How to Get a Re-Start. 3 Things to Jump Start Zeal in a Hot Desert.

Everyone walks the desert.  We all walk through times when inspiration and passion are a choice.  

Desert Flowers by my house - Isaiah 35

•  Deserts can....
  
  
•  dry us out, burn our skin, shrivel our hope. 

•  cause us to leave behind the necessary. 

• focus our intent as we look for a way out.

Every desert has something to add to our life in Christ.  


Yea.  But sometimes we get a bad attitude.
Sometimes we stumble and fall.




Sometimes we take our old man on a date and dance in the former sins. 
Yes.  We feel the deep regret and conviction of the Spirit.  That is good.  It means we are in Christ.
Sometimes we get depressed.  Go inward.  Try and forget the desert.  

Deserts are usually long enough to cause deliberate action, intention and a clear plan of exit.

They are amazing paths on the way in Jesus Christ.

The desert has a way of reminding us that....

• WE need Water - John 7:38 (KJV)
  He that believes on me, as the scripture says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
  
• We need Power -  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

•  We need Energy -
  "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Phil 2;13

Valley of Fire National Park - Nevada

The desert can sap your strength, quiet your zeal and silence your witness. Watch for these things as you confront the desert and direct attacks from the Enemy. 

Here are 3 things to keep alive and active as you pass through a desert in victory.  

 

 1. Abide - is your mindset slipping back to the old man? 

You are seated in the heavenlies with Christ the great High Priest.   If you did nothing but simply rested in the faith that Jesus has saved you, you will receive grace sufficient for the desert walk.  Abiding is baseline truth about the work of Jesus in saving you and I.  He is able to save us! 

John 14 and 15

The old man likes....

Comfort

Ease

No pressure

Escape

Pleasure in place of transformation

the flesh

the new man likes....

Faith

Love and 

A sound mind

Get back to resting in the presence for the sheer delight of God.

This is one of the gifts of the desert.

Everyone will be salted by fire - Mk 9:49

2. Voice - is your voice being silenced as you walk through the heat of the desert? 

There are three important parts to your VOICE in Christ that bring joy, encouragement and love.  

1. Sharing the Gospel -  nothing is like it to fire up your heart, remind you of your salvation and bring incredible joy when a new person comes home!

2. Speaking testimonies - remember what he has done when you are walking in steps of faith for what he has said he will do.  Testify of his goodness and love and remember the awesome miracles of previous times.  They speak a living word of what God can do.  

3. Proclaiming who Jesus is in and through you.  You are a new creation.  A citizen of heaven.  A son or daughter of God.  The desert cannot changes with the scenery of your life.  Desert, jungle, mountains, valleys, you are the same in each changing location.  The same because Jesus lives in you.  

Draw upon the life of Christ in you and remind yourself through the Scripture who you are.  Ephesians 1 is excellent for this.    

Get your voice back with simple clarity, health and powerful witness of the truth. 

 Truth about you, God, the world and the victory of Jesus

3. Devotion  - it is not a feeling it is a commitment. The desert will teach you to shift from walking by sight to walking by faith. 

There is not a better gift in the Kingdom than seeing with eyes of faith in the deep knowledge of the love of Jesus.  When you pass through deserts you learn...

The love of God is real - for you!

That the Father does sustain you in the palm of his hand.

You remember the most important and forget the garbage.

You realize there is something to see that is much greater than what our natural eyes see

everyday and you learn to see it from then on.

 That is an eternal gift.

Comments?  Ideas? Testimonies?  
Send those to me.  
Thanks for +1's and re-shares. 

Other posts that may interest you:

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html

2) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

3) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/07/never-be-lacking-in-zeal-need-some.html

Thanks for reading. 

The dialogue is awesome.  Thank you.
Testimonies?  Share em with me.  
Re-Shares lov em.  Thank you!

With much love in Jesus

You can do this thing!  He's got you. 

Jeff Reynolds   ---

Brother Jeff

www.mycapstone.org

www.jeffreynoldsministies.com 

jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com

Leave languishing confusion behind. Walk by Faith, Live in HOPE and Saturate with LOVE.

