Good morning Lord Jesus, wash me with your Spirit this morning and refreshen and renew my soul!
The Holy Spirit is a gift given to us by God to help conform us into the image of God in Jesus Christ. One of main way’s the Holy Spirit does this is by putting us into places where we are confronted by the truth of our lives. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:1). If becoming a disciple of Jesus means that my life needs to closely imitate his life, then the truth in my life: spiritually, physically, relationally, needs to closely imitate Jesus Christ. The role of the Holy Spirit is that of comforter, but before the Holy Spirit can be our Holy comforter, he first needs to be our Holy confronter.
The Holy Spirit uses every opportunity to confront us and conform our lives into the truth of Christ. He uses Scripture to speak through us and relate the truths of God written in the pages to areas of our lives and reveal were truth is present and where it is lacking. He also uses our prayer time when we open ourselves up to him and honestly let him speak into the secret places in our lives, that are not really a secret to him. “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Another major way The Holy Spirit speaks truth into our lives and holds us accountable to truth is through others in the body, in the relationship of deep, holy accountability. It may seem like an oxymoron, but we places our lives more completely into the hands of God, by placing our lives into the hands of others. There is a familiar verse to most Christians where Jesus tells us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20). When you read the passage, look at the context this verse is contained in, you will see that Jesus is refereeing here to deep, holy, accountability.
I shared earlier the remark by Jay Leno, “I will do anything to get a great and perfect body except eat healthy and exercise.” We laugh when we read this because we know that getting a great and healthy body is simple, it requires eating right and exercising. It is simple, but it is not easy. To become a disciple of Jesus is simple as well. It requires consistent reading of Scriptures, prayer, serving our neighbors, and holy accountability. Simple, but not easy. I am absolutely convinced in my time in ministry that the one thing that ensures all four are present in one’s life is Holy Accountability. The only thing that will prevent me from being the man in James 1:22-24, who looks in the mirror in the morning and says, “What a good Christian am I.” then lives his life in the flesh and a worldly manner, is accountability.
It is in the weekly gathering with one or two other people that true accountability takes place. Where someone asks you, “How is it with you soul?” “Have you read your Bible this week?” “Have you prayed?” “How have you seen God at work by serving those around you?” Close accountability allows others, who pray for you daily to see, hear, and confirm how they see the Holy Spirit working in your life and speak into it.
Close relationships with your spouse is something to strive for and nourish, but your one or two accountability partners need to be of same gender so you can honestly bring forth all your struggles, and they can relate to it.
Who are the one or two persons in your life that you are in deep accountability with? Who pray for you daily? Who you can call at anytime of the day or not with a struggle or a praise? Who know you well enough to speak truth into your life?
Read James 1:22-25,
Watch the following short 5 minute video by Francis Chan on being open and accountable to others. If you could not immediately name the one or two persons in your accountability group, (not Bible Study, small group, or church class, but one or two people you meet with weekly strictly for accountability) then pray to the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons you are to call and ask to be in accountability with you. I challenge you to do this by the end of the week. If you do not know how to get started, I have created a couple page guide with information and an outline for accountability groups we use at One Direction Community I would be glad to send you. in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
Please share you comments with us in the comment box below!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Father and Holy Spirit. This morning I claim my place in union with you and receive all of your blessings that flow in that union.
The gift of the Holy Spirit we received through our faith in Jesus Christ sealed us in our adoption as children of God.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery to fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are of God, and if children, also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, indeed we suffer with that we may also be glorified with.” (Romans 8:14-17)
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12)
What does it mean to live as God’s child? It means to live as if I’m loved and cherished. It means to live as if I know that every need will be taken care of. It means to live as if I can go to my Father with every fear, anxiety, and hurt. It means to live as if I can go to my Father with every joyful moment, every tiny thing that excites me, and every new tidbit of information that makes me laugh. It means to live as if I have inherited my Father’s kingdom.
Because I have!!!!.
I belong and it’s time to start living like it.
My family, I pray you will read Gal. 4:3-7; Rom. 8:1-17, Ezekiel 11:17-20, Luke 23:42-43, John 1:12. Then pray to the Holy Spirit for an assurance of your adoption into the Kingdom of God. Pray for an assurance of your identity as a son or daughter of the Father. Pray for the confidence and boldness to start living as a son or daughter of the Kingdom. Whom shall you fear when you are His?
Please share your thoughts, questions or prayers as a comment below.
Much love!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, as I begin a new work week the first thing I desire to be worked on is me by your Spirit..
The word “law” comes from the Hebrew word ‘Torah.” Torah means more than just law. It also means teaching, or instruction handed down from someone to another. Torah, the Law, has a narrative about it, a story that is at the source of it's instruction. The story from which the Law of the Old Testament flows out of is this statement by God,” I am the Lord your God.“ God begins with these words constantly whenever he begins giving instructions to someone. Just a few examples of many are:
“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.” (Genesis 28:12)
“I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:7)
The prologue of God giving the 10 Commandments is:
“And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-2)
The law then is instruction and teaching that centers around understanding who the Lord God is, what he requires, and how we are to live under the lordship of God. It also reveals what we are to look like as disciples of God. Jesus Christ was the culmination, the completion of the narrative, the story of the law. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we received the ultimate, perfect instruction, teaching and understanding of how we are to live under the Lordship of God. He gave us an actual example of the fulfillment of the law, not written on tablets of stone, but lived out in human flesh.
When we accepted Christ as Lord of our lives, we were filled with the Holy Spirit, and we also then had the law fulfilled in us not written on tablets of stone, but in our hearts. It is the indwelling of Jesus Christ in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we now have the fulfillment of the law in us. The narrative of the law, the story of the Lordship of God continues in us as we are to be living examples, teachers, instructors, handing down the stories of God from one to another.
Three main things the Law centered around were: Justice, Compassion and Worship. These three things the life of Jesus also centered around. His life was one centered around justice, compassion, and worship. That is why all the laws hinge on the commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind,” which is worship. And “Love your neighbor as yourself,” which is justice and compassion.
