The ART of Evangelising.

Before u read this one you should read After the Beat Stops if you have not done so already.

The ART of Evangelising.

If we really get it straight nowhere that I know of in the bible is a story related that the apostles used the ARTS to evangelize. I am open to correction..... (please if you find any let me know. thanks)

So if it is not seen as being done by someone in the bible where do we get the whole notion that the arts can be used to evangelize the lost?....... hmmmmmmm

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Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 

Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 

Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 

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Here see gifts clearly defined as spiritual gifts. Where do natural gifts come in? where is the dance? where is the drama? the artistry? the music?????..........lol

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1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

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|GREEK MOMENT|

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Lets look at the word "GIFT"... you know what it is translated to?

charisma

char'-is-mah

From G5483; a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: - (free) gift.

funny that the word gift translated to CHARISMA huh?... lol

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|END GREEK MOMENT|

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So we have been given charisma (not pride, but natural personalities) to minister to one another as good stewards... the what????....... the what????  ...... MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD!

And the grace of god... is what saves us.... cuz it is by GRACE you are saved.

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1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

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LET HIM DO IT AS OF THE ABLITY WHICH GOD GIVETH.

Peter when he was writing surely did not know all these kind's of 'talents' would be in the world today... but he surely did not limit them. God kinda knew what he was telling him to write not so (sarcasm implied).

So yes God does give ability.

So we have the talents and what not.... .make no mistake about it....... THEY ARE NOT THERE TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY AND SMILE.

it is to minster to one another the manifold GRACE of God.

Now the primary goal of God is that all men come to the knowledge of his saving GRACE...

Grace is applied to Christians in many instances... but that is nothing in comparison to the Grace given to a sinner to come to repentance.

So now that we see what our talent is supposed to do, how do we get that done?

Some talents are geared towards doing this easily and some aren't.

How does faith in Jesus Christ come about? ........ yeah you probably just said it in your head.

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Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

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Ah boy, we have come to the word of God.........

If your talent does not explicitly place the word of God before the people it is ministering to YOU ARE FAILING AT USING YOUR TALENT FOR THE MANIFORD GRACE OF GOD.

So we can go into all different kinds of talents and nit pick. But we can all do it for ourselves. 

At the end of your dance, after they watch your painting, after you play football, after you sing your song, after your dj set ....... do the "people that were ministered to" have something to hold on to that is from the word of God.

Now we could go down to the line of do we have to give them the scripture with verse and chapter?

As I said..... different talents are inclinded to send messages in different ways..... so some may hold the verse and chapter easily and some may not..... but the goal is to maximise the talent as much a possible to get that word of God in them so that the FAITH CAN COME.....

oh yeah.....faith cometh by hearing..... so it has to be said? no.... when someone reads they 'hear' in their 'head' too.

Ah mean is not rocket science... if the Goal is to reach ppl for God.... then you have to give them GOD.... not the talent. God through the talent is what people NEED and what God WANTS.

Evange-LIES?

Probably one of the greatest issues that young believers face is evangelism. Young believers go through all the works of the church and what not, determining purpose, spiritual gifts marriage but they never get schooled on evangelism or going out in the field.

I think this is partly because:

1. The elders don't really teach the younger ones

2. The methods that are used are not relevant to the times

3. The young people are just afraid

Now when I say young people I don't mean young believers eh. I am talking about those "on fire" youths that dig in to their word, can encourage other young believers in a heartbeat! and have the ability to apply a mature understanding to the scriptures.

Yes... you might be one of them.

What stops them from evangelizing?

I think the concept of evangelism has been skewed because of the precident that has been set by the church in terms of it's showmanship. The showtime stigma of the modern day church may have skewed what are the fruits of evangelism in our eyes

If we think first of all that evangelism is going out and handing out tracts and praying for people at the side of the road asking them to give their lives to Christ...... we only have part of it. 

This part what we are fed..... but we are never fed the fact that we are living epistles known and read by all men.

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2Co 3:2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 

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Now why would Paul tell the Corinthian Church this for?

In chapters 1 and 2 Paul was explaining to them why he was writing, because he was far aways but he heard of what was going on.