So many believers languish in confusion, frustration and ....
The list goes on, but Jesus gave us some clues as to what slows, stops or kills our zeal, passion and first love.  

This post will be in three parts based out of Mark 4.  It is more of a teaching on basic walking in the Spirit and looking at what Jesus said stumbles us.  This could be a good devotional companion.  Take it along with you when you are in the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to freedom by revealing places you may be stumped. 


Mark 4

1. Words of God are stolen from our hearts by the enemy.  (vr 13-15)  Has this ever happened to you?   

Awesome time in fellowship at church or in worship, prayer, and the Spirit's encouragement and with fiery believers.  And then a couple hours later crash.  What?  How did this happen?  I was so blessed by God.     

• Encounters lead to connection in Jesus' Kingdom. 10 lepers healed. One comes back to Jesus.  "Where are the other 9?"  Jesus expects miracles, encounters and contact with him to lead to deeper contact, encounter and abiding in his love.  

 

• There are two Kingdoms. One of the air (Eph 2:1-3) and one of the rule and reign of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:7)  The enemy works continuously to build strongholds into human cultures that gate up the free flow of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit  (2 Cor 10).  The course may go something like this.....

The First battle is to "put to death the deeds of the flesh"  by sowing to the Spirit. 

desert flowers - he blooms the dry and barren places - Isa 35

• Walk each day intentionally looking to be in the Spirit, carrying the presence of the King, and doing the works of Christ.  
• Fill your day with Word, Worship, prayer and his Presence
• Use that iPhone to play worship - itunes
• Use that iPhone to listen to the word - bible apps
• Dwell in the presence - attune you heart to his presence all day 
• Don't sow mindless, fleshly, YouTube, music, movies, pictures. 
• Sow face to face time with Jesus

Flesh - always at war with God - Romans 8:7 There is no buddying up to the flesh.  It is at war with God.  It's only remedy is "put to death the deeds of the flesh". (Col 3:5)  It seems that today our "needs based get em into a building" approach has produced people identifying with Jesus who have no comprehension of the measure of righteousness and holiness Saints are called to.  I see professed believers pouring out Facebook photos of themselves, true confessions, living together, adopting divergent sexual lifestyles and still claiming to be following Jesus.  And we appear silent in the face of it all.   We are not to condemn.  We are to call people to the reality and truth in Christ.   Jesus provided a way for us to address such things.  Matthew 18.  Few churches can bear the truth of righteousness.  They fear a great falling away would occur.  This demonstrates the depth of brokenness in our vision of the church and the Kingdom life in Christ.  We may be trusting in ministry models that don't reflect scripture and the powerful workings of discipline that Jesus gave the church.  

In Revelation 2:12-17 the Pergamum church is rebuked by Jesus for idols worship, sexual immorality and controlling lifestyles.  Pergamum means "mixed marriage".  The flesh is alive and well in the midst of the church these days.  Our imitation of the world in so many ways confuses the "little ones" I am sure.   Discerning the ways of the world and the flesh are 101 faith walking (Hebrews 6:1-f).  We appear to be lacking in discernment in so many ways.  


 Have a look at what is going into your life.  Sow life through Jesus.  Throw out everything else.

 

The second battle is to renew the mind in the mind of Christ in thanksgiving, worship and the Word. 

• Dwelling in the Word  
• "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."   Col 3:16 

Mind of the Flesh is death- Romans 8:6
The mind of the flesh is thoughts, patterns, beliefs, understandings, mindsets of the world that were sown pre-conversion and naturally dwell in the fallen flesh.   These are upheld and supported through enemy strongholds established in our cultures.  These strongholds naturally lead us to flesh thinking and mindsets and destroy our passion and zeal in Christ.  II Corinthians 10:5   The mindsets of the flesh are the deeper things that require healing and direct ministry in the Holy Spirit.  The mind of the flesh is our world view.  The way we see things.  The way we process and hold our world together.  What we choose and believe is important comes from our mindset.  The flesh mind does not value the Kingdom of God.  It is not hungry for deep things in God.  Dwelling with God is not going to be part of the mind of the flesh. 

The third battle is to forgive as we have been forgiven.  

