DJLIVSTRONG - Life in Music Ministry

Friday, January 15, 2010

DJLIVSTRONG JANUARY 2010 MIXTAPE

Download Link: January 2010 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (right click on .zip file and Extract to...)

Saturday, January 9, 2010

SAFE SHEEP

I know my notes game has been weak lately. I have no easily accessible internet... but I am posting this one up cuz it might be for somebody out there in net land.

Sermon Preached On: Sunday December 20th 2009

Joh 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Going through the chapter in context we notice that Jesus is speaking in the context of a shepherd and his sheep. He was giving an analogy about the shepherd his sheep and the roles they play.

Once you are given life, you become part of the fold.

You are adopted into the family of God.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Now in this parable we know Jesus was talking about people, but the parable itself describes sheep and all the things the shepherd would do for them.

LAYS DOWN LIFE vs 11

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

When he says the the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep he is making it explicitly clear that the shepherd is utterly concerned with the safety of his pasture and if necessary would ensure that if necessary he would give his life for them.

John Gill's commentary

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: not only exposes it to danger, as David did his, for the sake of his father's flock, but gives it away freely and voluntarily, for the sake of the sheep; in their room and stead, as a ransom for them, that they may be delivered from death, and might have eternal life:

Doing this was not uncommon because sheep were valuable so in the context of the culture real shepherds would do that for their sheep.

1Sa 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

1Sa 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

So we see David... a forefather of Christ had these qualities esp exactly in the field of sheep herding.

KNOWS HIS OWN vs 14

I know my own and my own know me,

The shepherd knows his sheep well, hence he knows who he is protecting.

He knows his sheep because of their charachteristics.

The charachteristics of his sheep are clear. He knows which sheep has the most fur. The one who has speckled fur, brown fur and the charachteristics of the sheep are well known. If he sees a wolf he would know that it is not part of the flock and he would defend his flock agains the wolves.

Turning from Sin.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Bearing Fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Since you have become part of the family you are joined into the bloodline.... the love in the family is the love of God... the incorruptible love of God.

You are therefore loved beyond comparison. Hence he chases you and looks for you.

Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

IS ALL ENCOMPASSING

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also

Christianity is not exclusive, it is inclusive. It makes the opportunity available to all, and the shepherd must bring them also...... Jesus has a mandate to bring them so therefore he seeks them.

We see this in by his statement here and it is backed up by Paul in his address to the Romans where he specifically states that first all have sinned. Both Jew and Gentile.

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

And that the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation is for both Jew and Gentile/Greek

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

There was once a time when the Israelites were the only redeemable people in the world and no one else was worthy of God's love.

However the new covenant breaks that and makes everyone eligible for the Grace that God bestows.

That is how it becomes possible for us to become sheep. As sheep we should be all encompassing to and not shunning or thinking others unworthy of being part of the family. God does not want anyone to be left behind.

Now I encourage you to think of yourself as a literal sheep and recite the following Psalm.

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

will you dwell in the house of the Lord forever?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG DECEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

DOWNLOAD HERE: December 2009

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

Monday, November 16, 2009

COMPARTMENTALIZATION

Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Life consists of many things, but abundant life consists of One Person.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.

Jesus made 3 claims in this scripture.

1. THE WAY

2. THE TRUTH

3. THE LIFE

THE WAY.

How was he the way. Well as my pastor once taught me recently, when you answer scripture with scripture no one can contest it because they would be argueing with the bible.

Act 4:2 ....they taught the people, even to announce through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

so he claimed he was the way... because he was the one mediator...

1Ti 2:5 For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus,

so to be a mediator, he had to be the middle man. Adam did not have a middle man, but because of sin... well.... we needed a middle man because we are incapable of the communication after the fall in the garden.

TRUTH

How was Jesus the truth. Well we answer scripture with scripture again.

Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

So Jesus was the word. Is the word the truth?

Scripture with scripture.

(Psa 119:43) And take not the Word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in Your judgments.

(2Co 6:7) in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

(Eph 1:13) in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

(2Ti 2:15) Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

(Jas 1:18) Of His own will He brought us forth with the Word of truth, for us to be a certain firstfruit of His creatures.

