Indianapolis

Living by the Spirit; not by flesh Part 1

May 29, 2013 Merlin Gonzales FHL Indiana, Kindness Weekends, Message

Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV), “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[a] you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

When we live by the Spirit:

We live by grace and not under the bondage to the Law
- Grace is unmerited favor, which means we receive what we don’t deserve. Grace is based on our relationship with God
- The Law is the commandments from God in the Old Testament. The Law is based on our performance. No one is perfect to follow God’s entire commandment. Only Jesus was the perfect one and lived a sinless life.
- We are controlled by the Spirit instead of the flesh
  - We are led by the Spirit
  - We have the grace to withstand the desires of our flesh
  - We live for God’s Glory rather than for ourselves
    - We start living with Biblical worldview; being aware of God within us
    - We become aware of our selfish actions and we start to think of others first before ourselves

The Spirit and the flesh are at war with each other. They have different appetites and different perspectives. Our “human body” is not sinful; it is neutral. In verse 16, Apostle Paul said “the desires of the flesh” not the body. So if our body is neutral, and the Holy Spirit controls it, then we keep in step with the Spirit.

However, if the flesh controls our body, then we walk in the lusts or desires of the flesh. We live by the worldview instead of living with Biblical perspectives.

This is a brief overview of living in the Spirit. In my next issue, we will take a look at the second part of the equation. Until then, live in His blessings!

Merlin

A busy Pentecost Sunday

May 25, 2013 Merlin Gonzales blog

Come Holy Spirit!

When you are willing, God will provide you opportunities beyond your imagination. I wanted to encourage you with what happened last Pentecost Sunday but we’ll start with some background stories.

#1 Sometime 5-6 years ago, I met a woman who supported the works of my ministry. She later moved to Northern Indiana but promised that she will continue to support me. She contacted me a few weeks before I released my book and we became acquainted with each other again through social media. She had been doing her BlogTalk for a few years and she offered to broadcast my classes based on my book. Then, she offered me to be the Speaker for her Sunday “Be InSpired Show” at 9:30a.

#2 Through my regular partnership with Catholic Charities, my name was passed along to a Mentor for a Minister. The Mentor contacted me to find out more what I do with Christian leaders. Soon, he brought the Minister that he is mentoring to a “Missional Community” vision casting that I conducted. The Minister was there with a few other people including a city representative.

#3 The ministry that the Lord started through me in 2005, FHL, was inspired by bringing the Body of Christ to work together. God has been blessing the ministry, however, it seems like we needed more than projects/services to work together – Prayer/Worship.

#4 FHL has a volunteer who happens to be a good friend of my wife and mine. She spoke to a Youth Pastor for a church regarding the upcoming event of FHL. This volunteer has been supporting me even before I started the ministry.

So to wrap up the 4 background stories above, here’s what happened on Pentecost Sunday 2013. At 9:30am, I preached via www.artseesdiner.com BlogTalk (#1); at 12:30pm, I did a vision-casting (Missional Community) at a church where they hold their services – in a building that was used for planned parenthood in the past (#2). By mid afternoon, I did a vision-casting for 24/7 prayer-worship (#3) that will be on July 21-28. I ended my day at www.Indyvineyard.org to speak at their Youth group regarding living in God’s Dominion here on earth (#4).

What a day to spend my day on Pentecost Sunday! Come Holy Spirit!

April 28, 2013: Sermon by Merlin Gonzales at Deer Creek Community Church, ArtSees Diner Radio

April 25, 2013 Selena Design Blessings April 2013, Latest News

Listen to Merlin Gonzales, author of Kingdom in Our Midst, and founder of Faith, Hope and Love, International – Indianapolis on ArtSees Diner Radio this Sunday, April 28 at 10am

“Take a fresh look at your neighborhood” is the topic of Merlin’s message Sunday. Listen live at ArtSees Diner Radio.

Where: ArtSees Diner Radio

When: Sunday, April 28, 2013

9:00am CDT, 10am EDT

24/7 in Indianapolis July 21-27

March 5, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, FHL Week, KIOM, Message

I pray this message will reach you well.

