Showing posts with label holy spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holy spirit. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Позорный секрет “христианского” бытового насилия.


Позорный секрет “христианского” бытового насилия.
10:00AM EDT 5/18/2016 J. LEE GRADY
В прошлое воскресенье в полицию поступил звонок из дома одного из спокойных районов Миннеаполиса, Иден Прери.  Приехав в этот дом, полицейские обнаружили, что Любе Савенок, 23-х летней матери двоих малых детей, было нанесено множество ножевых ранений. Она была беременная третьим ребенком. Оба умерли этим утром.

Позже муж Любы Евгений сознался, что он убил свою жену, сбежав из дома с двумя детьми.  Сегодня дети находятся под опекой родственников, а он ожидает суда.

Эта красивая пара с сыном и дочкой посещали евангельскую церковь. Позже сообщили, что Люба уже обращалась в полицию о помощи защитить ее от своего мужа, когда они жили недалеко от Чикаго.
Он рассказала властям о том, что Евгений неоднократно бил ее, разбивал нос, вырывал волосы и однажды разбил окно в припадке гнева.

Полиция была вызвана также в дом Савенок и в прошлый август,  где они обнаружили, что Евгений ударил свою жену так сильно, что на спине ее были обнаружены  синяки. Он должен был предстать перед судом по этому делу на этой неделе. Но теперь он уже будет судим за убийство.
Мы все знаем, что домашнее насилие происходит за закрытыми дверями в нашей стране. Но что самое трагичное, это происходит в христианских семьях: и этот грех редко обсуждается с кафедры. Потому что у меня есть много друзей из русско-говорящих церквей в этой стране, я был в ужасе услышав о Любе Савенок, которая приехала из Эстонии.

Но когда я разговаривал с некоторыми из моих друзей-славян, я узнал, что домашнее насилие - это позорный секрет, о которым люди перешептываются в церкви, но редко разбираются с ним.

“Моя сестра была изнасилована, избиваема в течение 17 лет.” - делилась одна славянская женщина из средне-западного штата, - “Я была свидетелем эмоционального и физического насилия, а также сексуального подавления, включая наркотики, для того чтобы контролировать женщин.” Необходимо тщательное расследование такого насилия среди славянских эмигрантов.”
Одна женщина из Флориды сказала, что когда ее подруга просила помощи у пастора из -за постоянного насилия в своем 20-летнем браке, пастор сказал ей подчиниться жестокости мужа.” Он сказал, что ей надо стать лучшей женой, и это тогда изменит поведение ее мужа.” - рассказывала она.
Некоторые из тех людей, у кого я брал интервью по этому поводу, боялись называть свои настоящие имена, потому что в их общине считается неправильным рассказывать о насилии в русско-язычных церквях.
“Когда  о насилии становится известно, то это стараются не обсуждать, из-за религиозных традиций, - сказала одна христианка славянской общины, живущая в Калифорнии. “ К сожалению, церковь не готова разбираться с этой проблемой.”
Исследования показывают, что домашнее насилие достигло вопиющий масштабов  в русских семьях. И многие  славянские женщины бояться даже сообщать в полицию о насилии, потому что их мужья угрожают им расправой.  Таня Левчик, которая основала группу на Фейсбуке 

“Славянские христианки”, сказала, что настало время для Славянских пасторов разобраться со слоном в комнате.”

“Многие славянки бояться даже озвучить свои страхи, из-за того, что  во главу угла ставится репутации всей славянской общины,” -“ Они чувствуют, что над ними будут смеяться, а не защищать, и они всегда будут виноваты, просто потому что они женщины.”  Группа  Левчик на Фейсбуке уже достигла 14 000 женщин.

Мой славянский друг Павел Музычук, 31 год, делающий миссионерскую работу в 8 странах мира, сказал, что этот случай с Любой Савенок стал своего рода звонком для церковных лидеров как среди славянских общин, так для всего Тела Христова.

