Charismatic

The term charisma (pl. charismata, adj. charismatic; from the Greek χ?αaρ?ι?σsμαa, meaning "favor given" or "gift of grace") has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent.[1] For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2.[2]

I am charismatic!!! There I’m out of the closet. I have felt like a toy snake in a can with the lid on for way too long, and now the lid is off and out I come. The term charisma means "favor given" or "gift of grace." I have every reason to be charismatic because of the gift of grace I have been given by Jesus. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 Did you hear that!!!!! I have been delivered from darkness and I have been forgiven. I have stifled my passion for the Lord because I felt like I was abnormal, or would be judged for being over emotional. Get ready people abnormal is sitting in a pew, stale and stagnant when you have been delivered from the pits of hell. We are heirs to a kingdom that is beyond anything we can imagine. So yes I’m emotional, and I can guarantee you one thing when I sit at His feet in the glory of His presence I will be EMOTIONAL!!!!!

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1:3-8

I have been reading all day today about the fruit that comes from the saved tree, and the fruit that grows in a healthy church. There are three types of fruit in scripture, spiritual attitudes that characterize a Spirit-led believer, righteous actions, and new converts. My life should be a reflection of the Holy Spirit of God, my face should shine with His righteousness. My actions should show my love for Jesus and His saints, and I should be leading unbelievers to Christ. So this leads me back to the term charisma, (compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others) being charismatic is not a bad thing. We should be attractive and charming to the lost, and we should inspire devotion to Christ in other believers. This is evidence of a fruit baring tree.

I’ve also been studying Luke 6:27-38 and in my MacArthur bible it labels this scripture as, "Rules of kingdom life." We are supposed to be a peculiar people we are not supposed to look like the world. If we look so much like the world that people can’t see a difference in us then we may not belong in the kingdom. The Lord requires us to be different, set apart for His good pleasure. Let’s look at some of the unworldly things that lost people would view as peculiar. In Luke 6:27 it says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." I happen to be dealing with this very thing right now. There are people that are Christians that have been murmuring about me and slandering my name. And let me tell you the flesh wants to give them a piece of my mind, but God through the Spirit has told me to pray. He will avenge me all I need to do is pray. In verse 30 it says, "to give to everyone who asks of you." Now this one is that the world and some in the church would disagree with. How many times have you passed that person on the side of the road holding the sign that says, "I’ll work for food" because you thought they would use the money for drugs? We have become so callused and hardened we may have just missed a huge blessing. My favorite part of this particular chapter is verse 32, "but if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." Wow, this spoke volumes to me. How easy is it to stay in our clicks and love those that are "like" us? What would happen if we stepped out and loved the unlovable, or loved the ones that don’t love us? Revival that’s what! If we stopped looking inward and being so self consumed, repented, and followed the Holy Spirit revival would come. We could all be charismatic, consumed with Christ, and fruitful!

I pray from this moment forward that I would not put my light under a basket, but that my light would burn BRIGHT! So bright that glory would be given to the Lord. He deserves our best, he deserves our worship, he deserves our charisma. He is worth it!!!!!!!!!!