Steve Simms's Blog, page 298

Encountering Reality in the ER

No human is fully awake to the love and relationship that God has for her/him. Scripture says God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.” It also says “Awake you that sleep.”

I recently got a wake up call. For a couple of weeks my chest has been aching a little and I was noticing that my heart was beating irregularly from time to time. I was also having a tingling in my face. I contacted my doctor and set up an appointment with him. He said that if the irregular heartbeat happens again, I need to go to the emergency room. Early Saturday night, it began again; so Ernie took me to the ER at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville.

Very quickly I was put on a gurney, flat on my back, with electrodes on my chest and a port in a vein. Because my grandfather had died with a heart attack and because one of my younger brothers had a light heart attack two years ago, people were taking my symptoms very seriously.

Suddenly I was in the hands of strangers who were doing strange things to me like shooting liquids up my vein and giving me a pill to take. I let them do whatever they wanted to. Later that night they did a brain scan, but they said that it didn’t show anything. (I wonder where my brain was hiding?) (The next morning they even shot radioactive material into me so I might be glowing the next time you see me.)

Wake-up call 1) Strange how I can have such trust in strangers and let them do whatever to me; when I sometimes struggle with what God wants to do with me. Who knows what God would do if I would surrender to Him as completely as I surrendered to the ER staff.

Wake-up call 2) My time to obey God and let Him use me in this world is limited and could expire at any moment. I need to be about our Father’s business wholeheartedly, not just partially.

Wake-up call 3) Every moment is a gift that I need to deeply appreciate it. One day that series of momentary gifts will be gone. Every second of our lives is more precious than gold because even all the money in the world won’t buy another second when your time has come.

Wake-up call 4) I am so blessed with good health, good quality of life, a wonderful wife, good family, good friends and coworkers, good job, good opportunities to share the Gospel and love others, a lot of godly people who are ready to pray for and support me, and in so many other ways! Thank You, Jesus!

The tests in the ER didn’t show anything wrong with my heart, but they wanted to keep me overnight and do a “stress test” the next morning. A cardiologist talked with me and said if the stress test turned out okay, that he would “reassure” me and send me home, but if not he would want to do an invasive dye test. The stress test showed that my heart is normal so they assume that my symptoms were the result of emotional stress.

Wake-up call 5) Let go and let God. I need to rest in God and wait on Him to work in and through me, and not try to force things with my own will and determination.

Everyday is a gift. I am grateful to have this day to live, to lovingly interact with others, and to follow Jesus. And I’m glad that Jesus is my, doctor — my Chief Medical Officer.

Party like Christ is real (& present)

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Christianity’s a lifestyle of passionate love for and growing obedience to Christ! People want parties to be extemporaneous, not stuffy. Why not church? We understand people getting impassioned about so many things. Why not Christ?

A mind-made message, enters your mind; but Jesus wants to remake your heart! Assurance of salvation must come from hearing Christ’s voice, not from a man. Our soundbite culture needs to see heart-felt enthusiasm for Christ–not mere words. In worship, all people & their names should disappear behind the risen Jesus!

People trained to sit unmoved in church, often live unmoved by the Gospel. When church fails to create a climate contagious with Christ, it relies on methods.  When Christianity becomes a methodology, it loses sight of Spirit-led relationships. Jesus gave us no method for meeting because He, Himself, is the method (the way).

If we are not deeply stirred by God, how can we stir others? Share what Christ shows you, not what you hear or read from a religious celebrity. Church can take the most important & exciting news in history & bore people!

When people gather to experience Christ working in their midst, miracles happen. A single word from God spoken directly to your heart is worth a thousand sermons. Christ-followers need to hear burning words spoken directly by the risen Jesus!

He who controls mic access, controls the meeting. Let’s let Jesus be the mic Man! Without assurance you’ll lack endurance. Christ-led meetings reveal Jesus’ reality.

Some folks try to avoid Hell by explaining it away. I prefer to stay close to Jesus. Christianity teaches thoughts & behaviors have eternal consequences. Choose wisely. Some people say there’s no Hell. But what if they’re wrong? (Does that ring a Bell?) To warn people of dire danger is loving, not cruel. That’s why Jesus warned of Hell. The world says “Give ’em Hell!” Christ says “Love your enemies!” No one seems to object to the word “Hell” unless it is used theologically.

We humans miss up our lives, Jesus restores & redirects. Will you let Him? Jesus came to save; the devil to destroy. We can choose who to follow. Evil loses and will be forever separated from God. Jesus can save us from evil. Surrounded by hatred, violence, terrorism, self-abuse; many deny that demons exist.

