God – Page 7 – Cross Culture Church

Meditation: April 4

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ’This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’ “(Luke 22:19).

The typology of the Old Testament symbolized the sufferings and death of the Messiah. He kept the ceremonial laws in order to illustrate what He had come to fulfill. At the end of His earthly ministry, the Bread of Life took bread from the table from which He and His disciples were to dine. Before they ate their last meal together prior to His death, He broke the bread and fed it to them from His own hands. His sufferings would be a shared experience. His would be immediate and theirs would be ultimate. Yet they would have the same power to withstand the pressure and remain in faith because of the sameness of Spirit.

Your body can bear under any pressure as long as you remain in faith. It is His life residing in you as a believer in Christ Jesus. The sacraments of bread and wine represented His Body and Blood. We are corporately the Body of Christ on the earth. As we share with Him in His experience we share with one another. His focus was not merely upon Himself, but He was looking at this day. He was seeing us together sharing this moment in fellowship, communing in remembrance of the sacrifice made on our behalf affording us the privilege of being one together with Him.

03 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 3

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

The restlessness of the soul was resulting from the waywardness of the heart. When you were determined to fix your own problems your own way, none of the benefits made available by God through our Lord Jesus Christ could be applied. Now that the struggle has ended as to whether the life of Christ was to be followed because His death was sufficient enough for His life to be our life, we are being made complete. What a difference now in comparison to then. All you need to do is remember how strained the struggle was and how difficult your life would be if His knowledge was absent. But now that you know Him, allow Him to complete the great work within you that He has begun. His objective is to complete you. When your ways please the Lord, you are at peace with yourself and even with your enemies. He is the God of peace who will ultimately prove all things according to its character and His original design. Therefore, give Him the glory that He so rightly deserves now for it will be His forever and ever. Amen

02 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 2

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, ’It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves’ “(Matthew 21:12-17).

When Jesus arrived at the seat of both religious and political power, He confronted religious authorities as being “a den of thieves.” When Jerusalem was robbed of an environment conducive for spiritual renewal, their leaders were indicted by Jesus as thieves. Religious leaders were using their followers as merchandise to be traded for profit, and their souls were both hungry and lost. An atmosphere of greed reproduces after its own kind. It spreads like a contagious disease thus hindering those who would otherwise listen. They would rather gravitate in the direction of their instructions. Jesus did not approach the civic leaders first. He confronted religious leaders for their perverse ways. The house erected with the intent of worship must first become a house of prayer. If the priorities are misaligned, the activities will be dishonorable. The confrontation followed the coronation among those who recognized Him as King. The Lord is determined to have what He desires. His communion with the Father was the source of His strength as the Son of Man. The Church will be as strong as she is consistent in prayer from which all other activities must find their origin.

01 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 1

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. ’Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?’ ” (Matthew 12:38).

Those who appear before men as authorities in relation to God’s order seldom recognize the fact that He refuses to restrict Himself to their expectations. Formulas and theorems of success do not work. He will withhold from them what they expected, but show forth the unexpected. These few that approached Him thought that He would be anxious to validate Himself before such an impressive crowd. But Jesus had nothing to prove. He was as sure of Himself then as He was when Satan tempted Him on the pinnacle of the Temple requesting Him to show off His divine powers. When we are asked to prove ourselves to be what we have been called by God to be, we must first recognize who it is that requires of us evidence. If not God by way of His Spirit, a prophetic word is sufficient. We live by what God has said and it serves as the basis for all He is now saying. If not by the Word of God, we become performance oriented. We must live by the Word and allow the Word to be given full expression through us. But never should we hide behind our credentials of education to prove our pedigree nor miracles to prove our power before men. It is God who wills and performs His work in and through us.

06 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

“2020: The Year of 20/20 Vision”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Vision drives towards purpose. Purpose gives life its meaning. Meaning affects our will to survive. We are not just to survive, but every day must be lived purposefully. Each step taken in life must be strategic as we move towards a goal that would bring fulfillment in this life and a legacy for those we leave behind. It was the Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius that said, “The true worth of a man is measured by the object he pursues.” Life’s goals become the defining statement or our epitaph when we are eulogized at the end of this mortal life. Statements are often made at funerals with the attempts to inflate the impression made on the mind whereas the dead often appears larger than life. While looking in the coffin, some would wonder if they had wandered into the wrong room. The person that they knew was altogether different from the one being spoken of. Then there are occasions where attributes were known by a select few but never brought into full view of the masses. Then those who hear of them wished that they had known the treasury of gifts and knowledge contained within the person taken for granted.