•  "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  Colossians 3:13-14

Offense -  the enemy loves to sow offense at God and everyone else.   
The most basic reality of the gospel of Jesus is forgiveness.  Relationship is God's goal. Connection.  Loving relationship with us.  Jesus restored that through his sacrifice on the cross.  His blood covers all sins ever committed and that will ever be committed.  Total forgiveness is available to us in Jesus.  This covers the whole world.  By faith the grace of Christ invades our lives and sets us free.  We get forgiven through repentance by his blood shed on the cross.  

When believers don't forgive we witness to a false gospel.  
Un-forgiveness is a witness to religion and self righteousness.  It is a witness to a false gospel.  It is typically a cry for justice and recompense.  It is a challenge when the evil that was done is recognized by all.  Jesus paid the price for justice and opened the way for the poor to find hope, faith and love in knowing God the Father.   A faith in which we save ourselves, stand in our own righteousness is not saving faith in Jesus.  There is no grace involved in not forgiving those who sin against us.   It is not the gospel of Jesus.  Jesus forgave those who crucified him.  Jesus forgave a murdering persecutor of the church and put him in charge of saving the Gentiles (Paul).  Jesus forgave Peter when he denied him after "seeing him in glory" and knowing him in truth - "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  The Gospel of Jesus goes to the depths of evil and brings grace.  There is no evil to big for the grace in Christ.  There is no evil or sin that grace does not abound over.  

This is where worship sails into the heavens and we see him and the love he has for us!

Believers don't recognize that offense can become a lifestyle.  Take a close look and see if there is always someone or something of and through which a complaint, grumble or disagreement is alive.  It is rooted in a lack of worship and thanksgiving.    Once the enemy roots an offense many more patterns of thought and heart trouble can be established.

Offenses need to be dealt with directly.  The direct way is forgiveness.  Forgive as you have been forgiven.  Believers are called to forgive in the boundless grace of Jesus through the blood of Christ shed on the Cross for us.  We are to be like God and forgive. 


The best way to cut off offense is to forgive.  The best way to uncover this problem is to ask the Holy Spirit to search you and know you.  Ps 139
Ask the Holy Spirit if there is any offense in you.  And wait on him for details.   He is so kind and gentle.  He will point out anything he would like to free you from.   





Comments?  Ideas? Testimonies?  
Send those to me.  
Thanks for +1's and re-shares. 

Other posts that may interest you:

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html

2) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

3) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/07/never-be-lacking-in-zeal-need-some.html

Thanks for reading. 

The dialogue is awesome.  Thank you.
Testimonies?  Share em with me.  
Re-Shares lov em.  Thank you!

With much love in Jesus

You can do this thing!  He's got you. 

Jeff Reynolds   ---

Brother Jeff

www.mycapstone.org

www.jeffreynoldsministies.com 

jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com

New Life in Jesus - Some of the Ways He "makes all things new"

Jesus said, "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  Rev. 21: 5

Raphael, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes (1515)

When Peter fell down at the feet of Jesus, in his fishing boat, he saw into who he was in the moment.  Not who he would become.   In that moment, Jesus told him who he would become.   

"Don't be afraid: from now on you will fish for people."  Luke 5:10 


Why was Peter afraid?  
Why do we get afraid when we encounter Jesus? 
Is it more that we encounter our real self.   
In the face of Jesus our real fallen self gets confronted.  
We stand at the door and have to choose. 
We see ourselves before him.
We see ourselves in light of his face, justice, mercy, love, holiness, joy and we see that we fall short of his glory. 
This is the door to the new life.  

It stands wide open in front of us and we see that we will be different.

We just don't know quite how. 

This is where Jesus pours in a new vision.  
He speaks a word of love that shapes our future.
He wraps us up in and roots us in love.
He pours healing and forgiveness directly into us. 
We become new right then. 


This pattern goes on until we see him face to face.
The old is presented in encounter with the Lord Jesus and then we go through the whole pattern of responses and feelings.



We see the old and it stands as a door for us to enter in and let Christ Jesus transform us and everything it leads to.  


Peter's world changed in an instant. 

