Liberty In Our Bonds

But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” – Acts 16:28-30

“The victory of this story against the backdrop of such a great injustice, such an impossible set of circumstances, is compelling.”

After casting the spirit of divination out of a slave-girl, costing her owners a lucrative business, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail.  In response, these men did not allow the despair of their circumstances to break their focus on GOD. The bible records that at midnight they prayed and sang hymns of praise to God. In the midst of their singing, a earthquake broke the bonds of everyone in that jail. The victory of this story against the backdrop of such a great injustice, such an impossible set of circumstances, is compelling. The powerful imagery is a statement on the attitude that a christian must have if they are to overcome unfair treatment while serving God’s Kingdom.

“Ponder the idea, that no one sought their own freedom, not even Paul and Silas who were wrongly jailed.”

It is intriguing, however, that everyone’s bonds were loosed, yet every prisoner stayed within the confines of the darkest, dampest,  part of the prison. Ponder the idea, that no one sought their own freedom, not even Paul and Silas who were wrongly jailed. Furthermore I am firmly convinced that if they had not prayed and sang hymns of praise to GOD, no one would have had the  benefit of being physically free from their shackles. Paul and Silas, in those conditions, under those circumstances, stayed and ministered to the people around them; even their jailer.

“It should not be lost on believers, that when it counts, a bond servant does not look to fulfill their own comforts, while others languish in the bonds of sin.”

I believe Paul and Silas knew that GOD was in control of their circumstances. Although they were imprisoned, their liberty was intact through Jesus. They had supreme trust that GOD had moved not only on their behalf but for those imprisoned. It should not be lost on believers, that when it counts, a bond servant does not look to fulfill their own comforts, while others languish in the bonds of sin. It should be duly noted that the christian’s charter is to be a disciple that makes disciples. To that end, all the resources of GOD are at your disposal. Notwithstanding what we perceive, persecution, freedom, poverty, or wealth, we must stay the course and continue to share the gospel message.

The Presence of God

6. And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. – 2 Samuel 6:6-7 KJV

In recapturing the ark of God, David devised a plan to return the Ark back to Jerusalem. However David, made mistakes in his planning and in doing so angered God and Uzzah lost his life, God struck him down right there on the spot. David in fear of the Lord parked the Ark of God at righteous mans house. There the ark sat for three months, while David contemplated his next steps.

Its All About Him

“My view on life is shortsighted”

When I am engaged in selfishness, my view on life is shortsighted and all things are about me. Life quickly becomes about my time, my wants, my comfort, my honor my pride, my stuff, my feelings, my problems, my thoughts, mine, mine, mine. There is no wonder I have little care or time for others. In these times I am hounded with a truth which demands a correction in the course of my thinking. It is written in Colossians 1:16-17, of Jesus Christ

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

When I examine my desire to be self centered, I am faced with the reality that life is all about Jesus. Jesus, whom never once hesitated to be, in every measure, in every way, completely poured out for others. When I consider the ugliness of the cross, compared to the beauty and worthiness of Jesus, I find it difficult to stay in such a narrow state of mind and focus on myself. Thank God! His Word frees me from a lie, in which it is all about me and reveals the truth that it is unequivocally about HIM.

 

The Hope of Light In Darkness

I feel hopeful, that the Church is the example, in waiting, of what my beloved country needs most. Whether it be racial healing, respect for human life or trust of those in the place of delegated authority. In my experience, that which keeps one bound, to our worst ideals, is fear. Conversely it is love that break those chains and fetters, that imprison our highest ideals. I believe the Church stands, not watching hopelessly bound, as the unthinkable becomes reality day after day, but she stands poised on the precipice of our greatest adventure; LOVE. Though love, we are endowed, by the blood of our savior, with a community that transcends race and culture. Through LOVE, we are witness to the example, of the selfless compassion, of the cross. So great that nothing and no one can compare.  We are chosen as committed citizens of the Kingdom of heaven as laborers of the harvest. Community, Compassion, Commitment, all through our unique, one of a kind, Savior; all through our GOD who is LOVE. My prayer is that the bride would begin to awaken and not be ashamed of the gospel and return to her first LOVE. To this end, we will not be satisfied, until Jesus is exulted, in every area of our lives. We will not be satisfied, until HIS life, suffering, death and resurrection is reflected in us concerning all matters. May God bless you and keep you.
You Brother in Christ, 

Terence Golden

#EncouragedbyLove

All The Grace You Need

I was laying across my bed the other night, after a very long and trying day. Dressed in workout gear from head to toe, I was contemplating the possibility of opting out of the gym for the evening, and trading the work out stuff for PJ’s and a warm bed. Every second that went by I was giving a little more of my hard earned determination, back to  the patron saint unhealthy decisions. The decisions that I suspect fuel this ever widening waistline, that my wife pretends not to see, until I have make her mad by eating our children’s leftovers; But I digress.

