THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND

MATTHEW 3:2  –  AND SAYING, REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE COUSIN OF JESUS, THE FORERUNNER OF THE KING IS SPEAKING HERE.

HIS PURPOSE WAS TO ANNOUNCE THE APPEARING OF THE MESSIAH.

HIS PURPOSE WAS TO PREACH THE PREPARATION OF THE HEART TO RECEIVE HIM.

THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND, OR IS PRESENT.

THE LORD IS ENTERING INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, SETTING UP HIS GOVERNMENT IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE EARTH.

REDEMPTION WOULD BE COMPLETED AT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THE KING.

REVELATION OF THIS REDEMPTIVE ACT OF GOD WAS BEING REVEALED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST’S FOLLOWERS.

JESUS TAUGHT AND PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

MATTHEW 4:17 –  FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, AND TO SAY, REPENT: FOR THE KNIGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

THE KINGDOM IS PRESENT: REPENT, HAVE A CHANGE OF MIND, THE MESSIAH IS HERE WITH GRACE AND TRUTH.

JESUS WAS SAYING, I HAVE COME UNTO MY OWN JEWISH PEOPLE, RECEIVE ME, I AM THE PROMISED MESSIAH: KING JESUS.

THE SAME MESSAGE IS BEING PREACHED AND TAUGHT TODAY: REPENT OF ANY HOPE OF EVER ENTERING INTO GOD’S KINGDOM WITHOUT KING JESUS.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS THEOCRATIC. GOD IS SOVERIGN.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY: A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS NOT A REPUBLIC: GOD DOESN’T ANSWER TO THE MAJORITY.

GOD ISN’T VOTED IN TO OFFICE; AND HE CANNOT BE VOTED OUT.

NO TELEVISION PERSONALITY CAN SOVERIGNLY TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN BE SAVED, UNLESS THEY SAY WHAT THE KING SAID.

NO COLLEGE PROFESSOR CAN TELL YOU HOW TO BE SAVED UNLESS THEY TELL YOU WHAT THE KING SAID.

NO RELIGIOUS LEADER CAN TELL YOU HOW TO BE SAVED UNLESS THEY TELL YOU THE WORDS OF THE KING.

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED MAN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

HE CREATED EVERYTHING WE SEE AND DON’T SEE.

GOD IS THE SOVERIGN AUTHORITY, HE WILL SET UP A LITERAL KINGDOM ON THIS EARTH SHORTLY.

TO ENTER INTO HIS KINGDOM, YOU MUST DO IT HIS WAY, NOT MAN’S WAY, NOT THE DEVIL’S MANY WAYS: WHICH IS ALL DECEPTION AND LIES THAT SEND PEOPLE TO HELL; BUT THE WORD’S OF THE KING IN HOLY SCRIPTURE.

JOHN 14:6 –  JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

WE MUST HUMBLE OURSELVES LIKE A CHILD, AND ASK JESUS TO COME INTO OUR HEART, AND ACCEPT HIM BY FAITH AS OUR REDEEMER: AND GOD’S GOVERNMENT WILL ENTER INTO YOUR HEART.

HIS CONSTITUTION IS THE BIBLE; THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK WILL COME OFF THE PAGES INTO YOUR HEART.

PRAY, AND ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER.

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RED SEA LOOSES POSITION

EZEKIEL 36:22-28 – THEREFORE SAY UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME’S SAKE, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHITHER YE WENT.

AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, WHICH WAS PROFANED  AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED IN THE MIDST OF THEM; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, SAITH THE LORD GOD, WHEN I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.

FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, AND WILL BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND.

THEN I WILL SPRINKLE WATER UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BE CLEAN: FROM ALL YOUR FILTHINESS, AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS, WILL I CLEANSE YOU.

A NEW HEART WILL I GIVE YOU, AND A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONEY HEART OUT OF YOUR FLESH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH.

AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, AND DO THEM. 

AND YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS; AND YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD.

PROFANED – A HEBREW WORD, HALAL – A VERB, MEANING TO PIERCE. THE FIRST MEANING OF THIS WORD IS TO PIERCE OR WOUND, EITHER PHYSICALLY UNTO TO DEATH OR FIGURATIVELY UNTO DESPAIR.

THE OTHER MEANING IS TO PROFANE OR TO DEFILE, WHICH IS USED PRIMARILYOF CEREMONIAL OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.

GOD SHALL SANCTIFY HIS GREAT NAME BEFORE THE WORLD BY PERFORMING A GREATER MIRACLE THAN PARTING THE SEA. HE SCATTERED THE JEWISH PEOPLE AFTER THEY REJECTED AND PIERCED THEIR ONLY GIVEN WAY TO WORSHIP.

JOHN 4:21-26 – JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN BELIEVE ME, THE HOUR COMETH, WHEN YE SHALL NEITHER IN THIS MOUNTAIN, NOR YET AT JERUSALEM, WORSHIP THE FATHER.

YE WORSHIP YE KNOW NOT WHAT: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS.

BUT THE HOUR COMETH, AND NOW IS, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM.

GOD IS A SPIRIT: AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

THE WOMAN SAITH UNTO HIM, I KNOW THAT MESSIAS COMETH, WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST: WHEN IS COME,  HE WILL TELL US ALL THINGS.

JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE.

ANYONE WHO REJECTS THIS WAY OF WORSHIP PROFANES THE NAME OF GOD. JESUS IS THE WAY, T HE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO WORSHIPS THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS  OFFERED ON THE  CROSS BY JESUS. JEW OR GENTILE CAN ONLY WORSHIP THE FATHER THROUGH HIS CHOSEN SACRIFICE. IT IS PROFANE TO ATTEMPT TO WORSHIP GOD WITHOUT THE ONE THAT WAS PIERCED.

THERE IS A LAND COVENANT GOD MADE TO ABRAHAM. THERE IS A PEOPLE COVENANT GOD MAD TO ABRAHAM.  THE LAND IS ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE IS THE JEW.THIS COVENANT CANNOT BE BROKEN, GOD SAID I WILL BRING THE BACK TO THEIR LAND.

THAT IS THE FIRST PHASE, THE SECOND IS ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE, THE JEW WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR MESSIAH. THEN JESUS WILL ENTER INTO THEIR HEART AND THERE WILL BE A REBIRTH OF THEIR SPIRIT. A NATION IS REBORN AND THEN THEIR SPIRIT.

ON MAY 14 1948, GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE GREATER THAN THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA, ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN ONE DAY. THIS IS THE GREATEST SIGN THAT IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL THEY RECEIVE  THE NEW BIRTH OF THE HEART.

JESUS IS COMING BACK TO JERUSALEM TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM, 144,000 JEWS WILL RECEIVE JESUS DURING THE FIRST  THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS OF TRIBULATION. ALL OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO JERUSALEM.

ZECHARAIA 13:6 –  AND ONE SHALL SAY UNTO HIM,WHAT ARE THOSE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? THEN HE SHALL ANSWER, THOSE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS.

ROMANS 11:26 – AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE SHALL COME OUT OF SION THE  DELIVERER, AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB: 

     

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It’s Beyond Me

When I reach out unto the unknown,
“It’s beyond me”
When I hear you say, “Step up higher”
I say, “It’s beyond me”
Though I know from your word,
I can do all things through Christ:
“It’s still beyond me”
Though I hear your voice, and move:
“It’s still beyond me”
If it were easy I wouldn’t have to
stretch-out but I know that
“You are there beyond me”
Fulfilling what I can’t, and saying,
“Come on I am in every circumstance
whether big or small, still I move you
out to places with Me that you will know
when you get there, and say”
“It’s beyond me”
But still you move knowing you never
could, but I can through you.
Lord, I’ll move, I’ll yield, I’ll walk;
I’ll say what You tell me, I’ll go where You send me,
Even though I know it’s You
“IT’S STILL BEYOND ME”

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HOW TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES

Luke 17:1 – Then said He (Jesus) unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

A fact: It is impossible to live as a Christian and not be offended. The purpose for offences, is to stop God’s purpose.

People don’t mean to offend us; but sometimes they do so because they don’t understand what God is doing in our lives. Sometimes they offend us because they are jealous.

Different reasoning brings offences, but the purpose is to destroy God’s purpose.

Matthew 16:13-18 – When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Phillipi, He asked His disciples, saying,whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said,  Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

Peter received divine revelation of who Jesus was, but did not understand the purpose of Jesus.

When Jesus began to explain the purpose of God for His human life, Peter did not understand, which offended Jesus.

Peter, unknowingly, tried to stop the the purpose of the Father through Jesus.

Matthew 16:21-23 – From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Personally, I believe that all offences come from the forces of the enemy to stop the purpose of God. People who understand who God is, don’t understand how God is working-out his purpose.

Children of God don’t get offended by lost people. Offences come from other Christians. 

We loose the mind-set of God because we are not seeking God, and we get the mind-set of the flesh.

When we have been hurt, we want to retaliate. We get a mind-set  (or savourest) the things of men and fall into the purposes of Satan. Then we become the offender, and our actions offend the other little sheep; and in the middle of our crusade to get revenge, we stop or hinder God’s purpose.

His kingdom must be more important than our pride.

I have been an offender, and I have been offended.

There is a cross I must pick up.

Peter wanted Jesus to be the Christ, but he did not want the suffering Christ. He wanted salvation without suffering.

We want salvation without suffering. We want salvation without denying our flesh.

For God’s purpose to come, we must sometimes suffer; and even though we have been offended, we must forgive the offender. If we don’t, we will stop or hinder God’s kingdom purpose and hurt innocent Christians who are bystanders.

Luke 17:1-5 – Then said He unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: bur woe unto him, through whom they come! It was better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him: and if he repent thou shalt forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and turn again to thee sayng, I repent: thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Faith produces obedience, when we choose to obey, the grace of God  comes and  we can pray with power.   Forgiveness is a choice. We make a mental deicision to forgive hurts, trespasses. Jesus is teaching us in the next verse to speak to the very root of the problem, again forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision.

If we hold on to offences  we either hinder or stop  God’s  purpose in our lives . We must speak to the tree of unforgiveness, this thing that is trying to grow in our lives.

Praying , and saying,  Lord I choose not to receive this offence in my life, I Choose to forgive. I choose  blessing and not curses.  I refuse to loose my victory. I will not allow unforgiveness to hinder that powerful anointing  for  His purpose on by life.  I will forgive them even if they never ask me to.   I speak to every mountain of bitterness  that has tried to attach itself to me, Go and be cast into the ocean of forgetfulness, I am free and blessed. Peace and joy will fill my life and the heavens are open to my prayers. Glory to God!

Child of God, please don’t take this as that I am judging, but as I am trying to help someone because I have fallen in this trap before myself.       

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NEVER LAY YOUR WEAPONS DOWN

WE ARE TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE WEAPONS. THESE ARE NOT FLESHLY WEAPONS, BUT WEAPONS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE. THESE WEAPONS GUARD OUR SOUL.

FIRST, WE HAVE WEAPONS AGAINST THE WORLD, WE CALL FAITH.

 I JOHN 5:4 –  FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.

 THIS FAITH IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (V.5).

THE NEXT WEAPON IS AGAINST SATAN, THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE ARMOR OF GOD FOUND IN EPHESISNS 6:11-18

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL, FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (PLACES OF AUTHORITY). WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND, STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ABOVE ALL TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUINCH THE FIREY DARTS OF THE WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, WHICH IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYERS AND SUPLICATIONS IN THE SPIRIT. 

YES, PRAYER IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST TOOLS, OR WEAPONS IN WARFARE. WE CANNOT GO TO BATTLE WITHOUT IT.

THE LAST WEAPON I WILL MENTION IS THE WEAPON AGAINT THE FLESH. THIS WEAPON IA THE SPIRIT. 

GALATIANS 5:16-25 – 

THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH: AND THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD. BUT IF YE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (PLAIN), WHICH ARE THESE; ADULTRY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE (DISCORD), EMULATIONS (JEALOUSIES), WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS (DIVISIONS), HERESIES (FALSE DOCTRINES), ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS  (WILD PARTIES),  AND SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS  SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

BUT THE FRUIT OFTHE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS  (IT’S PASSIONS) AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT…!        

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THEY ENDURE BUT FOR A TIME

 

There are many times in the book of Revelation, where we are instructed to endure to the end.  Today we are going to discuss endurance out of the account of Mark four. For those who are not familiar with this text: Jesus is the sewer and the Word of God is the seed.  We are the soil.

Whether we are the good ground or the stony:
is up to us.

 

Mark 4: 16,17 —- And these are they likewise which are sown
on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it
with gladness;

And have not root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction
(or hardship, trouble) or
persecution
( or torture or oppression) ariseth
for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

 

Many of us have gotten a
glimpse of heaven in a mighty service or a revelation from God in our private
time with Him.  The word we received was
alive to us and in us.  We knew it was
just what we needed.  Everything was so
clear: God had it all under control, and we were in His hands.  Nothing could shake that.  It was settled. But then, afterward, when
affliction or sorrow or persecution arose, because of the Word, we immediately
become offended, displeased, indignant, and resentful.  Our affections are divided.  We had more of the rocky than the good soil
in our hearts.  No wonder we could not
endure.  The Word of God could not strike
a deep root in our souls.

 

This is when we were not
constant in the faith; and in our hour of temptation, we faltered.

 

I see this so much among
believers.  They are rooted in the
Word.  They didn’t take what Word they
got, and meditate on it until it could get down in their spirit man.  It seemed to only help the hour or the day
they heard it.  Then, BOOM! It was gone.

 

Brothers and sisters, we
have all been there.

 

Getting rooted and grounded
takes time.

 

The Word has to become alive
in our spirits to produce faith to endure.
We have to speak it everyday; eat and digest it, so to speak.

 

You could say, “I spoke the
Word over Aunt Lucy, but she died. The Word don’t work”.

 

Our Lord warns, we will
encounter such cases, which first excite hope, and expectation, and then clouds
the soul of the Christian laborer with disappointment and grief.

 

The Word in us is supposed
to produce fruit.  But to endure, we have
to prepare the soil.

How do we prepare the soil?

Look at Matthew 13:19-21
—- When anyone heareth the word of the
kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one
(Satan) and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart.  This is he which received seed by
the wayside.

But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon
(or in a while) with joy
reveiveth it.

Yet hath he not root in himself, but
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the
word. By and by he is offended.

From this
account in Matthew we see this same story which we know as the Parable Of The
Sower.  We know Satan is the one who
steals the Word, and we know He is the one who causes trials and persecution.

 

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S
ATTACKS

 

So, to prepare the soil, we
have to deal with Satan’s attacks.  He
comes immediately to rob from us, the Word we received with joy.

 

It’s no wonder he hates the
Word of God, and does all in his power to steal it from us.

 

Look at what Psalm 119:105
has to say about the Word:

Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

It shines like a light on my feet and directs
them where to go.  It keeps us from
stumbling.

 

Verse 11 —– Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against Thee.

 

Acts 17:11 —- These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they
(talking about the Jews in the synagogue at
Berea) received the word with all
readiness of mind
(or we could say with a ready-mind), and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so (or
true).

The word shows us what is
true and what is error.

 

We could go on to John 17:17
were we are told we are sanctified through God’s truth, because His word is
truth:  That God will , through His word,
set us apart to Himself.

 

In II Timothy 3:15,16, we
find the word is …able to make us wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

And that it is
God-breathed …and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

God reveals Himself through
His word;  and in it, He shows us how we
are to live after we become a Christian.

His word has an authority
which far reverses the ambition for greatness seen in secular philosophers.

And I Peter 2:2,3 tells us,
His word causes us to grow up in Him.

And Joshua 1:8 —- This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

In this verse alone, we are
told we can be prosperous and successful if

We speak the Word

We meditate the Word day and night

We do what it says

 

It’s  no wonder the devil wants to steal it!

 

 

 

Jesus used the Word against
Satan.  During His temptation in the
wilderness, Jesus said, “It is written, It is written, It is written,” after
which, Satan left Him for a season.

 

We are instructed also, in
Mark 16, to use the name of Jesus.  He
has given us that authority.  Look at
verse 17a —- And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils;…

This is one of the last
instructions given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven, —– and verse 20
reads like this —-And they went forth,
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word
with signs following. Amen.

They were not alone in their
commission, this verse says the Lord was working with them. Also we see here, that
signs follow the word.

 

DON’T GET DISTRACTED, STUDY THE
WORD

Another way to prepare the
soil, for the Word is not to let distractions, around us, keep us from studying
the Word of God.

II Timothy 2:15 —- Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is not enough to read and
study the Word, we have to be able to know how to use it.

 

USE THE WORD AGAINST SATAN

Jesus knew which part of the
Word to use against Satan during His temptation.  He quoted the Scripture that fir the
situation.

Look at Matthew 4 starting
with verse 1

Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when He had fasted forty days and
forty  and forty nights, He was afterward
ahungered.

And when the tempter came to Him, He
said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But He answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.

 

THEN Satan did a strange
thing: He quoted a Scripture to Jesus: verse 6 —- And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for
it is written,

He
shall give His angels charge concerning thee;

and in their hands they shall bear the
up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

Now, let’s read that verse
from the Old Testament, from which He is Quoting, Psalm 91:11 —- For He shall give His angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways …

He left out that last
part.  Why? Look at it again …. to keep thee in all thy ways…—-
Because the omission of this sentence alters the whole character of the
quotation, taking into account that the word, ways, implies ways
appointed by God
.

 

Then once again, the devil
tempted Jesus; and once again Jesus used the  Word of God against him.

 

In the next part to this
temptation of Christ, Satan said in verse8 and 9

—-Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And
saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.

Verse 10 —- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hense (or
be gone!), Satan:  For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

Ten, in verse 11, the devil
left Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him.

 

Jesus was tempted on three
levels:

1-
Physically

2-
Spiritually

3-
Intellectually

Each of which, He won, using the Word of God.

He quoted the right Scripture for each attack.

He knew how to combat every blow.

 

If we know the Word, we should know who we are in Christ.  This will give us an advantage over the enemy
of our soul.

If we know the Word, we know our future.

If we know the Word, we know God will always fight our battles, and
bring us the victory.

If we know the Word, we know Satan’s future.  Aso it would be good to remind him and
ourselves, of this fact.

 

 

Say it with me,

“Satan, your kingdom is
coming down”

“The blood of Jesus is
against you!”

“I can do all things
through Christ which strengthenth me.”

“No weapon formed against
me shall prosper”

and on and on, we can go.

 

All of God’s children go through attacks of Satan, trying to steal the life
out of us: which is God’s Word; but isn’t it wonderful, that when we are rooted
and grounded in the Word, we can endure until the end.

At that point, he will never again cause us to doubt God and His word,
nor can he steal from us.

 

I will leave you with these last two verses:

1-
Romans 8:31b —- …If God be for us, who can be against us?

2-
Isaiah 40:8 —- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but
the Word of our God shall stand forever.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Bless the name of the Lord!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WORDS PART III

EPHESIANS 4:13 – LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING (OR BUILDING UP), THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

ALL OF US NEED TO BE BUILT-UP OR EDIFIED. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR WORDS COMING FROM OUR MOUTH’S THAT ARE BLESSINGS AND NOT CURSES.

TIMOTHY IS PAUL’S SON IN THE SPIRIT. LISTEN HOW HE BUILDS TIMOTHY UP.

II TIMOTHY 1:13 – HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

TO TIMOTHY, MY DEAR BELOVED SON: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

FAITH, BEING THE POSITIVE, OR BLESSINGS; AND FEAR BEING THE NEGATIVE, OR CURSES: LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

II TIMOTHY 1:3-5 – I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;

GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS, THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY:

WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED LOVE THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO.

TIMOTHY HAD A GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER, WHO LOVED HIM, AND INFLUENCED HIS LIFE.

THAT PERSON THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND INFLUENCING YOUR LIFE, TO SERVE GOD, AND HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

MAYBE THEY ARE PRAYING, “DON’T GIVE-UP ON HER, LORD: MAKE HER SWEET, JUST LIKE JESUS.”

SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY HURTING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS SPOKEN OVER YOU IN YOUR PAST, AND EVEN NOW, YOU STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS, FOLLOWING YOU, AND SCREAMING OUT AT YOU.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO DO, IS GIVE IT ALL TO GOD; AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FORGIVE THAT ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WITH THEIR WORDS OR IN ANY WAY.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT TO BE FREE, THIS HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU MAY EVEN NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THOSE CURSES YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF OTHERS.

MAYBE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, YOUR WORDS TO THEM ARE LIFE, AND BLESSINGS.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…     PROVERBS 18:21

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MANY NATIONS ONE BLOOD

ACTS 17:24-28     GOD HATH MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS THEREIN, SEEING THAT HE IS LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, DWELLETH NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS:

NEITHER IS WORSHIPPED WITH MEN’S HANDS, AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANY THING, SEEING HE GIVETH TO ALL LIFE, AND BREATH, AND ALL THINGS:

AND HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN TO DWELL ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, AND HATH DETERMINED THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, AND THE BOUNDS OF THEIR HABITATION.

THAT THEY SOULD SEEK THE LORD, IF HAPPLY THEY MIGHT FEEL AFTER HIM, AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE BE NOT FAR FROM EVERY ONE OF US:

FOR IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING; AS CERTAIN ALSO OF YOU OWN POETS HAVE SAID, FOR WE ALSO ARE HIS OFFSPRING.

TODAY IS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING IN AMERICA, THE GREATEST BLESSING I HAVE EVER RECEIVED WAS WHEN JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART.

GOD MADE THIS WORLD AND  ALL THINGS THAT ARE IN IT, GOD IS OUR CREATOR, HE GAVE EVERY MAN A FREE WILL TO CHOSE, BUT HE OWNS US ALL.

HE GAVE US ALL LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL THINGS, WE ARE ALL OF ONE BLOOD, GOD PLACED US ALL IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE WORLD, BUT WE ALL HAVE ONE PURPOSE, AND THAT IS TO BRING GLORY TO OUR CREATOR, TO HONOR HIM AND TO WORSHIP HIM.

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.

AS A NATION WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE HIS CREATION, WE HAVE FORGOTTEN AS A NATION HOW TO BE THANKFUL. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO SEEK HIM.

I KNOW GOD HAS A REMNANT OF PEOPLE IN THIS NATION THAT STILLS SEEKS HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEART, THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY REASON THIS NATION STILL STANDS.

I PERSONALLY ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, BUT WE DON’T NEED MORE STUFF, WE NEED HIM AND  WHEN WE FIND HIM WE FIND THE GREATEST BLESSING EVER RECEIVED.

THE GREATEST BLESSING WE COULD HAVE IS TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND TO BELONG TO HIM.

HE IS NOT FAR AWAY, HE DOESN’T NEED ANYTHING, BUT HE DESIRES OUR LOVE AND APPRECATION, HE IS LOOKING FOR A THANKFUL HEART, NOT SO MUCH FOR THE STUFF, BUT FOR THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

PERSONALLY I SHOULD BE IN HELL TODAY, UNTIL THE YEAR OF 1978 I WAS SO REBELLIOUS, I WAS EVEN ANGRY WITH GOD. BUT GOD CAME AFTER ME WITH HIS GREAT LOVE AND MERCY AND HE TOUCHED ME SO DEEP IN MY LIFE, THAT AT TIMES I STILL WEEP OVER HIS LOVE FOR ME. HE SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME IN MY CONDITION, BUT HE DIDN’T.

AS MY FRIEND GEARLD CRABB WROTE IN HIS SONG, HE CAME LOOKING FOR ME.

GOD IS SEARCHING HEARTS IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WILL RESPOND TO THAT LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.

CAN WE REJOICE WITH THANKSGIVING TOGETHER FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, LOVE, PASTORS ROY AND JEANETTE PORTER. 

 

 

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WE SEE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

MANY TIMES WE HAVE A MIND-SET ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE WHEN WE LOOK. IF WE ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO SEES EVIL IN EVERYTHING, WE WILL FIND IT; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD, WE WILL FIND IT. OUR GAS TANK CAN BE HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY.

IF WE FEEL INSECURE AROUND PEOPLE, WHEN WE ARE WITH MORE THAN ONE, WE FEEL INTIMIDATED, THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER AGAINST US EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT. WE CAN SAY TO OURSELVES, “THEY ARE FRIENDS, BUT THEY DON’T LIKE ME,” OR WE COULD TELL OURSELVES, “I DON’T LIKE THEM, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

THESE FEELINGS USUSALLY COME FROM A BAD PAST EXPERIENCE, OR THEY COME FROM A COMPETITIVE NATURE YOU HAVE DEVELOPED BY WANTING TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

THIS TYPE OF PERSON IS MISERABLE AND DOESN’T EVEN LIKE BEING AROUND THEMSELVES. THIS KIND OF THINKING USUALLY COMES FROM CHILDHOOD, WHERE WE WERE AT ONE POINT, THE CENTER OF ATTENTION; AND WHEN SOMEONE ELSE STEPPED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT, WE FELT LEFT OUT. I CALL THESE PEOPLE “CENTER-STAGE” PEOPLE. THEY ARE MISERABLE WITHIN AND WE DON’T LIKE BEING IN THEIR COMPANY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO “POUT”; OR IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TARE DOWN THAT PERSON THEY FEEL COMPETITIVE WITH. OR MAYBE THEY WILL EVEN CAUSE A SCENE JUST TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

SOMETIMES THAY WILL JUST AVOID YOU SO YOU WILL SEEK THEM OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT’S WRONG. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU OR THEM.

I HEARD A PASTOR SAY ON TV TODAY, THAT AFTER HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE LOST THAT FEELING OF HAVING TO BE RECOGNIZED.

WHEN THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE IS DEVELOPED IN US, IT IS HARD TO BREAK. MOST OF THE TIME, THE WAY YOU SEE IT, IS THE PROBLEM. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN OF CONCERN ALSO IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.

PHILIPPIANS 2:4 – LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS. THE WAY THE WORLD IS——“PUSH YOURSELF FORWARD. BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.” BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT, NOR LIVED. VERSES 5-8 – LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF…

PAUL POINTS OUT HERE THE CAUSES OF DIVISIONS WHICH EXISTS AMONG CHRISTIANS, ONE OF WHICH IS VAIN GLORY: PERSONAL VANITY; THE DESIRE TO BE NOTICED, AND THE HATRED OF OWNING-UP TO BEING WRONG. WE CALL THIS SELFISHNESS OR SELF-CENTEREDNESS. A SELF-CENTERED PERSON IS THE WORSE OF THE TWO. A SELFISH PERSON IS ONE WHO WANT EVERYTHING FOR HIMSELF: BUT A SELF-CENTERED PERSON THINKS OF NO ONE BUT HIMSELF; AND THINKS THE WORLD SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND HIM. 

SELF-CENTEREDNESS MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THOUGHT, FEELINGS, AND ACTIONS.

ALL OF US ARE A LITTLE SELFISH BY NATURE. WE ARE THE ONE THAT LIVES IN OUR BODY. IT’S INTERESTING TO ME, THOUGH, THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN, HE BEGINS TO REVEAL TO US ALL TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR MOTIVES: IN ALL WE SAY AND DO.

WHY NOT ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO BE RIGHT FOR A CHANGE?

WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING?

IT’S BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE COUNTED WRONG. THERE IS A SAYING THAT BARES REPEATING: “I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK I’M RIGHT.”

THIS WOULD STOP A LOT OF BICKERING BACK AND FORTH IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHO KNOWS? IN SOME THINGS THEY COULD BE RIGHT!

THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM OF LOOKING ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS MORE THAN OUR OWN, IS BECAUSE WE WERE BORN WITH A SIN-NATURE. WE HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE US. WE NEED THE MIND OF CHRIST TO PUT-ON TRUE CHRISTIANITY. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

IT’S EASY FOR US AS MORE MATURE CHRISTIANS TO DEVELOPE A DISLIKE AND DISTRUST FOR A CERTAIN PERSON; AND WHEN THEY COME INTO THE ROOM WHERE WE ARE, WE FREEZE-UP ON THEM, SOMETIMES WE JUST MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA BECAUSE WE JUST CAN’T STAND BEING AROUND THEM. 

I FIND THIS MORE IN SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE, WHO DISCERN DEMONIC OPERATION IN THAT PERSON.

THEY JUDGE THE PERSON, AND NEVER PRAY FOR THEM OR TRY TO FIND SOME GOOD IN THEM.

IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO ASK GOD FOR WHAT IS IN OPERATION THERE AND GO OUR KNEES IN PRAYER AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO WILL LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT, —– OR THINK WE SUSPICIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT THEM.

WE SHOULD GO TO OUR KNEES AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT SO THAT PERSON CAN BE FREE.

THEN, WE NEED TO CHECK OURSELVES WITH THE BOOK OF JAMES TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN US WE NEED TO BE FREED FROM.

PAUL GAVE GREST ADVICE IN PHILLIPPIANS 2:2, WHERE HE SAYS, —-THEN MAKE ME TRUELY HAPPY BY LOVING EACH OTHER, WORKING TOGETHER, WITH ONE HEART, ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE.

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