You may say, “There are many reasons why God shouldn’t use me...” You’re right! But don’t worry. You’re in good company.
Moses stuttered.
David’s armor didn’t fit.
John Mark was rejected by Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
Amos’ only training was in the school of fig tree pruning. Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Solomon was too rich.
Jesus was too poor.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer...so was Moses.
Jonah ran from God.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Mary was lazy.
Samson had long hair.
Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
So did Peter, Paul---well, lots of folks did.
But God doesn’t require a job interview. He doesn’t look at financial gain or loss. He’s not prejudiced or partial; not judging or grudging, sassy or brassy; not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. As much as we try, God’s gifts are free. If you are magically in love with Him; if you hunger for Him more than your next breath., he’ll use you in spite of who you are, where you’ve bee, or what you look like. I pray that we will step out of our limitations into the unlimitable nature of who God is. Then our passion for God and our passion to communicate Him will make mincemeat of our limitations.
Read God's Word
Monday, April 02, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
THE LOVE LETTER
Everyone longs to give themselves to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God says to a Christian - NO, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly. With having an intense, personal and loving relationship with me alone, discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found. Then you will never be united with another until you are united with me exclusively of anyone or anything else. Exclusively of any other desires or longings. I want you to have the best. PLEASE allow me to give it to you. I want you to stop planning and stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best so just keep watching me, expecting the greatest thing and listen and learn the things I tell you. You just wait . . . . that's all. Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have received or that I have given them. Don't look at the things you think you want, just keep looking to me or you'll miss what I want to show you and then, then, when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you can dream of!!! You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready -- I am working at this very moment to have the both of you ready at the same time -- until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life that I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me. And this is PERFECT love.
And dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love. KNOW that I love you, I am God. Know it and be satisfied!!!
But God says to a Christian - NO, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly. With having an intense, personal and loving relationship with me alone, discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found. Then you will never be united with another until you are united with me exclusively of anyone or anything else. Exclusively of any other desires or longings. I want you to have the best. PLEASE allow me to give it to you. I want you to stop planning and stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best so just keep watching me, expecting the greatest thing and listen and learn the things I tell you. You just wait . . . . that's all. Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have received or that I have given them. Don't look at the things you think you want, just keep looking to me or you'll miss what I want to show you and then, then, when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you can dream of!!! You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready -- I am working at this very moment to have the both of you ready at the same time -- until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life that I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me. And this is PERFECT love.
And dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love. KNOW that I love you, I am God. Know it and be satisfied!!!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
100 PRAYER POINTS
Study the underlisted scriptures to develop faith to pray the following prayers with the understanding that God has planned for your business prosperity.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 8:18; Proverbs 10:4, 22:29, 24:27, 27:23-27; Joshua 1:8; Ecclesiastes 5:19.
Also don’t forget that there are responsibilities attached to your prosperity.
As you study, try to identify those responsibilities and fulfill them and by doing so you will be connected to God’s covenant of uninterrupted blessings.
1. Oh Lord, baptize me with the generous spirit of a cheerful giver who gives out of love and not out of compulsion.
2. The Lord will make me a pillar of support for the expansion of God’s Kingdom in Jesus name.
3. All my past generosity will be remembered by God. Every impossible situation in my life will be turned around by God on the account of my past generosity in Jesus name.
4. I believe in miracles, I serve a God of miracles therefore; every chapter closed by men against me will be re-opened by God in my favour in Jesus name.
5. Just as the famine in the days of Joseph elevated him, help me Lord to see the opportunity that the current global financial crises is creating for my prosperity in Jesus name
6. Oh Lord endow me with the required mental skill to interpret every opportunity that comes my way correctly and take maximum advantage of them in Jesus name.
7. I receive Grace to enjoy riches that will endure throughout my life time in Jesus name.
8. I receive total liberty from the embarrassing yoke of debt in Jesus name.
9. I receive total deliverance from the embarrassing stigma of knocking on doors and repeated phone calls begging for financial assistance in Jesus name.
10. I will enjoy the surplus of heaven to achieve my purpose and have leftovers in Jesus name.
11. Murmuring will not take the place of money in my life and money will not mess me up; all my bills will be supernaturally settled in Jesus name.
12. I refuse to be a burden on my neighbours, families and friends. I am a lender and not a borrower in Jesus name.
13. Whenever the needies need my help my purse will not be empty. I will be readily available to meet their needs in Jesus name.
14. Oh Lord, deliver me (my husband, my children etc) from the slavery of evil appetite/habit that are killing my health and destiny in Jesus name.
15. The Lord will satisfy my mouth with good things. I shall have appetite and money to eat choiced foods and accomplish great things in Jesus name.
16. I receive total deliverance from the curse of poverty and affliction that has ever plaqued my family line. I will live to transfer prosperity to my posterity in Jesus name.
17. I shall not only be great in wealth but also have great name in Jesus name.
18. Let your Spirit empower me oh Lord, to attain, sustain and enjoy success in Jesus name.
19. My joy shall multiply at the end of this month… I shall therefore count blessings and not sorrows in
Jesus name.
20. Oh Lord deliver me from profitless labour and confused activities in Jesus name.
21. I shall not waste my seed. I will be divinely guided to plant my seed on fertile soil in Jesus name.
22. Oh Lord, let the resources required to fulfill my dream in the custody of my enemies relocate into the custody of my friends and helpers in Jesus name.
23. Oh Lord, let money forever remains my loyal messenger in Jesus name.
24. Both the help from above and abroad will combine and compete to settle my bills and fulfill my dreams this year in Jesus name.
25. From now on all my investments and labour since the beginning of my career and ministry will begin to yield their
full profit in Jesus name.
26. In every tight situation, let my tithe provoke heavenly solution in Jesus name.
27. This week my past generosity will spring forth a pleasant surprise in Jesus name.
28. Throughout this year, none of my resources shall be wasted on medical bills or any form of profitless venture in Jesus name.
29. Satan will not receive the backing of heaven to wipe out my financial resources with evil erosion in Jesus name.
30. Whosoever looks up to me for help this year will not be disappointed. I shall have enough to satisfy my needs and plenty to give to others in need in Jesus name.
31. I receive deliverance from the bondage of doubt and fear that past failures and misfortune has introduced into my life in Jesus name.
32. I receive the required courage to step into the greatness God has ordained for me in Jesus name.
33. I submit to the leadership of God’s Spirit and I receive the backing of heaven to breakthrough and succeed in all my undertakings in Jesus name.
34. I receive the favourable countenance of God, therefore Heaven will agree with all my steps of faith and God’s will shall prosper in my hands.
35. I refuse to submit my courage to frustration. God will send me encouragement today; I will be energized to continue the race in Jesus name.
36. The sun is rising today announcing my season of success and fulfilling my purpose in Jesus name.
37. Those that believe in me and have invested in my dream, encouraging and supporting me will not be disappointed in Jesus name.
38. The Lord will allow something better to come out of every bad situation that baffles me in Jesus name.
39. Let the prophetic power that operated in the valley of dry bones re-unite me with my lost (glory, helper, husband, wife, children, joy etc) in Jesus name.
40. Every carnal attitude of disobedience and demonic spirits that are promoting barrenness in my life are terminated today in Jesus name.
41. Those doubting my ability to succeed will soon become my subjects in Jesus name.
42. Those that refuse to lend unto me during my moment of struggling will soon begin to lean on me in Jesus name.
43. Those laughing at me today will soon laugh with me and regret their folly of looking down on me in Jesus name.
44. Those who gather to frustrate my vision will beg to be part of my celebration in Jesus name.
45. Every opposition I encounter today will soon form a chapter of my success story in Jesus name.
46. The Lord will release a measure of prosperity into my life that will swallow all my history of poverty in Jesus name.
47. The Lord will give me a new name and a new identity that will bury all the ugly stories associated with my background in Jesus name.