“ Мое сердце разбито из -за славянских женщин, которые скрывают свои нездоровые отношения в семье и страдания,”- сказал он. “Страх, религиозная гордость и имидж “мачо” среди славянских мужчин  - это все должно быть адресовано решительно,  чтобы женщины  славянских общин были избавлены от насилия.”

Стефан Карнаух, выросший в славянской семье в  Нью-Йорке сказал, что пришло время открыть болезненную правду о насилие и учить мужчин уважительно относиться к жене. “Вынося на свет правду, мы наконец сможем защитить семьи и мы сможем научить детей стать божьими супругами, родителями и любить Христа,” - сказал Карнаух.

Нам нужно посмотреть в лицо факту, что убийство Любы является не просто проблемой среди славянских верующих. Годами американские  пасторы говорили женщинам “просто подчинись” мужу-насильнику, не понимая, что такой совет ведет к еще большему насилию.

Вместо того, чтобы неверно толковать Ефесянам 5:22 (“Жены, будьте послушны свои мужьям, как Господу во всем.”) и ставить женщин под опасность, мы должны правильно использовать Библию, чтобы предупреждать насильников о том, что Бог яростно противится мужчинам, которые смотрят на своих жен как на низших существ.  1Петра 3:7 предупреждает мужей, что их молитвы не буду воспрепятствованы, если муж не почитает свою жену, как сонаследницу благодатной жизни.

Давайте осмелимся посмотреть правде в глаза. Давайте бороться с насилием, исцелять его жертвы и  давайте остановим извращение Писания, ради покрывательства насильников.  


J. Lee Grady  бывший редактор журнала Харизма.

Friday, April 24, 2015

God Cares About Our Pain: Grief and Loss

Mat 5:4 (NRSV) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
We all suffer grief. Sometimes it's the excruciating pain of losing someone we are very close to, whether through death or a move or just a loss of the relationship. Sometimes it's a change in a relationship. It might be a job loss, the loss of a pet, or a failure of some sort, which is the death of a dream. Whatever our pain, we need to remember three things:
  1. God understands.
  2. God cares.
  3. God can bring us through it and even make something beautiful out of it. 
"Grief is a journey, often perilous and without clear direction," writes author Molly Fumia. "The experience of grieving cannot be ordered or categorized, hurried or controlled, pushed aside or ignored indefinitely. It is inevitable as breathing, as change, as love. It may be postponed, but it will not be denied." 
Fumia says it well. When it comes to grieving the death of a loved one, there are no linear patterns, no "normal" reactions, no formulas to follow. The word "grief" is derived from the French word "grève," meaning a heavy burden. Indeed, the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual implications can be overwhelming. 

While grief is an expected response to a significant loss, the unfamiliar emotions that arise can lead to feelings of helplessness, fear and isolation.
Following a death, everyone works through these stresses differently. Some are instantly devastated; others feel numb and disconnected. Some withdraw socially, while others reach out for support. What's more, just when the initial shock begins to subside, a deeper sense of reality and despair sets in. Those who grieve may need to learn new skills, adopt different habits and adjust to daily life without the physical presence of the person who died.
Although grieving is an individual experience, there are symptoms many people share after suffering personal loss:
  • Feels physically drained
  • Can't sleep at night
  • Forgetful and unable to think clearly
  • Noticeable change in appetite
  • Physical distress such as chest pains, headaches or nausea
  • Stays extremely busy to avoid thinking about his or her grief
  • Eats, drinks watches television, etc. excessively
  • Participates in harmful activities
  • Senses or dreams about the deceased
  • Becomes withdrawn, lonely and apathetic
  • Frequent sighing and crying
Each person sets his or her own pace when grieving. There will be ups and downs, moments of relief followed by moments of anguish. The first few days after someone dies are generally the most intense, marked by chaos, strong emotions and a "dreamlike" sensation.

