Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever heard the admonition, ‘Don’t even think about it!’? In a climate in which speech is free and there is freedom of conscience regarding thoughts which are private anyhow this seems like a strong position. Yet it is exactly what I say to you about assigning people an eternal destiny. For I command you to say not even in your heart, ‘who shall ascend into heaven, and who shall descend into hell’. If you would follow my general commandment not to judge others this would be a good place to start. For I alone have the authority to assign eternal destinies and I take this exclusive domain seriously. Do and teach all I have commanded and let me worry about the outcome. 

Do you know people who talk all the time? They may have some interesting things to say but you can’t really have a conversation with them because that implies two people speaking. You may find such people wearisome and avoid them. Yet I am the Living Word, and I am always speaking. Yet I speak in a still small voice and do not dominate a conversation. Your overbearing friend may be hard to avoid, but I am meek and lowly in heart, and it is easy to avoid me. Those who understand the value of my words will seek me out, and sit at my feet, and listen carefully for they know that I alone have the words of life. 

You have my promise that you shall have whatever you ask of me in prayer. Do you consider this to be an amazing and extravagant blank check from someone with unlimited resources? How do you respond to this? Do you ask for as much as you can? My ability to give is unlimited. How great is your ability to receive? Would it be good for you to get everything you wanted, or would it leave you overwhelmed? Don’t let your desire for abundance turn into unfocused fragmentation. David said ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord’ and it was a good thing. Ask me for what you need to fulfill your destiny in me and you will get it with singleness of heart and purpose and vision.

Can you minister to me and not be aware of it? In the story of the sheep and the goats, I commended the sheep for very specific actions. I said that they provided me with food and drink. They gave me clothing and visited me. They were perplexed at this approval, and asked, when did we do these things? I replied that when they did them unto the least of these they did them unto me, and the converse was true for the goats. Note that there is nothing about doctrine, faith, or belief in this story. So it is possible to be kind to me and not know it, but it is better to do it with awareness, to see me in the least of these and minister to them as you would to me. 

I said that a prophet is not without honor, except among his own family and countrymen. This principle may apply to you even if you are not a prophet. This is similar to the proverb that familiarity breeds contempt. I am doing a great work of spiritual transformation in your life, but those who have known you all along may not be prepared to acknowledge this growth. The work I am doing in you enables you to minister life to others, but they may not be able to receive it. It is not beneficial for you to fight this principle I declared. Rather ask how far you need to go to be effective in the ministry I have given you. 

You know that you are saved by faith rather than works. Yet you should not assume that faith and works are contradictory and opposing concepts. Does your faith lead you to take action? It should. Do you find that the actions you take in faith serve to make your faith stronger and more real to you? James made a good argument when he said show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works, for one without the other is dead. The Bible is a book of faith but it is also a book of action. Faith is the initiator, but it does not grow without closing the loop with action. 

Does it appear to you that churches target narrow audiences? Do you see a wide variety of demographics in most churches? People tend to associate with those like them and are more comfortable that way, so even churches with a wide membership base will organize internally around age-specific groups for instance. Have you noticed that such distinctions are erased when a church is in revival? A true move of God has appeal across demographic lines and attracts young and old. It is possible to confuse cause and effect, but if you want revival look for ways to be inclusive so you may be all together in one accord. 

Movies, television and novels provide an entertainment experience through stories. Are you careful about the content of the entertainment you partake of, knowing that stories can have an influence on you for good or evil? The author may have a deliberate intent for this influence or not, but either way the stories will either affirm or deny the principles of life that I taught in my own stories. Do you understand that you have a story of your own? Let the stories that entertain you reinforce righteousness that they may support the narrative of my redemptive work in your own life. 

Do you love yourself? This is the default condition of humanity as described in my word, that no man hates his own flesh, but nurtures and cares for it. Truly self-destructive people stand out as anomalies. I do not condemn you for loving yourself, yet many normal people feel guilty about doing it. My word just teaches you to love your neighbor as yourself, so that the same standard applies to all, including you. I taught that you should do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Do you understand that you need to have grace and compassion for others, and do so? Then you don’t need to feel guilty about having grace and compassion for yourself.

Do you ponder matters such as the age of the earth or current events or politics? What is your level of awareness that a being of infinite intelligence and love watches over you? The former questions may be difficult to answer, having many competing viewpoints. Even if you were able to answer them their significance may not be of any importance in your life. The latter issue affects everything in your life. If you walk in the awareness of this reality it gives you confidence and peace, and the ability to move forward without fear. Set your mind on things above.