Trees Planted By The Water

Finish The Race With Prayer

2011-12-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

If you'd rather see the video of this message, it may be found HERE. (MP3 is also available.) Find the listing for April 3, 2011.

This article is used with permission.

FINISH THE RACE WITH PRAYER
by Carter Conlon

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:22–24).

Considering these words of Jesus, one cannot help but wonder why it is so hard for many of God’s people to pray. After all, if we truly believed these three verses of Scripture, wouldn’t we be running into the prayer closet every day? Wouldn’t prayer be the very essence of our life? Imagine having a friend with a billion dollars tell you, “Whenever you have a need, call me and it will be yours.” Don’t you think you would dial that number once in a while? Yet we have the very God of the universe saying, “I will move anything out of your way that hinders you. I will give you all you desire if you pray and believe.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to finish the race with prayer. I have seen the fruit of prayer in great measure over the years, but I never want to get to the point of concluding that I have received enough. If God has more of His life for me, more ways that He can glorify Himself through me, I would be a fool to stop praying and start relying on something other than the words that come from the very heart of God.

So why is it so hard to pray? Obviously the devil is against prayer. All through the Scriptures we see what happened as a result of prayer—babies were conceived in barren wombs, the old were made strong, the miraculous abounded—so, of course, Satan is going to oppose us whenever we decide to pray. However, is it possible that there is something in our own hearts that hinders us as well?

OUR OWN HEARTS CONDEMN US

I believe that many people cannot pray because they constantly feel condemned. Imagine how difficult it would be to visit a friend who always magnified your faults and criticized your most sincere efforts. Although you come in happy, suddenly your spirits are dampened as this friend starts pointing out everything that you are not doing right.

Have you ever encountered something similar in the prayer closet? When I was a young Christian, I had a difficult time with this. If I prayed fifty-eight minutes, I would walk away and a small voice would say, “What? Could you not pray with Me one hour?” If I prayed an hour and five minutes, the voice would say, “Is that all of the twenty-four hours of your day that you can spare for the Lord?”

Of course, this constant condemnation was from my own heart, although it is easy for us to mistakenly attribute such thoughts to God. Because of this, we enter the prayer closet in a manner much like Peter in Acts 10. The Scripture says that Peter went up on a rooftop, and as he began to pray, a sheet was let down by its four corners and contained all kinds of unclean beasts, birds and insects. This is exactly what our prayer life can be like—as we go into that secret place and get on our knees to pray, immediately a sheet comes down containing all our failings, faults, struggles and shortcomings.

Does this sound familiar? All the things you did wrong, all the places where you fell short as a Christian, all these little things come to your mind—as if that is all God remembers. However, notice that the Lord instructed Peter, “Rise, Peter; kill, and eat” (Acts 10:13). In other words, “Be nourished, Peter. Strengthen yourself during this time of revelation that I am giving to you.” Peter insisted, “No, I can’t do that because there is such uncleanness here.” In a similar way, many people today cannot grow in grace or lay hold of the promises of God because of a constant awareness of their uncleanness.

The Lord replied to Peter, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:15). When we go into the prayer closet, we must understand that we have been cleansed from all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, and we are not to call ourselves unclean anymore. The Bible says that in Christ we are the righteousness of God. In other words, we are as clean as God is—which would actually seem almost blasphemous if it were not written in the Scriptures.

I thank God for the covering of the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God that I do not have to be strong to go into the prayer closet. As a matter of fact, the book of Hebrews tells me that it is in my time of need that I should go to the throne of God. It is when I need strength, direction, empowerment and help that I should go boldly to the throne of grace (see Hebrews 4:16). As His children, we have an open invitation to come into the presence of our heavenly Father.

Remember that the apostle Paul said, “Be careful for nothing...” In other words, do not be weighed down; do not let the enemy or your own heart condemn you. “...but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). How can we come into the prayer closet with thanksgiving if we do not believe that we are already received of God? We must be convinced that it is God’s delight to manifest the life of His Son in us—to give us the things that we need to represent Him on the earth. That is the key to praying with thanksgiving.

ASKING AMISS

Another reason we may have difficulty praying is because our desires are not in line with God’s desires for us. “...Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:2–3). You and I are left on the earth to make known the love of God—the love that sent His Son to a cross—and to glorify the Son. Christ bought the redemption, but we are to bring the reality of that redemption—the reality of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Yet when we forget this purpose, we ask amiss, and then we wonder why our prayers are not answered.

Think for a moment of what can result when we pray in line with God’s desires. When the 120 came out of the Upper Room in the Book of Acts, God had supplied them with the strength that they had prayed for—a supernatural strength that replaced mountains of fear and unbelief. There they were, 120 predominantly uneducated people, simply bursting into the marketplace among those who still had the blood of anger on their lips toward followers of Jesus Christ. Yet these disciples were filled with boldness and the presence of God.

The Greek word megaleios means they were speaking of the anticipated outworking of the inward life of God. They were speaking about what God was going to do, what He had given them, the faith that was alive in their hearts. The religious looked at this and essentially said, “Wow! There is nothing of our religion that has ever given us anything like this! What must we do to be saved?”

Or consider the story in Genesis 24 where Abraham told his servant to go back to his country and find a bride for his son Isaac. This servant journeyed out to the land of Abraham’s family and prayed, “Lord, if You have prospered my journey, and if You are going to be favorable to my master, lead me to the bride for his son” (see Genesis 24:12–14).

The Scripture says that before he was done speaking, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder (Genesis 24:15) before he was done speaking! This servant had traveled a long distance, was in a very large place among a crowd of strangers, and did not even know where Abraham’s family was. However, he prayed, and the miraculous began to unlock. I thank God that Abraham’s servant was not a strategist. I thank God there were no phone books or cell phones available. In that generation he did what every man should do—he prayed! And when he prayed, God sovereignly began to answer that prayer. Rebekah was grafted into the lineage of Jesus Christ, and from this came Jacob, the patriarchs of Israel, and ultimately the Son of God Himself. What incredible results we see when we do not ask amiss.

FEAR OF WHAT GOD MAY ASK

Many times we cannot pray because we are unwilling to follow the pathway that may open up before us. We are afraid that God is going to ask something of us that we are not willing to give up. In Acts 8, we read the account of a man named Philip who had a marvelous ministry in Samaria. Multitudes were being saved and healed and even the original apostles had taken notice of his ministry. Yet, while in prayer, Philip was asked to leave what most would view as security and success—all to go to a barren place, into a situation he did not understand.

You and I tend to have a view of what our lives should be and what success is. Therefore we are not willing to go into the prayer closet lest God ask us to do something that is not on our agenda. That is why some churches today are filled with people who are simply using Jesus Christ to further their own agenda rather than the will of God.

Philip chose to obey God and left Samaria for a desert place. It was in that desert that he experienced a miracle—a man of authority from Ethiopia being brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. After baptizing this Ethiopian eunuch, the Scripture says that Philip was translated by the Spirit of God. The Lord just took him and placed him in another city about thirty miles away! Obedience to leave what we view as success can actually be what opens to us the supernatural.

Of course, that does not mean that once we have a willingness to obey, we suddenly understand the full picture. God simply calls us to take that first step of obedience by faith. Philip’s obedience brought the gospel—the first record we have of the gospel of Jesus Christ—into the northern parts of Africa. As we walk in obedience to the will of God and our desires are in line with His, we have the right to come into the prayer closet and say, “Lord, I need this” and suddenly we see the miraculous begin to unfold.

Later in the book of Acts we find the story of a disciple named Ananias. As Ananias was praying one day, God said to him, “There is a man called Saul of Tarsus staying down at his house on Straight Street. I want you to go down and lay hands on him. I am going to heal him and fill him with the Holy Ghost” (see Acts 9:11–12). Ananias essentially replied, “Lord, is this the same Saul that has done great harm to Your people in Jerusalem? I have heard that he has authority from the priests to put in prison all who call upon Your name. Now You are asking me to go lay hands on this man?”

Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed the word he received in prayer. As he prayed for Paul, scales fell from Paul’s eyes and he soon began to go out and preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ. Thank God for Ananias’ obedience! What if he had not obeyed God—if he had gone into the prayer closet and pushed out of his mind everything that was detrimental to his own safety and security?

I cannot get over the thought of the incredible, explosive power that is available if we have the courage to go to prayer and ask, “Lord, what would You have me to do?”—and then have a heart that is willing to obey whatever God asks of us.

SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN

Just preceding our opening Scripture (Mark 11:22), Jesus had cursed a fig tree that had an appearance of fruitfulness but was actually barren. He had come to what was a type of religion, a type of a relationship with God. He looked for life on it, but there was none. The fig tree represents everything within us that has no ability to let the power and strength of Jesus be manifested through us to others—everything in us that hinders, everything that does not represent the life of God, all that falls short of His glory. Remember, it was fig leaves that Adam and Eve used to cover themselves in the Garden of Eden. You and I have the power in Christ to curse this—to speak to this area in our own hearts and say, “No longer will you govern me.”

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23). Jesus said we have the authority to speak not only to the fig tree but also to the mountain. The mountain is the soil—that which gives life and allows things that do not represent God to survive. We have the power to cast into the sea everything that feeds this powerlessness and allows God look-alikes to flourish in our lives. We can cast them away and expect God to replace them with what we need to glorify Him on the earth.

In other words, whatever the devil has said you cannot do, whatever your own heart says will never change, whatever fear there is within you—that is the mountain. That is where you must stand and say, “I do not believe the lie—I believe what Jesus has spoken. Today I speak to this mountain, and I command it in the name of Jesus Christ to be cast away from me and planted in the midst of the sea!”

It is time to have faith in God. It is time to pray and expect the Lord to answer. Oh, what an hour to rise up and be the Church again! What an hour to go into the prayer closet with boldness despite all our weaknesses and come out with the strength of God. What an hour to have a clear mind, a clean heart, a fresh vision for the future, new strength that comes from God alone. What an hour to be equipped with the power of God.

Thank God that as we come to Him in faith, He will hear our prayers and give us strength. He will open our mouths to speak His Word. He will vanquish our enemies, endow us with giftings that we do not naturally have and enable us to face the days that we are living in now. There is going to be a new song in our hearts, and we are going to finish the race with prayer!

Carter Conlon
©2011 Times Square Church

Jospeh's Temptation

2011-11-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

A minister, by the name of Alistair Begg, had this message playing on a radio broadcast while a daughter and I were returning home, on a road trip.
It's a very good message, on how to respond to temptation. It can be found HERE, and is used by permission.

Take time to listen to it, share it with your sweet family, with your youth group.
It will help to make a difference in your lives.

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Father, HELP US to have the same commitment and courage to respond to temptation as did your servant Joseph. In Jesus' Name.

The Day That Jesus Left His Friends

2011-11-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

THE DAY THAT JESUS LEFT HIS FRIENDS
by Carter Conlon
This article is used by permission, and can be found at:http://www.tscnyc.org/

I am so thankful for friends and fellowship in the body of Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to be able to encourage one another, to spur each other on to continue in the faith, to have a word that might help lift another’s burden. The Bible clearly exhorts us not to forsake assembling together— in even greater measure as we see the Lord’s return drawing nearer (see Hebrews 10:25). Yes, I have enjoyed many marvelous moments of friendship over the years. Nevertheless, I also have found that God often calls me to a place where I must journey alone.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:26–30).

Here we see fellowship around a table, with Jesus openly declaring His intent to obey the calling of His Father, regardless of the personal cost. He was essentially telling them, “As you see this bread broken, I am going to be broken for you. Not only for you, but for all people who will turn to God through Me. Just as you see this juice being poured out, My blood is going to be spilled upon the ground for the redemption of all humanity.”

I am sure many of us have openly declared our desire to obey God to the fullest. We have gone to an altar and prayed, “Oh, God, take me the full journey; use my life for Your glory. Make me into what You want me to be!”

Six months after praying a prayer like that, you may have found yourself screaming, “Lord, what are you doing to me?” And the Lord answers, “Well, I am just answering your prayer. You said you wanted to take up your cross and follow Me, so that is what you are doing!” It is not merely a theological cross that you take up, of course. There must be a practical inward and outward working of it.

UNFULFILLED PROMISES

“Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended...Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:31–35).

We have all had friends say, “I am in this with you; we are going over the finish line together!” I cannot help but wonder if, in this context, Jesus was tempted to lean on His friends for this final and most pivotal part of His earthly journey. Hebrews 4:15 tells us Jesus fully understands and feels our struggles and weaknesses, for He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” The God side of Jesus Christ could not be tempted, but the man side of Him could be.

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy” (Matthew 26:36–37). Jesus was approaching that final moment when He would give His life for all the sins of humanity. Into this place of prayer He chose to take Peter, James and John—His closest friends on earth, His inner circle. They had seen His transformation; they had been with Him when He raised the dead—they knew who He was.

As Jesus took them into the garden of Gethsemane with Him, He shared with them the agony of His heart. “...My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). In other words, “I am going into a time of intense agony, and I am asking you to be with Me. I am asking for your support, your prayer, your help. You promised Me that you would not deny Me. You promised Me that you would stand with Me, even unto death. You promised Me that no matter how difficult it got, you would not walk away from Me. Now I am asking you to stay here with Me.”

Jesus went a little farther beyond them into the garden and began to pray, His sweat dripping as blood because of the agony that lay ahead. I find it very interesting because He then got up and went back to His inner circle. Although Jesus was seeking strength from His Father—the only source of true strength—He also went back to His disciples. When He found them asleep, He said to Peter, “...What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40). Do you think Jesus could have been tempted to be disillusioned, perhaps even bitter, with His friends? He could have been tempted to question Peter, James and John, “After pouring My heart and life into you for over three years, could you not have given Me one hour when I needed you most?”

During our journey, there will be places where God calls us to go individually. However, it is during those times that we will often be faced with the temptation to lean on our friends. While we theologically know that our only source of strength is God, we all have the human tendency to come back and lean on people. You and I run into a crisis and go into the prayer closet—yet we are not even halfway through our prayers when suddenly we are on the telephone calling somebody seeking counsel. We are looking for strength from God, but we also are looking to people for what only God can give. And there is a temptation in the heart to get bitter when we are looking in a dual place.

Remember that the Bible says, “...Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm...” (Jeremiah 17:5). Flesh will always fail. As wonderful as fellowship is, as wonderful as the promises that we have made to each other are, we simply are not capable of keeping those promises, for we are all built of the same frail cloth. The disciples were not at a place in their spiritual journey where they could share in or understand what Jesus was asking them to do.

“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy” (Matthew 26:42–43). I see this as a last backward glance for the help of man. After all, why did Jesus come back a second time instead of just staying there to pray? It is as if He simply was looking for help, for companionship, for strength—only to find His disciples asleep.

It is only my opinion, but I believe that the Father in His mercy put them to sleep, for it was the strength of God alone that could take Jesus on this last and final step of His journey. There are times in our lives when God calls each child of His into his or her own Gethsemane, and nobody else can understand it; nobody else can help them there. People may offer words of encouragement and promise, but ultimately they will end up asleep because it is not their moment.

NECESSARY WOUNDS

A specific tree in Israel normally yields large amounts of fruit, yet sometimes it starts bearing less than it should. In our natural compassion we would start reading manuals about how to encourage this tree, how to go around the root system, how to give it certain types of fertilizer to help it grow and bear more fruit. Yet the true keeper of the vineyard comes with a huge machete in his hand and literally hacks the tree full swing on the side, causing the sap within to bleed out. At that point the tree has only two choices—it either goes down deep to find water or it dies. Most of the trees go down deep and eventually the wound heals because it finds itself in a root system drawing water from depths that ordinary trees cannot reach.

Similarly, if you desire to walk as Jesus did, you will not escape the classroom of being wounded. People you trusted will fall short. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend...” Faithful. Did you know that God will even assign people to wound you—to fail you, to fall short of what you think friendship should be—in order to get your roots to go down deeper? Are you convinced that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose? (See Romans 8:28.) We tend to spend so much time rehearsing wounds of the past that we fail to understand that God is the author of these things in order that we might bear much fruit in His kingdom.

“And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words” (Matthew 26:44). Jesus left them! There simply comes a point when you have to leave your friends. You must leave this reliance on flesh and move into that place where the Holy Spirit is calling you—a place deeper and farther than natural man can go. It might even be a small journey from where you are today—just a small step. It does not mean that you leave your friends behind. It means that you come back and are more committed to them than ever.

RETURNING IN POWER

The last part of the journey is where you and I are called to be fully given for all people in spite of their response to us. Nobody but God can give us the strength to go to that place—to the place where we come back. The Scripture says that Jesus left the disciples, and when He later returned, He said to them, “...Sleep on now...” (Matthew 26:45). Jesus was not looking for strength from them, but instead He returned with the strength of God in Himself for them.

Note that when Jesus came back this third time, He was not bitter or indifferent. In fact, the fellowship was about to become sweeter. Genuinely sweet fellowship in the church of Jesus Christ is when I am not looking for anything from you, nor are you looking for anything from me. Instead, we are both given for each other. That is the sweetest fellowship there is.

Jesus Himself said, “No one that the Father has given me is going to perish except the son of perdition” (see John 17:12). Chosen to wound Him; chosen to betray Him—that was all part of the plan of God. Yet how many people fail at this point? How many get saved, walk with God, attend Bible studies, embrace the Scriptures, sing the hymns of Zion, but fail right at the finish line because they cannot accept that this kingdom is all about being given for other people? It is all about a God who is good to the unthankful and the unholy; who sends rain on the just and on the unjust. We are called to represent Him in the earth, yet how can we do so if we do not carry the heart of God within us? How will we ever make a difference unless we have been empowered by God Himself to come back and, whether or not it is ever reciprocated, be given for all people?

Remember that Jesus had to endure the betrayal of all His disciples, who fled in fearfulness. Yet God ultimately brought Him to a point where He could come back and enter an upper room full of those who had denied Him and simply say, “...Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). Jesus then breathed on His disciples, saying, “...Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22), and sent them out as the Father had sent Him.

And what do they end up doing? They go back to their fishing! Nevertheless, Jesus returned to them and was on the shore baking bread and cooking fish—calling them in, talking about love. He had come to a place where He was fully given for His friends.

LETTING GO OF GRIEVANCES

It is time for us to leave behind those moments when we were failed by the people we needed. Perhaps for you it was parents in your youth, a marriage partner who walked out, or church leaders who disappointed you. Whatever the circumstance, you must get beyond the grievances of man—beyond harboring and nurturing in your mind the failures of humanity.

Over the years I have seen that many people never get beyond that point. They sit in church, but when you dig down deep, it becomes apparent that they still have an inner grievance against people, particularly those they once considered to be their friends in church. They can still sing the songs, still clap their hands and say, “Praise the Lord”—as long as the one who betrayed them stays about five feet away. Their fellowship becomes selective, and they start seeking out people they believe will not hurt them again. Unfortunately, they do not realize how far short of the glory of God they have fallen.

When we choose to press in to find the strength that only God can give, we will no longer have our list of grievances. Instead, we will have a heart that says, “Slap my face if you will, but by the power of God I shall be given for all people. Put me in jail, laugh me out of the workplace, but God has given me the strength to be given for others.”

There is a time when we must leave our friends for just a moment and find strength that can come only from God. God forbid that in this hour you and I should stop just near the end of the journey—that short distance of going from leaning on people to coming back in the power of God.

When we return in the power of God, we do not come back aloof or with resentment toward others. We come back ready to be given for all men, even our enemies. We are no longer looking to draw from others, and therefore we return to experience a fellowship that is much deeper and sweeter—the true fellowship of Christ!

Carter Conlon
©2011 Times Square Church

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Father, thank You for HELPING US to lean upon YOUR EVERLASTING ARMS, in Jesus' Name.

I AM is speaking....

2011-10-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

God said: CRY (The prophets answered) What shall I cry?

My prophets do not come forth from their abodes,with their learning, and their own desires. My prophets come forth from My PRESENCE.

From the hidden, Secret Place - the wilderness, the desert and Secret Places. My prophets depend on Me and speak only what I say.

Not religion - not according to men’s ways, wants or desires. I, the Lord, bring forth Light. I am the Sustainer of all Living. I breathe on My Creation - It Lives.

Watch, Watch. I shall speak at the appointed time, with Divine Visitation, Divine Words for a world of appointed people.

My prophets see, hear, speak, think as I do. They speak My heart.

Return to your first Love. Return, return, repent, call for My cleansing, healing, refreshing, Life, presence. Call, sin is exposed, nakedness appears. Don’t hide in darkness. Come to Me and live. I am the Savior, Restorer, Life Giver. I am the Gracious Father God. I forgive, I heal, I Love, I Save. Come Children, Come to Me.

All have sinned and come short of the Glory of My Presence, but My Love has brought forth a Savior, My Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

You are tired, weary, beaten, broken, sick, sad, disappointed, heavy with care. Come, My weary people, to Me. I am moved with compassion for you.

I gave My Life-Blood and was raised from the dead for you.
The enemy of the cross of Calvary, ravishes, lies, captivates, but call, cry, come. I set you free.
My arms of Love, Healing and Keeping are for you!
Come,. Come to Me!!

I speak, I thunder among satans loud bashing, brazen parade of destruction that he peddles. In the highways and by ways to the lost, dying, starving souls of humanity. He promises them everything and gives them DEATH. They speak death, sing death, thinks death, they wear death on their bodies, the marks of satan. They run to death, they revel in death, plunging into eternity, entangled in the death windings of satan. On the brink of hell, eternity, lost.

I cry aloud in the midst of the worlds last days, “Come to Me and be saved.” I cry to humanity, I cry to souls, I cry to a backslidden people. I cry to a cold, fornicating, adulterous church. “Your time is short!” I cry to you, “Cry out to Me, Come, Repent, Return, Recover.”

My prophets will say it, pray it, shout it. My prophets will sting the flesh, shake the soul, trouble the spirit saying, “Repent, Come, Return!”

Love cries to all. COME!

The Sabbath

2011-10-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is, by far, the best article I've ever seen on the subject of "The Sabbath."
It was retrieved from: http://www.jackhayford.org/articles1-473/TheSabbath

The Sabbath
by Jack Hayford

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. - Genesis 2:2-3

What a memory it is. I have never had my wife take a knife and hold it up in front of me except on that day. She wasn't going to stab me, but Anna was, in fact, preparing lunch in our kitchen, and when she made this point, she pounded a knife she was using on the butcher block. It was not characteristic of my wife to make a point that way, and eventually, we both started laughing.

"You cannot do this summer like that again!" She was talking about how I'd planned our vacations for the first twenty years of our life in ministry. I would accept speaking engagements at conferences, and our family would all pack up, get in the car and go. The kids would meet other kids and have fun. It was great travel. We went all over the country doing this, and en route we'd go to Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon, or stop at places in the Midwest. We did this summer after summer. The kids never complained; it was a way of life. That's all they ever knew. Anna had never complained.

But this day, she'd finally said to me, "You're crazy if you think that's a rest." Her concern wasn't that we hadn't enjoyed our vacations together; her concern was for my well-being. We were, by this time, seven years deep in the phenomenon of The Church On The Way, and, without a proper time of rest, the enormous miracle of God taking place at our church was also taking a toll on me. Our home had begun to feel the pressure, and Anna was right; there was a need for a break that was truly a rest.

That summer, I took time to really look into the issue of the Sabbath in the Scriptures. I began with the Ten Commandments, where I realized God not only said for us to observe it because He did, but also He declared a blessing if we would.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God...For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. - Exodus 20:8-11

Friend, let me ask you a question: What do you think about the Sabbath? The question is important because we often forget that the Sabbath isn't merely a suggestion; it's a commandment. So let's look at some of the most commonly asked questions concerning it.

Which day of the week should the Sabbath be observed?

I believe it's been a classic ruse of the enemy to focus the Sabbath question on the difference of opinion or tradition as to which day of the week it is observed. The Bible says in Romans 14:5-6 that argument is unnecessary. Speaking to Gentiles during the early Church's controversy over historical religious observances, the Apostle Paul makes clear that it isn't which specific day we observe, but that we observe a day.

The basic idea of "Sabbath" is "to cease or rest," literally "to stop." The idea is beautifully expressed in the word "intermission" as the interruption of one's own effort. That definition comes from the meaning of the Hebrew word in the original language of Scripture. As God modeled for us at creation, He is saying that His people must observe one day in seven as a day of rest from their own labors-a day for a change of pace.

What's the Sabbath for?

That the Sabbath be "sanctified," that is, set apart unto the Lord, does not mean in and of itself that the Sabbath was intended to be the day we go to church or even a day dedicated to worship. Worship is a way of life, an attitude of heart, not a one-day-in-seven mindset. Sanctification has to do with the restoration of wholeness, "holiness," to our lives; it isn't something we do to improve ourselves or try to earn points with God.

So if the focus of the Sabbath isn't worshiping God, then what's it for? It's for the purpose of altering our usual pattern in order that something regenerative, renewing, and re-creative would take place in us physically, mentally, and spiritually. That we would be restored to the wholeness God intends for us-in relationship with Him, in our behavior, in our bodies and minds, and in everything we do. That incorporates the need to be in His presence, it incorporates what we think of as worship expressions, and it incorporates time in His Word. It could incorporate "church," but we don't need to be in church for 24 hours in order to fulfill the Sabbath.

Do Christians still need to observe the Sabbath?