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2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 

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He was writing it after he had planted the church. I am not sure how long he stayed with them when he helped plant it but he had a connection to them that's why it seems to be one of his more passionate and instructional letters.

So he tell them that you are our epistle....meaning you are a testimony of what God had done through us. In essence you are a testimony of GOD. 

He says read of all men cuz, Corininth was huge mannnnn..... and to be the biggest church in Corinth and everyboy watching you, it's hard not to be seen.

A city that is set on a hill comes to mind. (Matt 5:14)

So back to evangelism by speaking/preaching. Our life is evangelism... to a point. We sometimes use this as an excuse not to talk to ppl about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are so scared to tell people about the gospel because we are scared. Why because we will be:

1. Ridiculed (WHICH IS NORMAL)

2. Will not live up to expectations of showtime evangelism

BEING RIDICULED

This is the most normal part of declaring Jesus' name, even believers may ridicule you sometimes. That's nothing new and that will never stop. I can draw among the many references the time God was telling Ezekiel what he had to face when he had to talk to the Israelites that were neck deep in idolatry after they were exiled to Babylon.

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Eze 2:3  And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 

Eze 2:4  The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' 

Eze 2:5  And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 

Eze 2:6  And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 

Eze 2:7  And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. 

Eze 2:8  "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." 

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God was telling Ezekiel what he was going to have to go up and speak to.......... Man Ezekiel had gonads!!!........ here are some of the words used, rebellious, impudent and stubborn. yet he says be not dismayed.

Verse 6 is where we sometimes fail to apply. God says, be not afraid of them.

vs 7 YOU SHALL SPEAK MY WORDS TO THEM....... wait for it, wait for it........ WETHER THEY HEAR OR REFUSE TO!!

SHOWTIME GOSPEL

Showtime gospel has thought us that ppl need to fall down, beat up on the ground, start to bawl and/or start to cry to show that God is touching them..... lol......

But we don't have to care if God is touching them or not, That's up to them and God, it's the spirit that does the touching. All we have to do is tell them heartily..... but anytime we think that or ferverent sharing of the gospel is not producing fruits we are in danger of expecting a result that God may not have planned or the fact that the hard heart of someone is resisting..

When you go and try your best and preach the gospel from your heart to someone. Smile and LET GOD WORK.

Evangalism is not converstion...... evangeslism is spreakind the message of Jesus Christ with passion.

The spirit of God does the work of drawing men to God.

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Joh 12:32  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 

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You can't draw them. You CAN EVANGELIZE TO THEM....in many ways might I add......but i'm talikng about going boldly like the apostles in acts.

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Act 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

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so Go... but don't go with the expectation that they will change and ask to be baptized.

Go with the expectatoin that they would be opened up to God and he will draw them.

I'll talk about the expectations in MUSIC AND ARTS MINISTRY next week.

AFTER THE BEAT DROPS

AFTER THE BEAT DROPS

Lecrae has a song called "After the music Stops" that may put this whole blog in perspective after you read it, but I want to go into a lot more.

ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MINISTERING TO PEOPLE IS AFTER THE MUSIC STOPS. (or dance or drama or ... you know what I mean)

You see all these vehicles that we use are gifts and talents that are given to us by the almighty God for THE SOLE PURPOSE OF.........................wait for it........................................ BRINGING PEOPLE TO SALVATION!

There I said it... so we might wonder what about edification, upliftment encouragement and what not. Well all these things are part of the goal of bringing people to salvation.

When u edify believers (those already saved) you bring them to a greater understanding of the things of God and this is not for them to just take and bury like the wicked servant did in Luke 19: 11-22.

If someone is truly edified and focused on the right things everything they do is purposely done to lead to SALVATION OF THE LOST. There are no two ways about it. If this is not the sole purpose of anyone ministering, then what are they ministering for?

If our goal as saints is the furthering of God's kingdom.... who is God's kingdom... the saints....and what is a saint..... a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. So there is no problem with an 'uplifting' 'inspirational' 'educational' song (dance... etc)..... but the question that must asked is.

WHAT IS THE FRIUT OF IT?

aka.... WHAT DAT PRODUCING?

