27Mar2014 - Imitate what is good

How you doin?  What a morning of prayer.  Stacey and I both are very convicted to pray in the Spirit and in thanksgiving.  We have committed to pray for our church with intensity, thanksgiving, faith, belief, and love.  As much as I tend to be upset by the committees rejection of everything we hold so dear to our hearts, I still have a heart for that church.  The committees have taken everything away from us except our joy and love for God.  They can't say no to our prays.  They can't say no to our casting out the spirit of religion, doubt, unbelief, and fear.  They can't stop us from loving them and praying for them to receive the Holy Ghost.  YES!!!!!!!  We are also praying for the Doug Addison conference with fervor.  We are praying very specifically for the exact amount of money required and 300 people to attend (1 person in particular).  It's very new to me but I find myself praying with thanksgiving for what God is going to do in these situations.  I've been praying for the full measure of Jesus' faith.  This may be a glimpse.  AWESOME!!!!!!!  3 John today.

Verse 2, "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."  I love this connection from the soul to the body.  Knowing that we are "tri-polar", spirit, soul, and body, I belief that we need to keep each part in it's proper place... spirit, soul, and body.  I like how John prays that the body prospers as the soul prospers.  DIG IT!!!!!!!

Verse 11, "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  What a powerful verse.  First we need to be able to discern what's good and evil.  More specifically we need to know what's good.  I love the counterfeit money analogy.  Bankers are taught the genuine article.  There are to many counterfeits to learn them all.  Bankers can identify counterfeit money because they know the real deal.  I think this is the best method of learning how to discern what is good and evil.  I tend to look at the spiritual fruit produced from a person or ministry.  I have found it is easy to see "one who does good".  God makes Himself very well known to followers of Jesus.  It's clear to see people who have experienced the love of God.  I try to imitate them.  If I was trying to be a great quarterback, I would imitate Nick Foles.  If I were trying to be a great hockey player, I would imitate Claude Giroux.  If I was trying to be a great baseball player, I would imitate Chase Utley.  If I were trying to be a great basketball player, I would imitate someone that doesn't play for the 76ers.  I still love them though.  I do want to be a great man of God, so I will imitate Jesus.  YES & AMEN!!!!!!!  Imitate Jesus today. 

PS   Verses 9-10 really hit home.  I didn't write about these verses because it's to personal.  It really describes what we are experiencing with our church.