by Pastor James Bell

Her name meant “gifted” and she definitely was. When compared to the others, she was a fresh breeze of excitement and change. She had that “it” quality, and men wrote books to try out their own theories of just what it was that made her so attractive.

But she wasn’t a girl, she was the focus of a religious movement. Born out of the passion of religious zeal and spiritual desperation, Charisma won us over with her fervent, joyous attitude about life. Many of us quickly decided that she would make a far better bride for the Master than those tired looking,    denominational ladies in waiting, all of whom seemed to feel a sense of entitlement. Unashamedly, we smiled approvingly as her very own movement hoisted her upon it’s strong shoulders and introduced her to millions of Christians around the world.

We needed this infusion of new life. We had been so dry and so introspective for so long. The beauty of Charisma made us feel closer to God and strangely empowered to accomplish the impossible. We wrote new songs, began to dance again, and laughed in the face of trouble. On a spiritual high, we bought bumper stickers and gave away millions of cassettes and CD’s. We thought the Bride, the one mentioned in the scripture, must look a lot like this. And then the unthinkable happened.

We found Charisma in the arms of another lover. And then another. And then many others. What happened to the Bride? What happened to the life-giving love affair with God? How could the one we saw as the Bride of Christ ever choose another lover? As one leader after another fell, the restoration process became shorter and shorter until a few burnt out leaders began to mumble something about restoration not being the answer at all. “Grace is what we need”, they said, “We just need to really understand grace.”

But when we looked at Charisma, we saw a different woman. Her dresses were often torn and dirty. Her countenance changed from beauty to shame to defiance. She would at times scream out at us in a high shrill voice, “I am still the Bride! The problem is not me, it’s you!” Some people started agreeing with her. After all, she was on television. She must be doing something right.

Suddenly there was a whisper that began to make it’s way across the world. The Spirit of God whispered into our hearts, “The church is the Bride of Christ”.  That really made a lot of sense, especially when we realized that the Holy Spirit was using the Bible as the basis of that communication. Of course, when we arrived at this conclusion, we saw our baggage from the recent past scattered all over the station. What would we do now?

We didn’t want to call ourselves “charismatic” anymore. We found out, however, that we really are. Big time. The revelation was like this:

We don’t worship Charisma anymore, but we are very charismatic, knowing that all true giftedness is a reflection of Jesus in our lives. And His gifts are in us all.

Her name was Charisma. She was a movement. She left our Master for another. But she didn’t leave us alone. The Holy Spirit remains with the true Bride. And we are becoming the kind of charismatic that Charisma couldn’t ever be.

You have a gift. Open it.

by Pastor James Bell

It’s a strong word, isn’t it? It might be kids breaking something they shouldn’t have been playing with, or the devastation of a tornado hitting a small town. It might be the mission of a platoon of soldiers, who “search and destroy”, or someone grieving a broken relationship tearfully saying, “I was just destroyed!”

But all destruction is not bad. Some things need to be torn down. The Apostle John wrote in his first letter to the churches, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil”. Before you lead the cheers for God’s demolition crew, you might consider if one of those destruction projects is planned for you!

The chosen people who crossed the Jordan saw immediately, right there in front of them, a city with huge walls. It was not that different from the doubts and fears that sometimes crowd into your consciousness. But when walls come down, the inhabitants hit the exits as fast as they can.

God had a strategy and He only needed obedient people to carry out the plan.  Just like God chose those people, He calls you to take charge of your life. Tear down what the enemy has built in your mind. Don’t accept the intimidation of difficult circumstances. You might say the destruction of Jericho was both impossible and inevitable. Or you could just say, “Miracles happen!”

The Bible says our weapons are not based on our human response to the crises in our lives. Instead, our weapons are powerful in a supernatural way. The Spirit of Christ in us destroys strongholds. Where is the Jericho in your life? Is it blocking your entrance to what God has promised you? Is there a temptation that you can’t seem to conquer? Are there circumstances that are holding you at bay? What is your personal Jericho? Let’s destroy it!

There was a reason why Jericho’s walls were so thick. The inhabitants didn’t want to be destroyed. If the Israelites would have used their own logic and stormed the walls, even with faith and vigor, they would have failed. But in the midst of victorious praise, in the strength of glorifying God…..the walls fell flat!

The powers of darkness fear the moments when God’s children hear Him and obey His voice. When that happens the enemy has to vacate the premises and you are victorious. No more Jericho. The path is now cleared.