Jesus freely worshipped the Father, brought justice and showed compassion outside of of the religious institutions, traditions, and norms of his culture. He demonstrated what free and radical discipleship looked liked. In the Holy Spirit you are free to worship God, bring justice, and show compassion outside of any religious, tradition, family, or cultural boundaries. You are not only free, but you are designed to exhibit Worship, Justice and Compassion in the most radical, undignified, spontaneous, and child-like ways!!!
My family, Read 2 Corinthians chapter 3, Gal. 4:1-7, Colossians 2:13-23. Then spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is holding you back from freely, radically, child-like, without any inhibitions, worshipping God, and loving your neighbors with justice and compassion. What traditions, religious practices, misconceptions, are binding you from expressing your love for God, love for Christ and passing on his story to others? in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections, questions, and/or prayers in the comments box below.
Much love!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I need you to wrap your arms around me this morning so I can wrap my arms around others today.
It was the Holy Spirit working in us, wooing us, placing us in the presence of Christ, before we even knew Christ, that began our “process” of salvation. The Holy Spirit seeking us is grace, a gift from God. It led us to a place of repentance and acceptance by faith of the saving works of Christ on the cross and in his resurrection, which is also a gift of grace. All the power of the Holy Spirit that it took to raise Christ from the dead is available to us and is at work in us in our salvation. And just like we could not initially save our selves, but it was the result of us seeking out the working of the Holy Spirit in us to place us in Christ, we can not daily live out our salvation without daily seeking out the the presence of the Holy Spirit. All the power of the Holy Spirit that was required in our initial salvation, is required for us to daily live out our salvation.
Salvation is not received like a “Thing” that you receive from a giver, then you can possess it and pass it on to another without the giver being present. For instance, If someone gives you a pen, it is yours,. You do not need the person who gave it to you to use it. You can put it in your pocket and walk away and never encounter that person again. Salvation however is found in a covenant relationship with God. You step out of that covenant, and you step out of that saving relationship. Salvation if like a hug, nothing is physically transferred, and when you come out of the hug, you can not take it with you. It is like the covenant relationship of marriage. You could be married to a person, but if you are separated, living in different towns, seeing other people, are you living out your marriage? No. Are you receiving the blessing and joy God intended in marriage? No. Your living into your marriage covenant comes out of your daily love and desire to be with that person. Time spent with them, talking to them, and actively spending and enjoying time in their presence.
Your living out your daily salvation is only possible by your daily relationship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit. It flows out of your love and desire to be with God. By actively seeking and spending time with God through the Holy Spirit in prayer, in The Word, and serving and seeking him in those around you. Again, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit needed in my initial salvation, is required for me to experience my daily salvation. I can’t over come my desires of the flesh today without seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit today. I can’t have a relationship with my neighbor today and be able to love him as I love myself without having a relationship with the Holy Spirit today. And I can absolutely forget about loving my enemies, or loving those who curse me without the power of the Holy Spirit. I can’t love my wife or my daughters completely unless I see them through the eyes of God. And the gift of my walking around today in joy and glory because I identify myself as a child of God is only possible by placing myself like a child in the presence of God. John tells us in the beginning of his Gospel, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 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) The verbs “Receive” and “believed” are not past tense verbs as we understand in English. Things that happened once. They are verbs that reflect a past action that continues to the present. Those that “receive and continue to receive, those who “believed and continue to believe” have the right, the ability to live as children of God today.
My family, I pray as I have done this morning , you will also spend time in prayer with the Holy Spirit. Reflect on how you are remaining connected to Him. Reflect on how your are living out the daily joy of you salvation. Ask the Holy Spirit to increase in you your longing to be in deep relationship with him. To increase your desire to spend time with him in prayer, reading the word, and seeking him in others, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Read Romans 8:1-17, John 4:14, Joel 2:28-32.
Post any reflections, questions, or prayer requests in the comments block below.
Much love!!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, pour your Holy Spirit into my heart this morning so I can pour hit into those I meet today.
Source of spiritual gifts:
God is at the source of all our gifts, whether spiritual or physical. He can use both through the Spirit to heal, set people free, feed the hungry, bring sight to the blind. We are called to seek out and use both spiritual and physical gifts given by God to transform and do miraculous works in our world. Volunteering to go read to an elementary child with a troubled family, will transform and change that child’s life as praying for wisdom and knowledge over the child. The two work hand in hand.
We all have spiritual gifts, and they are present and available to us today. Healing, prophecy, evangelism, prayer, teaching , Shepherding, are all gifts the Holy Spirit desires to give us and use to the glory of God and his Kingdom. They do not however come to us through our physical striving and our means, the gifts come to us through means of grace: prayer, time spent in Scriptures, fasting, The Lord’s Supper, acts of mercy. It is through these things that we receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit and practice perfecting them.
Jay Leno said, “I will do anything to get a great body except eat a healthy diet and exercise.” We in the church try to see God work around us and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and we will do anything to experience them except spend time daily in prayer and and reading the Bible. Why does the church today not see people filled with the gifts of the spirit like we read about in the first church, because people in todays church do not spend time seeking them.
God wants us to be a church full of power that witnesses acts of God’s moving among us. I want us to be a church that expects working of God to be a normal daily occurrence. If you look at places like Africa, China, and Korea where the church if growing at a remarkable pace, most of it is as the result of healings, prophecies, dreams, evangelistic out pouring of the Spirit, from a church that witnesses from a high expectancy of God’s presence in their lives.
What are your physical gifts and how are your using them to allow people to experience the kingdom of God today? What are your spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit wants you to use in the same way?
I pray you will take some quiet time in prayer and Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the gifts he has given you. Ask the Holy Spirit to whom you are to share your gifts with. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to people who can mentor you and encourage you in your spiritual gifts.
Read 1 Cor. 12:5-11, Ephesians 4:11-14, and Romans 12:4-8 and watch this video by Dr. Keener on Spiritual gifts.
Post your reflections and experiences with the revelation of God below and/or any prayer requests for revelation.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Jesus, in the silence of this morning I lay my soul before you and say you are worthy of everything you ask me to do in your name today.