It got new.  
In fact the door opened to complete newness. 
Peter didn't know it at the time but he started walking in new life. 
We see it unfold in his life of following Jesus. 
Peter's world blew up.  
And it was a good thing.
Jesus lead him into new life and into the best human Peter could be.
His life became worship.  Testimony.  
So is the path for each of us who chose to walk after the Christ. 

Everything about life changed in an instant.
But nothing changed for those outside the encounter.
It all looked the same.  

Not from the eyes of Peter. 
With sight. 
Seeing the Lord Jesus.
Seeing himself in light of the Lord.
A new way opened up.  A way for everything to become new.  
Everything in Peter's life found a new way. 


The same happens for us when we encounter the Lord Jesus and come 
into his saving grace. 




1. Jesus' "all things new" is literally all things.  
Ephesians 1:10 says " ...to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."  The earth seems to be screaming that these words are not true and will never finish.  Look around, take in the news, watch all the heart ache of one day and we can be swept up in the voice of defeat or at least of "little effect".   

But our lives in Christ, the daily grace of following Jesus speaks a better word.  A way has opened up that is full of joy, peace and freedom.  It is a way that starts and ends in the forgiveness of Christ for all those things we see when we see him.   Don't forget.  Your life is part of "making all things new."   Jesus has new life every morning for you. 


2. If we follow him, we will become like him.  
He is able to keep you for the day.  He is able to bring you along to him.  No one can snatch you out of his hand.  
Trust is such a vital part of walking after Jesus.  The most basic trust is to trust that he will and is leading us to deeper knowledge of him and his ways.  At the core of our understanding of who Jesus is and what he is leading us to we swim in waters of trust.   

3.  Jesus never seems to be put off by our shortcomings, the reality of who we are.  
He already has perfect knowledge of who we are.  He knows us completely.  Good, Bad, Ugly, it is all clearly visible to him.  He is no longer concerned with our brokenness.  He sees our new life and the new man emerging.  He calls out the new life in us each day.  He speaks to the new man.  He calls the new woman into fellowship with him and abiding each day.

He knows us as we are....
The real twist in life is we do not yet know him as he is....

^"For now we see through a glass, darkly; 

but then face to face: 

now I know in part; 

but then shall I know 

even as also I am known."  I Cor 13:12

Each day as we walk in the Spirit we will be invited into the new.   We will ultimately be

invited into seeing Jesus new and knowing his love more deeply.  We will be invited into a vision of ourselves that lifts us up and out and into new life and love.   We will find a way to walk with him that takes our breath away.     

Let his love find a new place in your life today.  

Ephesians 3:17 - 19

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  


 

Comments?  Ideas? Testimonies?  
Send those to me.  
Thanks for +1's and re-shares. 

Other posts that may interest you:

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html

2) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

3) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/07/never-be-lacking-in-zeal-need-some.html

Thanks for reading. 

The dialogue is awesome.  Thank you.
Testimonies?  Share em with me.  
Re-Shares lov em.  Thank you!

With much love in Jesus

You can do this thing!  He's got you. 

Jeff Reynolds   ---

Brother Jeff

www.mycapstone.org

www.jeffreynoldsministies.com 

jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com

Street Ministry - Redmond OR - Healing Testimony in her words. Fun.

Here is a video testimony from a recent street ministry training held at Capstone.  Team members prayed for this woman for healing and some great things occurred. 

The Lord is always working in such amazing ways. 
His love is so compelling. 
I am grateful for all he has done for me.

Some other links to supernatural testimonies.  God is working 24/7 bringing the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus.  Isaiah 9:7

 1) An Angelic Visitation 

https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=6181407195797126360;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=3;src=postname

2)Time for a Healing Story - Distance Healing Testimony

https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=7347375296000899068;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=30;src=postname

3) Testimonies of Love and Compassion -

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8154761678889975282#editor/target=post;postID=1211954547415214767;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=0;src=postname

Enjoy! 

Sincerely
Jeff Reynolds

Centered, Resting and Abiding in Grace - The Peace of Jesus

 Centered...

Jesus said,  

"Peace I leave with you; 

Jesus is the door that leads to many doors

My peace I give to you; 
not as the world gives do I give to you. 
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  John 14:27

 
Rest is...
the inheritance of the Saints in the Lord Jesus. 
Rest is centered in the Trinity God through the works of Jesus.
Rest is both a fruit of abiding and the very air we breathe as we abide.