God empathizes with our pain. His own Son, Jesus -- Who is God -- suffered grief. I think readily of one example.
John 11:33-35 (NRSV) When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
Of all people, Jesus certainly knew about Heaven. He knew that Lazarus wasn't suffering. But He also knew that it hurt, to lose him. Even though we know someone is suffering less, or something is for the best, God doesn't expect us to just act like nothing has happened, or say "Well He is with Jesus praise God," and go happily on our way. It is wonderful to keep an eternal perspective. However, God has built grief into us as a normal emotion, and we need to allow ourselves to feel it and work through it. God cares about our pain. He knows everything, including our emotions, but He wants to hear from us.
Psa 62:8 (NRSV) Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. He wants to hear our hurts. He isn't an aloof God who distances Himself from what we are going through. He is a loving God, a Shepherd, a Father. Those of you who are parents -- think about how you feel for your children when they are grieving, over a friend who has moved, beloved pet who has been killed.
And our Heavenly Father loves us even more than we love our children. Imagine how much more than that even, He cares for us in our griefs! But the ultimate perspective we have does need to be eternal, as well as God's glory and purpose even now. And we often find God has taught us valuable lessons from our pain. I think of two valuable insights I have gained through pains I have encountered:
 
I can now better understand others' pain.
When we are hurting, and afterwards, we need to ask God to use this for His glory and to help his other children.
2 Cor 1:4 (NIV) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Rom 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I cherish now the relationships that I have.
I realize how short life can be, and that we need to tell people now how much we appreciate them. We need to take time for the family and friends God has blessed us with.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Inside 'Christian' Marriage: The Invisible Pain


It's no secret that Christian marriages around the world are suffering.

Why are husbands becoming less affectionate to their wives? Why are wives distancing themselves from their husbands? I believe it is time for a spiritual revival not only in our churches but more deeply in our marriages. No self help books, seminars, or specific marriage teachings will transform our marriages more until both husband and wife fully submit to the leading, promptings, and convictions of the Holy Spirit. Let's examine five ways that Christian marriages begin to fall out of love.

1. Personal Prayer is Absent.
We can pray all we want at church, in public venues, or even take a selfie during a spiritual moment for friends and family to see but without consistent personal prayer your marriage relationship will begin to slide. "We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...". All of us. Husband and wife. If you want a God-honoring marriage ask the Holy Spirit to renew your prayer life today. Our generation follows the principles of 50 Shades of Grey quicker than the Word of God. Ask the Lord to renew your walk and begin to fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will begin to knit your hearts together so that true love from the Father will fill both your hearts to love in a deep and sincere way. Without prayer we build on sand. I challenge you build on the rock- Jesus Christ.

2. Secret Unrepentant Sin.
Both husband and wife must daily be washed in the presence of the Holy Spirit from sin's stain and stronghold. The Bible reminds us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do we take responsibility for the sin we committed or do we begin to blame our spouse just like Adam did in the Garden of Eden? Husbands-it is your sin of lust, sexual fornication, adultery not your wife's fault. Wives- it is your sin of bitterness, strive, and backbiting and not your husbands fault. The quicker we confess our sin to the Lord the quicker healing will begin in our marriage. Are you still hiding a secret sin? Is it more valuable than your marriage?

3. Me, My, Mine Attitude.
Remember your courtship days and how you each ran towards each other in affection. What happened since then? It is this attitude of self-pleasing that is deteriorating marriages around the world. The word, "I" is translated from Latin the word, "ego". Next time you speak to your spouse replace the word I with ego. My ego wants you to clean the house more! My ego wants you to be more helpful! My ego wants the house fixed. Changes the perspective doesn't it? The Bible reminds us that, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." Will you ask the Holy Spirit to change your attitude today?

4. Couples Competition.
This is not something new yet it deceives thousands of couples--the desire to  promote your lifestyle. Wives and husbands enter competition with other couples seemingly invisibly yet the affect is palpable. Husbands begin to work even more, wives begin to shop incessantly. Husbands show off their toy cars, wives promote their fashion style. The list can go on forever. In the midst of a couples pursuit to outdo their peers, they lose their affection for one another. If we are to passionately love the Lord Jesus Christ and exemplify a God-fearing marriage we must stop loving the world. There must become a visible and genuine difference between couples who love Jesus Christ and those who only carry a name for the facade. Examine your marriage, what has the Holy Spirit been asking you to let go?

