Sleeping Church, Awake!

Wow, it's been a while! The past two months have been such a spiritual and amazing time for me. I woke up today feeling so refreshed, and I felt God telling me to record my thoughts onto this blog.

I'm currently about half way through the book "Living Water" by Brother Yun. The Chapter I'm on is titled "Sleeping Church, Awake!" I couldn't help but post a portion of it. My life has been deeply impacted by both of Yun's books; "The Heavenly Man" and "Living Water". If you have yet to read either, you are missing out on not just the incredible testimonies of God but a powerful message to all of us living in "plenty"; it's time that we arise from our slumber and begin seeking the Lord with diligence. God has so radically shifted my focus over this past year. It feels as though He continues to literally open my eyes to a reality I never seriously considered. That reality is one of taking God at His Word and believing that nothing is impossible with Him - even when every circumstance around me begs the opposite. My love for the Lord (and others) has increased to such a degree that it's not uncommon anymore to find myself in a mess of tears just weeping over the fact that God left the 99 sheep to pursue a train wreck, like me. If anything I feel such a desire and hunger to grow deeper and further. To not find myself satisfied with an increase of spiritual desire but to allow God free reign to continue this process of tearing me down to build me back up.

I pray you are blessed by this excerpt from "Living Water";
Believers often use Revelation 3:20 as an invitation to salvation (note: this includes me!). It says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." Closer examination of this passage reveals that Jesus wasn't knocking at the door of unbelievers' hearts when he said those words. He was knocking at the door of the backslidden church at Laodicea. Jesus was standing outside the door of the church, knocking and asking to be let in! It's a sad indictment, but Jesus continues to be an unwelcome guest in many churches today. Many continue to operate in their lifeless religiosity, "having a form of godliness and YET denying it's power" (2 Timothy 3:5).

Wake up! Repent! Let the Lord Jesus come into your lives and into your churches. He loves all people, and as long as you have breath in you, it's not too late for Him to use you for His glory!!

A spiritually dull church or believer is a poor witness for the living, resurrected Jesus. A church is meant to be a training centre and command hub for war, not a social club for pleasantries and hypocrisy, where people give lip service to Christ while refusing to obey His commands. Not only does God want you to wake up, but He has a work for you to do.

As I have traveled around the world, I have met many wonderful brothers and sisters. They listen intently to every word that is spoken, but there is one major thing missing in their spiritual lives. They need to start obeying the Word of God. They need to step out and start being doers of the Word instead of just listeners. James said, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). You see, when you only listen to the Word of God, your heart gets filled up with spiritual food. This is good, but it is there to serve a purpose. That purpose is for you to go and share the food you have with the hungry, so that they too can know Jesus. If you just keep God's blessings to yourself, you will become a bloated and sick Christian. When you share them with others the Holy Spirit will give you more so that you can share more. It is a wonderful thing.

The greatest battle in the history of human kind is taking place right now. No, it's not the "war on terror", but a conflict far more intense and far reaching! It is the battle for the souls of human kind. This war affects every single person in the world, for their eternal destinies depend on the result. Satan is busy trying to drag as many people to hell with him as possible. The Bible tells us, "Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short" (Rev. 12:12). } - Brother Yun

Almighty God of whom belongs all power, glory, and honor.
WAKE YOUR SLUMBERING BRIDE!

Thank you so much for reading. Know you have a purpose in this world and the only way to find it is to spend time with the creator and designer of your life!

-Jack Marshall
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# Posté le vendredi 18 septembre 2009 13:07

The Glory of God Dwells Within Me

First off I apologize for how long it has been since I have posted anything. It has been an insanely busy time for Scarlet. I've have been on the road for 4 weeks now, and still have 3 left. God is doing AMAZING things everywhere we go, and lives are being restored, renewed, and overall changed!

Now if your reading this blog, then I know that God wants to challenge you to do something crazy spiritual with Him and for Him. Ask God to erase all the crap we have been taught in church and religion, and only leave the truth that has been distorted. Ask Him to teach you HIM! Read his word, speak to him, and be bold to speak when your spirit is prompted to do so and you will see change, hope, joy and love take place before your eyes in yourself and everyone who you come in contact with. It's a journey and a long walk, but my hope is to inspire to be willing to take the chance of truly living for Christ.
Collosians has become one of my favorite books of the bible lately. I guess because it is one of those new testament chapters that just lays it out for you, plain and simple, yet there is so much meaning behind every word and line.