Holy Spirit day 17: sends,
If you have not yet, you need to watch he movie “The Insanity of God.” It is based on the greatest book with the same title I have ever read on persecution in the church and Matthew 28’s commission to “go” and make disciples. This morning and the aspect of the Holy Spirit on my list I was to meditate on this morning was “Sends.” I smiled inside as “sending” is one of the core elements in the DNA of the church, but one of the elements that is obeyed the least.
My definition of a missionary is: Someone who is willing to sacrifice everything except the Gospel, for the sake of the Gospel.
The definition of a Congregation is: The act of assembling. A body of assembled people or things; a gathering.
Our goal is to become disciples of Christ, correct? Disciples meaning apprentices of Jesus Christ who imitate the life of Jesus, correct? Then which of the the two: a congregant, who’s goal is to congregate and gather in a building;: or a missionary who’s goal is to be sent and go outside of walls with the Gospel, which of these two life styles imitates that of a Jesus? A Missionary. So if the goal of The Church is to imitate Jesus and make disciples of Jesus Christ, why is it so consumed and focuses so much time and resources on making congregations instead of missionaries? Why is it’s goal how many people it can gather together on a Sunday morning and it’s focus on its seating capacity instead of its sending capacity? The church prepares, plans, and invests for Sundays when the church family gathers in the building. Why doesn’t the church prepare, plan, prioritize and invest as much in days when the church as a family “Leaves the Building” and serves witnesses in its neighborhoods? Gathering together and corporate worship is important. However, we gather together to equip each other and send us out.
As a pastor I struggle with this. Do you know the word “missionary” is not found anywhere in the Bible? It is because all the writers of it as inspired by God did not even think of, and it never crossed their mind there being a distinction between Christians who “go” and those who do not. “Going” and sharing the Gospel is at the core of being a Christian.. And it never crossed God’s mind as well or He would have inspired them make that distinction. All who call Jesus Lord are called to the mission of God, “mission-ary” and the movement of God.
Why is it that if people do not sit inside the walls of a church building on a Sunday morning, they feel like they have not been to “Church.” I believe it is because Christian’s in the west have been conditioned and conformed through tradition, cultural norms, pastors and parents, and to some extent the use of shame to believe this. This understanding of “Church” is not Biblical.
Now hear me, I am not in anyway against corporate gatherings of prayer and worship I encourage people to go. When someone tells me they have a solitary, personal faith I cringe as that belief is not a desire of God but a desire of the enemy. I am against solitary Christianity. I have a social view of holiness. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism believed in social holiness. There is a need of the body to gather and encourage one another. Yes its goal is to equip its members, however this equipping is for scattering of its members into its communities and unto the nations. However, like a pendulum that should be centered between congregating and going, the pendulum of the church in America has swung way past center to the side of congregating. The Church in the west in unhealthly and un-Gospel focus and has swung way out of balance towards congregating. This unhealthy balance is now our norm, what we are comfortable at, and what we default to.
Yes, we need to be marked by a growing love for God. But we need to be also marked by a tangible love for others! Observable engagement with the Holy Spirit, our discipleship must encompass the whole Gospel. It must transcend personal salvation and embrace the mission of God. Our story has to more than attending church gatherings, hearing the gospel and how Jesus enables me to go to heaven when I die. It must include how I am willing to die for the spread of that gospel. It must include our on going engagement with the “Missio Deo”, the mission of God. This is the sending ministry of the Holy Spirit. We must repeatedly remind ourselves that Christianity it is not about us! Not about surrounding ourselves with people like us, and who like us! The announcement and demonstration of the Gospel happens out there, not in here, as we as disciples live missionaly incarnate lives in our community.
My family, Read Matthew 28:18-20, John 17:14-19. Then watch the short video I have attached by Francis Chan on being sent by the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to please reflect throughout the day on your being sent, in Jesus’ name.
If you would like to receive a link to watch “The Insanity of God” movie, ask in a moment to this post or email me at strat318@gmail.com
Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends! post your thoughts, reflections, questions, and prayers below in the comments below.
Good morning Lord Jesus, as a co-heir with you in the kingdom of God I take my place this morning to help usher in your kingdom.
“Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1Cor. 2:
Good morning, since my post yesterday a day has past, Have you prayed and then asked one or two people to be in an accountability group with you?
Everything we know of about God, of God, of have experienced from God come through His self revelation and His desire to be known to us. God is pretty clever. If he did not want us to know He existed He could have pulled that off pretty easily. He just never could of created us. For all of eternity God’s essence was that of Father and of love. In a period of time he chose to to become creator and created us. Out of self-revelation he created us in his image. (Gen. 1:27) Creating us in his image is not so much a reference to who we are, but to who God is. That His desire is so great to be known to us and through us to the world that He actually created us to contain his image, His glory. You will not find this in the deities of Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism.
To further reveal Himself to us, God sent His Son, Jesus, so we could actually scratch, sniff, touch, and see God. And so we could be restored to the full image and knowledge of God, Jesus suffered death on the cross, descended into hell, redeemed all sins, rose from the grave, and ascended to the Father.
Then to take it over the top in His desire to be know to us, not only did God create us in His image, become flesh so we could see His image, complete the saving works of the cross to restore our image, but He gave us the gift of His Spirit so He could actually physically and spiritually indwelled in us!
Hear me this morning! With joy in my heart this is my wake up shout at the top of my lungs to you, to all people, all nations, and all the world to hear!
GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW HM!!!! GOD IS SO DESPERATE AND HAS, AND IS, GOING TO THE MOST EXTREEM MEASURES OUT OF HIS DEEP LOVE FOR YOU TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU!!!!
