Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul as I focus in on You first with all my heart and mind and soul and strength.
"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:1-4).
I walked into the Waffle House yesterday morning as usual and I sat at the low-bar and listened in to the discussion those sitting there were having. I got in on the end of it, however it appears the conversation was about immigration and “foreigners” as the person talking ended the conversation by saying, “We are Americans, and America is the greatest country in the world, and if they don’t like it the can get the hell out!” Those at the bar cheered or nodded in unity together.
There's a false unity that's fueled by the human pride to "make a name for ourselves." It has its own language, with its own words. And it's purpose is to build its own kingdom. It seeks to exalt its tower of authority and power over the whole earth and into the heavens. It's inspired and empowered by the same spirit that says, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14).
It's the opposite of the true unityYou desire Jesus--"the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). This is the "unity of the faith" as we put our faith in You instead of ourselves or our country, building Your kingdom instead of our own, humbly and willingly choosing to desperately dependent upon You alone for our true sense of identity and destiny (Ephesians 4:13). United in You and united with one another in our global bond of humility and faith, "there is one body and one Spirit, just as (we) were called to the one hope of (our) calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).
In the true unity of Your Spirit--where we exalt Your name instead of our own, living for You instead of ourselves--You pour out every blessing of heaven we'll ever need: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing--life forevermore!" (Psalm 133:1-3).
And in that spirit of unity, all the world will begin to see You--seeing You in us, as we abide in You and You abide in us as one body with one Lord, one faith, one God and Father of all. As the Son of God and Son of Man walking this earth in the flesh and blood of Your incarnation, You prayed to the Father this great prayer of unity: "As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17:21-23).
This is the true unity You long to see. This is the new world order You've envisioned from the beginning--the "new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). This is the one world government You passionately desire--the "government (that) will be upon (Your) shoulder... (and) of the increase of (Your) government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7). In the unity of Your Spirit all, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray today you unite with Christ and promote His body of faith in the Holy Spirit as the one true source of unity with our Lord, one God and Father of all, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. 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!
“My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this - that one lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
Today we remember the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy, France. It was the greatest multi-nation joint air, land and sea invasion that changed the course of history. Change our history. I can’t imagine the bravery and absolute fear and terror of the men inside the aquatic landing boats that were hearing the machine gun bullets striking against the steel door of their boat. Knowing that when they landed on the beach, and that door dropped, those bullets would be hitting them. Over 4,000 men, (actually 18 and 20 year old teenagers and young adults) lost their lives that day.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
D-day was not just a physical invasion, it was a spiritual invasion as well. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12). A darkness cast by the “Ruler of the World” had been covering over Germany and that region that allowed unspeakable atrocities and evil acts to be committed and “good people” to be swayed into accepting them and be deceived into supporting them, participating in them, as something good. D- Day was also an invasion of light into darkness.
So today we remember and commemorate those men and women who possessed such remarkable character, morals, convictions, and a fundamental, basic understanding of the difference between what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, and selflessly sacrificed to stand up and speak truth into lies with their lives. And in doing so changed the course of history.
My family, I pray today you take time to reflect on the whole enormity of D-Day and bow and say a prayer of thanks and gratitude to all those who participated in and those who also lost their lives that day 80 years ago. I pray that it encourages you and motivates you as you look around our world and society and see how leaders and people are being swayed and deceived into accepting and supporting immoral and evil actions and attitudes, and remember you are also called to possess and live out remarkable character, morals, convictions, and a fundamental, basic understanding of the difference between what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, and you are also called to selflessly sacrifice and stand up and speak truth into lies with your lives. As history will also look back one day and reflect on our actions or failures to act, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2018 by a commitment to 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. All that I am and all that I have, I give to You in trusting surrender--as best as I can and all by Your grace.
"The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them 'Come and see.' They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day" (John 1:35-39).
Lord Jesus, I want to know where You're staying, so I can come be with You. I want to know where You're going, so I can come be with You. Where You are is where I want to be. You're the One I'm looking for. So give me the courage today to step out of my comfort zone and the routine of my day and seek out the One I love. If you were my spouse or one of my children, and I did not know where one of them was, my love for them would compel me to go and do anything to find them and embrace them. May my love for you compel me to go and do anything to find and embrace you today in silent reflection, the people and places you lead me.
So I accept Your invitation to 'Come and see,' so I can "Come and be"--come and be with You. Your desire for me to “come and be” with you flows out of your complete and deep unfathomable love for me. To me, that's one of Your greatest promises in all of Scripture: "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). In this you are saying, “Gary understand this, I will love you always, to the end of the age.” To which I say, "Praise God!"
My family, I pray today you “come and see” Jesus, that you “come and be” with Him and allow Him to embrace you in His ‘Love unto the ages,” and come and be with you in all you are and all you do, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to 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!
God’s complete desire, that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is for us to be one with him, and as importantly, one with each other. The Casting Crowns lyrics come into my head. “Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt.” But as hard as it may seem sometimes, He does! At Christmas in Christ we see God’s desire to know us and be known by us as He became incarnate in Emanuel, God with us. Our relationship with our God is not like that of other religions of one of master to slave. Or like the beliefs of others of a vague form of deism where God is “out there”, detached, and impersonally directing the universe. Like a clock maker who makes a clock, winds it, sets it on the mantel, and walks away. Our God, The God, desires an intimate relationship with us, one in which we also know and desire Him intimately as well. Jesus tells us, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends (Joh 15:15). How remarkable is that! “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27 ESV) How amazing is that when you wrap your head around it!!
