I believe many Christians today are not striving for perfection in living a holy and godly life.  It is almost as if we have been told so long that we are never going to get there so quit trying.  This is not what the Bible teaches.  Jesus says be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.  In 2 Cor. 7:1 it says, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”  In Peter it says to Be Holy as God is Holy.

I have recently taught a series through 1 John and it says that John has written these things so that we may not sin.  But if we sin we have an advocate in Jesus Christ.  I know the scripture where it says we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and of course I agree with it.  But have you ever thought or even tried to go days without sinning.

Let me tell you a true story that happened over Christmas break.  My book had told a story about a woman named D.J. who had supposedly been involved in devil worship.  After 3 years of living a lie, after approving a book I wrote including her story, we find out that there were lies in her story.  I had never thought I would ever doubt God, but because I put so much faith into what God did for her, to find out I was deceived was devastating.  Many do not know what I dealt with mentally after that news.  I began questioning whether or not I have ever heard or seen God in my life.  Looking back this is absolutely foolish, but Satan knew exactly what it would take to get me questioning.  I have studied for years and I have seen God at work time and time again.  A spiritual mentor of mine said, “What has now been revealed about D.J. goes to prove that Satan had her all along and it was you he was after.”  The words could not have been stated better, but it still did not change my feelings.

Over Christmas break I needed to get away and spend some time with just me and God.  I planned a 7 day fast which was longer than I had ever fasted.  I rented a cabin in north central Florida and made plans to go.  I decided my life need some changes if I was going to hear God clearly.  My wife and I sat down one night before this trip and repented about all the things we have allowed and tolerated.  These were things where we quit striving for perfection and had allowed dishonesty and negativity to reside.  One night we openly repented and confessed these things before God.  After confessing and repenting that night, we went to those we have sinned against and made that right.

I will write in my next blog about my trip to the cabin, but just to tell you, I am hearing God loud and clear right now. 

You can go days without sinning and it is time we clean the temple (our lives) from all defilement and ungodliness.  It is time to strive for perfection in our lives one day at a time, challenging every thought and attitude we have.

I received an email from a man named Kevin recently and I have got to tell you that it just made my day.  As I have continued to do radio interviews, you never know who is listening.  Well, Kevin from Austria was listening and God was tugging on his heart.  Let me post the email.

I am at a point right now in my life where God is placing a more and more intense desire on my heart to plant churches.  I have been learning and studying the life of Christ and His church more than ever.  I want you to pray for me and my family in this, and pray for new opportunities.

I had the opportunity on Feb. 17 to be on the Good Life television program in central Florida about my book.  D.J., the lady out of the devil worshipping occult who was mentioned in my book, was with me on the interview.  I praise God for all the opportunities to share Christ and His power, but Satan is still working hard to keep the book from reaching the ears and hearts of so many.  The book is God’s and it is up to Him in what He does with it.

Praise God for how He leads and directs!

Serving Christ with you,

Travis Verge

I have recently been working through a personal question about me and my walk with Jesus.  Am I really sold out or completely surrendered to Jesus?  I have really noticed in America, some Christians are still very selfish and possessive including myself.  Some Christians go to church, but are not about community.  Some Christians follow Christ for what they get, and when their life of physical blessings gets threatened, they are not so sure about following Christ because they were told that whey would prosper in this world.  According to this thinking, the first century Christians must not have been Christians because they were not prosperous in this present world.

How could the people in the first few centuries die for their faith?  How could they watch their love ones get torchered?  How could they convert to Jesus knowing this is the price they will pay?  What did they teach that we are not teaching?  I believe the first answer is in the word Sacrifice.  They taught Christianity was about sacrifice, not prospering in this world.  They taught the responsibility of a slave or servant for that day was to do what his master said, and that was it.  As servants of Jesus our Master, we follow his will and that is it.

I believe the second answer is they lived their life to “BE” Jesus.  They wanted to be him and had an intense passion and drive to do so, even to their death.  They knew Jesus and did everything to be him to everyone in every situation.  How else could Paul say he wanted to share in the sufferings of Jesus, being conformed to His death?  He had such an intense desire to be Jesus, that it included death if he was so priviledged.  This is a different attitude than for today’s followers.

When Jesus was calling followers, he expected complete sell out.  This was the case with each apostle that left their jobs and their families (like James and John leaving their father and dropping their nets).  The rich man who had kept the commandments but was not willing to sell all he had was not allowed to follow.  Would you sell all you had?  Would you walk away sad?  I never see following Jesus in the scriptures as half-hearted.  To Jesus you are either all in or all out.  You wither follow Him or you don’t.