THE LIFE

This is where I will focus today with some more teaching expounding the word of God so that we can all understand what the abundant life constitutes.

When Jesus says he is THE LIFE what does he mean?

John 10:10 answers that he has come that we would have life and have it more abundantly. If we are to have life and he is the life according to John 14:6 Then to have abundant life we hare to have HIM.

So if you don't have Jesus, you cannot live a truly abundant life.

So you might be saying... "I see a lot of people with plenty money that don't have Jesus and they are abundant"

Then you think the abundant life is about posessions and status. It's not. The rich young ruler found this out.:

Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 18:19 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me good? None is good except One, God.

Luk 18:20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother.

Luk 18:21 And he said, I have kept all these from my youth up.

Luk 18:22 And when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, Yet you lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me.

You see the last part the Jesus said was ... come follow me. Meaning give up all you have and follow me.

Luk 9:23 And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Luk 9:24 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for My sake, he shall save it.

Luk 9:25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses himself, or is cast away?

Now Christianity is submitting your whole life to Jesus and letting him take it over by the Spirit of God to fulfull the purpose of God in this world, ultimately for HIS KINGDOM.

Examine the Children of Israel and the Levitical Laws or Laws of Moses.

God could have stopped at the 10 Commandments in the Book of Exodus.... but he went further to explain how to deal with people in Business, Workers, Family, Friends and Life in General. Why?

The law can be broken down into two broad categories.

1. The Civil Law

(1) Servants and the Poor

(2) Punishments

(3) Marriage

(4) Sabbaths and Feasts

2. The Ceremonial Law

(1) Origin of Sacrifice

(2) The Levitical Ritual

(3) The Law Truly a Torah

He could have just given them the 10 commandments and the rules for the tabernacle and end there. But he wanted them to live a life that HE DESIGNED. In other words, live a life that Was in total submission to God.... and of course if the Israelites had followed the LAW.... they would have been alright and in Good standing with good because they were doing what he prescribed... but of course they diddn't.

We now know that the law was fulfilled by Jesus, not that it was abolished and to be never referenced, but Jesus has not taken the place of the Law and we live life in subject to HIM.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

What we do is this:

Imagine a Pie chart with all the components of your daily life. You would have a portion for school, work, play, recreaction, cooking, sleeping, cleaning, eating, quality time, and well Church.

Each one of these would have a place, the FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM with that is that you are ultimately in control of that life so the only thing that would have a different color would be the part with church... you would put that in RED. All the other compartments would be coloured by your control and lifestyle. That is not living the ABUNDANT LIFE... that is living YOUR LIFE.

The abundant life is like this.

Underneath each pie chart is the heart behind it. So underneath your pie chart would be YOU.

The abundant life however, UNDRENEATH THE PIE CHART IS JESUS.

What that means is that everything in your life is in subjection to the authoutity of God via his Holy Spirit.

So the School would be RED,

The work would be RED

The recreation would be RED

The Cooking would be RED

The quality time would be RED

Driving would be RED

Relationships would be RED

and not just church time.

The life of abundance that Jesus was speaking about was not doing things your own way while thinking about him on Sunday or Tuesday or int he Morning when you reading your daily bread.

The abundant life is doing all the things surrounding HIM.... with him as the center.. the foundation that nucleus the brain the engine room the kitchen.

So you may have the WAY... which is salvation.

You may have the TRUTH... which is the word of God

But you may not have the LIFE... which is the daily living in subjection to him.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG NOVEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Download Link: November 2009 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He sweat blood.

Can you imagine sweating blood? Can you imagine being in such emotional pain and stress that your physical body starts to suffer not from external affliction but internal affliction?

The clinical term is "hematohidrosis." "Around the sweat glands,

there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form." Under the

pressure of great stress the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety

passes "the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood

goes into the sweat glands." As the sweat glands are producing a lot

of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface - coming out as droplets

of blood mixed with sweat.

Why did Jesus sweat blood? was it because he knew he was going to be totally mutilated in the next few hours? was it because he knew that he was going to be physically afflicted beyond recognition?