And God Proved his desire to have an intimate relationship with us, to be one with him, through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus the Christ. God sent the Son to be born of a woman. He walked this earth, lived our life, bore our sins, carried our cross, suffered, was crucified, died, descended into hell, and was raised from the dead to create and restore a path, a way for us to an intimate, loving relationship with a God who intimately, madly, loves us. SOOOO LOVED GOD THE WORLD, (you and I ), that he sent His Son to demonstrate it. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 3:16;15:13)
However, The works of Jesus on the cross and the salvation and oneness with God it made available to us is not the end into itself. Jesus’ hope is for our oneness with him to be an “unto” something else. Jesus tells us,
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. You are my friends if you do what I command you. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. As God sent me into the world, so I have sent you into the world. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8, 9, 14,12; 17:1)
My family, I pray you reflect on today, “What is the hope you as a Christian are striving for throughout your life in the world today?” As we move to the half-way point of 2024, “What is the hope you plan to seek and strive for before the year ends? in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2018 by a commitment to 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. Arise in Your resurrection power in my life today.
"Then He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:22 NLT).
Breathe on me, O Breath of God. Let Your Spirit fill my lungs with praise. Let your Breath fill my mouth with Your words. Let Your Presence abide in my soul.
Breathe on me, Lord. Breathe new life, fresh passion, renewed vision and determination to seek Your face, to return to my first love, to follow Your ways, to be the child of God and disciple of Christ You created me and called me to be--not in my strength but in Your power, not in my goodness but in Your righteousness.
I desperately need You. I breathlessly await You. Increase my capacity to breathe You in as You breathe on me. Fill me afresh that You can overflow onto those around me, through me this day and this next season of my life in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you fall on your knees this morning and desperately desire to be filled afresh with the Breath of God to overflow anew with His life and love flowing out of you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2018 by a commitment to 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!
Good morning Lord Jesus,I being my new week with the hope of complete sanctification in you and your love.
This morning my reflection blog is a little different. I was at the Waffle House low bar talking with customers and sharing my faith. A regular smirked back sarcastically that “the church would burn down if I entered it” and “it would take me along time to get right before that happens.” Last night at a local brewery where we held our men’s group, Brothers, Bibles and Beer (B3),we talked about my reflection from yesterday. We went around the group and reflected over the question, “If I had enough balls to make a change I believe God is calling me to make, what would that change be and what would it look like?" One of the men said he does not believe, or struggles to believe he is worthy enough for God to want to use him in any remarkable way.
In praying over these conversations this morning, I was reminded of a video. A couple years ago I was sent this short 3 minute video by a friend of mine. I have reflected on it, turned to Scripture, meditated on it, and shared it many times. The link for it is below.
We are not “made right” or “made worthy” by anything we can do in our flesh. We are not saved by our works. We are not saved by our professions of faith. We are not saved by our religion, church affiliation, or church attendance. We are not saved by our attendance in Bible studies like B3 or knowledge of Scriptures. We are not saved by the amount of time we pray. All these things are good and of extreme vital importance to the Christian faith. But any assurance or reliance of salvation on anything you put an “I” in front of is arrogance. Salvation is a solo act of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ who we all enter into only by the grace of God.
My family, I pray you will watch this video and then spend time on your own reflecting on it. I pray that either any feeling of being unworthy or removed from you, or on the other hand any ways in arrogance you are ascribing any part of your salvation, and that of others on anything other than the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ is removed from you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections on this video with myself or others using the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. 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 Thank You!
“Now the LORD said to Abram,“Go out from your country, your relatives, and your fatherʼs household to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
I had a conversation with another pastor friend yesterday. He, as I, went to seminary for 4 years, went through all the questioning and interviews by the board of ordained ministers, spent years as a provisional member, and finally was also ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church. When the UMC abandoned it’s covenant and walked away from Biblical Orthodox teachings and went progressive, he, as I also did, left the UMC. And we walked away from the UMC and all the years, time, effort, uprooting our families, financial and other investments we poured into the UMC and our credentials. My pastor friend shared with me the struggles he was having for his being obedient to God and walking away from all the security of the denomination. He and his church are meeting in temporary facilities and facing challenges. And since He knew I am going through the same thing, wanted to “vent” and receive prayer.
It reminded me of a story in my life and the life of our church One Direction Community (ODC). In December of 2015 ODC was sent a certified letter from the owners of the building we had helped restore and were using for our Gatherings. The letter stated in ODC would no longer be able to use their facility in 2016, which we received 18 days before the end of the year. So after our Christmas Eve service, we put on work clothe, pulled up Uhaul, and that night loaded up all our equipment, furnishings, all of our things and moved them to a storage unit. We were upset.
However, for a several months before we were evicted, I felt a spiritual tension every time I walked into the building. It was not a welcoming place. However, ODC had put over $75k into the renovation of the building into a space for a church. We spent hundreds of hours over the past year and a half knocking out walls, wiring, plumbing, painting, and renovating it. And our rent, which was a donation, was only $500 a month. So because of my reluctance to walk away from the huge investment we put into the building, and not knowing where we would find a place to rent for anything close to $500 a month in Madison, and the fear and uncertainty of change, we stayed at the building. I knew in my spirit it was a spiritually toxic place that we needed to leave, but I did not have the balls to make the change. God has much bigger balls than me. He caused to happen what needed to happen because I would not. Did it happen in an un-ethical or unfair way? Yes. Did it need to happen though? Yes. Is God fair? No.
