January 4th 2012
Tag: Faith
FAITH CHANGED FATE (Kingdom Law)
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God,and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I Chronicles 4:9,10 – And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that though thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thy hand might be with me,and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
Jabez means sorrow. Out of a boring list of genealogies comes a man marked by his mother. For some reason sorrow was in the life of the mother, maybe he was a twin and the other child died, who knows. But his mother tried to pass a heritage to him that no one in their right mind would want. Every time she called his name, she was speaking sorrow over him. Her vision for him was a life of sorrow. He was born in sorrow. Sometimes great things are birthed in a time of sorrow. Bad things don’t have to stick to us. Somebody else doesn’t control our future. Even our past doesn’t control our future. This guy named sorrow, refused to accept this prophecy. In these Scriptures, God interrupted Himself, and put these two powerful verses in the Bible. Jabez was of the lineage of Judah, but his immediate family was not listed: just him. Faith does something to God. It moves Him powerfully. All your family may be rotten to the core, but you don’t have to be. Jabez’s life became a contradiction of his name. Jabez called on God who can change all things. ELOHEEM – Supreme God, the One that speaks creation – “Let there be light.” He is a speaking, creating God. Jabez called on ELOHEEM. Somebody told him, God will bless you if you seek Him. Jabez believed that God was God, and a rewarder of them that seek Him. Jabez was more honourable than anyone in his family. He chose to call on God. (Honourable in the Greek, kabad, means Glory; to be heavy.) This man, Jabez, had more of the glory or weighty presence of God in his life than all his brethren. He was a worshiper. He prayed, bless me indeed. He knew that God was a blesser to those who sought Him by faith. All blessing and enlargement begins from a desire to seek Him. Enlargement is a fruit of that blessing. Jabez’s faith changed his fate, enlargement means increase. The blessing of seeking God is enlargement. We begin to apply truth in our lives, and operate in the principles of God’s spiritual laws, we begin to seek first the King and His kingdom.
My coasts are borders enlarged, and my capacity to receive more. My faith is increased.
Psalms 119:32 – I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Reference – Isaiah 54:1-5 – As Jabez did, receive the blessing of enlargement.
Power and Proof of Desire
December 28th 2011
Spirit of Faith
December 25th 2011
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.
DESPERATE PRAYER
ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
Mark 10:46 – And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus sat by the highway side begging.
Jericho means place of fragrance. Jesus was passing out of Jericho on His last journey to Jerusalem when He passed blind Bartimaeus. Jericho was the home of someone in the lineage of Jesus, a woman named Rahab, a Gentile harlot, who helped spies sent out by Joshua to spy out the land.
How wonderful it is that even though we have a past, being sinners, Jesus passes through our lives with the sweet fragrance of salvation, if we will cry-out to Him in faith.
Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Bartimaeus, he was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Timaeus, he was the father of Bartimaeus.
They were nobodies. They were unknowns until the Holy Spirit put them in the Bible. Jesus came to save us, nobodies and make us somebody: sons and daughters of God; a kingdom of priests.
Bartimaeus sat by the highway side, begging everyday, rain or shine. His day was the same old thing every day with no hope for things to be different. But one day, blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus of Nazareth. He heard of the miracles and the signs and wonders. Someone must have told him about the teaching, preaching, and healings that Jesus did. Bartimaeus understood Jesus was the Jewish Messiah,the Son of David.
Bartimaeus heard a great noise coming from a crowd of people passing by. Bartimaeus asked, Who are all these people?
Mark 10:47 – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but he could shout. He used his faith to cry out to Jesus. He was physically handicapped but his spirit and soul was determined to get the attention of Jesus and be healed. He cried out and asked, Have mercy on me. It was covenant prayer, confessing by faith. He knew who Jesus was: the promised Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the son of David, the Jewish Messiah, the One who came to give mercy to those who will believe in Him.
Everybody is not happy with a desperate person who knows who Jesus is and will not shut up.
Now, Bartimaeus is shifted to a seeking mode, he is seeking Jesus for his need. Some people stop after asking. Not blind Bartimaeus, he has faith that will not be quiet, he will seek his Healer.
Mark 10:48 – Many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
The number of people following Jesus, we do not know, but probably many of them did not have the understanding of who Jesus was, but Bartimaeus did, he knew Jesus was God, come in the flesh, Son of David,Virgin born Son of God.
This asking, seeking, confessing his faith, stopped Jesus, He stood still.
Mark 10:49 – And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise: He calleth thee.
Jesus stood still and commanded them to call Bartimaeus. Jesus wasn’ t ignoring Bartimaeus, but was listening to his faith cry out. Jesus stood still and let a blind man come to him. This would seem cruel to some who don’t understand that true faith will overcome every roadblock, every hindrance, every handicap. Desperate people do desperate things to get to Jesus. He didn’t say to Jesus, I can’t come to You, I’m blind. He got up and throwed off his beggar’s garment. He would never need it again. And he went to Jesus Faith never complains, faith receives.
Mark 10:51 – And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
Why would Jesus ask a blind man a question like that? Couldn’t he see the man was blind? Bartimaeus had cried out and asked for mercy. he cried out again, seeking the Lord’s attention, now he is standing at the door, knocking for his miracle, crying, Lord, that I might receive my sight. God knows what we need before we ask, but we must ask and seek Him, and continue to knock until the answer comes.
Mark 10:52 – And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received h is sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Some people think God does not heal people anymore. But the Bible says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Salvation of a soul comes by faith in Jesus. Bartimaeus was healed by his own faith. So was the woman with the issue of blood. If faith in Jesus still saves the soul, Will it not bring healing to the body? Will faith not bring answers to all our prayers, to all of our needs? Yes, it will . God responds to faith when we pray in His will: His Word is His will Barimaeus asked, seeked and knocked, and got his need met. So can we.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;…
FAITH MUST INCREASE
Luke 17:5,6 – And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye might say uto this scamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Faith can increase. Our faith must increase. The responsibility is on us, not the Lord. We have the tools to make this happen. The Lamb of God made it possible to have a relationship with our Father God.
Faith comes from relationship through the Word and prayer.
The Lord told the apostles it doesn’t take much faith to move something.
Fellowship with the Lord through prayer and the Word produces thanksgiving, praise, worship, and direction concerning how we handle a situation.
The Lord may want us to continue to supplicate or intercede over a matter; or He may tell you to claim a Scripture verse. Then again, He may tell us to plant a seed for a need. Or He may tell us to speak to the problem and tell it to be plucked up by the root and be planted in the sea.
This is an illustration of the use of faith, power, and authority, touching the anointing through obedience.
Obeying God, doing something He told you to do releasesyour faith and God’s power with authority.
Sometimes, God won’t ask you to do anything but to speak to something. Sometimes God will impress us or say to us, Don’t pray about this matter anymore, speak to it.
There can be a root of sickness growing in our body. The Lord may lead us to speak to this sickness and command it in Jesus’ Name to die.
Jesus cursed the fig tree with words in Mark 11 and it died from the roots.
We cannot control the will of people, the Lord will not do that. But if a spirit is driving someone to do things against their will, we can command the spirit to loose them.
Speaking in the authority of Jesus’ Name causes devils to cease their demonic attacks. “I command the spirit of fear to leave God’s people now, in Jesus’ Name!” We have delegated authority to use name of Jesus.
Matthew 8:7-10 – And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the Word only and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and i say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The military man, a centurion, understood authority and speaking commands: he said, Jesus, just say the word, You don’t have to go to my house, just speak it, and healing will come.
We have delegated authority to speak to the things that have grown up in our way. Things try to take root in our lives: unforgiveness, sickness, lack, fear.
As we seek the Lord, He will tell us how to deal with every situation.
OUR PRAYER: Lord, help us to use the faith we have, so that it may increase. Lord, give us understanding, and delegated authority. Lord, baptize us with Your power. Lord, use us for Your glory. Lord, send forth labourers into YOUR harvest. Lord, YOUR KINGDOM come, YOUR WILL be done in earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
FAITH REWARD
In Mark 5:34, Jesus said unto the woman who had touched His garment, “Daughter thy faith has made thee whole of the plague.”
Jesus stood still to the cries of Bartimaeus. When noone seemed to care Jesus heard the cry of faith. Jesus asked the blindman, “What would you have Me to do unto you?’ Bartimaeus answered, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Jesus said, “Go your way, your faith has made you whole.” And immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus.
Luke 18:1 – Men ought always to pray and not loose heart, or loose their faith.
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please God. He will reward us with faith if we will seek Him. The Lord responds to faith. Faith releases God’s power.
Pastor Roy
THE FORCES OF EVIL/HOW THEY WORK
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 is
because they get so involved in God’s work,
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 doctrines of error.
Evil will continue until the
end of the Church age, then it will become more furious during Jacob’s: 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 an 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 fiery trials come. They might get criticized for they way we 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. I have even seen people who are called to do
something, but try to influence someone else to do it, so they can be a part of
it, and they won’t have that responsibility on themselves. It never works, and the other person becomes
troubled and out of place, and ultimately out of the will of God. It won’t stand the test.
On the other hand, in the
body of Christ, we are commissioned to submit to authority. A person who is called to do a work, has authority over others under them. From the pastor, all the way down, we have to
submit to someone.
Every ministry that is
involved with a Church, has the responsibility of answering to the
leadership. If we can’t learn to follow,
we will never be successful leaders.
Moses had a problem like
this, but God quickly handled the problem; but people’s lives were lost in the
process. (Numbers 16:1-3) – Look at verse 3 —-And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Or, “Moses and Aaron, What
right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you,
and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people
of the Lord?
