The essence of unconscious Christianity is being unaware of your true spiritual state. By that, I do not mean your standing before God, nor do I mean carnal Christianity, if there is such a thing. I mean, a man must never believe that he has arrived. How many of us have thought we have learned a lesson, only to fail the very same lesson days later? What great things the Lord does when a man does not even realize he is being used. The greatest humility comes when we look full into His face. When we look at worship, worship vanishes, when we look at humility, pride finds a way in. In looking at any of the virtues of Christianity, one must take his eyes of Jesus and look to the left or to the right in front or behind. Yet to look into the face of Jesus and see the glory of God, this is where we are rightly shaped.
Archive for the ‘pentecostal’ Category
Unconcious Christianity
Posted by appolus on March 7, 2013
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: face of jesus, glory of god, spiritual state | 4 Comments »
Are you a genuine eye witness?
Posted by appolus on March 6, 2013
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the state of the church, theology | Leave a Comment »
A Pauper and the King
Posted by appolus on March 5, 2013
Jesus is such a friend to me. I was broken and crushed. He healed me, He gave me life where there was death ,He raised me from a terrible living death. I was also diagnosed with an incurable disease shortly after I was saved 22 years ago ( pulmonary fibrosis, stage three with irreversible fibrosis) He healed me. Yet that healing pales in comparison to the eternal healing of my crushed heart and broken spirit. I was a captive to so much sin and He set me free. A friend ? Ah, the word seems to fall so short does it not? Yes my King calls me friend and my heavenly Father invites me to come and speak with Him before His throne. I, a pauper, born and raised in poverty, and He, the King of Kings in all His glorious majesty. It is such a wonder.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Devotions from Appolus
Posted by appolus on March 2, 2013
The Character of Jesus is higher than the highest heavens. His love and compassion and mercy and obedience are beyond what our feeble minds can comprehend. And since we can only compare with what we know, we can say with full assurance, and still fall pitifully short, that our Saviors love would render the deepest ocean to but a single tear from His eye. The sun that blazes brilliantly in the sky, but a spark in comparison to our Lords burning passion. The universe and all others combined, smaller than the smallest chamber of His heart. This is the God we serve; this is the Jesus of the Gospels; this is Jesus, God amongst us.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
So to have life we must come to Jesus. The word “come ,” does not mean one time just as the word “abide,” is a continuous action verb better stated “keep abiding.” So we ought to keep coming to Jesus. Not keep getting saved, but keep seeking Him out. He is a treasure to be sought after, just “as the deer panteth for the water brooks,” then so my soul continually pants after Him. He is my light and I detest the darkness. He is perfect light and I live in shades of gray at best. How could it be otherwise for in my flesh there is no good thing. Until it is raised in incorruption I can only know Him in measure. That is an agony that can be hard to live with. The only thing that makes it bearable is the measure I receive from Him daily, His blessings are new every morning and His steadfast love never ceases and His grace is sufficient to keep me wanting more. And every so often I am enraptured and filled to capacity, a continual baptism of the Holy Spirit if you like. And I am strengthened and encouraged and changed in the fire of His manifest presence. A grateful heart and a thankful spirit and a desire to repent are some of the road signs along the narrow path.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: deer panteth, higher than the highest heavens | 1 Comment »
The presence of God and the Lordship of Jesus in meetings.
Posted by appolus on February 17, 2013
Brother Greg Gordon asked me earlier this week to come on and speak on a national prayer call called ” prayer surge” about my burden for the presence of God and the headship of the Lord as He is allowed His rightful place in meetings. Now I have to be honest, this is a subject that when I have shared that I have never failed to alienate some folks . These couple of subjects are like a mine-field because we really do not even have a working definition of what the presence of God is. And so before I speak about the Lord having His rightful place in meetings and how that actually ties in with the presence of God, let me define the term “ presence of God,’ as I see it and as I have experienced it and what I believe the Holy Spirit would say through me. I would like to start out by reading a letter I received from one of my readers and this would perhaps illustrate one of the reasons that I am involved with Gospel fellowship meetings and other meetings seeking to bring together what I would call remnant believers. And so the lady writes to me and says ………
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: manifest presence, presence of god | 4 Comments »
The cross in the midst of revival
Posted by appolus on February 12, 2013
You can listen to this short sermon above, which points us back to very foundations of our walk with the Lord and the work of the cross and you can also read it below. I pray that it will challenge you………….bro Frank
The cross is in the very midst of revival. Now why is the cross in the very midst of revival? If we look at what we consider to be classic revivals, in the great awakening we see Jonathan Edwards and he preaches his very famous sermon ” Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” And as a result we see people in the midst of tremendous conviction poured out by the Spirit. Now, is this the formula for revival? Must we preach about sinners in the hands of an angry God? Do we just have to repeat Jonathon Edwards sermon and we will see revival? We would just stand up and preach verbatim the words of that sermon and then we would see revival, and obviously that is not the case.
So the cross in the midst of revival. What is the cross, what does it represent? What does it mean? Why is it the central theme and focus of Christianity? Well the symbolic part of the cross was that mercy and judgement were mysteriously entwined together. Judgement for all those who reject Gods plan, and mercy for those who would embrace His Son and the sacrifice offered on Calvary, a sin offering for the world. The sins of the world, the guilt of the world would be judged on Calvary. And so we see mercy and judgment , mysteriously entwined together on the cross of Calvary. In the Hebridean revival we see men so affected by the Spirit of God poured out that they cry ” Is there mercy for me, is there mercy for me?” It was a cry from the deepest wells of mens hearts.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
The church on the run-Martin Collison
Posted by appolus on February 7, 2013
The attached photo marks the spot where General George Armstrong Custer fell at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, which I photographed during a trip late last year to the battlefield.
It was impressed upon me during this visit how vitally important it is to get those important strategic decisions right in our own life and indeed within the corporate life of the church, assuming we want the things in place in our lives that Christ wants. This rests in our ability, both individually and corporately, to “see the bigger picture”. Sadly, whilst occasionally talking about the bigger picture, the church consistently fails to stay on any course which will actually lead her in the direction of Christ Himself. You see, the single most critical strategic work of the Holy Spirit in these days is the preparation of the Bride of Christ and for the church to come into the fullness of the stature of Christ. This is the bigger picture. The desire of Jesus to have a pure and spotless Bride is His overriding and all-consuming passion. It super-cedes every other work and process. Everything we do should be geared towards this.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: battle of the little bighorn | 6 Comments »
A letter to America from an immigrant
Posted by appolus on February 5, 2013
You welcomed me with open arms
Protected me from many harms
I found in you a warm embrace
I would find this in no other place
It did not matter, the social classes
For you invited the huddled masses
And in a world that was ruled by greed
Yours was a land to plant ones seed
America you took me in
And now my journey could begin
Born and bred in poverty
You opened doors and set me free
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, prophecy, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: ancient landmarks, god honors, spirituality, sweet land of liberty | Leave a Comment »
Poetry in motion, bless the Lord.
Posted by appolus on January 23, 2013
Here are some of my poems for those who prefer to listen rather than read poetry. I pray that they will bless you and I will add more as I go along, but first listen to a dear sister in Christ worship the Lord and bring you into that place of communicating with Jesus.
http://soundcloud.com/appolus/aileen-gilchrist-1
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: literature, palm of his hand | 5 Comments »
Guns and taxes and the mire of politics
Posted by appolus on January 18, 2013
Hi saints, I have been watching the whole gun debate very closely, not so much for the details, for there is nothing new under the sun and we have been around this mountain before. No, my interest lies in the attitudes of Christians to all of these issues, whether it is guns, taxes, politics, rights and so on. Let me just state for the record where I stand on rights and freedoms, at least the freedom that I have through Christ ( which is all that counts, believe me brothers and sisters)
There are powerful forces that are manipulating the most basic of instincts, whether it is on the ” left,” or on the ” right.” Men and woman of God must only be driven by the Holy Spirit and not the cultural winds that blow nor the lobbyists who have financial or political interests in stirring up the crowd. One side is being pitted against the other. Christians should not be on one side or the other, we should be a counter-culture, not a sub-culture. God transcends cultures and nations. The Body of Christ is multi-national, from every tribe and every tongue and every nation. Our identity should be found in God alone and the Body. Let nations and kingdoms ( ethnos, where we get our English word ethnic) fight and war with each other, but it’s not our war. We are the sons and daughters of peace and we represent another kingdom to the peoples of the world.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, politics, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: current-events, human-rights, politics | 9 Comments »
To hell and back.
Posted by appolus on January 14, 2013
How to keep your soul
From burning in the fire
Sometimes to walk this world
Is to wade through muck and mire
To see what Spirit sees
Would drop man to his knees
And in agony look up
And see Christ drink the cup
All the hell in all the world
Came together in one place
Yet even in the midst of hell
There was love upon His face
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: burning in the fire, death and hell | 2 Comments »
Psalm 150 – Praise the Lord
Posted by appolus on January 13, 2013
Praise the Lord of the morning
When the sun rises from its sleep
Praise the Lord for His excellent greatness
For His beauty makes me weep
Praise the Lord when the darkness falls
And the moon rises high above
Praise the Lord for His majestic glory
And His everlasting love
Praise the Lord in the winter
When the snow falls on the ground
Praise the Lord for His glorious presence
When we stand upon holy ground
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: hallelujah to the king, hallelujah to the king of kings, timbrel praise | 6 Comments »
A word to God’s remnant-The spirit of Gideon
Posted by appolus on January 9, 2013
Now in the days of Gideon, a time of judgement, the Midianites and the Amikalites oppressed the children of God. No matter what the Israelites planted, they never got to see the fruits of their labor. The Midianites and the Amakilites would come in like locusts and devour and take everything. And so, Israel was greatly impoverished. Can I suggest that we face the same landscape and problems in Christendom today? We are impoverished spiritually and financially and no matter the work done, it is consumed by the idols and the enemy which seems to be all around us like locusts.