The Holy Spirit is in you and desires to lead you, teach to, and assist you to become the holy revelation of God. Ask Him this morning for a deeper revelation of Him! I have some Scriptures for you to read: 1Cor. 2:9-16, Eph. 3:14-21, 1John 4:13
But before you do, take a little time and write out your own personal “Bible Prayer” of sorts. As I have written this reflection, I want you to stop and write a prayer of thanksgiving for the Holy Spirit and His presence and revelation over this time you are going to be spending in The Word. Spend time writing it out or typing it out in your phone or what ever you are using. , Then stick it in your Bible, or save it to your phone or tablet, however you read his Word. Then, pull it out each time at the beginning of your devotion time before you open your Bible and read it. This will open you heart and mind to experience God and receive the Holy Spirit in the words you are reading, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Post your reflections and experiences with the revelation of God below and/or any prayer requests for revelation.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I seek you Holy Spirit to move in me and guide me thought my day today.
The Spirit applies in us and nurtures the fruits of the Spirit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. As you read this list and ask your self “What exactly are the “fruits of the Spirit? You will arrive at the answer: These all make up the character of God. And since the character of the Father is the same as the Son, these “fruits” also make up the character of Jesus Christ. We see these personified in all the narratives of the life of Jesus in the Gospels.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to imitate Jesus not only in words, and deeds, but more importantly, in character. We could be right and say the right words but if we say them without love and gentleness we are wrong. We could do the right deeds but if we do them without joy and kindness they build up nothing. Stepping up as the spiritual leader of your family without patience, goodness and self-control is destructive.
These gifts of the fruits of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit wants to give us is nothing less than the character of God. Jesus breathes in us and tells us to receive the Holy Spirit so by the Spirit’s indwelling in us, we can be conformed with his actual character and that of God. That is the only way we can possibly live into God’s command to be Holy as I am Holy, by the indwelling of the Spirit in us and the fruits, the actual character of God in the Spirit.
People listen to people of the character of God. People follow people of the character of God. Your character will either open or close doors to sharing the Gospel and/or discipling other people.
My family, read Romans 15:13; Galatians 6:16-25, Matthew 3:8-9; James 5:7-12. I pray you will spend time with the Holy Spirit looking at your character. What “Fruits of the Spirit” are you strong in? What fruits are a challenge to you? Pray over you character. Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in obtaining the character of God, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Practical application of this message; Are you in an accountability relationship with another person or two? I am absolutely convinced that nothing helps an individual to maintain the character of God more than deep, open, vulnerable, loving, real accountability. It helps prevent someone from being the person in James 1:23-24, who looks in the mirror at home and says, “What a good Christian am I!” then goes out and lives like those of the world. If you are not in deep accountability with one or two people, (not a small group or Bible study. True accountability happens in 2-3 people) then I challenge you to enter into one by the end of this week. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons to invite into accountability with you.
Please share any thoughts, comments, stories you have on the Fruits of the Spirit, Character or accountability with us below.
Much love,
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I thank you for always seeking me, help me today as I begin a new work week, to always seek you as well.
Paul says in his letter to the church in Galatia that the works of the flesh are obvious. Those things we do and desire when we simply do what we want, apart from God, or when we think we are alone and God cannot see us. Paul’s list of things was his personal list, it is also my list, and is a list that applies to everyman and woman when they live apart from the Spirit of God: "sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things". (Galatians 5:19-21)
The Message Bible restates Paul’s words this way, “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Paul say’s that those who do these things, live in the flesh, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. He is not just talking about God's kingdom after you die, he is talking about God’s Kingdom here on earth, his Kingdom that is present now! Living in the above is hell. It is a dark life style where manipulation, depression, greed, and abuse of self and others thrives. I have been there and spent way to many years living, no existing (as I was not truly alive) like this.
Paul goes on to say, that in contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (5:22) The Message Bible explains it this way, “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
When we surrender to and live our life led by the Holy Spirit, we don’t just exist, we live!! We get a taste of heaven. We experience light, hope, love, true friendships and find our true identity. We inherit and enter into the Kingdom of God on earth.
But, to enter into the Kingdom of God we have to leave our “kingdom” at the entrance gate. To be controlled by the Holy Spirit, requires us giving up our control. It requires going “all in” with God.
My family, I pray you desire the light of God’s kingdom enough to walk out of your kingdom. I pray you surrender to the Holy Spirit and want God to have total control of your life, Ijn Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Read Romans 8:1-17; Galatians. 5:16-25, John 1:11-13
Watch the attached video by Francis Chan. Then please add any reflections or thought you have, or any prayer requests on being led by the Spirit.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is present in each of us who through repentance and faith have been saved by Jesus Christ through the merits of his death, resurrection works on the cross. His presences in me is my only source of holiness. His indwelling in me is what allows me to hear from and experience God and Jesus in prayer and the searching of Scriptures. It is his presence in me that assures me of my salvation in In Jesus Christ.
Since I am Arminian in my soteriology (theology of salvation) and do not believe like my reformed brothers in predestination, that some are eternally chosen elect of God and some are eternally chosen as reprobate. And since I do not adhere to a “works” based salvation, where if my good deeds out weigh my sinful deeds I am saved, How could I ever truly be sure that I am in God’s grace? That my assurance was not of pride and arrogance given to me by my flesh, but by the workings of the Spirit inside me? It is through praying and reflecting on it, such assurance I immediately and directly perceive when my spiritual senses are rightly disposed. Then the Spirit of God witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God. And the testimonies and witnesses that I am a child of God and not a child of the devil I am able to see clearly. As John Wesley put it, “as you distinguish day from night.”
And that just as God did not remain distant from me, a completely heavenly being, but became incarnate so I may better understand and have a closer relationship with Him on earth, also now my assurance that I am pleasing in God’s sight is not something that can be confirmed only in heaven and realized on the last day when I discover if I was one of the elect or the reprobate, or if I completed enough good deeds to offset my sinful deeds. But my assurance I am saved is something that can be confirmed in me by the spirit of God in me and realized all the days of my life in this world, including today. For which I say, “Praise God!”
It is a holy presence in me that is more than a feeling. It is constant in me, at times even more so in the valleys of my life as in the mountain tops. And the Holy Spirit is constantly calling me into a deeper state of holiness, as he reveals to me areas in my life where I have not let his indwelling in me to enter into, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Through prayer and in the Spirit, I seek each day to be more Holy, more like Christ, a process we Wesleyans call Sanctification. Day by day we hope to become more sanctified, more set apart in Holiness for God, with the goal of complete sanctification. For me not to believe this is possible in my life today, and only after I am dead as some believe, would elevate sin above the merits of Christ on the Cross.