What good is the theology of Heaven without Heaven in your heart?

Jesus, be our CEO!

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Let’s huddle up around Jesus & then let everybody do what He tells them to! Christians need to obey the risen Christ. A divided house can’t stand.

Saying, “Jesus is Lord (Absolute Master),” we must let Him be Lord of His own body. When we say, “No,” to Jesus, He’s not our Lord (Absolute Master). There’s only room for one Head (one Lord) in Christ’s body — Christ, Himself!

Members of Christ’s body have direct contact with Him & “obey God rather than man.” When Christ-followers gather as His body, we should let Him be the literal Head! Let’s not restrict Christ to being a mere figurehead. “Let Jesus take the wheel” & personally control meetings of His body!

Without full surrender to the Head, the body of Christ won’t function properly. There is only room for one Head in the body of Christ. Christ’s body is called to gather & surrender control, agendas, & programs to Him.  When the body of Christ disobeys its eternal Head, it malfunctions. If Jesus isn’t allowed to be Head when His body meets, then someone else will be. Christ’s Headship of His body is not intended to be theoretical but operational!

Are you seeking the invisible government of God? Mt. 6:33. Jesus wants you to give your all for God’s government. God’s government is within us, but we, too often, rebel against it. Without surrender and obedience to Jesus, we’re rebelling against God’s government. We try to replace God’s government with self-will & human hierarchy. God wants our unconditional surrender to His direct rule and authority in our life.  You control your body, let’s let Christ control His body!

Fruitfulness comes from faithfully following & obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Contagious enthusiasm for Christ spread the Gospel in the 1st century; not programs. Church could be a green light, letting people freely flow in the Spirit, instead of a stop light requiring people to merely sit and listen.

Is your heart quarantined from the living, resurrected Jesus? Let’s all submit to Christ as Head of His body & give up our control. Make your life fascinating. Fasten your heart to the risen Jesus.

Cindy Jacobs is confirming these ideas taught in my book, Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible. God is calling His people back to the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia!

Cindy said: “Many will teach on the ekklesia from their pulpits and in their conferences, inspiring the people of God to arise and be the called-out ones. There will be a strong anointing on the ekklesia to root out and pull down the gates and walls of the enemy.” Get “Beyond Church” @ http://amzn.to/2ggr4He.

Say, “So long,” to going solo

Church services are tame; but 1st century worship meetings were wild. (See Acts.) When Jesus got connected to religion in people’s minds, Christianity became passive. Religion is tame, but follow & obey the risen Jesus & you’ll never be the same! Team Jesus is a spiritual restaurant where you “taste & see that the Lord is good.” Flying spiritually solo will keep you so low, but Team Jesus will lift you up! Church leaves people alone in their thoughts. Team Jesus connects their hearts.

Christ-followers are meant to soar in the Spirit together — not to have our wings clipped. Pain is an opportunity to let go of the flesh & embrace the Spirit. Meeting with others while being intoxicated on God’s New Wine will ease your pain and fill you with joy radiating from within.

Spiritual knowledge without spiritual life is powerless. “Send the fire, today!” When we won’t mind Christ and do what He says; we don’t have “the mind of Christ.” Spiritual reality is infinitely more important than head knowledge or physical appearance. Let’s bring the risen Jesus out from behind the shadows of lofty religious leaders.

Good people obey God joyfully. Too often I obey reluctantly & grudgingly. God uses whatever we offer Him, but life is much more effective when come together with others and obey Him.

God’s looking for spiritual laborers, not passive attendees. Jesus said: “The laborers are few.” Let’s ordain all Christ-followers as ministers! To learn to be spiritual laborers, we need hands-on training, not just lecture. Besides “praying for laborers,” let’s open up church & let people speak out for God. Most Christ-followers have heard enough to change the world. Now let’s do it! But let’s always remember that boldness without a kind heart is meanness.

Learn more in the book Beyond Church or visit The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St. in Nashville, Tennessee (37207) on Sundays @ 10:45 am.

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Do we need less human leadership & more Jesus’ Presence?

Leaderless meetings are chaotic; but when we let Jesus lead us it’s miraculous. Christ-followers should be animated by Jesus; not atrophied by acquiescent religion! We are to follow the Way — the living Jesus, not a routine.

Churches don’t need a celebrity spokesperson with a fancy title. Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice.” Beyond routine religion, there is a revolutionary relationship with the risen Jesus. Go beyond routine religion and soak up the Son shine!

The body of Christ is not a religious program or a church service; but a family! It’s beautiful when the family of God gathers as equals, without a program! A “New Wine” party is when Christ-followers meet to partake of the Holy Spirit and let Him lead them.

Expecting God to follow a religious program puts the program ahead of Him. “I am the Way,” means Jesus, Himself, is the program — the “order of worship.”

Spiritual knowledge without spiritual life is powerless. “Send the fire, today!” When we won’t mind Christ and do what He says; we don’t have “the mind of Christ.

Let’s get our minds off of temporary things & onto the permanence of Jesus. Doing this may require us to go to the prayoffs. (Prayoffs: when you are attacked by bad thoughts & pray them off of you.) Bad thoughts thunder; good ones tiptoe. Prayoff the thunder & watch the gentle dance. Christ-followers are light-hearted — brightly shinning from within with God’s love.

Life is short; death sure. It’s time to pursue Jesus Christ with your whole heart! If God is stirring your heart in a new direction, it’s time to boldly share it.

Learn more about these concepts @ http://amzn.to/2isKZ8W. Or see them in action at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, TN: Sundays at 10:45 am., 225 Berry St., 372o7.

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No “Lamb Chops” tonight!

Here’s a powerful and funny story about how God can use anybody who is open to His leading:

SWEET & SALTY

I went out with a friend to see a movie and as we approached the theater, there were several Christians sharing their faith with people outside.  They were very respectful and most of the people were willing to hear them out.  After I listened for a few minutes, we bought our tickets and headed inside. 

We had a little time before the movie started, so we were catching up with each other.  I could not help but zone in on the conversation beside us!  There were two guys conversing about how they wanted to “lambaste” the sheep outside, (so to speak).  I then got a big smile on my face, and because my friend knew me well, she figured out what was about to happen!  She said “no Lisa!”  I ignored her plea and proceeded to follow the gentlemen outside.

For some reason that night, (probably God) I wore a…

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What makes a bad New Year? People.

If the world is bad,

People made it so.

A better world

Requires better people.

We try to fix the world with laws & programs that fail to make us better people. The world doesn’t need a better political system. It needs better people. (If good people are running the world, why is it in such a mess?) Governments are filled with corruption because they are full of bad people.

A new year without a new you will be the same ole same ole. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17) If I am a good person, why don’t I do the good things that I resolve to do?  Resolutions fail when we try to do them in our own power and self-righteousness. I resolve to admit that I can’t keep resolutions without Christ working in me! We resolve, “I will stop that,” and then we don’t, because we won’t let God free us. When your resolutions begin to fail, early in the new year, cry out to the risen Jesus! A New Year’s resolution can’t make me a better person. Only Christ can do that!

If we humans were good people, the world would be good — no laws necessary. People say, “I’m a good person,” but Jesus said, “No one is good–except God alone. (That’s why good people who are completely honest & always do the right thing are hard to find.) The Bible says: “There is none righteous, no not one.” We’re all bad people needing Christ’s mercy.  If I resolve to behave better but I’m not changed inside, I’ll stay stuck in bad.

Good people don’t misbehave, so they don’t need forgiveness. Bad people do. God loves us bad people so much, He sent Jesus to live a good life in & through us. Turn away from your badness & surrender to the risen Jesus & His goodness!

Christ wants to free us from our carnality and connect us to His reality! Jesus came to forgive us bad people, change our nature, and empower us to love. The world’s a mess because people are a mess, that’s why we need a Savior. We don’t need just to “do better,” we need to be better–transformed from within!

I’m not a good person. I’m a person forgiven and transformed by Jesus Christ.

Has our society deceived us into believing that we are good people? I individually asked 1,400+ addicts, “What kind of person are you?” All but a handful replied: “I’m a good person.” However, Paul of Tarsus, who wrote much of the New Testament, wrote: “O, wretched man that I am.”

What would you do if there were no laws or consequences? That’s who you really are. It’s so frustrating for us bad people to try to be good in our own power. (Romans 7) The only reason humans can be forgiven and restored to God is the blood of Jesus. “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Insider ideas for innerpreneurs

Christ-followers need to be innerpreneurs & find fresh ways to shine God’s light. He who thinks he is an expert at Christianity, misunderstands what it is. Beginner Christ-followers just love on Jesus, experts get caught up in religion. When an expert runs a church meeting, people are quiet, afraid of being wrong. A religious authority figure is no substitute for a relationship with Jesus. Church should be like a living Savior interview, not a dead person documentary. A meeting’s never boring when Jesus is allowed to work miracles in & through ordinary people.

A group can experience God by letting ordinary people share as led by the Spirit. Maybe church, by making people passive, has created spiritual paralysis. Christ’s body should gather to minister to each other & scatter to minister to the world. Church must be more than people staring at one man talking in a pulpit.