Physically Jesus had enough reason to sweat blood. Here is a short description of what crucifixion entailed.

The number of nails used seems to have been indeterminate. A tablet, on which the feet rested or on which the body was partly supported, seems to have been a part of the cross to keep the wounds from tearing through the transfixed members (Iren., Adv. haer., ii.42). The suffering of death by crucifixion was intense, especially in hot climates. Severe local inflammation, coupled with an insignificant bleeding of the jagged wounds, produced traumatic fever, which was aggravated the exposure to the heat of the sun, the strained of the body and insufferable thirst. The swelled about the rough nails and the torn lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued. The mind was confused and filled with anxiety and dread foreboding. The victim of crucifixion literally died a thousand deaths. Tetanus not rarely supervened and the rigors of the attending convulsions would tear at the wounds and add to the burden of pain, till at last the bodily forces were exhausted and the victim sank to unconsciousness and death.

That was more than enough for him to sweat blood. But really did he sweat blood for that? Many people went through the physical pain of the crucifixion. Romans used to do it all the time. Physical pain can only last so long. We all know that emotional pain lasts MUCH longer than physical pain and has much more longer lasting reprocussoins in our life.

Does a woman remember the licks that her father gave her or the horiffic experience of the man that raped her?

Does a man remember being beat up by the gang of men or the loss of his single mother that he was so close too?

The emotional feeling that we go through when things happen to us with respect to another tends to do so much more than we can see at the point in time.

The pain that Jesus suffered emotionally was farrr greater than the pain he would have felt physically. Keep in mind here that Jesus KNEW what he was going into, both PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

He would not sweat blood for the physical pain. He sweat blood becasue he was going to wilfully allow himself to be cursed and be DISCONNECTED from his father.

PICTURE THIS

You are the model student. You go to class everyday, you do all your homework, you hand in all your assignment and you do well in all your exams. You deserve the best right. You deserve your A+ or your 100% in your final examination.

Or picture, you are the model worker, you do your work on time, you work overtime with a smile and you are a excellent team player.

For the student, awards day comes around and you know you deserve nothing less than the highest award because you have met all the requirements. Instead of getting an award you get expelled from school and you are treated as if you were the worst student on the face of the earth. No school will take you and you are forced to become a vagrant. You deserved it all ... but you got nothing.

For the worker, the day of you appraisal comes up. You know you deserve to be given a promotion and a large bonus and the boss hands you a letter saying you are fired and they also told everybody else that may be willing to hire you that you were the worst worker in the world and you don't deserve to be hired.

In ALLLLLLL aspects of his life JESUS WAS PERFECT. He did is all right. He was the perfect Jew. He was the model human being. He was everything Abraham wanted to be, Everything David wanted to be, everything Ezekiel wanted to be, everything Samuel wanted to be!!! He was the only one to do it right.

You know what happens when you do things right for God.... YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REWARDED.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Deu 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

1Ki 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1Ki 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

God promises his reward to all those that keep his commandments. There is a blessing in obedience.

SO HOW WAS CHRIST SO OBEDIENT AND HE DID NOT GET THE BLESSING? How could he have fulilled the law and still be cursed?

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The keys is the substitution. The switching of roles BECAUSE OF LOVE.

We deserved the CURSE and he deserved THE BLESSING. But he switched it and gave us the opportunity to have his blessing........ while he took OUR CURSE.

so why did Jesus sweat blood? Because his father did not just send him to die, his father TURNED HIS BACK ON HIM.

Imagine the REJECTION, the HURT, the SCORN.

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;

God was happy to kill him. God was happy why? Because he saw the punishment of sin.

God likes to see 2 things... the things he likes, to be rewarded and the things he hates, to be punished.

BOTH THESE THINGS BRING HIM GLORY.

Because he delights in the praises of his people. He loves to recieve Glory.

Because he is just, evil must be punished because the evil if left unchecked takes away from his glory as the creator of man.

HE HAD TO SCORN HIM CUZ HE CHOSE TO TAKE ON THE FORM OF SIN. There was only one man who had that Choice..... only one man fit the criteria to make that choice. And even though he knew he what would happen if he made that choice he still made it.