My family, Read Rom 8:1-17, 15:13; 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Eph. 3:14-21; 1 John 4:13-15. Spend time then in prayer and ask God’s Spirit to witness to your Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh in you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my freinds!
Please post any comments, questions or reflections you may have below.
Holy Spirit Come!
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Click on the link below and take 3 minutes to let the words of this song pour over and into you.
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:16) I love this passage of Scripture. It is one that we need to reminind ourselves of daily . When was the last time you prayed for the Holy Spirit to remind you that you are God’s son or daughter? When you fell in love with Jesus and trusted him as your Lord and savior, the Holy Spirit was poured into you. The Spirit of God totally transformed you spiritually and physically into a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17
Gen 1 describes the first (physical) creation. John 1 describes the new spiritual) creation. But this does not play into a false dichotomy between "physical" and "spiritual"; The first creation was both physical and spiritual. The new creation is really a re-creation, of the spiritual (first), but also the physical. In spite of John's "spiritual" emphasis, the "physical" re-creation should not be overlooked, and is something we often do. This is emphasized in John 2 with the changing of water into wine, in John 11 with the resurrection of Lazarus, and the emphasis of John 20-21 on the encounters, details and results of Jesus' own resurrection.
I think many in the church fail to embrace their complete adoption by God through the Spirit. They accept they are “saved” and a Christian but they never experience the fullness of their adoption. A child who is an orphan can get adopted by a family. They can sit through the adoption process, see the papers signed, and understand in their head they are no longer an orphan. However,, do they trully understand what the love of being part of a family is? No, that comes from experience, from time spent in the family. The child experiences it if their first, then all their birthdays with that family, when they prioritize them with a celebration of their life. They experience it when an orthodontist says it will be $5,000.00 for braces for them, and their parents do not hesitate to pay the money but do so telling the child they are worth it. The understand it later when the child now driving, gets in an accident and wrecks the family car; and no shame is directed towards them for wrecking the car, but joy and relief that they were not harmed. They feel it in the loving arms of their parents and kisses at night, and hear it in their prayers over them. The child at day one had a legal understanding they were adopted into a family, but fully understanding what a gift it is came after years of participating in the family.
Many people accept Christ, go through the Baptismal proceedings in a church, and walk away with the legal and head knowledge they are saved and adopted into the family of God, but unfortunately never experience the complete joy, love, hope, strength of that adoption, because they never place themselves daily in the embrace of their Father and never fully participate in the life of their church family. They go through life living as an orphan, secluded from the family, and their identity is that of an orphan.
My family, Read Romans 8:1-17 and John 14:15-20. Watch the short video I have attached on adoption by Francis Chan. Then take time to pray with the Holy Spirit over your identity and you adoption into the family of God. Reflect on how you are participating in and experiencing your gift of adoption. What are you missing out on? Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you to fuller participation in your salvation. Prayer for a more fuller understanding of your identity as a child of God, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
Please post your comments or reflections below,
Much love,
Gary
P.S: I am so glad you are part of my family!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, In the early morning I begin my day by seeking your Spirits presence to continue doing a new work in me..
Yesterday,, I looked at the Holy Spirit proceeding from God, being completely God, and yet part of the triune of God. Today I also look at Jesus as a source from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds.
The incarnation of Christ was the act of deity taking on flesh and entering into community, entering into the neighborhood with men and women and journeying in life with them. It was a relational move by God in which inaccessible, intangible divinity became accessible, real, and tangible, in the everyday life of humanity. God changed forever the way He would be encountered from an exclusive “temple” based “you must come to me” to an inclusive “personal” based “I will come to you” reality. God moved from leading His people from a distance through the exhortation of prophets and words carved in stone, to leading by example through personal discipleship in the Word made flesh.
It’s the Holy Spirit that makes anything resembling Jesus’ incaractional living possible in me. For it is the penetration and presence of the Holy Spirit in my being that is my incarnation. Any hope I have of my life imitating Jesus’ life in character, love, submission, mission, ministry, and power completely depends on the indwelling of Him in me through His spirit.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I must continue to prioritize and set aside time to take in deep breaths of His spirit. I must keep as a priority to continue pushing deeper into the Holy Spirit and seeking His indwelling both individually in my life, and collectively in the life of my church., as if my life and the life of his church I am trying to establish on earth completely depends on it. Because it does!
John the Baptist says Jesus baptism will be one the Holy Spirit and fire, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11) Luke tells us the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was as fire, “And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Read today, Matt 3:11; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; John 4:14, 20:21-22; Acts 2:1-3.
My family, Pray for Jesus to give you the renewed life-giving breath of the Spirit today. Set aside time to breath it in. As you breath it in, I pray that like a breath blowing over warm coals, the breath of the Spirit rekindles a fire of passion in you. A burning of the first love you had in Christ. (Rev. 2:4). May a flame of compassion consume you for your brothers and sisters around you who’s coals are dark and cold so that you actually hold out to them the light of the Gospel, the spark to create a fire in them. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
In the comments block below, Please share any prayer requests for a renewing breath of Christ’s Spirit. Please share any stories of renewal to give us hope and reasons to praise.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus, Father and Spirit, I receive this morning all the grace and love that flows out of your union with each other and with me.
God is source:
The source of the Holy Spirit is out of the triune, the trinity of God. Systematic Theology, The study of the this Triune: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit is deep waters. John Wesley states, ”There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And these three are one.” Referring to 1John 5:7
John Calvin Stated, “"Herein he shows, that all who endeavored to explain it at all, (The Trinity) have utterly lost their way; have, above all other persons hurt the cause which they intended to promote; having only, as Job speaks, "darkened counsel by words without knowledge… Dare not insist upon any one's using the word Trinity, or Person…Though I believe the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; yet I scruple using the words Trinity and Persons, because I do not find those terms in the Bible. I would insist only on the direct words, unexplained, just as they lie in the text: "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And these three are one."