Let’s destroy something!

by Pastor James Bell

The word, “selah” is used often in the Psalms. There is not a direct translation that scholars can agree upon, but it comes from another word, “celah” which means “to hang”. Now it gets complicated. The manner in which the “celah (to hang)” word was spoken indicated measuring weights used to determine  value.   It appears that the use of “selah” at the end of the beautifully inspiring songs, which we know now as Psalms, were to instruct the reader “to reflect upon, weigh or measure what had been said”. This opens a wonderful door of opportunity!

How often do we rush right past what God is saying? In our hurry-up world, we don’t have many selah moments. Could it be that God wants to continue the conversation and we rush off with just a part of it? What if we took some time to meditate (don’t cringe, it’s a good word) about what we read or hear from God’s word?  A few moments of focus on a God thought will provide an explosion of positive, creative, faith-filled solutions to some of your most perplexing problems.

We are now giving you a potential selah moment right after our Sunday services. Altar ministry will start right at the end of the message after the dismissal prayer and blessing. The altar area and the front rows of the Sanctuary will be cleared for people who want to have that selah moment before clouding their minds with other things and the activities of the rest of the day.  You will have an opportunity for a “Selah” before visiting with friends and/or heading home. You can kneel or sit as you reflect on the message and what God might be speaking to you.

A time of fellowship will be happening in the coffee area and in the halls and foyer. Friends and family will wait or maybe even join you for a few minutes. Even if you have to pick up children from the childcare areas, we have shortened our services a little to give you five minutes or so before you have to go. Of course, our ministry teams will be available in the altar area for as long as they are needed.

By the way, DO try this at home. After you read a chapter of the Bible or a Christian book, lean back, close your eyes, and have a selah moment. Focus on what you felt as your read that passage. Let the Holy Spirit plant it in your heart. Reflect, weigh, and measure the value of it to your life.

Now, I don’t want to unravel your spiritual tapestry, but be aware of another kind of selah moment. You see your kid hit a double at the Little League game or watch a Mockingbird making a nest in your backyard or sense the smell of newly mowed grass right before it rains. Make those moments selah moments by focusing on them for a few minutes, thanking God for your life right here in Texas.

I remember certain wonderful moments from years ago because I stopped long enough to collect them. Selah moments contribute to peaceful lives. Try some.

Reflectively,

James

by Pastor James Bell

He leaves quietly, slipping away but not forsaking us. Watching with grief as the temple He was asked to inhabit is marred by disobedience and spiritual apathy. He follows our every move, loving us but not  willing to participate in a misuse of our lives.

Unaware of the spiritual vacuum created with His withdrawal from our daily lives, we trudge on. When storms begin to blow across the fragile structure of self-supported lives, we remember. We call upon the Spirit within. We don’t feel quick  a release of peace this time. We say every religious, rhetorical statement we can remember, flexing those faith muscles to no avail.

“How could God forsake me now?” we ask ourselves. We are answered by the haunting silence of an empty reservoir, once filled with the overflow of the Holy Spirit. Then we remember. We haven’t prayed about decisions. We have relished our own cognitive process. We have walked away from the pathway of righteousness. No wonder He left. And how long has He been gone without me realizing it?

Theological question and answer time. What do I believe about this? Can He? Does He? Would He? We try to figure out grace again. We look for some shred of evidence that this can’t be happening. Arguments are happening in the arena of our minds, but in our hearts we know He just is not there. Am I lost again? Has the Holy Spirit left the building?

The reasons become evident. God will not be a part of a self-centered plan. He will not dwell in an unclean vessel. The Holy Spirit has a purpose that is larger than my own design for my life. In my desire to be intentional, I walked away from God’s will. Now I need Him and I feel alone, forsaken and a little desperate. God help me.

Then we realize He is near. Conviction is not condemnation, but rather a manifestation of God’s loving, guiding hand. He never forsakes us. In fact, He follows us down the wrong path, not getting involved in our folly, but waiting. When we realize that we are the ones who have deserted Him, He appears. It’s as if the Spirit says, “I see your tears, I sense your brokenness. I’m here to lead you back home.”

Then we know that the Holy Spirit never really left us at all. His silence, His inactivity, is a warning that we are straying from our calling, walking away from our destiny. He grieves, withdraws a few paces, and waits. When anguish and regrets churn up within us, He smiles and embraces us once again, getting us ready for the journey back to the high road.

Failures leave scars, but not unhealed wounds. We can all be made whole again. Wherever you’ve been, whatever you’ve done, Grace is greater than any failure or bad decision. I know.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Holy Spirit has not left the building.

by Pastor James Bell

“We decided to change churches because we just weren’t being fed.”

That’s what people often say when they decide to leave a church. That statement angers and frustrates  a lot of pastors because the feeding of the flock is our primary responsibility. But I’ve come to the realization that not being fed is a pretty good reason for people to make a change. Being fed is critically important to the true believer.