Now, look at verse 28,31-33
—-And Moses said, hereby ye shall know
that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of
my own mind.
And it came to pass, as he had made an
end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under
them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained (or related) unto Korah, and all
their goods.
They, and all that appertained unto
them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
And Verse 34 states, All of
the people fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them up
too.
Have you noticed when people
come against leadership, how their whole family is affected?
They pray and pray, their
loved ones come to Church, get saved, and are growing in the Lord. (which, by
the way in itself, makes Satan and his demons mad) Soon they see
something they question about what the leadership is doing; they call a
family meeting, discuss it, and soon their family drops out of
Church, backslides, and they blame the Church? I’ve seen this over and over again. —-
Korah and his house were destroyed, as well as those who conspired with them.
The leaders are
responsible for the decisions they make.
It is not up to us to
straighten them out verbally, we are to pray for them.
Also, if you are not wearing
their shoes you have no right to judge them.
God called them to that
position. Most of the time, they are
following the leadership of the Lord, and they could know something you
don’t know.
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.
Stay where you are, pray,
AND DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE.
We can be used unknowingly
in Satan’s plan: which is always trying to stop the work of God.
You wonder why you pray,
pray, pray, and can’t get peace?
Maybe you need to repent and
ask your family to forgive you for getting out of your place. We are not God,
we can’t control people.
You might ask me how I know
all this.
Well I’m sorry to say, I was
involved in something like this myself on two occasions of my life. When I understood, I repented.
But that didn’t keep me from
reaping what I sowed.
People of God, it is important
to me, to instruct you in how not
to fall into this trap of Satan.
There are no “Lone Rangers”
in the body of Christ, everyone is connected to someone.
We should be on guard and
stay out of things that could cause us to be influenced. How do the forces of evil influence us?
In our
thought life —- 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
—- Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil (or we could say, is not ready to
suspect evil).
We see here,
devices that Satan uses, that could cause us to think evil of someone:
1- Lack of
love
2- Lack of
patience
3- Lack of
kindness
4- Envy (or
jealousy or rivalry)
5- The pushing
of self forward
6- Pride
7-
Inappropriate behavior
8-
Self-seeking
9-
Being easily provoked
10- I call these The Nine Rotten Fruit of Evil.
All of which,
manifest in someone who is ready to think or suspect evil of others.
Believe me,
these are things that should not, but do, operate at times in the body
of Christ.
We are told in
Romans 12:21 to …Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome (or Conquer) evil with
good.
In the very
next chapter, Chapter 13 we are instructed to honor authority.
These are
things the devil doesn’t want us to know that keeps us from being the best
followers of Christ we can be.
Evil Forces
Influence Us Through Our Companionships 1 Corinthians
15:33 —-Be not deceived: evil
communications (or companionships)corrupt
good manners.
Have you ever
noticed how, when you get around some people, even in the body of Christ, there
is a spirit of criticism that enters the conversation?
Before we know
it, we enter into the gossip without even meaning too; and we feel so
convicted afterwards; and wonder how we allowed ourselves to get involved.
In Proverbs
6:16-19, we are introduced to seven things that are an abomination unto the
Lord, which is called Seven Deadly Sins.
Let’s read it
—-These six things doth the Lord hate;
yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to mischief,
a false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among the brethren.
Wow! God hates them, and they are an abomination (or loathsome
and wickedness) to him.
The sowing of
discord among the brethren causes more trouble in the Church than sinners or
demons on the outside.
The Church of
Jesus Christ needs revival, and a time of repentance.
This evil is
what the world and the Church are guilty of.
We see every day where there is a misuse of money in both.
Does the Word
say money is evil?
No. Look at 1 Timothy 6:10 —-For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after (or were
greedy about), they have erred (or
turned away) from the faith, and pierced
themselves (to torture one’s soul)
through with many sorrows.
It is the love
of money; that-is the putting of money before God.
God calls
evil, putting money and what you want, before Him and His work. He calls the love of money the root of all
evil.
Think about
it, what seems to be number one on the mind of the world, and also, I’m ashamed
to say, on the mind of much of the Church?
MONEY!
Money is not evil;
it is used by God to do good for His children and those in need.
It takes
money, to send the Gospel around the world.
It takes money
to live.
But, Church,
our dependency is to be focused on God.
He is the supernatural God who supplies all our needs and also gives us
the desires of our hearts. Our money may
fail, but God will never fail us.
The apostle
Paul does not condemn the possession of riches: they are only evil where they
are badly used. Neither does he speak against rich men: for he would condemn
such men as Abraham, and Joseph of Armethea who used their wealth
righteously. He condemns the haste to be
rich.
The rich must
not put their trust in their wealth, but put their trust in God, and their
focus on the treasures that have eternal value.
There is much
more I could go into about The Forces of Evil and How They Work, but time won’t
permit today.
We will stay
away from the evil one, if we set ourselves to live in the Word, and God’s
Spirit. ——– Until next week.