Collosians 2:6-10 -
6. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirit of the world, and not according to Christ. 9. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

This verse is directed to new or current followers of Christ. This could be the life verse for all people who long to be relevant Christ Followers. People who are willing to accept the full authority and power that Christ has given them. God is love, but what about the masculine side of Christ? The side of God that moves mountains defeats armies, raises the dead, is righteous, and just. This is the side that most christians decide to neglect or deem "irrelevant" to the days society. That is what verse 8 is saying! We have become watered down, sissy christians who are afraid to have command and rule over the darkness that is stealing, killing, and destroying our nations! We are afraid to hand over the power of life, sickness, heath, disease, depression, and addiction to the father and allow ourselves to be a conduit of that Glory and power that comes from God alone. When you accept Christ into your life and soul, he is IN you! Simple to say hard to live by, trust me.

I'm gonna stop writing now, but if you want to see what else God is speaking to you in this area on a personal level, read that verse again, and again and physically say out loud. "God, speak to me, show me what this means for me on my personal walk and journey following you." Expect Him to answer, he wants nothing more than to show us and communicate with us.

You are loved beyond comprehension! You are in my prayers, Please keep me in yours as we fight the process that cripples this nation.


Sincerely
-Jack Marshall
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# Posté le mercredi 29 juillet 2009 17:09

Consider the Joy!

As I have experienced significant testing over the past few months I have also experienced a much greater measure of joy and rest in my life. Joy that I am so much closer to God, growing daily in my spiritual walk and discipline. Rest in the reality that God is carrying me through, regardless of how challenging my outward or inward circumstances. God loves it when we find our joy in Him, especially when the world around us is lunging for joy - in all the wrong places. Scarlet and I are still performing together as a band, but we decided to take a short break, (So Cody and I could study for our SAT's), but we're both deciding to take a year off before going to college, so we can play as a band, travel the world and see where God leads us; I don't know where yet, but he's got us covered!

So I decided instead of writing a few paragraphs on how much God has taught me about Joy (second in the "fruit of the Spirit" list behind love), I'd rather show you some of my favorite scriptures on the topic.

1. The most common verse on Joy:

Nehemiah 8:10
The Joy of the Lord is your strength.

2. James 1: 2-8
My brothers, consider it pure Joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

3. 1 Kings 1:40
And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.

4. Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is the fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

5. Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say "rejoice"!

6. Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.

7. Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

8. Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

9. Luke 15:7
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

10. Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Do you struggle to experience Joy, especially when all of life's pitfalls, trails, and challenges overwhelm you like a flood? Pray that God gives you a real expression of joy! Every situation and atmosphere is changed by the spirit full of joy. God, please teach us to be constant in our rejoicing. Fill our hearts with love and with deep-rooted joy in Your character. Make us like those who can shout for joy, regardless of how depressing our environment. Help us to discover the joy in Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit - fresh and new today. Take us as deep as we can go with you.

Blessings,
-Jack Marshall

PS: Si vous voulez lire mon blog et vous ne lisez pas l'anglais s'il vous plaît dites-le moi. Je vais essayer de mon mieux pour traduire certains des mots que vous pouvez me comprendre mieux. Merci!

Si quiere leer mi blog y no leer Inglés por favor dígame. Voy a tratar mi mejor para traducir algunas de las palabras para que pueda entender mejor de mí. Gracias!
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# Posté le jeudi 04 juin 2009 15:25

Modifié le jeudi 11 juin 2009 17:33

Searching For A Breakthrough

Last week I received a comment that reminded me of how I've felt in the past.

Robert E. said...
Why is it so hard to pray? I have been going through a lot of external stuff (finances and parenting) and that is causing a lot of internal issues (failure at parenting, failure to provide adequately for family, etc). I know I need to pray. I know I need to get closer to God. But I just keep on listening to those stupid voices in my head that are telling me that there's no point. That I'm fooling myself thinking God would help me. Why would God help a failure like me? What good am I?

How do you break that wall down? I've heard all the usual stuff that people tell those who are depressed but I just shrug it off as "that's not what I need".

Why can't I break through the wall? I don't like feeling this way about me. Why won't God just take this helplessness away?


I'm going to go through each of these questions and will give what is hopefully a brief and pointed answer.

1. Why is it so hard to pray?

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1) - if David, a man after God's own heart, had to ask God to HEAR his prayer than I would suggest that we all consider asking God to hear our prayers before we start praying away. James 5:16 says that the "Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective". The last thing the enemy of your faith wants is for you to be praying with power and effectiveness. The last thing your flesh wants is to be praying in a way that God becomes so highly exalted in your life that every distraction is seen by your spirit as an opportunity to rejoice. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Are you submitting yourselves to God - in other words, have you given him full authority to do whatever He pleases in your life? Are you resisting the devil?


2. Why would God help a failure like me?

Because He loves helping failure's like you and me. Each of us, apart from Jesus, fall short. Even with Jesus we are constantly falling short of His glory. His blood covers us so that God sees us as heirs, co-laborers, and children He loves. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Cor. 1: 26-29). Stop believing the lie that you are a failure. If Jesus does not call you a failure, then who is speaking the failure lie to you? Resist the devil and he MUST flee.