5. Consistent Maintenance Avoided.
Husbands- what would happen if you did not change the oil in your car regularly? What would happen if you never bothered to check tire pressure or the threads on your tires? Sooner rather than later you would have a heavy repair bill. It is easier to maintain the vehicle properly than to repair an engine or worse potential car accident recovery. Many husbands avoid the "maintenance" issues in their marriages and expect everything to work fine. Imagine if husbands just yelled at the tires-"Why don't you just fill up faster!" or "Why engine do I have to clean you every time!". Yet, we often as husbands yell at our wives and think its always their fault. Maybe...just maybe we as husbands have dropped the ball in maintaining affection, romantic pursuit, or just simply being kind to our wives?

Wives- what would happen if you never washed your hair for an entire week? What would happen if you did not clean your house for an entire week? What would happen if you did not touch the laundry basket for a month? Yes- it would become a HUGE problem. How about your relationship with your husband? How long do you let things not get resolved until a big blow up occurs? What every wife obviously does is wash their hair often, clean the house daily, and wash/dry all the clothes as often as possible. When is the last time you found a way to your husbands heart to address issues that need some maintenance? Don't avoid them investigate them because his silence is an indication that relationship maintenance is long overdo.

My hope is that the Holy Spirit will prompt husbands and wives to recommit their walk with the Lord in a deep and passionate way so that God-honoring marriages can show what true sacrificial love is all about. Never give up on your relationship because Jesus never gives up on you!



Monday, November 4, 2013

iAsk: Robert Walter- Training Director for LeaderSource

Every Monday I will be posting new interviews with Christian leaders to find in-depth counsel on issues such as ministry, family, careers, politics, finance, and theology.

Robert Walter
My first interview is with training director from LeaderSource, Robert Walter, who lives in Chesapeake, Virginia. Earlier this year I ministered together with Robert at Bold Venture Northeast Regional Men's Discipleship Conference held in Philadelphia, PA. My hope is many who read this interview and the ones to follow will gain new insights, inspiration, and be challenged to become disciple-makers. Here are ten questions I asked Robert....


PAUL: First if you can give a small summary of who you are, what you do and what is your greatest passion in life? 


Robert: Paul,I appreciate what you are doing here and pray God’s blessings on it and you!

Who am I? I have had different job descriptions and titles but the most important one comes from Jesus – he calls me friend.  Along the way, I’m amazed at all he’s let me in on. I worked many years in the petroleum business until God called me into full time ministry. At that point, I became a pastor and as of the last 10 years, I’ve been involved in a ministry for training pastors and other church leaders. I feel like I’m in my sweet spot because I get to do what I do best – teaching, coaching, counseling. Seeing lives change is a real thrill.

Leaders from various countries praying for the
North Korean Church in Hong Kong.
PAUL: 1. You just recently returned from a trip to Hong Kong, China where you met with Christian leaders from 20 different countries. Tell me about your experience there. What were the results of your meeting? 

ROBERT: Leaders can easily get isolated. Our Leader Development Consultation was a time of being connected, encouraged and being equipped.

There were several great outcomes. One was a renewed sense that even though we come from different nations, we are one family. We know that in our minds but it is far better to experience it.

One example was the commitment Chinese church leaders made to bless Christians in North Korea. This followed a report from North Korea about the amazing endurance of North Korean Christians in the face of the most humiliating persecution. There was a time of powerful intercession for our brothers and sisters in North Korea as we wept with them. Several strategic partnerships have now been established and the Chinese have pledged to get more involved.

Another great outcome was that leaders left with a much more holistic and comprehensive view of how to develop the next generation of leaders.  They have a new paradigm for discipleship and very practical ideas of how to reach nations and raise up leaders.