Being kicked out put us into a season of fasting and praying for 28 days to listen and hear God’s direction for ODC. It led us to launching Community Dinners at Terranovas, a Sunday morning gathering in a Flea Market, serving at the Manna House, leading a monthly gathering and teaching of discipleship trainings at the Downtown Rescue Mission, forming prayer nights on Fridays, and growing our house churches. One of us had to have enough balls to make the change to allow this to happen, though I lacked them, God did not.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”” (Romans 11:33-34)
Take a few moments to pray into the Holy Spirit. Ok, I know this is a kind of weird reflection, but prayerfully meditate on, “If I had enough balls to make this change in my life, what would it be?” What would it take to cause it to happen? What would that event look like? What would the future result of that change look like? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, your servant is listening, speak to me..
“The LORD says,
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he is loyal to me.
When he calls out to me, I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him honor.
I will satisfy him with long life,
and will let him see my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
Monday at Lowes a department supervisor had to be taken to the hospital because she was having heart issues. Another Lowes employee came up to me and shared how her mother-in-law of her deceased husband she was married to for 30 years passed away and all the unfortunate drama and issues she is going through with the family. At the Waffle House low bar this morning a regular customer sitting next to me shared how his wife is on dialysis, her bones are deteriorating, she is wheel chair bound, and for years he has become her care taker. A waitress asked me to pray for her boyfriend’s mother who is dying of cancer. Another waitress because of domestic violence shared she is now homeless, without a car as her boyfriend took it, and she does not know what to do. A friend of mine shared how the abuse, and lack of respect has caused his marriage to deteriorate to the point they are going to have to seek a divorce and knows the hostility they will encounter.
I came home from the Waffle House and now I sit here this morning and look over my prayer list, and I can feel overwhelmed. My heart mourns over these prayer requests. However, I then understand it is not my burden to bare to heel, restore, and renew lives, it is simply my privilege to stand in the gap, love my neighbors, and bring these prayer request to the foot of the cross to the one who can heal, restore and renew lives. I offer these prayer requests: “to the only wise God.” I offer them up to “Now to him who is able to strengthen me”, (Romans 16:24,27); I place them in front of our gracious Lord who tells me, “I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
I read Psalm 91 over these requests to my God who promises “When he calls out to me, I will answer him.”
My family, you also may be in a season where your prayer list seems to overwhelm you. Take comfort knowing that they do not overwhelm God. And since God resides in you through His Holy Spirit, your prayers can rise above life’s worldly struggles. Remember, “He who is in YOU is greater than he who is in the world.” (I john 4:6), in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
"Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction." v 31
The the last chapter of Book of the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible is chapter 28 and it ends with this verse above.: Despite all the attempts to stop the growing of the church and spreading of the Gospel, the message goes forth. The stories of The Church in the world did not end with chapter 28. They continue on today in Acts 29. Acts 29 is the not yet completed chapter being written on the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life, the movement of God in the world, and the workings of Jesus through His church today. And that includes this morning! Acts 29, the living story of your faith and the faith of the church must continue on where Acts 28 left off.
At our last house church gathering together we reflected and prayed through Acts 28. We discussed why we are here as a church and our calling. I have been praying over this. I prayed that if we honestly seek and remain in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we will go forth as well boldly proclaiming the Gospel of grace and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! (Matt. 16:18.) I prayed we would all finally see our homes as Paul did. That our homes our a gift from God will be used for the glory of God and not built with doors to keep our neighbors out but to welcome them in.
The purpose of going through the Book of Acts together was to encourage, renew, and awaken our faith in 2024 and awake us out of our slumber. “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (Eph. 5:14)
Set aside time this week to Reflect on this.
The need to apply and focus on these characteristics that the early church in Acts embraced to birth the church is needed today to birth new life into your faith and the life of your church and The Church today.
1. Christ Centered. We need to expect this in each other in all we do, Jesus is Lord
2. Fruitfulness in ministries: Is there fire?, Is there faithfulness?, Is there fruit?. Is it one that is convincing anyone of the love and gospel of Jesus. If it is not bearing fruit, stop doing it.
3. Offer your best: do it with excellence. Whether you are first encountering someone on the street or a first time visitor in your church, this is the only one that matters.
4. Accountability: We need to be talking each other into following Jesus. As in the early church, Walking into a town they do not know, to people they never met, with a message they do not know, requires intimate connections, Mentors and coaches.
5. Collaboration: Working with others, connection, and praying for others in other communities.
Reflect on these questions:
Why are you here?
Why is your church here?
What is your vision that gives you you a picture of your purpose?
Where does your passion intersect with the world’s great need?
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What are some of your most strongly held beliefs?
What are your gifts you feel you have for leadership and service?
What are your weaknesses?
What connections, training, classes, activities are you in need of to achieve your purpose and vision?
What connections, training, classes, activities is your church in need of to achieve its purpose and vision?