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Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

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Careful analysis of the producing fruit scripture would reveal that. In verse 15 he said to beware of false prophets. Of course he does not mean the person that is predicting the future in the purest sense. He means those that come in his name.

You shall know them by their friuts.

Realistically now... a FIG TREE CANNOT BEAR ORANGES...... it can't. If it does.... it's not a fig tree.

The fruit of your ministry should always be..................... the apparent desire for those who were ministered to, TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES. There is no if but of maybee about it.

Change their lives how...? What is the measuring stick?..... Here we go with one of those tough questions.......

cuz somebody who is ministered to may change their life by occasionally listening to you again or watching you dance again..... they most probably have not been changed... they have been attacted by something.... which is good.... but not the goal.. that's a sub goal.

Jesus did many things that woudl have benefited people. He made things that were bad in their life better by healing, feeding, encouraging and teaching. These are the same things that we do but I am dealing specifically with the Gospel Music industry that I am in. We do the same things, which is meet peoples needs with music and arts and what not.... but Jesus did not just do it and leave them... he got them to follow him .... and from that followership.... HE MADE DISCIPLES.....he established the new Kingdom..

I will apply it to myself for the sake of clarity. 

If the music i play is bearing people who like sounds for liking them sake and just want to hear them for enjoying themselves.... I AM FAILING AT BEARING THE RIGHT FRUIT.... 

something is wrong with my tree.....

If the way DJ is coupled with OTHER things that fit into the whole scheme of the Goal...(which is salvation)... is causing people to see God in a different light and serve him more diligently and in turn purposely do things that ULTIMATELY are geared toward the salvation of the lost.... then I WOULD BE BEARING THE RIGHT FRUIT.

This is why after the beat stops is soooooooooo important. Many ppl see ministry as one thing... dancing, singing, preaching, deejaying, sports.

But simply put.... MINISTRY IS LIFE. 

Talent is one of the COMPONENTS OF LIFE that we seems to exalt as the be all and end all of ministry.

I'll put it this way... talent is the part of our life that draws people to the rest. The question is what is the rest like? The the rest firmly rooted in the soil of the Word Of God? and the trunk solid so that it does not blow to and fro? If so, then the fruit that is beared will be the desired fruit of God.

After the beat stops is the true test of any ministry to see if it is producing more change in an effort to produce mature believers...... or if it is just entertaining the masses.

Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible:

"People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the “fruit” that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by that fruit."

B4 The beat Drops

I'm writing this one not as Andre Charles, but a djlivstrong. It's been a few years in the gospel music industry of Trinidad and Tobago so far and there are some things I have learrnt that should definitely be taken into consideration.

BEFORE THE BEAT DROPS

As a dj, you are technically a song worship leader, only difference is the way you lead is not with your voice, u choose the songs and the how it flows, but instead of singing them you play them. It's tricky seeing it that way because automatically the term 'leader' becomes intimidating. But it's true within your grasp is the ability to lead crowds of people in a particular direction without them even knowing.
I am always reminded of the scripture with saul in 1 Samuel 16:23

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1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
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This is the most irrefutable proof that the playing of music has the ability to drive out evil spirits. Yes evil spirits, if you don't believe in them get out of the hole you are in.
So in you, as a son of the most high God and a recipient of redemption and atonement through the blood of Christ, is the ability to authouritatively drive out spirits my many different means. Music is one of them. The flip side is, that the same speed you can drive out an evil spirit, you can also invite them.

Let's look at david again.
Could it simply be the way he plays the instrument that caused the spirit to depart? of course skill has something to do with it no doubt, but the most skillfulest of philosophers can disect the bible and still not have the revealed word because of the lack of one thing... or person rather.............. The Spirit.

Man by himself cannot drive out spirits.... only God (The spirit of god, Jesus) can do so. Humans are used a vessels to do this under the authority of Jesus.

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Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 
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David's heart was pure and he was a servant of God he was anointed and had his SPIRIT

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1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 
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So when david played the harp, it was not merely his skill that played but the spirit of God transcended through the music. Giving the music the ability to not just drive out the evil spirit, but REFRESH Saul.