48. My new life in Christ has clothed me with a garment of righteousness; my past sinful life will no longer hurt or haunt me in Jesus name.
49. A similar grace that made Jabez more honourable than his brethren will distinguish me among my equals in Jesus name.
50. Today marks the beginning of my bouncing back. My spiritual life shall be restored and my lost glory shall be fully recovered.
51. I declare every department of my life under the control of Satan disconnected in Jesus name.
52. All the sinful habits that enslave me to Satan will henceforth irritate me in Jesus name.
53. In all the areas where men have failed me, let your mercy prevail for me in Jesus name.
54. In all the areas where money may disgrace me, let your mercy raised men of influence in my favour in Jesus name.
55. This week I will encounter God’s mercy that will end all problems of money associated with my family in Jesus name.
56. Inadequate supply will not compel me to abandon God. Excess supply will not deceive me to disconnect from God in Jesus name.
57. I receive Christ Spirit of endurance to endure the season of adversity and wait for the era of prosperity in Jesus name.
58. The present adversity will not last forever; my business will not sink with the ongoing economic meltdown. The Spirit of God will usher in a new era of prosperity in Jesus name.
59. God’s covenant of exception as it was in the land of Goshen will work in my favour against the ongoing economic recession in Jesus name.
60. Whatever positive purpose, I pursue, I will posses because the Spirit of God will instruct my steps in the right direction in Jesus name.
61. I rebuke the spirit of bareness from my business; my business will be fruitful and profitable in Jesus name.
62. The Holy Spirit will be the invincible Chief Executive Officer of my business in Jesus name.
63. I will not suffer scarcity of idea nor adequate capital to take my business to the next level in Jesus name.
64. The Spirit of God will expose and expel every Achan (traitor) among my employees that has the tendency of ruining my business in Jesus name.
65. The Spirit of God will deliver me from making recruitment error that is capable of crippling my business in Jesus name.
66. The Spirit of excellence, commitment, loyalty and uprightness will compel all my employees to work for the progress of my company in Jesus name.
67. Evil intentions and machination of my competitors will fail in Jesus name.
68. Every weapon sponsored through family relations or friends to wreck my business will not succeed in Jesus name.
69. I pronounce unstoppable prosperity over every project of my company in Jesus name.
70. Because this business is founded in partnership with God, it will take root downward, develop into branches and bear fruits upward in Jesus name.
71. I command a miraculous and total recovery of all debts owned my company in Jesus name.
72. All my long-forgotten proposal will begin to receive the attention of the right and relevant authority in Jesus name.
73. The favour of God will envelope my company, office and shop in Jesus name.
74. Both my company identity and complimentary card will carry God’s presence and attract favour of my prospective customers, clients and contracts in Jesus name.
75. I repeal every Local and International legislation that is not in favour of the prosperity of my business in Jesus name.
76. My business premises will not receive demonic visitation of armed robbers and dupes; law enforcement agents sponsored against me will not succeed at implicating me in Jesus name.
77. Partnership that will ruin my business will not receive my endorsement in Jesus name.
78. Agent of darkness on evil assignment against my business will receive God’s judgment of blindness in Jesus name.
79. The economic policy of this nation will begin to favour the prosperity of my business in Jesus name.
80. The vision of the Government in power will not antagonize my business prosperity in Jesus name.
81. Anoint me Lord to breakthrough without bribery in Jesus name.
82. Holy Ghost fire will consume all satanic rope and chains that is around my wrongly seized goods; heaven will secure their release this week in Jesus name.
83. I untie all my customers and clients that have been tied around the aprons of my competitors with demonic spell in Jesus name.
84. Every goods that have overstayed in this shop and are at the risk of expiration will bring in money and relocate to its end users (consumer) in Jesus name.
85. This month I will sign a contract whose profit will pay all my debts and leave me with surplus that will make me to have nothing to do with debt again in Jesus name.
