Posted on by Christian Armetta

Returning to Our “First Love”

Jeremiah 24:7

7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Zaman-Algısı-İnsanlarda-Nasıl-Değişiyor

~Time is up and there are no more chances.

~Each scar represents a second hand lost.

~Cogs were designed to kill, steal, and destroy.

~The serpent made you believe hope was lost.

~Traditionalism has choked out truth.

~Legalism turns into apathy.

~Religionism masquerades as king.

~Hypocrites are magnified through stained glass.

~A lukewarm heart lacks a fervent spirit.

~Time is up and there are no more chances.

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~We must return to our “First Love” – Jesus.

~Jesus came to restore man back to God.

~First believers had vigor and values.

~Believers met regularly and prayed.

~Sharing meals and worship strengthened their bond.

~Revival was relational and true.

~The goal was simply to follow Jesus.

~The mission statement: Go make disciples.

~The vision was to follow their “First Love.”

~Their passion increased evangelism.

~There was no tolerance for division.

~”Church” was not meant to be a closed system.

~”Without me, you can do nothing.” – Jesus

~We must return to our “First Love” – Jesus

Challenge: You are not guaranteed tomorrow. In fact, the Word says in James 4:13-17, Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

I strongly encourage you to spend your time doing exactly what Jesus called you to do; don’t waste anymore time: turn away from sin and turn to God; make disciples; live your life focused on Him so much so that others see Him in you. It’s time to evaluate what you are spending your time doing – even the good stuff.

Question: Does your life reflect your “First Love” or…work, traditions, legalism, bondage?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 4 Comments

Refuge

Psalm 18:2

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Refuge

What a year! I took the word challenge at the beginning of the year and decided to pick my one word that I wanted to basically live by for 2018. My word was teachable…[gasp]…yes, some of you are saying, “Why would you pick such a reactionary word almost like asking for patience.” Simply…God said so through my prayer time so rebellion wasn’t an option.

My “word” did not disappoint! I started the year off with a significant health scare that lasted three months. I learned to fully rely on God during this time. My flesh wanted nothing more than to control every bit of my situation down to insurance authorization, or the lack thereof actually, scheduling, appointments, diagnoses, medical plans, and clarification. Yet, all things were out of my control, even knowing if my life was going to change forever or not! Interesting! Actually, no…rather typical for someone who prayed to be teachable I would say. Peace replaced uncertainty.

Instead of detailing an entire year’s worth of teachable moments, I wanted to shed light on one main truth. The main thing I learned by remaining teachable was fully understanding that only God is our refuge. Anxiety and fear manifest when our refuge is anything other than God Almighty. There are literally millions of things that masquerade as a false place of refuge in and around our lives.

Other things that I learned:

~I learned that pleasing those around me instead of keeping my eyes on Christ manifests in the quicksand of disappointment.

~I learned that pride permeates the thickest of spiritual and physical walls and infests all who are lukewarm in His eyes.

~I learned that trust is more subjective than I ever imagined.

~I learned that freedom doesn’t always have to follow a process or pre-planned systematic approach.

~I learned that healing from both physical and spiritual ailments comes to those who are actually willing to carry their brothers and sisters to the feet of Jesus in pure faith.

~I learned that worship is a representation of the heart.

~I learned that greed and envy grow exponentially in the garden of bitterness and discontent.

~I learned that prayer is the strongest weapon yet highly underutilized.

~I learned that criticism weakens spiritual gifts and kills the branch that will evidentially be swept away.

~I learned that placing faith and hope in people will lead to ruin.

~I learned that resting in Christ is more than fulfilling, it’s peaceful and consistent.

~I learned that supernatural encounters are still alive.

~I learned that ministry requires reaching outside your personal boundaries.

~I learned that the enemy is very much at work today, but we hold the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I could continue this list because I truly learned a lot as I did try to remain “teachable” this year. In the highs and lows, the one thing that remained the same…Jesus!