What is to be taken from this is that before the beat drops...... there must be a spiritual check that affirms the role of the spirit in your life. When I say affirms, you don't have to be talking in different tongues and what not to be affirmed in the spirit. The evidence of the spirit if the fruit in your life. The bearing of fruit that is plainly evident. What fruits are you bearing? are they love joy peace...etc? Aside from the music, can it be said that the spirit of God is upon you and you have been anointed by God. It's ticklish, cuz there is no clear cut standard per say that one can hold on to. That is best known by the person.

Without the affirmation of the spirit of God in your life, you just play music that happens to be gospel. That does not by any means say that people will not be blessed and maybee converted.... cuz the GOSPEL alone is the power of God unto salvation.... but that application and effectiveness is aided by the spirit of God. Without that spirit of God working through the agent the odds of reception are drastically dimished.

This does not just stop at playing music, it goes for dance, drama, preaching, teaching but I want to apply it to deejaying......
and this is alll BEFORE THE BEAT DROPS....
While it is playing God has free reign to what he desires with the submitted vessel (namely you)....... SO always remember it is THE SPIRIT that does the ministering.... but it cant minister through a vessel that it does not own or it is not being given access to.

look out for AFTER THE BEAT STOPS next week.

Milk and Meat.....The differentiation

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Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

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Ok I did some heavy reading and a nice exegesis on the passage. There are other mentions of milk and strong meat but I want to point out this one to bring across the point.

Now since we dealing with with the book for Hebrews here we eh really too sure who wrote it even though it seems like Paul but seems like a more eloquent person in some ways. http://www.gotquestions.org/author-Hebrews.html

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' For when for the time ye ought to be teachers'

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Translated trini (based on the greek comparison i did)

ALL NOW SO ALLYUH SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING MEN.

Meaning that these people being addressed have been in the faith for a substantial amount of time where they should have the ability knowledge and knowhow to teach someone the tenets of the faith. So here we see TEACHING or EXPLAINING.

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"ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God"

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translated trini

ALLYUH NEED SOMEBODY TO COME AND TEACH ALLYUH DE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF WHAT GOD SAY

The key part i see there is the oracles of God which translates to the utterences of God. Basically waht God said. 

Now the first principles of Christianity are best focused in Romans 4:22-25

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Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

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(Among other scriptures which you are free to add) This says that we are justified through the belief (faith) that our sins were imputed to Christ so that we can be seen righteous in God's eyes, SAVED.

Thats basically the first principle.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

Aight back to Hebrews now ... lol

I know this is going long, but what I am about to say at the end would really scripturally determine if you are at the milky stage or meaty stage........ (some ah allyuh continue reading cuz you doh want to be milky ent????? lol)

Yeah so.... they needed someone to teach them the first principles of their actual faith cuz it seems like they never moved off from there.

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"and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

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translated trini

BECAUSE ALLYUH EH GROW SINCE DEN ALLYUH, INSTEAD OF MOVING ON TO MEAT WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE, MAKE ALLYUH SELF NEED MILK AGAIN TO GET TO MEAT.

Now it is not stated what caused them not go grow, but we working with the fact that they have not grown past the elementary truths of God.

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For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

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translated trini

EVERYBODY THAT IS DEEMED AS MILKY IS UNSKILLFULL (ALSO INEXPERIENCED in Greek) IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (ALSO JUSTIFICAITON in Greek): CUZ HE IS AH LIL BOY CHRISTIAN (IMMATURE, UNSKILLED, INEXPERIENCED)

Homeboy (whoever wrote it) is just saying that a milky person does not have a good grasp of the Word of God

Now this is tricky!!!!!!!!!

Who really has a good grasp on the word of God? now the word 'word' in that sense is translated to implication of a topic or something said. Remember those guys did not have a bible yet, they had the cannon and letters. The word they had to go on was word of mouth and word by the letters. So the word of righteousness for us right now is the bible of course. But the word of righteousness for them was the word communicated about the saving Grace of Christ and all the other teachings that the apostles were spreading around to Jews and Gentiles at that point in time.

wheyyyyyyy.... ah just had to stretch dey.

