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LdOxfordBlog-Joshua-apnet
GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO
PART 1
~L.D. Oxford
http://www.joshua-ap.net/
Many born-again believers today have a very strong desire in their hearts to work the works of Christ. Many would love to be used of God to perform miracles just as Christ did when He walked this earth 2,000 years ago.
So many would love to be used just as the Apostles in the early Church were used to heal the sick, cast out demonic powers, with special miracles wrought by their hands.God wrought miracles by Paul in the book of Acts Chapter 19, vss. 11-12, When pieces of cloth were brought to the sick from Paul's body, the diseases departed from then, and the evil spirits went out of them.
In Acts 5:15, when the sick were brought forth into the streets laid on couches and beds, they knew that if Peter walked by and his shadow over-shadowed them, they would be made whole by the power of God.
If you are amongst the many today who want to be used by God in the miraculous ministry of Jesus Christ, then you must be willing to pay the price that goes along with it.
Salvation is free and that price has been paid, but for you to truly follow and serve God, there is a price that you must pay with your own life.
Every person that God uses to do His work effectively are required to pay this price. The price of living a godly life, self-denial and the life of a servant; suffering much tribulation, persecutions, and being willing to be obedient, even unto death.
There is this price of the sacrifice of the human will involved that is not easy to endure, but He has provided the grace and power to do this. We must allow God to fulfill "His will, His plan and purposes in and through us." Your body must become a living sacrifice unto God just as the early Apostles and believers did.
In Romans 12:1, Paul beseeches us, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your "reasonable service."
So if we present ourselves a living sacrifice unto God, this means that we will have to give up our old ways, our plans and our personal dreams in exchange for God's dreams for our lives instead. We must also be willing to align ourselves with the Word of God through the power and grace or our Lord Jesus Christ, living a godly life in Him.
In 2 Timothy 3:12, the Word says, Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If you will take the time to read through the book of Acts, you will find that the early Apostles and many believers were so devoted and dedicated to God and to each other that it would put many of our present day churches to shame. The earliest believers were of one heart, of one mind and shared many things in common.
THEY SOLD THEIR LANDS, HOMES AND POSSESSIONS
They even sold their lands, homes and possessions and laid the monies down at the feet of the Apostles. Then the money was distributed to every man according to the need. How many Christians today would be willing to follow this pattern of the early Apostles?
How many believers today, would be willing to give up their possessions so that their ministers, brothers and sisters in Christ's needs would be met? Not too many, especially in the western churches.
First, they might make excuses that the pattern of distribution was only for the early church and not for today. Or they might use the excuse of the ministries out there that have fallen into financial scandals in the past.
Then the final excuse would probably be: Why should i distribute my money when the needy should just get better jobs. Others might just hold on to what God has entrusted to them to help others and to try to keep it in the bank to draw interest.
But all of these excuses are just because there are so many who do not really want to exercise self-denial and to become more of a living sacrifice to God. Everything that we do towards others is what we are actually doing directly to the Lord.
For instance, needy persons may cross our paths repeatedly through life. Do we help them or bypass them and ask God to bless them after they are already gone.
When an anointed Apostle or Evangelist comes to town, do we just bask in the blessings and not help them when they have so many pressing needs due to the expenses that it costs for them to come to minister to you?
Or how about the local church or the pastor? Do we expect them to do everything and to go without? I will tell you this, God never intended for it to be that way, for the workman is worthy to recieve for the ministry that he offers in service to the Lord; and we should never muzzle up the ox that treadeth out the corn.
This is what the Word says, not my word..:) I know some ministers that have gone through this sort of thing in their own ministries. Some are very anointed and have worked all year to minister to the people and the people would in return, be very selfish towards their labors of love for Christ. I have spoken with many of these ministries concerning this sort of thing.
IN THE EASTERN WORLD
I had lived in the far eastern culture for a period of 7 years total in missionary evangelistic work and the people there would always go out of the way to help those who were there to minister to them without ever having to be asked.
The easterners are some of the most gracious and generous people on earth when it comes to ministry related giving and helping others in need. Ask anyone else who has been on the mission field in the eastern culture and they will tell you that what i am telling you is absolutely true.
Then, the Jewish and Arab believers in Christ are also this way in the middle east. I have met many of them right here in the states. A very gracious and generous people. There is a very sharp contrast between the churches of the east and the churches of the west.
If the western Body of Christ were really loving each other and showing concern for the needs of others, then we could actually walk into a church and see the true "body ministry" at work. Every person would have their needs met where they were lacking, there would be a constant flow of groceries, clothing or even homes to bring people off of the streets.
PART 1
~L.D. Oxford
http://www.joshua-ap.net/
Many born-again believers today have a very strong desire in their hearts to work the works of Christ. Many would love to be used of God to perform miracles just as Christ did when He walked this earth 2,000 years ago.
So many would love to be used just as the Apostles in the early Church were used to heal the sick, cast out demonic powers, with special miracles wrought by their hands.God wrought miracles by Paul in the book of Acts Chapter 19, vss. 11-12, When pieces of cloth were brought to the sick from Paul's body, the diseases departed from then, and the evil spirits went out of them.