86. This month, my business premises will relocate from a rented apartment to our own property in Jesus name.
87. Henceforth, I will not borrow to pay my staff again in Jesus name.
88. My business will be sufficient to pay my bills, pay my staff and surplus enough to contribute to community development in Jesus name.
89. I receive help from above to resurrect my collapse business and expand and diversify my flourishing ones in Jesus name.
90. I will not lack creative ideas to satisfy my customers / clients in Jesus name.
91. All the customers that I have pursued in the past without success will begin to beg to do business with me in Jesus name.
92. The current economic meltdown will not fold up my business in Jesus name.
93. The winnowing power of God’s Spirit will blow away the spirit of waste and agents of waste from my business in Jesus name.
94. God’s wind of wonder will deposit wealth into my business in Jesus name.
95. The Spirit of God will guide my business decision; my capital shall not be tied down on unprofitable goods in Jesus name.
96. Products that have lost market value, and customers taste and appetite will not be grounded in my shop in Jesus name.
97. The Spirit of God will resist me from being teleguided or manipulated by fraudsters (419) to sign away all that I have laboured for in Jesus name.
98. I shall not be manipulated by greed and covetousness to disobey heavenly warning through dream and prophecy in Jesus name.
99. None of my business trips will record arm robbery attack or accident in Jesus name.
100. The supreme council of heaven will repeal, reverse, and amend every decree, policy, legislation that is contrary to all my noble business vision in Jesus name.
Thank you, my dear Nigerian Brothers and Sisters of Oasis of Wisdom Bible Church.
Monday, March 05, 2012
IN THE WORDS OF satan
I've been here since the beginning
Know exactly how you work
I know all of your cravings
Know what makes you go berserk
Been lying from the start just to make you play a part in my infinite rebellion against the Father God
Hate
Everything he is
And I make you hate him too
Make you hate him with your actions it's so easy for me to do
'Cause you like it...
Sin feels good for the ego...
You love it...
Oh, come on baby let your hair go
And all the time, I'm winding you up
Like my perfect little puppet, you're my favorite robot, welcome to the show but I'm watching you and all of hell is with me too, helping me make my lies look true
Oh and there is a lie that works for everyone, everyone
A lie that opens your hearts so I can get me some more of your free will
I'm winding you
Winding you
Give me the control that's why I'm telling you
Selling you
Anything
Everything
Appealing to your human way of being and I use it all against you to just keep your eyes from seeing past the life you're living
Past the moment you're in
Past the pleasure of your sin
Or the cigarette you're smoking
Choking on your lust
I'll make you drunk with pride
So deeply spun into my system that you won't see the light
Never mind that I'm drowning you
I keep deceiving you...
`Cuz I don't tell you
Bout the God in heaven
Who loves you
Who yearns for you, no
I don't tell you
`Bout the freedom of forgiveness and truth
Why would I tell you?
Why would I tell you, the truth?
But I'll say that millions of years ago an accident exploded
And you're the result of this cosmic unknown with no real purpose
Created for no real intent
The reason for your living is just coincidence
So all the remains is what you can gain
Whatever meaning you attach to your days you decide
Mmm, but I help you recognize the important things in life
Introducing money, it's the root of all, evil they say so
I attach your self worth to the salary you're paid, be a slave to your property
Your jewelry
Your cars and things
Advertise that lie up on the TV so you want that bling
Selling bit by bit the little pieces of your soul
Climbing up the ladder of economic control
Oh, the greed of man makes it so easy to pervert the Father's plan
Or I'll tell you...
There is a heaven but there's many ways to get in
Keep you so confused that you stay bound to your sin
Tell you there are many ways to the same God
Keep you distracted with your methods so your heart stays hard,
I'll make you think you've got spirituality, but it's really just emotional alchemy
Oh, the vanity of self-idoltary I never let you see that it breeds
Hedonism! Whoo!
And it's the anthem of this generation
Come on, drink it, snort it, smoke it, swallow it
Chew on my illusion of freedom til you vomit it
And still I don't tell you
Bout the God in heaven
Who loves you
Who yearns for you
No I don't tell you
Bout the freedom of forgiveness and truth
Why would I tell you?
