TRANSFORMED DAILY!

Got Peace - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:23:00 +0000

We are called to be peacemakers. So, what is a peacemaker? A peacemaker is someone who brings righteousness (Jesus) into a situation. You actually make peace by sowing righteousness. For instance, if you don’t have peace in your marriage, don’t avoid the conflict. Rather, bring your marital relationship into right standing with God. Bring righteousness into the relationship and peace will follow.

If there is an area of conflict in your life, then examine to see if it is in right standing with God. Bring righteousness into that area of your life. Make it completely right before God. Totally surrender it to Him. Give it to Jesus! Righteousness will bring peace!

How do we stay in the place of peace? We stay focused on God. Check out this scripture:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3

We stay in perfect peace when we stay focused on God. No matter what the world says, no matter what our circumstances are, no matter the economy, no matter the doctors reports, no matter what. So, do you want peace? Then bring God into your situations and stay focused on God and His truth. What does God say about it? Believe it, confess it.

Got Peace - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Peace is being in right relationship with God! Peace is being in right standing before God. Peace means that Jesus is Lord of your life, your relationships, your attitude, your finances, your everything.

Peace is not the absence of something, but rather the presence of someone. You can have a storm, but if Jesus is in the boat, you can have peace. Peace is the presence of Christ. Peace is present when Christ is present. Peace is present in your relationships when Christ is the Lord of your relationships. Peace is present in your finances when Christ is the Lord of your finances. Peace is present in your marriage when Christ is the Lord of your marriage. Peace is present in your heart when Christ is the Lord of your heart.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9

Keeping the heart pure

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:10:00 +0000

"If the pure in heart see God, then tell me how to have a pure heart because I want to see God."

Let me start out by emphatically stating that the only way we can ever have a pure heart is to invite Jesus to reside, rule, and reign inside our hearts. He alone is the essence of purity and holiness. So, there’s no hope for a pure heart without God.

But know that in Christ, we now have the ability and responsibility to actively pursue this progressive work of developing a pure heart. “I can do all things through Christ…” My heart can be purified. I am called to "work out my salvation with fear and trembling.” I am called to work on my heart.

Our responsibility in our relationship with Christ is to give our heart to Him every day and not give it to the world. We must build our affections for God and allow the affections for this world to be cut off. How do we do this? Scripture clearly points to some things that must be present in the life of one whose heart is being purified. These are often called the spiritual disciplines. Don’t discount them, because they are used powerfully by the Holy Spirit to transform us and to purify us. Here they are...

1. Repentance: “Thinking differently about things.” Thinking God’s way about stuff.

“8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Phil. 4:8

2. This involves RENEWING OUR MINDS: We renew our minds by reading the Word of God – the Bible. When we read God’s Word, we fill our minds with life and with truth – with purity instead of filling it with the filth and follies of this passing world.

2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (be purified) by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

3. Prayer & Fasting: Communing with the Holy One purifies our hearts. When we pray and when we fast, our focus is on God and nothing else. This strengthens our heart. In fact, scripture tells us it is so important that we should, “pray without ceasing” – 1 Thes. 5:17. Always be in a state of prayer (communing with God); allowing God to be involved in our everything. We need to wake up praying, not planning our busy day – Praying. It is no accident that I see God and His will so much clearer when I am purposely focused on Him during times of intense prayer and fasting? Could it be that my heart has undergone a cleansing from other affections? Could it be that I have just taken a spiritual bath and come to a place where my heart has been rinsed of gunk that had attached itself?

4. Fellowshipping with Christ Followers: You have probably heard the saying, “you are who you hang out with.” This is so true. Hanging out with negative people will suck the life out of you and you will become negative and critical. Likewise, if you hang out with people who are passionately pursuing God, you will find yourself passionately pursuing God. You will find your heart being purified and you will see God and you will be Happy in God! AMEN!

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. - Proverbs 13:20

5. Let me add one more thing: Ask God for help. Not just once, but daily. Listen to King David, the man after God’s heart,

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

Tell God you want the other stuff that is trying to pull your heart away from Him to be cut off.

Want to see God?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:04:00 +0000

So, the pure in heart will see God. To “See God” means to see Him both in eternity and now. Again, we see the eternal blessings and the now blessings in the Beatitudes. Yes, the pure in heart will see God in eternity. They will see Him face to face in heaven. They will actually live and rule with Christ in the new earth. The pure in heart will be forever in His presence. Hallelujah!

But, the pure in heart will also see God now. The pure in heart will see God moving in powerful ways. They will see God in miracles; they will see God move spiritual mountains and heal physical disease. They will see God changing hearts and transforming lives. They will see God defeat the Devil and drive back the enemy. They will see God in dreams and in visions. They will see God in the midst of life’s circumstances – holding you up, protecting you, and walking with you. They will hear His voice and feel His touch. God is alive in amazing and awesome ways to the “pure in heart”.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. – Matthew 5:8

The way to God is through the heart

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Yesterday we talked about how the PURE IN HEART chase after God and not other stuff. The PURE IN HEART pursue God and not selfish things. The PURE IN HEART seek God and they find Him because God has told us, “If you seek me, you will find Me.” The PURE IN HEART forsake all other affections and long for God alone. The PURE IN HEART are crazy in love with God and don’t allow anything else to compete for His affection.

You see, God wants our hearts. He wants us to crave Him. When we do, we will see Him.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. – Matthew 5:8

What motivates you?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. – Matthew 5:8

Pure in heart means to be “free from corrupt desire.” It means that we are motivated by God and not by self. Pure in Heart means that we are led by the Holy Spirit and not by our corrupt flesh. It means that Christ is our deep desire. It means that we have died to self and that our inner motivation and the craving of our soul is Christ centered.

“A wicked heart is a mind in a state of devotion to self; a pure heart, a mind in a state of devotion to God. It is a state of moral purity, resulting from a committal of the soul to God.” – Charles Finney

So, what is your devotion? What is your motivation? Is it your happiness, your comfort, your reputation, your acceptance, your desire to avoid pain? Or, is it a heart-felt desire to obey God, to follow Jesus, and to glorify the Lord? How you answer this question matters tremendously. It is all about the condition of your heart – your motivation. Is your motivation (heart) turned to you or is it turned to God.

What you want...

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Do you want your soul to be revived? Do you desire wisdom beyond your years and beyond your peers? Do you long for more joy in your heart? Do you want to see the world in a new light? Do you desire to stay out of trouble and to succeed where others fail? What you want are the things of God. What you want is His truth. What you want is found in God's Word - the Bible. Go after it; read it; trust it; mediate on it; devour it and you will be filled. Do what it says and you will be blessed.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. - Psalm 19:7-11

Forgiveness is hard, but...

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:55:00 +0000

God never told us it would be easy to forgive. He never said that showing mercy was easy – it cost Jesus His life to show us mercy. But, Jesus has clearly told us that it is the only way; that it is a non-negotiable. We have to forgive because we have been forgiven much. We have to show mercy because we have been shown much mercy.

Left to ourselves, we couldn’t do it. But, we are not left to ourselves. We are in Christ Jesus. We are Spirit led people who are no longer controlled by our flesh: our own mind, will, and emotions. And in Christ, we can do all things. In Christ, we have been given all we need for Life and Godliness. In Christ, we can forgive. In Christ, we can show mercy.

Sow justice - reap justice. Sow mercy - reap mercy.

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:47:00 +0000

37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38

The principle of sowing and reaping is always at work:

When you don’t judge others for their junk, you will receive good measure (loads) of mercy.
When you don’t condemn others for the things they have done against you, then you will not be condemned.
When you forgive others (even forgive them for the extremely hurtful, horrible, sick stuff), then you will be given complete forgiveness – overflowing.
When you give out this mercy, it will be given to you in such large amounts that it will be running all over you and this will make you happy in God. AMEN!

Notice the context of this passage. It isn't talking about financial sowing and reaping. Jesus isn't talking about receiving amazing gains in the area of money and finances. Rather, He is talking about reaping amazing gains in the area of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. That blows away financial blessings any day of the week.

Judging others is a way of seeking justice

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:39:00 +0000

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2

This is a very clear statement from Jesus: If we demand justice and repayment for the sins that others have committed against us, then we will be dealt with in the same manner. OUCH! Let God judge. Leave any vengeance to God. We are called to be merciful.

The way we treat others is the way God will treat us. If we seek justice for others, then God will hand us over to justice. I don’t know about you, but I can’t handle that kind of justice. I can’t handle what I deserve - not from God, not from Satan, not from this cruel world. But, when I extend mercy to others; when I don’t judge others; when I forgive others for their sins against me, I then remain in the place of mercy and escape the place of justice – Hallelujah.

Got Mercy?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Our flesh cries out for justice. "They owe me and I want it. What they did to me was wrong and they should pay. Give me justice!" Our world is built on the principle of justice. Look at the court systems, look at the massive numbers of lawsuits. It is all about justice, but where is the mercy?

