Today if you are in any way professing that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour please be aware that what you speak , your countenance , your decisions all reveal who you really are ( despite a verbal confession).
God takes our decisions , and public declarations seriously , so should we !The new testament declares in 1 Peter 2 :9 ''BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE , A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD , A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD, THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT."
So by Biblical definition if you are a Christian you are a member of the" royal priesthood ", what a privilege and what a responsibility.
So how goes the declaring ? How goes the inner motives and choices ?How goes the living the love of Jesus out, on a day by day basis?
I bring before you today some sobering , challenging verses from Malachi 2:1-2,7, read on and listen to the voice of God :'' AND NOW THIS ADMONITION IS FOR YOU O PRIESTS. v2 '' IF YOU DO NOT LISTEN, & IF YOU DO NOT SET YOUR HEART TO HONOUR MY NAME , SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY , I WILL SEND A CURSE UPON YOU, & I WILL CURSE YOUR BLESSINGS . YES , I HAVE ALREADY CURSED THEM , BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT SET YOUR HEART TO HONOUR ME .
v7 ''FOR THE LIPS OF A PRIEST OUGHT TO PRESERVE KNOWLEDGE, & FROM HIS MOUTH MEN SHOULD SEEK INSTRUCTION BECAUSE HE IS THE MESSENGER OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY."
Today dear readers what do our lips reveal about our hearts ? Be very careful what you say the Lord Almighty is ALWAYS listening , comforting and disturbing all in one package .
Again be very mindful of words from Matthew 10:26 ''SO DO NOT BE AFRAID, THERE IS NOTHING CONCEALED THAT WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED , OR HIDDEN THAT WILL NOT BE MADE KNOWN. v27 WHAT I TELL YOU IN THE DARK , SPEAK IN THE DAYLIGHT ; WHAT IS WHISPERED IN YOUR EAR , PROCLAIM FROM THE ROOFTOPS.''
When we choose to live for Jesus , we choose to not live for ourselves and that includes the motivations of our heart .
I continue to be amazed at the sheer carnality (at times) of people who sing ''JESUS IS LORD ", Jesus help me to not be a Christian of duplicity and false confession.
Praying for readers of this blog today .
MARNEY
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
STITCH THE CROSS TO YOUR MIND & HEART
One of the biggest challenges in the Christian journey is the continual call to die to yourself , for me it is a daily or even hourly requirement .
The flesh will NEVER cheer you on to live sacrificially for Jesus , the world most certainly will not and the enemy of our soul will obstruct all attempts by yourself to live wholeheartedly for Jesus at every possible level.
The only way to keep putting yourself in the posture of Christ is to stitch His finished work on the Cross to your heart and in your mind.
Claim the CROSS , kneel at the CROSS, repent at the CROSS, kneel even more humbly at the CROSS, look to Jesus at the CROSS, crucify your flesh at the CROSS of JESUS every day , every way with all that is within you .
Any other path is strewn with people who have shipwrecked their faith , their ministry , their God given vision, their marriages , their relationships and their own inheritance simply because they never adhered to this Biblical principle.
Read for your own spirit's sake Colossians 3 :1-17.... verse 5 says it quite clearly :''PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST EVIL DESIRES& GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY."
Today remember the power of the CROSS OF JESUS , don't ever underestimate what His power can achieve in and through you.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 says "FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING , BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD ."
Another Biblical reference that is worth praying at least every day is PSALM 51 ......read it pray it and know that God will hear the cry of your heart.
Praying for readers today .
MARNEY TURNER
The flesh will NEVER cheer you on to live sacrificially for Jesus , the world most certainly will not and the enemy of our soul will obstruct all attempts by yourself to live wholeheartedly for Jesus at every possible level.
The only way to keep putting yourself in the posture of Christ is to stitch His finished work on the Cross to your heart and in your mind.
Claim the CROSS , kneel at the CROSS, repent at the CROSS, kneel even more humbly at the CROSS, look to Jesus at the CROSS, crucify your flesh at the CROSS of JESUS every day , every way with all that is within you .
Any other path is strewn with people who have shipwrecked their faith , their ministry , their God given vision, their marriages , their relationships and their own inheritance simply because they never adhered to this Biblical principle.
Read for your own spirit's sake Colossians 3 :1-17.... verse 5 says it quite clearly :''PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST EVIL DESIRES& GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY."
Today remember the power of the CROSS OF JESUS , don't ever underestimate what His power can achieve in and through you.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 says "FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING , BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD ."
Another Biblical reference that is worth praying at least every day is PSALM 51 ......read it pray it and know that God will hear the cry of your heart.
Praying for readers today .
MARNEY TURNER
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ALL ABOUT JESUS OR IT'S ALL ABOUT SELF!
Many times I hear words that are said that make the journey of Discipleship sound almost as if there is a choice when Jesus calls you .
If you are familiar with the Word of God and Jesus terms of radical discipleship you will know that there is really no choice in the matter of Jesus' call upon your life .