I have led us through 28 days of reflection on Acts. I would love to hear from you on what this time has meant to you and what reflections and insights you have gained. Please share these with myself and others by posting in the comments box below.
Acts 25
Good morning Lord Jesus, I do not want to just go through the motions today, prepare my heart, open my eyes so I can experience your glory throughout my day…
“When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” ( Acts 25:.18)
The Jewish Sanhedrin charged Paul with various charges. He violated the purity of the temple, he went against the law of Moses, and he was inciting the people to riot against Roman authorities. However, as Festus soon realized, their main hatred of Paul and charges against him centered on, “a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” The real point at issue was the resurrection of Jesus. It always boils down to that.
We saw this earlier in Acts, “While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” v. 4:2. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:23, “…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.”
The resurrection of Jesus is at the core of all attacks on our faith, because if the resurrection of Jesus, is proved a lie, then Christianity crumbles. As Paul states,
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God…For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.” 1 Cor 15:12, 19
Paul says, “My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil. 3:10 This needs to be our aim as wel. This needs to be every church’s mission statement if we want to have any hope at all of our individual lives and the life of our church to bear any meaningful fruit. However, as Paul says, to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in ourselves, we must first completely die to ourselves. To enterter into the resurrection of Jesus, we first must enter into the death of Jesus.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come an die.”
The context of his quote is this. “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over ourlives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call. (The Cost of Discipleship)
Take time to read 1Corinthians chapter 15 today. It is a chapter devoted complete to the resurrection of Jesus.
My family, I pray you reflect today, “about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” (v.18). Do you truly believe this? Then claim this belief again over your life and the life of our church. Claim you are willing to answer Christ’s call to come and die so you can experience the power of his resurrection. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections with us on the resurrection of Christ.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin my day resting in your love , grace and mercy.
“Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ”Acts 15: 24”
The gathering of the council of Jerusalem was such an important event to Luke that he took great care to write about. Paul in Galatians 2:1-14 give an autobiographical narrative to this event and provides even more details. I suggest you read it along with Acts 15 to give a more complete picture.
Paul states some people came from Jerusalem “sent by James” and persuaded Peter to withdraw from the fellowship of the table with the gentiles. That is sitting at the dinner table and eating things the Jews believed were unclean. Paul saw both Peter’s and later Barnabas’s same actions as a threat to the freedom of the gospel for the gentiles. Paul publicly called Peter out on this saying it was wrong for Peter to force the gentiles to adopt the Jewish traditions, customs and ways of life to have a relationship with Jesus and be saved. Peter was then distressed by the conflict his actions had caused. Since it all started with messengers sent by James to persuade Peter, then the matter had to be taken up with James and the Council in Jerusalem that was under the chairmanship of James, who was the brother of Jesus.
The council’s decision basically was to simply have the gentiles prohibit Idolatry, and sexual perversion and fortification, and allowed them to eat and drink what they wanted. Where true religion and basic Christian ethics were involved, Paul was strong on his teaching gentiles to avoid idolatry and fornication. But in matters of food and drink which were religiously and ethically neutral, he refused to lay down the law. He believed, as God had revealed to him in his dream, that no food or drink was “unclean”, even if it had been previously forbidden by the law of Moses. Even if the food had come from an animal sacrificed to a pagan divinity. It was human beings that mattered, not food and drink. If a Christian was considering whether or not to eat this or drink something, the decision should depend on the conscience of the Christian. Paul always argued from the order of creation and the ethical implications of a law-free gospel. To which I say Amen!!!
Which brings me back to the verse I quoted above, “Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,” v24
There are unfortunately way to many persons and voices in The Church today going out and saying troubling words and saying unsettling things which God gave them no authority to say, Scriptures gave them no authority to say, but they are claiming authority based on religion, tradition, and personal preference. They declare, prohibit, and put restrictions on not only food and drink, but dress codes, worship days, worship places, worship styles, restrictions on the means of grace of who can baptize someone or who can celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and pray prayers of reconciliation. These things hinder people from encountering the gospel and encountering Jesus. Paul was saying to the council that these things will turn away the gentiles, those that don’t know the gospel and Jesus, before they even hear about or encounter Jesus and also burden them while they try to listen the gospel.
The same holds true in the church today. Most people today who do not attend church, or who attend a church and then leave the church and walk away from the gospel, do not do so because they encountered Jesus and found him to difficult, but because they encounter at the door of the church hoops to jump through and restrictions based on traditions, customs and personal preferences to receiving the gospel and Jesus. They walk away because they find Christians difficult. They walk away from The Church, a place of hope, disturbed and troubled, because of these things having never encountered Jesus. A pole was taken asking people about Spirituality, Jesus, and Christians. When asked about spirituality, people responded positively, there is a need for spiritual growth in people. When asked about Jesus, people responded positively. Jesus and what he represents has a positive image and message. When asked about Christians, the responses was negative. Why, when spirituality and Jesus are supposed to be at our core and what shapes and defines us?
I want to make it clear that if Scriptures clearly prescribe or prohibit a behavior, lifestyle, action or attitude, then our surrender to Jesus as our Lord requires obedience to these. However, if you are are claiming something prohibited or prescribed based on tradition, custom, personal preference, religion, or habit, if they are bringing you closer to Christ then follow them, but the requirement to follow them stops at your property line and you forever release the rest of the body of Christ from following them.
As I said in my previous post, we need to get back to simply Jesus, the simple gospel of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins.