The Lord sanctified and blessed the Sabbath before the Law (the Ten Commandments) was established. Then in the Law, He reaffirmed it and indicated it is a high priority issue with Him. The New Testament has not dismantled that. Jesus makes it clear that we don't keep the Law in order to be acceptable before God or redeemed in His sight, but having been redeemed and restored to Him, the Law is significant for its practical, purposeful value in our lives. In fact, Jesus declares in the Gospel of Matthew that He comes not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, and that whoever breaks the commandments shall be called "least in the kingdom of heaven" (5:17-19).

Rather than mere legalism, God is saying to us: You can't live without a Sabbath. You can't survive effectively in this portion of My creation called Earth unless you observe a day set apart. You need the rest, you need the change, and you need the transformation that comes about because of it.

Why did God observe the Sabbath?

In that summer season when my precious wife brought this matter to my attention, the Lord showed me what an idolatrous (and that's a tough word to use) thing it was to suppose I could survive with strength and effectiveness without observing one of the fundamental ordinances God had set forth. I was 42 years old and still feeling the vibrancy of youth. I didn't feel I needed to take a day of rest. So God asked me, "Jack, do you think I observed the Sabbath because I was tired?" Of course not. The Creator did it to model the Sabbath for us.

That was a revelation. God was not telling me to observe a change of pace because I was tired, but because I am human. To try to live any other way is to presume I can serve Him on my own terms and in my own strength.

How can I take time for the Sabbath when there's so much to do?

One of the most common arguments we have for not taking a day of rest is that we have so much work to do. When the Bible says the Lord blessed the Sabbath, He illustrated it in the distribution of the miracle of the manna. For six days the manna appeared on the ground. God told His people they would find and gather twice as much on the sixth day, and the next day, it wouldn't appear. He wanted to see if they would obey Him. Still, there were those who witnessed the miracle, and yet went out looking for it on the seventh day. Some of us continue to do that.

We are provided with direct guidelines in Scripture in which the Lord says, "If you'll do this, I'll bless it." The Sabbath is one of them. Over the years, I've come to learn that when I don't observe my Sabbath, my other days are not as productive. When I observe it, He blesses the rest of my days. It's like tithing. You give a tenth to the Lord, and He multiplies the rest beyond what it would be if it included that tenth. When you observe the one day in seven, He'll bless you with more wholeness and productivity than you could possibly attain by not taking a day of rest.

Enter into His rest

The concept of entering into the "rest of the Lord" summons our whole being-heart, mind, and body. Taking a "Sabbath break" is not only one day out of the week. In the Old Testament, there were assigned seasons of feasts in which God's people observed an "intermission" of their work. Some feasts were heart-searching, and others were just plain festive.

The Sabbath is woven through all of Scripture and carries covenant with it. Not the covenant of salvation but the covenant of refreshing on God's terms. In chapter four of Hebrews, the writer develops the whole episode of Israel's failure in the wilderness-a generation perished there, and the explanation given is that "they refused to enter into My rest."

The "rest of the Lord" is the place of being sustained by His power, of dependency on what He can do beyond what you or I can do-the place where we recognize He is the One who makes it happen. It's the covenant of possessing the land of His promised purpose in us by His power, not by our energy.

God's Word says there is a need for these times of breaking with routine. We are commanded to rest, whether we're talking about one day a week or a season of vacation. I thank Him for that day in the kitchen with Anna that brought this great commandment (and blessing) of God into purposeful, practical perspective for me.

Now I hope I've done that for you.

Copyright © 2009 by Jack W. Hayford, Jack Hayford Ministries

Three Keys To Releasing Life

2011-08-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

For those that may not know who this man is, his name is Jack Hayford. Use to be a professor of mine while in college, later became our pastor for part of the time we lived in California. A brilliantly gifted man, compassionate minister, and teaches with God's heart, as well as the chansellor of a college that is based from the church he and his wife founded.

Pastor Hayford has a place on facebook that I've recently found....what a pleasant surprise. "Jack Hayford Ministries." He's offered a series on his Spirit Formed video ministry called "Three Keys To Releasing Life", that would really bless anyone that would wish to spend some time feeding your heart. There are three in this series:
The title of each of them are:
#1. Finding Release For A Strained Relationship
#2. Release From Tortured Circumstances
#3. Life-Long Release From Financial Bondage

Three Keys to Releasing Life

If you are interested, click on the link above. They are each only 30 minutes in length, and will encourage you and make a difference in your life. Two are made available at this time....I'm waiting for the third.

God Bless YOU!!!
Sharon

Obama's Plan to Sodomize America

2011-08-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

White House being struck by lightening on Easter Sunday, 2011.

Sharon here,

This article I'm showing on my blog is authored by Noah W. Hutchings, is used here by permission, it was printed on the "Prophetic Observer" August 2011-Vol18, No. 8 Edition.

This is from Southwest Radio Ministries
P.O. Box 100
Bethany, Oklahoma 73008

While I am reproducing this article, it is not my intent to bring a doom & gloom message, nor do I use my blog as a political forum, but, again, to alert the CHURCH NOW to rise up and pray like she never has before, and to be who God has called her to be. She is to be a faithful watchman and make a difference while we are "occupying" this planet, this nation. We are to be the SALT and LIGHT of this globe. We're still here, we've not been taken to be with the Lord, yet, during these last and trying days. We're to make a difference with every breath we breathe, and every place we put our feet, and everything we put our hands to, by the help and grace of the Lord, in Jesus' Name.

Right?

Even though I've heard bits and pieces of these news items, Mr. Hutchings has done a good job at compiling the things he's used in writing the article.

So, please keep these things in mind, while you read, if you so choose to at this point. This is NOT the ONLY threat to our nation, but after reading this article, I hope it will renew your zeal for prayer.

Kindest Regards,
Sharon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Obama's Plan to Sodomize America

One of the first official acts of Barack Obama upon becoming president of the United States was to issue a proclaimation designating June, the traditional month of brides, as LGBT (or homosexual) Month. According to Obama this was done to honor this minority segment of the U.S. population (1.7%) as this nation's most important citizens. The full text of the proclamation was carried in the June 27, 2009, edition of San Francisco Pride. The reason for dedicating a month to honor homosexuals was stated in the opening sentence:

LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] Americans have made and continue to make great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society; LGBT Americans have mobilized the nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, and played a vital role in broadening the country's response in the HIV epidemic.

This opening statement regarding the actual role homosexuals have played in the U.S. history and the president's appraisal of their alerting other citizens to the need of solving the AIDS curse on humanity is beyond rational comprehension. Obama's narcissistic mindset aims to change the truth into a lie and a lie into the truth. It is a known fact that AIDS was first recognized as a new disease in 1981, when a number of young gay men in New York and Los Angeles were diagnosed with symptoms not usually seen in individuals with healthy immune systems. Originally named GRIDS for Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS is mainly tranmitted through sexual activity and has already caused the death of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In his book Real Change, Newt Gingrich shares that within three counties in Florida, AIDS victims hit Medicare for over $480 million in just six months. Evidence indicates that AIDS victims are bankrupting Medicare and robbing senior citizens of this insurance for which they have paid through salary deductions. The president continues in the next section of his homosexual proclamation:

I am proud to be the first president to appoint LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public service.

The fact is that the Senate complained that Obama was appointing "czars" without confirmation. The record also indicates that he has appointed over 150 homosexuals to high government offices with administrative responsibilities. It is difficult to name anyone in the new administration who is not a homosexual and if, as Obama says, these are indeed the best people, he would seem to include himself. In 2008 a Minnesota man named Larry Sinclair came forward and claimed that in 1999 he took cocaine with the then-Illinois legislator and participated in homosexual acts with him. Sinclair charges Obama smoked crack cocaine in the limo while Sinclair snorted powdered cocaine provided by the legislator. He says the two met in an upscale Chicago lounge before leaving in Sinclair's limousine where the drug use and sex took place for the first time. Sinclair, who says he is willing to submit to a polygraph test to validate his claims, stated, "My motivation for making this public is my desire for a presidential candidate to be honest," Sinclair told WND by telephone. "I didn't want the sex thing to come out. But I think it is important for the candidate to be honest about his drug use as late as 1999."

As to future plans for the homosexual segment of the population, the president continued:

My administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world....These measures include supporting civil unions...ensuring adoption rights, and ending existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies in a way that strengthens the armed forces and national security.

Mr Obama admits, or professes, that he is not just a member of the Democratic Party, but he is also a member of the LGBT Party and that he will work to accomplish all homosexual goals while in office. These goals were set forth in the Gay Community News puiblication on Feburary 15, 1987, in an article titled "The Gay Manifesto," written by pen name Michael Swift:

We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas, in your seminaries, in your youth groups, in your movie theater bathrooms, in your army bunkhouses, in your truck stops, in your all male clubs, in your houses of Congress, wherever men are with men together. Your sons shall become our minions and do our bidding. They will be recast in our image. They will come to crave and adore us. ....All laws banning homosexual activity will be revoked. Instead, legislation shall be passed which engenders love between men. All homosexuals must stand together as brothers; we must be united artistically, philosophically, socially, politically and financially. We will triumph only when we present a common face to the vicious heterosexsual enemy. If you dare to cry faggot, fairy, queer, at us, we will stab you in your cowardly hearts and defile your dead, puny bodies....There will be no compromises. We are not middle-class weaklings. Highly intelligent, we are the natural aristocrats of the human race, and steely-minded aristocrates never settle for less. Those who oppose us will be exiled. We shall raise vast private armies, as Mishima did, to defeat you. We shall conquer the world because warriors inspired by and banded together by homosexual love and honor are invincible as were the ancient Greek soldiers. The family unit -- spawning ground of lies, betrayals, mediocrity, hypocrisy and violence -- will be abolished. The family unit, which only dampens imagination and curbs free will, must be eliminated...All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods are handsome young men.

There has been much debate over the intent of "The Gay Manifesto." Some in the gay community shrug it off as a sarcastic joke, claimaing it was written to mock those against the homosexual agenda. However, most in the gay community embrace it as a battle hymn for the LGBT movement. To those of us standing against the sodomizing of our nation and its values, "The Gay Manifesto" is a very real, and very terrifying, threat. (For a full copy of "The Gay Manifesto," call 1-800-652-1144)

One of the goals of the Commmunist Party in weakening the United States was to use homosexuality as stated in Agenda 21. One specific goal was to infiltrate the armed forces. This was started by Bill Clinton during his presidency through the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" program under which 16,000 homosexuals enlisted. However, some 12,000 had to be dismissed because they not only told, they did what homosexuals do.

President Obama got the bill passed to allow unrestricted enrollment in the military services for homosexuals by submitting a false report to a lame duck Congress. According to a June 27, 2011, report by World Net Daily, the presidential report to Congress stated that 70 percent of the military polled said it was alright with them for gays to enlist. According to the Inspector General, the White House wrote the report before any such poll was taken.

Likewise a recent poll which claims that there are no adverse effects of gays joining the military services has been labeled false by Robert Knight in a June 15, 2011, One News Now report. Knight states that this information is inaccurate because military personnel cannot voice open objection to military orders. The implementation was slated to begin at the speed and affirmation of the commanding officers, yet a federal court order for July 7, 2011, showed that implementation must begin at once, without the permission of the military. These reports indicate President Obama committed to complete the proposed programs of the homosexual organizations, even under subterfuge and lies.

Another of the stated goals of the homosexual conspiracy is the destruction of the family untit. God made Adam first and then Eve and the couple subsequently had two children, Cain and Abel. God established the family between one man and one woman. While this order may vary in some religions and cultures, all still maintain that the family begins with a man and a woman. Without family, no civilization, social order, or government can exist. Without this continuing relatonship between the sexes, humanity degenerates to the level of animals. President Obama ordered that the Defense of Marriage Act not be defended by the federal government, and in a statement referenced by Yahoo! News on June 23, 2011, President Obama indicated he saw no difference between marriage of a man and a woman to the marriage of two of the same sex.

Seven states have made same-sex marriages legal, the latest being New York. Catholic Bishop Dimmarzio stated in a June 30, 2011, CNS news item that the Christian marriage has been demonized by both Democrates and Republicans, that the pillar of civilization has been destroyed, and that no senator, congressman, or government representative be allowed to enter any Catholic church in his parish.

This nation of some 300 million does not yet realize what is happening. According to the Department of Defense budget report on July 7, 2011, the spending will increase greatly due to the Defense of Marriage act being trashed and the president's acceptance of same-sex marriages because homosexual mates will now have the same rights to home expenses and support as Army wives.

A typical appointee of Obama is Chai Feldblum, a lesbian whom he selected to head the Equal Employment Commission. In fact, everyone who heads the federal employment agencies seems to be homosexual, according to the press recordings at the beginning of the president's term in 2009. According to the Traditional Values Coalition, Ms. (or whatever) Feldblum is not only a homosexual, she is polyamorous, meaning having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Feldblum is a strong believer in gay-marriage rights. Chai is quoted as saying, "I'm having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious libery should win. Gays win, Christians lose!"

A CNS news item on June 27, 2011, reports, "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that the U.S. State Department played an instrumental role in 'selling the deal' for pop rock musician Lady GaGa to perform at a gay pride parade in Rome, Italy." What are we doing here? Paying our secretary of state to act as an entertainment agent for homosexual affairs where participants openly commit the most vulgar acts known to the devil or mankind.

Obama's appointment of Kevin Jennings (founder of GLSEN [Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network} and one of the most outspoken homosexual activists in the world) to head the department of Education has now led to the demand that all schoolbooks include the history and lives of so-called famous homosexuals (Fox News, July 6, 2011). CNS reported a homosexual party sponsored by the Department of Education and Kathleen Sebelius, another Obama appointee, stated this party was to "insure that LGBT students' rights were protected." Now, many universities in the United States are granting LGBT degrees. A federal tax grant (your money) was given to the Gay Straight Alliance Network to teach homosexual youth to perform safer sex to keep the AIDS statistics down.

Many major government departments in Washington D.C. now have inner homosexual departments with websites. When was our Constitution amended to allow separate inner subversive units, paid for by taxpayer's dollars, whose purpose so stated is to teach our children how to "safely" sodomize each other and close our churches? The Department of Justice has a homosexual department and website headed, "DOJ PRIDE - The Official Web Presence for LGBT Employees and Their Allies." The website is composed of eight pages on the mission and purpose for the Department of Justice, but summarizes it as follows:

Besides conducting outreach to prospective employees, DOJ Pride sponsors brown-bag lectures featuring experts in the LGBT community discussing issues of importance in DOJ members, such as marriage equality. Finally, through its yearly Pride Month Celebration and Award Ceremony, DOJ Pride has taken an active role in recognizing the work of LGBT supporters inside the Department of Justice, the Federal Government, and the Nation.

Even the CIA is jumping on the pro-LGBT bandwagon. A news item dated July 11, 2011, on DallasCaller.com is headlined, "CIA TO Sponsor LGBT Advocacy Group Summit." The reason stated for this CIA diversion is "to promote diversity within CIA ranks," says CIA spokeswoman Marie Hart. Evidently promoting homosexuality takes precedent above protecting our nation against terrorists and spies. The president and his offices have been bought by the homosexual conspiracy. As Oklahoma representative Sally Kern states repeatedly in her book, The Stoning of Sally Kern, this is the greatest danger to the freedom and sovereignty of the United States in our nation today.

There are sixteen references in the books of the prophets to warn nations against committing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Israel's two good kings, Asa and Josiah, begain their reigns by trashing the sodomites' houses, probably bath houses, and chasing them out of town. There are six references to Sodom and Gomorrah in the Gospels and Jesus was not exactly suggesting these cities as vacation resorts.

Paul began his letter to the Christians in Rome to warn them against becoming morally and spiritually corrupted by that homosexually saturated society. Paul warned the Christians about homosexuals who sin against God's created order:

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change their natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;...Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. -Romans 1:26-28, 32

When Peter wrote his last epistle he knew that within a few days he would be crucified, and he evidently felt he had to leave the warning to Christians that they must not follow the example of Sodom and Gomorrah (II Peter 2:6). I did not teach from the Southern Baptist Quarterly lesson for July 3, 2011, because it indicated that the sin Peter referenced was gluttony or over-eating.

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, was determined to write an epistle on the love of God in sending his brother Jesus to die for the sins of the world. However the Holy Spirit stopped him and told him to write to the churches warning about sodomites in the pulpit:

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into laciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ....Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. -- Jude 4, & 7-8

The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin, and the fear of homosexuality is a concern that every Christian should have. Today sodomites are being ordained as decons and pastors in many churches. There is only one pastor in Oklahoma City that I know of who has the courage to stand up on the pulpit and teach what God says about homosexuals and the destruction that this sin against nature brings to any nation that does not heed the example of Sodom and Gomorrah. That pastor is Paul Blair of the Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. Even Glenn Beck, O'Rilly of Fox, or Rush Limbaugh, recognized voices for conservatism, dare not mention one negative word about homosexuals.

Our president has made a commitment to fulfill the homosexual agenda for the sodomization of the United States. He is being paid to do it. Pastors and teachers are scared to touch the subject, hiding in fear behind their pulpits. Over and over Sodom is given in the Bible as an example for nations who act likewise. It is up to Christians like me, an 88-year-old WWII verteran who spent three years in the South Pacific, to warn our nation that God is going to give up on us unless there is an awakening in our nation and repentance in our churches.

The Bible describes the homosexual lifestyle as "unseemly," meaning wicked beyond imagination. Yet the homosexuals among us do have the right to vote, own property, and engage in business with only ecclesiastical limitations, as should be understandable. They also have the right to live together and pursue their particular lifestyle. Yet this is not enought for our government who is now trying to force the acceptance of this unhealthy, immoral, even deadly lifestyle on all of us. I love my country, so please join me in prayer to our God who hears when no one else does.

I believe that the next half century will determine if we will advance the cause of Christian civilization or revert to the horrors of brutal paganism. The thought of modern industry in the hands of Christian charity is a dream worth dreaming. The thought of industry in the hands of paganism is a nightmare beyond imagining. The choice between the two is upon us.
Theodore Roosevelt

History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.
General Douglas MacArthur

Is Your Church Going "Purpose Driven?" - How Can You Tell?

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Sharon here,
I'm sure that there are some Bodies of Believers that have/are making some changes within their churches that are not pernicious. However, as this article points out, there some alarming changes that they, as an organization, have produced in their "format" to remove basic tenants of our faith, and wanting to give a dangerous "facelift" to the GOSPEL. This is what I thought made this article worthy of passing along.

I ask God to HELP US to be able to distinguish between the holy and the profane. In Jesus' Name.

Kindest Regards,
Sharon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is Your Church Going Purpose Driven?
How Can You Tell?

In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results.

Contrary to Purpose Driven Church porponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred.

It is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a Purpose Driven Church takeover.

Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership.

Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps. The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:

1. Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2. Assess the effectiveness of their opposition;
3. Befriend those who are undecided about the changes;
4. Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5. Vilify those who stay and fight;
6. Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.

This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build.

Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life has stated: "When you reveal the vision to the church, the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave...they only hold things up."

Dr. Warren is right in one way. It is the senior members of the church who do indeed hold a church up and keep it from falling into apostasy. While some PDC initiators may not implement the full PDC format, generally these are the signs indicating that your church may be targeted for a Purpose Driven Church format:

1. Change in music to a contemporary rock style.

2. Removal of hymn books; eliminating the choir.

3. Replacement of organ and piano with heavy metal instruments.

4. Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.

5. Dressing down to casual attire.

6. Eliminating of business meetings, church committees, council of elders, board of deacons, etc.

7. The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.

8. A repetitive 40-day Purpose Driven Church study program stressing psychological relationships with each other, the community, or the world, begins.

9. Funded budgeted programs are abandoned, or ignored, with ambiguous financial reports made.

10. Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may even be eliminated.

11. Sunday School teachers are moved to differnt classes, or replaced by new teachers more sympathetic with the changes being implemented.

12. The name "Sunday school" is dropped and classes are given new names.

13. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved from both the inside and outside of the church building. The pulpit may also be removed.

14. In accordance with Dr. Warren's instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.

15. Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services.

16. The decor, including the carpets, may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the former church.

17. The word "church" is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a "campus." Denominational names may also be removed.

18. An emphasis on more fun and party sessions for the youth.

19. Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations at the close of the services.

20. The elimination of such words as "unsaved," "lost," "sin," "Hell," "Heaven," and other gospel verities from the pastor's message.

21. The reclassification of the saved and lost to the "churched" and "unchurched."

22. The marginalizing, or ostricizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven program.

23. Closed meeting between the pastor or chosen staff members without any reports made to the general membership.

24. Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new program, or who may have left for another church.

What You Can Do

If your church is in the initial stages of change (music or the first 40-day program), your church could be saved by talking to other church members, and with activist intervention by 10-20 percent of the membership. If nothing is done at this early stage, then by the time the program advances to step four, there is little that can be done except look for another church. Your church has become a Purpose Driven entity in association with Saddleback Church of Orange County or Willow Creek of Chicago.

You must educate yourself, and others, so that you can mobilize the membership to effectively resist. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7).

Dr. Warren in his world peace plan has stated intentions of sending one billion Christians into the world to eliminate human problems. The number one characteristic of a cult is a messianic, charismatic leader.

Purpose Driven Church books are published by Zondervan, one of Rupert Murdoch's many properties, including 175 newspapers and international television and satellite communications, including in China. Various reports indicate he is building his third wife, Windi Deng, a 22,000 foot mansion in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Dr. Warren stated on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: "The word 'fundamentalist' actually comes from a document in the 1920's called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity."

The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:

1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible.

2. The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ.

3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

4. Christ's atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world.

5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ.

Are we to believe that Christians who hold to these basic foundational doctrines of the Christian faith are narrow and legalistic? According to the New Testament definition, those who believe otherwise are not Christians.

To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another.

Don't be fooled by the Saddleback website. You don't catch many fish unless you have a look-alike bait!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This article is used by permission, and was taken from a tract published by:
Southwest Radio Ministries
Box 100, Bethany, OK 73008
1-800-652-1144
www. swrc.com

Dear God, Thank You

2011-07-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dear God, thank You!

I want to thank You for what You have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards;
I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better;
I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;
I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears;
I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves;
I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet;
I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;
I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief;
I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;
I am thanking You right now.

I am thanking You because I am alive.

I am thanking You because I made it through the day's difficulties.

I am thanking You because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking You because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking You because, Father, YOU haven't given up on me.

(forwarded by Johanna Boman
mikeysFunnies.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Chronicles 23:30 - ... Stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening

I Thessalonians 2:13 - ....We also thank God without ceasing...

When Sin and Religion Become Friends

2011-07-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

WHEN SIN AND RELIGION BECOME FRIENDS
by Carter Conlon - Pastor of Times Square Church, New York, New York.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23).

What did Jesus mean when He said, “If the light that is in you be darkness?” Taken in context, we see that He was speaking about the impossibility of serving two masters at the same time. He continued, “…either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Jesus used the example of money here, but He was illustrating a much deeper principle—a struggle that all of us face from time to time. It occurs when we come to even a minimal understanding of the ways of God, yet in our own hearts think we know a better way. For instance, when we believe we can secure a better future if we simply follow our own reasoning. Or when we believe we can achieve greater happiness if we don’t take the pathway God has prescribed, but instead take an easier and more attractive one. In other words, it is the constant struggle between either serving God or serving ourselves as god.

It is possible to have a clear vision of what is of true value, yet still choose to set our affections on something we know to be potentially harmful. It is possible to sit under the Word of God, to know what He is saying, but inside still wonder, “How close can I get to the fence before I am outside? How close can I walk to the line before I am rejected? How much do I really need to obey God?”

CHOOSING ANOTHER PATHWAY
In the book of Ezekiel, a prophecy was given to the king of Tyrus; this is believed by many to actually refer to the fall of Satan and his subsequent corrupting of the human race. The Lord said through Ezekiel, “You have been in Eden, the garden of God, and every precious stone was your covering. You had an anointing, and you were put in an appointed place. You walked in the presence of God—in holy places with an unhindered view of who God really is. You were perfect in your ways until the very ability which I gave you corrupted you” (see Ezekiel 28:13–15).

Satan was in the presence of God and had an unrestricted view of the perfect Light. The Scriptures seem to bear witness that there was a specific beauty about Satan. He was granted great gifts and was perhaps one of the finer created beings in heaven at that particular moment. However, these very gifts from God corrupted him, which we see occur in the human race over and over again.

For example, people with brilliant minds become absolutely corrupted by that intellect, using the thought process to stray farther and farther away from the kingdom of God.

Just as Satan had an unrestricted view of the Lord, we as children of God have the Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to understand the Scriptures and discern between right and wrong. So in another measure, we too have an unrestricted view of God. That means if we want truth, we can have it; if we want freedom, it can be ours; if we want life, it is promised.

Even with the pureness of that Light before him, Satan chose another pathway, following his own reasoning. He began to chafe at what he considered to be narrowness, convinced that he knew a better way. He mistakenly believed that he could be his own god, create his own reality, and live by his own concept of right and wrong. That was his downfall.

Cast out of heaven, Satan then came down to Adam and Eve and sowed his own logic into the human race. “Listen, God created you and put you in this garden tending these plants and naming a few animals, but don’t you think you were created for more than this? If you just do it my way, you can become as gods, knowing what is good and evil. I know God says that certain things are good and certain things are evil, but you don’t have to live in this narrow way.”

In his own mind, Satan had become god, the same danger you and I face today. He sowed into all of humanity this desire to be as God—to create our own concept of good and evil. An example of this would be when we refuse to forgive a person who has wronged us and conclude, “It is fine that I have not forgiven him. I know what God says, but this person just does not deserve to be forgiven.” Or when we steal in the workplace and say, “They don’t pay me enough, and last year I did not get that vacation I deserve, so this is good.” All the while we are well aware that the Scripture says no thief will inherit the kingdom of God.