I believe this fact also, (if I may use the expression,) that God is Three and One. But the exact manner of how, I do not claim to completely comprehend. But I do not know how anyone can be a Christian believer till they have as St. John speaks, "the witness in himself;" till "the Spirit of God witnesses with his spirit, that they are a child of God;" that is, in effect, till God through the holy Ghost witnesses that God the Father has accepted them through the merits of God the Son: And, having this witness, they honor the Son, and the blessed Spirit.
It is through God’s giving of his Holy Spirit and revelation in the Son that we know anything about God. We hear a child say, “Jesus is in my heart.” Technically and theologically that is incorrect. Jesus after his death. Resurrection, and ascension now sits in the throne room of God at his right hand. It is the Holy Spirit that is in the child’s heart. But since the Holy Spirit is an exact representation of Jesus, in an effect, Jesus is in their heart. But even greater, is that when we pray and find ourselves in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit leads us into Christ, and so we find ourselves then praying in the thrown room of God and all the power and all the Glory of Gad falls over us and is available to us!!
Read today Acts 5:29-32; Rom. 8:26-27; 1 John 4:13; Exodus 24:16; Ezekiel 11:17-20 and reflect on the “God” aspect of the Holy Spirit. Who’s source and presence is found and flows out of the triune of God.
My family, I pray this morning you will press into the Holy Spirit, who will place you in the Son, who will place you in the throne room with the Father and receive all the blessings a riches of love available to you, in Jesus’s name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Also, last Friday I included in my message a “check list” to notice how various aspects of the Holy Spirit is present in your churches Sunday service. I hope you read it. If not please go back now and read it. Then please post as a comment what you discovered about the way the Holy Spirit is presented in your Sunday church service.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Jesus, I place my spirit in your Spirit to allow deep to talk to deep…
Today we look at the Holy Spirit's role as a Witnesses and one who convicts:
The Holy Spirit is a witness to the Gospel. The Holy Spirit is a witness to the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit in you demands that you be a witness of the same. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in you to be silent. And the Holy Spirit convicts you, and causes a “holy tension” in you in the moments when you feel his witness of the Gospel and presence of Christ in you, and you realize and are aware the Gospel is not flowing out of you. I pray you and I may never be comfortable!!! The Holy Spirit also convicts those who hear the Gospel, and realize they are not living the Gospel. In Acts 5:29-33 we see these three things: The Holy Spirit witnesses to Peter the truth of Jesus, filled with the Spirit Peter witnesses to others the truth of Jesus, and those who hear his words are convicted and angered.
We are called to be a witness and a convicting source of the Gospel in the world. Our lives are to be tangible examples of the presence, the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Read Galatians 5:16-25 and reflect on the “fruits” in your life compared to the fruits in these verses.
We are not called to be a witness to the Gospel on our own, but as part of a team, the body, the church, as I reflected on yesterday. If you are a sports fan you probably have a favorite team. Today is Friday and the weekend is upon us. This Sunday, probably the majority of you reading this reflection will go to your church and be part of “your team.” How does your team, your church acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have created a list that contains areas that the Holy Spirit can be acknowledged and presence sought after in a Sunday church service. It is not to be used strictly as a check list, but a list that makes you aware of ways the Holy Spirit’s presence and importance, or lack their of, can be displayed in worship. Read it over, perhaps copy it to your phone. I would love to hear your comments after you attend your service on Sunday of how the Holy Spirit is presented in your church.
Following the list is another short video by Francis Chan that ties into today’s reflection on the Holy Spirit. Please take time to watch it. Read Acts 5:29-33, Gal. 5:16-25; 1 John 4:13-14; Exodus 24:16-17, and please post your reelections, reactions, or insights from today’s message as a comment below.
Much love,
Gary
Holy Spirit in Worship Observation List
Was the Holy Spirit acknowledged or presented:
A. Visual:
1. Worship facility design or architecture
2. Banners, posters, artwork, paintings, stain glass candles, hangings
3. Other observations/comments
B. Worship: Song lyrics. music, video
1. Song lyrics that reference the Holy Spirit
2. Music: loud, soft, use of silence
3. In video and PowerPoint/Pro Presenter presentations
4. In the body posture and vocal expressions of those leading worship.
5. Other observations/comments
C. Service:
1. In any liturgy, Creeds, formal prayers
2. Sacraments: Baptism, Lord’s Supper..ect.
3. Corporate confessions, or praying for healing through the Spirit.
4. Other observations/comments
D. Prayer
1. Holy Spirit referenced
2. Silence used, other form of Spiritual disciplines or meditations
3. Observations/comments
E. Pastor/Priest/Rabbi
1. In the greeting/benediction
2. In the sermon
3. In the prayers
4. In their posture, expressions of those praying
5. Other observations/comments
F. Congregation
1. In any personal interaction with you: offers to pray with you, lay hands…ect.
2. In their personal expression: vocally, raising of hands, kneeling, crying, speaking in tongues, dancing…etc.
3. In public worship: leading in the service, sharing a testimony…etc.
4. Other observations/comments
G. Personally
1. A time you felt moved by or the strong presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. A time you felt distracted or hindered by something in seeking the Spirits presence.
3. Other observations/comments
H. Holy Spirit
1. From my list of attributes from day one of this study, what attributes of the Holy Spirit did your church’s service present or support?
2. From the list, attributes, what attibutes if any, were not affirmed, or did you feel were discouraged?
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I woke up this morning humming the song, “Yes and Amen.” I claim all your promises over my life as I begin my day.
Healing by the Holy Spirit
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:13-16
I am in a season now that I am seeing more desperate needs in people and more people with physical, emotional, and spiritual illnesses that I am asked to pray over them. I am also in a season that I am seeing more healing and restoration through prayer, laying of hands, and anointing of oil than anytime in my ministry. I do not leave the house in the morning without a small bottle of anointing oil in my pocket.
