“Jude makes intriguing comments on how to reach those who need God:
First, be filled with faith by praying in the Spirit (v.20);
Second, keep yourself in the love of God (v.21);
Third, have compassion on those doubting (v. 22);
Fourth, rescue others from the flames (v. 23);
Fifth, show mercy tempered with fear (v.23).” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 251
“What is your ‘issue of blood’ (‘like’ the lady with same in the Bible who pursued and received a supernatural, healing touch from Jesus!)? Is it physical or spiritual, ‘like’ sabotaging your own success by ‘reason’ of (feelings of) unworthiness and/or attitudes and actions of ‘over and under-kill’? Character flaw(s), generational curse(s) and/or enemy stronghold(s) plaguing your life? Christ has already conquered these and wants to cure you, Fellow Struggler-Pioneer!”
Ultimately, I want for my (moral character and power, i.e. Christlikeness) ‘ceiling’ to be my worst enemy’s ‘floor.’ Heard by me and Inspired UP from a similar comment made by Bob Jones in his latter years (per Pastor Joe Sweet) re. where Bob wanted his ‘follower’s’ dedication to God/others (AKA ‘ministry’) to start.
“Jude makes intriguing comments on how to reach those who need God:
First, be filled with faith by praying in the spirit (v.20);
Second, keep yourself in the love of God (v.21);
Third, have compassion on those doubting (v. 22);
Fourth, rescue others from the flames (v. 23);
Fifth, show mercy tempered with fear (v.23).” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 251.
“Working harder and smarter is not always the answer. Since (true) life moves at the speed of relationships, those we try to change usually believe they work harder and are more intelligent than us. TRY TEARS.” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, in The Book on Prayer, pg. 250.
As water baptism (Biblically, in the only-saving name of Jesus) is both an action of obedience to the Gospel and a sign of “burial with Christ”/being “Born-of-the-Water” (AKA ‘our part’, along with first, faith and repentance toward God), so is Christ’s Holy Spirit baptism, signaled by someone speaking in an un-acquired language “as the Spirit gives utterance”, at least initially, both an action (trusting surrender and release to Him, plus praying and praising out loud to God in one’s native tongue until Jesus takes over with His glossolalia)…and a Gift-sign of Empowering Love to follow and live for Christ wholeheartedly and consistently until He returns.
“Faith is saying ‘yes’ (to God) before you’re ready!” Apostolic Pentecostal Preacher in wonderful message at Long Beach, CA
“I don’t ‘go to church’ anymore; I go to…’assemble’.” Brother/Musician/Man-of-God/Friend-of-mine, Ron Wilson San Antonio, TX. (In other words, He IS {part of} the Church, Christ’s Bride and Body and People on Earth and, therefore, embraces ‘Lifestyle Christianity,’ living for God {not self}, by His Grace, every day!).
Sin is…pursuing our own pleasure and/or path to false comforts we keep trying to believe will satisfy or even save us, then learning, once again, that we’ve been in denial AND duped (by the devil and his partner-in-crime, our own fallen, proud, short-cut, easy-way-out, lazy natures). So let it be High Time now for us to finally come Home to the Only True Comforter, Jesus…
People are searching more for experiences (good feelings) than knowledge (real wisdom) and belonging (community) more than truth and liberty, especially in these Last Days of deception we find ourselves in. Why is this? I believe it’s because truth is objective and confronts ‘our’ lies and waywardness. The Good News? If we’ll embrace it by accepting responsibility and partner with God (which includes His Word and His People), Who longs to write HIS-story with our everyday lives, we can get…and stay…powerfully free. Then others, who are also Hungry, will learn to “follow us, as we follow Christ,” which fosters ‘world-change’ and even greater joy! Epiphany to me, dkb 9/8-9/9/24.
Ponderings of a Sojourner 