My family, pray over what people and voices are you listening to that have no authority to put laws or “hoops” to jump through in the gospel you receive. Pray over if any of these voices people are hearing are coming from you? What hoops to jump through does your church have in place that can keep people from walking away before encountering Jesus you need to remove? In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community and my family to jump down into the pits and help lift up those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to 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! Thank You! .
ACTS 11
“The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:22
Acts 11 convicted me again of the absolute necessity of the the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit in my life personally and in our church for us to be people anointed by God, with a heart conformed to the heart of God and his will. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit if we want to have any hope of providing a place where people can encounter salvation in Christ and receive healing of physical, spiritual, and emotional sicknesses and the restoration of shattered lives. I am getting emotional now, as the desperation and urgency of this need sets into my soul. I feel bold enough to say, If we individually, and collectively as a church can not commit to the absolute necessity of pressing into and seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to quit right now claiming to be a a people full of the power of Christ for the transformation of the broken; quit claiming to be a source of new life; quit claiming to be a cross-bearing community willing to abandon everything for the sake of the Gospel; because without that commitment, we cannot be any of these things. And we need to walk away and disappear into the safe, redundant, and complacent cycle of Sunday church.
You and I have God-given gifts to use!
We have a strong gifting of service, and we are constantly either personally and individually, or collectively in our church or house churches, encouraging each other to help their neighbors whether it is bringing food, helping them move, working on house..ect. Also serving at Manna House, House of the Harvest, Downtown Rescue Mission and prayer walking neighborhoods.
Some have an Apostolic gift of being a catalyst. visioning, planning, white boarding, and strategic thinking.
Some have the gift of Evangelism and to go out and prayer walk and tell people about Christ.
Some have the gift of pastoring, and naturally can sit, listen to, love on and offer compassion and guidance to individuals.
Some have the gift of prophecy, of hearing what God's desire is for his people, seeing where his people actually are, and live, pray, and the ability tospeak into and mourn in that gap.
Though one gift may be more prevalent, all of these gifts are in all of us. Yet all of these gifts must flow out of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These gifts we can’t claim or open in our our competency.
If we can't, if more personally, I can't, prioritize and commit to seeking being full of the Holy Spirit by committing my self daily to time in the Word, to time in prayer and to fasting regularly, I have no business trying to use any of the gifts above. The number one mistake of Christians that are missionally minded, is neglecting the great commandment in observance of the great commission. That mistake is spending time "doing" something for God before we have spent deep time "being" with God. I can not “go” and make disciples if I myself am not willing go deep into my own personal discipleship. I can not lead others to a place I myself am not willing to go. I need to seek that place where I Love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, Then I can have a love for my neighbor that flows out of this intense love for God. Observance of this great commandment is required before I can go to places and people to make disciples. All this holds true as well for us collectively as a church.
The Church needs people willing to use all their giftings that are listed above, but not if they are not wiling to do so in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to present and share the Gospel . If you do treat your neighbors kindly and fairly, help them out, serve at the House of Harvest and are a good neighbor but do not do not sharie the Gospel with them, you will be liked and make more friends. Your popularity will increase and your circle of friends will increase, but your ministry will decrease. Because it will be all about advancing your gifts without advancing Jesus’ gift of salvation, inviting people into your kingdom and not the kingdom of God. And your kingdom is not able to save anyone.
My family. How are your seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How are you seeking to fall more deeper in love with God? The world, your family, your neighbors can’t truly be blessed through you if you are trying to use the gifts go God in a nominal, self-reliant, form of a Christian operating out of your own power but lacking the filling and power of the Holy Spirit. I pray you will earnestly seek to obey the great commandment above all else to love the Lord you God with all your heart, strength, mind and soul, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections from reading Acts chapter 11. As we read through these chapters, though certain verses in each chapter stood out to me that I comment and pray on, other verses probably stood out to you. Please share this with us.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Reminder of the 5 Spiritual acts we are committing to do while reading through Acts.:
1. Spend time reading and reflecting on each chapter. Pray then over your ministry and your church.
2. Start up/join in a Band Group. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer. You can use the Prayer Wheel if you like as a guide.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer. Read Isaiah 58 on fasting for guidance or contact me if you have questions on fasting.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, and a 30 second prayer over ODC and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
Acts 10 is a removing by the Holy Spirit any barriers and the breaking of the binding chains of tradition, religion, cultural, ethnicity, nationality, family heritage and norms that were strongholds on peoples lives and excluded them from the Gospel.
All things are clean. It is not the object that is unclean (sex, alcohol, food, money, time, materials...) all Idolatry is the perversion of something good. “What God has made clean, do not call common.” V.15.
As importantly, All people are "clean", able to receive the Gospel, including you and me!
"yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean" v,28
"Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him." v.34
"No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." vs.47-48
My daily prayer every morning over my family and our church is, "Lord, send us the ones nobody else wants." Let us truly embrace this, no matter who or what this looks like.
My family, I pray Lord to please free me from the bondage and chains of pre-conceived judgments, prejudice, traditions, and thinking, "Its the way we've always done it." I pray this over you as well. Free me personally and all of us as our churches move forward from any hindrances or clinging to style, format, meeting space, and doctrine, in Jesus’ name. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections to my post or on the verses in Acts 10 that spoke to you.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Thank you Father, for spending this time with me this morning, encouraging and equipping me for my day.