My refuge in peace AND storm – Jesus
My refuge in joy AND uncertainty – Jesus
My refuge in contentment AND dissatisfaction – Jesus
Question: What did you learn this year? How did God grow you?Thankful,Christian Armetta
Posted on by Christian Armetta

Fraudulent

Jeremiah 23:1-4

23 “How terrible it will be for the leaders of Judah. They are destroying my people. They are making them run in all directions,” says the Lord.

2 They are responsible for the people. And the Lord, the God of Israel, says to them: “You have made my people run away in all directions. You have forced them away. And you have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil things you have done,” says the Lord. 3 “I sent my people to other countries. But I will gather my people who are left alive. And I will bring them back to their own country. When they are back in their own land, they will have many children. And they will grow in number. 4 I will place new leaders over my people. They will take care of my people. And my people will not be afraid or terrified. None of them will be lost,” says the Lord.

spirituallyblind

[Interpretive]

You lead the masses through your strong arm of influence. The spiritually blind accept your words like an infant desiring nourishment. The cloak of deception blinds the crowd to your splintered tongue. Your followers reach the edge of truth and blindly fall into the valley of deception. Charism, intelligence, and wisdom hide the stench of lies, hypocrisy, and pride. You defile the inner sanctuary and set traps for the weak. The destructive goal cannot be satisfied as ego, control, and fame continue to ignite your passion. The crowd shouts your name; the congregation longs to hear from you, oh deceitful one. Truth cannot be found on your lips as your dark chariot awaits.

Yet, the warriors among you know your name. Their discernment comes from the Lord. The Holy Spirit shields your fiery darts from the elect. Your filth is uncovered and your wicked ways will be made known. The belt of truth girds all the other pieces of our armor. The sword of the Spirit is sharper than anything from your mouth and it pierces even to the division of soul and spirit. Your wicked ways are no match for God’s army and you will face judgement. Your false kingdom will fall. Your hypnotic timbre is nothing but clanging parlance. The secret prayers of the faithful will destroy your weak foundation. You have been identified and your kingdom will be destroy along with you.

I read Jeremiah 23 as part of a daily devotion today, and it really opened my eyes. The Bible makes it very clear that there will be false teachers among you. Yet, are we really spiritually in-tune to recognize these false prophets, leaders, and teachers? It is vital that we keep our eyes on the good Shepherd, Jesus. I strongly encourage you to surround your church leadership teams and bathe them in prayer. I also find it vital to assess the spiritual health of your leaders. Who are you following and why? Be cautious submitting to the authority of a false teacher, one who speaks with honey yet his actions detail venom.

Challenge: Seek truth; open your spiritual eyes; pray without ceasing; guard your heart; and put on the full armor of God as you go out and battle in this deceitful world.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Chasing Jesus

Philippians 4:11-13

11 I am telling you this, but it is not because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. 12 I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. I have learned to be happy when I have enough to eat and when I do not have enough to eat. I have learned to be happy when I have all that I need and when I do not have the things I need. 13 I can do all things through Christ because he gives me strength.

contentment

I am finding more and more passages, lately, pointing us back to true contentment in Christ. I find that chasing after Christ is truly a mirror reflection of The Parable of the Wandering Sheep in Matthew.

Matthew 18:12, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.”

So what does this all mean. In the same way that the shepherd finds happiness chasing after the one, we cannot find true contentment unless we are chasing after the only ONE.

When you are walking unveiled and on purpose, do not be surprised when those around you attempt to correct you. I’ve heard, “You’re chasing after people, a thing, a group, a friend, a pastor, a movement, [fill-in-the-blank].” First and foremost, chasing after things of this world will only result in chains, heartbreak, bondage, death, and destruction. However, chasing after the “things” above will offer peace as a weapon, restoration as a tool, and contentment as a promise. It is very important to understand the difference.

So, no…I don’t chase after people or one single person because they make me feel special or build my personal pride. No, I don’t chase after organizations or groups just because they claim to offer personal satisfaction. I chase after one thing – Christ alone.

