The Power of Imagination

When God created man He Created man after His own likeness. He also created man with the unique power of Logic and Imagination.

Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them

Lets look at the definition of these two words Logic and Imagination.

Logic, from the Greek λογικός (logikos) [1] is the study of reasoning.[2] Logic is used in most intellectual activity, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. Logic examines general forms which arguments may take, which forms are valid, and which are fallacies.
Imagination, also called the faculty of imagining, is the ability of forming mental images, sensations and concepts, in a moment when they are not perceived through sight, hearing or other senses. Imagination helps provide meaning to experience and understanding to knowledge; it is a fundamental facility through which people make sense of the world, and it also plays a key role in the learning process. A basic training for imagination is the listening to storytelling (narrative), in which the exactness of the chosen words is the fundamental factor to ‘evoke worlds.’

Imagination is the faculty through which we encounter everything. The things that we touch, see and hear coalesce into a “picture” via our imagination.

Imagination can also be expressed through stories such as fairy tales or fantasies. Most famous inventions or entertainment products were created from the inspiration of some one’s imagination.

Think about some of man’s most modern day inventions. The automobile, electricity, the airplane, the television, the computer, the microchip. All these came from logic and imagination. The ability to imagine and create is incredible. Have you ever looked at the things invented by men and just thought that is incredible how did they do that? The airplane was invented because man one day looked at birds flying and imagined one day flying himself.
Our God given ability to use our logic and imagination can be used for good or evil. Satan knew this creative ability of man and this is what he used to draw man into questioning God and God’s Word.

Genesis 3
1Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ( Of course we know God said they could eat of every tree that was in the garden except one tree but one , but the serpent used this to begin to draw them into their own logic and reasoning.
2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Do you see where their own logic and imagination took over and separated them from God? In fact if you read close their own logic actually became illogical because satan said they could be like God if they ate of the tree. The only problem with that statement was they were already were created in the image of God! Didnt God already say earlier let us make man in our own image and after our own likeness. So man was tempted to become something that He already was through his own logic and work. We still have this same choice today; the choice to become like God through our own works and effort or to become like God through Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God, walking with God, Obeying Gods Word and trusting that the work that He has begun in us that He will also complete.

Our God given logic and imagination was given to us to be like our creator and walk with God not to become God and to walk Independent from God. This was Satan’s downfall. Before Satan fell the Bible says that he was the most beautiful of all the angels that God had created and was actually the worship leader in heaven but lucifer fell into pride and began to exalt himself and walk independent from God. Its almost like lucifer said Im so beautiful and good I don’t really need the creator anymore I can do my own thing. In fact I think Ill just start my own congregation! And that’s what he did. In fact he persuaded a third of all the angels to go with him. These angels are now called demons

Isiah 14:12-14
12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

This is also a warning to worship and church leaders today.We must be careful not to fall into the same trap of pride that lucifer fell into. God is the one who is the originator of all music ,worship and ministry. All of Gods gifts are very powerful but along with these gifts we must always understand that these gifts are given to direct people to God and not to be used for our own self exaltation or to draw attention to ourselves or to build our own little kingdoms.

We also see this same Independence in a certain building project called Babel .

Genesis 11
1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Again we see the power for man to use his logic and imagination is very powerful and can be used for either good or evil. So what was the problem with building a tower unto God? This seemed like a pretty good work why would God be against this building project? Well first of all it was not initiated by God but by man. It might have been a good Idea but not necessarily a God Idea. I wonder how many churches today are built like the tower the tower of Babel . They are initiated more by mans own desire and selfish ambitions than God and they are really built to create a name for themselves more than to really glorify the name of God. We must only be involved with those building projects that are initiated by God or they will ultimately wind up in division and confusion. Selfish ambition will always produce bad fruit.

James 3:13-16 (Amplified Bible)
Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.
This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).
For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

Isn’t it amazing that so many churches today are have so much rivalry. Many ministries are so territorial could it be this is the result from projects built out of selfish ambition. We must remember that just because a work appears to be good does not mean its of God. The tree that Adam and Eve both ate from was not just called the evil tree but the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The actual word Babel means confusion and we know that God is not the author of confusion but of life and peace.

Our Imagination and logic ( the ability to reason) was given to make us to be like our creator. God has given us the ability to create but only God can create something out of nothing. We were nothing before God created us and we are really nothing apart from God. We must never turn from our creator and think in our hearts that we are more then what we are. God is above all,through all and wants to live in us all. God is the creator of all things and by Him all things are held together. This is why when man moves away from God it all falls apart! God is the only one who holds it all together and you are only complete when you are in Him!

Romans 1:21
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

If we are to ever find our way Back to Eden the we must learn to cast down any and all vain imaginations that try and get us to question God’s word will for our lives. We must resist every temptation that we can make it on our own! This is a lie from the very pits of hell. We must set our affections on Him. He is our creator, He is the one who holds it all together and it is still His desire to transform us into His image and to walk with us.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2Cor 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Vain Imaginations have slain a lot of great men and women of God and have kept them from Eden or their God given destiny. Because man has this incredible ability to use his own logic and imagination, he has often deceived himself into thinking that He is his own god and that He really does not need any other God outside of himself. Man begins to then worship his self and his own logic and reasoning. Self worship is becoming increasingly popular these days. I could name a few popular talk shows but I wont, that teach a self esteem that appears to be good but really has its roots in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is no accident that The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was in the very center of the garden which represents self centeredness. The fruit from the tree of self worship will always produce death. There is no life apart from Christ who is the Tree of Life. If we are to find our way Back to Eden then we must turn our attention away from ourselves and from self focus and back to God. We must set our affections on Him . God is Life and in Him we will find the Life we have always been looking for

When The Light Comes On!