Acts 9 contains one of the most amazing stories in the NT, the conversion of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus. In my prayer time reading this chapter, two verses stood out to me.
First, The Lord tells Ananais concerning Paul, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name".... v.16
We serve a suffering Savior. It was through suffering Jesus established his kingdom on earth. It was by enduring suffering and hardship that Paul further established the kingdom of God. It is through my suffering, our suffering, the church’s suffering that God's kingdom will be further established on earth. I prayed the hard prayer for me, God show me how much I need to suffer for you, and give me the strength and ability to accept and suffer for your kingdom, for you are worthy of it. We need to pray this together as a church.
Second verse, "And laying his hands on him he (Ananias) said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” v. 17.
God sent Ananias to Paul. It was through Ananais laying hands on Paul and praying over him that he received the power of the Holy Spirit to open his eyes to Jesus, enable him to be obedient to God, endure the suffering and hardship, and proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. All throughout this chapter and the Bible people are coming to Paul's aid and assisting him. Without their help, Paul would not have succeeded.
God sent you to me. God sent me to you. God sent us to each other. To be "Ananias" to each other. To lay hands and pray over each other to receive the Holy Spirit, open our eyes to Jesus, enable us to be obedient to God, endure the hardship and suffering, and proclaim the Gospel to our neighbors. I prayed over all of you for the times and seasons when you have partnered and helped me. I needed it then and I need it today. I am so thankful for you all. I prayed over my help for you when you need it. I prayed over your participation in the church and our help for each other as a church, we need each other. I prayed over helping each other to be filled with the Holy Spirit and scales fall from our eyes to see Christ.
My family, I pray you will in prayer ask Jesus the hard question, “How much I need to suffer for you?” I pray you will also thank God for the “Ananais” he has sent to you in your life. I pray you will also ask Him who are those to whom He is sending you to be an “Ananias”. to them, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections from reading Acts chapter 9. As we read through these chapters, though certain verses in each chapter stood out to me that I comment on, other verses probably stood out to you. Please share this with us.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Jesus, I empty myself this morning, so you can fill me afresh with your Spirit..
I read Acts 7 last night before bed and again this morning. I usually include a section of a chapter that I focused my reflection on. However, my reflection this morning flows from all of Chapter 7 and Stephen’s amazing response to his accusers. Acts 7 is a remarkable chapter. Stephen’s standing up to and response to the High Priest and his counsel is amazing. It is full of confidence and power. This is because the story he is telling them is God’s story of the redemption of mankind. His confidence is real because he really knows God, really knows the Scriptures, really knows God’s story, really knows his place and participation in God’s story, and his whole reply to them centers and focuses on the story of God in the lives of the Jews. To be able to reply with the confidence, power, and authority of Stephen, you have to have spent much time in prayer getting to know God and much time reading, searching and taking to heart the Scriptures. I asked myself, How deeply do I know God in prayer? How thoroughly do I know God’s story in the Bible? Could I reply with the confidence if asked like Stephen?
After I read Acts 7 last night, as I laid in bed I was strongly led into time of personal repentance and reflection over my life that continued when I woke up early this morning. My life and the life of every person person who is baptized are called to truly imitate Jesus. During my prayer time I asked for us all to openly confess and repent of our sins to allow God to begin a revival in our church. These things only deepened my reflection. I reflected over how well I know God and his story. The areas in my life that still are not conformed to God and his story. The thoughts in my head and desires in my heart that are not of God. I said I was sorry for my failures as a husband and Father. Places where pride still exist. I said I was sorry for my areas of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. Where my passion and ministry was directed by me and not God. Where I backed away from or sold-out of visions and responsibilities because of the cost. Where I neglected or placed on hold needed time in spiritual disciplines of prayer, searching Scriptures and fasting. The times I ran off and spent doing things for God without first being with God.
I reflected over my life and ministry listening to v.51 "You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!" I repented from the things "made in my hands”, my idols, of: degrees, resumes, house comforts, buildings, and career. I repented from things I use to box in God. "Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands,"v.46-48. I repented for any lack of authenticity in my leadership. Any lack of confidence or authority received from God. I prayed to be more like Stephen. I would like to be more like Stephen. And I know what it takes to be like Stephen. Stephen’s faith and confidence was not forged by attending a one hour weekly public gathering, it was forged in spending many hours consistantly, outside the public eye, passionately and intimately praying and reading God’s Word.
My family, As we begin a new week I pray you take time to reflect today and throughout this week on what you are forging in your mind, heart, and soul outside the public eye. I pray you honestly ask yourself as I did, How deeply do I know God in prayer? How thoroughly do I know God’s story in the Bible? Could I reply with the confidence if asked like Stephen? I pray from this time you intentionally make plans starting Monday for an awakening of this in your life. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends.
I would love to hear how you were affected by reading the response of StephePlease share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog 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
Begin The Day With A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, Father and Spirit, let my heart be the place you tabernacle within today..
Acts 6:8-10
“Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia--who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”
Four words to keep in mind from this passage (at least 4). They reveal a pattern we see as the Holy Spirit spreads.
NOW STEPHEN. . . OPPOSITION AROSE.