Maybe church doesn’t need more stuffy experts, but more enthusiastic beginners. The more precise church becomes the less likely it is to open up to the Holy Spirit. Perhaps church could allow pauses so people could give feedback & share insights. Stop resisting God & let your mind & heart be gently & easily lead by the risen Jesus.

The only boss in the body of Christ is Jesus!  Perhaps pastors should train people to be dependent on God, not on a pastor! Don’t be bossed about by your feelings & whims. Make them obey Christ. May the use of force not be with you; but love for all, even your enemies! Losing is loaded with lessons. Let’s learn to live out those lessons & love people more and more!

Jesus Team Ekklesia lets you test drive Christianity before you take it home. God can speak through anybody present in a worship meeting, if we let Him. A Jesus Team meeting lets everybody speak or be silent in response to the Spirit. Let’s give Jesus the remote during worship meetings & let Him choose the channels.

We gather in a Jesus Team meeting to encounter Christ & share Him with others. In a Jesus Team meeting everyone listens to and obeys the risen Christ. A Jesus Team meeting doesn’t follow an expert or a plan. It follows the risen Jesus. A Jesus Team meeting cultivates sensitivity to the presence of Christ. A Jesus Team meeting always makes room to follow Christ in a new direction.

It doesn’t take a degree or ordination to hear God’s voice and share what you hear. No credentials are necessary to share God’s love & His word with others. Just do it! Anyone who loves Jesus can share the Gospel. Why do we keep people quiet in church? One specially ordained minister can do little. However, when everybody ministers, we can reach the world!

God can fit our hearts together like pieces of a picture puzzle beaming His glory. If your idea of church is different than a group of people staring at a man in a pulpit, you’ll love Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible available @ http://amzn.to/2hNjvtw.

Self Quotes (Original Quotations)

I love to try to write something that no one has ever said before.

We don’t need to copy others. God has given each of us the gift of originality!

Don’t just absorb what others say. God wants to speak to and through you!

Ancient history is alive in me. The risen Jesus is releasing victory!

A relationship with Christ can only be experienced & lived out. It can’t be taught.

Has church made a simple relationship with Christ complicated & a big production?

There’s no substitute for being taught directly by God. Are you listening to Him?

Knowing Jesus is not like knowing mathematical formulas. It’s like knowing beauty.

May God free you from the desire to follow experts and woo you to follow Him.

To live without wonder, astonishment, & mysticism, is to miss life’s profundity.

When you surrender to the risen Jesus, strength & hope begin to surge from within.

Calling on Christ is not just the best way to die. It’s also the best way to live.

You only need one other person to start a Team Jesus group. Why not try it? If 2 or more people meet in Jesus’ name, He’s present to create a Jesus Team group. What about Team Jesus!!! Everyday Christ–followers are doing amazing things!

When church only lets one person speak it’s like an army with only one weapon.

If church always follows the same format, it will continue to get the same results.

If we are called to be lights that transform our culture, we are falling far short.

Social media gives us unlimited opportunities to share our love for Christ.

Perhaps church could make room for new possibilities–for something fresh from God.

Perhaps church has too many words and not enough action.

One man speaking without any interaction creates passivity.

 

 

 

 

Creative thoughts for Christmas 2016

The real St. Nick would want you to focus on Christ in you, the hope of glory! Christ makes me merry! Christ isn’t just the first part of the word Christmas. He’s the fire in my soul!

Christ didn’t follow a human program 2,000 years ago. Why do we expect Him to now? Christ came to transform our lives, not to get us to sit through religious meetings. Jesus wasn’t born to give us a nice Christmas story–but to save us from our sins. (See Matthew 1:21.) Christ wasn’t born to make Dec. 25th a holiday, but to fill you with His presence.

Why celebrate the birth of the historic Jesus if we won’t obey the risen Jesus? Has what happened in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, happened in your heart? Christ’s advent was 2,000 years ago — He’s been changing lives ever since! Celebrating Christ’s birth without letting Him be born in you, misses the point. Advent was not meant to be a past event but a present reality–God with us!

Have an Xtra special holiday with the risen Christ! X out the “mas” & let Christ lead your life. Why do we have birthday parties for Jesus & act like He’s not in the room? If people gave each other gifts on my birthday, but ignored me, I wouldn’t like it.

‘Tis the season to unwrap your heart and let Christ fill you with His presence! Baby Jesus can’t do much, but the living, resurrected Jesus can transform your life! The history of Christ’s birth is no substitute for surrendering to His presence. The true Christmas Clause? “God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son.”

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