How the word of God feeds us has a lot to do with our spiritual appetites. If we desire the sincere “meat” of the word, we will not feel satisfied with clever, slick, shallow messages. If, on the other hand, we don’t see the Bible as the actual authority in our lives, we would rather hear something concise and entertaining, regardless of whether or not it is scripturally accurate. No matter what you are hearing, you don’t want it to be boring, dull and dry. But you are disturbed by self-embellishing flamboyance and lots of emotion for the sake of being emotional. You just want to be fed.

Just as an excellent presentation of an entree at a restaurant causes you to anticipate a wonderful meal, the truth, spoken with charisma and a little flair, does help us to receive it. But presentation is not enough. Being fed spiritually is all about truth.  Purveyors of good barbeque insist that you must have an outstanding brisket on the menu or nothing else really counts. Without truth, whatever you are being fed will not sustain you or satisfy you the way truth does.

How you answer two questions will determine your spiritual appetite. The first is “Do you really believe what the Bible says?” The second is “Are you willing to obey what the Bible says?” If your answers aren’t in the affirmative, then you will have some difficulty being fed spiritually. The milk of the word may be enough to get you in the door, but the meat is what will strengthen you for the journey ahead.A person would just about have to be a tourist from California to order blueberry pancakes at a Texas barbecue joint. Every taste can use a little education about what is appropriate and what is good!

I have been reduced to tears by a barefooted preacher’s message in a little mountain village in Mexico, and I remember being stirred and convicted by a testimony from one of our youth. I have also slipped out of a lavishly promoted conference, opting for some hot wings and iced tea over an eloquently expressed, never-ending sermon, being preached for the one hundred and tenth time.

Restaurant owners say it’s hard to find good servers. I know the Lord must feel that way about us at times. My goal this year is to emphasize the scripture text and rely on the Holy Spirit for words that will be the clearest and most effective in presenting truth. The people who join me in preaching and teaching at Hosanna feel the same. We hope you will continue to like hearing biblical truths.

We pray that you are being fed.

]]> http://hosannahouston.org/blog/holy_spirit/are-you-being-fed/feed/ 0 http://hosannahouston.org/blog/jesus/rehab-revelations/ http://hosannahouston.org/blog/jesus/rehab-revelations/#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:24:42 +0000 webadmin http://hosannahouston.org/blog/?p=436

by Pastor James Bell

Great weather, encouraging words, and wonderful people expressing a “family” kind of love in myriad ways are all good reasons to be thankful for this rehab time. An assortment of minor-but-nagging aches and pains and the patience required to do everything more slowly for awhile balances the experience to some degree. But the time alone with God is the most significant aspect of this time of healing. Here are some “aha!” thoughts along the way:

1. Intimacy with God can be hindered by service to God. God is relational in his dealings with us. To the extent that we categorize and systemize God, we quench the work of the Holy Spirit. We have a tendency to see service as “assisting God in his work”. God views service as the “obedience aspect” of a loving relationship. We can serve our way out of relationship with God if we substitute our methodology for the consistent, yet spontaneous, voice of God speaking to our spirits according to his will.
2. Each one of us is in some way…broken.  It is our human condition. Sooner or later our brokenness will bring us before God, acknowledging that we really are, and really have, nothing without him. Intimacy with God often begins with the realization of our own brokenness and the dependance on God that follows. This might be why the scripture states that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
3. Lots of good people love religion. True believers love Jesus. There is a huge, though often invisible, difference. The Apostle Paul was pulled away from his obsession with religion by his love affair with Jesus. Many who consider themselves “Christian” are substituting a religious lifestyle, filled with regulations and guidelines, for a profound spiritual connection with Christ. The key to conversion from religious Christian to relational Christian is the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is to really know Jesus.

I want to acknowledge the outstanding preaching and ministry from the anointed members of Hosanna who have stepped up to replace me during this time. The Elders, Deacons, and other servant-hearted people in our church family have been providing excellence in all phases of ministry. I am blessed and deeply moved to see our anointed leadership team moving our church forward.

I hope to see you before long. Thanks for your prayers and kindness during this time.

More love than ever,

James

p.s. I can follow the sermon series by hearing the podcasts. How cool is that! 

by Pastor James Bell

The title of our new sermon series might seem a little arrogant. Actually, it’s a reference to the sad truth that we get it wrong about God sometimes. Would you believe lots of times? Our culture’s concept of God seems a bit skewed, to say the least. Maybe that’s why the Bible tells us to be transformed, not conformed, in the way we think.