"You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you."  
    Isaiah 26:3 

Rest and peace are a result of being centered and abiding in the perfect work of Jesus.
In his complete and finished work (Cross, Resurrection, Ascension) we can....

Rest by faith

Abide in confidence

Walk in peace

Resting......

Jesus said, 
 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^a ; believe also in me."  John 14:1

transfigured by his presence and fire Mark 9:49

Paul said, 
"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  Col 2:2-3 




To find the rest and peace that is ours in Jesus,
we need to center our focus into the Lord Jesus.  





The Gospel is peace in Jesus
"Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;"  Eph 6:15 



The message of the Kingdom is peace. 

Ultimate rest - eternal life - abiding forever in the presence of the Trinity God. 
Peace of mind.  Peace of the soul.  Peace in the spirit. 
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus brings with it peace.  It comes with eternity and the Father of heavens open heart. 

In the Gospel we find rest.  

Abiding in Grace.....

"By grace we are saved, and that is not from ourselves." Eph 2:8-9  





The way into peace and rest is by grace. 
Faith and trust in the Master Jesus and what he teaches us paves the way for grace. 
Grace paves the way for peace.
Grace is the bedrock. 
Grace is the oil of his love seeping into every crack of our lives.
Grace by faith roots us and establishes us in the Love of Jesus. 
Grace gives us confidence before the throne when our hearts condemn us.
Grace quiets the spirit when all around is turmoil and strife. 
Grace is everything we need to abide in the presence of Jesus in fullness. 
Grace through Christ perfects us in a manifold fulness of Jesus as the new man and woman, the new creation.  

How to move forward.

1. Richly abide in the water of the word.    Col 3:16 
Recently in Bali I stood underneath a waterfall that cascaded down about a 100 ft.  Wow.  So cool.  The Scripture is water and rich abiding grace.  Drink and drink and drink again.  As much as you can take in drink in the scripture.   It carries abundant grace for the day and replenishes the weary soul.  It keeps you abiding and focused into the presence of the Lord Jesus.   Do not neglect abundance in the Scriptures. 

2. Pray without ceasing.  
Learn that you already have the abiding presence and then explore how to rest, abide and see what Jesus is doing in his Kingdom.   Talk with God like any other best friend.  Share everything.  Never stop.  Open up the very depths of your heart to him.  Tell him the good, the bad and the ugly.  He already knows it all.   Praying without ceasing is learning to abide in the presence and recognizing the Kingdom of God all around you and in you.  

"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Mark 10:15  

3. Build clear Jesus focused apostolic foundations. 
The apostles taught about Jesus, his life and the implications of all the work he accomplished in the Father's will.  Jesus said disciples obey his teaching.
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." John 14:23
Build into your life rock solid teaching focused on Jesus Christ.  Build into your life clear understanding of the Kingdom of God and the rule and reign of Jesus.  Build into your life a clear understanding of the cross, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus.  Know what each means for your salvation.  Focus on walking and following the Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.  
 
4. Give and it shall be given.
Give away everything good and lovely that Christ has given to you!   Freely give as you have been freely given to.   "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."  Luke 6:38    So keep the streams of living water flowing from abiding to gospeling - sharing the good news of peace with the world.  Jesus love the world.  Abiding with him will produce a love for his work and ways and a desire to do what he does.   Give away the grace you have received and you will receive more in abundance. 

 
Hope this helps you stick a bit closer to Jesus and activate the life that is yours in him.  



Comments?  Ideas? Testimonies?  
Send those to me.  
Thanks for +1's and re-shares. 

Other posts that may interest you:

1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html

2) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/04/you-fascinate-me-jesus-so-why-are-you.html

3) http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/07/never-be-lacking-in-zeal-need-some.html

Thanks for reading. 

The dialogue is awesome.  Thank you.
Testimonies?  Share em with me.  
Re-Shares lov em.  Thank you!

With much love in Jesus

You can do this thing!  He's got you. 

Jeff Reynolds   ---

Brother Jeff

www.mycapstone.org

www.jeffreynoldsministies.com 

jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com