Beloved, there is no deeper darkness than when sin and religion become friends. There is incredible power in this deceptive state. The Bible tells us that Satan succeeded in taking one–third of the angels with him in his rebellion, and he is still at work today attempting to incite a similar rebellion among those who claim to be followers of Christ.

A COVERING OF RELIGION
As the apostle Paul put it, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). In other words, they hold the truth with a heart that is not surrendered. They read God’s Word but will not obey it, even when it is plain and clear.

“…they worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator… and God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” (Romans 1:25, 28). A reprobate mind means corrupt thinking, a crooked mind. You and I should always pray that we never reach such a point! Unfortunately, I have met people like this—sitting in the house of God with all kinds of practices that are very clearly prohibited in Scripture. Yet after years of refusing to obey God, it is almost as if their thinking cannot be straightened. They choose instead to worship the thoughts of their own hearts, and sin and religion eventually become friends, bringing them to a place where they begin to call evil good.

There is no greater darkness than when that which is inwardly corrupt takes on a covering of religion. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). In other words, “You have so covered yourselves in corruption and religion that you have bought yourselves a ticket to hell. How will you escape? How will you change? You have embraced this corrupted reasoning of Satan, covering death and decay with fine clothing and sweet religious words, but inwardly you hate God!”

At another point, Jesus also said to them, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning…” (John 8:44). He basically told the Pharisees, “I know that you are going to kill Me. I have come to you with words from God to bring you into freedom, but you have fallen for the deceptive strategy of Satan. Now you are entrenched in a wrong way of thinking, leaving you with two alternatives—either you will repent of your sin, or you will kill the voice that has been sent to draw you to the presence of God.”

It is amazing when sin and religion combine. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “If the light that is in you be darkness—if you have sat under truth but embraced a lie—how deep that darkness is.” It would be better to be the most overt, reprehensible sinner and know it; at least then you would have a chance to be redeemed. Unfortunately, many people reach a place where they sit in the house of God, having put on a covering of religion while embracing a wrong view of God and His ways.

KORAH'S REBELLION
The Lord gives us another picture of this intertwining of sin and religion in the book of Numbers. As Moses was leading the people of God through the wilderness, a man named Korah succeeded in rousing two hundred and fifty of the Israelites to stand in opposition to divine order and God’s leadership through Moses.

As Korah assembled those in rebellion, “So they each took his own censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting…” (Numbers 16:18, NASB). There they stood, each holding a censer—a type of prayer and holy devotion to God—completely unaware that they were about to be burned by the presence of God. Notice that the Scripture says they were men of renown! How did they get to that state?

Recall that God supernaturally brought the children of Israel out from slavery in Egypt, and along with the deliverance imparted giftings and leadership ability. However, this led to an inner corruption, and all it took was for Satan to use that strategy once again and say, “This is too narrow! Think of the glory that could be yours! You are meant to lead, you are not meant to follow!”

Do you understand the power of your own heart to deceive you? Each of us has an inner capability to walk away from God and develop completely corrupted scriptural reasoning around it. Bear in mind that it was the most religious nation on earth that cried out for the death of the Son of God. They had the Scriptures and a revelation of God if they had wanted it. They chose, instead, to form a religion to cover their inner corruption. Jesus looked at the leaders and said, “You appear righteous but you are full of death inside. You clean the outside of the cup, but inwardly there is simply decay” (see Matthew 23:25). Just as they had a choice, today you and I must decide either to believe God and what He says, or to embrace ourselves as God, considering our own covering as sufficient.

IF YOUR EYE IS SINGLE
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4–5). It is important to realize that the light shone in a religious darkness—that was the darkness that didn’t comprehend it. Isn’t it strange that the lepers comprehended it, the prostitutes responded to it, and even the dead could hear it? Yet religion has a certain death about it, making it almost impossible to hear the voice of God.

“…if your eye be single, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). You will not be in darkness if you are singly focused, standing before God, saying, “Lord, whatever You say is wrong, I will regard as wrong; and whatever You say is right, I will follow. By Your Spirit I will do what You ask me to, and wherever You lead me, I will follow.”

Paul spoke these words regarding Israel,“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:14). Religion had blinded their minds, and they had created a system operating outside of truth.

“But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away”
(2 Corinthians 3:15–16). Yes, a day is coming when Israel will turn to the Lord, but this is also a principle that applies to us today. When we turn to the Lord, the veil that hinders us from the fullness of life that God offers us is taken away. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:17–18). Here the meaning of “liberty” is generosity. As we are willing to surrender with an honest heart before God, we suddenly become aware of His incredible generosity. The Lord says, “I am willing to give you a new heart and a new mind. I am willing to put love, joy, and longsuffering inside of you. I am willing to give you peace in the midst of the storm; strength in the midst of your weakness. I am willing to do what cannot be done apart from My strength within you.”

We are changed from glory to glory as we behold Him, and the veil of incomplete religion and deceptive reasoning of the human heart is taken away. Our hearts are changed, and the whole focus of our lives is to honor God and see fallen men brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is a miraculous life that we enter into. Religion is obnoxious and ultimately leads to death, but in Christ is life, joy and peace.

“If your eye be single, your whole body will be full of light.”
In other words, every chain, every wall, every enemy, and every power of hell begins to be broken. You will be given strength that can come only from the Lord, and your body will be a declaration of His keeping power. Your whole body—everything you are, all that you say, whatever you touch, everything you do—will become an expression of God. Your entire body will be full of light if you choose to do things God’s way.

WHAT IS GOD SPEAKING TO YOU?
So now the question arises: What is God telling you to forsake, and what is He calling you to go toward? There is a distinct call to each of us, and this is where we will either cover sin with religion, or throw off that false garment and move toward a holy God, saying, “Lord, I am going where you are calling me. I will not create a religion in my own heart that allows me to move in the direction of death, thinking it is life. I will walk the pathway that You have set before me.”

Beloved, don’t fall into the religious trap of becoming your own god and justifying wrong. Don’t put off what God has called you to do, for the more you put it off, the greater the chance that you will make peace with it and eventually call it good. If you are under conviction, if you are reading your Bible and the Holy Spirit has His finger very clearly on an area of your life, don’t harden your heart to His voice! Over time you will end up making peace with it—covering it and calling it holy, as is the habit of our fallen nature.

I encourage you today to do what you know God says is right and to forsake all that you know to be wrong, no matter how difficult it may be. We all are going to need the strength of Christ to get through the coming days. We will need our inheritance in Christ, which God desires to give to us—but everything that is a reproach to God must be put away. As we make the choice to do things God’s way, allowing no friendship between sin and religion in our lives, the absolute outworking of it will be joy and strength, direction in the storm, provision in famine, victory in the battle. Hallelujah!

Carter Conlon
©2011 Times Square Church

Want To Avoid TROUBLE In Your Life?

2011-06-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons--
11 Because they #1)rebelled against the words of God, And #2) despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. ,
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. ,
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.
17 Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
Psalm 107:8-17

We will find trouble in our lives IF:
#1) We rebel against the words of God
#2) And despise the counsel of the Most High.

I WILL OBEY ALL OF GOD'S WORD.
I WILL NOT DESPISE HIS COUNSEL.

I John 2:16: tells us: For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

"The world" does not refer to the physical creation, but to the sphere of evil operating in our world under the dominion of satan.

Fortunately, with the finished work of Jesus, He told us in Luke 10:19, 20: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

The only enemy that God has is one called satan, we're told how to earmark he and his work in John 10:10: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

The writer of James, tells it stright out in James 1:12-17:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation (endure=to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ); for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

None of us can mess around with sin. Ignoring God's Word and His counsel is serious business, it will put us in a hole that WE cannot handle. By that time, it will take laying down pride and sin that already has a strong hold. Once anyone finds themselves blinded, in darkness, bound in afflictions and irons without humbling ourselves before God will eventually bring the wages of sin.

"They fell down and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke the chains of pieces. Oh that men would give tghanks to the Lortd for aHis goodness, and for His wonderful works to the childeren of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two." Psalm 107:12-16

We've got to submit our WHOLE lives to the Lord, our desires, our tongue, our committment to Him. I don't want the devil to have a hook in my flesh, so that his seed can be conceived - give birth to sin, and for sin to become fully grown, to bring death, in my life. Do you?

Under our own steam, we're no match for satan or any of his minions, but remember what we're told in Luke 10:19 ? We've been given power over ALL the power of satan, through the finished work of Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross, decended into hell (FOR US), defeated satan on his own turf, and ALL of satans minions witnessed that defeat. They KNOW that their masters defeat is their own defeat. ANY TIME we submit ourselves to God, with HIS WORD, we're MORE than CONQUORERS through Christ. Just like a wrestler goes out into a ring for a fight, wins the match, and comes home to Mama with a check in hand, the winnings for his efforts. Mama is MORE than a conquorer. So are WE!!!

In Colossians 2:15 we're told that Jesus: ...disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

This is what He did while He was in hell, while defeating satan. Hallelujah!!! That's why He could tell us what He did in Luke. That's why we can, with confidence, stand against every tactic of hell used against us.

Matthew 6:19 tells us: "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

We have the authority to bind and loose, which means binding up the devil and his work, and casting him away, not to return or go to another...and loosing ourselves and others from the work of satan.

When our enemy, satan, bring thoughts, and temeptations to us, what we are able to do is make use of God's Word. THIS is what the devil responds to, the BLOOD OF JESUS, the NAME OF JESUS and THE WORD OF GOD.

THE WORD OF GOD: Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

THE NAME OF JESUS: Philippians 2:10 "... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth

THE BLOOD OF JESUS: Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

What WE'VE got to do is Romans 12:1,2
1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Renew our minds to God's Word. Making it the first line of defence in our lives agains the devil.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

If we have the Word of God under our belt, in our hearts and in our minds, when our enemy comes along with a defeating lie, or temptation, we can pull it out and make use of it. Submitting ourselves to God, rebuking the devil and he MUST flee. We need to learn to make use of God's Word, the Blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus.

If we do not have that advantage working for us, then we will be presented with a trap from the devil, and be taken unawares - and not just "taken" by surprise, but overcome by him, into a dark place that we cannot escape from without God.

We will find trouble in our lives IF:
#1) We rebel against the words of God
#2) And despise the counsel of the Most High

If we do not give God's Word the honorable place, FIRST PLACE, in our hearts and lives and mouths, there will be open season on human.
If our minds are not RENEWED to God's Word, we will not have it ready in our heart to be spoken out against the tactics of hell. We've got good instruction from the Lord. We've got to OBEY His Word, not rebel against ANY of it.

Remember Luke 6:45? "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks"

While renewing our minds to God's Word, after a time, it settles right down into our spirit (heart), and is made ready for use, with our MOUTH. "The word of our testimony," being set in agreement with God's Word, coming out of the abundance of our heart.

THAT is how we defeat the enemy of our lives. That's how Jesus dealt with him.
Remember when Jesus went into the wilderness to pray and fast, preparing himself for ministry? Three times satan challenged Jesus, and His response was: IT IS WRITTEN

Matthew 4:3-10
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
4 But He answered and said, "It is written,, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "
7 Jesus said to him, "It is written, again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."
10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written,, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

Jesus made use of God's Word and defeated the devil with it.
He gave us a good example, don't you think?

I want to avoid trouble in my life. I shall, with the help and grace of God continue to renew my mind to God's Word and be an overcomer, by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of my testimony...my agreement with God's Word, and the devil MUST FLEE, every single time. I will NOT be overcome/overtaken by any lie of the devil or any symptom he may attmept to place in my path. I AM an overcomer!!!!.....and I WILL receive ALL of God's Counsel in my life, in Jesus' Name.

The Power of Stillness

2011-06-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Power of Stillness

It was a “still small voice” or the sound of a gentle stillness. Is there any note of music in all the chorus as mighty as the emphatic pause? Is there any word in all the Psalter more eloquent than the one word, Selah (Pause)? Is there anything more thrilling and awful than the hush that comes before the bursting of the tempest and the strange quiet that seems to fall upon all nature before some preternatural phenomenon or convulsion? Is there anything that can so touch our hearts as the power of stillness?

Sweet Stillness

The sweetest blessing that Christ brings us is the Sabbath rest of the soul, of which the Sabbath of creation was the type. There is, for the heart that will cease from itself, “the peace of God that passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7); a quietness and confidence, which is the source of all strength; a sweet peace, “which nothing can offend,” There is, in the deepest center of the believer’s soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His “still voice.”

A score of years ago a friend placed in my hands a little book which became one of the turning points of my life. It was called “True Peace,” and was an old medieval message. It had but one thought, and it was this - that God was waiting in the depths of my being to talk to me if I would only get still enough to hear His voice.

Stillness Challenged

I thought this would be a very easy matter and so I began to get still. But I had no sooner commenced than a pandemonium of voices reached my ears a thousand clamoring notes from without and within, until I could hear were my own questions, some of them my own cares and some were my very own prayers. Others were the suggestions of the tempter and the voices from the world’s turmoil. Never before did there seem so many things to be done, to be said, to be thought. In every direction I was pushed and pulled and greeted with noisy acclamations and unspeakable unrest. It seemed necessary for me to listen to some of them and to answer; but God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

The God of Stillness

Then came the conflict of thoughts for the morrow, with its duties and cares. But God said: “Be still.” And as I listened, and slowly learned to obey, and shut my ears to every sound, I found after awhile, that when the other voices ceased, or I ceased to hear and heed them, there was a still small voice in the depths of my being that began to speak with an inexpressible tenderness, power, and comfort. As I listened it became to me the voice of prayer, and the voice of wisdom, and the voice of duty, and I did not need to think so hard, but that “still, small voice: of the Holy Spirit in my heart was God’s prayer in my secret soul; was God’s answer to all my questions; was God’s life and strength for soul and body, and became the substance of all knowledge, and all prayer, and all blessing; for it was the living GOD Himself as my life and my all.

We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains, with ten minutes for lunch; but we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength, and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The way of Stillness

The best thing about this stillness is that it gives God a chance to work. “He that is entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works, even as God did from His.” When we cease from our works, God works in us; when we cease from our thoughts, God’s thoughts come into us;’ when we get still from our restless activities, “God works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure",(Philippians 2:13) and we have but to work it out.

Beloved! Let us take His stillness; let us dwell in “the secret place of the Most High: let us enter into God and His eternal rest; let us silence the other sounds, and then we can hear “the still, small voice.”

Then there is another kind of stillness: the stillness that lets God work for us, and we hold our peace; the stillness that ceases from controversy, and self-indication, and expedients of wisdom and forethought - and lets God provide and answer the unkind word, and the cruel blow, in His own unfailing, faithful love. How often we lose God’s interposition by taking up our own cause and striking for our own defense.

There is no spectacle in all the Bible so sublime as the silent Savior answering not a word to the men that were maligning Him, and whom He could have laid prostrate at His feet by one look of Divine power, or one word of fiery rebuke. But he let them do their worst and He stood in the power of stillness -- God’s Holy Lamb.

God give to us this silent power, this mighty self-surrender, this conquered spirit, which will make us “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Let our voice and our life speak like “the still mall voice” of Horeb, and as the “sound of a gentle stillness,.” Then after the heat and strife of earth are over, light and sunshine, the evening breeze, the Lamb of Calvary, and the gentle Holy, Heavenly Dove.

By A. B. Simpson

Osterhus Publication House, 4500 W. Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55422
This article is used by permission.

A Prayer For Our Nation

2011-06-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

In the anme of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, as priests and kings called by the Word of God, a royal priesthood seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus with all spiritual blessings, we apply the Blood of the everlasting covenant to the spiritual atmosphere that governs the United States of America. And into this nation, by the authority of the Son of Man, Jesus, we release Holy Angels from the innumerable company of the heavenly host, mighty warriors of righteousness, revelation, increase and blessing in the knowledge and the fear of the Lord...to hearken to the voice of the Word of God. Cast down the principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness over America, put to flight the devil's army and minister to the heirs of salvation, establish the dominion of the saints and the power that God gives them to prosper in all things pertaining to life and Godliness. That they may live to fulfill, sustain and perpetuate the blessed promise of the Father, that in the seed of Abraham should all nations of the earth be blessed, which seed is Jesus Christ our Lord, the head of the church. By righteousness of God vested in His people through the Blood of the everlasting covenant, we order the works of the devil in America destroyed, every state, county, city and home in America....to wash away every black lie of the devil, to convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, we release an invincible and glorious revelation of the incarnate, crucified and risen Savior to each and every heart in America. That Jesus Christ our Lord will be blessed, honored and obeyed, praised, worshipped and adored in all the land to the glory of God our Father.

And these signs will follow those who believe. In the Name of the Lord, they will cast out devils, they speak with new languages, they shall tread down the serpents and scorpions and ALL the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, every place they go they will establish the kingdom of God and signs, wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit confirming the Word of God, and glorifying His blessed Name, in righteousness, peace and rejoicing they will advance the banner of love....broadcast the glorious gospel to everyone, healing all those oppressed by the devil, for the Spirit of the Lord is upon them...for He has anointed His church with the testimony of Jesus Christ and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. In Jesus' Name. AMEN~

"The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous accomplishes much"

A Study on James 4:7 - Submit and Resist

2011-05-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was reading a rather lenghty article yesterday and there were two portions of it that gave me pause and prompted me to study James 4:7 a bit more. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

I use this Scripture in prayer ALL THE TIME! This posture is KEY to victory over anything and everything that we're praying for. The posture of our hearts with the understanding we don't do anything in vain when it comes to being obedient to God's Word.

THE FIRST STEP -- SUBMIT

Evey single one of us has days that test our love and our faith. There are people and moments in life that press all our buttons at once and sometime, if we're not careful, before we know it we can end up doing and saying things we later wish we hadn't.

In James 4:7, God's Word offers us a surefire method to avoid falling into that trap over and over again. It says....
"Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Now, notice that there is a very critical step that must be taken...before we even begin to deal with the devil. Before we can resist him or rebuke him, before we even have one iota of ability to make him flee, we must submit ourselves to God.

Submission is power. It is how God transfers His way of doing things into our lives. You see, God knows how to handle the devil. If we submit to Him, He will always give us the grace, strength, and wisdom we need to successfully make the devil flee. The flesh always wants what it wants, but the more we learn to lean on our spirit instead of our flesh, the more joyful and peaceful our lives will turn out to be.

What should I submit to God? Submit what you believe. Submit what you speak. Submit what you do. In all three of these areas, submitting ourselves to God requires that we put ourselves second to His way of doing things. It requires us to recognize the areas where we lean to a more carnal mindset.

God challenges us to renew our mind to His Word. How do we do it? By spending time each day putting the Word of God into our spirit. hat's how we grow and mature.

Romans 12:2 tells us: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The word RENEW is translated from the Greek word "anakainōsis" which means: a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better

So, we should ask ourselves, what do I believe? Be honest. Remember that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (as we read earlier). If our beliefs are at odds with God's ways, we will need to renew our mind more with the Word so that our thoughts can be elevated.

Romans 8:6 says: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Once we know what we believe, then ask yourself what do you speak? Remember that sound words bring LIFE - and God's Word contains the soundest words that have ever been thought or spoken. We are setting ourselves up for blessings when we pray to God, submitting ourselves to His ways, and let His sound words come out of our mouth. We are literally drawing life into the situations we are dealing with.

Proverbs 18:21 says: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Next comes the action - what will you do? We can't just believe and talk, we must act on the Word. In other words, obedience is better than sacrifice. Simply doing what we already know to do. Then, as we read the Word and more of God's wisdom is revealed to us, add to what we know. Go a little further. Do a little more. Our lives will be best when we believe the Word, speak the Word and act the Word. THAT is submission to God.

THE SECOND STEP IS TO RESIST

So if the first step is submitting ourselves to God, then what is the next step? It is resisting the devil. Resisting is about being resolute. It is NOT about fighting, it's about refusing to budge.

You see, just because an emotion rises up doesn't mean we have to follow it to the end. If we submit ourselves to God, we can stop. If not, then our flesh will likely run wild and cause us all sorts of future trouble.

When we make a choice to live according to our spirit, we are making the same choice to resist the devil and our flesh nature when it is lured by temptation.

The devil is already defeated. So, we don't fight him again and again. No, you walk on him! We take our authority by the the horns and resist whatever mess he is throwing our way. We make a quality decision, in the heat of the moment even, to lean to the Spirit of God within us. We choose not to cave to the devil or our base nature, but to instead rise up and line up with the winner, God.

This means we don't have to pray and beg God to get us out - no, He made a way out when He sent His Son to the cross. Now, we just have to realize our authority, use His Word, and enforce the devil's defeat. When we pray, say what God has already done. Say what we want instead of what we currently have. We speak the end result. Every time we do this, we are enforcing satans defeat by reiterating the point that God has already won. We are the victor because we serve the Victor!

John 6:63 says: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life

Romans 4:17 says: (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations" in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did

Now, this goes against our mind sometimes, but that's OK. The natural man doesn't understand the things of God...but the submitted person does! The submitted person realizes the power of the Spirit and how it can totally affect natural situations.

So, resisting the devil is about refusing to bend to the pressure of anything. It's refusing to budge off of what God already said we could have and do in His Word. Resisting is refusing to allow circumstances to dictate what we believe and how we will act.

God is on our side and if His Word is in our heart, it will come out of our mouth and if His Word is in our heart, it will come out of our mouth - and it will act like a two-edged sword cutting the devil's plans down. It will help us to resist falling into temptation. It will help us to keep our head held high when the attack is on. It will help us to ride out the storm unscathed.

Don't bend to the pressure of time. What we want may not happen today. It may not happen tomorrow. But it will happen! We will receive, if we faint not! Remember that resisting is not doing anything at all - it's an effort, but it is a worthy one because through 1) submitting and 2) resisting, we will see your spiritual victory play out in the natural world.

When we DO God's Word, it is always a win-win situation.

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Father, I ask You to HELP US to submit to You and to resist the devil in every prayer we have before You. HELP US to speak what You do and nothing else. HELP US to KNOW that Heaven and Earth WILL pass away, but Your Word will NOT pass away. HELP US to see ourselves walking in total victory of everything we are praying for because YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO YOUR WORD, in Jesus' Name.

The Price of Deception

2011-05-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

This article is NOT about the C.I.A. - but it does have to do with the master of deception and one called the "father of lies."

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44

Deceit - the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating. an act or device intended to deceive; trick; stratagem. the quality of being deceitful; duplicity; falseness. Trickery. Guile. Duplicity. Fraud. Trickery.

Deceit is the quality that prompts intentional concealment or perversion of truth for the purpose of misleading.
The quality of guile leads to craftiness in the use of deceit: using guile and trickery to attain one's ends.
Duplicity is the form of deceitfulness that leads one to give two impressions, either or both of which may be false.
Fraud refers usually to the practice of subtle deceit or duplicity by which one may derive benefit at another's expense.
Trickery is the quality that leads to the use of tricks and habitual deception

The 1828 Websters Dictionary has this to say:
A deceiver opperates by stealth and in private upon individuals: an impostor practices his arts on the community at large. The one succeds by artful falsehoods, the other by bold assumption. The faithless friend and the fickle lover are deceivers; the false prophet and the pretended prince are impostors.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus is not going to come until there is a great "falling away."

II Thessalonians 2:3 & 15
3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come (the Second Coming of Jesus) unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.
15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

The Strongs Exhaustive Concordance Greek #646 give the meaning to "falling away"=Apostasia which is: a falling away, defection, apostasy, to forsake.

Websters has this o say about "apostasy" = An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total desertion of departure from one's faith, principles, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith.

I am taking this opportunity to make a declaration of faith, on my own behalf.
I have DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS....NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK. I CHOOSE God's WORD, and I CHOOSE to be obedient to it. I CHOOSE to say NO TO SIN, the wages of sin will lead to death. I CHOOSE HOLINESS unto the Lord, without which no man will see God. I CHOOSE the LORD for all the Days of my life, in JESUS' NAME.

There are some Scriptures that speak of "enduring to the end" and those ones will be saved.

Matthew 10:22 - And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart.

Heb. 3:6, 14
6. but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
14. For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Heb. 10:35, 36 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise

I Cor. 15:1,2 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, IF you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

Heb. 6:11, 12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb. 10:38,39 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

perdition=the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell - Strongs Exhaustive Concordance - Greek #684

Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- IF indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Rev. 2:25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

Rev. 3:10-11 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Mark 13:13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matt. 24:11-13 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved

Endures=Strongs Concordance - Greek #5278- To hold one’s ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, stand firm, persevere under pressure, wait calmly and courageously. It is not passive resignation to fate and mere patience, but the active, energetic resistance to defeat that allows calm and brave endurance.

Endure in these Scriptures do not mean tolerating, putting up with, inconvenienced by. It's a very strong word that has to do with warfare, courageous perserverance against adversity.

The ONLY way we would turn away from such a Blessed gift is that we would allow ourselves to be deceived.

I John 2:24 - Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

II Tim. 3:14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

II Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked

I Timothy 4:1 tells us: Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons

We MUST have our lives rooted and grounded in God's Word, so we'll be able to distinguish the difference between truth and what is a lie. Sort of like a bank teller must be able to tell the difference between a genuine bill or one that is counterfiet.

Mark 13:5 says: And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

II Corinthians 11:13-15 we're told: For uch are false apotsles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. There it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to tbheir works.

We cannot afford to have only a casual accquaintance of God's Word. We've got to be able to distinguish between the holy and the profane.