Several leaders (from the left) Robert Walter, Dr. Jessy Thomas (New India Bible Seminary faculty member), Dr. Jaison Thomas (New India Bible Seminary Director), Elie Haddad (Arab Baptist Theological Seminary President), Raj Chevelraj (LeaderSource India Director)
PAUL: 2. What is the number one challenge facing Christian leaders in the world today?

ROBERT: I don’t know the number one challenge but I will tell you that modernization brings many temptations that have undermined scores of leaders in the undeveloped (majority) world.

With the internet comes a connection to lots of great resources but also a connection to internet pornography. And it’s no longer a problem just for men; many women also report a struggle with this issue.

Another challenge is materialism. You can’t serve God and money. We see many leaders falling out because of the lure of material success as capitalism sweeps their nation.

PAUL: 3. As the training director of , LeaderSource, a Christian leadership organization and a pastor, what was something you saw in Christian leaders in Asia that you have seldom seen elsewhere?

ROBERT:
I serve with a guy named, Malcolm Webber, who does a fantastic job leading our organization called LeaderSource.

One thing I notice is how dedicated Asian leaders are to learning and to ministry. In the US, people complain if I speak longer than 45 minutes; there they complain if you can’t teach for at least four hours.

But their dedication comes with a price. Many of these leaders work 7 days a week and rarely take a break. They often neglect their own families. It can happen in the West too but it is a far greater problem there.

PAUL: 4. Why have you invested so much time, energy, and resources in training leaders around the world?

ROBERT: Evangelism gets all the press but lack of healthy leaders is the bottleneck. Jesus pointed this out to the disciples when he told them the harvest is great but the workers are few.  He directed them to focus their prayers not on getting more souls but on getting more shepherds.

One leader from Papua New Guinea told us this crazy story. He actually told his evangelists to STOP sharing the Gospel. Here is what was happening. The evangelists go into a village to pray for the sick and miracles start to break out. As a result the whole village often comes to faith.  But the problem is that there aren’t enough pastors to care for these new believers where so many remain superficial believers or fall away. So this leader from Papua New Guinea finally told his evangelists to STOP sharing the Gospel and focus instead on discipleship. He desperately wants someone to help him train pastors.

Jesus did ministry but where would the church be if he had not also trained the next generation of those who would do ministry and plant churches. That’s why we equip experienced Christian leaders to train emerging Christian leaders.

PAUL: 5. There has been in the last decade a plethora of books, DVDs, and training manuals written and produced on Christian leadership yet we still have moral failures, financial scandals, and disgraced leaders leaving the ministry. What do you see as the weak point Christian ministers and leaders should be addressing?

ROBERT: The problem is not just that we are focusing on the wrong issues, we are also using the wrong methods. Our goal in training tends to emphasize competencies. But we need to be developing more than just competencies (Biblical knowledge and ministry skills). We also need to help leaders grow in their relationship with Jesus, grow in their family and team relationships, and grow in their character.

This is all easier said than done. To actually accomplish this goal we can’t rely on teaching alone – no matter how good it is. People learn in relationships; they learn through experiences. Jesus was a brilliant teacher, of course, but his genius is not just his content, it’s in setting up a context for learning that is rich in relationships, experiences and the work of the Spirit.

We tend to think the answer is in the curriculum, but books and lectures don’t make leaders. Leaders grow in the crucible of life in connection with other godly men and women. 

PAUL: 6. Share with me some examples of Christian women in key leadership roles that have affected the expansion of the Great Commission in the body of Christ from your personal encounters? ...and as a follow up... women have been marginalized some even outright forbidden in holding roles of leadership in the church around the world, what would change this view in Christian men to see the value of godly and leadership gifted women?
 

ROBERT: We’ve had the privilege of working with some mighty women of God. One I’m thinking of has planted thousands of churches but still hesitates among her peers to exert her authority.