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But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age

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translated trini

MEAT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED AND MATURE.

Full of age (mental, physical, moral growth) is not a old guy with grey hair. The three synonyms used to translate are Mental, physical, moral growth which point to someone understanding more about SECULAR LIFE HOW THE WORLD WORKS and what not, PHYSICAL GROWTH UNDERSATNGING THE HUMAN BODY TO AN EXTENT OF LIMITATIONS AND FUNCTIONS.... that is why sometimes the human body is used to illustrate certain teachings like the church as a body with Christ at the head and MORAL GROWTH, right and wrong society standards and customs.

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even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

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"even" is added in there to add continuity to it. But it really means MEAT BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED AND AND MATURE, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO, BECAUSE THEY USE THE TEACHINGS (THE MEAT NOT THE MILK) IN PRACTICE BY EXERCISING THEIR SENSES (translated ORGANS OF PERCEPTION) CAN DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL (NOT MORAL GOOD AND EVIL BUT SPIRITUAL GOOD AND EVIL)

So here is where we wrap up. Now milky teachings bring one to the point where they are able to be self sufficient int he faith. A teacher is someone who is self sufficient because they don't have the extreme need to ask someone what they need to do. They know enough to show someone what to do up to their level, cuz that is as far as they know. Teaching at the milk level however is not easy beacuse you only know the FIRST PRINCIPLES.

CHRIST DIED FOR ME AND ALL MY SINS SO NOW I AM SAVED.

Teaching at the Meat level however shows that you have a firm all around understanding of things and you are now able to apply the word or righteousness to that maturity that you have and apply it (exercise it). Not just exercise it but seek it out. Cuz nobody exercises with a 20lb weight forever, you go and pick up more and more cuz you have passed the stage of the 20. 

Milky person would have a personal traininer giving them a 5lb and they would stay with that until someone TELLS THEM to pick up more. Until they realise that they have the ability to get their own exercise plan and pick up weights for themselves.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IN CONCLUSION

########## MILKY ###########

~ Has to be taught fundamentals

Would say things like:

"Christ Died For Me"

"I am born again cuz Christ Died"

"Jesus died on the cross for me"

"I am saved cuz Christ died"

(notice everything is centered around Christ dying, (sometimes no even the resurection power is understood) because at 1cor 15:3 puts it that is the thing we must understand first of all)

~ They may also be in need of teaching all the time because what they know is not enough for them to be teaching as the scriptures says they should be doing (at meat stage)

~ They exhibit high amounts of carnality

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

Once someone passes the fundamentals of Christ dying I believe according to the analysis of the scriptures they can be declared as having moved to meat.

########## MEATY ###########

~ Has past fundamentals

Would say things like:

"Christ's death and ressurection has made me justified in the eyes of God and therefore I am no longer seen as sinful"

"I am born again because my spiritual being has come alive in the regeneration of my inner man"

~ Is concerned with the whole application of Christianity based on the tenents of it's history all the way up the expected end. Therefore the old testament, the prophets, the kings, the empires and there signifigance have a part to play in the whole grand scheme of things. The holiness of God and such things are important to him/her

~ Desires more of the word and applies it. And as the word is applied more certain things are no longer accepted because the knowledge of Good and Evil compells them to be more righteous and go through Sanctification.

~ Is socially mature and begins to socially apply the word of God because the exercising of the word is acting it out, but if one is not seen as mature socially it would be unreasonable to think that they would be able to be spiritually mature when the secular world would not even recognize them as mature by their standards.

~ Questions and judges according to the word of God and does not take everything that is taught to him as the final word. (This one is important... cuz when meat is seasoned wrong you can make all different kinds of dishes that can poison people)

SO IF YOU MADE IT TO THIS POINT YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY SHOWN THAT YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO SEEK OUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF IT FOR PRACTICAL LIVING AND A DESIRE TO ANALYZE SOMEONES TEACHING FROM A SCRIPTURAL VIEWPOINT AND ASSESS MATURELY.

So I am waiting for comments and questions. (are you milky or meaty?)

