Mike Speaking Nov. 3rd

Faith comes by hearing. Hearing the Word of God. Transformation comes from the renewing of my mind. Ever wake up and just feel like garbage? Rubbish?
Michael told us a few stories about people and himself included who has been in a position where they said, Yes I ask Jesus into my life and will be a Christian. And that point is so joyful and exciting and yet, where's the depth?
Say I have this past of sin of sleeping with men. I accept Jesus into my life. If I don't confront and confess those sins to the Lord, the ones that lay deep in my soul, then those won't just leave me. They MUST be confessed out or someday they will build up and explode, and not in a good way. The past needs to be brought out and confronted. This confession and expression digs to the pain and hurt, and in the end, through it all, back then and til now, you can see that God is there. He always was and always is.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
So if you help a bum on the street accept Christ into their lives, it's important then to have them confess and get out their sin and garbage off their chest to release that pain. It's not enough to just have this sugar coated surface.
There are nations out there filled with Christians, but their lifestyle doesn't reflect how children of Christ should be living. There's no match-up hre. We need to dig. Speak out! Turn away!
We dont' even knwo what's on our hearts sometimes, but He knows. Find God in that place of pain and where you were struggling.
We're trying to take the easy route by not digging. This builds up like a damn, and we need to get to the root.
If I'm talking to someone who is a non-christian and they ask why did Jesus come into the world, or things like Why should I follow Him? I mean there must be feelings inside non-christians that yearn for something. Yearn to belong, to be loved, to help get through life not alone. Everyone in this world will let you down, except the Lord your god.
He can help you not feel bad about your life on a day to day basis.
Eternal life isn't just beginning in heaven, it starts now! Isn't that so exciting!

Kingdom of God: Who
-God, the ruler
-Jesus, His King
-Angels
-Those who choose to accept the Kingship of Jesus
This isn't the box of christians in our church to say, only to them is the Kingdom. Remember Jesus on the cross and the other 2 sinners on each side of Him? jesus says to the one who takes a step toward Him, I take you in. you're mine. "I came to see the lost." It doesn't have to be miles of faith and steps, just a single belief and change everything.
If we're out there saying trust God, then we need to be a part of the solution.
Get this, think of all the angry people in the Bible at Jesus. Most of them were the religeous people. They were putting on an act to get His approval, when in the end Jesus sat with prostitutes just as He sat with the children.
Kingdom of God: What
ALL Things, are made through Him and His word.
he put EVERYTHING under His feet. We need to go and say, this chair belongs to Jesus.
All AUTHORIT. Go and make disciples in all nationas as you do life.
CREATION grows and is subjected waiting to be free.
HEAL LAND God has given us creation, use it! Dig for water in other words literally!
Don't just sit around and say, oh God please help us find a solution to our thirst. Dig! Use this in a literal sense and beyond please!
Michael talked about Singapore and Japan, and why they're so rich, and they've basically applied Biblical World Views, the USE The land God has provided. What about the idea of over-population? Cut back on people so we can feed and give them water. Well why not utilize the land better. Which one is our problem?
Isaiah 6:3 "Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts. The WHOLE earth is full of His glory!"
Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's and all that it contains"
BEAUTY IS CHRISTIAN
Think about the music you listen to. The mountains you view. Think about using this in the work place, or ministering to someone who has talent from God..."Wow, this really is beautiful! Wow you took the creation God's given us, and really made something wonderful out of it!"
We have an idea of what Christians ought to do/wear/hear
Paul asks, do we eat meat or not?
Do we listen to only 'christian music' or not?
Do we do yoga? Or is it sinful?
It's not what goes into a man that makes you sin but what comes out.
Michael showed us this awesome music video of this crazy band, Sigur Ros, I'm not sure how to spell it, I know I've heard some of their Icelandic music before from Andie, quite good actually. Anyways, he showed us this video and asked us what we thought. It was a bunch of elderly folks, doing childish harm and games. They spray painted doves on this sidewalk. Jumped in mud puddles. Threw firecrackers in a mail box. They had 'battle' in a graveyward against other old people with plastic swords and threw water baloons. They were even jumping in mud puddles! Man it was awesome! Then Michael asked, waht did you see in this movie?
We answered, Joy, freedom, friends, creativity, unity, humor, love, etc. It wasn't title "A Christian song" and yet it had all those wonderful characteristics that God is and displays.
Kingdom of God: What
-All inclusive (this means the way you eat, dress, speak to your mom)
-The Kingdom of God is not a spiritual place, but a comprehensive reality that brings substantial healing ot every aspect of our lives and every part of creation.
God says the harvest is ready NOW! Prayer for workers to work the harvest! This means to work, interceded, read the Bible, build relationships, mow your lawn, etc.
Kingdom of God: Where/When
Here and Not Yet
Wherever His will is done
Luke 17:21 'you can't see it, but it's here
Matt 6:10 coming like in heaven; not fully yet
I want to end on this thought because I'm quite tired at 1am. I can't thank the church enough for their love and support. What a pure blessing, and completely out of real love and giving. I am so grateful. But when some people look at youth in their church, they aknowledge the ones who go to college, and the ones who go off to do 'missions'. Now who do they usually support financially? And who do they usually send off a 'mug' or basket of showering supplies? A lot of times the church looks at people who do things like college as not the same as 'missions'. BUT, we're all in missions. We're all living and working for His mission. So what are we saying to others we can't and don't support the same? I don't have a solution believe me. This was just an interesting concept to chew on.
Michael said the largest university in the world is in Egypt. Oh wait that was Edwin at our N2N conference. Well anyways this applies. The largest university is in Cairo. It's huge! They're all Muslim! They're all there learning in different fields to go out into the world as workers, but in their field and spread their religion. Now what a concept eh? Those many different types with may different skills and all working to spread what they believe in. Imagine of some of us christians went to school with that mindset. Or went to that school?