If you are in poverty, there is no need
for you to be anxious or to worry. The Lord is still at hand,
and He will take care of you. By nature, we are given to
worry, to anxiety. This is true as much of the rich as it is
of the poor. Those who are poor have their particular
worries, and those who are rich have theirs. Only those who
are truly in Christ in their experience and who are inwardly
empowered by Him have no need to worry or to be anxious.

As a human being, Paul did undergo suffering with respect to
material needs. Paul was not an angel, and he was not like a
lifeless statue without feelings. No doubt, he had learned
the secret of sufficiency in Christ. When he was in want and
was tempted to worry about his situation, he applied this
secret. Then, in his experience, this secret eliminated his
worry. Therefore, he could have the boldness to testify that
he knew both how to be abased and how to abound. The very
fact that Paul knew how to be abased indicates that he
experienced feelings of abasement. He knew what it was to
have worry and anxiety in times of suffering. But at those
times he applied the secret of the indwelling Christ. He
applied the very Christ in whom he could be found. This
Christ is real, living, near, available, and prevailing. This
was the Christ who was Paul's secret.

Using a Stoic term, Paul could say that he had learned, in
whatever circumstances he was, to be content. Although Paul
used a Stoic word, he was by no means a Stoic. On the
contrary, he was a person in Christ, and he experienced
Christ and applied Him in all circumstances. Paul could be
content not because he had been instructed by the Stoics, but
because he applied the very Christ in whom he lived and in
whom he remained. Again I say, this Christ became Paul's
secret.

Matthew 8:18 The Cost of Following Jesus

Pastor Ken Freeman covers the second section of Matthew 8 about the Cost of Following Jesus Christ

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Matthew 8: vs 14 + The Atoning Work of Jesus Christ

Pastor Ken Freeman covers the second section of Matthew 8 about the Miracles of Jesus Christ and the Atoning work of Jesus Christ

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Matthew 8 The Miracles of Jesus Christ

Pastor Ken Freeman covers Matthew 8 about the Miracles of Jesus Christ.

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