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
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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
Monday, August 23, 2010
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE BEFORE SAFETY
This blog may ignite some with a resounding "YES" , for others I have no doubt there will be great discomfort .
I was given a book as a gift on the week-end and have not been able to put it down : The Barbarian is it's name . If you have read it you will know what I am about to say , if not you may like to just read on and respond as you choose .
There is a line in the book that goes something like this : GOD WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE FOR US SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OVER & ABOVE SAFETY EVERY TIME!
Selah on this for a moment ,instead of becoming reactionary , even if your own spiritual walk does not reflect this line at this point in time , that does not necessarily mean that this is not spiritual truth , according to God & His Word , more importantly His Kingdom values. Consider John the Baptist's life , ministry, death , even this faithful courageous prophet had to check with Jesus that all was as it should be when he found himself imprisoned awaiting a beheading for no other crime than challenging sin in Herod. I am fairly certain from God's angle safety for John was lower in priority to his spiritual significance ! REFLECT
All but one(John the beloved) of the first Disciples was martyred for their faith and were often beaten , rejected . mocked , tortured in their lives prior to their glorious deaths ! REFLECT
Since when did the church make our personal safety more imperitive than the Gospel being advanced , and why are there so many benign expressions of committment to Jesus , when the call and terms of Discipleship are clearly radical , revolutionary, risky,compelling,uncomfortable , unpredictable,edgy and actually down right dangerous.
If today you are prepared to really come to terms with authentic Discipleship according to Jesus , then you will know such an awesome blessing in your life , this blessing will cause you to throw yourself upon God's ongoing mercy , grace & power rather than having all your comfort zone tick boxes on a daily basis .
I believe more than I ever have in my journey of faith that there has been a very real error in the teaching & definition of discipleship according to JESUS , we have underated , understated, and underestimated what the Lord has required of us when He has called us to be His Disciples .
Consequently in some ways the church has reaped what it has sown , we have settled for a sub-standard level of bland , non-threatening , safe, cosy , christianity which makes no difference to a sinful world, if anything brings us mockery .
People of GOD , please read the Gospels and see what Jesus requires when He calls you to follow Him ....and count the cost of authentic Christianity , what changes have to occur in your lives to match what Jesus asks of you and are you willing to step up to be the radical disciple that He calls you to be .
If not any preaching , reading or challenge of this nature will send you away screaming back into the comfortable , safe , religious,rut that neither dares nor defies the pharisaical expression of 'religious observance'.
Today I pray for my readers .......That Jesus will be fully formed in you according to His glory , His nature & His values .
MATTHEW 8 ;18-22,28-34
MARNEY
I was given a book as a gift on the week-end and have not been able to put it down : The Barbarian is it's name . If you have read it you will know what I am about to say , if not you may like to just read on and respond as you choose .
There is a line in the book that goes something like this : GOD WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE FOR US SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OVER & ABOVE SAFETY EVERY TIME!
Selah on this for a moment ,instead of becoming reactionary , even if your own spiritual walk does not reflect this line at this point in time , that does not necessarily mean that this is not spiritual truth , according to God & His Word , more importantly His Kingdom values. Consider John the Baptist's life , ministry, death , even this faithful courageous prophet had to check with Jesus that all was as it should be when he found himself imprisoned awaiting a beheading for no other crime than challenging sin in Herod. I am fairly certain from God's angle safety for John was lower in priority to his spiritual significance ! REFLECT
All but one(John the beloved) of the first Disciples was martyred for their faith and were often beaten , rejected . mocked , tortured in their lives prior to their glorious deaths ! REFLECT
Since when did the church make our personal safety more imperitive than the Gospel being advanced , and why are there so many benign expressions of committment to Jesus , when the call and terms of Discipleship are clearly radical , revolutionary, risky,compelling,uncomfortable , unpredictable,edgy and actually down right dangerous.
If today you are prepared to really come to terms with authentic Discipleship according to Jesus , then you will know such an awesome blessing in your life , this blessing will cause you to throw yourself upon God's ongoing mercy , grace & power rather than having all your comfort zone tick boxes on a daily basis .
I believe more than I ever have in my journey of faith that there has been a very real error in the teaching & definition of discipleship according to JESUS , we have underated , understated, and underestimated what the Lord has required of us when He has called us to be His Disciples .
Consequently in some ways the church has reaped what it has sown , we have settled for a sub-standard level of bland , non-threatening , safe, cosy , christianity which makes no difference to a sinful world, if anything brings us mockery .
People of GOD , please read the Gospels and see what Jesus requires when He calls you to follow Him ....and count the cost of authentic Christianity , what changes have to occur in your lives to match what Jesus asks of you and are you willing to step up to be the radical disciple that He calls you to be .
If not any preaching , reading or challenge of this nature will send you away screaming back into the comfortable , safe , religious,rut that neither dares nor defies the pharisaical expression of 'religious observance'.
Today I pray for my readers .......That Jesus will be fully formed in you according to His glory , His nature & His values .
MATTHEW 8 ;18-22,28-34
MARNEY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)