As we enter in this New Year 2020, the Truth of God is being spoken, to bring out of the richness of His grace, dispensed to those who would allow it to have free course within them. The Heavenly Vision or sights set on God’s Kingdom and His standard of Righteousness will raise the bar of many who had previously merely settled for dead religion. They will then awakened to the reality that they had been living beneath their privilege. Since God had made provisions for us to have life and that more abundantly, biblical terms would be redefined according to His original intent. It is true, where you currently stand will determine what you see and how you see. That is why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is often rejected or redefined. The tastes of many have been unrefined, thus the dregs and bitterness of sin had remained palatable. The question that is so baffling to many is how can so many be misled and guided in the direction of their own death and destruction? The answer is, all that is necessary is for a lie to become believable and accepted instead of the truth. The Holocaust in Germany under the leadership of Adolph Hitler provides evidence of this. Leadership that misleads is the most destructive force ever. Yet, it has been the tool of Satan even before creation.

This year, 2020, The Year of 20/20 Vision, we will set the highest goal possible, and set subordinate steps leading to the completion of those set goals. We have history to show us the possibilities of both successes and failures. It was said, “if one does not learn from history, he is destined to repeat it,” Yet history is not our teacher. It can only serve as references. The Holy Spirit of God must be our guide. He will show us the path that we must go and on occasion take in directions of new territories to blaze new paths. We pray that this year will be a year of discovery. Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” The clarity will come to those who are committed to engaging in a singular task that is greater than themselves and those to whom they have been called to help. Then Paul stated in Acts 20:20 “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.” The mandate to make known to all will be greater than ever before as you rise up to lead the wayward in a path and direction of hope for their future. May what God envisions for you become your vision for yourself! New year, fresh vision. New year, fresh opportunities to live the life God intended for you to live to its fullest!

08 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

October 2018 Article “True Wisdom”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

To believe in, or better stated; to place your confidence in a person or a thing is more than most have given full consideration to. It requires a level of trust with the willingness to submit your future to the object of your faith. The risk is higher and the effect is greater than what can be easily brushed off while the wound is healed by time. Time does not always heal the wounds of disappointments that reach deeply into the soul. I may believe you and hope that what you say and do is honest. However, if it is discovered that you were not completely honest, my loss was calculated by the amount of trust invested. But to believe in something or someone is placing the weight of my faith which governs my life determining decisions. I am the product of what I believe in. The measure by which I judge all things is determined by this. I make a distinction between what and who I believe on and who and what I believe in. To believe on a person is to trust them to do a particular thing or be a particular way. It places the burden upon their shoulders exclusively. But to believe in is when I get involved in the process. It has to do with what we are able to do together. I cannot complete my assignment without the one that I believe in. That person has become an intricate part of me.

True wisdom is expressed through what you believe in. First, there must be enough historical evidence to be worthy of our faith. Its objective must be to set you on the right path. It must have the strength to survive under the scrutiny of opposing philosophies and systems bent on contradictions to be you wrong. It does not offer a quick fix or patchwork but rather, reaches deeper into the subject matter. Knowledge is the compilation of facts without a clear understanding of the end. The pride of knowledge that is void of wisdom is a pompous attitude and a condescending disposition. That person thinks that he knows more than he really knows. The introduction of new facts or the path leading to the future will over time expose the ignorance of the one who is knowledgeable but limited to a restricted field of knowledge. The religious and the irreligious are equally guilty if one restricts God to academics without experience while the other restrict Him to past experiences without His Word made available to be experienced. True wisdom is exercised when you take God at His Word after having received His Spirit and becoming the message that God is speaking to the world.

One must be converted if he is to become wise. The wisdom that is contained within the Book for the Wise, the Holy Bible must be spiritually discerned. Conversion requires the power of God to transform one’s life, enabling him to see beyond the realm of created things. He is then aligned with the Creator who reveals Himself to Him and His relationship to all things created. It is within the context of all things created that the converted individual is enabled to know his purpose for living. Your worth is determined by God and your work is specific. He made you for the works that were created before the foundation of the world. Fools engage in endless and purposeless activities and die never knowing the reason why they were ever born. The wise will worship God because His knowledge of God places him on a quest to know the One who knows Him best. This is wisdom, to know Him even as you are known by Him.