3. What good am I?

Not much, apart from having received the victorious blood of Jesus shed for you which is the ransom paid to salvage you from worthlessness into glorious worth.
"O my soul, you have said to the LORD,“You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” (Psalm 16:2)


4. How do you break the wall down?

You don't. There's not an ounce of human strength that can overthrow the walls put up against us. Asking God to move in, and root out everything in your heart that does not please Him, is your only hope. Prayer is our strongest weapon. "The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds". (2 Cor. 10:4) When you see prayer as a gun, bazooka, or even a tank, it changes why and how you pray. God has given us a weapon to fight with and it's strong enough to pull down strongholds not only in our lives but in the spiritual realm.


5. Why can't I break through the wall?

Have you asked God to show you what is standing in the way of the wall coming down? We have a tendency to over think everything. But, in reality, it's so simple that even a child could figure it out. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) I wonder if half our problem is that we just don't ask.

6. Why won't God just take this helplessness away?

Sometimes he does allow us a level of helplessness so that we are practically forced back into His arms. It's entirely possible that the enemy is trying to hold you back because he knows how dangerous you might be if you were to be set loose. But don't write everything off as your flesh or as Satan's work. God loves to put us in a position where we HAVE to trust Him 100 percent. "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us". (2 Corinthians 1: 8-10)


Lord Jesus, would you please show Robert and any others who are feeling the same loneliness, helplessness, worthlessness, pressures from the world, and despair, that You alone are the answer. Would you remind them that they are chosen by You and that you have a beautiful plan and purpose for their lives (Romans 8:28). I pray that you bring down every hindrance on their path to be freed from every stronghold. In the mighty name of Jesus, please release them from the depth of their despair and lift them up out of the pit. I rebuke and resist the devil, along with all his plans to capsize their faith; therefore He must flee. Would you please come, Jesus, and increase their love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness, and goodness. Please work the miracle of restoring a deep sense of trust in You to their hearts. "With God all things are possible"(Matthew 19:26).

Don't give up. "The Lord will fight for you, and you will hold your peace" (Ex. 14:14).
-Jack Marshall
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# Posté le mercredi 20 mai 2009 15:17

Trusting with faith like a child.

As humans we dwell on the uncertain things in our lives. We ask ourselves questions like "what is gonna happen to me if this happens.", "how am I gonna take care of this?" or "what's gonna happen to us?". We even venture on to make decisions for these questions when they haven't even come yet like if "this" happens, I'll do "this" or "that". It is okay and necessary to make future decisions for things such as moral conduct, relationship standards, and ethic views. The things I am referring to are onsecurities and worry's that haunt us all on a daily basis.

Here's what the word says. Try not to run it through the Sunday school filter, dig in to its meaning. Read it three times slowly and grab hold of the words.

Proverbs 3
5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6. In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7. Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8. It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

One thing I've been chewing is this. If it is prideful to worry, and all pride is sin then we are sinning every time we fail to put complete whole-hearted trust in God. This concept is so much deeper than we travel into it. Everyone and their mom says "I put my trust in God!", then why are we still so stuck in worrying about our well being? I know I am a broken record when i say this but it resounds and stays true.

Following Christ revolves around one major concept. FOLLOWING. Following, however is an endless number of things. As a child i remember a peace and a safety I had in holding my Mom or Dad's hand. We where so quick to put our lives and our trust in the hands of our parents, and follow them where ever they went. Why? I believe God uses that to get our attention and mirror what he wants for us to do with Him now.

Matthew 18:
2. And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
3. and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4. Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is asking us to become like children. Why? Because they have complete faith in their parents! I'm not sure what happens but as we get older, we get alot dumber. We learn all this junk, and gain all of this "knowledge" that we have to unlearn again to truly be in the Hands of God. That to me is one of my biggest pursuits. Everyday I have to say:
"God take me as I am, Do with me what you want, and Help me fight the processes i have been taught my whole life and fill me with your spirit so I can live in it, by it, and through it and truely follow you whole-heartedly."

One of those process that we must FIGHT is the statement that says, "I can control what happens to me" or "If I do this, this will happen so I know i will be successful if i can just get this to happen." IF WE LIVE A LIFE OF PURSUIT OF OUR SAVIOR, IF WE REALLY FOLLOW JESUS, ALL THINGS WILL FALL INTO HIS PLAN. IN HIS PERFECT PLAN THERE IS NO FEAR, WORRY, OR INSECURITY. THERE IS HOPE, ABUNDANCE IN LIFE, AND A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.

I pray that if you are reading this you find peace and hope in a loving God, and in return you receive a burning passion to follow Christ that your pride can not silence!

My heart is heavy for us all and I put my trust in God!
-Jack

Jack_Marshall@rocketmail.com
www.twitter.com/Jack_Scarlet
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# Posté le samedi 02 mai 2009 13:23

Modifié le dimanche 03 mai 2009 12:38