BREAKING DOWN THE DIVISION WALLS

In the past 8+ years, the Lord had guided me to meet numerous people from all walks of life. Through the annual FHL Week in Indianapolis, I had the privilege to interact with many leaders for the “Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard” also known as FHL Week in Indiana. Because of our deadline (every last full week of July), everyone who committed to participate, works hard to bring the community together through projects & services and, prayer & worship. We have seen dozens of churches come together, many businesses come to serve and to provide resources, both the local and the state government proclaim FHL Week, educational institutions and local neighborhoods are mobilized to serve people unconditionally and to spread the love of God in our communities.

Throughout the years, the projects and services accomplished were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most specially, many people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Relationships began and has deepened in central Indiana. With the grace of God, division walls are being broken down.

FHL Week projects/services focus was very beneficial for those who receive services and for those who serve. We have seen outreaches and ministries birthed through the unity during the missions week. There are groups of churches in Greenwood, IN and also in Noblesville, IN working together on a regular basis. It is to the glory of God. Truly, our journey together is better than what is being accomplished. A legacy of transformation is evident and alive.

The Lord is leading us to deeper relationship with Him and with each other. We all know that without prayer and worship, we will not be able to attain deeper knowledge of God and of our role in the expansion of His Kingdom. Each of us has a part to play in this mandate.

CONVERGENCE

The passion I have to see unity in the Body of Christ and to continuously pursue Him in the expansion of His Kingdom here on earth, and after fervent prayers, I would like to invite you to consider coming together for the 24/7 Prayer/Worship during FHL Week 2013, July 21 3pm to July 27 3pm. We will still do the projects/services simultaneously.

You can help bring God’s presence through the unity of the believers by praying for us and/or joining us during the 24/7. We will divide the 168 hours by 12-hr segments. Each segment will be facilitated by 14 Coordinating Teams from different churches, ministries, localities, nationalities, etc. This model will bring more of the unity in the Body of Christ since many groups are invited to work together instead of one church/organization coordinating all the scheduling and preparations. Many rivers of Living Water John 7:38, “as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them,” will converge together for a powerful week of prayers, worship and works of service.

Through my years of experience working with the different FHL Week Area Coordinators and Christian leaders in central Indiana, this model brings unity, accountability and deeper relationships with God and with others.

GOD’S GLORY THROUGH UNITY

We will start speaking with potential Coordinator Teams next Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this monumental vision. You may reply to this Blog or call us at 317-578-3370. I will keep you posted through my Blogs. Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you in advance for praying with us for the sake of the the Body of Christ in Indianapolis Eph 4:11-13, ”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unityin the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“

I will send you more information as we continue to move in step with the Spirit. For the meantime, please pray for this vision and feel free to forward this message to those whom you think have the same vision of bringing unity in the Body of Christ through unabashed 24/7 Prayer/Worship. I am asking you on behalf of the Church in Indianapolis.

And Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers – John 17:20-21, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

God bless you,

Merlin Gonzales

Indianapolis, IN USA

Awareness

January 23, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, KIOM, Ministry, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

Awareness of hunger compel people to action

Deep inside all of us is the longing to experience the Bible in our lives. We want to see more of God collaborating in our daily activities. We’d like to talk to Him and hear more from Him. We need to challenge ourselves to be in situations where our only option is to rely on God. This is where faith meets your experience.

Luke 17:20-21, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Many of us have been praying for revival but if we recognize and honor the God in us, then we carry the revival within us! Wherever the Kingdom of God is, there is revival. It may not look like what we think it should be. Don’t look for a miracle; we are the miracle sent by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The greatest miracle is seeing someone accept Jesus as their Lord and change their physical and spiritual destiny for eternity. In a blink of an eye, a person’s life was changed forever.

‎”Our awareness directs our action and our collective action changes our culture.”~ Merlin

Awareness directs our action but we need to act on it, then it will have impact on our life. You act on things that are important and according to your priority.

Expanding your awareness of the Kingdom will change all the aspects of your life, your family, your work, your money, your business, and your future. How would your priorities change, and where will your focus be?

We know that there are many benefits in exercising, eating healthy foods, having enough sleep and living a less stressful life. This is good information to be aware of, it could change how you feel, how you look and how you live. But this is only knowledge; unless you act on them, they will remain in your head and they may not have a direct effect in your life. We need the awareness of the Kingdom high in our consciousness if we want to see more of heaven here on earth.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doings of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.” ~ John F. Kennedy

What are your tasks that seem monumental? Pray for powers equal to your tasks. The ultimate power that we need is heavenly power, power from above, power from the Lord. That’s why we need to put our priority in knowing, believing and acting on God’s will.