Ezekiel 44:23 says: And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

The way this is done, is having an intimate acquaintance with God's Word.

Ephesians 5:6 says: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

In Romans 1:21 we're told: ...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

I Thessalonians 5:9 tells us: For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the ways that we invite deception into our lives is found in James 1:22:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Obediah 1:3: tells us: The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'

HOWEVER the devil will try to bring his deception upon us, one thing we CAN remember is: Psalm 51:10-13: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Remember what God said about His Dwelling Place? Isaiah 57:15 tells us: For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

There's GREAT PROTECTION there. Thank God.

In Titus 1:9-11 we're told: ...holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11. whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

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Father, I ask You to HELP US to know the difference between the holy and the unholy. To help discern every effort to trap us into places that would eventually bring distruction to our lives. Lord thank YOU for HELPING us to remain humble before YOU in that High and Holy place where YOU live with those that are humble and contrite. We CHOOSE YOU, for all the days of our lives, We've decided to follow YOU for all of time. I will NOT be one of those spoken about in the "falling away", I will NOT be deceived, because I CHOOSE the TRUTH OF YOUR WORD. Thank You for putting a guard over my mouth and my heart, and not allowing me to go onto the paths that are not from You, In the Name of Jesus.

Sipping Saints

2011-05-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

The late David Wilkerson gave this message years ago, and I believe that the power of God's Word speaks now as much as it ever has.

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"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" ( Proverbs 20:1 ).

This nation is fast becoming a sodden society of too many intoxicated citizens. Alcohol is now the modern golden calf, and millions of people, young and old, male and female, have been seduced by it.

The teetotaler, the prohibitionists, and all the others who have for years fought against this flood of booze have been laughed out of existence. We laugh to scorn those old-fashioned little ladies who went around smashing barrels of whiskey and shutting down bars and honky-tonks, and taking pledges of abstinence.

We liberated moderns have made it fashionable to drink. It is now considered sophisticated, urbane, cool - to drink socially. Try saying "No" to the airline stewardess who keeps pushing drinks at you from the time you get on the airplane till you deplane. "What do you mean, no drinks?" She looks at you as some kind of kook for refusing free drinks.

People are offended nowadays when you refuse their offer of a complimentary drink. They try to make you feel unneighborly for not joining them, or that you are putting on a "holier than thou" attitude. Even President Carter couldn't keep drinks out of the White House.

"Be not among winebibbers..." (Proverbs 23:20).

To me, the real tragedy is that so many who call themselves "Christian" are now drinking. I call them "sipping saints," because that is how it all begins - one sip at a time.

A recent poll revealed that 81% of all Catholics now drink and 64% of all Protestants. These shocking figures keep mounting higher each month. The permissive attitude toward social drinking is fast creeping even into the most conservative, evangelical church circles.

I have spoken at Charismatic conventions where thousands of "Spirit-filled" saints of God lifted hands in praise and adoration to God - and after being dismissed, numbers of them walk out into the parking lot, open their car trunks and pull out a couple six-packs and pass them around to fellow worshipers. Others order mixed drinks with their restaurant meals, in between the praise sessions. They return to speak with "pickled tongues."

"And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands" ( Isaiah 5:12 ).

The prophet Isaiah has a message for the entire Charismatic movement - in both Catholic and Protestant circles.

"God's people are in captivity to these things because of a lack of knowledge . . . But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness" (Isaiah 5:13-16)..

The prophet Hosea said, ". . . wine and new wine take away the heart . . ." (Hosea 4:11).

This suggests that sipping saints have divided hearts.

Spirit-filled people lay claim to being "kings and priests" unto the Lord. The Bible emphatically states,

"It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law . . ." (Proverbs 31:4,5).

The writer of Proverbs suggests happy, overcoming Christians don't need wine, that it is only for the depressed and dying.

"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts" (Proverbs 31:6).

A fine Christian lady wrote to me saying:

"We are good church-going Christians. We love the Lord, and we see nothing at all wrong with serving wine in our home. We drink moderately, and our children are learning to drink under our supervision. They do not overindulge. We have never seen anyone drunk in our home.

"You are simply trying to make us feel guilty and are pushing your fundamentalist morals on us. We were not raised under the legalistic taboos like you evidently were. Frankly? sir, our drinking habits are none of your concern."

God bless that dear lady - but one of these days it will be my business. It starts becoming my business when those teenagers go out with their friends and get stoned.

Just today, one of my students, a converted alcoholic, told me how she became a drunkard. Her parents taught her how to drink moderately. At parties, birthdays, and when company came, everybody took a social drink. It was served at meals. She admired and loved her parents. They despised drunkenness, yet they had a bar in the house.

This young lady started going to teenage parties and began to drink socially with her crowd. That led to drinking in clubs. Soon she was getting stoned in parked vans. Finally, when problems began to pile up, she began to lean on wine heavily. She ended up in a mental institution, a hard-core alcoholic.

That same story is repeated to me over and over again from coast to coast. How many, many times I've heard it, "My parents were considered good Christians. They went to church. But we always served wine or beer at our house. My big brother drank moderately and he was my hero. I drank to be like my parents and big brother, but I couldn't handle it. But they made me think drinking was the thing all good people do."

Am I prejudiced? Narrow-minded on the subject? You bet I am! And I have reason to be. My own brother, a minister's son, started drinking beer moderately - just to be sociable with friends. He wound up a heavy drinker, leaving his wife and lovely children to pursue his habit. Thank God he is saved today and back with his family.

But I sent my brother Jerry with a team of converts to Europe to testify about what Christ did in delivering him from the power of alcohol. The Christians in Europe gladly rejoiced in the testimonies of deliverance from dope and prostitution - but they didn't want to hear a word about Jerry's deliverance from alcohol. Why? Because European Christians guzzle wine and beer like water. It broke his heart.

I have heard all the excuses for the drinking among Christians in Europe - and I can't accept any of them. They blame it on impure water. They talk about it being rooted in their culture and customs. They drink "because they have always done it."

How deeply offended some of the pastors were in Paris, France, when I refused to drink their wine. American missionaries, who themselves easily adopted the European customs, told me I should "do as the Parisians do, while in Paris!" Yet, how deeply offended I was when some of these same ministers were so stoned they couldn't stay awake during my crusade.

There is an alarming rate of alcoholism and heavy drinking in Christian circles in Europe. They do get drunk! They are not all moderate! None of their excuses make it right. And what phoniness for American Christians to drink "only in Europe." They won't touch a drop here in the States, but they think it's "cute" to join the brethren over there in sipping a few!

I am deeply offended by drinking Christians because of the terrible example it sets for young people! This nation is now facing a plague of drinking among teenagers. The two most popular words in school today are "cruising and boozing." Drunkenness is spreading in our schools like a wildfire out of control. Kids tell me that as many as 80% of their class not only drink, but get stone drunk. We face the possibility of having over one million young alcoholics next year.

I've been helping drug addicts for 20 years. But this drinking rage now sweeping our nation frightens me. They drink now because they think alcohol won't"waste" them like drugs! Booze is now the preferred "liquid pot." Everywhere you see teenagers getting stoned, they tell you - "No cops, no parents, no politicians can hassle us now - because they are all doing it, too. We finally found a kick that won't put us behind bars!"

I don't want to get involved in that age-old argument about the Bible and fermented wine as opposed to grape juice. But the more I see of these bombed-out, broken-down, hopelessly drunken young people - the more I am convinced Jesus did not mock that crowd at Canaan's wedding feast with the same stuff that is destroying our youth today.

Christ came to fulfill the law! The law says, "Wine is a mocker . . . whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Was Christ deceived? Would he have served a drink that would have led to a man leaving a feast drunken to heat up his wife? And in court that man is asked, "How did you get so drunk?" And the convicted man answers, "I went to a wedding feast. Jesus of Nazareth served up a really strong drink. He got me drunk."

I can't conceive that Jesus would mock that crowd and serve a drink that could have been abused if taken immoderately. I believe that elixir Jesus served was the pure juice of the vine - a supernatural punch so full of nature's true blend, it was a unique and welcome change! Would Jesus add alcoholic content to His supernatural drink and make it "bite the cup" when the law said -

"Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright . . ." (Proverbs 23:31)?

That was written by a king who had "given himself over to wine" (Ecclesiastes 2:3). And Christ would have never, never given the guests over to wine that was intoxicating.

Paul knew the law, too. He revered the wisdom of Solomon. Pure juice of the grape is good for the health! It is nutritious. But fermented wine is not more nutritious, according to a doctor friend of mind who is well read on the subject. How could Paul recommend drinking alcoholic wine when the law he respected so warned, ". . . be not among winebibbers..."?

But the real issue is not whether or not the New Testament refers to fermented wine or grape juice. The real issue is the abuse of it that is so prevalent today. Solomon had three thousand wives. At one time, Moses permitted divorce. God winked! But God does not wink when His laws become so perverted and abused. Look where our permissiveness has led us. So-called Christian discos, featuring beer drinking and dancing to Christian music. Rocking, rolling, drinking "Christians."

"...Lest they drink and forget the law..."

We are forgetting the laws of God, the very laws Jesus said He came to fulfill. We now allow a lesbian priest to be ordained in the Episcopal church. Homosexuals not only flaunt their sins, they boldly seek recognition and power within the church.

One million new divorces this year. Ten million kids victims of broken homes. Nude dancing in the church sanctuary. Liberal ministers mock old-fashioned biblical sex standards. They now tell our kids, "Masturbation is a gift from God to relieve your tensions."

And the lawlessness to end all lawlessness, some of our church agencies have been serving as fronts for anti-God, Communistic anarchists seeking to destroy democracy - using the churches' missions money to engage in covert acts of violence.

Do Christians drink because of ignorance? Has no one challenged them by the Word of God? Do these new converts from the Jesus movement drink to prove they are liberated and not under law?

A young lady, a member of a Christian love commune, wrote to me recently and said, "Sure, we all drink. Jesus did; Paul did! The Bible is not down on it. Our leaders drink moderately. They are good Bible teachers and they travel, speaking at youth gatherings." Yes - and I happen to know some of them also smoke. They mix Jesus with their heavy rock music, and only God knows where the compromise ends.

They seem to think that adding the word "Jesus" to anything sanctifies it and makes it all right.

You say - "Don't judge, David! What about the beam in your own eye?"

I am not anyone's judge. I have not set myself up as some kind of spokesman for any group. But Paul said, "We judge those within - God judges those without."

It's time judgment was called for! It's time all drinking Christians were challenged! It's time for the Holy Spirit to expose the looseness, the slaphappy "anything goes" attitude. If it's wrong for my dear converted alcoholics and addicts and prostitutes to drink, even moderately, then it is deadly wrong for mature Christians to drink and set a poor example for them.

And I get very weary and spiritually indignant when drinking Christians come back at me with - "Aw, you're just a fundamentalist, law bound, moral do-gooder. We modern, liberated Christians are free in Christ. We are not under law. We will not be bound by your attacks on our freedom."

That offends everything in me that yearns for godliness and holiness. That offends every young convert whom God has convicted of past drinking habits. And the Bible says -

"But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (Matthew 18:6-7).

I refuse to give in to the mounting pressures of worldliness - in the disguise of spiritual freedom! What has happened to us, saints of God - when we can sit idly by and not rebuke the fast eroding morals in the house of God?

I believe in free grace, but not licentiousness. I believe in the imputed righteousness of Christ, by faith. But I also believe the holiness of God demands that we "touch not that which is unclean."

I also believe that smoking ministers are not being honest with God. These "puffing prophets" refuse to practice what they preach. And drinking ministers are a reproach to the name and power of God.

It is not an effort to condemn true ministers of the gospel. But how can we as ministers and parents ask our kids to quit using drugs and alcohol, if we will not clean up our own lives - and set a Christ-like example?

At times, just for a fleeting moment, I think to myself, "Maybe I'm the one who is wrong. Maybe these new Christians who rock, roll, smoke, drink, and who go back to their old haunts to sing, entertain, and perform - maybe they have seen something in God I haven't yet seen. Maybe all these fast changes aren't compromise, but a sign of maturity and growth. Maybe I am too old-fashioned - too out of it to recognize some new thing God is doing."

But then I begin to compare the rollicking, boisterous sounds of their music with the old songs like "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Holy, Holy, Holy." Then I want to cry! I look at them going back into those smoke-filled clubs to entertain the drinking crowd on the pretense of taking Jesus with them, and then I compare them with all the millions of God's people over the centuries from the martyrs on down to the converted addicts and gangs of today, who forsook the world and all its associations to take on the reproach of Christ. I begin to weep for those compromised Christians. I know I am not wrong.

Please don't get mad at me! If you are one of the sipping saints - don't allow your hurt or anger to rob you of the truth. If you find yourself resenting this message of separation - it is probably because God has already convicted you - and He is now wanting you to enjoy complete freedom.

Pray also that God will lay it on the hearts of ministers all over the nation - to take a bold stand in their pulpits against these insidious trends.

Pray for our teenagers! The pressures on them to drink with the crowd are getting worse daily. They need to be encouraged to stand up and resist, lest they be drawn into this whirlpool of drunkenness.

Even if you don't "feel convicted" - abstain for the simple but powerful reason of setting an example for the youth!

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things" (Proverbs 23:29-33).

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Father, I ask that Your Word speak clearly to our hearts and that we choose to be doers of Your Word, not just hearers only that we not allow ourselves to be deceived, in Jesus' Name. (James 1:22)

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Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.

Prayer of Salvation

2011-05-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Do you know Jesus? Have you been thinking about Christ? He's certainly thinking about you. There's something greater than knowing Jesus as personal Savior and that is knowing Him as Lord.
You can have Jesus as your Lord, not just your Savior. When you know Him as Lord in your life He begins to minister graciously in every area of your life.

This is not a religion, because you've had enough religion, the whole world has. This is about a personal committment, a relationship with Jesus. It's a prayer from your heart that you confess with your mouth. When that happens you're praying by faith, and when you pray by faith, faith will bring Christ into your life. It's not a religion, it's a person, and His Name is Jesus.

Romans 10:8-10
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

If you are at the point in your life where you are ready to make a personal commitment to follow Christ, all you have to do is reach out to Him now in prayer. He is listening and waiting to come into your heart and help you live a better life. Will you invite Him in now? If you'd like to pray and receive Christ as your Savior, you can use this simple prayer as a guide:

"Lord Jesus, I ask You to come into my life and forgive me of all my sins. I confess my sins before You this day. I denounce Satan and all his works. I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life. Thank You for saving me. I believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that You rose from the dead. I am saved. Write my name in the Lamb's book of life. Today is my God-day with the Lord Jesus! I pray this prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus. Amen."

Now ask God to lead you to a church fellowship where you can grow and be nurtured in your new life. He'll show you. Also tell someone of your decision for Christ. God Bless YOU!!!!

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus-No Turning Back

2011-04-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition
II Thessalonians 2:1-3

They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness
II Peter 2:15

Looking all around us, we see signs of the birth pangs of the Great Tribulation all across the globe. Even those that do not profess Christ have been saying that we're living in the "last days."

We look to Israel, and know that the Word of God tells us that she represents our time line of things that are soon to come.

Before Jesus comes to retrieve us, we're told that there will be a great falling away from Him.
Falling away in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance is #646 in Greek, it means defection, apostasy.

Apostasy in Websters means: a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, faith, party, cause, etc. defection, renunciation.

In the encyclopedia I find: the total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it. It is distinguished from heresy, which is limited to the rejection of one or more Christian doctrines by one who maintains an overall adherence to Jesus Christ.

Before Jesus comes for His Bride, THIS WILL HAPPEN. I'm determined that I'll not be among those. In Jesus' Name.

That makes me remember Hebrews 10:35, 36
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

Matthew 24:13
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Endure in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance #5278, Greek means: hypomeno and it means:
to remain
to tarry behind
to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee
to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ
to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments

Remember the old hymn "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." I say YES YES YES, that's ME.

We're told in Hebrews 3:6
but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

I WILL HOLD FAST MY CONFINDENCE AND THE REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM TO THE END.

Hebrews 3:14 says:
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end

Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast confession.

I Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

We have much to look forward to. We have a GREAT REWARD with the Lord, and we're NOT going to turn back, or fall away, in the Name of Jesus.

If we have done anything to reproach the Lord or compromise our walk in HIM, we have I John 1:9 that says:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We must do like David did and call out to the Lord saying:
Psalm 51:10-17
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Father, strengthen our resolve to serve You. HELP US to call out to You and set our feet firmly on YOUR WAY, Your paths. Help us to choose LIFE. We KNOW that in YOU is life everlasting, we choose life and not death. In Jesus' Name.

Honor the Blood

2011-04-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

This article is from Osterhus Pub. House and is used by permission.

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Honor the Blood

The Lord compares the intense battles of the Christian life with floods. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). A flood comes in waves -- wave after wave. It mercilessly battles whatever is in its way. Sometimes the sinister buildup is evident. At other times it comes unannounced in a tidal wave. It is out to do damage. The frantic efforts of men to stop it are more often feeble than effective.

The flood strategy of the archenemy, satan (personally, I choose not to capitalize his name, do not want to give him any recognition at all, not even with grammar. Sharon), is to leave a wake of destruction, to make debris out of God’s design. He made a shambles out of David’s morals. Peter was swept off his feet by waves of worldly fellowship as he warmed himself at the enemy’s fire, by blasphemy, and by outright denial of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Demas was submerged in his love for the world. The same satanic strategy is successfully used against the saints of today. His “wiles” and “darts” are innumerable.

Floods referred to, in connection with the enemy, cover a wide area of satanic intrigue. They are vile and vicious. satan, their instigator, is a murderer. He is out to kill. He wrecks family love. He divides husbands and wives. He attacks the human body. He robs the mind of sweet peace. Anxiety, fear, worry, hate, jealousy, and vain imaginations are just a few of his methods of breaking down the spiritual and physical life of the saint of God.

There is no saint, weak or strong, who goes unnoticed by the destroyer. satan’s “flood” approach is no match for soulish ingenuity. The strongest efforts of resistance will crumble under the force of hell’s fury when met by any other than God’s way.

BLESSED REMEDY

“The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” What is that “standard? It is blessed Calvary. The accomplishment of the shed blood of Christ on the cross can meet any raging ”flood” emergency in the spiritual life of the believer at any time, anywhere and successfully deal with it. It is the effective answer to all of satan’s onslaughts.

There must be a personal application of the blood of Christ in order to stem the tide of spiritual destruction in the life of the child of God. It was said of Moses that, “Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.” (Hebrews 11:28). It is a personal matter. “The blood shall be to you for a token” (Exodus 12:13). The blood applied by sprinkling, was all that was required for peace of mind and rest of heart. It took away all fear of the destroying angel. It was not mere interest in the blood, nor belief in its power, nor appreciation of its worth that availed. It was the applied blood that counted. Truth was translated into action. So it is with the blood of the Lord Jesus. It is effective against satanic floods when applied by faith. A proper application of His blood to a given situation, if the believer is operating from a cleansed position, always brings deliverance. It never fails.

The blood of animals used in the Jewish sacrifices was symbolic. It had no power in itself. A type resembles the antitype but is inferior to it. It presents a figure of the real. It is a shadow of the substance. The blood of animals did not have power to cleanse, shelter, or preserve. The slain lamb of the Old Testament was a picture of the slain Lamb of God of the New Testament. By observing the various rituals, the Old Testament people of God were testifying to their faith in the coming Messiah whose blood would redeem and sanctify them. What is the New Testament counterpart of these Old Testament ceremonies? They made much of the blood. How do we make much of the blood? They covered many things with the blood of animals. How do we cover many things with the blood of Christ? These are important questions. As we look with the eye of faith we can see much blood in the tabernacle ministry in the wilderness which was a pattern of the church which is His Body. As Christ, the Head of the church, looks at us individually and corporately does He see His blood honored?

“And they overcame him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives until the death.” (Revelation 12:11). The Holy Spirit, Who is the Infallible Teacher, will make real to each one, His way of working this “mystery” of the wonder-working power of the blood of Christ, to meet every thrust of satan. In this verse He was given three general guide lines.
1.) The basis of our power and authority over all the enemy: “the blood of the Lamb”
2.)The word of our testimony. This is the practical application of our belief in “the blood of the Lamb.” When the conflict is close and fierce with the Adversary, our testimony will be directed to him. Jesus practiced this truth. Under the protection of the blood of Christ and with the authority vested by Christ Himself, unafraid and unflinchingly notify satan that he is a defeated foe, that he has no right or power in a given situation because you are moving against him and his activity with the “standard” provided by God, the precious blood of Christ. God will keep His part of the covenant. Our responsibility is to “sprinkle the blood.“ It is God’s part to deliver.
3.) All aspects of the self-life must be reckoned “unto death” if satan is to be defeated. The redeemed saint who is cleansed from sin must become a selfless saint in order to become a victorious warrior.
When these three premises are met, then the child of God is able to exercise his heritage of spiritual authority. The unlimited power of the blood of the Lord Jesus will be loosed.

Some successful warriors that I know take this simple stand of faith, “I cover my home with the blood of Jesus to protect occupants and possessions from any influence, satan, that you or your evil spirits would try to excert. I bring to bear the power of the blood of Jesus to bind you.” It is also helpful to remind him that that God said that what we “bind on earth” He would “bind in Heaven.” The applied blood of Jesus always calls his bluff. He was stripped of his power at Calvary. He is utterly helpless against the blood of Christ.

As God built a hedge around Job, which limited satan, so today He will do the same for any child of God who applies the blood to a given situation. The blood is the hedge that stops the destroyer. It is possible to be so hedged in by this blood-protecting wall that nothing can happen to you which is not God’s absolute will. This is true in any area of your life. This principle can be applied to travel, to loved ones, to possessions. It is not a ritual. It is a living experience.

“For the life…is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). This is saying that blood contains life. It is also stated in John 6:53, “Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” It is a quickening power. We are not only to be sprinkled with it outwardly, but we are to receive it inwardly, to drink it. This appropriation of applied blood inwardly and outwardly will bring life to an individual, to the home, and to the Body of Christ. The lack of appropriation will bring spiritual desolation and death.

BLESSED AVAILABILITY

The “precious blood” is made available. It is within reach. Hebrews 9:12 points out the heavenly access of Christ’s blood, “….by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” It was through His blood He cleansed the heavenly things and entered the holiest on our behalf, “It was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:23-24)

The blood of Jesus is not a dead substance. It did not dry up on the cross of Calvary. It is enlivened, activated, and potent through the Holy Spirit. It was the “Eternal Spirit” (Hebrews 9:14) who enabled Jesus to shed His blood and present it in Heaven. The same “Eternal Spirit” brings the living reality of the blood of Jesus to the saints on earth. “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one” ( I John 5:8 ). The Spirit and the blood are witnesses here on this earth the ways of the world. How can this be explained? The answer is found in John 19:34, "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was crucified "blood and water" flowed together. there was a mingling of the blood of the Lord Jesus and the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. Therefore, He is able to bring the reality of the blood of the Lord Jesus right into a present need. He brings it into the range of the saint so there can be a "sprinkling of the blood" of the Lord Jesus.

BLESSED RESULTS

The scarlet thread in the window of Rahab, which was typical of the blood, was a sign that she and her family and her possessions would be saved from judgment( Joshua 2:18-19 ). Rahab had a responsibility. She had to put the scarlet thread in her window and gather her relatives and possessions back of it. It worked. When the fortified city of Jericho was destroyed, the blood completely protected the property and people. God kept His promise to all who, by an act of their own faith in it, put the token of blood on the houses of Egypt, (Exodus 12). Not one person back of that applied blood was harmed. They had two responsibilities -- to put the blood on their houses; and then keep back of that blood. This exercise took away their fears and frustrations and gave them peace, strength, and Divine deliverance. The safety of the saints is behind the blood of Jesus.

God calls it "the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20). The principle of protection behind the blood for the Egyptians and for Rahabs is for us today in I Peter 1:2, Christians are described as "elect...unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." It is evident that "obedience and the sprinkling of the blood" are intermingled. "Obedience" is our responsibility. In "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" we experience the mighty power of the blood of the Lord Jesus in cleansing, safety, and deliverance.

The blood of Jesus is the answer to that unsurmountable problem, that heart-breaking experience, that nagging worry, that pulsating anxiety, that awful fear, that nerve-wracking environment or any other spiritually debilitating experience. There are those who are bound by satan's shackles. The Eternal Spirit, through the blood of Jesus, is the Great Deliverer. Both in Egypt and Jericho, the blood token was to be displayed when help was needed, or help would not be given. If they would have just believed the Word and not been obedient in using the blood sign, all would have been lost. The blood of Jesus, to be effective, must be applied by faith, sprinkled by faith.

BLESSED POSSIBILITIES

The scope of the "sprinkling of the blood of the Lord Jesus" is very great. It is not limited to people. It can be applied to things. "Moreover he sprinkled (likewise) with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry" (Hebrews 9:21 ). "For when Moses had spoken every precept...he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water....and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you: (Hebrews 9:19-20). It was applied to the two side posts and the upper door post of the Egyptian houses (Exodus 12:7). "And Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about." (Leviticus 8:24).

God told Moses to apply the blood in the consecration of the priests who were to minister to the people of God. "The ram of consecration...Moses took the blood of it, the thumb of the right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot." (Leviticus 8:22-23). This was also done to Aaron's sons. The "everlasting covenant" dictates that all of us constantly need this covering. A blood-covered ear is needed to "hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches." A blood-covered thumb is needed to render service to lost humanity and the Body fo Christ. A blood-covered foot is needed to consistently walk in the Spirit.

The Lord has made the saints of today to be "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). the total person needs the total covering of the blood of Jesus to become a normal, effective Christian. His blood not only redeems but it also sanctifies, "How much more shall the blood of Christ....purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14). The unsanctified ear will be dominated by the inner voice of self. The unsanctified hand will reach out to satisfy the fleshly appetites. The unsanctified foot will delight to walk in the ways of the world. These are the three great avenues of approach which satan makes to the human race -- inflate the ego, satisfy the flesh, and love the world. Jesus was victorious in all three such attempts as recorded in Luke 4:3-10. Christ makes His victory possible for all saints who trust His Spirit to apply His blood. The Spirit and the blood are inseparable. In Leviticus 8:30, “Moses took of the anointing oil [symbol of the Holy Spirit], and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron…and upon his garments.” There was a mingling of the oil and blood in the consecration of the priests. There are a mingling of the Spirit and the blood for cleansing and sanctifying all Christians who desire to be effective “priests unto God.”

There are bound ones among the people of God. Zechariah refers to them as “prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water” (Zechariah 9:11). God promised to deliver Jerusalem’s exiled people from their foreign captivity (Babylon) by “the blood of thy covenant.” Jerusalem represents the people of God, His Body. . Babylon represents the religious systems of men. God wants His people out of dead, dry formal religion. The way out is through the blood. Make much of the blood of Jesus. Honor the blood. The systems of men will crumble and the “spiritual habitation,” the Church which is His Body, will triumphantly emerge.

Do not limit the power of the blood of Christ to what you understand. There is no greater mystery in the Christian life than the worth and power of His blood. Apply it by faith. Be a child of God who practices the “sprinkling of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Sprinkle it anywhere there is evidence of pressure, tension, or any kind of satanic effort to thwart the complete will of God in your life. God wants it for a witness, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things…” ( Hebrews 12:24 ). Praise the Lord the blood speaks!!!!

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Osterhus Pub. House, 4500 W. Broadway Minneapolis, MN 55422
Toll Free 1-877-643-4229. This tract costs $8 for 100. $24 for 500; $36 for 1000. Shipping & Postage: Add 30 percent (not only 30 cents)

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel May 14, 1948

2011-04-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

The following article, "The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14,1948", was retrieved from the May 2010 edition of The Revival Call, published by the End Time Handmaidens and Servants International. Their site can be found by clicking the link, or, if you wish: http://www.eth-s.org/

I am using this by permission.

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On May 14, 1948, on the day in which the British Mandate over Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved the following proclamation, declaring the establishment of the State of Iswrael. The new state was recognized that night by the United States and three days later by the USSR.

This picture is of David Ben-Gurion reading the following declaration on May 14,1948

ERETZ-ISRAEL [(Hebrew) - the Land of Israel, Palestine] was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

Afer being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.

Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma'pilim [(Hebrew)-immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.

In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country.

This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home.

The castastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people - the massacre of missions of Jews in Eruope - was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the comity of nations.

Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as Jews from other parts of the world, continued to migrate to Eretz-Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil in their national homeland.

In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the freedom-and peace-loving nations against the forces of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among the peoples who founded the United Nations.

On the 29th November, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establiswhment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel; the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable.

This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.

ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

WE DECLARE that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People's Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People's Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called "Israel".

THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespctive of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel.

WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.

WE EXTEND our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.

WE APPEAL to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel.

PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE "ROCK OF ISRAEL", WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THE SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY, 1948)

David Ben-Gurion

Daniel Auster
Mordekkai Bentov
Yitzchak Ben Zvi
Eliyahu Berligne
Fritz Bernstein
Rabbi Wolf Gold
Meir Grabovsky
Yitzchak Gruenbaum
Dr. Abraham Granovsky
Eliyahu Dobkin
Meir Wilner-Kovner
Zerach Wahrhaftig
Herzl Vardi
Rachel Cophen
Rabbi Kalman Kahana
Saadia Kobashi
Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Levin
Meir David Loewenstein
Zvi Luria
Golda Myerson
Nachum Nir
Zvi Segal
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Hacohen Fishman
David Zvi Pinkas
Aharon Zisling
Moshe Kolodny
Eliezer Kolodny
Eliezer Kaplan
Abraham Katznelson
Feklix Rosenblueth
David Remez
Berl Repetur
Mordekhai Shattner
Ben Zion Sternberg
Bekhor Shitreet
Moshe Shapira
Moshe Shertok

If there is not a war on, it's a bad job for you

2011-04-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

"If you leave people as you found them, God is not speaking by you.
If you are not making people mad or glad, there is something amiss with your
ministry. If there is not a war on, it's a bad job for you." (Smith Wiggleswworth 1859-1947)

Mr. Wigglesworth must be my favorite of all the patriarchs that I've studied. A general in the Lord's army, and a faithful example in the Body of Christ.

In this mans ministry there were miracles, people raised from the dead, I believe 16 times, including his own wife, people falling under conviction of the Holy Spirit...unto salvation, with only his presence. He moved and lived and had his being in the Lord. He would not go more than 15 minutes without consuming some portion of God's Word and carried a Bible with him wherever he went.

He was not moved by man fear, He LOVED God and put Him FIST in his life. Did not live in any way that would be a reproach to the Lord.

He said, ".....If there is not a war on, it's a bad job for you." He knew that anything that we are faced with, tormented by, that brings oppression, disease, sickness, anything that is stealing, killing or destroying in our or anyone elses life is authored by satan. He knew that if ANYONE is going to be delivered or set free, healed, etc....it was going, and is STILL going to take warfare. Warfare against the author of such things.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Mark 16:1`7, 18

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:5-8

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
John 14:12

So are we?

Are we abiding in the vine, doing the works that the Lord commissioned us to, while we are OCCUPYING in this planet? This is a war zone, we're to be occupying here as His ambassadors.

"If you leave people as you found them, God is not speaking by you.
Are we leaving people as we find them? Are we making a difference, in the lives of people, for the Kingdom of God?

If you are not making people mad or glad, there is something amiss with your ministry.
If we are addressing the issues we know and see in our own lives and those we come in contact with...recognize them as being authored from the stealer, killer and destroyer, it will either make the devil MAD, or make the folks GLAD that there's HELP on the way.

If there is not a war on, it's a bad job for you."
If we are not geared up, suited out in the armor that the Lord provided for us, to make a difference wherever we go, then we're not carrying out the very specific orders from our Commander and Chief.

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Father, I ask You to HELP US to be, in this life, what you have called us to be. HELP US to walk and live and move and have our being IN YOU, the VINE. I ask You to help us with Holy Ghost Boldness, with the confidence that we have in Your Word. You've let us to know that we are to OCCUPY until You come for us. We are in a war zone, and we're to OCCUPY. In Jesus' Name.

The Dream

2011-04-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

The following article, The Dream, was retrieved from the May 2010 edition of The Revival Call, published by the End Time Handmaidens and Servants International. Their site can be found by clicking the link, or, if you wish: http://www.eth-s.org/

I am using it by permission. This speaks of events that we read of in Revelation, the end time, and part of what we are to expect to take place.

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The Dream
by Michael Moldea, the grandson of Dumitru Duduman, the Lord's messenger to America from Romania. Brother Dumitru has gone home to be with the Lord, but his grandson carries his prophetic mantle - Editor

I Thessalonians 5:4-6, "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."

I Thessalonians 5:8, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation."

I had a dream last night, and if not for the specific instruction to share what I saw, I would have preferred to keep it to myself. I had gone to bed late, having waited for my wife to get home from work. After seeing that she had arrived home safely, and saying my prayers, I fell into a restful sleep. I dreamt that I was sleeping, when a hand touched my shoulder, and a voice I recognized said, "wake up." In my dream I opened my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw who had awakened me. It was the same messenger, the angel I had seen on previous occasions, dressed in full battle armor, standing by the side of my bed.

"Take my hand" he said, "I have been sent to show you something."

I barely touched the hand that was extended toward me, when my bed and my bedroom evaporated, and I found myself standing before a white oblong building, that looked a lot like a barn or a horse stable. Two large doors made up the front of the structure, and as I looked they began to swing open.

I knew wherever I was, it was not of this earth, because everything shone, everything was white, pristine, immaculate. I also knew that whatever the season was for being shown this, was about to be revealed, so I stood in silence, holding the messenger's hand.

As soon as the doors were fully open, I saw an angel that looked very much like the one standing beside me, except without the armor, leading a white horse by its reins. The horse was large and muscular, but he followed the angel obediently, with its head bent low. The angel's coundenance was somber as he led the horse away, and for some reason this registered with great clarity.

I looked up to the messenger whose hand I will still holding, but he merely nodded toward the white building and the open doors, and said, "witness."

Another angel soon appeared in the doorway, holding the reins of a red horse, following after the first. I began to realize what I was seeing, and in silence watched as two more angels appeared, each holding the reins of a horse, one black, one of no discernable color, just pale. All four angels were dressed alike, and had the same somber, sorrowful countenance.

I stood and watched as all four horses were led out of my sight, and finally when they had disappeared from view, the messenger turned to me and said: "Go and tell what you have seen. The riders prepare, the horses are ready, and soon they will descend, soon they will be loosed. Remember what you have witnessed, and do not hold back a single word. Soon they descend on wings of fury: soon turmoil will shake earth's very foundation. Prepare yourself, for many will fall and few will stand. Fulfillment is at hand, go and speak what you have seen, and what you have heard. The Kingdom awaits the righteous, the holy will soon see the Lord."

I only realized I was still holding his hand when he let go of mine, and suddenly I was back in my bed, sitting up, fully awake. I am still unsure whether or not it was a dream, or if "dream" is the right word for it, but for simplicity's sake I will call it a dream.

I tried to go back to sleep but could not, vividly remembering the sorrowful look on the faces of the angels who where leading the horses out of the stables.

It seems the world is seeing what the church is refusing to acknowledge, the fact that we are on the cusp of great upheaval not only in this nation, but also throughout the world. These are the days of which the prophets spoke, the days of which Christ warned, the time of distress, of sifting and of separation.

My prayer is that we remember always, our hope is in the Lord, and He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. If one word stands out from this entire dream, it is the word "prepare" and we must do so with diligence. The children of God must steel themselves for what is coming, prepare their hearts and settle within their souls that the day in which we will have to stand for truth is soon approaching.

I Thessalonians 5:23, 24, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

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Father, HELP US to prepare ourselves, and to stay strong every day of our lives. In Jesus' Name.

The Closing of the Gates of Grace

2011-04-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

The following article was retrieved from the May 2010 edition of The Revival Call, published by the End Time Handmaidens and Servants International. Their site can be found by clicking the link, or, if you wish: http://www.eth-s.org/

I am using it by permission.

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The Closing of the Gates of Grace
by Maurice Skylar
March 30, 2009

The Holy Spirit gave me a vision. I saw two massive gate doors -- both on the right and the left of the earth. They were made out of gold with precious gems embedded in them. They were positioned over the earth in the spirit realms. On the other side of the gates was Heaven. On our side of the gates was the earth suspended in space. Then I saw a mighty angel on each side of the two gates. They were standing as sentries guarding the doorway or portal from the two realms. They each had a large sword in their hands that was on fire and it seemed to spin around perpetually in every direction and it shot these flames out all around them. I was amazed and awed at their glory and size. They seemed as large as the earth below them. The gates were even larger in size than they were! Both the angels and the gates were glowing as bright as the sun, it seemed. On the heavenly side -- light was streaming like a river flowing toward the earth. As I looked into the glorious light, I saw the Lord sitting on His thrown in great majesty with many crowns on His head. He had an iron/bronze-looking scepter in his right hand and an old-fashioned-looking harvesting sickle in the other.

Suddenly, I heard His voice. It sounded like a roaring ocean of water and wind as He spoke. I have never heard such a sound before. He said, "The time has come to close the gates of grace upon the earth. The nations have rejected Me and My Father long enough. Lift the coverings of protection off of those nations that have chosen Babylon over my Kingdom. I will no longer protect them from reaping what they have sown."

Then the two angels on each side of the golden gate leaves began to move slowly to shut the giant doorway/portal. I noticed that this was a slow process, because I saw the seasons change on earth and some years pass before it was fully closed. As it was closing, I was able to look closer at the river of light that was pouring upon the earth. In it was every blessing and healing grace, forgiveness, unconditional agape love, and the constant flow of angels carrying all these wonderful blessings to the earth.

Right before the gates shut, I heard the Voice of the Lord say, "Come up here, my Bride, and escape the wrath that is about to be poured out upon the earth."

I heard a nearly deafeningly loud blast of heavenly trumpets from both those angels at the same time, and suddenly, I saw multitudes of souls -- millions and millions of them -- ascending out of the earth very fast in a flash of light. The river of light coming through the gates met them in the upper atmosphere of the earth and then reversed itself and all the souls and the river of light went back up out of the earth and into the closing gates back into Heaven.

Then I saw the gates finish shutting completely -- at a much faster rate now after the souls from earth had finished going into Heaven. Then, it became so dark that I could no longer see the stars even. There was no more river of light flowing down upon the earth. The earth was covered in what looked like white neon hexagon shapes in a web above the earth (please see my teaching "Visions from the Dallas Revival 1985" on my website www.mauriceskylar.com). It rapidly became opaque where I could no longer see the earth underneath. I just saw a brownish looking color -- like a stagnant pond -- where the oceans and land could be seen only a few moments before. Then nearly just as fast, the whole earth seemed to be swallowed up in the thickest black darkness I had ever seen. It was like a black hole in the universe. It made the rest of the universe look light in comparison, if I could describe it that way.

I felt so sick and hopeless as I saw this. Then, just like I had heard back in the vision in 1985, I began hearing the screams of millions upon millions of souls that I knew were trapped in that darkness below in the earth. The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and said, "This is now coming upon the whole earth as a snare and a trap. This is what the nations have chosen. As they have done, so shall, it be done to them. As they have cursed, so shall they be cursed. As they have condemned, so shall they be condemned. The time of My wrath shall surely come. The nations shall drink of the wine of the wrath of My cup that I have mixed for them. Woe! Woe! Woe to the earth for the hour of her judgment has surely come! Babylon shall now fall and be consumed by the fire of my wrath."

Then I realized that these were still events to come in the future. But I also somehow knew that it was imminent. Once again, I saw the doors of the gates of grace still remained partially open. I knew that this was our present time now. I was so relieved to see the river of light flowing into the earth again. But, the doors were closing fast! They weren't fully opened as they were even a few years ago. I knew that we didn't have much more time. The Lord spoke again so loudly and powerfully:

"Warn them! Time is very short! You must preach the gospel and work while it is still daylight. The night comes very soon, and no man can then harvest in the time of grace ever again. The doors of grace are beginning to close. REPENT! REPENT! REPENT, O Earth, before the river of light stops flowing! Then you will face Me, not as Merciful Savior, but as the Judge of all the earth. Who will hear and heed the final call of the silver trumpet's clarion of Grace, Grace! My Spirit will not strive with sinful man forever. Come to Me now while there is still a little time left. I am coming soon for My overcoming Bride. Keep your lamps burning. Watch and Pray.....I AM AT THE DOORS OF GRACE! They are closing quickly....Come into my ark of safety....come into the Bridal chamber and the doors will SHUT....I AM COMING FOR YOU, MY BELOVED.

I pray that we all take heed to God's prophetic warning and be ready when he appears for His glorious, waiting Bride.

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Father, I ask You to HELP US to heed your call, to listen and do, to obey in all that we know to do. HELP US to ready ourselves and stay ready for Your CALL. We know that there are 10 virgins spoken of in Your Word. Five foolish........ and the five wise, that kept themselves prepared and left with her Bridegoom when He came for Her. I CHOOSE to be one of the five wise virgins, watching and waiting for You to send Your Son to retrieve us. In Jesus' Name.

It Is Time to Get Ready for the Rapture

2011-03-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

The following article was retrieved from the May 2010 edition of The Revival Call, published by the End Time Handmaidens and Servants International. Their site can be found by clicking the link, or, if you wish: http://www.eth-s.org/

It is authored by Sister Gwen Shaw, and I am using it by permission.

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"Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" Matthew 24:44

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" Revelation 19:7

As we hear the news of what is happening in our country, and all around the world, we must admit that we have come to the end of the Days of Grace. Everything is winding up so fast, it is mind-boggling --, and we don't know the half. We have but a small inkling of what is happening "behind the scenes," at the end of runways, in the dead of night, in closet meetings of the "elect" of Lucifer.

As I read the book of Revelation, I feel as though I am reading today's newspaper. And then, as I turn to the writings of the prophets that foretold the day in which we are now living, and read that the nations of the world (including America) "after many days...in the latter years, thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations [the return of the Diaspora] ... Thou shalt ascent [rise up], and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands [armies]...with thee... to take a spoil, and to take a prey..." Ezekiel 38:8-9, 12. I know I am reading about what Jesus referred to when He prophesied, "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them wich are in Judea flee to the mountains...For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled" Luke 21:20-22. Read these chapters prayerfully. Let the Holy Spirit teach you. He will show you God's calendar. Everything is on God's calendar. Everything is on God's schedule. Don't pray it away! Only pray for grace to be faithful to the end.

You ask, "How soon will this be?"

The words of Jesus clearly answer this question; "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, [this was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to the Roman General Titus in 70 A.D.] and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" Luke 21:24. Then Jesus explained even more clearly in Luke 21:32, "Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."

On May 14, 1948 Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaimed to the world, "ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DELCARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL."

People who were alive then are still living today. I remember that day very well. I was in Lanchow, Northwest China, when I heard the news, and rejoiced. It is my generation that will see all these prophecies fulfilled. Even quite a few of the survivors of the Nazi Holocaust are still living today. I know some; I have met them, talked with them, laughed, and cried with them. They are real people like you and me!

Jesus clearly said that "when the fig tree" and all the trees, shoot forth, you know that summer is near," Israel is that "fig tree." It "shot forth" i.e. became a nation, in our generation. Israel is God's time-clock. Watch Israel! Watch what the nations do to Israel! Watch how the leaders and rulers of the world treat Israel, and her leaders. Watch how they turn against her - and know the Son of Man is soon to appear.

You say, "How does that concern me; I am not a Jew, and I don't live in Jerusalem?"

But it does concern you, if you are a Christian. Jesus clearly said, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth night" Luke 21:27-28

Jesus warned us how to live when He exhorted us, "....Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" Luke 21:34 He warned that a "snare" would come on all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

And then, He gave us that ONE route of escape (not to Petra, or the Judean Hills), but being ready for our Wedding Day! Jesus gives His Bride a ray of hope in the same chapter of terrible suffering when He says, "Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" Luke 21:36 Only the Bride has been promised this "escape route."

I like the way the Message Bible interprets these last days, "It will seem like all hell has broken loose -sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar, and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the thread of doom, the powers-that-be quakaing....Be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complets surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. "Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through anything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

The "Days of the Gentiles" are over. The next thing on God's Calendar is happening so quickly, we hardly have time to get ready. Watch and pray! The Days of Testing are upon us. Small decisions you make today can determine where you will spend Eternity.

We will, no doubt, experience some of The Great End-Time Tribulation, for Daniel says, "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end..." Daniel 11:35. It will be an honour to go through the firey trials, because God only gives this to the few privileged saints whom He can trust for promotion into the Bridal Company. Accept your trials without complaining, that you may receive your Bridal Crown that fadeth not away.

In closing, I must bring us back to one of my opening scriptures, Revelation 19:7, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

Our Bridegroom will be wearing a vesture, "dipped in Blood" verse 13. His bride will be wearing fine linen (revealing her works and deeds of love for Him and others) made white and clean because they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb" Revelation 7:14.

Behold! The Bridegroom Cometh. Go ye out to meet Him!

Sister Gwen

A WORD FOR THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE QUITTING

2011-03-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

A WORD FOR THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE QUITTING
by Carter Conlon

If you feel like quitting, this word is for you. Beloved, you are so close to something in God—so close to the victory that your heart has longed for.
This is not the time to quit!

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 1:8–11 ).

Paul was saying, “I don’t want you to be ignorant of this. We were on a divine commission from the Lord to bring life and liberty to people who needed to know there is a Savior.

When we were involved in this, trouble came against us so suddenly and powerfully that we could not stand against it.”

“…pressed out of measure…” ( 2 Corinthians 1:8) means the opposition was stronger than any resistance they could find within themselves. They didn’t know how to handle it, which eventually brought them to a point where dying looked better than living. Have you ever reached that place?

Many people today can probably testify, “When I first came to Christ, I had such optimism. Things around me were changing for the better, and the future appeared to be full of great promise. I was given a new heart, a new mind, a new spirit. But suddenly, without warning, things seemed to grow dark— circumstances changed, and
threatening voices from without and within grew so loud that I could hardly hear the promises of God. Now I am afraid to go on. I can hardly see hope ahead of me anymore.”

Sudden Opposition

It is not uncommon to suddenly and inexplicably face violent opposition while serving Christ. However, it is important to remember that in reality, none of it can conquer you, no matter how it looks. It is like walking through a dark alley and being surrounded by vicious junkyard dogs—yet their chains stop them just short of being able to hurt you.

The devil’s whole tactic is to convince you that the evil around you is going
to overpower you. However, he really has no power to stop the work of God
in your life, for he was defeated on Calvary. His reign, the law of sin and death, and all the power that he had was cancelled on Calvary. There is nothing he can do but stand on the shores and watch the people of God go through the seas of impossibility into every promise given in Christ Jesus. The only potential power the devil has is when we fall into agreement with his reasoning and embrace his threats. “I don’t think I will ever change. I don’t think I can make it.”

In contrast, consider the words of Paul: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
(Romans 8:31–32). Only someone who has come through everything that we must face today could write such words. Paul had to get to the point of understanding that these things were more powerful than he could ever hope to be. His only recourse was quitting and he finally realized that his only help was in God.

“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, not angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:36–39). I am persuaded! It is easy to be persuaded when you’re on the mountaintop, but being persuaded down in the valley is where you find the difference.

A Season of Miracles

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with
tongues, and prophesied…. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19:5–6, 10–11). For at least two years in Ephesus, Paul had experienced unimpeded preaching and miracles. People were receiving the Word of God in unprecedented measure and Scripture says that even handkerchiefs were taken from Paul and placed on people who were deathly ill, and they were healed.

“And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious (magical) arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand
pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18–19). There was no religious deception here—people were honest with God and put away their evil practices. They came to an understanding of the depth of Christ on Calvary—the depth of the forgiveness that was bought there. It was an incredible revival!

I think most of us would have been happy to live during that time—to see the things that Paul and those who ministered with him saw. However, it soon became evident that
it was time to move on. “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that
ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season” (Acts 19:21–22). After sending Timothy and Erastus on, I believe Paul took just a moment to relax and reflect on all the wonders God had done. Have you ever done that? Have you ever just put your feet up and thought about all the miracles that have happened in your life since you became a Christian? We can picture Paul doing that here—just sitting back for a bit to savor the moment.

Then the next day, all hell broke out! Most commentators agree that this season was what Paul was referring to when he spoke the words of our opening text— “…pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life…” (2 Corinthians 1:8). A local silversmith began to stir up the other idol makers whose trade was in danger due to Paul’s preaching, and they all became infuriated (their profit margin was being affected). It grew into an uproar in the arena, and the people shouted for two hours straight, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” Can you imagine being a Christian in the midst of that cacophony—a roar of voices trying to
shout down the Word, claiming that something else is greater than the God that you serve?

But that is the tactic of the devil. He was trying to convince Paul and his associates that there was a power greater than the God they were walking with, the one who had begun to manifest His glory. This uproar lasted for quite a while, and Paul was in the midst of it. We don’t have all the details, we just know that it was violent and that society had suddenly turned. The turning point seemed to have been when their god of gold was touched—their god of income and prosperity. At that time this great revival turned inward and turned against the believers.

Similarly, you and I are going to experience opposition from a kingdom that is being overthrown by the presence of God in us. We may know victory for a season, but keep
in mind that we are standing for God in a world that is against the ways of God—a world filled with people who, in their own ignorance, are opposing their own salvation. Some of you go to a workplace where those around you tolerate the fact that you are a Christian, and some may even be interested in what you say. That is, until it begins to affect their livelihood—because you are walking honestly while they are not. Then suddenly all hell begins to break out around you.

This world will profess tolerance toward us until their sense of wellbeing comes into question—until they realize the church is a force in the nation. Then we will find ourselves in the midst of this incredible war, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!
Great is Dow Jones of the United States of America! Great are our corporations and our image of ourselves!”

Encourage Yourself in the Lord

I don’t know what you are facing today or what kind of voice is coming against you, but I do know that you do not have to be overcome by it. You are not walking in a kingdom made by the hands of men but rather fashioned by the hand of God Himself. After the apostles witnessed Jesus feed the multitudes with the loaves and fishes, they got into their boat to cross to the other side. Suddenly a violent storm arose and it seemed the elements themselves were trying to throw off the testimony of what
Christ had just done. Why did that storm come? The enemy knows that the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ is something he must oppose with everything he has.

This was not a chance storm in the apostles’ day and this same storm will come against every believer today. If you find yourself losing strength in a storm, you are a partaker of what others before you have gone through. Search the Scriptures and you will see that those who walked with God ended up facing all types of opposition. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and Elijah had to flee from a wicked king. King David, mighty king of Israel, had a great anointing on his life and had won many victories in battle. Yet suddenly he found himself completely alone—the only ones who came near were those who were against him. But he did what you and
I need to do in such seasons—he encouraged himself in the Lord.

You must go back in your mind and remember how good God has been to you. David remembered how God’s anointing had come upon him. He remembered victories in his life— fighting the lion and the bear and running into the valley to face Goliath.
He also remembered picking up his harp and singing to King Saul, binding the devil so that he was no longer able to torment him. David thought about these things and encouraged himself in the Lord.

David went into the closet of prayer, and God showed him a way through. That is why he could write, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4 ). God was saying, “I am not going to take you out immediately; I am going to take you through. I am going to show you where strength is.” With his few men, David pursued what was lost, and although the odds were overwhelmingly against him, everything was restored—“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit…” (Zechariah 4:6). David concluded, “I will not get through this by reasoning or by figuring a way over or around. I will get through it just the way I started—by the supernatural power of Almighty God.”

When you get to the end, you will have a song, but that song will not be about how you figured it all out. That song will be, “Jesus took me through, Jesus saved me, Jesus carried me, Jesus walked with me, Jesus defeated my enemies, Jesus took me over the finish line.” You are more than a conqueror! There is no prison door that can hold you. There is no roaring voice that can drown out the voice of Almighty God, and no plan of hell formed against you can prosper. You are a child of God, and Jesus said, “I am taking you through to the other side.” Hallelujah!

Because of Prayer

Look again at Paul’s words: “…he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered” (2 Corinthians 1:10–11, NLT). Paul acknowledged that God would rescue them because people prayed, and as a result many would give thanks to God. I believe one of the greatest victories we will know in our time is simply the awareness that we are not walking this journey alone. It is not just about me, and it is not just about you, it is about the whole body of Christ. We spend so much of our time praying for ourselves, don’t we? “Lord, help me; Lord, bless me; Lord, keep me; Lord, why me?” But the Lord says, “Would you let Me expand your thinking a little bit?” As you pray for those presently going through a tough season, when God brings them through, they will pray for you when your time comes. Then there will be great rejoicing, and many will give
thanks to God.

How are we going to get through the days ahead? How are we even going to get through the present time? We will get through because we are going to pray and believe the promises of God. We will get through because we are moving together as a body—nobody will be left behind. That was the cry of Moses, “We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go… Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind” (Exodus 10:9, 26). As the church—the Bride of Christ—we are going to make it to the other side. We are heading out of here—going home!

Today you may feel “pressed out of measure, above strength,” as Paul wrote. People are facing serious battles. Some have lost children; some don’t know where their next meal is coming from; some are fighting for their sanity; marriages are falling
apart. I want you to know that we are standing with you—you are not alone. We are praying for God’s grace and strength to be yours. You are not going to be overwhelmed; you are not going to go down—we are fighting this together, and we will walk in the victory Jesus has already secured for us. Hallelujah!

Carter Conlon
©2010 Times Square Church

This article is used by permission.

Deal With Sin Christ Is Coming

2011-03-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

Carter Conlon, senior pastor of Times Square Church, New York City, preaches this message "Deal With Sin Christ Is Coming." Very much worth your time to view. Just click this link and it will take you there.

A message shared on February 28, 2010.

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Father, HELP US to turn to You and deal with everything that would separate us from You. HELP US to walk away from everything that would easily beset us. We can only do this with YOUR HELP. In Jesus' Name.

The Birthing Room

2011-03-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:26

When we are praying all we know to in our own language, and there is a prompting of God's Spirit that there's yet more, we can depend upon the Holy Spirit to pray with God's wisdom to finish giving birth to what HE wants in the Spirit.

I remember making the remark often, over the years, that if I was not involved with raising a young family I'd be in some O.B. ward helping babies be born. God reminded me yesterday that everytime I go into prayer/intercession I AM in a Birthing Room, giving birth to those things that God is anxiously waiting for.

While I was taking my car out of the garage yesterday morning to go to prayer, He reminded me of that, and was telling me that He has the same excitement and anticipation awaiting what is being birthed in prayer, as WE do going to a delivery room with family and waiting to see for the first time a sweet new family member.

I want God to ALWAYS remind me of His expectations and the importance of intercession, and that it is NOT a small thing or just an obligation or drugery. It's something that brings God GREAT JOY, when we enter into His Birthing Room and that we have the privelage to be a part of such wonderful happenings in His Kingdom.

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Father, I ask YOU to HELP US to not just to pray always, but to be enthralled about all that YOU want done in Your Kingdom. Help us to respond QUICKLY to prayer time and to make Your Birthing Room a place of joy and fulfillment in our lives. In Jesus' Name.

The Mark of the Beast

2011-03-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

THE MARK OF THE BEAST
by Carter Conlon

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six”(Revelation 13:15–18).

This passage of Scripture refers to an end-time event that will cause the entire world to spiral out of control. Whether triggered by a financial meltdown or a
military confrontation—whatever its cause—it will result in men’s hearts failing them and an emerging cry for a one-world government.

The Scriptures tell us that a man known as the Antichrist will arise and lead this one-world government. While at first he will appear to be a peaceful man, ultimately it will be revealed that he is indwelt by Satan himself. He will cause people to receive a mark on their forehead or their right hand in order to be permitted to buy or sell. Many Christians have spent a lot of time over the years worrying about this
mark. However, there is no need to be worried—and you will understand why by the end of this message.

Back to the Beginning

In order to gain a better understanding of the days to come, it is necessary to go back to the beginning. Remember that Satan exalted himself against God and was subsequently deposed from his high-ranking position in heaven. Coming down into the
Garden of Eden, he approached those whom God had created in His own image, Adam and Eve, and sowed in them that same seed of rebellion. This original sin remains in our fallen nature today—a desire to be our own god, living however we please
without suffering any consequences.

Now regarding the number 666: Most biblical numerologists ascribe the number six to man, the number three to God, and seven to God’s perfection. When man is indwelt in
his body, soul, and spirit by Satan himself, we have what we might call a 666 trinity. Satan’s rebellion will finally reach its climax and a man physically indwelt by Satan himself will go into the temple in Israel and declare himself to be God. That was Satan’s goal from the beginning.

At that point, Satan will finally have created an unholy trinity. All of humanity that agrees with the concept that man can be as God will not think twice about receiving a mark on the forehead or the hand. They will have already stood in agreement with this fallen theology long before the mark ever came.

The Last Days,

Jesus described the last days as being just as “the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark…” (Matthew 24:3 ). Obviously eating, drinking and marriage are not bad things. However, the danger comes when there is a preoccupation with security, and pretending that all is well—convincing ourselves that there is no God, no judgment, no everlasting peril just ahead.

Even if there is some acknowledgement of God, it comes with an inner contempt. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3–4). There is a scorning among those who walk after their own lusts and are not seeking the things of God. Their minds are not fixed on the things of heaven, and their hands are not reaching out to do the work of God. Therefore scoffing enters their hearts and they ask, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4). The same type of person sits here today and says, “Oh, no! Not another message about the coming of Christ. They have been preaching that for 2,000 years.” However, we must realize that the conclusion of the world as we know it is indeed very close, and there are multitudes in a place of decision. “How deep am I going to go with God? How much am I going to let Him rule my life? How willing am I to let His plan become the plan of my life?”

Paul also said, “That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). In order to fall away, you must have been somewhere to fall away from. I believe this will be a falling away of people who sat in church but never
really embraced the work of God. They didn’t want to go to hell, but they didn’t want to live for heaven, either. They wanted the cross for redemption but did not want the cross for a lifestyle. However, that type of experience will not keep
them when the storm hits.

When Do You Want Your Inheritance?

Esau, son of Isaac, had access to the promise God gave to Abraham—the promise that he would be blessed to be a blessing in the earth—and we, as Abraham’s spiritual descendants, have that same promise. One day Esau returned from hunting, tired and
hungry, and asked his twin brother Jacob for some of the stew Jacob was cooking. Esau, the older of the two, had the right to a double portion of his father’s inheritance, but he put his temporary, physical needs over his God-given blessing and sold his birthright to Jacob (see Genesis 25:27–34). It is almost inconceivable that he traded his birthright for a bowl of stew, choosing the temporal over the eternal.

Why will people fall away in the last days? Because even though they have been part of the family, they have never internally embraced what that meant, saying, “God, You promised me life; You promised to make me much more than I could ever be in myself. You promised to lead me on a path of righteousness as a testimony to many, and then into eternity where I will rule and reign with You.”

The Lord has given us great and precious promises, yet we may not see the fulfillment of all of them on this side of eternity. Esau, however, like the prodigal son, insisted, “I want my inheritance now! I don’t want to wait until this physical life is over. I want satisfaction now; I want to be wealthy now; I want to
rule now!” So he sold off what was of eternal worth and headed in the wrong direction. “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things”
(Philippians 3:18–19). Just as Paul said, many live every day focused

Picture, for example, somebody inside the first-class passenger liner Titanic after it hit the iceberg. Everyone had fled the ship or was in the process of trying to flee. One poor, hapless soul was down on the second deck examining the cabins, excited about all that he saw. “Wow! Look at this—gold faucets!” Oh, the insanity of seeking comfort and security in a ship that is going down to the bottom of the ocean. Yet it is the same for Christians who are looking for fulfillment in the things of this world. Of course, I am not suggesting that you can’t enjoy a walk in the park on a sunny day, or that we ought to walk around mournful all the time. Rather, it is our identity—who we are and what we are becoming—that should not be in the things of this world but in the things of God..

The Lord said, “And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste…” (Malachi 1:3). Perhaps Esau professed, “Yes, Abraham is my grandfather and the promise is mine!” Yet God said that He hated the testimony and image of God that this man portrayed in the earth—this self-focused, carnal man who claimed to be in the lineage of God. You can say that the mark was on him because he owned neither the presence nor the promise of God.

The First Marked Man

The Bible tells us in Genesis 4:15 that the first marked man in the Bible was Cain, a man who willfully brought to God less than what He required of him. I cannot help but plead for people today who are willfully bringing to God less than He requires. There are things that they know God is asking of them, but they are not willing to obey. They are looking to be god of their own lives and somehow circumvent God’s will and God’s Word. They are trying to justify practices, relationships—trying to make what is wrong right. the presence nor the promise of God.

God put a mark on Cain, and he became an unsatisfied wanderer. In a sense he was relegated to a life of endless searching without ever finding that which satisfies. I cannot help but wonder why Christians run all over the world looking for Jesus, a practice that seems to have become more pronounced in the last two decades. Suddenly there is a new manifestation somewhere in the world and they are on the next
flight over. Is it possible that there is a mark there? Is it possible that they are not bringing to God what He requires? Subsequently, since there is nothing where they are—no living relationship, no prayer life, no revelation—they must wander the
world searching for satisfaction.

Jesus Himself said, “If they say he is over here, he is in the desert, don’t go there, don’t believe it” (Matthew 24:26, paraphrase). The Lord is everywhere—omnipresent. He is in the text of Scripture and if you are a believer, He is inside of you. You don’t have to look very far for Him. He is right here!

As you begin to do the work of God, the prophet Isaiah said you will ask, “Lord, where are You?” You will hear an inner voice saying, “Here I am. What is it that you want Me to do? For we are walking in unison; you are walking in step with Me” (see Isaiah 58:9).

Whose Mark Will You Have?

“And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary” (Ezekiel 9:3–6).

God was about to judge His own city, Jerusalem—suddenly! However, the people were caught unaware—many had chosen to put off that day; most never believed. “It’s not possible that God would ever judge us—His own temple. Consider the history here; the
prayers that have been prayed here. No, surely God would never do this!” But when we start to believe that, we have substituted our own thoughts for the Word of God.

However, the Lord had a man who was instructed, “Go and set a mark upon the foreheads.” (Remember, the mark in Revelation was on the foreheads or right hands of the people.) In other words, set a mark upon those whose value system is in line with God’s; set a mark upon those who feel what God feels, who are walking in a way that Christ Himself would walk if He were on these streets. Set a mark upon those whose value system is not so intertwined with this world that they don’t understand the day in which we are living. Rather, they are aware of the peril ahead; they are concerned about the plight of the eternity of those who are vomiting in the streets in the evening.

Beloved, if there is a sighing in your heart, you can be thankful for that. It is not that you are morose, but rather there is an inner awareness that you do not belong here—this is not your home, your satisfaction is not here. God has set a mark on you!

Imagine the scenario for a moment: Satan sends a demonic horde into the world and says, “Go down and convince these people they should receive a mark.” I can see this devil coming back to his captain, saying, “Well, I went down and tried to place a mark on this person, but there was no place to put it. There was already a covering there, and it took up the whole space! There wasn’t even a corner where I could put a mark.” Satan replies, “Well, why didn’t you write over the top of it?” He explains,
“Because when I tried to do that, your pen wouldn’t write there!”

The prophet Joel said that even though all of this darkness may come upon the earth, the Lord will be the help of His people (see Joel 3:16). You may hear a lot about the mark of the beast in our generation, but I want to remind you that you don’t have to worry about any of these things. You are already marked—the space is taken and nothing else can be put there!

Always remember that God knows those who are His. He has set a mark on them, and they are sealed in His hand. I don’t know about you, but that settles it for me! Let hell throw what it may; let the devil send a flood out of his mouth; let society get as confused as it wants to get. But those who belong to Christ are sealed in
the hand of Almighty God, and nothing—no flood, no fire, no army, no demonic power, no poverty, no trial—can take them out of His hand! “For I know whom I have believed…” (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul was saying, “I am intimately acquainted with Him—I know Him.” I encourage you to continue spending quality time in the Word, meditating on the promises of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to make them so real that you can stand and say, “I know in Whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep everything I have put into His hand until that day I am home with Him. God has set His mark on me, and I am persuaded that nothing that comes against me is going to stop His work in my life!” Hallelujah!

Carter Conlon
©2011 Times Square Church

This article is used by permission

A Plea For Moral Purity

2011-03-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

Pastor Carter Conlon, is one of the pastors of Times Square Church, in New York City, and he presented a sermon March 6, 2011 that is very much worth your time to listen to. It's entitled, "A Plea For Moral Purity."

The link below provides access, and if you are interested, click the "Listen Now" and then point your mouse to "Listen to this audio in a new window." It will appear straight away.

A Plea For Moral Purity

Father HELP US to hear the urgency with which this man speaks and HELP US to use Your Word as the plumb line it should be, in our lives. In JESUS' NAME.

The Dark Side of Tattoos

2011-02-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

This article is authored by William M. Sudduth Sr, is president of Righteous Acts Ministries (http://www.ramministry.org/). He and his wife, Janet, host seminars on spiritual growth, deliverance training and restoring innocence as well as holding revival meetings. He is the author of What's Behind the Ink?, a book about the spiritual aspects of tattooing, piercing and other fads.

This article is used with permission.

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I had never given the subject of tattoos much thought other than occasionally to regret getting mine - until my wife, Janet, and I were ministering in New Zealand in 2003. New Zealand was settled more than 1,000 years ago by a primitive Polynesian people called the Maori. They were headhunters and cannibals who worshiped demon gods. The Maori tattoo most of their bodies, including their faces, which they carve flesh from as a wood carver would etch wood to create a design. Then they apply ink.

On a day off we went sightseeing with a local pastor. He took us to a Maori village. Inside the entrance of the village was a meeting house, and above the entrance was a statue of a demon, the face of which was carved with the same pattern as the men's faces. I immediately came to the realization that these people had carved their faces to look like the deity they worshiped.

The Lord spoke very clearly to me to study every people group, not just the Maori, and then write a book. As a result, I spent nearly two years researching the origins and history of tattoos and piercing. I studied Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Europeans, Mid-Easterners, Asians and Africans in my research.

I discovered that all primitive pagan cultures throughout history and on every continent subscribed to some form of body modification or mutilation, usually involving tattoos and/or body piercing. In most cases the practice was part of demon worship. Many groups such as the Maori tattooed themselves to look like the demons to gain acceptance and power from them.

In 1991 hikers in Europe found a frozen, well-preserved body of an "Alpine Iceman." More than 5,000 years old, he is the oldest frozen mummy ever discovered. He was found with a grass cape, a copper axe, a quiver full of arrows, flint for making fire, and numerous tattoos on his body, including a cross on the inside of the left knee. (It was not a so-called "Christian tattoo.") He had six straight lines 15 centimeters long above the kidneys, and numerous parallel lines on the ankles.

Subsequent X-rays of his body revealed chronic degeneration of bone and cartilage in the spine and arthritic wear and tear of the knees and ankles. Presumably these tattoos were done by a shaman or medicine man who was invoking the gods on behalf of this man to rid his body of pain.

In 1891, archaeologists discovered the 4,000-year-old mummy of an Egyptian priestess of Hathor-the Egyptian goddess of love. She had parallel lines tattooed on her arms and thighs as well as an elliptical design below her navel. The tattoo below her navel is believed to have had sexual connotations linked to fertility.

Headhunters such as the Maori from the Philippines, Taiwan and other Pacific islands tattooed themselves to appease the gods before the headhunt ended to commemorate their success afterward. South American headhunters also used tattoos as part of their rituals. The Hawaiians have actual tattoo gods they consult before doing a tattoo. The Chinese and Japanese used tattoos to ward off evil spirits, to appease different gods and, like the Romans, to identify or "brand" criminals, Roman slaves were tattooed as a sign of ownership, often marked, "Tax Paid."

Native Americans tattooed themselves and their captives. The Inuit tattooed themselves upon arriving in the cold arctic regions to appease the gods so they would allow them to settle there and survive in the harsh climate.

In the Mideast, Babylonian and Canaanite and Hebrew shrine prostitutes tattooed themselves as part of their worship, Baal worshipers wore tattoos on their hands to gain power from Baal. In India, shrine prostitutes tattooed themselves to look like the various gods they worshiped. In primitive areas of India the wife of the village sorcerer is the tattoo artist.

Because of their dark skin, black Africans didn't use tattoos as much as they used scarification. This involves cutting the skin with a sharp instrument and then rubbing it with ashes or caustic plant juices that form permanent blisters. Dark pigments, such as charcoal or gunpowder, are then rubbed into the wound to provide emphasis. The wounds are periodically reopened to enhance the raised scar effect.

Other African traditions involve extreme forms of body piercing. Lips and ears are pierced and objects implanted inside, causing the lip or ear tissue to elongate and conform to the shape of the object. Ethiopian women wear a lip plate, which causes the mouth to protrude to resemble the beak of the spoonbill, a creature they worship.

The letting of blood and body modification have always been associated with pagan worship and witchcraft. Pagans and Christians alike know there is power in the blood. In spite of the current interest in tattoos even in the church, all research points to one conclusion: The root of tattooing never changes; it is, and always has been, a pagan spiritual activity.

Your Body is a Temple

During the last 11 years Janet and I have been heavily involved in the ministry of deliverance. We have ministered to multiplied thousands of people in individual and group settings. We have dealt with people from all walks of life, from many different nations and races. We have ministered to the depressed, the oppressed and even the possessed. We have seen countless people who have been negatively impacted by the spirit realm as a result of things they have done or things that have happened to them.

The goal of our deliverance teaching is always to impart a greater understanding of the spirit realm. Believers need to know how it affects them and to be aware that everything we do in the natural has a spiritual consequence, including the marking or piercing of our bodies.

It's not surprising that Satan and his demon spirits are doing what they have always done, trying to gain man's attention, affection and worship. In my research I found that in every culture tattoos were used as a means of invoking, appeasing or glorifying demon gods. Satan is still seeking to take man's focus off God and direct it to himself.

Today in our culture and society we see an explosion of fads such as tattoos and piercings. Though I don't fully understand it, Satan is attempting to mark as many peple as he can athrough these means. Perhaps on the day of judgment the accuser of the brethren, the devil, will stand before God and try to claim those so marked as his own.

Or perhaps Satan is encouraging people of all cultures to mar their bodies through some form of mutilation because he knows we are made in God's image, and he hates God and anything that resembles God.

When I minister, I often ask people if they have ever played Monopoly. If they have, I ask whether they ahve ever gotten into a family feud while playing and have had to get out the rule book. People laugh as they recall digging out the rules.

God has given us a rule book, a set of rules to play by that enables us to win this game of life. We call it the Bible. The Bible was given to us to help us and to protect us from harm. It clearly teaches us the wiles and schemes of the devil.

Leviticus 19:28 gives us the "rule" for tattoos. It says, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord" (NKJV).

When God first gave this command to the Israelites, He was drawing a line of demarcation between His chosen people and the Egyptians, whose land they had just left, and the Canaanites, whose land they were about to enter. Both of these cultures were steeped in witchcraft and the occult. Both openly worshiped and served demon gods, and both used tattoos as part of their idolatry and pagan worship. God was trying to protect the Israelites from opening themselves up to demonic influence.

We too are God's people, and He wants us to "come out from among them" (II Corinthians 6:17). He wants us to separate ourselves from the world and the world's fads. When we do that, we will avoid doing things to our bodies that God never intended us to do--and that includes getting tattoos.

Let me make it clear that there is absolutely no such thing as a Christian tattoo. In fact, the mere term "Christian tattoo" is an oxymoron! A tattoo may be a religious symbol, but there is nothing Christian about it.

If we truly belong to Christ, we should know and understand that our bodies are not our own. Engaging in the practice of body modification indicates that we believe the opposite. Yet the Bible clearly tells us: "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body: (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

Rolling Stone magazine quoted famous tattoo artist Paul Booth as saying that while he is tattooing people, "he allows his clients' demons to help guide the needle." I pray this article will prevent you or someone you know from further defiling these earthen temples we call our bodies. I pray it has given you a greater understandenig of the unseen world, as well as insight into what's behind the ink.

If you already have a tattoo or piercing and are wondering what to do now that you know the truth, here are some steps you can take. First, repent to God for violating Scrtipture and for bloodletting, which is witchcraft. Also, repent for defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit. Then renounce the spirits behind the tattoo or piercing. Witchcraft and rebellion are a given, but many tattoos have images that need to be addressed. Sexual tattoos may invite a spirit of perversion, a skull and cross bones a spirit of death, a religious tattoo a spirit of religion and so on. If you have a piercing in other than an ear lobe, remove it and repent for defiling your temple. And whether it's a tattoo or a piercing, anoint it with oil and break any assignment of the enemy that came in through the modification of your body.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Father, I ask You to HELP US, to give us strength to hear Your voice, and to be willing to be led by You. In Jesus' Name.

A Reminder with an Outline....

2010-08-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Everything about which Christians need to pray is covered under the various points of this prayer outline

"Our Father" - Speaks of relationship.

"Which art in heaven" - Reminds us of His sovereignty.

"Hallowed be thy name" - Leads us to praise.

"Thy kingdom com" - Puts first things in first place.

"Thy will be done" - Releases everything to His control.

"Give us" - He is our source we are needy.

"This day" - Reminds us to be consistent.

"Our daily bread" - Jesus is the bread of life.

"Forgive us" - Reminds me of my sins and His solution.

"As we forgive" - Keeps me free from unforgiveness.

"Lead us" - His Spirit leads.

"Not into temptation" - Temptation is real.

"Deliver us from the evil one" - Through Jesus I will overcome.

"Thine is the kingdom" - Divine ownership.

"Thine is the power" - Full authority.

"Thine is the glory" - Return to praise.

Father, HELP US to be alert and watchful to PRAY. HELP us to be Led by YOUR SPIRIT, and make first things first in our lives. We know that prayer makes a difference ALL THE TIME, and remind us that You watch over Your Word to perform it. Thank You. In Jesus' Name.

A Divine Revelation of Hell

2010-08-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

This lady is Mary K. Baxter, she authored a book entitled, "A Divine Revelation of Hell."
You will find here, an interview given by Sid Roth of Mary K. Baxter. In 1979 she was visited by Jesus Christ and shown Hell and Heaven. She was shown about the
Judgments of God against the ungodly, and also about the glorious places
prepared for those who have repented and come to Jesus. You will find here, AN ONLINE COPY OF THE BOOK, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, as well as MP3 capabilities of her testimony.

Her testimony is well worth your time, to see both in the interview, and to hear the one more at length.

Let The People Rejoice

2010-07-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

Let God’s Glory Return
Let His Holiness Be Revealed on Earth
Let the People Rejoice

Authored by: Pastor Alma Lampp
Mercy, Grace & Truth Ministries

II Samuel 6:12-16; 20-23 When Gods people brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem (Ark represents God’s Presence), King David danced with great praise, worship and joy with all his heart, his wife hated it and scorned him, but David said, “I will worship God and NONE shall keep me bound.”

Psalm 51:12 King David said alone with repentance, create in me a clean heart, O God, and restore a right spirit in me, and restore unto me the joy of my salvation.
Isaiah 55:12 You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.
Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Psalm 16:11 In God’s presence is fullness of joy.
Isaiah 21:3 With joy we draw living water out of wells of salvation.
I Peter 1:8 It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Symptoms of joy, praise, worship, glory are in the Holy Spirit. What it produces, the effects and manifestations, is: Bright, cheerful and happy, singing, dancing, pleasure, praise for life, glee, shouts of joy and laughter. Like cheerleaders before their team, all win-win.

Praise action is as a trumpet, ear piercing, eye catching, atmosphere catching JOYFUL JUBILEE, Holy Spirit Led praise and worship.

Psalm 132 Let the saints shout for joy
Isaiah 52:9 Break forth into singing

Pray until you move into praise. Praise until you move into worship. Worship until you move into the glory.

Psalm 100:4 Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Hebrews 13:15 Offer sacrifice of praise.

The Israelites came joyfully with their sacrifice. It was a blessed pleasure. We need to learn what they knew….how to bring a free will offering with joy.

Isaiah 57:19 God creates the fruit of our lips.

We are Yours God, create the praise, and worship in us.

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever with the sacrifice of my lips.

We can refuse the spirit of Egypt. (Grumbling and complaining, doubt and discord.)

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

God said in Heaven, the praise is holy, holy, holy, Hallelujah, amen, amen.

If we want it, say it, sing it, praise it, dance it.

In God it is a jubilee of glory.

Isaiah 62:6 You that make mention of My name, don’t keep quiet.

If God’s people cannot praise, worship or sing aloud, then bondage, fear and pride resides there.

II Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat prayed for God to deliver Israel, then went into praise, letting his faith loose and saw God’s glory defeat their enemy!
Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouths of babes I will perfect praise.
Isaiah 54:1 Sing O barren woman (church, nation) let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
I Peter 2:9 God desires His royal priesthood, chosen generation, holy nation to show forth the praises of Him that called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Psalm 50:20 The people of God, who respond to restore true worship, glorifies God.
Psalm 150
A mighty appeal to praise the Lord.
A mighty command to praise the Lord.
A mighty invitation to praise the Lord.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
John 11:40 Believe, obey and see the glory of God.

Approach God and God’s Word by prayer and joy in His Word before Him, then after prayer, offer praise for answers. Enter into worship and bask in God’s glory.

Believe

2010-07-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

Luke 1:45 tells us:
"Blesed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Of course this was speaking about Mary, after she was told by the angel of the Lord that she would conceive and bear a son named Jesus, by the Holy Spirit...if she would believe.

I wonder how many other young women God approached with the same offer, and they did not believe.

While looking at that Scripture I kept thinking....Blessed is she, we, he, you, I, us, ME who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told...

We are told a lot of things in God's Word, He's given us many, many promises. Am I going to believe them, because there WILL be a fulfillment of those things which we're told....if I believe.

Just above that passage in verse 37 it says:
For with God nothing will be impossible.

Matthew 24:35 says:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

Wow, that's a sure deal. We can't find such a deal, as that, on this planet. We need to quit being intimidated by things that are around us, calling to our spirit, soul and body, and BELIEVE what God has told us.

Mark 9:23, 24 tells us of a man that had a mute spirit:
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Even this fellow saw that he needed to BELIEVE what Jesus told him. He was so desperate, that he asked the Lord to HELP HIS UNBELIEF. Are we desperate for God and His Word?
We need everything that He's promised us. He knew what we would need, and sent His Son Jesus to make provision for it, with His broken body and His shed Blood. That covenant is just as powerful today as it was the day it was cut for us.

FATHER GOD,

I BELIEVE,

HELP MY

UNBELIEF,

in Jesus' Name.

You Cannot Quit - Go On To Perfection

2010-07-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 6:1: Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

No matter how bad things are in the world, nations, family, church, YOU CAN NOT QUIT - GO ON.

One more mile, one more day, one more prayer, one more victory, FOR REAL.
We live in perilous times, grim times, fearful times, painful times, hardships, physical, financial, emotional struggles. Bad reports, children overwhelmed by the satanic onslaught of sin, filth, lies, deception, seducing sex bound environment or hell bound society - DESPAIR, FEAR, DEVASTATION will fill our minds, hearts, souls and spirits UNLESS we fill our mind, hears, souls and spirits with the Word of God.

Psalm 78:40-42 says: How they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert. Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy.

They limited the Holy One of Israel and lost . We can limit the Holy One of Israel or we can be a zealous praying, obeying, bold, anointed, sanctified army of God, assaulting the gates of hell, till we hear the trumpet sound and the Words, “Come up hither.”

God is not limited by: drought, inflation, sickness, disease, poverty, hate, investments collapses, cheaters, adulterers, fornicators, liars, murders, atheists‘, He is limited by DISBELIEF.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the SAME POWER that is AVAILABLE to us. When we can lay aside our “gods” long enough to PRAY, FAST, SEEK HIM.

I pray Gods Holy Ghost Power rocks the pulpits and the pews. God did not send Jesus to ENTERTAIN the world, He came to SAVE lost, hell bound souls, ladened with sin. There’s only one saving Gospel, REPENT AND BE SAVED IN JESUS’ Name.

Pretending vs. Believing -The Power and Promise of God's Word

2010-06-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Paul wrote this in Romans about Abraham....."as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations; in the presence of Him whom he believed - God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things, which do not exist as though they did'" Romans 4:17

The notations in my Bible says this:
Pretending vs. Believing, Power and Promise of God's Word.
Biblical faith involves a balanced perspective; believing God's Word in the face of one's circumstances, while not ignoring circumstances or pretending no problem exists. Faith recognizes the problem, then presents it to God, acknowledging Him in the face of that problem and declaring His truth and promise as the greater "word" on the subject.

Abraham is used here as an example. He did not deny his or Sarah's natural condition, but rather believed God's ability to change circumstances by calling those things that did not exist as though they did. Notice, this verse does not say God calls things that are, as though they do not exist; but rather, that God calls those things, which do not exist as though they do exist. Thus we see that authentic faith does not deny the obstacle at hand, but declares that God is greater than the obstacle. Faith does not deny that a sickness is in the body, but declares Jesus' ability to heal the body (see Mark 5:23). Faith does not deny financial need, but acknowledges Jesus' ability to meet our needs (See Matthew 17:24-27).

Romans 10:9 tells us:
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

This is the most foundational lesson in the importance and power of faith's confession found anywhere in the Bible. The principle is established at the very beginning of our life in Christ. Just as salvation (God's righteous working in our behalf) is appropriated by heart belief and spoken confession, so His continuing working in our lives is advanced by the same means.

The word "confess" (Greek homologeo) has the connotation of (a binding public declaration by which a legal relation is contractually established" So, as our words "contract" from OUR side the salvation God has fully provided from HIS by Christ's saving work and power, so we have a principle for all of life. Beginning in the spirit of SAVING faith, we're to grow in ACTIVE faith - believing in God's power for all our needs, speaking with our lips what our hearts receive and believe of the many promises in His Word.

LET'S ACCEPT GOD'S "CONTRACTS" FOR ALL OUR NEED BY ENDOWING THEM WITH OUR CONFESSED BELIEF - JUST AS WHEN WE WERE SAVED.

Father, HELP US to receive Your Promises into our lives with the same belief and confession that brought us to become part of YOUR family. Help us to simply turn and believe, and trust You. You will never disappoint anyone who is leaning on, and trusting You. In Jesus' Name.

Because We Are Warned, We Escape, If We Sin Not

2010-06-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

This message came to us this week, and after receiving it, I chose to post it here.

Ezekiel 3:21 - Nevertheless If thou warn the righteous man that the righteous sin not, and he sins not, he shall surely live because he is warned, also the one giving the warning has delivered their soul.

We as ministers, prophets, pastors, have an obligation, a mandate, a responsibility to the world of souls, we are to lead them to God, God’s Word, Gods Way. Make no mistake, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. God so loved us He sent Jesus to die for us that we will not go to hell, if we receive Him as our forgiver, savior, Lord.

People, hell rides across our nations, homes, and churches. Demons on the prowl seducing, deceiving, snaring weak, sin laden souls. I will not water this down. Satan’s time is short. Jesus is coming back, soon. The Jaws of hell are sucking souls every moment of every day, gone forever, never to return.

Today is the day of Salvation. People have set up their gods and left God out. Judgment will come against us if we leave God out. People worship sex, flesh, filth, demons, sorry unclean living. Sin takes it’s toll. It’s death. God doesn’t lie, sin is a killer. Please set your lives in order, your homes, and children. God cries “I have no pleasure in death.” Today lay your sin aside forever! Today decide to escape hell. Heaven/Hell, which shall it be? Only two places to go when we leave this life. Heaven or Hell?

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other, or else will hold to the one and despise the other. (You cannot serve God and Satan if you are a Christian.)

I Corinthians 3:16 Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the house of God, him God will destroy. For the temple of God (our Bodies) is holy, which temple you are.

I Corinthians 6:17-20 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality (adultery and fornication). Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality (adultery and fornication) sins against his own body. (The temple of God) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you are purchased with the Precious Blood of Jesus, that flowed from His wounded body to free us from sin and hell. Therefore Glorify God in YOUR body and in YOUR spirit, which are Gods.

God has never overlooked sin, God will never over look sin. Sin is a killer, sin is death, sin is a fatal wound. It separates us from God. Only Jesus Christ could come free us from the claws, and chains of hell!!!

Prayer and Repentance is what God CAN move on. Repentance and obedience, God receives. Look to Jesus and Live.

Prayer 101

2010-05-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Prayer Basics 101

I enjoy praying, and believe that we are all called to pray, maybe some more than others, but pray we must. This is a study about prayer.

Over the years, I've gathered Scriptures that I use a LOT during prayer, because we're to take His Word to Him in prayer, and respeak it to Him. Standing on God's Word in prayer is the ticket for all of us. God will not listen to my whinning and emotions, but He will listen to His Word. Isaiah 55:11 tells us: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it.

After reading an article recently that coincided with what I already know and organized a few of my own thoughts, I wanted to share it here today. Not all of what I'm posting here is original with me, but things that I've learned from others over the years and have used myself. They are, however, the truth of God's Word.

I'm listing only a few Scriptures here, but most importantly I wanted to interate the TYPES OF PRAYER and FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES of prayer.

Every activity in life has basic rules that must be followed before success can be achieved. For example, if you would not use the rules that govern the game of baseball, you would not use the rules that govern the game of football. You can't get to the first base, let alone make a home run without a bat. You'll just stand at home plate watching the ball whiz by and strike out every time.

The same principle is true when it comes to prayer. There are basic rules that must be followed in oder to have a winning prayer life. Without them, you will continually strike out and never achieve God's will for your life.

Prayer has been defined as "communication with God." Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated the importance of staying in constant communication with His Father. Because prayer was His lifestyle, Jesus always knew where He was going and what He would and do when He got there. Through His example, we know that the very first rule about prayer is that we need to do it!

Hebrews 5:7 (Amplified Version) tells us:
7In the days of His flesh Jesus offered up definite, special petitions for that which He not only wanted but needed and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was always able to save Him out from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Notice, the Word does not say that Jesus' prayer was heard because He was the Son of God. It says that His prayer was heard because of His reverence toward God. How do we approach God?

Jesus said: John 5:19 - Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 8:28,29 ....I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

It's not that God won't, it's that we don't. Why? Because the devil convinces us that God won't answer our prayers, so we don't even bother to pray. How many victories were never won because we failed to go to God for help in the time of need? Realize today that it is not that God won't, but rather that we don't.

TYPES OF PRAYER
We know the importance of prayer, the next thing you should know is that there are different types of prayer with rules that govern each one.

PRAYER OF FAITH- is the prayer of petition or the prayer to change things. It is always based on God's revealed Word and never contains the word "IF." A few examples of this can be found in Matthew 21:21, 22 and Mark 11:22-24

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION- Which is the type of prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:42

Unfortunately, people think that every type of prayer should begin or end by asking for God's will to be done. When Jesus prayed for the sick, He didn't end it with "if it by Thy will" as so many do today. He often told the sick things like, "Your faith has made you whole." God's Word tells us it is always His will to heal the sick, save the lost, and deliver the oppressed.

If we look at the ministry years Jesus spent on earth, that's ALL He did. Healed EVERYONE that came to him for healing, set the captive free, delivered people from bondage. Look at Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That's what He did.

Over in I John 3:8 we're told that Jesus was made manifest to destroy the work of the devil. That's what we've been commissioned to do also. Mark 16 speaks of THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Acts 10:38 says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT- Found in I Peter 5:7

PRAYER OF WORSHIP- Found in Acts 13:1-4; Luke 24:52, 53

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT- Found in Matthew 18:18-20

UNITED PRAYER- Found in 4:23-31

INTERCESSORY PRAYER- - Found inRomans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18

Although there are many types of prayer, it is vital to always pray in faith and expect results every time.

I have known there to be about 5 basic elements to prayer. If there are more, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!!!! But to start out with, here are the ones that I've been reminded of, recently.

#1 Abide

John 15:7
7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. WHAT A PROMISE!!! Ask whatever you will and Jesus said it shall be done for you. It all hinges upon that two-letter word "if".....
IF you live in Christ (abide vitally united to Him).
IF His Words remain in you.
IF His Words continue to live in your heart.
IF you ask for whatever it is that is on your heart.

IF is a little word, but pulls a big punch.

While Jesus walked on earth, He walked in this powerful truth day-by-day and He wanted us to have the same advantage. Because He stayed vitally united to His Father in prayer, He could ask whatever He willed and it was done.

Remember the leper that came to Jesus wanting to be healed? He said "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean" Matthew 8:2 Some people know that God can, but don't know if He will. Others believe that it's God's will to heal, but they don't believe He can heal them. This man had the will and can in the right perspective and got his miracle that day. Jesus touched him and said "I will; be thou clean" verse 3. Immediately the leprosy left and he was made clean.

In Psalm 91 we are told of an impenetrable fortress of protection that is available to us, but there's a condition that must be met before the protection promise can go to work in our lives.
Psalm 91:1 Amplified version, says: HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

The Strongs Concordance says this about "shadow" = "shade". It's a cool place to abide in. No sweat. No matter what weapons the devil may be forming aginst us, they will not prosper. Psalm 91:16 says, "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation." When we stick with the Lord, we have it made in the shade.
Isaiah 54:17 tells us: No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

#2 Ask

John Wesley had this to say about prayer. "it seems God is liimited by our prayer life - that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him."

It's not easy to think that the Creator is limited by the creation, but it is true. God just will not intervene in our lives ithout being asked or invited. A perfect example of this is the Israelites that refused to possess their Promised Land. Psalm 78:41 says, "Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." When we refuse to ask God for the things we need, regardless of our reasons, we limit God in the earth.

God will not be shocked with our requests. He saw them all even before the foundations of the earth, He's never surprised. He knows what we have need of before we even ask. But His will is still that we ask.

Jesus said: So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Luke 11:9 Amplified Version, Matthew 7:11, 18:19

Psalm 145:18-19 tells us: The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

When we cry out to God, He instantly identifies us. Not only does He hear us, the Bible says He is always near by to those that call Him in truth and will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him. So, go ahead and ask. It's His idea.

#3 Assurance

One of MY favorite promises for answered prayer is I John 5:14-15 . I LOVE the way it is translated in the Amplified Bible:
14And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

His Word IS His Will.

Jesus gave us an example of how to pray....Luke 11:2 - So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

There's no lack in heaven.
There's no sickness and disease in heaven.
There's no confusion in heaven.
There's no death and destruction in heaven.
He TOLD US to pray that His will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

John 14:9 we're told: Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

He said if we see Him, we see the Father. This gives us a good picture of the character of God.

Assurance in prayer comes from knowing the character of God. If you have studied His Word and you know His will concerning the thing you are asking about, there's no reason to be timid or fearful because God's Word says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need? Hebrews 4:16.

His Word IS HIS WILL. His last will and testiment to us, on this earth.

When we ask in reverence to Him as our Source, we can rejoice for the answer because we know our Father has heard our request. When we abide in Him and He abides in us, we can be assured that He will always hear and listen to us, and grant us anything that we ask. You just know it would happen just that way because you know Him that well.

#4 Authority

Every born-again believer has the potential to tear down strongholds of the enemy and build up the Kingdom of God with their prayers. I am not talking about a haphazard prayer life that occasionally reminds God about your problems. I am talking about perpetual, consistent, and even consistant communication with God. Communication that keeps the airways open, so to speak, so that the Holy Spirit is able to reveal the plans of the enemy to you, and show YOU how to neutralize his forces and send him running for cover.

No wonder the devil works overtime to stop our prayer life. He knows that it's all over for him the moment we discover the authority given to us by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:19 : Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

In John 14:14 Jesus gave us the authority to use His name. "If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it."

In John 16:23, 24 Jesus tells us: And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Until now you have asked nothing in My name, Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

That is what happened in Acts 3:6 to the paralyzed man that sat at the gate of the city. While asking for alms, Peter said, "....silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The power of the Name of Jesus instantly healed that man. He was so excited that he took of running and leaping and praising God.

Philippians 2:10-11 says: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
While using the Name of Jesus, everything that is named has to bow to it. Cancer is a name. All manner of sickness and disease, is a name. Depression is a name. Lack is a name. Fear is a name...and they all must bow to the Name of Jesus. Get it?

The devil really messed up when he put a name on your problem.

Paul prayed a prayer in Ephesians 1:19-22; 2:6
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ....and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

We are seated with Christ and have full authority to use His name to bust the devil's head back into the dust. Get busy! Pray!

#5 Assignments

These prayer basics will lead us out of infancy in prayer and into rivers of Spirit-led prayer. John 7:38 tells us, "He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Remember that heart-led prayers, not head-led prayers, are the type that flow with the Holy Spirit.

Once God knows He can rely on you to pray in reverence and with authority, He may place specific assignments on your heart. It could be an entire nation or the little girl next door, but in His sight they are equally important and vital to His plan. Think of it: God has asked you to be involved in helping Him in the earth!

James 5:16 tells us: "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availes much."

Prayer always begins with God. If prayer is your lifestyle, God will find a way to get His assignments to you. If we are found faithful, God will move us into deeper things.

NEVER underestimate the power of prayer. It is so awesome that it will heal the sick, save the lost, and set the captives free. Prayers spoken in fiath parted the Red Sea, raised the dead, and fed the multitudes. Regardless of the need, prayer will always reveal God's plan for your victory.

Don't let past failures keep you away from God's throne of grace. Discover the awesome power that is available in prayer and never pass up the opportunity to pray!!!

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Father, HELP US!!! Help us to pray, Help us to be faithful to PRAY and to remember that prayer always makes a difference. ALWAYS! Strengthen us, teach our hands to war in the spirit. Help us to know and remember that prayer is always a win-win situation. Your Word never fails. In Jesus' Name.

God's Will To Heal - 101 Things God Said.

2010-04-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

These Scriptures were compiled by Keith Moore, of Moore Life Ministries, from Missouri. They are not exhaustive, but certainly a good start to place our faith in what God has already told us.

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God’s Will to Heal
Keith Moore

GOD SAID SO!
How do we know whether it's God's will to heal us or not? It makes little difference what others say about it. What did He say about it? Remember that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 and He never changes (Mal. 3:6). So what He said to them yesterday, He is saying to you today.

God's Word is speaking to me. (These statements are taken directly from the Bible with little or no variation. The erbs and construction have been changed to apply to you personally and to sum up the thoughts in some instances. Also, many of these statements are prefaced by phrases like, "If you walk in My commandments", "If you believe....obey..." etc."How do we know whether it’s God’s will to heal us or not? It makes little difference
what others say about it. What did He say about it?

What did God say?

101 THINGS GOD SAID
Old Testament

God said…

1) I am the Lord that healeth thee (Ex. 15:26 ).
2) Your days shall be one hundred and twenty years ( Gen. 6:3 ).
3) You shall be buried in a good old age (Gen. 15:15 ).
4) You shall come to your grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his
season (Job 5:26 ).
5) When I see the blood, I will pass over you and the plague shall not be upon you to
destroy you (Ex. 12:13 ).
6) I will take sickness away from the midst of you and the number of your days I will
fulfill (Ex. 23: 25, 26 ).
7) I will not put any of the diseases you are afraid of on you, but I will take all sickness away from you (Deut. 7:15 ).
8) It will be well with you and your days shall be multiplied and prolonged as the days of heaven upon the earth (Deut. 11:9,21 ).
9) I turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because I loved you (Deut. 23:5 and Neh. 13:2 ).
10) I have redeemed you from every sickness and every plague (Deut. 28:61 and Gal. 3:13 ).
11) As your days, so shall your strength be (Deut. 33:25 ).
12) I have found a ransom for you, your flesh shall be fresher than a child’s and you
shall return to the days of your youth (Job 33:24, 25 ).
13) I have healed you and brought up your soul from the grave; I have kept you alive
from going down into the pit (Ps. 30:1, 2 ).
14) I will give you strength and bless you with peace (Ps. 29:11 ).
15) I will preserve you and keep you alive (Ps. 41:2 ).
16) I will strengthen you upon the bed of languishing; I will turn all your bed in your sickness (Ps. 41:3 ).
17) I am the health of your countenance and your God (Ps.43: 5 ).
18) No plague shall come near your dwelling (Ps. 91:10 ).
19) I will satisfy you with long life (Ps. 91:16 ).
20) I heal all your diseases (Ps. 103:3 ).
21) I sent My word and healed you and delivered you from your destructions (Ps.
107:20 ).
22) You shall not die, but live, and declare My works (Ps. 118:17 ).
23) I heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds (Ps. 147:3 ).
24) The years of your life shall be many (Pr. 4:10 ).
25) Trusting Me brings health to your navel and marrow to your bones (Pr. 3:8 ).
26) My words are life to you, and health/medicine to all your flesh (Pr. 4:22 ).
27) (My) good report makes your bones fat (Pr. 15:30 ).
28) (My) pleasant words are sweet to your soul and health to your bones (Pr. 16:24 ).
29) My joy is your strength. A merry heart does good like a medicine (Neh. 8:10; Pr. 17:22 ).
30) The eyes of the blind shall be opened. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim
(Isa. 32:3; 35:5 ).
31) The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. The ears of them that hear shall hearken
(Isa. 32:3; 35:5 ).
32) The tongue of the dumb shall sing. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready
to speak plainly (Isa. 35:6; 32:4 ).
33) The lame man shall leap as a hart (Isa. 35:6 ).
34) I will recover you and make you to live. I am ready to save you (Isa. 38:16, 20 ).
35) I give power to the faint. I increase strength to them that have no might (Isa. 40:29 ).
36) I will renew your strength. I will strengthen and help you (Isa. 40:31; 41:10 ).
37) To your old age and gray hairs I will carry you and I will deliver you (Isa. 46:4 ).
38) I bore your sickness (Isa. 53:4 ).
39) I carried your pains (Isa. 53:4 ).
40) I was put to sickness for you (Isa. 53:10 ).
41) With My stripes you are healed (Isa. 53:5 ).
42) I will heal you (Isa. 57:19 ).
43) Your light shall break forth as the morning and your health shall spring forth
speedily (Isa. 58:8 ).
44) I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds saith the Lord (Jer. 30:17 ).
45) Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure you, and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth (Jer. 33:6 ).
46) I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick (Eze. 34:16 ).
47) Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live. And I shall put My Spirit in you and you shall live (Eze. 37:5,14 ).
48) Whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live. They shall be healed and every
thing shall live where the river comes (Eze. 47:9 ).
49) Seek Me and you shall live (Amos 5:4, 6 ).
50) I have arisen with healing in My wings (beams) (Mal. 4:2).

New Testament

51) I will, be thou clean (Mt. 8:3 ).
52) I took your infirmities (Mt. 8:17 ).
53) I bore your sicknesses (Mt. 8:17).
54) If you’re sick you need a physician. (I am the Lord your physician) (Mt. 9:12 & Ex. 15:26 ).
55) I am moved with compassion toward the sick and I heal them (Mt. 14:14 ).
56) I heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 4:23 ).
57) According to your faith, be it unto you (Mt. 9:29 ).
58) I give you power and authority over all unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 10:1 & Lk. 9:1 ).
59) I heal them all (Mt. 12:15 & Heb. 13:8 ).
60) As many as touch Me are made perfectly whole (Mt. 14:36 ).
61) Healing is the children’s bread (Mt. 15:26 ).
62) I do all things well. I make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak (Mk. 7:37 ).
63) If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mk. 9:23; 11:23,24 ).
64) When hands are laid on you, you shall recover (Mk. 16:18 ).
65) My anointing heals the brokenhearted, and delivers the captives, recovers sight to the blind, and sets at liberty those that are bruised (Lk. 4:18; Isa. 10:27; 61:1 ).
66) I heal all those who have need of healing (Lk. 9:11 ).
67) I am not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them (Lk. 9:56 ).
68) Behold, I give you authority over all the enemy’s power and nothing shall by any
means hurt you (Lk. 10:19 ).
69) Sickness is satanic bondage and you ought to be loosed today (Lk. 13:16 & II Cor. 6:2 ).
70) In Me is life (Jn. 1:4 ).
71) I am the bread of life. I give you life (Jn. 6:33, 35 ).
72) The words I speak unto you are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63 ).
73) I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly
(Jn. 10:10 ).
74) I am the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25 ).
75) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (Jn. 14:14 ).
76) Faith in My name makes you strong and gives you perfect soundness (Acts 3:16 ).
77) I stretch forth My hand to heal (Acts 4:30 ).
78) I, Jesus Christ, make you whole (Acts 9:34 ).
79) I do good and heal all that are oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38 ).
80) My power causes diseases to depart from you (Acts 19:12 ).
81) The law of the Spirit of life in Me has made you free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2 ).
82) The same Spirit that raised Me from the dead now lives in you and that Spirit will quicken your mortal body (Rom. 8:11 ).
83) Your body is a member of Me (I Cor. 6:15 ).
84) Your body is the temple of My Spirit and you’re to glorify Me in your body (I Cor. 6:19, 20 ).
85) If you’ll rightly discern My body which was broken for you, and judge yourself, you’ll not be judged and you’ll not be weak, sickly or die prematurely (I Cor. 11:29-31 ).
86) I have set gifts of healing in My body (I Cor. 12:9 ).
87) My life may be made manifest in your mortal flesh (II Cor. 4:10, 11 ).
88) I have delivered you from death, I do deliver you, and if you trust Me I will yet
deliver you (II Cor. 1:10 ).
89) I have given you My name and have put all things under your feet (Eph. 1:21, 22 ).
90) I want it to be well with you and I want you to live long on the earth. (Eph. 6:3 ).
91) I have delivered you from the authority of darkness (Col. 1:13 ).
92) I will deliver you from every evil work (II Tim. 4:18 ).
93) I tasted death for you. I destroyed the devil who had the power of death. I’ve
delivered you from the fear of death and bondage (Heb. 2:9, 14, 15 ).
94) I wash your body with pure water (Heb. 10:22; Eph. 5:26 ).
95) Lift up the weak hands and the feeble knees. Don’t let that which is lame be
turned aside but rather let Me heal it (Heb. 12:12, 13 ).
96) Let the elders anoint you and pray for you in My name and I will raise you up (Jas.5:14, 15 ).
97) Pray for one another and I will heal you (Jas. 5:16 ).
98) By My stripes you were healed (I Pet. 2:24 ).
99) My Divine power has given unto you all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Me (II Pet. 1:3 ).
100) Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17 ).
101) Beloved, I wish above all things that you may…be in health (III Jn. 2 )

FORGIVENESS.....