GUYS I THINK THIS IS THE LONGEST EXPOSITION i HAVE EVER DONE ON A SCRIPTURE. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AS THIS TEACHING THING HAS BEEN REVEALED AS ONE OF MY MANY AVENUES OF MINISTRY.

Growth x 66

I had alot of fun in Sunday School yesterday.

The lesson I did was about the growth of the church in Actss.

Actss 6:1-15

(I used the ESV because it breaks it down better)

Acts 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 

Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 

Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 

Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Acts 6:6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 

Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 

Acts 6:9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 

Acts 6:10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 

Acts 6:11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 

Acts 6:12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 

Acts 6:13 and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 

Acts 6:14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us." 

Acts 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 

What was really cool was the the widows in the church were in need of human needs like food and stuff. However the leaders of the church were not able to meet the needs of the ppl. So they were forced with a decision whether to stop doing their leadership duties and do other methods of service. OR continue leading the church and seeking God for spiritual guidance and what not. 

In the end they had to delegate 7 men to do different things in the church which included dealing with the widows and meeting their needs.

What this parallels to is our spiritual growth. The Church was growing rapidly, and was experiencing growing pains. The pains this time were that the new members to the church needed help, because a widow in those times had no husband and could not support themselves. 

What are our spiritual growing pains and how do we deal with them? Can we pinpoint them? Because as the church was growing they needed to adapt. 

Who is the church right now? WE ARE.... so as we grow as each individual member of the Church...... we have to deal with our growing pains that we face from time to time due to expansion....

right now I am facing the issue of becoming to biblical in my interactions with people. Nobody wants to hear someone constantly talking about the bible dayyyy and nighttt... They want to see someone applying the bible and drawing reference when necessary. 

So as we face spiritual growth we should understand that as members of the Church we kinda look at how our church is growing and how we need to make adjustments to tailor that growth to the Glory of God.

Inside the ship's hull

So this one I have not given a title from the start.. I am just going to write and then come up with the title after.
Dreaddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd....................... wheyyyyyy

ever saw a ship on the water sailing away normally and there was a blown engine or a leaking oil pump inside.. But no one knew.... lol (i guess that describes human beings)....but none the less things are kind up up and down internally, externally things a cool (although some people say i look tired)..... yeah...... the ups are great, the group BUTCHER SHOP is really helping ppl from what some members tell me. It's so nice to know that there a ppl that want to decipher and discuss things int he bible for the greater edification of everyone.

I have 3 albums in heavy rotation right now>
Lecrae- Rebel
Ambassador- The Chop Chop
Shai Linne - Attonement

Rebel is really making me look at the culture as it is and what standing out really means..... and what it entails.... That is like a goal for me now to make sure i stand for righteousness in everything that I do.. and being that example to the people who i know are watching me and even more those who I don't know. (those are the serious ones that want to see you fall)

Chop Chop is making me desire the Word of God so much that I kinda think I try to swallow too much from time to time. I have slowed down and pray more (cuz i was not praying much). When I spoke to someone about it they told me that the Holy Spirit is the only one that could teach me right now cuz no man knows what God want's to do in me.

Attonement is like THE BOMB.... Shai Linne is the most theological rapper I know and that album has clearly broken down the act of attonement that Christ has done for me and the world...... I realllly love that album.. and can listen to it anytime dreaddd...... it's not flashy... it's realll with no strings attached.... which is untimatley what I want to be. REAL WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED....


Being open and candid however is not normal for a man nah (this is where i try to be a rebel and Rebel against the culture) so by bearing it all (like on facebook lol) it opens the door for many people to think many things... (like you are thinking right now ... ent?) But what it does is help you get that stage of humility that you eh really care what people think... cuz to the Pharisees Jesus was the son of a carpenter and he did not try to be anything else... even though he knew he was like ... ammm..... GOD!...... so much less for me..... who I goin and PLAY I IZ? Defenitley not Mr. cool christian guy.... lol....

So yeah work was hard, life is hard, situations are hard, blah blah blah...... that will pass.. right now the focus is on the core Andre, the soul on the inside that is being molded into the image of that wonderful fella dey called Jesus.

Yeah, so that's basically what's going onn inside the hull of the ship. (there I got the name)