frankiewilson2

Black history, God's history...(William J. Seymour)

During the month of February, we are used to celebrating our history.  We pay homage and respect to our African-American predecessors who sacrificed and stood for equality and equal opportunities.  We stand by the saying that “you can’t know where you’re going, unless you know where you’ve come from.”  Well, let’s take a look at that then.  As African-American Christians, it is important to honor those used for the greater good of man, but we should always recognize the one who purposed those people to do the unthinkable for our freedoms.
 
The Word of God teaches us “God created man in his own image….”  Solomon says that life is all about honoring God with our thoughts and lives and thus keeping His commandments, for one day we will stand before Him in judgment.  When we look at the lives of people like William J. Seymour, an African American minister who believed Jesus died to forgive our sins and wash away all divisions including the “color line”.  To him, this – above speaking in tongues or performing miracles – but his life was the true proof of conversion and being filled with the Holy Spirit.    William Seymour served a pivotal role in founding the modern Pentecostal movement as leader of the Azusa Street Revival.
 
The celebration of Black history is important to the growth and development of all people.  But even more, it is a way to bring people together in celebration of God’s work all across His body, the church.
 
Be blessed ~

Zone Out: Part II

You know, in my studies for ways to conquer, “the wandering mind” I came across so many things that made logical sense but no held no true spiritual aptitude when it came to the life of a true believer. I couldn’t believe some of the cross-doctrinal messages that were out there. The Christian response to in learning how to zone the world out in order to focus in on God, has already been given. The Bible says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Romans 6:12). Now is it a sin for your mind to wander from time to time? No. However, you must be mindful of the things your flesh may do or cling to, as an effort to deter your attention and focus from God.
Temptation is a deceptive distraction, created to keep us from receiving the truth of God. One of our most creative and persistent tempters is our own flesh. Matthew 26:41 tells us, “…the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The flesh is the part of us that resists our transformation into the new person in Christ. Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." If we make just a small provision for the lust, it will rule over our body. If we don't make the provision, sin is less likely to occur.
Offset these provisions, by outright replacing them with Godly actions and habits. Replace your prime-time television special with prayer time and studying. This way, your mind will be less likely to wander on the show you just watched when you’re trying to pray or study. Continue to deny your fleshly desires and replace them with Christ-centered actions and habits. If you mess up, get back up and start it again. Pray for strength and wisdom and never underestimate the power over the flesh God has already given you. “For Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Be blessed~

Zone Out!

When we study 2 Timothy 3:16-17 , we see that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” However the road to righteous competency is attained through the focus, attention and obedience. During the month of January, we want to address how learning to focus can open your opportunity to truly experience God in a powerful way.
When looking up the definition, focus has been defined as “a center of interest or activity” and “a condition in which something can be clearly apprehended or perceived.” Have you ever tried to read something and your mind was somewhere else? By the time you’ve finished reading once, you had to start over because you weren’t really paying enough attention to what you were reading. You missed the point or the message in what you were trying to read. This is common, but does not need to be acceptable. Too often in life, we accept the minimum as opposed to the maximum. The end result is not just us giving God our minimal focus but more so, we miss our chance to receive his maximum blessing.
“Let us lay aside every weight…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…(Hebrews 12:1-2).” “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead… (Philippians 3:12-14). The Bible inspires us on multiple accounts to focus and be diligent in our pursuit of righteousness. So how do we master the art of the zone and give more focus and attention to God?
First things first, if you truly love God make time to love him. Love is patient, love is kind, love does not insist upon its own way (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). This means you have to deny your own selfishness and create new habits for yourself.
Never accept defeat! “We are more than conquerors through him that loves us (Romans 8:37).” When learning to “press” you must adopt an attitude of determination. Just because you miss a service or forget to read your daily word once or twice, does not mean you have an excuse to quit! Your soul and spirits prosperity are at risk!
Mastering the art of focus may not be an overnight thing, but God is worth it. When you are able to achieve this level of focus, you will be better positioned to receive a clear understanding of what God is wanting from you in prayer, your studies and etc.
Be Blessed~