It’s pretty obvious that people create their own gods today. How often have you heard, “The god I serve doesn’t do (this or that, fill in the blanks).” We take the liberty of defining God according to our own personal moral standards and beliefs. We assume God is on our side because, after all, we’re right about practically everything. Some are even deluded enough that they pray to, and think they hear from, the one true God, not knowing that it’s really their own self-created “god”. This is often an over-active conscience or an egocentric imagination that has led many sincere Christians from true charismatic giftedness to an overstated (but spiritually insignificant) charismatic folly. Bottom line: It never was really God to begin with.

What is even more common, and is the focus of our series, happens when people of faith incorrectly understand the nature and character of God. We think He is mad at us. We aren’t sure He is always walking with us. We are intimidated by His holiness and our (sometimes gross) humanity. We anticipate His wrath and at times we hope He isn’t looking at us right now, at this very moment. We need to re-think our view of God.

The Bible is a real good place to look when re-thinking God. It is, after all, the ultimate resource for a definitive view of God. Jesus came to give us an understanding of God from a human perspective, which is, incidentally, the only perspective we are much good at understanding.

Intimacy with God is a blessed experience, a taste of eternity. This happens through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But even intimacy with God is defined, as well as encouraged, by biblical principles about the wonder and majesty of God.

Remember the character who said, “Sometimes I sit and think. Other times I just sit”? Well, let’s not just sit! Re-thinking your concept of God might open some new doors of spiritual growth in your life.

Let’s do it together!

Thoughtfully,

James

by Pastor James Bell

A few days ago I read an article where Christian leaders were predicting the direction of the church during the next decade. There seemed to be a consensus that some radical shifts are beginning to happen and will continue.

For example, Larry Stockstill believes that “results will no longer substitute for character, and gifts will no longer replace anointing”. Jack Hayford predicted the demise of “convenience oriented sermonizing that tickles ears preoccupied with personal fulfillment more than service to God and the church”.

When will we “get it” about church? How you feel about church reflects your actual relationship with God. Someone recently told me, “I loved the spontaneity of the services where my family and I attended previously, but I would have never invited my extended family or friends to come.” When I asked why, my friend said that the services were just too “out there” and would be hard to explain or difficult for non-believers to understand. I could relate.

Others have said they seldom, if ever, felt the presence of God in the churches they attended while growing up. They endured a formal church service, with teaching from the word of God, but no sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Been there, too.

While far from being a paragon of all things ecclesiastical, we welcome the Holy Spirit’s involvement in every service. He is invited to interrupt our agenda anytime, or lead us in a different direction while we are planning a service. We are also committed to spiritual and scriptural order, and will protect our congregation from false words and self-glorifying displays of emotion.

On Sunday mornings we are sensitive to the fact that non-believers often come with their Christian friends. We want them to feel comfortable and included in our worship. On Sunday nights the services are less structured and often result in a strong, prophetic move of the Holy Spirit. There is also more time for personal ministry.

Some Christians, in countries suffering religious persecution, meet several times each week. Some underground churches in North Korea, Vietnam and China, meet every night. Some new Christians at Hosanna wish we had more services, and try to find small groups to attend in addition to Sunday mornings and evenings. What these believers have in common is that they “get it” about the heart of the Lord for his church. They have fallen in love with Jesus.

A backsliding Christian will begin to see church as an inconvenience. Idols are not seen as idols, but rather entitlements, deserved and needed as they attempt to replace the Holy Spirit with “stuff” that brings momentary pleasure.

How do people “get it” about church? Usually it happens something like this:

They reconnect with Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
They realize and consider the importance of knowing Jesus.
They consider that, at the end of this life, only what we have done for God will have value to us.

They change their schedules to include church as a top priority.

When you develop a passion for God, everything else will come into focus and have meaning for you. And you’ll probably start to wonder why some people don’t “get it” about church.

Believing for the best for you,

James

by Pastor James Bell

Matthew, Mark and Luke all shared the phenomenal story of a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs near the city of Gadara. No one could control this man. That is, until Jesus arrived on the scene. The spirits within the man cringed at the sight of Jesus and at his command they left the man free and sound of mind.

Among the graveyards of mainline Christianity toward the end of the last century, there emerged, not a maniac, but rather a charismaniac of sorts. It was known for it’s displays of power, it’s struggling against chains of restraint, and it’s habit of tearing itself (dividing) when frustrated in it’s purpose.

What is a charismaniac? I would call it “charisma-gone-bad”. It’s the perversion of something God-breathed. Charisma means “giftedness”, which is a blessed and good thing. But when gifts are not administered with scriptural authority and spiritual order, the word “mania” gets added to the equation.