We are coming to times where things are going to be hard for the church.  We need to be ready by living a simple life and having money and time to help others.  Barnabas sold property to supply the needs of those in the early church.  You must be willing to sell possessions if called on.  Being able to say “whats mine is yours” is important in not allowing possessions to be more important than people.  A sold out Christian will be noticed and needed in times of suffering.  Jesus did not call us to be rich in this present world, but to be Jesus through sacrifice.  Are you up for the challenge!!

I just came from an unbelievable night with teens from our youth group.  We have an accountability group called Friends every other Friday night.  We meet in a vacant house, and that is a story in and of itself.  Trust me, we are not trespassing, we know the owners.

Tonight we spent some time reading scriptures of encouragement to each other.  Our focus was on having an attitude like that of Christ.  It is so easy to get negative in this world and to focus on ourselves instead of Christ.  What an encouragement to listen to God’s word come out of the mouths of 14 through 19 year olds.  I had been praying that the Spirit would move us and God did not let us down.

After we heard God’s word, I had told the group that from my recent study of church history, the tradition was the church would pray together with their hands up and eyes looking to the heavens.  It is hard to be prideful in this posture.  It reminds me of a child reaching up to his/her father because they need him.  We needed to be reminded that we are in need of God and all things are in His control.  One of our youth mentioned we should pray together outside, so we did.  We all moved to this vacant house’s fenced in back yard.  We got in a circle and the praying began.  Our prayers started with praise towards God, but then it moved to more personal prayers.  It was amazing to hear some of our youth pray openly about their struggles, and then immediately afterwards to have someone else in the circle pray specifically for the person who had just been open.  We all were just talking to God with some conviction and some laughter.  This time led into singing and worship as a girl in our group started a song entitled Lord Be There in the midst of her prayer.  It could not have been more appropriate at that time.  There were tears, open hearts, and teens not caring about what others thought, but everyone allowing God’s Spirit to be free.  After the song, more prayers and more worship.  The hour could have lasted all night.  No one wanted it to end.

It ended as we all huddled together under the stars and I closed us in prayer.  After we all went back inside to get ready to leave knowing that we had just encountered God with our closest friends, conversations took place to mend friendships and to care for those who were really struggling.

This was a night none of us will forget.  Don’t ever underestimate teens who submit themselves to the Almighty God, and let go of what people think!!  To God be PRAISED!!

God is so amazing.  Just recently, God opened the door for me to lead a bible study for teenagers in a juvenile counseling home where teens are there by court order.  I went there on Oct. 10th to study and I had 15 teens attend a volunteer study with me.  What an experience!!  These young men were so respectful and it was obvious that God had opened the door for me to do this.  I have to admit, I was not real thrilled to do this at first, but I was willing to give this a chance.

My first class, I taught these young men about the uniqueness of the Bible regardless of whether they believe it is inspired.  It should at least be read because it is the best selling book of all time.  I discussed and proved Jesus as a man in history outside of the Bible and I discussed with them the chances of Jesus being who he claimed to be versus a liar or crazy lunatic.  I was amazed that not 1 person knew the first verse of the Bible.  I tried to help them saying, “In the beginning” and one guy replied, “In the beginning the big bang happened.”  He was not joking, this is what he thought.  I have my work cut out for me.

As we were all leaving they were discussing who had a Bible so that they could read it that night.  These hearts were open to God!!

Next week we are studying the Deity of Christ and salvation, because I had 2 of these young men already requesting to be immersed (baptized).  I cannot wait to see how God is going to continue to work.

I will keep you updated on the situation.  I just went out and bought them all real nice Bibles as they start their journey of faith.  I cannot wait to give it to them.

My book is continuing to be bought and read.  If you enjoyed the book, leave me feedback on my blog and if you bought it from a store, go to their website and give your feedback for future readers.

Thanks for your prayers and God Bless

I was on a few hour long interviews recently.  You can check them out on the Xzone website and brucedcollins.com.

We have just returned from a much needed vacation with my family.  I willl be back to work on Sept. 15th. 

Continue to tell your friends about my book and leave me your thoughts and questions, and I will not post them unless you do not mind.

Pray for my family and some major decisions we are making right now.

Travis

Here is the link:

http://www.raidersnewsnetwork.com/full.php?news=18647

Dear Travis verge

I have heard of you through a radio show in the uk, recently.  I have heard of your account of your help with someone with a problem of bad spirits.  Unfortunately, I have this problem in my house.  It is mainly affecting my sister and myself.  It has been here all our lives, although only last few years it has made its presence known, although my sister has been affected since she was a child.  It attacks us through scratches and bruises, stealing items from us and worse.  I have endeavoured to gain help through a priest who deals with these things, but unfortunately they lived out of this city and it fell through due to other complications.  I have also tried help from the relegion of my parents, but this has not worked.  I came across a church which we now attend and they have said that this will take time.  I am in deep despair, is there anything you can advise?