Even though we have received ultimate mercy from the Creator of the Universe – God almighty. Even though He has forgiven our gross actions and our hard hearts, we still gravitate towards justice. But Jesus tells us many times, “Don’t go there.” In fact, He says: “You really, really, really, don’t want to go back to that place of justice.” He is warning us; He is pleading with us to stay away from justice and to remain in the place of mercy. Why? Because when we seek justice from others, it requires us to step down from the place of mercy. Jesus paid the ultimate price to get us to the place of mercy.

You see, we can’t have it both ways; “I want mercy for me, but I want justice for others.” It just doesn't work that way in the Kingdom of God. When we seek justice for others, we forfeit mercy.

GOT MERCY?

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. – Matthew 5:7

Justice, Mercy, Grace

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:24:00 +0000

Justice is giving someone what they deserve.

Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve.

Grace is giving someone what they don’t deserve.

It is justice to send me to hell.

It is mercy to not send me to hell.

It is grace to send me to heaven (to be in God’s presence for all eternity).

When we received God’s mercy given to us through the sacrifice of Christ on that cross, we were lifted out of the place of justice (getting what we deserve) and lifted to the higher place of mercy. Hallelujah!

Desperate for the Righteousness of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +0000

The righteousness of Christ isn’t something we just wear like a mask. Rather, it is who we must become. His righteousness must be allowed to fill us to the full; to take us over. So that, we begin to become righteous as He is righteous - "Be Holy as He is Holy". So that we think like Jesus and act like Jesus. That is the real transformation that happens to those who are in Christ, who are meek, who are led by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. – Matthew 5:6

Finding Happiness in God - Audio Teaching

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

At Evident Life Church we started our journey through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount three weeks ago. For the past two weeks I have taught through the first 4 Beatitudes. God is blowing our minds, bringing us to repentance, and filling us with a happiness in Him that the world can never come close to delivering.

You can listen to these teachings at www.EvidentLife.org. Click HERE.

Got mourning?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Do you need to be comforted? Do you need the comfort of your Heavenly Father? Well, Jesus tells us that “those who mourn will be comforted.” The specific word that Jesus used here refers to the mourning that we should have, not over loosing a business deal or the loss of a pet hamster, rather a mourning that we should have over our sin.

So, when we are truly sad for our sin; when we have godly sorrow; when we then humbly ask for forgiveness and repent of our sin; then we will experience the comfort of God. This comfort is the forgiveness given by our Creator and a freedom given to us to live for Him and not for our sin. God will comfort us by releasing the grip that the sin had on us. WOW!

So, do you “got mourning?”

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4

Life after death

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:53:00 +0000

New life only comes after death. If we want new life in Christ, we must die to self. This is true about our lives and it is also true about ministry. We must allow our plans to die so that God can bring His plans to life.

I just experienced this kingdom principle at work as I laid down something I was holding too tightly. In fact, holding on too tightly caused God’s plans to come to a screeching halt. Well, I finally woke up, released my grip, and laid down my plans. Immediately, God showed up and brought everything to life. That ministry is now the East Valley House of Prayer. You can check it out at ArizonaPrayer.com.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. – Luke 9:23-24

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds – John 12:24

In the battle? Start crying.

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:07:00 +0000

When we find ourselves in the middle of the battle. When we find ourselves under attack. When our lives feel threatened and when things are spinning out of control all around us, we must not retreat, we must not despair, we must not look to our own understanding or our own strength. Rather, we must cry! We must cry out to the living and powerful God of all creation. We must trust in Him and His ability to deliver us. We must allow the battle to be the Lord’s. This is when we will find victory. This is when we will find our prayers answered.

20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 21 They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God's. And they occupied the land until the exile. – 1 Chronicles 5:20-22

The extreme makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:02:00 +0000

We must remember that when we ask Christ into our lives that we are asking for Him to both save us and to change us. We are asking for His forgiveness and for His love, but we are also asking Him to come in and clean house. We are asking Him to make us like Him - full of love, mercy, grace, righteousness, and holiness. This means we are asking Him to drive out the selfishness, pride, lust, and sinfulness. We are asking for the extreme makeover.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 1 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus said it’s all about repentance

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Many say that the primary message of Jesus when He ministered on this earth was love. No doubt about it, Jesus spoke a lot about love and demonstrated pure love. However, the primary spoken message of Jesus was really repentance. Yes, repentance.

Scripture even makes a very clear point of this reality:

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matt. 4:17

In fact, Jesus’ the whole Sermon on the Mount is a cry for repentance. This all starts to become clear when we see that the word “repentance” as used in the Greek means to “to change one’s mind for the better, to think differently, and to allow this new way of thinking to thoroughly change one’s actions and lifestyle.”

So, Jesus taught that it was time to stop doing things the same way. It was time to repent. It was time to think and act differently. It was time to do it God’s way. And it is now possible to do it God’s way because Christ has brought the kingdom; He has conquered sin and death. His grace now gives us all we need for life and godliness.

