Steve Caronna

In The World, But Not Of It- John 17

So often we find our circumstances not to our liking, particularly when we work, go to school, are related to, or even live next to people who do not share our love for the things of God. Often people will turn in prayer requests like, "Please pray that I can get another job/ get into another school/ move into another neighborhood where I can be around Christians!" Is that really what life is about for us...to stay in our sheltered environments where we don't have to interact with "ungodly people"?

"I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world." John 17:14-18

Church Life is vitally important to us. Being the Church means that we must "do life together", for sure. Just don't forget that Jesus redeemed us so that we could be salt and light in a flavorless, dark world. If we're around Christians ALL the time, How are we going to do that? I am praying that fasting opens our eyes to the OPPORTUNITY all around us. Remember, opportunity to be used by God in someone else's life change looks an awfully lot like working/schooling/living next to someone who doesn't know God...because it is exactly that. Don't run from it, embrace it. Let God use you to be salt and light to someone who is spiritually tasteless and blind.

If we all stay in our own little spiritual saltshakers, no one gets changed.

Take a risk.

His Strength In Our Weaknesses- John 16

Have you ever felt that your weaknesses were so great that you couldn't overcome them? That you had disappointed God to the point that He would never use you? That your shortcomings seem to render you powerless?

"Listen to me; a time is coming when you will be scattered, each to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave me alone, but I am never really alone, because the Father is with me. I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.”- John 16:32-33

The disciples seem to continually make mistakes. They have been corrected by Jesus plenty of times, too. But He really loves them. He has invested His whole ministry into them, but now He knows that in the future, they are going to leave Him, alone in His darkest hour. Instead of treating them like losers, He tells them that even though they will abandon Him, they can still have His Peace.

The Bible says that we are strong "in the Lord", not in ourselves. Everyone has weaknesses as human beings, but His Strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. The Holy Spirit is not here to beat us up for our weaknesses, but to strengthen us in them. I have heard from so many who are a little freaked out that their weaknesses are becoming evident during this fast...but that is one of the great benefits of fasting...to deal with our weaknesses by relying on Him.

Let's also not forget Romans 15:1: "We then who are strong should bear with the weaknesses of others, and not to please ourselves". Don't criticize the weaknesses of others. In fact, sometimes we think we're doing the Christian thing by ignoring other's weaknesses. The Bible clearly says, however, that we're to "bear with", or "bear up", or "help carry" the weaknesses of others. Why? Because those who are weak are being made strong in Him! They may look weak now, but if we will help them and allow God to use us in their lives, we will see others strengthened before our very eyes!

Cut Off Or Lifted Up?- John 15

A while back South campus pastor Bruce Dial gave a really good teaching from today's chapter in John that was a real eye-opener, and very encouraging to our staff. He graciously consented to be our guest blogger today, so here from him is a portion of the teaching he gave:

John 15:2(a) says "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;" You may believe that Jesus is saying, "If you don't live right, I'm cutting you off".

But let me encourage you. Many of your Bibles may have a footnote by "takes away". Mine does. The footnote in my Bible gives the correct translation of the Greek word Jesus uses here. The Greek word used by Jesus is "airo" and is correctly translated "lifts up". Strong's Concordance verifies this. Some versions of the Bible translate "airo" to say "takes away", others even say "cuts away".

Also, note that in the context of verse 2, Jesus says, "every branch in me". There is a "cutting off" and "separating" in verse 6, but notice that is for the branches that do NOT abide in Him. (These branches in verse 6 are even "thrown into the fire"!!)

Grape vines naturally will want to grow along the ground. But on the ground, they won't produce grapes. They will produce leaves, bunches of leaves. The vine will also get dirty, maybe even filled with mildew while growing on the ground. Vineyard owners know that they have to attach the vines to trellises, and then prune back the vines, so that grapes will grow.

Now back to the phrase "lifts up" in verse 2. I can imagine Jesus and His disciples walking through a vineyard, and Jesus stopping to use the grapevine as an illustration. Can you see Jesus, speaking to His disciples in this vineyard? And maybe to illustrate "lifts up" to His disciples, He goes down to a knee, lifts up a wayward, ground growing vine, cleans it with his cloak, and places it back on the trellis? All the while, reassuring His disciples (you and I too!!), that as long as we are "in Him" (vs. 2), he will always reach down, lift us up, clean us up, and put us back where we belong, so that we can produce fruit.

Who Has Your Heart?- John 14

When satan attacks us, it's usually because he has an inside "hook", something that he knows that he can use against us. It could be a secret, a sin, grudge, habit, or attitude...a prejudice, or intention. If it's not Godly, satan will bait you with it. If he causes us to fall with it, he will beat us up for falling. If he causes us to habitually fall with it, then he will continually beat us up with it, until we feel guilty enough to quit.