25 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

September 2018 Article: “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Am I responsible for and accountable to my brother? If so, who is my brother? How far does this responsibility extend? There are so many questions revolving around the subject of mutual accountability placing added burdens to people who have a full plate just managing their own affairs. It is a stretch to believe that my concern for others could have an effect upon their behavior. The collective selfishness or individualism we see today has created an environment where it is much easier to take advantage of, or even harm each other than it once was. If no thought is given to the potential for both good and evil that we all possess, each act committed is isolated from the context of the whole. One lie contributes to a community of dishonest people. One item stolen from another person contributes to a security breach that may cost more than you are willing to pay to protect what is left of your goods. One adulterous act contributes to debauchery that is out of control. Yes, the Golden Rule is to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” However, when people do what they ought not do, or refuse to do what they ought, it is our responsibility to correct the error of their ways.

A keeper is one who looks after the affairs of another. It is having concern with the well being of each other. Cain slew his brother, Abel and God asked him the question, “where is your brother?” This profound question resonates through history even to this present time. Where are our brothers and sisters? Not merely their geographical location, but where are they in relation to where you are? Cain, I imagine, slew his brother in order gain an advantage over him and more favor than he had received from God. Many are like crawfish in a barrel, pushing others down in order to get ahead. Their success can only be defined through the failure of another. People are vying to gain a competitive edge over others. They lose in the long run without even recognizing their loss. Competition breeds an environment of competitors rather than fellow laborers. Even in the Church, there are more than a few who build their success on the backs of the weaknesses and failures of their fellow brethren. Some just build what is colloquially called, better mousetraps that gain more interest but do not produce greater levels of change in the lives of the people. What about the Body of Christ as being one? Does it mean anything to us to seek to gain an understanding that we are members individually? If the Kingdom of God is our primary goal, then who is it that divides us into exclusive sects?

Politics as in religion has its sectarianists; those whose primary goal is to defend the platform of the Party. Whatever is said or done, right or wrong no longer matters. What matters most is the Party which has become the modern day idol among those who are blinded by ambition. It is usually the ambition of the Party leaders and the blindness of the Party followers who do not question where their affiliations may be leading them. Both sides of the system have caused much harm. There must be a prophetic voice that will speak truth to power without concern as to what it may cost. The Word of God transcends the arguments of men and elevates us to a higher level of thinking. The best thing I can do for my brother is to adapt the mindset that I say and do for my brother what is best for him, even if it costs me everything.

25 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

August 2018 Article: “The Cross Cultural Attraction”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

The distinct cultures of the world are the current cause of much controversy. It is the cultural clashes that divide people into competing and warring factions. The exclusivity of a particular culture, in their eyes, becomes the standard and measure of right and wrong. We changed the name of our church to Cross Culture Church over five years ago realizing that there are distinctions among culture. There are things to be celebrated within every culture, but there are things within every culture in need of change. It is easy to accentuate the positive attributes of a culture, but the majority of people are blinded to the defects. We need an established standard and objective criticism for those invisible defects to be seen. The first lesson to be learned is that no culture is to be deified. Christ did not come into the world to affirm culture but to transform culture. He introduced to humanity the culture of heaven. The established order of heaven came down to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ and lived among us! This invasion of spiritual reality into a sinful and wayward environment created turbulence rather than peace. The world’s reality was defined by their culture, even religious traditions, which were defied by the physical presence of Truth. Jesus demonstrated truth and the power of the Father of Truth confirmed His message with signs following. The power of heaven accompanies the order of heaven.

The customary beliefs, established systems, material traits of a racial, religious, or social group are the characteristic features of everyday living. They are shared among people in a particular place and time. Even though it may be accepted as conventional wisdom, the world’s philosophy falls short of the established standard of God. Culture is modified for the sake of expedience. Racism is a belief and practice that one people group is superior to another people group. It is perpetuated by expediency. The lesser is used to fulfill the passions, desires, and often greed of the greater. If the lesser loses its value as chattel or tools in the hands of the greater, there is no need for the lesser to continue existing. There is the culture of the slave and the culture of the slave master that can become deeply embedded into the psyche of cultures. The mindset remains even after the laws have prohibited the practice of slavery. The set standard of superiority and inferiority no longer needs supportive laws to survive. Children are born into a world where unspoken rules are established and set in motion.