One thing The Holy Spirit has done over this season, is assembled an amazing group of people of prayer. I do not know the full reason, but some real prayer warriors have been gathering. It is nothing of my own doing, and I really do not know how to describe it. It seems like as myself and others have decided to move more off the religious ‘”grid,” and return to a simpler church that is centered on the Holy Spirit and the table, like moths attracted to a light, people of this “bent” or gifting have been gathering with us. I am leaving this afternoon to attend a weekend retreat with a group of other people :of this bent” from across the state of Alabama. We will spend several hours if “Facetime”. Time laying sprawled face-first on the floor in pray over our churches, our ministry as planters of the gospel and churches, to receive healing and give it. How these people found each other, found me, found our church, or were attracted to us is sometimes weird. And whatever “light” we have that attracted them, the light and gifts they are bringing is transforming our gatherings, and transforming me.
The details of the why we have been connected by God are unclear. I do not know what the ultimate “unto” will be. However, something happens when you are surrounded by people, who if someone needs prayer, as you are pulling out a bottle of oil from your pocket, unknowingly you look around and every other person is as well. You find yourself among disciples that expect the Holy Spirit to heal and deliver, you pray with a boldness expecting your prayers to heal and deliver, and healing and delivery occurs. Who are you surrounding yourself with?
When someone tells you they are struggling with something for which they need healing, do you offer to lay hands on them and pray for their healing? When you are struggling with something for which you need healing, do you seek people to pray over you? At your church altar during times of prayer do you come up and ask to receive prayers or lay hands on those who come up for prayer? Does the thoughts of doing doing any of these make you uncomfortable? If so, do you actually believe God still heals people? Do you expect it? Does your church expect it? If the congregation did they would run to the altar.
My family, I pray you claim the healing power and gift of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the courage and faith to expect to see people healed by your prayers. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Read these passages of Scripture. Acts 4:29-33; Acts 3:1-9, James 5:13-16; Read 1Corinthians chapter 12. Verses 9 and 28 specifically mention the Holy Spirit’s gift of healing. But notice the chapter evolves around these gifts occurring out of a community, a body, from which they are manifested.
Please post you below your thoughts and reflections. Your experiences of healing and delivery. Post the names of those who need healing for us to pray over.
Much love,
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Father, Son and Spirit I place myself in union with you and in oneness with you.
Unity in the body. Jesus Prayed,” Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:11). Jesus prayed for unity over his church to be one body, and the Holy Spirit is at the centered of God’s desire for unity of the body of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Lord’s Supper that invites and brings the body together at one table. It was the death of Christ on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead for all humanity that provided access to God and a restored relationship together with Him. It is through Prevenient Grace, the seeking presence of the Holy Spirit that drawed us to Christ, led us into repentance of our sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ through faith that we entered the Kingdom of God and were adopted into the body of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s work and presence in our baptism that we are sealed and marked as part of the body of Christ and publicly declare to all our claim of entering into the body.
The complete plan of salvation has a world view. (“God so loved the World…” John 3:16) of creating a body of believers, His church. Through the working presence and power of the Holy Spirit. God did not design you for a “private” faith. The personalized faith I hear from many in the church of, ”I do not need to go to church or to be part of the body, but I can stay home and read the Bible and find God on my own” Is a statement in direct contrast to the world view plan of salvation of God and flies in the face of the sending of the Holy Spirit to make us one body.
Our oneness as the body of Christ is a tangible example of the kingdom of God, his reign on the earth, and the Lordship of God. When those who claim to be Christians, part of the body forgo attending gatherings of the body; When various denominations are divided and speak descending against each other; When disputes break out in local churches among members; it is a sign to the world that we are not united, not a body, and those in outside look at this and disunity and say, if they cannot even be united, then there is no Holy Spirit present, God does not reign and Jesus is not Lord.
My family, I ask you today to pray over the body. Pray through the presence of the Holy Spirit for an increased yearning to gather together in prayer, sharing the Lord’s Supper, the reading of the Word, and testimonies of God. Pray over your participation in the body of Christ. If you are in Christ, but now find yourself absent from the body; for whatever reason you have isolated yourself from it, pray for the courage and conviction to re-engage. If you know someone who is a member of the body, but has been absent for awhile, take 60 seconds to send them a text or email and tell them they are missed. If you know somebody who is not part of the body, pray that the Holy Spirit gives you boldness to approach and invite them into the body. And if you have never been adopted into the body through the Holy Spirit’s guidance into trust, repentance, acceptance, and faith in Jesus Christ, I pray you will be lead to make that decision today. Call me, 256-302-3785., I will listen, love and welcome you into my family of faith. I pray you read Ezekiel:11:17-20, Romans 12:3-10.;Acts 4:29-33; 1Cor. 12:12-14; and all of 1Cor. 12, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As a body please post the first first names of those you know have not accepted yet the invitation into the body of Christ so we can pray over them. And post other thoughts or reflections below as a comment.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I seek your Spirit to give me the strength and courage to change today to be more like you.
When I was praying and thinking about the aspect of Signs and Wonders, 1Kings 18:20-40 came to my mind. Read it today. It is the story of Elijah vs. the priests of Baal on who's God could send down fire to consume the offering on their altar. Elijah had a confidence, I could go so far as to say a "cockiness" about his amazing God and a complete assurance that his church's God could send down fire from heaven as easily as our churches send out a letter.
I read this and I think wow! I read about the church in Acts 4 that was gathered together in prayer and the Holy Spirit descended on them and the room shook like there was an earthquake. I want to be part of that church! don't you? I want to be part of a church that is not held together, focused on, or exists because it has talented people and leaders present on Sunday mornings, but because the fire of the Holy Spirit is present. I want to be part of a church where people walking out of it are not critiquing a sermon series by a pastor, but in awe of the series of signs, healing and wonders they just witnessed by God.
