Freed From…

Posted on by Face to Face
Image
“There’s no entirely peaceful way to be freed from something. But if there were, I imagine it would be something like this:
You, standing in front of a beautiful lake. Standing there representing only you. You’re there with God above you. Beside you is a pile of rocks that represent your life. Some of those rocks you want to keep. Because they’re positive moments and memories worth holding on to. But left in the pile are rocks that represent things that hold you down/back, and phases/layers of yourself and your life that you could do without. So you stand there…just you and God, and you choose the rocks you want to release from your life. With His help, you peacefully skip those rocks out of your life, in the most serene, uplifting and releasing way imaginable. Those burdens are no longer yours to bear. Your pile of rocks is left with only those you chose to keep. The way it should be. The way God wants it to be.”
Graphic design by Zack Rackovan
Words by Kendra Rackovan 

Fear : Friend or Foe

Posted on by Face to Face
Fear is an interesting thing. Is it an emotion? Is it a natural reaction? What is fear? Is it a friend or a foe? Almost all of us (I don’t think President Obama and Mitt Romney have any fear, just watch a  rerun of any of their debates and you’ll see what I mean) deal with some sort of fear at one time or another. Even though it’s a common part of our lives I am convinced that it isn’t meant to be a part of it. Here is what I believe fear is:
 
1. Fear is a spiritual thing that shows itself in our emotions
2. Fear is the enemy of innovation and progress
3. Fear has an agenda to prevent you from taking meaningful action in life
4. Fear cripples and subdues the most powerful of people
5. Fear is a foe not a friend
6. Fear can be overcome
Just because you face your fear doesn’t mean it’s going to leave you alone. I advocate facing your fears. I think it helps but I don’t think it will eradicate the fear. The Bible tells us that God gives us a spirit that is opposite to the spirit of fear. It also tells us that fear has to do with self doubt and punishment.
Here is the key to overcoming all kinds of fear: It’s not who you are as much as it is whose you are. 
If I trust that I am in the good graces of my creator then I can look fear square in the face and scare it off. If I know what He, my heavenly father, thinks of me, then I will be confident with how I see myself. If I get a glimpse of what He has planned for me then I’ll live with a ‘more than a conqueror’ attitude and go for it.
What are some of your fears? How do you overcome them? What is it that you need to hear from God today to help you live in victory over fear?

Learn the Power of Peace

Posted on by Face to Face

I have a number of quotes that I would like to share in this post concerning fear and courage. These quotes are from the book “Supernatural Ways of Royalty”

 

“What we believe to be our most fearful stumbling block is actually the door to our greatest victory.”

-          This has me thinking; what if all the things that I am afraid of doing, are actually the things that I will be most successful in. What if my “weaknesses” are actually the way to greatness and fear is the wall that is standing in my way?

 

“Our greatest destiny lies on the other side of fear. Courage is the ability to advance in the face of adversity to obtain these treasures.”

-          Now this is a solid definition of what courage is.

 

“They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death”- Revelations 12:11

-          These are the weapons that we hold onto and stand firm with. The blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

 

“I am convinced that once the fear of death is broken in our lives, we become an unstoppable force that the hordes of hell cannot contend with. When the devil loses the ability to scare us in death, he becomes powerless in our lives.”

 

“You only have power over the storm that you have peace in.”- Bill Johnson

 

“Peace, be still.”- Mark 4:39

-          Jesus showed how true the above quote is. Jesus walked it out. Jesus is our peace in any storm. We need to remember that Jesus overcame the world, and how deeply we are loved by our heavenly Father. God is invested in our lives.

 

“Learn the Power of Peace.”

 

“Courage is peace in the storm, the inability to be alarmed by the enemy. When we can sleep in the storm, be calm in the face of battle and not panic in the midst of opposition, we have broken the back of the devil!”

 

Duane Moore

The Pennsylvania State University 

Victory Christian Fellowship

Campus Pastor

 

So What About Sin?