Are you living a life of repentance? Are you thinking differently? A great litmus test is the Sermon on the Mount. Does this describe your thinking and your life?

Answer the call and see miracles

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Amazing things happen when we do what God has called us to do. Let’s look at the Gospel of Mark’s take on the Great Commission to see what kind of results we can expect when we live out the calling that Christ has placed on our lives:

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe (those who have come to Christ as a result of us going and making disciples): In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." - Mark 16:15-18

When we fulfill the calling that has so clearly been placed on our lives by Jesus Christ Himself, we will see miracles. We will see the kingdom of God advance in power and in might. We will see things be made right again. We will see order come where there was confusion, we will see health where there was sickness. We will see freedom where there was bondage. We will see hope where there was despair. We will see life where there was death.

Let's GO!

Let's save the world

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:48:00 +0000

As a red-blooded man, I have had my fill of dreams where I was the one who came crashing through the door to save the day; where I was the one who blew up the plans of the enemy; where I was the super hero. In the Great Commission, Jesus gives His followers an amazing gift; He gives us clear insight into why we exist; why we are here. Additionally, He makes us part of the greatest possible adventure that life can offer - we get to partner with Christ to SAVE THE WORLD. Check it out...

18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - MAtthew 28:18-20

Jesus tells us to join Him in bringing people out of darkness into His marvelous light. He invites us (well, actually He commands us) to help save the world. This is so cool. Let's deploy. Let's engage. Let's do this thing and fulfill our calling in life.

Find the wall and tear it down

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:59:00 +0000

We know that Jericho was a barrier to Israel’s advancement. It had to be removed. It had to be destroyed for them to fully occupy the land. Is there a Jericho in your life today? With some it is selfish ambition: the desire for fame or success. For others it is covetousness: the desire to accumulate wealth – stuff. Still others it is worldly pleasure. Only by active faith can obstacles be overcome.

“The frowning walls of Jericho must fall before there can be spiritual progress and enjoyment of the riches of grace in Christ Jesus.” H.A. Ironsides

Is there something that is keeping you from going to the next level; to the next season; to the next blessing that God has for you? If so, seek God for His plans to destroy that Jericho in your life and step out in faith and do battle against it. God will cause it to crumble. But just like the Israelites, you have got to obediently stand up, walk around the wall, and declare it to be removed. IN JESUS NAME!

God get’s His people involved

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:48:00 +0000

God can do things anyway He desires. For instance, He could have caused the walls of Jericho to fall and crumble with one word from His mouth. But instead, He got His people involved. He required that His people stand up and engage in the process. His people had to stand up and walk or nothing would have happened. God’s people had to take real steps of faith.

As followers of Christ, we see this same call on our lives. Jesus tells His disciples to follow Him. He tells us to step out of the boat. He tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. We are called to GO; not sit, not observe, but GO! God wants us to be involved in His kingdom coming to earth. He wants us to be active participants. This is a mandate to us just like the Israelites were commanded to get up and walk around the city of Jericho.

Let’s get involved. Let’s be active participants in God’s kingdom plans.

Is it really foolishness?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Some people think that the things of God are foolish. They say, “prayer is a waste of time, it doesn’t do anything; fasting is ridiculous, what does not eating have to do with God moving in our lives; going to church and singing songs is silly, nothing changes." That is what the world thinks.

Jesus said that, “The things of His kingdom will look like foolishness to the world.” But, it is exactly that foolishness, driven by true faith and the grace of God, that moves mountains, that changes nations, that brings healing to bodies and to relationships, that frees us from bondage, and that causes the walls to crumble.

Bring on the foolishness. Bring on the power of God!

Did you know that you already have it?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Jones) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:36:00 +0000

The Promised Land was given to the Israelites before they ever attacked Jericho. It was already theirs by title, but they still had to truly make it their own by driving out and destroying the vile inhabitants.

If you are a follower of Christ, a child of God, then this is also how it is in your life. We have been given the kingdom. We have been given the victory, but we are still called to make it our own by doing battle against the enemy and driving out the yuck from our lives. We know we don’t battle against flesh and blood, but we do battle against the ruler of this lost world, against evil spiritual forces of the devil.

There is a blessing, a Promised Land, a victory for those who are in Christ Jesus. Sadly, many fail to grab hold of it by faith and practically enjoy it because of ignorance, laziness, or selfishness. Let’s not miss it. Let’s take what has been given to us and not miss out on any of it. Let’s advance the kingdom for the glory of God.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have (past tense) delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. – Joshua 6:2