Our Dreams Redeemed

Do you recall the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors? In Genesis, starting at the chapter 35, the Bible records the events of Joseph, who was the most beloved son of Jacob and Rachel. Although he was loved by his father, His brothers on the other hand, were jealous of Joseph and hated him. To rid themselves of Joseph, his coat, and his dreams, they sold him to merchants who in turn sold him to Potiphar a Captain of the Egyptian guard.

For as long as I can remember I thought that this story was about “haters,” or “keeping your dreams to yourself.” While the story may touch on those subjects or evoke thoughts along that line, there was a truth I’d missed. Due to all the challenges the Joseph faced, I lost the big picture of what God had intended. When I understood that God was watching all the events that unfolded in Josephs life, I saw God, lovingly overseeing HIS plan, every step of the way.

When I consider the events, I am aware that God knew Jacobs brothers would be upset because of the coat of many colors, which represented the favor of his father. God knew that Joseph was going to share his dreams with his brothers, and that those dreams, which seem to affirm his great purpose, would drive the brothers to act so despicably with Joseph. The most important thread woven through those events however, was God’s plan, to reveal Himself both to Joseph and his people, in a capacity in which they had not really known HIM before, a redeemer.

Joseph, after being lied on, thrown in jail, became the second highest ranking official in all of Egypt. Yet given all that he had faced, Joseph seem to never break. Even when the opportunity to reunite with his brothers was at hand, Joseph did not use the moment to teach his treacherous brothers a lesson. Recorded in Genesis 50:20-21 are Josephs words; a rebuttal to what had been done to him at the hands of his siblings.

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20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. – Genesis 50:20-21 (KJV)

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At times we have shared our dreams, with the wrong people, for the wrong reasons, and as a result our dreams may have been dismissed, and like feet upon flowers, trampled, under harsh criticism. God wants to restore the dream, the passion and the drive to accomplish that which He has shown you. God wants to pull back the years of  discouragement, that covers that precious dream like tarnish and restore it to its former brilliance. In your completion of that dream restored, He will be seen as He is to all who doubted you;  a mighty redeemer, and righteous provider who is faithful to forgive.

Water and Worship

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” – John 4:15

When the women at the well began her conversation with Jesus she really did not know who He was. In her mind Jesus was simply a Jewish stranger offering her water that would solve her need of being thirsty. Even while she jumped at the chance to have access to a reservoir of water that would solve a tiresome situation, but she didn’t really understand who she was talking to.

Jesus goes further in John 4:16  and says to her,  “go and get your husband and come here. In verse 17, the women answered Jesus and states “I have no husband.” Upon her admission, Jesus, in verse 22 openly identifies her real issue; that she did not now what or whom she was worshiping.

During our time of prayer, in the earliest days of the new year, don’t look for Jesus to bring a superficial solution. He does not deal in band aides and partial fixes. No! Jesus deals with the issue that keeps us from an authentic relationship with HIM. When we have decided to face our issues so that we might have all of HIM, our lives will be changed forever.

Lord, provide us with your living water, that we might be true worshipers, who worship GOD in truth and in spirit. Bless us to be people who long for a change, of not just our situations, but also our hearts and minds. As you show us ourselves in this new year, provide a desire to surrender our understanding, for a deeper revelation of who you are. Amen

About

1 John 4:16 (ESV)
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Encouraged by Love, as a blog, is collection of thoughts, that are the outworking of a heart surrendered in worship to Christ. Through the words within, I attempt to sincerely share my love and reverence for my savior Jesus Christ. My deepest hope, for the reader, is that these inner thoughts are encouraging and inspiring to their life. – Terence Golden

The Value of a Worthy Vessel

 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7