Many people will suggest that there is always a choice , however today I would say to you that if you choose to say "NO LORD" , then in fact you are saying ''YES TO YOURSELF" , and at that point Jesus has actually CEASED TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE .
Before you run to the valley of self-justification, or avalanche of excuses , just pause and listen to Jesus in Matthew 6:24 ''NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS . EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE & LOVE THE OTHER , OR HE WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE & DESPISE THE OTHER . YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD & MONEY ." This is but one reference , there are many others ....just read through the Gospels and you will find the non- negotiable terms of Discipleship .
So today is your life all about JESUS ? Answer honestly , answer with integrity , please answer Him !
If you can say "yes" , keep being that person , if you cannot say a yes & amen then He is but a prayer away and is all to ready to bring you back to His loving , all forgiving arms.
Praying for you all today
MARNEY
If you are familiar with the Word of God and Jesus terms of radical discipleship you will know that there is really no choice in the matter of Jesus' call upon your life .
Many people will suggest that there is always a choice , however today I would say to you that if you choose to say "NO LORD" , then in fact you are saying ''YES TO YOURSELF" , and at that point Jesus has actually CEASED TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE .
Before you run to the valley of self-justification, or avalanche of excuses , just pause and listen to Jesus in Matthew 6:24 ''NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS . EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE & LOVE THE OTHER , OR HE WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE & DESPISE THE OTHER . YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD & MONEY ." This is but one reference , there are many others ....just read through the Gospels and you will find the non- negotiable terms of Discipleship .
So today is your life all about JESUS ? Answer honestly , answer with integrity , please answer Him !
If you can say "yes" , keep being that person , if you cannot say a yes & amen then He is but a prayer away and is all to ready to bring you back to His loving , all forgiving arms.
Praying for you all today
MARNEY
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
JESUS WILL FOR MY LIFE , HOW DO I KNOW IT???
I have been in Christian ministry for almost 29 years and one of the main spiritual questions I continue to be asked is how do I know Jesus perfect will for my life . I would contend that most people actually do know what the Spirit of God is asking of them , it is really that they want a more comfortable option !
Today if you are wrestling with the will of God in your life can I suggest a few thoughts for you to ponder : Read Romans 12 :1-2 these verses are clearly laid out for us all , I will draw your attention to particularly verse 2 ''DO NOT CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST & APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS ....HIS GOOD , PLEASING & PERFECT WILL ."
If you are more in the WORD than in the world you will always be aware of the heart & mind of Christ and what He requires of you , make no mistake about that . If you are choosing to be carnally minded more than heavenly minded then of course there will be continual hesitancy about the perception of the will of God in your life .
Also if your flesh is allowed to reign supreme and this aspect leads you in your daily choices then this will constantly be an obstruction to your walk in Christ , leading to constant defeat and a joyless experience , not to mention the fact that others will miss out on the blessing that should of been theirs because you were obedient to the call of Jesus upon your life .
I intend to continue this important topic over these days as I believe there is much to be taught on this subject .
I will conclude today's reflection by saying really God's will for your life is all about Jesus , and if not about Him then it is about actually nothing of ETERNAL IMPORTANCE, this I believe to be of the utmost truth.
Today if you are legitimately and honestly searching out God's will for your life then can I say spend a day (at least ) I would recommend much longer on your knees, fasting , and in the WORD , put your own agenda aside and listen to Jesus and He will surely speak His truth into your life .... you then have the awesome task to OBEY .
I leave with you today COLOSSIANS 3 ; 1_3
Praying for you all today!
MARNEY
Today if you are wrestling with the will of God in your life can I suggest a few thoughts for you to ponder : Read Romans 12 :1-2 these verses are clearly laid out for us all , I will draw your attention to particularly verse 2 ''DO NOT CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST & APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS ....HIS GOOD , PLEASING & PERFECT WILL ."
If you are more in the WORD than in the world you will always be aware of the heart & mind of Christ and what He requires of you , make no mistake about that . If you are choosing to be carnally minded more than heavenly minded then of course there will be continual hesitancy about the perception of the will of God in your life .
Also if your flesh is allowed to reign supreme and this aspect leads you in your daily choices then this will constantly be an obstruction to your walk in Christ , leading to constant defeat and a joyless experience , not to mention the fact that others will miss out on the blessing that should of been theirs because you were obedient to the call of Jesus upon your life .
I intend to continue this important topic over these days as I believe there is much to be taught on this subject .
I will conclude today's reflection by saying really God's will for your life is all about Jesus , and if not about Him then it is about actually nothing of ETERNAL IMPORTANCE, this I believe to be of the utmost truth.
Today if you are legitimately and honestly searching out God's will for your life then can I say spend a day (at least ) I would recommend much longer on your knees, fasting , and in the WORD , put your own agenda aside and listen to Jesus and He will surely speak His truth into your life .... you then have the awesome task to OBEY .
I leave with you today COLOSSIANS 3 ; 1_3
Praying for you all today!
MARNEY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)