PAUL: 7.  What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

ROBERT: I’d say 1) dedicate yourself to growing in intimacy and dependency on Christ – apart from him we can’t do anything of lasting value.  And 2) build your support team – safe people who can pray for you, encourage you, coach you, challenge you and cheer you on. Finally, 3) realize you don’t have to be perfect. God chooses the weak to shame the strong and the foolish to shame the wise. This isn’t an excuse for lackluster performance but it is a reassurance that God delights to use everyone of us.

PAUL: 8. Can you share with me one or two leadership failures that you have personally gone through, how it affected you internally, and what would your advice be for someone in a similar position?

ROBERT: My advice (above) comes from lessons I should have learned from the Word but instead had to learn from my own mistakes.

In my early years of full time ministry, I experienced a lot of success. Unfortunately, that led me to depend more on my own experience and education.  I got by until there was a time of great testing and things started to fall apart. It was then that I realized my big mistake: I was so busy doing things for Jesus that I didn’t have time to spend with Jesus. I had become a hollow man.  And you can’t give what you don’t have.

Long story short…I reconnected with Jesus on a mountain in New Mexico and that led to deep repentance. Then he had to rebuild me before he could rebuild the church. But he is faithful even when we are not.

PAUL: 9. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life? 

ROBERT: There is more than one but let me mention a person who was a lifeline to me during a long season of testing in my ministry. I had a spiritual mother named Betty. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She prayed for me every day, exhorted and encouraged me. Meeting with her each week was often the highlight of my week. She is with the Lord now and I miss her.

PAUL: 10. What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader?

ROBERT: There are lots of good resources out there. But a book or a course is nothing compared to a spiritual father or another Christian leader who you can meet with face to face. All the same, we do have some good resources on our website. You can check it out at www.leadersource.org


Twitter: @PaulMuzichuk

Monday, July 8, 2013

Why Is It So Difficult To Encourage?



For the last five days I have been traveling in Eastern Europe with my spiritual mentor and co-laborer Lee Grady in a city just inside the western Romanian border in a city called Oradea meeting with Christian leaders, pastors, and missionaries encouraging them to continue the work of God. Spending time hearing the local struggles and difficulties they face and the walls of religion and denomination power struggles begs to ask a simple question: Why is it so difficult to encourage sisters and brothers in Christ who live in the same city yet we cannot reach out and hold a prayer meeting or conference together? Even as far as not visiting with local leaders from the same church to just affirm, encourage, and support their passion for the Lord. I believe its time to break the spirit of spiritual pride, elitism, and religious domination so that we can let the Holy Spirit teach us humility, love, and grace.

Where are the spiritual fathers?
Apostle Paul was trying to model the concept of being spiritual fathers to the church in Corinth when he wrote to them saying, "for though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me." Christian laborers young and old, European and American, women and men, feel discouraged at the lack of affirmation and encouragement that must be poured into their hearts. One common phrase that I hear very often among many many leaders is that I never had a spiritual father. What blocks this? Why is being a well known teacher, evangelist, author, or pastor so heavily pursued yet thousands of spiritual daughters and sons are left abandoned and orphaned spiritually. The bottom line is we need each other to not only further the gospel of Jesus Christ but to have deep, genuine, and heartfelt relationships in the Christian walk.

Being Relational is Vital
I have been greatly blessed to have met young men in Oradea who travel great distances to not only be taught God's Word but just have the opportunity to spend time talking and hearing and feeling encouragement. I believe it is vital to be relational in our relationships and have the humility and love to just be with people who need even a hug. Have we as Christian leaders become so full of pride that we can only focus on the ministry work and not on those who minister? I challenge you to invest into the lives of others relationaly.  Find someone and mentor them. Be proactive in pouring encouragement into each other. There is never " too much" encouragement. I heard at times that if we encourage someone too much they may get too prideful. That's a cold heart of religion. It is the heart of Jesus to be with people and love them!