It’s critical to understand the bigger picture here where we to get a birds-eye view of the first century church, everywhere we spotted the activity of the Holy Spirit stirring and moving, we would also witness the enemy in opposition actively stirring and moving. The same remains true to the present day. We must understand the real enemy is not the Jews or any other human being. Listen to how the Apostle Paul will later describe the battle.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12”
Human beings must indeed be held accountable when they serve as the willing agents of darkness, but they are not ultimately responsible. Evil is real and everyone remains susceptible to being drawn into its strategies. While evil is no match for the Holy Spirit, only those who learn to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” have any hope of standing against and overcoming it. The Big Lesson: as much as people may willingly or unwittingly align themselves with the enemy, people are never the enemy. This is important to remember when ministering to those "no one else wants."
This is also important when discerning the actions and directions of your church. “But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.” (vs. 9) This reveals it was the synagogue members, “Members of the church” the Jews, the people of God, not outsiders who were now actually in opposition of God by their actions and decisions. Unfortunately today, in our churches and among those who claim to be Christians, they can contain people of God who also actually may be in opposition to God and our actions and decisions as well.
This core dynamic of Christian discipleship consists in the crisis and process of learning to be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” who is the Holy Spirit. One more key piece of information: THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS LOOK LIKE JESUS. We simply cannot learn or comprehend how the Holy Spirit works apart from keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. And this will not happen apart from immersing ourselves in every detail we can grasp from the inspired accounts we have of His life as revealed in the four Gospels and imitating Him!
We are about to witness a case study, a high-def demonstration of how all of this works out in a human life. Prepare to be astonished.
Remember in Luke 12 when Jesus said, "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
Read Acts 6:8-10 again. NOW STEPHEN. . . OPPOSITION AROSE. . “Now Stephen, full of grace and power….But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke!”
My family, I stated above, “ This core dynamic of Christian discipleship consists in the crisis and process of learning to be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” who is the Holy Spirit.” I pray today you will reflect on your reliance, equipping, and empowering by the Holy Spirit. I pray you will embrace the 5 things I asked of you: To read and reflect on these chapters daily, spend; one solid hour a week in prayer; form a band group; fast one day a week; and lunch + prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you right at this moment with his power and presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint and empower your church to be a church strong in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Your participation is important in this time together!! Please share your reflections in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community and my family to jump down into the pits and help lift up those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to 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! Thank You! .
CICK HERE TO GIVE CICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I come to you empty to be filled with your Spirit..
I love Acts chapter 4! It is a proclamation and testimony to the power of the resurrected Jesus our Lord and Savior! All throughout the chapter you can sense the presence and power the resurrection of Jesus provided in his believers. It is a picture of people and a church that have confidence in Christ. They have an expectancy that God is and will do great signs and wonders in their midst. It is a church filled with boldness derived not in themselves, but in the living Christ. It is the picture of a church filled with the anointing and presence of the Holy Spirit. A church that prays. A church that has complete unity of purpose that is radically meeting each others needs and affecting lives. It is a church that is on fire with the power of God! It is a church I so long to re-establish and be part of.
I read this chapter on the released power and presence of God in the resurrected Christ and the Holy Spirit in the church. The church is exciting, expecting, and seeing healings, signs and wonders. It is boldly standing up to powers and principalities, removing social barriers and injustice, and boldly spreading the gospel. People are banqueting together and participating in life together. And I so long to be part of that church. Why do I long for that church when there are churches on almost every corner today that are supposed to be places of the same presence of the resurrected Jesus who is alive and now present. The same Holy Spirit full of power moves among the earth today. The same kingdom of God is now at hand.
I was an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church (UMC). In 1786, the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, looked back on the revival begun during his lifetime. He seemed to think that it was well enough established that it would not immediately vanish after his death. However, he was not content with the survival of a lifeless sect that hung around, but failed to renew souls in the image of their creator. He wrote in “Thoughts Upon Methodism” : “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out." These words haunt me. It is as if Wesley continues to challenge all who call themselves Christians, to continue to have the zeal to “spread Scriptural holiness” that the early Methodists had. I can’t read this quote without asking myself the obvious question, not just about the UMC, but The Church in America in general, “Is the church in America a dead sect, does it have the form or religion without the power? Or have we held fast to the doctrine, spirit, faith and discipline with which the early church we read about in Acts 4 first set out?”
I lead a men’s Bible study on Thursday nights called Brothers, Bible and Beer that meets in a local brewery. We were discussing yesterday’s reading of Acts chapter 3 and the miraculous healing of the crippled man begging at the Beautiful gate by Peter and John speaking the name of Jesus of Nazareth over him. In our discussion of this miracle I asked our group, “When was the last time you experienced or witnessed a true miracle that you know was an act of God?” It was amazing how many men had to sit there and think, could not remember, or went back to a time in their childhood. If I was to ask you “When was the last time you experienced or witnessed a true miracle that you know was an act of God?” could you answer right away? Was it something that happened today? This week? This month? or would you have to sit and ponder over past years to think of one, if ever? This ties into today’s devotion, Where is the power of Jesus in your lives? Is your church, your faith a dead sect, does it have the form or religion without the power?
