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THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GREAT PART OF THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE BELIEVER. HE IS VERY ACTIVE IN ALL WE DO OR SAY IF WE WELCOME HIM. HE WANTS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, FOR HE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE TRINITY. HE WAS ALWAYS GOD.
WHEN HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT WAS FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION.
THIS IS ALSO TRUE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FROM THE OLD, IS THAT WHEN JESUS CAME TO EARTH AND COMPLETED HIS WORK HERE, HE THEN WENT BACK TO THE FATHER AND SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ABIDE (LIVE) WITH US FOREVER, AS HE PROMISED IN JOHN 14.
CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE REALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PERVADES (SATURATES) THE ENTIRE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION.
MANY OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS REFER TO THE SPIRIT, AND ONLY THREE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS DO NOT ALUDE TO HIM (AND THESE ARE VERY SHORT – PHILEMON AND 2ND AND 3RD JOHN).
IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE KEY FIGURE OF ALL GOD’S PLAN. THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF FOCUSES ATTENTION ON CHRIST AND SEEKS TO GLORIFY HIM (JN. 15:26; 16:14). BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVER IGNORED IN THE BIBLE OR THAT HE IS EVER TREATED AS SOME VAGUE INFLUENCE OR IN PERCEPTABLE ENERGY. HE IS RECOGNIZED AS A REAL PERSON WITH INTELLIGENCE, FEELING, AND WILL. 1
1. What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit, p.10.
MANY SEX CRIMES CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE CRIMINAL BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED AT SOME POINT IN THEIR OWN LIVES. THIS DOOR FROM WHICH THAT SPIRIT CAME IN TO THEM, COULD HAVE BEEN OPENED FOR THIS DEMON TO SURFACE AND START WORKNG, THROUGH A GENERATIONAL PROCESS, OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN INVITED IN BY THEIR OWN LUST.
PARENTS, OPEN YOUR EYES, CHILDREN EXPERIMENT WITH THEIR BODIES. THEY KNOW TOO MUCH, TOO SOON.
THEY ARE AROUND OLDER CHILDREN WHO EXPOSE THEM TO EXPERIMENTATION, AND THEN THEY TAKE FROM THERE.
BEGIN TO QUESTION YOUR CHILDREN. QUIT BEING AFRAID TO BE CALLED ‘NOSEY.’ BE NOSEY, ASK QUESTIONS, SEARCH THEIR ROOM PERIODICALLY. LOOK FOR SIGNS LIKE: BED-WETTING, CHANGE IN ATTITUDE, EXTREME SHYNESS, UNUSUAL CRYING, POOR SELF- IMAGE, AND THERE ARE MORE.
DON’T LET THE CHILD CONTINUE TO SILENTLY HURT INSIDE; FEEL TORMENTED WITH THE MEMORIES; AND THE ANGER BE SHOWN ON THE OUTSIDE.
GIRLS SEEM TO HURT MORE INSIDE, AND BOYS SEEM TO SHOW IT MORE ON THE OUTSIDE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS GROWING UP WE HAD AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY. I NEVER ALLOWED HER FRIENDS OR FAMILY VISITORS TO ENTER A ROOM AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND THEM. IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR, CHILDREN CAN BEGIN A LIFE OF HURT THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM: SOME FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
BE NOSEY, PARENTS! TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD WOUNDS AND SCARS MOST OF HER LIFE.
IT HAS AEFFECTED ME EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY IN WAYS THAT ARE INDESCRIBABLE.
HOW DID I GET RID OF IT?: THROUGH FORGIVING THE ABUSER AND KNOWING THAT THE REAL ABUSER WAS THE DEMON IN OPERATION THROUGH THAT PERSON OR PERSONS.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN ABUSER: HE OR SHE IS USALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS A PASSION FOR CHILDREN THAT IS NOT NORMAL. MY HUSBAND NOTICED AN OLDER MAN WHO CAME INTO THE CHURCH THAT ACTED STRANGE TOWARD SMALL BOYS. THIS MAN SELECTED ONE SMALL CHILD AND GAVE HIM A LOT OF ATTENTION. WE WARNED THE PARENTS WHO TURNED AGAINST US BECAUSE HE APPEARED TO THEM A LOVING, CARING, ELDERLY MAN WHO MEANT NO HARM.
STILL, SEEING HIS POSESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD THIS CHILD, MY HUSBAND ALERTED THE MEN OF THE CHURCH AND HE WAS BEING WATCHED FROM ALL SIDES. WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THE MAN AND FOUND OUT HE HAD ALREADY SERVED TIME FOR MESSING WITH LITTLE BOYS IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS BY CALLING THEM ON HIS PHONE AND SAYING SEXUAL THINGS TO THEM. WE ALERTED THE FAMILY WHO STILL DOESN’T BELIEVE US, AND THEY LEFT THE CHURCH, THINKING WE HAD JUDGED HIM UNFAIRLY.
IT’S EVEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPT, IF IT IS A FAMILY MEMBER, BECAUSE EITHER THEY DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IT, OR THEY DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. IT’S MORE PAINFUL WHEN IT’S FAMILY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
HOW DO I GET MY CHILDREN TO TALK? – THIS IS THE HARDEST PART. THE CHILDREN SOMETIMES LOOK-UP-TO, AND CONFIDE IN THAT PERSON. THEY GIVE THEM A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION; BUY THEM GIFTS; TAKE THEM PLACES; SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM, PERSONALLY.
IN MY CASE, AS A SMALL CHILD, IT WAS THE PROMISE OF A BRIDE DOLL; ALONG WITH A THREAT OF MY DADDY KILLING MY GRANDFATHER AND GOING TO JAIL. — THIS IS VERY PERSUASIVE FOR A SMALL CHILD. A CHILD’S IMAGINATION SOMETIMES MAGNIFIES THE THREAT. THE ABUSER WILL SOMETIMES TELL THE CHILD, “I’M AN ADULT, AND NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO YOU. THEY WON’T BELIEVE YOU.”
I NEVER TOLD UNTIL MY GRANDFATHER DIED. I WAS A YOUNG ADULT WITH A CHILD OF MY OWN, AND CARRIED THE SECRET AROUND WITH ME MOST OF MY LIFE AND ALSO, IT TORMENTED ME ALMOST DAILY. IT AFFECTED EVERY PART OF MY LIFE.
ONCE I HEARD A DISCUSSION BY PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCOLOGISTS WHO SAID IT WAS GOOD FOR A CHILD TO HAVE SEX WITH AN ADULT: IT PREPARES THEM FOR THEIR SEXUAL ADULTHOOD.
EITHER THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, OR THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH SOME SORT OF UNHEALTHY AND UNGODLY SEXUAL ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES.
SOME ARE SO DEVASTATED: THEY COMIT SUICIDE. AND OTHERS WHOM WE HAVE DEALT WITH, ARE SERVING TIME FOR THINGS THEY GOT INVOLVED WITH TO SOOTHE THEIR EMOTIONAL PAIN: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL; AND SOME BECAME PROSTITUTES BECAUSE THEY BECAME ADDICTED OR THE LUST SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG THEY COULD NOT BE SATISFIED.
IS THERE DELIVERANCE FOR THE ABUSED? – YES. IT TAKES TIME, AND IT TAKES PRAYER, BUT THE FIRST STEP, IS TO TELL.
WE HAVE TO FORGIVE THE ABUSERS AND PRAY FOR THEM, BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES, OR THOSE OF WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE BACK IN THE SAME PLACE TO BE ABUSED AGAIN.
TEACH THEM TO PRAY; AND ASK GOD TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, NATIONWIDE, AND AROUND THE WORLD.
A HEALTHY CHILDHOOD IS A PRICELESS INVESTMENT.
AS I MOVE ACROSS THIS EARTH AND GATHER MY PEOPLE FROM NATION TO NATION, YOU WILL SEE A GREAT AFFLICTION AGAINST THEIR ENEMY. HE WILL LOOSE GROUND AS THE TIME COMES FOR MY RETURN. I HAVE ALL YOU NEED AND YOUR SAFETY IS SECURE, BUT GREAT DEPTHS OF MY OWN JUDGMENT IS ON THE HORIZON. YOU WILL SEE IT AND WILL FROWN AT MY WORK, BUT YOU WILL KNOW IT IS ME. I AM NOT HERE TO DESTROY, BUT I AM HERE TO SECURE YOUR SAFETY. GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR DAILY TASKS AND WATCH AND PRAY. MY TIME IS UPON ALL WHO WOULD TURN THEIR BACK UPON ME. YOU WILL SEE ME AND KNOW I HAVE COVERED YOU. YOUR BACK IS PROTECTED BUT YOU WILL KNOW ALSO THAT I AM LEADING NO MATTER WHAT YOU SEE.
(This was given to me as I sought the Lord in my “secret place” this morning)
THE GREAT ESCAPE.
I know, from one of our last messages, Wilderness Experience: where Jesus revealed to us; when He went through those temptations, he did this for us. Again, what the Father revealed to me today, is a revelation, I am likely never to forget.
When we get to the place, of complete surrender to God and His plans and purposes for our lives, we never again have to be troubled about anything. There is great freedom that comes with this level of our walk with Him. The Lord said to me, “I will take you to the place of escape for every temptation. I prepared this for you, when Jesus was in the temptation wilderness with Satan. Now, you understand how I did it. I gave My people the way of escape. This was My purpose for this great experience of Jesus. Nothing can take you under. I have prepared the way of escape.”
I always knew after I read the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, that God will make a way of escape; but I didn’t completely understand how the escape would come.
1 Corinthians 10:13 —- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation wilderness,also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Studying this verse an comparing it with Mark 1:13a let’s read it —- And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;…
Comparing these two, together, began to bring light to me: Jesus’ temptations; and our temptations.
Finding other references, that relate or connect, is also important for the full understanding of this great truth, or any other subject in the Bible: comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10).
Hebrews 2:3a —-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…
Escape means = to evade, or slip away from.
Temptation means = a testing designed to strengthen, or corrupt.
2 Peter 2:9a —- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…
Temptation is withstood, through our trust in the faithfulness of God.
God has undertaken to defend, and deliver His servants, whether it is daily temptations, or the Great Tribulation period of the last days.
We all need to escape both.
Look at Luke 21:36 —- 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.
Jesus prepared the way of escape, but we can see in this verse we also have something to do: We are told to watch and pray.
This would go for any kind of escape we might need.
When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, He warded off every thrust by the power of the Scriptures.
God encourages us to call on Him in the day of trial.
The sentry or soldier, doesn’t advance or move forward, to meet the approaching enemy: he falls back, and gives warning to the commander.
So, when we are tempted, we should call upon our God.
It’s the difference in being strengthened, or corrupted.
temptation When God strengthens us, we just slip away from the temptation.
Joseph was given strength, by God, to do this very thing.
Most all Christians know this story, but for those who are listening who don’t, and those who would love to be refreshed, turn with me to Genesis 39:6b —- And Joseph was a godly person, and well favored.
Verse 7-9 —- And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house (or trusts me with everything in his house) and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Look at verses 10-12 —- And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie with her, or to be with her.
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went in to the house to do his business; and there was none of the men in the house there within.
And she caught him by his garment, saying lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (he got out of there).
We know from the next verses, he escaped this temptation, but she lied on him, and his master, Potifhar, sent him to prison; but we also know God was with him, and even used him in prison.
Verse 21 —- But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Verse 23 —- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper.
As time went by, Joseph began to interpret dreams.
interpret,butler,One morning, Pharaoh awoke from a dream that troubled him, (Genesis 41:7,8) and the chief butler told Pharaoh, that Joseph could interpret it.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and in verse 16, we read —- And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not dream,in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh shared his dream of which Joseph interpreted and verse 39 reads —- And pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet (or discerning) and wise as thou art.
Joseph showed himself not only to be a man of integrity no matter the cost, he showed himself to be a man who sought God.
My friend, sometimes when we escape temptation, the result is: trouble with man; but we can depend on peace with God. Obedience, and peace with God, are worth the stand we take. In the end, we win every time.
Verse 40 —- Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
We see Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, under Pharaoh; promoted by God’s favor to the second to Pharaoh.
My friend, only God, can give this kind of favor, that a man could come from a servant, to the second to a king, in approximately fourteen years.
Most of Joseph’s life was filled with troubles and trials, but he remained faithful to God, and completely trusted God.
He followed God’s plan and purpose for his life.
If you are going through a time of testing or temptation, my advice to you is, stand strong in you conviction of what is truth, and keep your heart and mind toward God.
Now, there are sins of disobedience that can cause us to fail to escape the judgment of God. We will take these last few minutes, and go over some of the Scriptures that cover failure to escape:
HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Proverbs 19:5 —- A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Shall not escape what?
Revelation 21:8 —- But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
All liars are eternally separated from God.
IF WE GET INTO DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 —- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
IF WE NEGLECT OUR SALVATION WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Hebrews 2:1-4 —- Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect (or disregard) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.
IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Romans 2:1-3 —- Therefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (or criticizes anyone): for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(a question) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?
Or we could say, Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too?
God is saying,— There is no excuse for you, whoever you are, that criticizes anyone for doing something you are doing yourself. When you are condemning them, you are condemning yourself. And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these.
EVIL BEGAN WITH SATAN. WITH ADAM, SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD. MOST CHRISTIANS KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE MUST UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR ENEMY, THAT KEEPS US FROM BEING THE BEST WE CAN FOR GOD. SATAN USES DEMONS, AND SHOWS UP HIMSELF, AT TIMES, AS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
I DON’T MEAN HE CAN BE EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES LIKE GOD, BUT HIS DEMONS ARE DISPATCHED BY HIM TO FOLLOW US AROUND, TO SEE IF WE WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR THEM TO ENTER.
BY THIS, I MEAN, WHEN WE GET IN THE FLESH,OR LOOK BACK TO THE WORLD, WE CAN TAKE A BACK-STEP INTO WHAT WE USED TO BE BEFORE SALVATION, AND BE TEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO OUR OLD CARNAL WAYS.
WHY DO YOU THINK GOD’S MINISTERS BACKSLIDE?—- MOST OF THE TIME, IT’S BECAUSE THEY GOT SO INVOLVED IN GOD’S WORK, AND THEY DON’T MAKE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE GOD THEY SERVE.
WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY OF THESE OCCULT RELIGIONS GET AS FAR AS THEY DO? —-THEY PRAY MANY TIMES A DAY TO THEIR FALSE god, WHICH OPENS THE DOOR FOR SATAN TO INCREASE THEIR GROWTH, AND SPREAD THEIR DOCTRINE OF ERROR. EVIL WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE, THEN IT WILL BECOME MORE FURIOUS DURING JACOB’S TROUBLE: THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS, AND WILL APPEAR AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME, AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.
WE AS CHRISTIANS, SHOULD GUARD AGAINST, OR BE WATCHMEN, CONFRONTING EVIL.
SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, SOMETIMES, WE AS CHRISTIANS, CAN BE INFLUENCED BY SATAN, TO DO HIS WORK.
HOW?—-HEARTS OF UNBELIEF! – HEBREWS 3:12,13 – TAKE HEED, BRETHREN, LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AND EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD.
BUT EXHORT ONE ANOTHER DAILY, WHILE IT IS CALLED TODAY; LEST ANY OF YOU BE HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN.
SOME BEGIN TO WANDER OFF FROM THE WORK OF GOD, AND GOD HIMSELF, WHEN THE FIREY TRIALS COME. THEY MIGHT GET CRITICIZED FOR THE WAY THEY DO THINGS AND BECOME DESPONDENT AND LOOSE THEIR VISION, INSTEAD OF TURNING IT OVER TO GOD.
FEAR COULD ARISE, AND THEY MIGHT NEVER START WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO.
WHEN WE SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, THE TRIALS WILL COME TO TRY TO STOP GOD’S WORK. I HAVE FOUND, THROUGH EXPERIENCE, THIS IS WHEN GOD IS GETTING READY TO DO SOMETHING GREAT IN THAT WORK (THEIR VISION).
STAY WHERE YOU ARE, PRAY, PUT ON SOME WORSHIP MUSIC AND BEGIN TO WORSHP GOD AND THANK HIM FOR MOVEING IN YOUR SITUATION. WAIT, AND HE WILL. —-DON’T GIVE UP, YOU ARE ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE!!!!!
WE HAVE THE POWER THROUGH GOD’S WORD AND HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER OVER SATAN AND HIS DEMONS. II CORINTHIANS 10:3-5 – FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH:
(FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD THROUGH THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS;)
CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST;
MATTHEW 16:19 – AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.
THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN USING THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR BATTLES. THEY ARE NOT REALLY YOUR BATTLES, BECAUSE THE BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD; BUT WE ARE TOLD OT BIND AND LOOSE THOSE POWERS THAT ARE COMING AGAINST US AND OPERATING THROUGH OTHERS AROUND US; AND USING THEM THEM TO COME AGAINT US AND OUR VISION, AND GOD WILL IN TURN BIND AND LOOSING THOSE THINGS FROM OUT OF HEAVEN.
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S!!
HE JUST WANTS US TO GET INVOLVED BY PRAYING HIS WORD, AND BELIEVING HIM TO TAKE CHARGE.
DON’T GIVE UP!! YOU’RE ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE!!