Successful Failure

You know the world has a funny way of creating its own belief system and then trying to make it God's word. As believers, we have to be cautious of getting in front of God's will for the sake of our own selfish, vain desires. When considering relationships, I've noticed man has found a way to infuse a corporate-business mindset into the life of a Christian.
For example, in the business world, you bring certain talents together to create this mega-business that reaps the continued success of its combined talents. Business' or employees that don't meet your expectations are cut and replaced before they have time to mature in their position. When business are finacially insolvent, they create new ways to survive, lay people off, or sometimes look for someone else to purchase their debts and problems through mergers and acquisitions. When they've found their way into "success," the world spolights them as the premier model of what being successful in business looks like.
We have somehow allowed this man-made model of success replace the model or God-given success in life and in relationships. We start on our own. Some look for another mate to bail them out of financial problems, replace the last one that didn't meet their vain expectations, hopefully moving toward's what would be considered the "ultimate merger," in the form of marriage. Then, when these two have combined their forces to gain face in the public eye or specifically in the church, somehow they are looked at as the model Christian couple - living a life that is a minstry to others, for God. My friends, this is not what ministry is about.
The ministry of a couple starts with the ministry of an individual. The ministry of an individual comes from God. If you seek the kindgom of God and its righteousness first, Ephesians 4:11-13 says that HE gives gifts and callings; " For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, [and] for the edifying of the boidy of Christ...." HE ordains the path! HE gives the vision! HE gives the expectation of your talents and gifts, NOT YOU!
To live in the spirite is to die in the flesh. And to take it upon yourself to clain God's calling without God's ordination, is to take His name in vain. Be careful not to allow man-made practices compel your relationship to what the flesh says is right versus what God already said is His will.
If you truly want to be a ministry to others collectively or individually, concentrate your energy on living a life of righteousness in private and in public. If you lift God up in front of others, God will draw them and they will be compelled to live a life that reflects the righteousness your relationship shows.
Be Blessed~

You think you know, You have no idea....

There is an unspoken, self-inflicted stigma among people, a belief-system that agrees on the idea of there being a ceiling to what’s needed in order to “know God”. This ideology is what the world and even many Christians have adopted after feeling that they’ve reached the pinnacle to their studies. The reality however, is that there is a difference between having knowledge of God and true wisdom from God.
My friends, we want to take a moment to understand wisdom. The bible says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Psalm 111:10).
“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous…” (Proverbs 2:6-8).
Wisdom is at times misunderstood for knowledge. The difference between the two is simple: Knowledge is the ability to understand through learned practices and studying. If you study his word, the bible says that “out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” However, wisdom is a separate gift that cannot be studied and mastered. It is given to those that live a life of righteousness, keeping God’s commandments.
I looked at Psalm 119:105 that makes the statement of God’s word being a “lamp [and] a light,” meaning it brings clarity and understanding to the path we should take in our Christian walk. Which makes sense since the scripture stated that knowledge comes from His mouth. His mouth exudes his Word. However, wisdom is “layed up for the righteous” and wisdom means to “see.” So how can I have knowledge that serves as a light, but not the wisdom to see what the light was meant to reveal? Obviously we’re dealing with two different levels of insight.
Knowledge of God’s word tells us the steps to take, however a disciplined righteous lifestyle gives understanding of when, where and how to take those steps. This disciplined lifestyle of righteousness is rewarded with God-given wisdom. Wisdom gives insight to where God is truly trying to take you. It is a gift that separates the world from righteous.
This is why the discussion of “knowing God and loving God” cannot be truly understood by an unrighteous person. This is also why one that is knowledgeable ‘of’ God but not ‘in’ God, will never defeat the righteous! To know God, is to love Him. To “love Him” is to keep His commandments (John 14:15 ). Righteousness has been defined as “an attribute that implies ones actions to be justified (Wikipedia). What does this mean? If you maintain a life that places the commandments of God first, you can obtain righteousness. Being justified by that righteousness (Romans 2:13 ), you may attain wisdom that will supersede any form of knowledge known to man.
I’d like to encourage you to keep God’s commandments, thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and the gifts of God unknown to the world will be revealed to you, starting with wisdom.
Be blessed~

OMG, There's a Lion in the Room!!

You can also view past blogs at: http://frankiewilson.podbean.com. Don't miss Sunday Night Live from 6-10pm every Sunday night, on KHVN 970am or online at www.khvnam.com.