This may look different to you. I may worship differently than you. I may pray differently than you. I may actually attend different churches to experience different fellowship. The one thing it is not – chasing after people or things. It is also most certainly not chasing after things of this world. Just as the passage above directs us, I am learning to be truly content.

How would you continue these comparisons with your life? Peace vs. Worry; Contentment vs. Envy; Calm vs. Anger; Freedom vs. Control; Full vs. Empty; Cherished vs. Burdened;  Quality vs. Selfish.

Challenge: Dear friends, stop comparing your life to those around you. Stop judging those you claim to love. Live in true contentment with Christ. Find yourself chasing after Him!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 1 Comment

Backwards Living

Matthew 20:16

16 So those who are last will be first and the first will be last.

backwards

Question: Do your fruits match the God you say you love and follow? Trust me, your fruits will identify a “god” but do they point to the One and Only?

Recently, God reminded me of a very valuable lesson on what it means to be a true Christ follower – backwards living. The question then becomes…backwards from what standard? Yes, this is where comprehension and spirituality collide. The world is very clear and even persuasive in reinforcing walking in the flesh. This worldly forward progressive approach to life is not only wrong but deadly.

Living in the flesh only increases your spiritual void. Decay chips away at your mind, body, and soul causing you to make decisions based on fleshly impulse. These worldly vices tarnish everything it touches. Pride, greed, lust, envy, anger are only a few examples of rotten fruits that Satan has masqueraded as not only beautiful but valuable in this earthly kingdom.

So what does it really means to walk with Christ daily? For me, this means making a conscious decision each and every day to walk against the worldly grain. This means intentionally turning around from what the world says is correct and follow Jesus staying close in His shadow. As you begin to weave your way through the crowd, you are giving the Holy Spirit full permission to prune these worldly fruits and to fertilize your spirit in order to produce all things worthy of being a Christ follower. Humility, selflessness, love, peace, patience begin to sprout in places that once produced idols.

I encourage you to take a hard look at where you are walking. What fruits are you leaving behind wherever you go and whatever you say? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment and wisdom to quickly identify worldly vices and turn away with confidence that can only come from God Almighty as He alone gives strength.

As you pray today, mediate on these verses that show us how “backwards living” is actually the correct path to living in freedom.

1 Corinthians 7:22

22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.

Matthew 20:16

16 So those who are last will be first and the first will be last.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Matthew 16:25

25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

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Revive

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if My people who are called by My name put away their pride and pray, and look for My face, and turn from their sinful ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

revive

Venom drips from the mouths of the deceitful – REVIVE US OH LORD!

Worldly fruits are ripe for the picking in the garden of pride – REVIVE US OH LORD!

Apathy slithers across the aisle and blots out flickering lights – REVIVE US OH LORD!

The dragon’s forked tongue paralyzes the weak – REVIVE US OH LORD!

Strongholds multiple in the assembly of discontent – REVIVE US OH LORD!

Melodious worship is drowned out by traditionalism – REVIVE US OH LORD!

Giants will fall with one stone and Holy Spirit guidance – YOU ARE WORTHY!

The dragon is defeated by the sword of truth – YOU ARE WORTHY!

Venom soaked cloth is washed away by the blood of the Lamb – YOU ARE WORTHY!

Strongholds flee at the faintest breath of the Almighty God – YOU ARE WORTHY!

Dry bones awaken with a renewed spiritual nourishment – YOU ARE WORTHY!

Mountains will fall into the sea from the sound of the faithful – YOU ARE WORTHY!

Dear friends,

I am encouraged because my God is victorious. I encourage you to remain in the shadow of the cross. Remember, our Savior, Jesus Christ, is ALIVE! Keep your eyes firmly planted on Him.

When surrounded by crashing waves, keep singing because the waves will hush in the spiritual lullaby.

When surrounded by the spirit of negativity, keep praising because peace is a strong spiritual weapon.

When surrounded by apathy and discontent, keep praying because evil cannot stand in the presence of the Almighty God.

When surrounded by crushing mountains, keep believing because faith as small as a mustard seed is strong enough to move mountains.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta