themovement

Growing up, we had a matryoshka doll on a book shelf in our living room.  I remember taking this doll and opening it to find another, smaller, doll inside.  This continued to happen until you reached the last and the smallest doll. I have never been one to play with dolls (although my mom and sister may have some stories to tell that are very UNTRUE).  Nor have I been one to compare people, especially men, to dolls.  But, today I must say loud and clear that every believer IN Christ is like a Russian Matryoska doll.

I am reading The Naked Gospel by Andrew Murray.  He says, “I imagine most of us don’t think much about what it means to be hidden in God.  But the Scriptures emphasize our being IN Christ about six times more often than the fact that Christ is in us.  Obviously, this is an important truth that God wants us to grasp.”

If you think about who Jesus is and what is in Him, it’s staggering.  And God goes on to say we are hidden in Christ.  Our identity is IN Jesus.  There is no sin, sickness, lack, doubt, worry, fear, shame, guilt…. in Him. There is love, joy, peace, patience, power, faith, perfection, confidence, authority, wholeness and so much much more. Our old man is dead and buried with Christ. We have been raised with Christ when we believed and we are new.  We are completely forgiven (past, present and future) and clean.  John 1:12 says, “But to ALL who believed Him (Jesus) and accepted Him, He gave the right to be children of God.”  Jesus is THE Son of God, the first of many brothers and sisters (children of God). We are now sons and daughters of God.  Our identity has changed. We are no longer sinners, saved by grace. We are righteous children, living in the grace of God.  We live IN Christ. So, even if you don’t like Russia (God loves Russia), you should still see yourself being a matryoshka doll. It is IN Him that we live and move and have our being-  Acts 17:28

Those are my thoughts and meditations for the morning…..

XL last night: God was in the house like Steve Aoki ft. Zuper Blahq.  Lives were Mos Def transformed, bodies were healed, hearts were healed and it was a privilege to see God move.  If you put butts in the seats, God will touch their butt… LITERALLY.  We had a young man who pulled his glutius maximus playing football.  God touched his butt and he was healed, jumping around and praising God.  I imagine God being like a Good Coach, slapping him on the butt saying, “good game son” and now he is healed!  Keep XL weird

IN Christ,

Jared “White Boi” Montgomery

That just means I should update this thing more often.  I have been @ Celebration Church here in Austin for a little over a month now and there has been so much going on.  I don’t have time to say it all or give details but we started things off and running from day one…

The Whosoevers

The Whosoevers came in town the 1st day I was in town. John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that WHOSOEVER believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life.”  This group of Whosoevers came and spoke to XL on Wednesday night and XL @ UT thursday.  They brought the raw love of God and many lives were changed and saved.  Check them out http://www.thewhosoevers.com

Spring Break!

No “break” for us bc XL serves.  We took a bunch of high school and jr high students into the community during spring break for a local mission trip.  Let’s just say ATX, you got SERVED!

Buffalo

The game of Buffalo has officially been introduced to the ATX.  I have heard some crazy buffalo stories.  They really do things bigger in Texas! Here is a pic of me getting called out by interns in class, right after introducing the game to them ha

Easter

One word: EPIC.  Many saved and baptized this week! I’m so excited about what God is doing and the lives that are being changed and transformed.  We baptized 128 youth on Wednesday night! Watch the video on my facebook

Coming soon…

XL FEST- June 24-26.  It’s not a camp.  It’s not a conference.  It’s XL FEST! It will be weird and wyld! Get ready for your mind to be blown! For high schoolers, college age and young adults.

Sumterns- High school interns are about to get rocked and rock this place.

Goal- Keep XL Weird & Wyld

I plan on writing on this at least twice a month to be more thorough.  God is moving and we are moving with Him.  I have a lot of Word He has downloaded into me that I would like to share as well, to motivate and encourage all of you who read this!   Feel free to respond, facbook me, twitter, holla, whatever!

A verse to leave you with: //John 1:12// “But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become sons of God.”   -It feels GOOD to be a son!

MUCHO AMORE!

Hey everybody! It’s been a minute since I have updated the blog. A lot has been going on in my life. If you haven’t heard the word yet, I have big news. So here it is:

I’m moving to Austin, Texas! I’m going to serve at Celebration Church as assistant youth pastor and to serve the great city of Austin.  We will be doing it BIG in Texas and with the XL Youth Ministry.  The motto in Austin is “Keep Austin Weird” and they definitely will be by adding me to the team! (I’m really not that weird… haha)

I’m so excited for what God is doing! Keep me in your prayers and stay in touch! I will be updating the blog, holla at me on facebook, follow me on twitter, email me, come be an intern, whatever! I will miss all my KCMO people, thelink, Cornerstone and my family!!!  I’ll try to update this blog like once a week!

The Word: Joshua 1:8-9 and the whole book of Colossians

MUCH LOVE

Jared

For all of you who having been asking… here it is.  Many of the youth leaders and youth have asked for recommendations on worship music and books to read. So for all of you and whoever else, here is a short list of what I recommend to you!~

MUSIC

Bethel Live, Brian & Jenn Johnson, Christ for the Nations, Church of the Harvest, Cory Asbury, David Crowder, Deluge, Eddie James, Fred Hammond, The Glorious Unseen, Hillsong United, Israel Houghton, Jason Upton, Jesus Culture, Jon Foreman, Kim Walker, Kris Dillard, Kristene Mueller, Lecrae, Leeland, Misty Edwards, Phil Wickham, Rick Pino,  Shekinah Glory, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Tye Tribbett & GA, Worth Dying For, 116 Clique… To name a few. Look them up on itunes and see what you think….

BOOKS (Authors)

Bill Johnson, Beni Johnson, Kris Vallotton, Kevin Dedmon, Mike Bickle, John Crowder, Max Lucado, Brian Zahnd, Kenneth Hagin, etc etc…  There’s many many books and authors ha! Run them by me! Get into the Bible above all.  I just wanted to get you all started.

Also, get a Twitter ya’ll and follow each other. Connect with each other. If you all have any questions or comments, let me know! I know many of  you mainly wanted worship music so there it is! Have fun with that!  Feel free to comment and let me know what God has been speaking or doing in and through you!! Oh and check out that Flickr pic of Karah and Sarah 

Holla!

Jared

What does the word enthusiasm bring to mind?? Cheerleaders? Salesmen? Infomercials?

Ephesian 6:7 says, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

My thought of the day would be this: Believers have more to be enthusiastic about than anyone in the world and in turn should be the most infused, enthusuastic people on the planet! Salt and light for the world to taste and see that the Lord is good. Sooooo GOOD! Tasty!

The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek en theos, which means to be filled with or inspired by God.  Being filled by the Holy Spirit brings zoe life, joy, excitement and enthusiasm.

Be filled and stay filled. Let your cup overflow.  We are partnering with Jesus in His work in the earth! That is something to be excited about! Let’s go and do it with enthusiasm!!

P.S. The past two days, Neil and I have been meeting with two 20 year old, mormon missionaries.  It’s been filled with love and enthusiasm to their shock. The Holy Spirit is working. As we left today, we prayed for one of the backs before we got in our cars.  He injured it in high school.  He works out everyday and everyday it hurts.  He is going to call me tomorrow after working out for the first time with no pain in years! God backs up His word!!

so.. Being FILLED or INSPIRED by GOD = Enthusiasm

P.S. #2 Read some revival history on the 2 Great Awakenings, Jonathan Edwards, or any revival.  They had moves of the Spirit and manifestations they called, enthusiasms! These included visions, trances, shaking, falling out, uncontrolable laughter, etc. The whole 9!

Feel free to leave comments ya’ll!

Jared

After much delay, I’m BACK in the blog world!

Tonight I had the wonderful opportunity to teach young youth leaders and there was one word: JOY!

1 Peter 1:8 says “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you GLADLY REJOICE with JOY inexpressible and FULL of GLORY.”

There is an intoxicating JOY found in the presence of God and in His love.  Jesus had the oil of JOY without measure.  God is a God of celebration. He is GOOD and wants you to be happy! There are no tears, gloom or depression in Heaven.  ”Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

Psalma 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of LIFE; in your presence there is FULLNESS of JOY; at your right hand are PLEASURES FOREVERMORE.”

There are waaaaaayy too many verses to quote and thoughts to write right now. I feel like I could write a book! I just wanted to give you a bit of what’s going on in my heart. You can dive deeper into the presence of God and find this JOY! It’s right at your finger tips! Hangout with the Author of JOY, fun, party and celebration. Let your cup overflow with His goodness.  His JOY is inexpressible and FULL OF GLORY!! As we are filled with His JOY (our strength) inexpressible, we will be FULL of His GLORY and be a walking encounter for all we come into contact with. Be filled with love in His presence. Be filled with JOY! Release His glory in the earth. Then we will RE-present Jesus to everyone around us!

Much Love!!!!

Jared

Over an 800yr period the Romans crucified 600,000 people,Only 1 came back to life.It split history into BC/AD.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (Msg)

“The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me.”

Eternal Life was initiated by death on a cross.  God’s One and Only Son dying for humanity.  Jesus initiated the Kingdom of God when He resurrected from the dead.  Sound absurd?  Read this poem by Brian Zahnd:

The Cross is a Scandal on Every Level

The Cross is a scandal on every level
A king with a crown of thorns
A death march processional
Acclamation by insult
It’s a macabre coronation

The Cross is a scandal on every level
You say he won a war?
You can’t win a war that way
You have to kill to win a war
Who could win a war that way?

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Love your enemy
Forgive your enemy
Reconcile your enemy
Whoever heard such madness?

The Cross is a scandal on every level
“Take up your cross and follow me”
No one would ever sign up for that
Promise me pleasure and riches
Don’t bid me come and die

The Cross is a scandal on every level
We’re promised glory and we’re given this
A kingdom to come and we get that
The glorious kingdom of a crucified king?
We want gold and silver, success and splendor

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Pharaoh did it first
Alexander did it great
Caesar did it best
But not a crucified conqueror

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Give us sword and shield
Something we can win with
Not outstretched arms
And a pierced side

The Cross is a scandal on every level
No wonder the followers fled
What is there left to follow?
It’s the ultimate dead end
It’s common sense to run from that

The Cross is a scandal on every level
You say it’s the road that leads to life?
It’s quite obvious it’s the way of death
And when you’re dead the story ends
Unless you believe what the silly women said

So what do you believe?  As I did with my last post, I will leave you with 1John 5:11-12 

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us ETERNAL LIFE and this LIFE is in the SON.  WHOEVER has the SON has LIFE; WHOEVER does not have the SON does not have life.”  

You got Him.. your good.  You don’t.. your not.  Jesus gave us the FREE GIFT of salvation.  He paid for it on the cross. 

Lovin’ LIFE

Jared

It is one of the most famous conversations in history.

It is one of the most well known one liners known to man.

It is identified on posters at sporting events.

Seen on bumper stickers and book covers.

Used so much and so well known, it has become cliche’ to most.

What are we talking about??  JOHN 3:16

You can most likely quote it, but let’s read it once again, slowly.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” ~Jesus

WHOA! What a promise! It almost sounds to good to be true, but it is Truth.  I love it!  Every since I was young, I desired to live forever.  The fountain of youth was what I desired.  I don’t want to die.  I want to live forever.  Not just forever, but like the kid says on The Sandlot, “FOR……EV……ER……”.  And Jesus said I can!  God is GOOD!  You must come to that realization.  He loves YOU!  I know, I know, hard to believe right?  You and I have messed up so much.  Our past is full of mistakes and secrets, but He loves us.  His love is unconditional.  That means He loves us no matter what!  If we believe in Jesus (He is God’s Son, Died for our sins, rose again, and saved us) and put our trust in Him to save us, we will live forever with Him!  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.”  All ways DO NOT lead to God (forget what Oprah says and the popular opinion of the day).  Only Jesus.  

One of the best words in here is “whoever”.   God has a whoever policy.  Whoever includes everybody!  Whoever unrolls the welcome mat of Heaven to humanity.  Whoever invites the world to God.  However He finds you, whenever, and wherever.  If I go visit my sister and she has a fresh pan of brownies on the counter, I will desire them to be in my belly!  If I ask who the brownies are for, I might get one of many answers: a friend, a birthday party, family reunion, whoever, etc.  If she says “whoever”, you better believe I’m reaching for a knife and a glass of milk!  Why? Because I am included in whoever.  You and I are included in God’s whoever policy.  Whoever believes will have eternal life!  WHOEVER includes YOU… FOREVER!!!

Jesus is the Author of Life.  He did not come to point the finger, but He came to save.  It is His will that NONE should perish.   John 10:10 Jesus says, “The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I have come to bring LIFE and more abundantly.”  I love this verse:  1 John 11-12 “And this is what God has testified: He has given us ETERNAL LIFE and this LIFE is in the SON.  WHOEVER has the SON has LIFE; WHOEVER does not have the SON does not have life.”  You got Him.. your good.  You don’t.. your not.  Jesus gave us the FREE GIFT of salvation.  He paid for it on the cross.  It’s like this:  I give you a free gift of 2.5 billion dollars and deposit it into your bank account.  Will you spend it??  You better believe it!!  Well, Jesus deposited the GIFT of  salvation, eternal life into your account.  It’s for you.  Will you spend it?  Will you LIVE on it??

JOHN 3:16   Read it again

It STARTS with GOD and ends with LIFE

Start with God today

I’m going to LIVE    FOR……EV…….ER……

Jared Montgomery

Just got back from L.A.  I had so much fun! I went to Laguna beach and Huntington beach.  I ate at In & Out, El Pollo Loco, Duke’s, and Randy’s donuts.  Most of my time was spent at Saddleback church in Orange County. 

The reason I went was to go tho the Celebrate Recovery Summit. http://www.celebraterecovery.com  We are excited to bring the youth version to thelink very soon!  Much more to come on this.  It was good to here what God is doing in this nation and around the world!  Lives are being changed one person at a time!!  The trip was fantastic. If you twitter I recommend you follow Rick Warren: www.twitter.com/rickwarren  More to come on what God is doing and speaking. Encouraging words and vision coming soon for you to read.  Websites to check out for encouragement etc…

Here are a few pictures!!

Love 

Jared

In a day where people hate their jobs, relationships, financial situation, etc.  I can’t help but say, I LOVE my life!  I’m quoting two young men who have a lot of fun in life, Sam and Lake (S-DOO and L-DOO).  ”I LOVE MY LIFE!!!”

Here is a list of reasons I love my life:

-Jesus. He gave me true LIFE. Life eternal. His Holy Spirit lives in me and gives me His life.  REAL life.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE!

-Last week was Dominion week at TheLink.  We unleashed 30 new youth leaders into the city and school, just in time for the school year.  Can somebody say HARVEST!?  Dominion was full of vision, Holy Ghost, connection, salvation, and DODGEBALL haha.

-TheLink is SOOOO GREAT!! I love them ALL!! 

-2 birthdays this week back to back! One of my BEST friends, Jessica Sears turned 23 and we had a great day with her! The next day was my sisters birthday and she is the BEST!

-Speaking of my sister, I love my family. I love her and her 2 boys, Dominique and Isaac!! I love my mom and my dad!  (Trying to talk my mom into a hawaii trip by the way….PRAY ha).

-I leave for L.A. Tuesday. That’s Exciting!! I have never been to California. I’m stoked

-I love my church, Cornerstone and Pastor Shawn. The whole staff and people are GREAT! Shout out to Neil!

There are so MANY MANY other reasons I love my life. Most of those are just recent things. The biggest reason I love my life is because Jesus saved my life and redeemed it eight summers ago.  I love His love, grace, mercy, kindness, faithfulness, joy, etc etc etc…  I haven’t had the easiest life or even past few months, but living the Life of God has changed my whole outlook on life. You can really find joy in the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Instead of being led just by circumstance, you can be led by Truth.  Led by the Word of God.  Circumstances and facts change, but Truth never changes.  Paul had been beaten, persecuted, imprisoned, stoned, left for dead and much more, yet listen to what he says in Philippians 4:11-13,    

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”

Jesus shows the Way, the Truth and the LIFE in every situation.  Jesus created life or is the Author of Life.  Jesus is the resurrection and the Life. He redeemed Life!  He made a way from death to Life.  This is Good News!  Jesus lived life to the fullest with the oil of joy on His life without measure.  Jesus on earth was so full of life, people flocked to Him in multitudes, like a magnet!  Jesus was so full of Life while walking on earth, that sickness left, demons fled, and the dead were raised.  If you want to experience true Life, experience the Author of Life, Jesus Himself! Your life will never be the same.  Then you can join the DOO crew and I in saying…

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!!

Enjoying LIFE, 

Jared Montgomery