God's desire at creation, Jesus death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit's in dwelling, were and are all for the creation and existence of such a church. A "supernatural church" that is unstoppable. Frances Chan in the video below I attached commented on how churches today are so easily "stoppable." A talented leader leaves, a donor dies, a strategic plan fails, and church doors close or its ministries become ineffective. In order for a church to be an unstoppable, supernatural church, it has to rely and be surrendered to our unstoppable and supernatural God. You become a supernatural church by spending hours doing what the world does not view as "super," and does not come "natural" to us; hours spent together on our knees.
Watch the video below by Francis Chan. Read 1 Kings 18:20-40; Joel 2:28-32, and Acts 4:29-33.
My family,. pray that signs and wonders, the sending of fire from heaven, will be common place in your church and life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post you thoughts from my reflections, the video, and/or the Scriptures below for us to discuss.
Much love,
Gary
Blessings!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I freely seek you this morning to free myself of me, to enter more completely into you so I can act today in the power of your Spirit.
4 “There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.
7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. 8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. 9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. 11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.” 1Cor 12:4-11
There are books and volumes written on gifting and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Scriptures contain numerous examples of references to them. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost poured into all that called upon the name of Jesus the divine gifts of knowledge, wisdom, healing, prophecy, spiritual discernment, tongues and others. And that same Holy Sprit that fell on and filled the Apostles falls on and fills everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus today. So why are these gifts of the Spirit that were so evident and a vital part of the witness of the early church, so absent from the church, particularly the church in the west, Europe and America?
One reason I think is we don’t value them or dare I say, think we need them. With the advances of medicine, removal of the sick and dying from us through nursing homes and hospice centers, we don’t feel we need God to heal us. With the advances and availability of the internet, we also believe we have all the wisdom, knowledge and information on future events already in the palm of our hands. We feel in control.
A second reason I believe, is that these Gifts of the Spirit and miracles that used to be a central part of the gathering of the church, have been relegated to “fringe” ministries in the life of a church. When was the last time at your church you had people come up and be prayed over for healing, and actually seen people healed? This important Gifts of the Spirit has been removed from Sunday gatherings, except for “blurbs from mouths and in bulletins to “pray for my Aunt Mary who is sick with cancer,” and been relegated to little attended weekly or monthly evening prayer and healing services for those “Pentecostal” members of the church. Though all in the church are people of the Pentecost which gave birth to the church!!!
A third reason is, we don’t have the time to see miracles, hear prophecies, have people be healed. In our tightly scheduled, clock managed services, there is not time to pray for an hour or two for the falling of the Spirit and people to be healed. There is a second service that follows, ball games, or lunch at Applebees! We have more important things to do than sit, pray and wait on the Holy Spirit.
Anther reason is we don’t like spending time with people. We are not people with welcoming front porches, we are people with secluded, fenced-in,back decks. Spending an hour or so together on Sunday mornings and possibly a Bible study, at someplace else other than our homes, is about all we are comfortable with. Yet almost every time in Scriptures and throughout history the Holy Spirit falls and the Spirits gifts are manifested is when the people have been gathered together, for hours, days, weeks in prayer and worship. We do not come together as a church to fast, pray, and seek Gifts of the Spirit. If a church announced it was going to have an all day gathering where people would simply spend the day fasting, praying, and waiting on the Holy Spirit, how many would attend? I struggle to get anybody from my church to attend a bi-monthly time of prayer on Friday evenings. We are independent in our secular lives and this translates into being “independent” in our faith.
With all these things I listed above plus others, it is no surprise people in the church do not understand, see, or participate in gifts of the Spirit. It is sad. The gifts of the Spirit are so common throughout the Bible and early church, but it is almost a “miracle” in the church today when they occur.
Read Joel 2:28-32. The Holy Spirit desires to pour into you and reveal to you his gifts. Meditate on how you, how we as a church, can receive and be people of power and miracles the church was designed to be.
Here is a link to a 10 minute video from one of my seminary professors, Dr. Craig Keener, on Pentecost and gifting of the Holy Spirit for you to watch.
After you spend time in Scripture, watch the video, and reflect, please post your thoughts and words from the Spirit as a comment below. As I stated above, spending this time together and all participating is so important.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good evening Lord Jesus, Prepare my mind and has as I sleep for all you have in store for me tomorrow.
My sheep hear my voice
John 10:2-5"The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the strangers voice."
Listening to the Holy Spirit
We can only follow when we listen. You have to listen to be led. Jesus listened to the Father. He only did what the Father told him, what He related to him. If he did not hear from God, he did not act. “And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.” John 12:50
We need to be listeners of the Father through the Holy Spirit. “Our goal is to also become one with the Father. To do this we must hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us, “The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) But if we are not listening to them, what good are they to us? How do we hear the Spirit’s voice? How do you know it is not that of “the stranger” voice?
1 Practice. Through time spent listening, in conversation, in prayer you will become familiar with the Spirit’s voice. You can’t expect to neglect your prayer life, neglect spending time daily in conversation with the Holy Spirit, and then when you are desperate to hear the Spirit’s voice say, “Speak Spirit” like you are talking to your dog and expect him to “speak” on command. There is nothing at all “domesticated” about the Holy Spirit.
2 Time in Scripture. Without time spent in the Word, which is “alive” with the Spirit and through it he speaks to you. It is almost impossible to put yourself in a place to hear the Hoy Spirit daily, without spending time in the Word daily. As the words of the Holy Spirit will not contradict Scriptures.
3 Accountability to other. Through close accountability with one or two others they can help confirm if what you are hearing is from the Holy Spirit, and also speak to you what they hear and see the Holy Spirit “speaking” over you.
For me personally, when I get in the rhythm of constant prayer, fasting weekly, reading Scripture, and meeting weekly in accountability, I get my rhythm in “tune” of that of the Spirits, and he guides my prayers and I hear him speak regularly over me and those around me.
My family, Read Acts 2:1-13 and Romans 8:26-27. I pray you will commit to hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice. In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit for help in consistency in your time spent in prayer and reading the Bible and commit to a day a week to fast. Ask the Spirit for revelation of one or two persons in Christ to ask to start a weekly accountability group with you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Post as a comments below other ways you hear the Spirit's voice, and examples of how he has guided and spoken to you, and visions he has revealed to you.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE