December 25th 2011
YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER
ACTS 1:8 – BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
THE NEW BIRTH IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS SAID IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – JOHN 14:17 – EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM: FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WITH THE DISCIPLES, BUT AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HE CAME INSIDE THEM, AND AT PENTECOST HE CAME UPON THEM WITH POWER.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US, AT THE NEW BIRTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US. WE CAN SEEK THE LORD AND AND GET FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT WE CAN GO A STEP FURTHER AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
POWER FROM ON HIGH.
WE DON’T CHOOSE OUR MINISTRY, BUT WE DO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF ANOINTING WE WALK IN.
IN THE BOOK OF LUKE, CHAPTER ELEVEN, VERSE THIRTEEN, JESUS TAUGHT US TO ASK FOR MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE DESIRE. IF WE WILL ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK. PENTECOST WILL COME UPON YOU WITH POWER. JESUS SAID IF ANY MAN THIRST LET HIM COME UNTO HIM AND DRINK, AND OUT OF YOU INNERMOST BEING WILL FLOW A RIVER OF POWER AND BLESSING.
THE WICKED JUDGE/THE FAITHFILLED WOMAN
LUKE 18:1-8 AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM TO THIS END, THAT MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, AND NOT TO FAINT.
SAYING, THERE WAS IN A CITY A JUDGE, WHICH FEARED NOT GOD, NEITHER REGARDED MAN:
AND THERE WAS A WIDOW IN THAT CITY; AND SHE CAME UNTO HIM,SAYING, AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY.
AND HE WOULD NOT FOR A WHILE: BUT AFTERWARD HE SAID WITHIN HIMSELF, THOUGH I FEAR NOT GOD, NOR REGARD MAN:
YET BECAUSE THIS WIDOW TROUBLETH ME, I WILL AVENGE HER, LEST BY HER CONTINUAL COMING SHE WEARY ME.
AND THE LORD SAID, HEAR WHAT THE UNJUST JUDGE SAITH.
AND SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, WHICH CRY DAY AND NIGHT UNTO HIM, THOUGH HE BEAR LONG WITH THEM?
I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY. NEVERTHELESS WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH.
WE CAN SEE SEE THE CHARACTERICS OF THIS WOMAN OF FAITH, THAT REWARDS HER WITH WHAT SHE DESIRES.
SHE PRAYS WITH FAITH AND COURAGE AND DOESNT FAINT.
FAINT, GREEK WORD EKKAKEO – SHE DOESNT TURN OUT TO BE A COWARD, SHE DOESNT LOSE HER COURAGE,SHE DIDNT FAINT, WHEN SHE KEPT HEARING NO, NO, NO, NO.
THE TRAIL DIDNT STOP HER, EVERY ONE KNEW THE REPUTATION OF THIS JUDGE, BUT SHE DIDNT GROW WEARY.
SHE WAS BOLD IN HER ASKING, ASKING, ASKING AND ASKING.
SHE KNEW IN THE PROCESS, SHE WOULD FIND A YES IN ALL THOSE NO’S.
SHE KNEW THIS WAS A WICKED JUDGE, BUT HER WILL WAS STRONGER THAT HIS.
SHE MADE THE ONE THAT WAS TRYING TO WEAR HER DOWN, SUBMIT TO HER REQUEST.
NOW JESUS SAID YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS NOT LIKE THIS WICKED JUDGE, HE IS JUST AND WILL AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, THOUGH HE BEAR LONG WITH THEM WHICH CRY DAY AND NIGHT, WHEN HE BRINGS JUSTICE TO THEIR CRY IT WILL BE SPEEDILY.
ELECT MEANS CHOSEN, A COVENANT PEOPLE, A PEOPLE WHO BY CHOICE ACCEPTED MY COVENANT. KINGDOM CHILDREN, MY PEOPLE, WITH LEGAL RIGHTS TO MY PROMISES.
IN THIS PARABLE, JESUS PICTURES A WIDOW WOMAN WHO PRESENTED A LEGAL CASE TO THIS JUDGE.
FOR JUSTICE TO BE DONE, IT MUST BE ON LEGAL TERMS OR LEGAL GROUND. COVENANT PROMISES MUST BE FOUND, AND PRESENTED TO THE JUDGE.
1 JOHN 5:14,15 AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARETH US.
AND WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US, WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRED OF HIM.
HIS WILL IS HIS WORD, CONFIRMED TO US BY REVELATION, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE LOGOS MADE RHEMA
WE MEDIATE, WE RELEASE OUR FAITH, WE BELIEVE, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY THE WORD.
THIS WOMAN KNEW HER GIVEN RIGHTS.
THIS WOMAN HAD PATIENCE.
THIS WOMAN HAD THE COURAGE TO NEVER QUIT.
THIS WOMAN KNEW THERE WAS A YES AND AMEN FOR HER.
THIS WOMAN WAS FAITH DRIVEN.
THE LORD SEARCHES THE EARTH TO FIND FAITH.
IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
BITTERNESS PART II
MANY TIMES, WE JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THE TRIALS AND EVENTUAL END OF OUR TROUBLES AS AN INCREASE IN OUR LIVES. ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE NOW. USUALLY OUR TRIALS ARE ONLY A FORERUNNER OF THE JOY TO COME. WHEN IT CONCERNS WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US, IT IS REJECTION BY THAT PERSON’S ACTIONS THAT TROUBLES US THE MOST, EVEN IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS UNTRUE.
IN HANNAH’S CASE, SHE DIDN’T RETALIATE AGAINST HER HUSBAND’S OTHER WIFE (POLYGAMY WAS TOLERATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT FORBIDDEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT), BUT PATIENTLY ENDURED ALL THE REPROACHES CAST UPON HER, YET SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THERE WAS A REASONING IN THE MIND OF PENINNAH FOR HER TORMENT OF HANNAH: BECAUSE HER HUSBAND LOVED HANNAH MORE. SHE HAD FALLEN INTO A STATE OF JEALOUSY, BY WHICH SHE JUSTIFIED HER ACTIONS.
IF WE COULD JUST “GET-IT”, THAT GOD CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR LIVES, AND, AS A CHRISTIAN, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THEY WILL TURN OUT FOR OUR GOOD, WE WOULD HAVE JOY IN THE KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT STAY THE WAY IT IS NOW, BUT THAT GOD WILL SOMEHOW TURN IT ALL AROUND.
ANOTHE EXAMPLE OF BITTERNESS IN THE BIBLE, IS ABOUT SIMON WHO WAS A SORCERER. HE WAS IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS. WHY? BECAUSE WHILE HE WAS A SORCERER, BEFORE HE RECEIVED SALVATION, IT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM, WHEN HE BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE, “THIS IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.” BUT AFTER SALVATION, HE NO LONGER HAD THE EVILPOWER.
ACTS 8:9-11; 13; 18-22 – BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE:
TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FORM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.
AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD BECAUSE OF LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES (WITCHCRAFT).
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO; AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WERE DONE.
AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLE’S HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY.
SAYING, GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY MY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.
THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER, FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
REPENT THEREFORE OF THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE.
VERSE 23 – FOR I PERCEIVE THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY.
THEN ANSWERED SIMON, AND SAID, PRAY YE TO THE LORD FOR ME, THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS WHICH YE HAVE SPOKEN COME UPON ME.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? WHY WAS PETER SO UPSET WITH SIMON? BECAUSE ALL THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD ARE FREE, AND NONE COULD BE OBTAINED BUT THROUGH GOD, AND NOT FOR A PRICE. JESUS HAD ALREADY PAID THE PRICE ON THE CROSS.
SIMON HAD GIVEN UP HIS UNHOLY GIFT OF WITCHCRAFT, BUT HIS FLESH STILL LOVED THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE ATTENTION IT BROUGHT HIM. HE SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS MANIFESTED ON THOSE RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST AND THAT THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM IN SUCH A SUPERNATURAL WAY THAT OTHERS SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN, THAT HIS FLESH WANTED THIS POWER.
BUT WHAT WAS HIS BITTERNESS? I BELIEVE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD THE POWER TO THRILL PEOPLE LIKE HE ONCE HAD, AND SEEING THOSE WHO HAD THE POWER OF GOD ON THEM, HE WAS JEALOUS: WHICH IS A PART OF BITTERNESS.
THE GALL: A PERSON, A WICKED PERSON, WHOSE LIFE AND BEHAVIOR IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD. I T MEANS THIS WAS THE DEEPEST KIND OF BITTERNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS MIND HE WAS ASSOCIATING THE EVIL SUPERNATURAL WITH THE DIVINE.
HEBREWS 12:15 – LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OD GOD; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLE YOU, AND THEREBY MANY BE DEFILED (OR HOW YOU ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING YOUR LIFE).
THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS, IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED BITTERNESS THAT COULD SPRING-UP UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY TIME AND TROUBLE THE PERSON WHO POSESSES IT. IT CAUSES THEM TO SAY THINGS THAT CAUSES DISCORD IT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND FAMILIES, AND CAN DEFILE MANY.
THOSE WITH IT, MOST OF THE TIME, DON’T BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT, OR DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS SO EMBEDDED DOWN DEEP WITHIN. IT HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THEIR PERSONALITY, AND HAS BECOME A PART OF THEM.
TO GET RID OF IT, THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE IT, AND ASK GOD TO EXPOSE IT TO THEM; CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE; AND BAPTIZE THEM WITH LOVE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, ALARMINGLY, THEY HAVE HAD IT SO LONG, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT. SO, MANY ARE DEFILED AND ARE AFFECTED, OR SHOULD I SAY INFECTED.
EVEN IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE A PORBLEM, ASK THE FATHER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT, AND SHOW YOU IF ONE EXISTS. IF IT DOES, GIVE IT TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO DELIVER YOU. ASK HIM WHAT CAUSED IT TO TAKE ROOT, AND EXPOSE IT TO YOU. THEN FORGIVE.
BITTERNESS
PROVERBS 14:10 – THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.
BITTERNESS IS DEFINED AS ANGER, DISCONTENTMENT, HEAVINESS, CHAFE. CHAFE MEANS ANNOYED, IRRITATED.
EPHESIANS 4:31,32 – LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.
SO IT SEEMS, IN THESE VERSES, BITTERNESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNFORGIVENESS.
IT IS STANGE TO ME THAT A WOMAN LIKE HANNAH COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH BITTERNESS:
I SAMUEL 1:10 – AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, AND WEPT SORE.
IF YOU RUN A WORD SEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THIS BITTERNESS IN HANNAH WAS THE SAME KIND OF BITTERNESS SCORNED IN EPHESIANS 4:31.
TO FIND OUT WHY HANNAH WAS BITTER, WE HAVE TO READ I SAMUEL 1:2-8 – AND HE (ELKANAH) HAD TWO WIVES; THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS HANNAH, AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER WAS PENINNAH: AND PENINNAH HAD CHILDREN BUT HANNAH HAD NO CHILDREN.
AND THIS MAN WENT UP OUT OF HIS CITY YEARLY TO WORSHIP AND TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS IN SHILOH.
AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT ELKANAH, OFFERED (WENT TO WORSHIP), HE GAVE PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:
BUT TO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION (WE COULD SAY A DOUBLE PORTION); FOR HE LOVED HANNAH: BUT THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND HER ADVERSARY ALSO PROVOKED HER SORE (TORMENTED HER), FOR TO MAKE HER FRET, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND SHE DID SO YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN SHE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, SO SHE (PENINNAH PROVOKED HER); THEREFORE SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THEN ELKANAH HER HUSBAND SAID TO HER, HANNAH, WHY WEEPEST THOU? AND WHY EATEST THOU NOT? AND WHY IS THY HEART GRIEVED? AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?
NEITHER OUR JOYS NOR OUR SORROWS CAN BE WHOLLY SHARED WITH ANOTHER; NO PERSON STANDS IN SUCH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US, OR CAN PUT THEMSELVES SO ENTIRELY IN OUR PLACE, AS WE FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.
THERE ARE MANY DARK SPOTS, MANY GRIEFS, OF WHICH OUR BEST FRIENDS KNOW NOTHING; THE SKELETON IS LOCKED IN THE CUPBOARD, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND NO ONE HAS THE KEY BUT WE ALONE.
BUT WE CAN TURN WTH CONFIDENCE TO JESUS WHO KNOWS US BEST, WHO WEPT HUMAN TEARS, AND BORE OUR SORROWS, AND WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE.
HE HAS TAKEN HIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM TO HEVEN. AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR FEELINGS AND HURTS TO THE LORD, AND BEGIN TO FORGIVE AND SURRENDER THAT THING THAT HAS WORKED ITSELF FROM UNFORGIVENESS TO BITTERNESS OF HEART, WHOLLY TO THE LORD, WE FIND JOY THAT, ALSO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SHARE.
HE IS NOT A STRANGER TO “GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.”
THERE IS A SAYING, “NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES SO WELL AS HE THAT WEARS IT;” AND ANOTHER, “TO EVERYONE, HIS OWN CROSS SEEMS HEAVIEST.”
WHEN A PERSON’S MIND IS SENSITIVE IT IS EASILY DEPRESSED BY GRIEF; BUT WHEN IT IS ELATED BY JOY, IT SHOULD RECEIVE IT’S PLEASURE AND RELIEF WITHOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDENESS.
IN CHAPTER I OF Ist SAMUEL, WE FIND HANNAH PRAYING, AND VOWING TO TH LORD IF HE WOULD GIVE HER A SON, SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD TO THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE. SHE WAS PRAYING, WITH ONLY HER LIPS MOVING, BUT HER VOICE WAS NOT HEARD.
ELI, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS INTOXICATED, TOLD HER TO QUIT DRINKING, BUT SHE ANSWERED THAT SHE HAD NEVER DRANK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK; THAT SHE WAS SORROWFUL IN SPIRIT.
SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOT A WICKED WOMAN, BUT THAT SHE WAS POURING OUT HER SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.
ELI RESPONDE BY SAYING, “GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE LORD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOUR PETITION WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM.”
VERSE 20 – HANNAH BECAME PREGNANT AND IN DUE TIME BORE A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL (HEARD OF THE LORD), BECAUSE, SHE SAID, I HAVE ASKED HIM OF THE LORD.
WHEN BITTERNESS SETS IN, IT IS SEEN AS A VIOLATION TO THE WAYS OF GOD, FOR GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE.
WHEN IN HER TROUBLE, HANNAH WAS LED TO PRAY FERVENTLY, AND HER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED: GRIEF AND SORROW AND BITTERNESS GAVE PLACE TO REJOICING. THE FAMILY WAS BENEFITTED; AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD WERE GREATLY BLESSED.
SO IN HIS WONDERFUL WORKING, GOD “TURNED THE CURSE INTO BLESSING”!!
*Part II coming soon.
Vision
December 21st 2011