"...the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry—he has nothing on me, no claim on me." John 14:30 MSG

Jesus gives us a great lesson here. "Sure, satan is about to attack, but don't worry. He has nothing on me." NKJV says, "...he has nothing IN Me".

What is it IN you that satan keeps using against you? I believe that those are the very things that we're having to deal with during this fast. No, fasting isn't particularly fun. It's not supposed to be, because even though things like this keep coming to the surface in our daily lives, it's during a fast that the Holy Spirit strengthens us on the inside to conquer them.

So, I'm not going to try to "trick" you into thinking that fasting is a "blast". But I am going to encourage you that as you complete this fast, you will have taken one more big step forward in becoming what God has planned, and one more BIG STEP BACKWARD in the devil's plan!

Love One Another- John 13

Today is day 13 of our 21 day fast, and many of our hearts are changing as we practice saying "NO" to ourselves, our flesh, and our appetites, and YES to GOD! One of my prayers for Living Word during this fast is that we love one another to the point that it's appealing and contagious to others.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34, 35 NKJV)

A lot of time. energy, and money is being invested by the Church at large to reach unchurched people, and there's nothing wrong with that. We do it, too. Let's remember though that the most powerful evangelistic tool the Church has is the member's love for one another. Why? Because people want to be a part of something real for the long-term. They look into different Churches and ask themselves the question, "If I get involved with this Church and stay here a year, what will it be like and how will I be treated?"

My prayer is that we become even more selfless, compassionate, kind, and passionate, toward each other. Not only will that be better for us, but it will also be the most important thing we can do to impact those far from God.

Some Said It Thundered- John 12

"'Father, glorify Your name.' Then a voice came from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has spoken to Him. Jesus answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.'" (John 12:28-30 NKJV)

A voice from heaven would be impressive to anyone. In fact, down right scary. But this Voice, The Voice Of The Father, was not for Jesus. It wasn't to validate or confirm to Jesus who He was, or to impress Him. That Voice was for the Father to glorify Himself in the eyes of those Jesus was ministering to.

I'm concerned about how many Christians chase the miraculous. If you've read this blog for any length of time, you've probably already picked up on that. I believe in miraculous signs. Not just that God CAN do them, but that He absolutely DOES do them,
powerfully, and often! We have seen miraculous things happen at Living Word, and will continue to see them!

So what's so disturbing about that, you ask? It's just that, as Christians, we should realize that miracles are not for the purpose of impressing us, but for the purpose of impressing those who are far away from God! Whenever there are miracle services in churches and stadiums, 98% of the people there are Christians! We want the reserved seats and the VIP treatment, while the lost are in the back, or even worse not in attendance at all so they can't judge for themselves if the miraculous signs are real.

Why wasn't the "Voice From Heaven" FOR Jesus? Because He already knew who He was, and Who His Father was, and what His Father could do. Heb. 11:1 in the Amplified Bible says that Faith perceives as real fact what is not yet revealed to our senses. In other words, we KNOW the promises of God are true, even if we don't see them happening yet.

No, Jesus didn't need the "Voice From Heaven", but He was there with people who did. By saying, "Father, glorify your name", it almost seems that Jesus "cued" His Father's response for the people who were there. Please realize that when there is an opportunity for people you know to see or experience the supernatural, we need to get them in on it!

Don't get me wrong, seeing and participating in the miraculous is amazing and fun! We never get tired of seeing and experiencing signs and wonders. The question I'm asking, however, is: do we as Christans actually NEED that for a "deeper walk with God"? If we do, we're not yet mature in our faith. It's ok if that's where you are, just don't stay there. Allow this fast to grow and mature you to the point that what YOU need in your spiritual life is the Presence of God and His Word...not His Miracles.

Fasting...The Strength To Persevere- John 11

At noon today we will be halfway through Living Word's 21 day fast! I am so proud of each of you, although I know you aren't fasting for me, but to be more in tune with God's Will and Purpose for your life. Many are fasting all 21 days, some are doing every other day, some are fasting according to the guidelines in Daniel, and some are adding "water only" days to the fast. However you are doing it, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! This morning we called a special prayer meeting of our staff to pray over your requests again, and it was a really powerful time. God hears and answers prayer!

"Now Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.'” John 11:21-23,32

Have you ever felt that IF Jesus had "been there", your situation would have turned out much better? IF Jesus had been at the doctor's appointment, the job interview, the parent-teacher meeting? Rest assured, IF you will continue to trust God in your situation, you will be fine, but more importantly God will get the most glory possible!