Posted on by Face to Face

What’s the problem with sin? Sin has some strong implications in life. There are several distinct phases to sin:

Firstly, there is an innocence about sin. Secondly, there is a shame about sin. Thirdly, there is a revelry about sin. And finally, there is an identity about sin.

  1. Innocence

    1. In this phase, we begin to look with desire upon the sin. That focus on the sin leads us to it.

    2. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6

  2. Shame

    1. The sudden realization of a loss of innocence overtakes the transgressor.

    2. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” Genesis 3:7

  3. Revelry / False Glory / Enjoyment

    1. In this phase, the transgressor will find pleasure in his/her sin. It is transitory, and fleeting. The enjoyment does not last for more than a season. Shame has become of no effect.

    2. “…choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the PASSING PLEASURES OF SIN…” – Hebrews 11:25 (emphasis mine)

    3. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars SEARED IN THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE AS WITH A BRANDING IRON…” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (emphasis mine)

  4. Identity

    1. The label of sin becomes the sinner’s rightful name. By his/her actions he/she is now known.

    2. He/she will seek others to join him/her in sin. He/she will promise that there is no loss of innocence and that it is pleasurable to the unaquainted. At this point, full addiction has set into the individual.

    3. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither FORNICATORS, nor IDOLATERS, nor ADULTERERS, nor EFFEMINATE, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor THIEVES, nor the COVETOUS, nor DRUNKARDS, nor REVILERS, nor SWINDLERS, will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

So, sin takes our innocence and gives us shame. As sin continues to cry out, it promises enjoyment and pleasure. As we continue, sin takes our shame and gives us a seared conscience. And finally, with that seared conscience gives to the sinner a new name—the name of sin itself. It has fully identified itself within the person-hood of the sinner.

What hope is there, then? If I have allowed sin to overtake me, how am I ever to escape?

Let’s look at Jesus. His work on the Cross is deeper than my understanding. But, I can share this with you.

Among many things faith in Jesus as the Christ holds, there are four I will share with you today.

Firstly, He gives us a new identity. Secondly, He returns us to enjoyment of life. Thirdly, He takes away our shame. And finally, He returns our innocence.

  1. A New Identity

    1. “But as many as received Him, to them He GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 (emphasis mine)

    2. “…And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first CALLED CHRISTIANS in Antioch.” – Acts 11:26 (emphasis mine)

  2. True Enjoyment / True Glory

    1. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY.” – John 10:10 (emphasis mine)

    2. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in GLORY.” – Colossians 3:4 (emphasis mine)

    3. “…In [His] presence is FULLNESS OF JOY; In [His] right hand there are PLEASURES FOREVER.” – Psalm 16:11 (emphasis mine)

  3. Removal of Shame

    1. “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that OUR BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, so that we would NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN; for he who has died is FREED FROM SIN.” – Romans 6:5-7 (emphasis mine)

    2. “Therefore there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has SET YOU FREE from the law of sin and of death.” – Romans 8:1-2 (emphasis mine)

  4. Return to Innocence

    1. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU; BUT YOU WERE WASHED, BUT YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, BUT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND IN THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (emphasis mine)

    2. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness….For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:2, 6

The terrible labels are off when one accepts Jesus as the Christ and as his/her Savior and Lord. All of those things are summed up in one single statement “SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU” or “SUCH AS SOME OF YOU WERE” past tense, GONE! Because you were washed, you were sanctified, and you were justified. And then we’re left only as “CHILDREN OF GOD”.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the [time of your] rebellion.” – Hebrews 3:15 (emphasis mine)

Perhaps today you feel a stirring in your heart. Perhaps today, you don’t want the labels that sin has placed upon you any more. Perhaps today, you want to be known as a child of God. Perhaps, you have known God, but you have gone astray after the deceitfulness of sin and the riches of this life and in so doing have pierced yourself with many griefs. If that is you, simply agree in prayer with me—I have prayed already for you.