How many of us think twice when we have to do something for someone and we would be inconvenienced. We might be the only people that meet the criteria that that particular person needs..... what do we do?

Jesus knew he would be pysically afflicted.

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew he would be betrayed

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that his Father would hate him

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that he had the right to go to heaven and no one else

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Jesus knew that he would be giving up his right for A SINNER NAMED ANDRE

HE SWEAT BLOOD

A sinner like me has the opportunity to be right with God and go to heaven and live with him forever

HE SWEAT BLOOD

I understand the fact that I deserved to die but he died in my place

HE SWEAT BLOOD

When I think my world is caving in and everyone is against me and I want to sweat blood

HE SWEAT BLOOD.

don't waste the blood of Jesus.....

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NO PLATES IN YUH CRATE??

So you should know by now that I am a dj. I am going to delve into a topic that is touchy and tricky but the word of God will be the final WORD on the matter.

Dub Plates.

A dub plate is a specialized version of a song (most often a popular one) where a dj is 'bigged up' in the song by the performing artist. It is often used by dj's in sound clashes where dj's go head to head playing songs in a battle where the crowd response for the particular dj/sound system determines who wins.

This plate is requested by the dj and most often paid for so that the dj would have the upper hand in the clash. It is particularly used in the dancehall culture where dj's play a prominent role in how a party goes.

A Christian dj is definitely called to be set apart in his field which is the delivery and mixing of music. As is understood when evangelizing to any culture, you have to analyze it and what can and cannot be used for the Glory of God.... now the Glory of God is God's main purpose for existing.. for his glory.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Now the flow of music and the mixing and scratching and mic man and everything that comes with being a dj can allllll be used for the Glory and honor of God because it can ll be pointed back to him in some form or fashion.

A plate now by it's definition substitutes part of the song with the name of the dj in an effort to 'big up' the dj for the explicit purpose of glorifying the dj especially in a clash situation where another dj is competing for the crowd's response.

Issues:

1. SUBSTITUTION

A gospel song is generally a song that speaks about the saving work of Jesus and promotes the agenda of God by virtue of his son and in the power of his Spirit. If the name of a dj is substituted into that song I believe it takes away from the glory that God deserves to get from that song.

(check out when God kept a remnant of Israel and did not allow them to be destroyed)

Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

2. PRIDE

If a gospel dj who's agenda is to glorify God specifically goes and asks an artist to sing a song bigging them up then they don't really have God's glory on their mind. The sheer thought about substituting MY name in a song that was designed for GOD......... i just got a headache.

(check out Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel)

Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

HOW CAN A PLATE BE USED?

The only way I see a plate being possibly used for the glory of God is this way.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If for some reason an artist comes and says,

"Aye, i LOVE YOUR MINISTRY.... and I decided to do a song dedicated to your ministry. I pray you accept it and love it so that others would know what you are doing and who you are"

They take one of their songs and remix it and pay tribute to you in the spirit of Philipians 2:3 ALONG WITH POINTING TO JESUS AS THE REASON FOR BROTHERLY LOVE, HUMILITY ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOOD.... FOR THE EXPRESSED GLORY OF GOD..." (which is what Phil 2 is about)

Then and only then would it be biblically sound in my estimation. I hope this makes biblical sense and we are challenged by it. I of course don't need to say that this is in no way intended malicious or 'call out anyone', it is simply applying the word of God to culture which is what we have to do.

I appreciate all comments and I don't condemn anyone... but let the Word of God do the speaking.

DJLIVSTRONG - Life in Music Ministry

Friday, January 15, 2010

DJLIVSTRONG JANUARY 2010 MIXTAPE

Saturday, January 9, 2010

SAFE SHEEP

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG DECEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Monday, November 16, 2009

COMPARTMENTALIZATION

Sunday, November 1, 2009

DJLIVSTRONG NOVEMBER 2009 MIXTAPE

Sunday, October 25, 2009

HE SWEAT BLOOD

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NO PLATES IN YUH CRATE??

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