Why would I tell you the truth?
"In the Words of Satan" is written and performed by "The Arrows"
Know exactly how you work
I know all of your cravings
Know what makes you go berserk
Been lying from the start just to make you play a part in my infinite rebellion against the Father God
Hate
Everything he is
And I make you hate him too
Make you hate him with your actions it's so easy for me to do
'Cause you like it...
Sin feels good for the ego...
You love it...
Oh, come on baby let your hair go
And all the time, I'm winding you up
Like my perfect little puppet, you're my favorite robot, welcome to the show but I'm watching you and all of hell is with me too, helping me make my lies look true
Oh and there is a lie that works for everyone, everyone
A lie that opens your hearts so I can get me some more of your free will
I'm winding you
Winding you
Give me the control that's why I'm telling you
Selling you
Anything
Everything
Appealing to your human way of being and I use it all against you to just keep your eyes from seeing past the life you're living
Past the moment you're in
Past the pleasure of your sin
Or the cigarette you're smoking
Choking on your lust
I'll make you drunk with pride
So deeply spun into my system that you won't see the light
Never mind that I'm drowning you
I keep deceiving you...
`Cuz I don't tell you
Bout the God in heaven
Who loves you
Who yearns for you, no
I don't tell you
`Bout the freedom of forgiveness and truth
Why would I tell you?
Why would I tell you, the truth?
But I'll say that millions of years ago an accident exploded
And you're the result of this cosmic unknown with no real purpose
Created for no real intent
The reason for your living is just coincidence
So all the remains is what you can gain
Whatever meaning you attach to your days you decide
Mmm, but I help you recognize the important things in life
Introducing money, it's the root of all, evil they say so
I attach your self worth to the salary you're paid, be a slave to your property
Your jewelry
Your cars and things
Advertise that lie up on the TV so you want that bling
Selling bit by bit the little pieces of your soul
Climbing up the ladder of economic control
Oh, the greed of man makes it so easy to pervert the Father's plan
Or I'll tell you...
There is a heaven but there's many ways to get in
Keep you so confused that you stay bound to your sin
Tell you there are many ways to the same God
Keep you distracted with your methods so your heart stays hard,
I'll make you think you've got spirituality, but it's really just emotional alchemy
Oh, the vanity of self-idoltary I never let you see that it breeds
Hedonism! Whoo!
And it's the anthem of this generation
Come on, drink it, snort it, smoke it, swallow it
Chew on my illusion of freedom til you vomit it
And still I don't tell you
Bout the God in heaven
Who loves you
Who yearns for you
No I don't tell you
Bout the freedom of forgiveness and truth
Why would I tell you?
Why would I tell you the truth?
"In the Words of Satan" is written and performed by "The Arrows"
Friday, January 13, 2012
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus
What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion
What if I told you voting republican really wasn't his mission
What if I told you republican doesn't automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind
Doesn't automatically give you vision
I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce
But in the old testament God actually calls religious people whores
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religions like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies
While the corps rots underneath
Now I ain't judgin
I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look, Cause there's a problem
If people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic's unworthy
It's like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I'd go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness
Because if grace is [water](undefined), then the church should be an ocean
It's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken
Which means I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin
Because it doesn't depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God's enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don't you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then
Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans
Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it.
Thank you brother Jefferson Bethke.
NOW IT MUST BE STATED...
A lot of people I really like and respect have read this poem and some even watched and shared the video. And I realize I may bug a few of them by what I’m about to write. But it keeps getting posted on Facebook, and the more I see it, the more I realize: I’m not a fan.
I think he has several good thoughts, but his opening statement is not true. His entire premise starts there–and it’s not right. Jesus did not come to abolish religion, but to fulfill religion. He didn’t come to tear apart the Temple or the priesthood, but to fulfill everything that religion represented.