In Acts 5:15, when the sick were brought forth into the streets laid on couches and beds, they knew that if Peter walked by and his shadow over-shadowed them, they would be made whole by the power of God.
If you are amongst the many today who want to be used by God in the miraculous ministry of Jesus Christ, then you must be willing to pay the price that goes along with it.
Salvation is free and that price has been paid, but for you to truly follow and serve God, there is a price that you must pay with your own life.
Every person that God uses to do His work effectively are required to pay this price. The price of living a godly life, self-denial and the life of a servant; suffering much tribulation, persecutions, and being willing to be obedient, even unto death.
There is this price of the sacrifice of the human will involved that is not easy to endure, but He has provided the grace and power to do this. We must allow God to fulfill "His will, His plan and purposes in and through us." Your body must become a living sacrifice unto God just as the early Apostles and believers did.
In Romans 12:1, Paul beseeches us, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your "reasonable service."
So if we present ourselves a living sacrifice unto God, this means that we will have to give up our old ways, our plans and our personal dreams in exchange for God's dreams for our lives instead. We must also be willing to align ourselves with the Word of God through the power and grace or our Lord Jesus Christ, living a godly life in Him.
In 2 Timothy 3:12, the Word says, Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If you will take the time to read through the book of Acts, you will find that the early Apostles and many believers were so devoted and dedicated to God and to each other that it would put many of our present day churches to shame. The earliest believers were of one heart, of one mind and shared many things in common.
THEY SOLD THEIR LANDS, HOMES AND POSSESSIONS
They even sold their lands, homes and possessions and laid the monies down at the feet of the Apostles. Then the money was distributed to every man according to the need. How many Christians today would be willing to follow this pattern of the early Apostles?
How many believers today, would be willing to give up their possessions so that their ministers, brothers and sisters in Christ's needs would be met? Not too many, especially in the western churches.
First, they might make excuses that the pattern of distribution was only for the early church and not for today. Or they might use the excuse of the ministries out there that have fallen into financial scandals in the past.
Then the final excuse would probably be: Why should i distribute my money when the needy should just get better jobs. Others might just hold on to what God has entrusted to them to help others and to try to keep it in the bank to draw interest.
But all of these excuses are just because there are so many who do not really want to exercise self-denial and to become more of a living sacrifice to God. Everything that we do towards others is what we are actually doing directly to the Lord.
For instance, needy persons may cross our paths repeatedly through life. Do we help them or bypass them and ask God to bless them after they are already gone.
When an anointed Apostle or Evangelist comes to town, do we just bask in the blessings and not help them when they have so many pressing needs due to the expenses that it costs for them to come to minister to you?
Or how about the local church or the pastor? Do we expect them to do everything and to go without? I will tell you this, God never intended for it to be that way, for the workman is worthy to recieve for the ministry that he offers in service to the Lord; and we should never muzzle up the ox that treadeth out the corn.
This is what the Word says, not my word..:) I know some ministers that have gone through this sort of thing in their own ministries. Some are very anointed and have worked all year to minister to the people and the people would in return, be very selfish towards their labors of love for Christ. I have spoken with many of these ministries concerning this sort of thing.
IN THE EASTERN WORLD
I had lived in the far eastern culture for a period of 7 years total in missionary evangelistic work and the people there would always go out of the way to help those who were there to minister to them without ever having to be asked.
The easterners are some of the most gracious and generous people on earth when it comes to ministry related giving and helping others in need. Ask anyone else who has been on the mission field in the eastern culture and they will tell you that what i am telling you is absolutely true.
Then, the Jewish and Arab believers in Christ are also this way in the middle east. I have met many of them right here in the states. A very gracious and generous people. There is a very sharp contrast between the churches of the east and the churches of the west.
If the western Body of Christ were really loving each other and showing concern for the needs of others, then we could actually walk into a church and see the true "body ministry" at work. Every person would have their needs met where they were lacking, there would be a constant flow of groceries, clothing or even homes to bring people off of the streets.
Each member would be distributing their finances so that the Body of Christ would lack nothing. Some ministries do have some of this in operation, but only a few in comparison with the vast majority. But this is going to change where we will eventually see more and more of this as the Lord grips the hearts of the western Body of Christ.
During the catastropy of Hurricane Katrina, it did awaken the Body of Christ to go to the rescue of the people, athough we should not wait for a disaster to happen before we decide to help others. However, it looks like we will have to experience these sorts of things for the western Body of Christ to awaken and to mobilize more into unselfish service.
ON PERSECUTIONS, SELF-DENIAL & MAKING SACRIFICES
It is quite obvious in the book of Acts, that the early Christian believers knew what self-denial and sacrifice was. They also knew that as a result of living a godly life in Christ Jesus, that persecution was sure to follow.
Persecution was common in the early church, as the Apostles were beaten and jailed for preaching and proclaiming Christ. When the Apostles were beaten or stoned, they still went right on preaching in the name of Jesus Christ.
