Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

Those who are not of this world are called to turn it upside down!

 

Before you read this blog I encourage you to read my last blog, ‘What’s the Cost’?  How are you doing with spending time with Jesus, sitting at His feet, meditating on Him and His Word?  How are you doing with asking Holy Spirit to identify, and help get rid of, distractions from spending time with Jesus, in His Word, giving Him undivided attention and being obedient to what He has already commanded us to do?  How are you doing with being obedient even if it costs you something?

As I have been reflecting on these questions God has been showing me the distractions and excuses to being obedient to what Jesus has commanded me to do and I am asking Him to bring me further into a place where I am truly willing to serve Him whatever the cost-even my life!

Since my last blog there have been some invitations to gatherings and meetings that have given me more revelation, encouraged me, challenged me and convicted me.  More and more I am realizing that it’s time to stop just talking about what God has already called us to do but take action!  GO!

We do not belong to this world.  We are no longer part of it.  Jesus has chosen us to come out of the world and be separate.  That means that we think, speak and act differently in every way.  Do we look different from the world?  Do we act like people who are truly set apart to God?  What does the world see?  What does the world say?  Do they see that our car is gone from the driveway every Sunday for a couple of hours because we have gone to a church building but then see no difference in our lives the rest of the week?  Or do they see a people who are preaching and demonstrating the kingdom of God every day, everywhere, making a difference, being an influence-living for Jesus!  Turning the world upside down!  I want to be this kind of person!  This is what I want the world to see, the light of Christ shining through His church, so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Mt 5:16).

• The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. (Jn 15:19 NLT)
• Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. (1 Jn 2:15 NLT)

It starts with the heart-a desire to be a person who looks in every way like we belong to the kingdom of God and not to the world.  Surrendered and submitted to Jesus our King and not to anything or anyone else.

So what does this look like?  Here are a few things God put on my heart to share:

1. We have No confidence in the flesh. I encourage you to read my blog, ‘No Confidence in the Flesh’, posted on November 7, 2021.
2. We are to desire to have a letter of recommendation that looks like Paul’s in 2 Co 6:4-10. Is this a letter of recommendation you desire to receive? 

Letter of recommendation (put your own name in it and see what Holy Spirit has to say to you)

You live in such a way that no one will stumble because of you, and no one will find fault with your ministry.  In everything you do, you show that you are a true minister of God.  You patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.  You have been taken advantage of, lied to, betrayed, and faced angry people, been misunderstood, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, experienced the effects of gossip and curses and have been required to overcome many giants.  You prove yourself by your purity, your understanding, your patience, your kindness, by the Holy Spirit within you, and by your sincere love.  God has been faithful.  He has never let you down.  He has fulfilled His promise to give you enabling, empowering and giving grace that is sufficient for each day.  You faithfully preach the truth.  God’s power is working in you.  You use the weapons of righteousness in your right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.  You serve God whether people honor you or despise you, whether they slander you or praise you.  You are honest, but they don’t believe or receive what you say.  You are ignored, even though you are well known.  You live your life in a way that you are hidden in Christ and He is lifted up and glorified.  You have lived close to death, but you are still alive and you have been beaten down by people and the enemy, but you have not been killed.  This is because God is not done with you yet.  He still has His plans to be fulfilled and accomplished through you.  Your heart has been broken, but you always have joy and that joy is from the Lord who gives you strength to go on when you think you have nothing left to give.  You continue to pour out and give of your time, resources, gifts and talents, wisdom and spiritual riches to others.  You own nothing, and yet you have everything because you get that everything is from God, made by God and is for God and to be used for His glory, including, your life!  There has been no lack of love on your part.  That is the love God has put in your heart by the Holy Spirit that He has given to you.  And God sees and knows your heart-a heart after Him. God has sought you out, chosen you, and called you by name.  He has found you, a man/woman after His own heart who will do everything He wants you to do!

• Co 6:3-10; 2 Co 12:9; Gal 1:10; Neh 8:10; 2 Co 6:12; Ro 5:5; 1 Sam 16:7

 

1. We must be obedient to what Jesus commands us to do so that we can give progress reports like the ones in Acts.

The progress reports

• Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7 NKJV)
• Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. (Acts 9:31 NKJV)
• But the word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:24 NKJV)
• So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5 NKJV)
• So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20 NKJV)

 

1. We are to desire a promotion like Peter describes in 1 Peter 5:6!

 

• Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)

The world is all about self, getting ahead, acquiring things, being recognized, reputation and who is the greatest, just to name a few.  We, the church of Jesus Christ are called to look different in every way so that the world will declare, these who have turned the world upside down have come here too and realize that we have been with Jesus who is living inside of us and working in and through us by the power of Holy Spirit!  So that the world will desire to know and serve that one we follow-Jesus!

• But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (Acts 17:6 NKJV)
• Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 NKJV)

Who do you put your confidence in?  What letter of recommendation do you want to receive?  What progress reports do you want to give?  What promotion do you want to get? 

Church of Jesus Christ, let’s ponder these questions, meditate on the scriptures and allow Holy Spirit to transform us so that we who are not of this world will turn it upside down!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:7 NKJV)