I, and I know you as well long to be part of a church like that in Acts 4. Long to be part of a church that others will look at and long to be part of, because it is full of the power and presence of the resurrected Jesus! Please read Acts chapter 4 and pray over and into these prayers today and over the weekend:
Pray the power of the resurrected Jesus over yourself, family, and church:
its power to save humanity vs. 4, 12,
Its power to heal. vs.9-10, 14. 22, 30
its power to provide us and fill us with the Holy Spirit v, 8, 25, 31,
Its power to fulfill prophesy, and sovereignty over time and our lives vs.24-29
Its power over all creation v.24
Its power to give us boldness in proclaiming the Gospel v.29
Its power to give us the ability to heal and do signs and wonders. V. 30
Its power to give our prayers power in and through the Holy Spirit v. 31
Its power to bring God through the Holy Spirit tangibly into our midst. “The place where they were assembled was shaken”. V.31
its power to unify us into one body v.32
Its power over all we posses v.32-36
Its power to fill all our needs v.34
Repent of ways you have continued on in a faith with the form of religion that is powerless and where you have contributed to your church being a dead sect. You received the power of the Resurrected Jesus at you baptism. Pray into that power. Ask God to remind, reveal and revive that power that is dormant within you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you people, places, possibilities for your church to powerfully proclaim the risen Jesus, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts of my post above or your reflections from your reading of Acts chapter 3 with us in the comments box below.
28 Days of Acts
I am asking all of us as a church, as a family, as a community of faith to come together as we begin pray over a new revelation, a new manifestation of Jesus into the vision and ministries of our churches and our lives. I would like us to dedicate ourselves to pouring ourselves into his word and prayer as we seek God’s will and direction for our lives. To aid us in this I am asking us to commit to one another and join together in these 5 things:
1. There are 28 chapters in Acts of Apostles, so we will read one chapter a each weekday for the next 28 weekdays.
2. If you are not in a Band group, start up or join one. A band group is the Wesleyan name for accountability groups of 2-3 people of the same sex that meet weekly. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ and to discern what we hear Christ speaking into our lives.. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. Ne excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, add a 30 second prayer over yourself and your church and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community and my family to jump down into the pits and help lift up those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to 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! Thank You! .
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You and welcome You into my heart and into my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
We are in the season now as we move from the Holiday of Easter towards Pentecost. So today I Am going begin a time reading through Luke’s book of The Acts of the Apostles to help us focus on Pentecost and the birth of The Church.. I would like us to use this time to as a community spend these days in prayer and fasting over The Church in the World. our individual churches that are part of the body of Christ, and each of us as its members.
Intro to Acts:
The Book of The Acts of the Apostles, or as commonly simply called “Acts” picks up where Luke’s Gospel leaves off, recording the birth of The Church and the early progress of the gospel as Jesus’ disciples took it from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world. The story begins with Christ’s ascension and the events of Pentecost. As Gentiles begin responding to the gospel, the focus shifts to Paul and his missionary journeys. Acts forms a bridge between the four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, showing how the apostles carried on Christ’s work and providing a historical background for Romans through Revelation. The Acts of the Apostles is the second of two New Testament books written by Luke. Like his Gospel, Acts was a letter to Luke’s friend Theophilus, written sometime in a.d. 62–64
"While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This,' He said, 'is what you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.... You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' " (Acts 1:4-8).
Lord Jesus, just before You ascended to Heaven from the Mount of Olives with all your disciples looking into the sky, You told them to wait for the promise of the Father, for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They knew You personally in their relationship of faith and they believed in Your resurrection as the Son of God. But there was more. You commanded them to wait for more.
They were never meant to go to work for the kingdom of God in their witness of faith without the power of the kingdom of God at work within them. Though they had great faith, though they had a personal relationship with You as Lord and Savior, You told them they needed more. You told them they needed to wait. They needed to wait to be empowered by Your Holy Spirit, to be baptized, saturated, immersed, and filled to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. You said, "See, I am sending upon you what My Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
Your first disciples were to wait with hungry hearts and expectant faith for their baptism with Your Holy Spirit. And so are we. We need You and we need Your power at work within us to be Your witnesses wherever You send us -- whether across the street or to the ends of the earth. We need to be baptized, saturated, immersed, and filled to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit, clothed with Your power from on high. We are to be the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, continuing the ministry of Christ in this hurting, broken, and fallen world.
So as we Embrace The resurrection of Jesus and move towards Pentecost Sunday in May, let us open wide our hearts every day for the coming of Your Holy Spirit. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus. I embrace Your promise, my Heavenly Father. Come, Holy Spirit of the Living God. Baptize me afresh today and everyday with Your power from on high. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will embrace the promise of the Father and be baptized with the Holy Spirit to be empowered to be a witness of Jesus everywhere He sends you each day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Asbegin our 28 Days reading through Acts and praying together by reading Acts chapter 1, here are some thoughts to pray on:
Pray over and into your personal, and church’s collective "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." v.5
Pray into the the power each of you received by the Holy Spirit in your baptism. v.8
Pray over your personal and our collective call as a church to witness to your community, the surrounding communities, our state and country, and unto the nations.v. 8
Pray for the return of Jesus. v.11
Pray that every member of your church will take seriously and embrace this call to pray and fast, and we will seek with one mind God's anointing and calling on us. v.14
Pray over your personal call to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. v.22
Pray over the leadership role in your church God is calling you to take up and step up into. v. 24
Pray over your commitment to embrace the 5 items I listed in yesterday’s post.
Please share your reflections and prayers on my blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to 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! Thank You!