In the account of Acts, chapters 6 & 7, we see Stephen, a man who was filled with the Holy Ghost and was so full of faith and power, working great wonders and miracles among the people.
Because of the wisdom and spirit by which he spake, certain men of the synagogue could not win a dispute with Stephen. So some of the men of the synagogue urged others to testify falsely against Stephen, saying, that he spoke blasphemeous words against God and Moses.The people were then stirred up and brought Stephen by force to the council.
So the false witnesses testified that Stephen spoke blaspemeous words against the holy place and the law. As Stephen was falsely accused, all that sat in the council watched him as his face began to shine as the brilliance of an angel.
Then Stephen began to preach the Word of God with such power and authority under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. He spoke out against the council by the Spirit of God, which cut them to the heart angering them.
Then the council came against Stephen grinding their teeth in rage.But Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looked up into the heavens and saw the Glory of God manifested.
( Note: The Glory of God being manifested during persecution)
As he beheld this heavenly manifestation, he saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God. So, we see here, Stephen with his eyes fixed on a heavenly manifestation of God in the midst of physical persecution and judgement that was coming upon him from this ungodly council.
As the council cried out with a loud voice, stopping their ears, they ran upon Stephen all at once, casting him out of the city. Then they stoned him as Stephen called upon God, saying, Lord Jesus receive my spirit!
Then faithful Stephen kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep in death.
Living in our day, many of us especially in the western world, do not know or understand what a sacrificial life is compared to the early Apostles and believers.
If we did know, we would always speak the truth, stand up for the truth, we would live the truth, then we would see astounding miracles outside of the walls of the church.
This was the way that it was in the early church. They were not confined to the walls of institutional churches. The miracles were out in the public places and temple courts where the normal everyday activity was.
They were a church without walls for the most part, who didn't have their focus on building programs, but on preaching the truth, "building lives" and winning the lost at any cost. :)
MORE TO COME WITH PART 2:
MIRACLES AND HEALINGS
*****
*As posted on the:
Apostolic/Prophetic/Global
JOSHUA A/P NETWORK ELIST
Subscribe: Send a blank email to:
JoshuaElist-subscribe@topica.com
During the catastropy of Hurricane Katrina, it did awaken the Body of Christ to go to the rescue of the people, athough we should not wait for a disaster to happen before we decide to help others. However, it looks like we will have to experience these sorts of things for the western Body of Christ to awaken and to mobilize more into unselfish service.
ON PERSECUTIONS, SELF-DENIAL & MAKING SACRIFICES
It is quite obvious in the book of Acts, that the early Christian believers knew what self-denial and sacrifice was. They also knew that as a result of living a godly life in Christ Jesus, that persecution was sure to follow.
Persecution was common in the early church, as the Apostles were beaten and jailed for preaching and proclaiming Christ. When the Apostles were beaten or stoned, they still went right on preaching in the name of Jesus Christ.
In the account of Acts, chapters 6 & 7, we see Stephen, a man who was filled with the Holy Ghost and was so full of faith and power, working great wonders and miracles among the people.
Because of the wisdom and spirit by which he spake, certain men of the synagogue could not win a dispute with Stephen. So some of the men of the synagogue urged others to testify falsely against Stephen, saying, that he spoke blasphemeous words against God and Moses.The people were then stirred up and brought Stephen by force to the council.
So the false witnesses testified that Stephen spoke blaspemeous words against the holy place and the law. As Stephen was falsely accused, all that sat in the council watched him as his face began to shine as the brilliance of an angel.
Then Stephen began to preach the Word of God with such power and authority under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. He spoke out against the council by the Spirit of God, which cut them to the heart angering them.
Then the council came against Stephen grinding their teeth in rage.But Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looked up into the heavens and saw the Glory of God manifested.
( Note: The Glory of God being manifested during persecution)
As he beheld this heavenly manifestation, he saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God. So, we see here, Stephen with his eyes fixed on a heavenly manifestation of God in the midst of physical persecution and judgement that was coming upon him from this ungodly council.
As the council cried out with a loud voice, stopping their ears, they ran upon Stephen all at once, casting him out of the city. Then they stoned him as Stephen called upon God, saying, Lord Jesus receive my spirit!
Then faithful Stephen kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep in death.
Living in our day, many of us especially in the western world, do not know or understand what a sacrificial life is compared to the early Apostles and believers.
If we did know, we would always speak the truth, stand up for the truth, we would live the truth, then we would see astounding miracles outside of the walls of the church.
This was the way that it was in the early church. They were not confined to the walls of institutional churches. The miracles were out in the public places and temple courts where the normal everyday activity was.
They were a church without walls for the most part, who didn't have their focus on building programs, but on preaching the truth, "building lives" and winning the lost at any cost. :)
MORE TO COME WITH PART 2:
MIRACLES AND HEALINGS
*****
*As posted on the:
Apostolic/Prophetic/Global
JOSHUA A/P NETWORK ELIST
Subscribe: Send a blank email to:
JoshuaElist-subscribe@topica.com
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