Now, in their distress, the children of Israel cried out to God for a deliverer, and the Lord sent them a prophet. The prophet reminded them of God’s faithfulness and how they had rejected Him (Jud 6:8-10) Now, at God’s appointed time, when all is desolate, He speaks to Gideon who was threshing wheat in the wine-press in an effort to hide his activities from their oppressors.(6-11) “The Lord is with you mighty man of valor.” You see how God is calling what is not as it would be. Hiding from your enemies in a defunct wine=press in an effort to get some bread is hardly the stuff of valor. Brothers and sisters, I want you to see Gideon as a type of the Remnant God is in the process of raising up right now. Do not focus on the 300 as of yet, for that is still a ways off. We as people are not ready yet. Listen to what Gideon says to the Lord.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: faith, mighty man of valor | 11 Comments »
To be found in Him
Posted by appolus on January 9, 2013
Just to meet you in the darkest night
Sets my soul on fire, it gives me light
To meet you on the highest peak
Is to feed my soul, tis all I seek
Whether high or whether low
Is neither here nor there
For you alone I want to know
I want to see your face so fair
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: high tower | Leave a Comment »
Meeting God in the dark places.
Posted by appolus on January 4, 2013
God’s love for us is empowered when it clashes with the darkest parts of who we are. Like a circle these meet and one is overpowered by the other. Prior to the new birth, when the sinner realizes who he is and also realizes that God loves him while he is yet in his sin, he is transformed. Yet deeper works are to follow. This meeting is no one time meeting. God searches us out and plumbs the depths of who we are and in finding Him there, at those depths, in that fire, in that darkness then we plumb the depths of His actual love. Can I say this process will ever end? No, I cannot say that. I do know that the Apostle Paul ” learned to be content,’ in whatever situation he found himself. What does it take to reach this place? Well, as I look at the life of Paul, it takes a life that most are not willing to live, only the few.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the state of the church, theology | 6 Comments »
Weeping at the Master’s feet.
Posted by appolus on December 29, 2012
Have you wept at the Master’s feet?
Have you fallen upon the mercy seat?
Has you’re eyes been opened wide?
Have you looked to your soul, deep inside?
Like a mirror coming into view
Have you ever seen yourself so true?
That you cried out when you first begun
” I am a man and I am undone.”
Coals of fire heaped upon your head
Falling on your face as one whose dead
“Please Oh please don’t look on me
With eyes that burn and can truly see.”
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: coals of fire, overwhelming joy, tears of sadness | 2 Comments »
A Christmas Poem
Posted by appolus on December 24, 2012
Our Lord He came from the glories above
He came to earth with a heart full of love
And choirs of heavenly angels sang
As the bells of upper Hades rang
Oh joyous night Oh Christ divine
A star in heaven, a heavenly sign
For Christ the Lord is born today
He came to show the world the way
He came to set the prisoners free
He came that every eye might see
A light at the end of a tunnel deep
A glorious harvest ready to reap
Consider this babe so innocent and pure
He has come to make your salvation sure
Lift up this child in your heart tonight
Lift up your eyes to a glorious sight
Behold your King is born today
Fall to your knees,worship and pray
For unto you a child is born
Behold the darkness gives way to dawn
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: glorious harvest, light at the end of a tunnel | Leave a Comment »
Who weeps for the children? A poem for the children of Connecticut
Posted by appolus on December 14, 2012
The heavens are clothed with blackness
And the sun has fled away
Who will weep for all the children
On this most terrible day
My heart is so thoroughly broken
And is wounded in so many ways
Who can heal this broken heart of mine
On this most awe-full of days
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: broken heart | Leave a Comment »
The nature of faith
Posted by appolus on December 11, 2012
Consider what .W.Tozer says about faith………………..
Faith is the least self-regarding of the virtues. It is by its very nature scarcely conscious of its own existence. Like the eye that sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves-blessed riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him. It will be God working in him to will and to do ( see Philippians 2:13) (Tozer)
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: faith, faith movement, heart of god, spiritual eyes, spirituality | 6 Comments »
A Poem for my wife ( and marriage)
Posted by appolus on December 6, 2012
I would run a million miles
Just to see your face
And I would climb the highest peak
Just for one embrace
I loved you from the very start
When you fell right into my heart
And became a very part of me
No longer ” you and I,” but “we”
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology | 6 Comments »
A Call To The Remnant 