Jesus did not hate religion, as is asserted in this video. The rules and regulations of the Jewish faith were His creation, after all. As part of the Godhead, He was the one who established the length of a garment, the feasts and festivals, and the Sabbath, and all the other rules found in Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy. What Jesus hated was that the leaders of that religion had so inserted themselves into the process that they made it even more difficult for man to reach out to God.
It was not the religious man doing his best to offer a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord that Jesus railed against. It was not the woman giving her mite in the temple that He spoke out about. The “white-washed sepulchers” Jesus called out were religious leaders who made it difficult for that man and that woman to reach out to the God who had established the religion in the first place.
The problem here is that his poetry slam is not about religion per se, but his issues with the modern American church. And yet, even then I would argue that his theory is unfounded. Are there dead churches where what you say and do and what you watch and don’t watch are more important than being the hands and feet of Jesus? Of course there are.
But there also hundreds, if not thousands, of local churches–religious centers, if you will–who show the world every day the reality of a life changed by Christ. Churches that reach out and serve food to the homeless, who share gifts and love with single moms, who stand against sex trafficking and slavery. Churches whose people give hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to help feed the hungry, provide education, and build wells in villages where there is no clean water.
The problem with religion is that Jesus has fulfilled it, so the rules and regulations–which are about making you justified before God–no longer have meaning because Christ himself justifies you. Is Jesus greater than religion? Of course He is. Because everything religion is about–man reaching out to God, to make himself better and worthy–is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
What if I told you voting republican really wasn't his mission
What if I told you republican doesn't automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind
Doesn't automatically give you vision
I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce
But in the old testament God actually calls religious people whores
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religions like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies
While the corps rots underneath
Now I ain't judgin
I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look, Cause there's a problem
If people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic's unworthy
It's like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I'd go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness
Because if grace is [water](undefined), then the church should be an ocean
It's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken
Which means I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin
Because it doesn't depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God's enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don't you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then
Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans
Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it.
Thank you brother Jefferson Bethke.
NOW IT MUST BE STATED...
A lot of people I really like and respect have read this poem and some even watched and shared the video. And I realize I may bug a few of them by what I’m about to write. But it keeps getting posted on Facebook, and the more I see it, the more I realize: I’m not a fan.
I think he has several good thoughts, but his opening statement is not true. His entire premise starts there–and it’s not right. Jesus did not come to abolish religion, but to fulfill religion. He didn’t come to tear apart the Temple or the priesthood, but to fulfill everything that religion represented.
Jesus did not hate religion, as is asserted in this video. The rules and regulations of the Jewish faith were His creation, after all. As part of the Godhead, He was the one who established the length of a garment, the feasts and festivals, and the Sabbath, and all the other rules found in Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy. What Jesus hated was that the leaders of that religion had so inserted themselves into the process that they made it even more difficult for man to reach out to God.
It was not the religious man doing his best to offer a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord that Jesus railed against. It was not the woman giving her mite in the temple that He spoke out about. The “white-washed sepulchers” Jesus called out were religious leaders who made it difficult for that man and that woman to reach out to the God who had established the religion in the first place.
The problem here is that his poetry slam is not about religion per se, but his issues with the modern American church. And yet, even then I would argue that his theory is unfounded. Are there dead churches where what you say and do and what you watch and don’t watch are more important than being the hands and feet of Jesus? Of course there are.
But there also hundreds, if not thousands, of local churches–religious centers, if you will–who show the world every day the reality of a life changed by Christ. Churches that reach out and serve food to the homeless, who share gifts and love with single moms, who stand against sex trafficking and slavery. Churches whose people give hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to help feed the hungry, provide education, and build wells in villages where there is no clean water.
The problem with religion is that Jesus has fulfilled it, so the rules and regulations–which are about making you justified before God–no longer have meaning because Christ himself justifies you. Is Jesus greater than religion? Of course He is. Because everything religion is about–man reaching out to God, to make himself better and worthy–is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
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About Me
- J.A. Vazquez
- I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.