2010-03-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:14, 15
14 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I remember, one time, while a young mother, I was carrying our oldest son on my hip, and helping our oldest girl out of the car. We'd gone uptown to run some errands, and as the door on the car was shut I looked up at the pane glass window of the business I parked in front of to see our reflection and distinctly heard a voice inside me say, "If you don't forgive that dead man, you'll not grow any closer with Me."

This took my breath away. I knew this to be the voice of the Lord, I gave my life to Him when I was 8 years old. He was (and is) EVERYTHING TO ME. I knew the "dead man" He spoke to me about to have been my father. He died when I was about 12 years old.

My Daddy was a tough old bird. He didn't really have a good handle on relationships. Had a difficult time showing his affections and overall, just a crusty, hard man that my brother and I had a difficult time with, him, his discipline, mannerisms, emotions etc. He was an officer in the military in WWII, and he also didn't know how to leave THAT behind. Our home was ran like a military establishment. :) He said "Jump!", we'd said "How far?" and so on. You get the picture. His father gave he and his siblings away after his Mom died (he was 7) and NONE of them could ever reconcile with that one.

I was 12 when he died, and had a lot of unresolved conflict concerning my Dad. It had to be dealt with, and thus the visit from the Lord that day on downtown Main Street. My immediate response was something like, OK, I'll get back with you on this. My heart sank and stayed that way all morning long.

After I got home fed the kids and put them down for a nap, I knew it was time to take care of business. While I was before the Lord, I humm hawed around and finally told him that I was in a RUT, with this unforgiveness, had been there so long that I didn't know HOW to get out of it. Told Him that I was willing, but needed His HELP.

We can stay in unforgiveness so long, that it will harden our hearts and cause a root of bitterness and we will be like a poison to everyone we touch...it will just ooozzze out of us that way. So pitiful and so ugly, isn't it? We have all known people that way, even if we've not been there ourselves, it's sad to see and even worse to be there, it's about like having a rotten gut all the time.

My Dad was not INTENTIONALLY being a jerk...it's just what he knew.

God HELPED me, I got over it and it was a VALUABLE lesson the Lord taught me.....But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. GOD HELP US. None of us want to be on the unforgiving side of God.

Matthew 6:12 tells us:
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Someone told me recently that we don't forgive people - we forgive their sin, because forgive means to cut off. Well, YES - that is ONE of the meanings of the word......we do forgive them their trespass against us, but God is plain and clear that we forgive our debtors as well, and if we don't, what the consequences are. It's a package deal, else it would be lopsided, that "forgiveness." We need it ALL.

Not long ago, the Lord asked me to phone a person that has done my family great harm, and tell them that I forgive them. I thought of it ONLY a moment and said YES. After I made the phone call, said what I needed to, the person wanted to DRAG me into conversation that was not beneficial, and so I just let it be known that I said what I needed to and was bringing the call to an end. When I hung up the phone, the Lord WASHED OVER my spirit, soul and body and confirmed to me by His Spirit what I'd done was pleasing to Him and HELPED ME.

Anything that would remove us from fellowship with the Lord is unfortunate, because the Lord is after RELATIONSHIP with us....and that should also be what motivates us. I don't want anything between He and I. I don't want anything between me and anyone else...that would hinder my relationship with the Lord, that's what our enemy the devil is after, he's the stealer, killer and destroyer, and lives up to his title (John 10:10). I want to be on good terms with the Lord, no matter what it costs me.

Father, HELP US!!!! We need You! We need You to help us to see when we need forgiveness, and when we need to forgive. We don't want ANYTHING between You and us. Help us to see with Your eyes. To listen to You and do what You say. In Jesus' Name.

You Make Me WANT TO BE a BETTER Person.

2010-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Anyone remember a movie with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt called "As Good As It Gets"?

I don't usually plug movies here, but I came across some interesting things in study this morning, I wanted to share.

I've been running references about "value" and "precious" in the Scripture. Those things that are precious and valuable to God and how we need to recognize that also, for our own lives.

There's a place over in Acts 19:19 that says:
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Paul was in Ephesus preaching the Gospel and there were a LOT of miracles and signs and wonders that took place. God showed up in that place, at that time.

The VALUE of the books on magic that was burned that day was 50,000 coins of silver. The commentary in my Bible says that this was probably a reference to 50,000 Greek drachmae, a coin which was roughly equivalent to one day's wage....so the cumulative value of these magic books was ENORMOUS.

The Word of God that was shared with these people was so precious and VALUABLE that they became serious about, and wanted to PLEASE GOD. They did what they did to make a step in the right direction towards pleasing God in their lives.

In the movie, there was a scene where the character, played by Helen Hunt, said she wanted Jack to pay her a serious compliment, because there was a LOT LACKING in the relationship....she thought this would be good place to start. A compliment. He then told her that she made him want to be a better man.

All of God's Words, His precious instructions, His VALUABLE HELP should be just that to us. PRECIOUS and VALUABLE, and that should motivate us to DO what HE SAYS, because of His LOVE towards us. What He's said and done FOR US, makes me wnat to be a better person.... because I VALUE HIM, HIS WORD, HIS LOVE, HIS DIRECTIONS, HIS GIFT to me.

Jeremiah 38:20 tells us:
Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.

God wants to save our hide, and save us heartache, and trouble in our lives, and many times we look upon His instructions as an INCONVIENCE and not PRECIOUS.

Jeremiah 42:6 says:
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."

Colossians 1:10 tells us:
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

Hebrews 13:21 says:
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Father, YOU are the One that wants us to be better people, and put us into a situation to SAVE our hide. I ask YOU to make us hungry and thirsty for You and Your Ways. HELP US to respond to You with a loving and willing heart. HELP US to show our Love to YOU with our obedience to You. I AM a better person because of YOU. In Jesus' Name.

Call To Arms....

2010-01-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

Most of the folks I know are patriotic people who have an appreciation for the freedoms in our country, for us and our families. We know what it cost our husbands, fathers, grandfathers as dedicated soldiers to "let freedom ring." NOW, if we want the continued peace, safety and freedom in our land...... it's going to cost US something....Time in prayer, spiritual warfare and fasting. Whether we like it or not, we are already on the front lines.

II Timothy 2:4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

If you're part of the Body of Christ...you're enlisted as a soldier in the army of God.

We have lives, obligations, jobs, families to take care of, and God does not expect us to forsake those obligations to take care of matters that He's called us to.
Entangled with the affairs of this life means - Be ensnared, involved in difficulties, to be involved as a tangle. When we place God first He'll see to helping us with the work of our hands.

One of the Scriptures that has been brought to mind the last year or two has been
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

We need to have the confidence that God hears us, He knows what we need in our lives, an has the wherewithall to deliver to us, not only the HELP we need, but also to deliver us from evil.

The Patriarchs from God's Word answered the call to arms, and MADE A DIFFERENCE in not only thier lives, but also in history. The Bible is not just a book full of "stories" and encourages us to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep.".....It's full of accounts of men and women that took their assignments from God seriously, because it WAS a matter of life and death. They dedicated themselves to God, understanding His faithfulness to His Word, to them, and stood in the face of unbeatable odds, knowing that GREATER is their GOD than any "giant" in front of them.

Hezekiah had five kings from five different countries that wrote him a threatening letter with promises to do him in and bring his country and people into their receivership. He took the letter and put it upon the altar of God and told God what they said (as if God didn't already know LOL) but God saw Hezekiah committing his kingship, his country, and his people before God and GOD takes that seriously. God DELIVERED THEM ALL.

Elisha was camped out in a valley an while he and his servant rested during the night, they woke up to their enemy surrounding them with the threat of death and destruction. The servant was pacing the tent floor fearful about their own demise. Elisha asked God to remove the scales from the eyes of his servant, so he could see God's GREAT provision. He did, and the servant went to the tent door to see the hills lined with God's GREAT and MIGHTY warrior angels with their chariots readied for battle.

Esther, Abraham, Enoc, David, Jeremiah, Noah, Sarah, Deborah, Paul, Peter....and the list goes on and on and on about God's mighty men and women of God taking their place in God, with His strength, His direction and His plans and purposes. They were ALL OVERCOMERS, and they all made the hall of fame in God's book. Were they fearless? Probably not. Were they above average? Probably not, except with their trust in God.

God ALWAYS honored their trust in Him, their faith in His Word and not only His ABIITY, but His DESIRE to come to their RESCUE!! LOL

Jeremiah 20:11
But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.

Isaiah 50:7-9
For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord GOD will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.

Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
Do I hear - "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!?!"

We need the same boldness that Isaiah was displaying. He KNEW His God and what HE WOULD DO FOR HIM.

Isaiah 54:17 tells us:
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Psalm 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

God's Word is FULL of His promises to us, to our families, to nations, if we only take HIM AT HIS WORD. What is impossible for man is POSSIBLE for God. ALWAYS!

I want to encourage you to answer your call to arms.

Father, I ask You to HELP US! Help us to listen to You and DO what you speak to our hearts. HELP US to stand in the gap for our famiies, our churches, our communities, for SOULS and for our COUNTRY. Help us to KNOW and be confident that You really to hear and answer our prayers...and that You will never turn a deaf ear. Your arms are not short and your ear is not deaf to the cry of our hearts to You. In Jesus' Name.

Bullies

2010-01-19T04:45:00.001-08:00

There are bullies EVERYWHERE, no matter what our age or station in life.

When I was a child, I remember someone telling me that I was just a "Tedder" and I'd be no better than the rest and would have nothing better to look forward to.

That statement was shot straight to my heart, and I had no words to retaliate because it struck a cord of fear.

You see, this person was referring to that side of my family...that had:
-people off and on spend time in prison, and or jail.
-folks that drank a LOT.
-many smoked.
-many did drugs.
-most lived lives that were tormented, and or unstable, in every way.

Over in Samuel 17:13-58, there's an account of when David's Dad brought him in from the pasture watching sheep, to take some groceries to his brothers, that were called onto a field of battle with King Saul.

We've heard about the story of David and Goliath all of our lives, haven't we?

After David arrived and delivered the food to the person in the mess tent, he went to hunt down his siblings. Davids brothers were NOT pleased to see him at all. The entire regiment was hunkered down in fear of a bully, named Goliath, that came to the knoll, across the way, twice a day (and had done so for 40 days) to breathe threats that sent fear into the hearts of these men that had been trained for battle.

David was MAD that anyone would DARE to come and DEFY the troops of his Almighty God!
David was ticked off that the entire army was shaking in their boots....AFRAID of this one man.

His brothers were indignant, and told him to go back home to Daddy to watch the sheep, what was HE doing there to begin with! All David was to them was a snot-nosed baby brother that spent all his time in the pasture tending livestock.

David said, "I can do it."....then word got back to their commander in chief, he soon had an audience with King Saul. The king wanted to know what the deal was, so David told him that God would help him defeat this guy, because He helped David when both a bear, one time, and a lion, another, attacked his Dad's livestock, took the sheep from the lion and the bears jaws, killed them both, and brought the sheep back to safety.

The king was impressed and wanted to facilitate this young boy in any way he could, giving David his own armor to wear out into the field. It did not fit David and he said, "No thanks!"

Well, we know how the story goes....only it's not just a story. David really DID challenge the giant, took 5 smooth stones from the brook while he headed Goliaths way, and after the giant breathed his threats to the BOY, furious that Israel has sent a LITTLE BOY to do battle with. David decreed what he was going to do to Goliath, and while swinging the sling shot and released the stone, the Spirit of God directed it to the giants forehead and knocked him over. David then took the guys own sword and cut off his head, and brought it to King Saul.

BOY, was THAT a suprise, not only to David's brothers, but their entire army AND the Philistines.

Is there a giant standing in front of you, telling you what you CANNOT do?
Is it yelling in your face letting you know what will NEVER happen?
Telling you that, afterall, you're just a _______ and you'll never amount to anything?
Telling you that, afterall, you're Mom had this or that disease, your Dad was full of rage, and was mentally unstable and there's no way of escape, you're doomed to have the same. Declaring failure on every turn of your life?
Is it a formidable "enemy" at your workplace? In your family? Across the street? In your community that intimidates you and strikes cords of fear in your heart?

Those familiar taunts, whatever they are, and wherever they come from, are from hell. I've always seen the devil running in packs, like in gangs. They may be whispers from hell, or they may be yelling at you in your face....but they're still from hell.

They are just bullies!

You are a son or a daughter of THE MOST HIGH GOD, and they come to defy God!
When your own son or daughter is threatened, in the least, they are coming against YOUR OWN SEED, and you take that personally, do you not? LOL

I ask God to remind us, when we "hear" those threats breathing down our own necks, bringing fear into our hearts.....to REMIND US WHOSE WE ARE, and WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US TO INSURE OUR VICTORIOUS LIFE.

Father, YOU know the words, things and fears that have hindered and taunted us all, not allowing us to live happy, VICTORIOUS lives. HELP US!!! I ask YOU to Help us to be reminded when those threats are brought to us, that we belong to YOU, that all we need to do is call upon the shed Blood of Jesus, and make use of YOUR WORD to make a difference, not only in our lives, but those around us....in Jesus' Name.

For Our Nation

2009-12-31T06:37:00.000-08:00

In the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit...the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, as priests and kings called by the Word of God....a royal priesthood seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus with all spiritual blessings, we apply the Blood of Jesus, the Blood of the everlasting covenant to the spiritual atmosphere that governs the United States of America, and into this nation, by the authority of the Sonof Man, we release Holy Angels from the innumerable company of the heavenly host, mighty warriors of righteousness, revelation, increase and blessing in the knowledge and the fear of the Lord, to hearken to the voice of the Word of God : Cast down the principalitites and powers and the rulers of darkness over America, put to flight the devil's army and minister to the heirs ofsalvation, establish the dominion of the saints and the power that God gives them to prosper in all things pertaining to life and Godliness....that they may live and give to fulfill, sustain and perpetuate the blessed promise of the Father, that in the seed of Araham should, in all nations of the earth, be blessed....which seed is Jesus Christ our Lord, the head of the church. By righteousness of God vested in His people through the Blood of the everlatsing covenant, we order the works of the devil in America destroyed, every state, county, city and home in America, to wash away every black lie of the devil, to convict of sin and rightousness and judgment, we release an invincible and glorious revelation of the incarnate, crucified and risen Savior toeach and every heart in America, that Jesus Christ our Lord will be blessed, honored and obeyed, praised, worshipped and adored in all the land to the GLORY OF GOD our Father.

AND THESE SIGNS WILL FOLLOW THOSE WHO BELIEVE...in the Name of Jesus, they will cast out devils, they speak with new languages, they shall tread down the serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, every place they go they will establish the kingdom of God with signs , wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit confirming the Word of God and glorifying His blessed name....in righteousness, peace and rejoicing, they will advance the banner of Love....broadcast the glorious gospel to everyone....healing all those oppressed by the devil...for the Spirit of the Lord is upon them, for He has anointed His Church with the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. AMEN!!!!

The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous accomplishes much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WE MUST pray over our country.
WE CAN make a difference.
WE DON'T receive the reports from Washington D.C. or any other place....but we DO receive the report of the Lord...which is the Word of God.
In Jesus' Name.

I Am is speaking.

2009-11-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

This is a prophecy that has come to our fellowhsip and I want to share it publically, to encourage us ALL.

The Latter Rain

To My people. To My Church.
Are you foolish or are you wise? Be alert, not idle, for If you sleep the sleep of death, cut off from God, you will miss the Holy Spirits moving in the time of the Latter Rain.

Are you feeding upon the Word of the Living God that proceeds out of His mouth? Or are you caught up in walking in the flesh, making provision for the flesh? Awake, hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church in this hour. Respond to the Holy Spirit. Sit not idle, hypnotized by the call of Babylon, the short lived reign of Egypt, the glitter and charm from demons on assignment arrayed in many places and faces, with luring seducing power. Awake, flee, come out from among the destined dead, come out, flee for your life. Look not back.

I say, answer Me when I call, AWAKE, shed the scales from your eyes, the blinders from your mind. Answer Me when I call, open when I knock, follow when I lead. Why march into the dark death prisons. I am your Savior, your Lord, your Helper, your Healer, why halt you between two opinions, two opponents, Me and satan? Go all the way with me, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE.

The enticing spirits from hell have come with seducing powers, but I am the Victor over all. I took the power over all of hell and gave it to you, My Church. Put on the whole armor of God, the total power of God. It’s your garment. As the priest was clothed from head to foot, you, My People, have the covering to choose, each one, as Aaron, was anointed. It ran down from his head, down on his beard, down to garments and to the feet.

O My People, awake in this hour, I am in your midst, walking, talking, leading, performing My priestly duties. I am your High Priest. I call you to arise and function in your priestly calling. You are called, anointed ordained and covered by My Blessing, My power, My desire and will, My Blood.

I Am God and there is no other.

Many are and will perish by choice; they made not the Lord God their Abiding place. I have called, I have drawn, I have sent the prophets the priests, the laborers, why will you die? TURN, TURN, TURN. Turn to Me. My arms are open to receive and my Word to save.

It is not My will that any should perish.
Come before it’s too late!
The door will one day be closed.
Which side of the door will you be on?
Shut in with God, shut out darkness.
Choose! I have given every soul a choice.

I see your heart. I know your thoughts.
You say “I can’t be saved, I missed it so I have sinned, and made so many mistakes. I can’t forget my past, sins, mistakes, faults, wrong doings.” Don’t count my shed Blood as nothing! The precious Blood, Divine Blood…the Blood of the Son of God. Shed for all sins of God’s created beings. The Blood that takes away, not just covers. I am He that blotteth out all your sins. I only ask you to believe and receive. Be saved, set free from the curse of sin, which is eternal death. The enemy will say, "Not so!" He can’t say anything else for he is a liar. Praise me for My Blood Cleansing and forgiveness – out loud, and the enemy will run from you. Receive the New Life, receive your New Master, receive peace and Divine Help. Expect Good things. Expect God things. Say it, think it, see it, hear it, experience it.

I Am that I Am, the One and Only God!

Keep What God's Given

2009-11-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

I was reading part of a small booklet authored by the late John Osteen, entitled "Keep What God's Given."

The three initial Scripture references really got me MAD at the devil...again.

1. Matthew 12:42-45 that says:
43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

2. John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

3. I Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Three things the devil does.
1. he will return
2. he will steal, kill and destroy.
3. he will devour.

None of us will ENJOY the blessings of God without being contested by our enemy.

More battles are lost and more blessings are lost on satans counter-attack than any other time in our lives, and I see that we need to know HOW TO KEEP what God's given us.

In Ephesians 4:27 we're told:
27 nor give place to the devil.

James 4:7 says:
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Ephesians 2:2,3, 5
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

We ALL, at one time belonged to satan, before any of us came to Christ.

I Corinthians 6:19, 20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

WE ARE the house/temple of God.

While the devil is so vigilent, constant and sober, so active and some of God's people are NOT.

Many in the Body of Christ sit down and say they don't want the Word of God, and to invest the time it takes to make it part of their lives.
They say they don't want to believe the "faith message,"...when the "faith message" is what is preached all through the Word of God. We cannot please God without faith.
They say they don't want to appear extreme, or radical....geeze! I think the price Jesus paid was EXTREME and RADICAL...and He paid it so we could live OVERCOMING LIVES.
They don't want to believe the Bible.

A lot of folk just want to go rock-a-by-baby in their comfort zones that "religion" has to offer them....when the devil is SEEKING WHO HE MAY DEVOUR!?? If that be the case, our goose is cooked.

What does God say to do?

Revelation 2:25
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

Hebrews 4:14
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Paul told us in Romans to renew our minds to the Word of God (Romans 12:1,2)....He KNOWS it's the SWORD of the Spirit that we will be able to combat our enemy with. It's THE ONLY thing that defeats the devil.

When Jesus was taken by God's Spirit into the wilderness to fast and pray before His public ministry got underway....the enemy came to him with three propositions. he tempted Jesus in spirit, soul and body...and each time Jesus' response was "It is written." He sat a good example for each of us. Didn't He?

(Father, I thank YOU that YOU HELP US! Help us to be vigilent with Your Word. Help us to be uncompromising with our confession of FAITH in Your Word. Help us to be faithful to all that You've given us to live this life with....Your Word, the Blood of Your Son, The Name of Your Son and the HELP of YOUR MIGHTY MIGHTY Spirit! Help us to be vigilent, and sober, so the enemy, satan will not be able to "successfully RETURN", "kill, steal and destroy", and so he will not be able to "devour" any part of our lives." Help us to KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US! Help us to be overcomers OVER the devil with by the Blood of Jesus and the Word of our testimony, which is setting ourselves in agreement with what YOU SAY! In Jesus' Name.

Acknowledge Him and He'll Direct Our Paths

2009-11-07T05:28:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 3:5, 6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

In the notations of my Bible there is a segment called "Kingdom Dynamics" and the person that contributed to the commentary for this Scripture was Dick Eastman. He had this to say about it.

Intimacy and Spiritual Breakthrough.
FAITH'S WARFARE.
Two words in this passage are especially significant - the words "ways" an "acknowledge."

The word "ways" (Hebrew derek) means "a road, a course, or a mode of action." It suggests specific opportunities a person may encounter on a recurring basis. The most common "segment of opportunity" we experience regularly is each new ay. It is as if this passage suggests that in all our "days" we should acknowledge God, and in so doing He will direct our paths.

Of equal significance is the word "acknowledge" (Hebrew yada') Elsewhere yada' is translate "know," meaning to know by observation, investigation, reflection or firstand experience. But the highest level of yada' is in "direct, intimate contact." This refers to life-giving intimacy, as in marriage. Applied to a spiritual context, it suggests an intimacy with God in prayer that conceives and births blessings and victories. Joined to our Proverbs text, we might conclude that if in all our "days" we maintain yada' (direct, intimate contact with God), God promises to direct our paths toward fruitful, life-begetting endeavors.

GOD, HELP US to maintain intimate contact with YOU. Help us to keep close to you by prayer, meditation in Your Word so that we may hear Your voice and so Your Blessings and Victories are birthed in our lives. HELP US to do so, so YOU may direct our paths toward fruitful, life-begetting endeavors, for all of our days. In Jesus' Name.

Coming To the Altar of God

2009-11-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

Matthew 5:23, 24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

This passage speaks about offence, strife, discord and when we take ourselves to the altar as the living sacrifice that we are to be....if those things have been given ANY place in our lives, we have to get up from the altar of God, make things RIGHT in our lives; and/or others....THEN go back to God with a clean heart and clean hands.

We ARE the living sacrifices upon God's altar, and we WILL be an acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord, In Jesus' Name.

GOD HELP US.

Our prayers will be hindered if there is any strife, unforgiveness...if there's ANYTHING between us or anyone else. I don't know about you, but I've got too many prayers before God, to have them HINDERED by things that the enemy puts in my way to cause me or others to stumble.

Matthew 18:7
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

The Word says that offences WILL come...but WOE to the one by whom they come.
NOT ME!!! In Jesus' Name.

Galatians 5:7
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Job 22:30
30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.

We MUST remember that we've got to have clean heart and clean hands, and this is something that is doable....else God would not have required it. Lives are at stake, and not just our own, those that we've got before the Lord.

God HELP US, not to allow anything that comes our way HINDER us from obeying YOUR truth, Your Word! To hinder our prayers, to hinder others lives to hinder ourselves from being all that YOU have called us to be. HELP US to live and move and have our being IN YOU! In Jesus' Name.

Captives of the Righteous Delivered

2009-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 49:24, 25
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives of the righteous be delivered?
25 But thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.

The picture that comes to mind when I read this passage is that of a preditor, as in a hawk or eagle with a small creature securely in its talons, for it's next meal for she and her young.

If you or I were to attempt to remove that creature from the tight grasp, we'd rip the critter to shreds...killing it in our attempts.

God said here that the captive of the mighty will be taken away....and that's something that ONLY HE CAN DO, to retrieve us or our loved ones from the grasp of satan. He said the prey of the terrible would be delivered.
For I will contend with him who contends with you AND I WILL SAVE YOUR CHILDREN! HALLELUJAH!

God gives such GREAT promise there.

Psalm 124:6
6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

Father, THANK YOU for HELPING US! You've given great promise of deliverance when we need it. Thank You for being true to your Word and that we can trust You to deliver us and our loved ones from evil. You WILL save our children, in Jesus' Name.