Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Stay-At-Home “Christians”


Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ~ Hebrews 10:25

No matter how you want to attempt to justify it, you cannot receive the type of worship of God at home as you do at church.  If you say you can, then you’re a member of a church that’s not right for you, you’re not a member of a church or you don’t have a serious worship of God.  While there are some dynamic preachers one can watch on television, especially on Sundays, you miss the power of the anointing present at the temple of God.  God anoints preachers, gives them the spirit of discernment, and gift of prophecy to lay hands on you to meet your needs (those you know about and don’t know about), speak blessings into your life, warn you about the traps the Enemy has set and will set for you, and much more.  Now, this is simply not going to take place when you’re at home resting in your bed or sitting up “having church on t.v.”

Admit it—the reason why you don’t get up and go to church is you’re making excuses.  Many people are simply too lazy to get up go, but they are some of the biggest “Christians.”  Being a Christian requires you to do more than say that you’re one.  You must have a solemn personal relationship with God.  It would seem that a true personal relationship with God would lead you to his temple at least on Sundays.

Those who don’t really have a sincere personal relationship with God will respond to this piece by saying, “Don’t question my relationship with God—how dare you!”  My response is show up for God then.  Be present among the saints of God.  If God saved you, He did not save you for yourself.  He saved you so that you might be a witness to someone else who is not saved.  You’re not going to be an effective witness sitting up in your house.  Churches have weekly services like Bible Study and Prayer that you need to attend to keep you saved and to mature you in your Christian walk with God.  You need to attend Sunday School so that you can live better than you currently know how.

It will not hurt you to attend your church.  Don’t tell me about you “attend” your church online, especially when you live close to your church.  You simply cannot replace the experience and benefits of physically attending your church. 

If you’re going to take your spirituality to the next level, you’re going to have to start by getting your butt up and going to church.

Deuces,

Tony
 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Focus on Being Thankful on Thanksgiving

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Sometimes people can allow their education to cause them to miss the true value and opportunities offered by a holiday.  Many college students and professors love to focus their attention on the brutal treatment of the Native Americans that Thanksgiving brings to the forefront for them, and we should never forget about the inhumane treatment of the Native Americans by White people who came and stole their land.  However, we cannot go back in time and change what happened.  What we can do is concentrate on being thankful on Thanksgiving.  When holidays like Thanksgiving come around and you don’t like their origin for some reason, you have an opportunity to construct the holiday to fit your personal preferences.  Make holidays your own.

On Thanksgiving, we can all celebrate the many things that we are thankful for.  For those academicians who cannot move past the epistemology of Thanksgiving to see the opportunities and value of the holiday in the postmodern epoch, then this means you’ve been imprisoned by history and need to escape your own self-captivity.  

We don’t all have to celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way, but we all can be thankful that we are alive on this day and can be thankful for our many blessings.

To my fellow Christians, let’s show people the Christ in us by doing something for someone who is less fortunate than us by making Thanksgiving a day that they can enjoy.  If you see someone homeless, please get him or her something to eat.  No one should go hungry on Thanksgiving.

Instead of complaining all of the time about what you don’t have, start thanking God for all of the things you do have.  Let God know you’re grateful for the things He has done in your life.  Don’t be so selfish that you continue to overlook the things that people have done for you because you cannot seem to stop complaining about what you don’t have.  For those who have done special things for you this year and in the past, take a moment on this holiday and let them know how much you appreciate them for what they’ve done for you.   

Showing gratitude is vital.

Although we are faced with a challenging economy, God is not going to let those who love Him suffer through this economy alone.  He is going to give you exactly what you need to prosper in these difficult economic times because He is greater than our economy.  We only need to look to Him to be able to prosper in our current economic times.

It is my hope that everyone will have a great Thanksgiving.  Try not to eat too much and share with Everyday Street Bible some of the things you ate on your Thanksgiving menu, and share with Everyday Street Bible the significant moments you will always cherish that this holiday has brought for you.  For those of you who are missing a love one on this day who has always made this holiday special, I pray that God will give you the comfort, peace, strength, and love you need to have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Deuces,

Tony