One passage of Scripture, among many others, that gives a clear expression of God’s intent is in the Bible. Jesus said in the Book of John 12:32-33 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” Death is the equalizer that neutralizes egoism and false images of superiority and inferiority. The death of Christ after He demonstrated the standard revealed the truest disposition of fallen humanity. Perfection had to die on behalf of imperfections so that the flaws within every culture can be fully realized. All must fully identify with Christ’s death so that none will attempt to justify what was formerly believed concerning his or her own life. Our ethnicity is insufficient to save us as an individual or as a people-group. Since we all have a common need, we exalt a common Savior. To lift Him up is to allow the work of the Cross to work deeply within our heart and soul. It is the culture of the cross that will become the attraction to tear down the dividing wall of partition and collectively draw people together as one, to worship the only One deserving of our full devotion.

03 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: September 3

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to yo.” (Lk 6:38).

Giving enables us to see the dimensions and depths of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without personal sacrifice, we merely theorize rather than experience what He offers us so freely. It is impossible to understand the dynamics of His message and the glory of His life without participating with Him in releasing those things left in our hands to manage. The Holy Spirit will direct us to channel all things to acquire the greatest benefit. True freedom is freedom from the bondage of sin bred in selfishness. What we have held too closely to has hindered the Lord from giving full expression of Himself to us. A freedom not yet experienced borne out of a need within us remains unmet. We were created to respond to God’s initiative in giving. None of what we manage is able to save our souls even though in the past we may have thought it would. True surrender is giving oneself completely to God. Only then is He given permission to direct us towards what is most important to Him. Today, what can you give that you thought that you could not do without? What is, or who is in need of your support that you might have thought was self sufficient? Where is the Lord directing you that you would otherwise never go? Unless you break free from the binding shackles of your familiar, life for you will always be the same. There is a new place for you, a place of complete deliverance. You get there by receiving the gift of God which will enable you to give beyond your former level of giving.

That would have otherwise been impossible. It is through sacrifice that we too are delivered from the bondage of the sins which are bred in selfishness. What have we hoarded or held too closely, not allowing God room enough to give full expression of Himself to us in those areas of our lives? There is a freedom not yet experienced because there is a need within us left unmet; that is, to release freely what we held onto with the thought that it could bring about salvation of the soul and mind and free us from the conditions that we are facing. Surrender is giving oneself away to God completely. Today, what can you give that you thought that you could not do without. What is or who is in need of your support that you might have thought to be self-sufficient? Where is the Lord directing you that you would otherwise never go? Unless you break free from the binding shackles of your familiar life, you will always be the same. There is a new place for you, a place of complete deliverance. You get there by receiving the gift of God which will enable you to give what you would have never been able to give before.

29 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: August 29

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Lk 10:27).

God gives us the strength to love. The heart is guided in a direction and the soul agrees to give full expression to that particular emotion. To love is not a miracle. It is a part of man’s nature to love. Without guidance the heart gravitates by default away from God. Loving then is not deliberate, but the result of some forceful habit that captures the mind and heart in order to condemn the soul. The passions must be harnessed by an object that is capable of containing all that is offered and reciprocate by providing what is desperately needed in return. When love gives but does not provide the person with what is needed, he eventually becomes bankrupt and bitter having been taken advantage of. Then love is inverted and transforms into hatred that is primarily directed towards the true Lover of his soul. They feel shortchanged having not received from Him what they needed, but refused to give Him what He commanded. When God is loved with the whole heart, the heart is made whole. Then the heart guides the soul with every emotion towards what is good. One will engage in activities using his strength to glorify Him alone. Thought and action is unified when the Word and Spirit are experienced. They empower us to do what we will and will to please the One who provides both will and ability to do for His good pleasure. Then He will show us our neighbor in a different light. We see him through God’s eyes. He directs our affection towards them in ways far beyond the levels of selfishness and competition. We see ourselves in him, thus loving him as we love ourselves.

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