When the Light comes on you will never be the same. There are many passages in scripture that speak about the light of God. I remember after the light came on for me in December of 1976,  one of my favorite songs  was “I saw the light.  I saw the light I saw the light. No more darkness and no more night. Just like the blind man when God gave back his sight. Praise the Lord, I saw the light.” And that’s really how it was. One minute I had little to no understanding of who  Jesus Christ  was and then the next minute I knew exactly who He was. I also knew why He came and why He  had to die. It’s really hard to explain, except it’s like I was in a dark room and then suddenly a light was switched on and I could see. When  the light came on a Joy like I had never experience in my life just suddenly filled my heart. It was so intense I felt like I was going to explode! I thought wow! I’m not sure what this is all about but I like It! It wasn’t until later,  after I began reading the Bible, that I began to see what had taken place. I had been Born Again!

2Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When the Light comes on you are never the same and you will never forget it. Many have asked me throughout the years how do I know that Jesus is the Christ and I always go back to the day when the light came on. I had a divine revelation of who Christ was. I just know that I know. Yes, I have had my ups and downs. I have had my struggles with the flesh just like everyone else,  but their is one thing that I could never deny and that is the day the light came on. Its just as real today as it was 33 years ago. For many the light comes on in different ways. It could have come on while you were sitting in church listening to a song. I remember my mother telling her story about the day the light came on for her. She had sent my little brother to a local church at the time but she was not a church goer herself. But one day she was feeling a little low and decided to go to church herself. She sat and listened to the message and it was interesting, but then someone got up and began to sing a song about the love and grace of God. It was during that song that the light came on! She just knew that Jesus Christ was who He said He was and that she was to give her life to Him because He had given his life  for Her. She said after the service that day everything seemed so much brighter! She look at the trees and the grass and they looked so much greener. The flowers where beautiful! She was filled with a Joy like she had never felt and to this day she still remembers when the light came on for Her!

I had a friend who told me about when the light came on for Him. He was sitting in a bathroom stall and  said he looked over and  right in front of him was a gospel tract sitting on the tp holder. He picked it up and began to read it. The gospel tract talked about God’s love for him and how that Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for His sins and that if He would just believe this He would be forgiven and God would give him a brand new life. Well guess what happened? The light came on! I know it sounds like a crazy place for someone to get a revelation of who Jesus is, but God doesn’t care where you are, when you believe Him the light will come on. He later on when to Bible college and into full time ministry.

I remember another time  when we were preaching under a gospel tent one night in Chilpey, Florida,  and a someone after the message came forward crying and weeping. I said what’s going on? She began to tell me that she was across the street, going into the local liquor store to buy a bottle of whiskey,  but then she heard preaching coming from the tent. She decided to come to the tent to see what was going on. She heard about God’s love and the light came on! She just knew that God had a plan for her life and that this plan began with accepting Jesus Christ.

The Bible talks about this light:

Matthew 4:16
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Understand one minute we are sitting in darkness and then the next a light comes on. This light is the divine revelation of who Jesus is.
Did you know that their are people today sitting in churches who still sit in darkness? They go to church but they still have never had a divine revelation of who Christ is.

John 8:12 tells us more about this light

¹² Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Jesus is the light of the world and when we believe in Him He gives us the true  light of life so that we will never walk in darkness again. Darkness is a type of sin and deception.

Of course their is one who is hard at work to keep people from the gospel and the light of God.

2Cor4;3-4

³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

One day Jesus stopped and asked the disciples a very important question. In fact it was the most important question that could ever be asked.

Matthew 16:13-18

¹³When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

¹⁴And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

¹⁵He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

¹⁶And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

¹⁷And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus asked the disciples “who do people say that I am?”  They said, “some say John the Baptist others say Elijah , Jeremiah or one of the other prophets,” and then Jesus asked them, “who do you say I am?” Jesus is asking us the same question today. Many believe Jesus was a good teacher or philosopher or prophet or just a man who persuaded many to follow Him. But all who see Him this way have never had the light come on!  And then it was Peter who spoke up and said ” You are the Christ the Son of the Living God!” You see Peter at that moment had the light come on! The light is the revelation of who Jesus is! Jesus told Peter, “you have answered right and I tell you that flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my father in Heaven.” In other words, this revelation of Christ did not come from Peter’s brain or from His reasoning! It came by divine revelation. The light came on for Peter that day. He has a spiritual Ah Hah moment,  and then Jesus made a statement and said, “you are Peter which means (little stone) and upon this Rock ( not the little rock peter) but the Rock of the Revelation that Peter just had of who Christ was! Upon this Divine Revelation,” Jesus said,  “I will build my church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it.”  The Light of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the Foundation of the Church.  Notice Jesus also told Peter that He was blessed for recieving this revelation. Its interesting to note that this word blessed actually  means the power or ability to succeed. When we recieve the  divine revelation of who Christ is and we walk in faith concerning this  revelation then we are blessed .

Gal 3:13-15                                                                                                  ¹³Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 ¹⁴That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Welcome! From The Internet Pastor

One night in Montgomery Alabama in December of 1976 I picked up a Bible and just began to read. I had never really been raised in church so I didnt know that much about God , Church or the Bible but I always felt that somehow there was a purpose for my life that I had not yet seen. That night God began to reveal His Love to me through the Gospels by showing me the Cross and how that Jesus Christ died for my sins to make me righteous before God. It was like a light just came on and I just knew that this was the beginning of God’s divine plan and purpose for my life . I accepted Jesus Christ that night and have never regretted one day of knowing Him. My Prayer is that all who read this Blog will come to know Him as I have and discover Gods Love and Divine Purpose and Will for their Lives.