“Jesus, I believe You are the only begotten Son of God. You made Yourself a little lower than the Angels and were born of the Virgin Mary and of the Holy Spirit. You were perfectly obedient to God the Father, and took my place as Sin and took upon Yourself the condemnation of Man and of God upon the Cross. I accept Your obedient sacrifice as my atonement to God. I recognize and accept fully that there remains no more wrath for me. In accordance with Your testimony, I am now a child of God and a co-heir with Christ. Sin shall have no dominion over me. The riches of the Kingdom are available to me. Help me to be a proper steward over Your riches. I will no further accept false labels. I thank You for eternal life in Christ Jesus. I accept You, Jesus as both Savior and Lord of my life, and believe that I, too have become a son of Abraham. Amen.”

 

In Christ Jesus with Love,

Geoffrey Pitman

“Do you really believe that God speaks to you?”

Posted on by Face to Face

I was in Athens, Georgia last week on a missions trip with Victory Christian Fellowship, the Campus Ministry that I am a part of. We were at UGA sharing the love of God through words of encouragement and prophecy. We would pray for people and ask the Lord to give us words of encouragement that we could share with them. Most of these words were pretty accurate descriptions of the person’s circumstances followed by what the Lord wanted to do in their lives. We ended up, over a three-day period, sharing words of encouragement and love with close to 200 people.

We ran into all kinds of people with all kinds of believes while we were in Athens. One of the groups who came in contact with was the secularist group on campus. They came up to us and we shared what we felt the Lord wanted to say to them. For the most part we got positive responses from them but one of them, an atheist, asked Joel Kramer, our team leader, this question “Do you really believe that God speaks to you or is this just a way for you to preach your message?” For the unprepared person this question can be a pretty loaded one. Joel was ready and answered with confidence that we believe God speaks to us. The young mans question got me thinking about my own life and belief. What would I have answered this young man?What would you have answered this young man?

Do you really believe?

In the Bible the writer of the book of Hebrews makes this statement “Without Faith, it is impossible to please God … “(Hebrews 11:6) Faith can be defined as belief. I find it very interesting that the writer didn’t say that “Without a moral lifestyle, going to church, reading the Bible, praying, it is impossible to please God”. He writes that without Faith nothing is pleasing to God. So the young man’s question is one that we all need to answer for ourselves. Do you believe? Do you really have faith in a God? Do you really have faith that God speaks to you? It’s essential to our lives on earth. God’s currency is faith. Without belief there can be no salvation for man. There can be no righteousness without belief. There will be no pleasing God with the foundation of belief.

If you are having trouble with these questions, let me help you figure it out. the book of James in the Bible makes a bold statement about our Faith. James writes that ‘Faith without action is DEAD’(James 2:17). This means that if there is no accompanying actions to your faith then it is pretty much nonexistent. That’s some heavy stuff. Basically if I believe in God and if I believe that He speaks to me then there should be actions in my life that buttress that faith. This becomes the litmus test for our faith. Are there accompanying actions that prove our faith? Do you really believe that God speaks to you? Do you believe that there is a God out there? Do you believe that Jesus is the messiah?

Maybe you answered yes to my questions but found yourself wanting when it comes to the accompanying actions. Don’t be discouraged. Be empowered to walk out you faith. If God speaks to you then live a life of obedience to what He says. If Jesus is the messiah then let your life resemble that of someone who has been saved. If you believe the authority of scripture then let it show in the way to live.

When Joel answered the question this young atheist posed, he was declaring not just a statement of belief but a lifestyle that was demonstrated all throughout our missions trip. We saw people give their lives to the Lord. We saw some amazing miracles of healing but above all of that we walked in the Faith we professed. That’s pretty much all that we did. God spoke to us and we acted on what He said then the results followed.We could answer any critic with evidence that we DID believe that God was speaking to us.

My hope and prayer is that you would walk and live according to the Faith that you have. God is pleased with Faith actions, not just actions. Live like a believing believer, not an unbelieving believer.