So in the midst of a spiritual graveyard, charismania erupted. The roar of overzealous, out of order giftedness became unsettling and disturbing to many people who didn’t “get it” about the latest strain of hyped up, pseudo-prophetic power trips. From Baker to Bentley, from Hinn to Haggard, the idolatrous images of one-man shows crumbled to the ground. The faithful who followed now found themselves wandering through a graveyard, bound by the past, repeating words of proclamation that now seemed to fall powerless to the ground. Would this signal the end of an era?

Not at all. You see, there is no such thing as a counterfeit three dollar bill. There was once a spiritual reality and a scriptural authenticity in spiritual giftedness. That never died. It was just that ignorance screamed more loudly and was better financed than reason. But truth always triumphs in the end. We are at the end of charismania, but only growing stronger in genuine spiritual giftedness.

Okay, how does that play out in church services? Well, there is a list of things we probably will see a lot less of, and that list includes rhetorical, self-serving prophesies that are too vague to evaluate or are clearly and spectacularly wrong. The church has had it’s fill of both. Many of you could add to that list, but let’s not. Let’s talk instead about what we will see more of, or what’s being anticipated in the Spirit by many believers today.

The key phrase is “multiplicity of ministry”. We are finally excited about becoming Ephesians 4 churches. Spiritual gifts manifest in a way that glorifies God, not the gifted ones. Equipping happens on Sunday nights as we share spiritual insights with the passionate core of the church. Words are shared in our three Sunday daytime services as fresh, anointed direction from the Father, without appearing to be the second coming of Moses or Elijah. Healings happen during worship, even without the old healing- evangelist-type of prayer lines. We have exchanged production for presence. Sinners and saints alike now get the message that Jesus is Lord!

When the leaders and townspeople of Gadara visited the graveyard to see what happened, they found the “maniac” dressed nicely, smiling and sitting with Jesus. He now had the charisma, but that maniac phase was over.

Feeling the need for spiritual giftedness? Welcome to the new definition of “gifted”! The power has been there for a long time. It’s just that we’re learning how to glorify God in it’s use.

So more power to you! Use those gifts God has given you….for His glory!

by Pastor James Bell

It’s that time of year when everything is changing. New life is springing up everywhere! How about you? Can you spare some change?

“Moses, you have had an exciting life. Hidden as an infant, raised by the Pharaoh, exiled to another country, and now raising sheep. Ever think of writing a book?”

“Hey, I’m only eighty. I sense a major change coming in my life. In fact, I heard God speak from a flaming bush in the desert yesterday. The book might have to wait.”

Five books, in fact. We call them the Pentateuch. Starting at age eighty, Moses radically changed his lifestyle by following God’s leading. Feeling absolutely unqualified, he led God’s people from slavery to freedom.

There is never a convenient season for change. It often comes as an uninvited guest, forcing us out of our comfort zones. Preferably, It comes as the result of an intentional act, rooted in a passion for things to be different. But, one way or another, change will come. It will leave you breathless and full of faith, or it will see you disappointed, and clinging to the safety of a compromised life.

“Saul, you have always been an over-achiever. Gamaliel found you to be a brilliant student. The Pharisees recognize you as a scholar. Will you gather young men around you and share your wealth of knowledge?”

“My life is a pile of crap. That is, compared to what I have just discovered. I am completely changing my perspective on the scripture. I am being filled with the Spirit. I am set on disappearing as Saul, and letting Jesus be huge in my life. Might even change my name…”

The world would never be the same. Some said of this Saul of Tarsus, who changed to become the Apostle Paul, that he and his associates “turned the world upside down!”

It is both exciting and frustrating to know that we have people like Moses, Paul, Ruth, Gideon, Esther, and Peter sitting in our congregation. We see insecurity, pride, fear, misguided ambition, and low expectations. God sees powerful ministry impacting lives. The difference is change.

Good change is a result of revelation. It comes to us when we “get it” about life. Our role in personal change is simply to come to Jesus with a wide-open heart. He takes over from there. Positive change always begins at the cross. We leave everything. Then we receive God’s best.

There are leaders in men’s ministry, intercessory prayer warriors, teachers of children, missionaries and pastors in our midst. Gifted musicians and singers are all around us. Gifts of prophecy, healing and discerning of spirits are waiting to be unwrapped and used. Gender and generational bias is giving way to the will of God, as religiosity is exposed and dealt with. Spiritual sensitivity is fueling a change. Do you feel it coming?

Hearts are hungry for truth. Lives are in a state of confusion. The world is waiting for some answers, looking frantically, one last time, at the church.

Can you spare some change?