In the account we read in John 11 today, Jesus finds our that His friend Lazarus is sick, and He does nothing for two days...until Lazarus is dead! Then when Jesus finally does show up, Lazarus has been buried for four days. Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha still love Jesus, they just wish He had shown up a little earlier.

That's the way it is with so many of us: We still "love" Jesus, we just wish He had shown up earlier! NOW look at what we have to deal with! Keep in mind, however, that had Jesus shown up earlier and healed Lazarus, which would have still been amazing, the testimony and fame and glory that God would have gotten would have been minuscule compared to raising him from the dead!

What is it that God has NOT done in your life yet? Keep standing to the end. The VERY end. And the VERY end is not when WE'RE finished....the VERY END is when GOD'S finished!

Fasting And Hearing The Voice Of God- John 10

Hearing the Voice Of God is one of the areas that Christians seem to struggle with the most. Fasting sharpens our spiritual senses so that we can follow God as He leads us.

"And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:4, 5 NKJV)

One of the worst things you can do while fasting is listen for "voices". Many cults and weird Christian doctrines were birthed out of an individual fasting and listening for voices in their head.

The main way that they Holy Spirit speaks to believers is through His Word, the Bible. if you really want to know the Will Of God and hear His voice, become a student of His Word. Otherwise, without a knowledge of His Word, how do you know that any "voice" that you hear is from Him?

There are those times, however, that the answer you need may not be specifically in the Bible. For example: "Do I take position #1 or position #2? Do I marry Bill, or George? Should I move to Seattle, or LA?

There are 3 different voices that each Christian has to deal with. First there is the "Voice Of God", when we KNOW for certain that the Holy Spirit is speaking to us about a certain issue. We could look anyone right in the eye and say, "I know I have heard from God!" Secondly, there is the voice of satan. Of course, if we discern THAT voice, we're not going to follow it.

Here in John 10, Jesus alerts us to a third voice, the voice of the "stranger". This is an inner voice that we're not sure where it's coming from...it could be God, but we're not really sure. 98% of the voices we hear in our head are this type. Jesus said that His Children RUN from that voice, the voice of a stranger. The voice of a stranger is the voice that you can't identify for sure. God knows your name, address, phone number, where you are at all times, He even knows the number of hairs on your head! (Luke 12:7) So when He wants to get your attention, you'll KNOW it! Until then, be content to be a faithful servant, let Him speak to you through His Word, and let this fast sharpen your ability to hear and obey!

Don't Put It Off!- John 9

One of the saddest things that could happen in the life of any believer is to come to the end of your life and realize that you have not fulfilled God's calling on your life. Many believe that they will live to be 70, 80, even 90 years old or more, and have plenty of time. BUT...what happens if Jesus returns before then? Next month? Next year? It really could happen, you know. And then, the opportunity is lost.

"We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work."-John 9:4 (NLT)

Fasting propels us toward our destiny by training us to say NO to what is good (and food IS good!) so that we can say YES to what is best. We need to learn not to settle for those things which are temporary, even in our earthly life, but rather plan for our life to effect others for eternity.

Don't settle for a half-hearted life with God: a mediocre prayer life, Bible study life, Church life, job, or family life. Life is too short for that! Use this fasting opportunity to make up your mind that you're going to focus on the plan and purpose of God for you, and for your Church.

If you do, you won't regret it. If you don't, you just might.

Fasting Will Help Us Tame Our Tongues!- John 8

There is no one reading this who hasn't gotten into trouble by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person. Sometimes, what we said was deliberate and calculated, but then found out later that out facts were wrong, but it was an honest mistake. When we get into trouble, however, is when we can't/don't control what we say.

James 3:2 says: "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."(NLT)

In John 8, we have a great account of Jesus actually wanting to say something to the Pharisees, but holds His tongue: “Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” (John 8:25, 26 NLT)

This is fascinating! Here we see the tension between Jesus as a man and Jesus as The Son Of God. He actually has something in His Thoughts that He COULD say, but makes the calculated decision to say what His Father has instructed Him to say instead! Now if JESUS had to do that, how much more do WE need to!

We have been practicing saying NO to our bodies and fleshly appetites by fasting for 9 days so far...only 12 more days to go! For most of us, it hasn't been easy. It isn't supposed to be. The reason we struggle with this is because WE HAVE LET THE FLESH RULE FOR TOO LONG! Nowhere is that more evident that in our ability or inability to control what we say. So keep on choosing on purpose to fast, no matter how loudly your flesh speaks to you. Remember: you're becoming sharper spiritually so that you can fulfill God's ultimate purpose for your life, and we as His Church can fulfill His Purposes in the earth!

So proud of each of you!