Our conversations should not make us look hyper spiritual but simple and approachable. There is one example of one minister in Hungary, where i am currently ministering, that a local pastor shared with me how this minister went to heaven and met with the apostle Paul. Not only did he claim he met with him but that Apostle Paul laid hands on him and anointed him as a prophet to Hungary. The discernment should be evident to us that this minister is so clothed with praise and adoration that he is so spiritual that only apostle Paul can commission him into the prophetic ministry. There has been too much praise of men, yes Christian men, that the regular Christian has an extremely hard time relating. Friends, be full of faith, love, humility, patience, and let your life be surrounded by spiritual sons and daughters in whom you pour encouragement.

It is not difficult to encourage those who are weary and wounded. Just start! Let people have easy access to you, so they can not only hear and feel encouragement but also see it with their eyes. Christians, especially in America, have shifted to a selfish and me only mentality. We have become lazy and conceited in finding the needs of those around us and pouring encouragement out. Job is a perfect example of everything that went wrong in his life and yet he found the love to bless his friends that were accusing him of being sinful in his actions. The book of Job gives us a model in chapter 42 verse 10, "and the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

Challenge
Encourage those around you! Become a spiritual father or mother to those that need the love and compassion and support of God the Father! Invest time being with people! It is more important to be relational than to prosper in ministry. Jesus wants our heart and he wants each of our lives to reflect His heart and His love. Encourage someone today!

Twitter: @PaulMuzichuk

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Holy Spirit Teach Us To Love

According to the world population clock there are 7,127,160,367 people living in this world as of July 4, 2013. In that number is you and me, your neighbors, your peers, your friends, your family, the gas station attendant, your supermarket cashier, and billions more! They come from many countries, different languages, variety of cultural traditions, from white to mocha to black skin colors, all with a unique and complete originality about them. Each one of these people desire one thing in common, pure love. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are told that people will see the love of God when they observe how we, as Christians, love one another. What makes us stop loving one culture from the next? Why do we passionately love, care, and bless those with the same language or same church name or same denomination or even same Bible college name yet find things inside our heart that has no compassion for an impoverished family in a different region or a church leader in a different denomination or a young person who dresses and speaks in unrecognizable tones to you?

Unconditional Love 
I am so happy that Jesus did not love me because I belonged to a denomination or a seminary but loved me unconditionally with an everlasting love. The Bible teaches us that Christ loved you and me when were yet still sinners! Hallelujah! Jesus saved me, became my best friend for the pure love of God was in Him. It moved His heart with compassion to serve a world that failed to show mercy, kindness, and love. Jesus teaches us how to love ALL the world!

What has happened to us as followers of Jesus Christ that we have become so divided,  prejudice, and self-serving? We have denominations and affiliations that keep order and structure yet draw lines in the sand to determine are these outside folks or churches or organizations "clean" enough to shake hands with. We pretend to love the world and the world sees our disguise. Thousands of church leaders and pastors have fallen prey to hurtful discouragement and wounds because we see a microscopic vision of God's love. We want to love those that adore, love, and respect us. However, Jesus reminded us we receive our reward already here on earth if we only love those who do the same in return. As Christians we have become unresponsive to our selfish motives and we need the unconditional love and grace of the precious Holy Spirit to move us to love people who desperately are seeking it in this world of sin and hurt.

Break Pride via Servant-Humility
Masking your pride and conceit will only lead you to a dungeon of despair and personal torment. Have you ever met a Christian person or leader who wreaked from pride all over? You could smell it in the dialogue, in the careless attitude towards you,  and in the selfish wants not needs they had for themselves for you to do. How do we break this in our generation? We must learn to be humble and servant minded to ALL people. That means praying for ALL types of people, caring for them, befriending them, genuinely having a heart felt conversation and not just the regular "God loves you" Christian slogan. Get personal with people and let them SEE the love of God. It is time we stop our endless meetings and start conversations with real people that need real help from the real source which is Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit!

I challenge you to inventory your circle of relationships and ask yourself the following:
Do I love them mostly because they love me?
Do I initiate friendships or do I wait for the friend to come to me?
Can I love every nation, every people, every race?
Jesus, examine my motives inside my heart and teach me by your Holy Spirit to love ALL people!

Twitter: @PaulMuzichuk