Tag: Faith
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.
HOW TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
MATTHEW 11:28 – COME UNTO TO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
JESUS THE KING GIVES AN INVITATION TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
PEOPLE WAS LABOURING AND BURDENED UNDER THE TRADITIONS OF MEN, UNDER ORAL LAWS ADDED TO MOSES LAW.
THE BURDEN UNDER THE LAW WAS BECOMING HEAVY, HEAVY BURDENS. THE LAW WAS A SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US TO CHRIST. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAG’S. MAN MUST HAVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THE LAW BECAME WORK’S OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WITHOUT FAITH. THAT WAS NOT GOD’S INTENT, PEOPLE BEGAN TO WORSHIP THEIR WORKS AND NOT THEIR GOD.
RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS WILL NOT BRING GRACE AND TRUTH, WORKS ARE THE PRODUCT OF FAITH.
THERE MUST BE REDEMPTION AND REVELATION, MAN CAN’T PRODUCE THIS, IT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD.
WHEN JESUS SAID COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.
HE WANTED SOMEONE WITH FAITH SAY, YES YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, YOU ARE THE REDEEMER. PETER GOT THIS REVELATION FROM THE FATHER’
NOW JEW OR GENTILE CAN ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY THIS REVELATION, THEY CAN RECEIVE THE NEW BIRTH.
JOHN 3:3 – JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO THEE, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
1ST PETER 1:23 -BEING BORN AGAIN, NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED, BUT OF INCORRUPTIBLE, BY THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOREVER.
JOHN 1:1,2 –IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.
JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD. THE LAMB OF GOD, THE SINLESS SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS, JEW OR GENTILE, WHOSOEVER WILL LET HIM COME.
JOHN 1: 11-14
HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT.
BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE sons OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME, WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.
ISAIAH 7:14 – THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN: BEHOLD A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE, AND BEAR A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL (GOD WITH US).
GENESIS 3:15 AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED: IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL.
THE SEED OF THE WOMAN IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
THE SEED OF ABRAHAM IS JESUS.
GALATIANS 3:16 – NOW TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED WERE THE PROMISES MADE, HE SAITH NOT, AND TO SEEDS, AS OF MANY; BUT AS OF ONE, AND TO THY SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST.
WE WERE ALL BORN INTO SIN BECAUSE OF THE FALL OF MANKIND IN THE LOINS OF THE IST ADAM.
WITHOUT THE NEW BIRTH WE ARE ALL UNRIGHTEOUS, NO GOOD WORKS WILL MAKE US RIGHTEOUS, NO RELIGIOUS GROUPE CAN MAKE US RIGHTEOUS.
WE ARE SINNERS NEEDING FORGIVENESS, AND NEEDING A SAVIOUR.
JESUS SAID COME UNTO ME ALL YE.
WE ARE ONLY COMPLETE IN HIM, WE CAN ONLY REST IN HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK ON THE CROSS. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS REPORT YOU HAVE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS.
GOD SO LOVED THE LOST WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.
JESUS IS THAT REST, HE SAID IT IS FINISHED. THER IS NO OTHER WAY TO GOD THAN THE CHRIST. GOD HAS NO OTHER PLAN TO REDEEM MANKIND.
THIS REDEMPTION COMES FROM GOD, THIS REVELATION COMES FROM GOD. THIS IS HIS PART.
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY AND RECEIVE IT IS UP TO US, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW HIM IS OURS.
HE WANTS TO GOVERN OUR LIFE, BY HIS WORD, AND BY HIS SPIRIT, AND BRING US INTO HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE. HE IS THE KING OF GLORY.
PRAY THIS PRAYER AND LEARN OF HIM, THAT IS THE PART WE ARE RESPONABLE FOR, LET THE YOKE OF HIS KINGDOM GOVERNMENT COME UPON US AND LEARN OF HIM.
PRAY, JESUS I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, MY REDEEMER, COME INTO MY HEART, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE.
IF YOU PRAYED THAT PRAYER, AND MEANT IT WITH YOU HEART, IF YOU HAVE A BIBLE READ THE BOOK OF JOHN 1ST AND THEN READ MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE AND THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BEFORE YOU READ THE OLD.
WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
IF YOU PRAYED THIS PRAYER AND ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD, PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL PUT YOU ON OUR PRAYER LIST.
EMAIL: roy@lmcigreenville.org
GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH
PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.
PAUL WAS SAYING I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYTHING CONTENT. SATISFIED WITH MY PRESENT CONDITION, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. HE CAN CARRY ME THROUGH ANY HARD PLACE AND ALSO HE CAN CAUSE ME TO ENJOY ABUNDANCE, OR TO BE IN NEED.
PAUL WAS CONTENT IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF HIS CONDITION. PAUL KNEW HE HAD THE ABILITY AND THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING THROUGH CHRIST.
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES GIVES US STRENGTH AND ABILITY FOR EVERY SITUTATION OF LIFE. THAT STRENGTH AND ABILITY COMES FROM THE ANOINTING THAT ABIDES IN US THROUGH JESUS. WE CAN BE STRONG IN FAITH THAT COMES BY HIM.
THE GREEK WORD FOR STRENGHTENED IS USED IN OTHER SCRIPTURE. HE WORD STRONG; ALSO ENABLED, IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE WORKING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE.
THIS GREEK WORD FOR STRENGTH IS FOUND ONLY IN BIBLICIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL GREEK, MEANING TO MAKE STRONG; VIGORUS; TO STRENGTHEN.
GOD IS EQUIPPING US WITH THE POWER NECESSARY FOR THE TASK SET BEFORE US.
WHATEVER THE PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHATEVER ABILITY WE NEED IN EVERYDAY LIVE, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH HIS POWER AND STRENGTH.
AS A CHRISTIAN, STRENGTH LIVES IN US, BUT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM ABIDING IN HIM. RELATIONSHIP, FRESH EVERDAY, DEVELOPES PASSION FOR GOD. WE BECOME STRONG IN FAITH AND POWER.
THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK. CHRIST ABIDES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON’T ABIDE IN HIM. THEY QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT A PRIORITY WITH THEM.
TO ABIDE IN CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WALK BY FAITH, PRAYING IN FAITH, STUDYING HIS WORD IN FAITH, WORSHIPPING IN FAITH.
IF YOU ARE FAILING IN THIS AREA, REPENT AND ASK THE LORD TO REFILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT AND DRAW YOU TO HIM. ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESS AND ASK HIM TO TOUCH YOUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH.
EPHESIANS 6:10 – FINALLY MY BRETHREN BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
HERE IS A COMMAND. THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW ARE RECIPES FOR STRENGTH: PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER AND THE FAITH OF GOD WILL CARRY YOU TO PURPOSE AND STOP THE ENEMY.
ABILITIES WILL COME AND DEVELOPE IN YOUR LIFE, GIFTS WILL SHOW UP THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.
OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.
HEBREWS 11:34 SAYS OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG.
OF COURSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS SCRIPTURE. GOD TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH AND ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, HE IS OUR STRENGTH, HE IS OUR ABILITIES, OUR FAITH COMES FROM HIM, HE GAVE US ALL A MEASURE OF FAITH. THAT FAITH CAN STAY SLEEPING INSIDE OF US ARE WE CAN STIRR IT UP AND IT WILL GROW. I CHOOSE TO USE MINE.
EVERYTHING GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THROUGH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IF WE WILL OBEY HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. AMEN, IN JESUS’ NAME.
FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION
EPHESIANS 4:22-24 – THAT YE PUT OFF CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS;
AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;
AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BRINGS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, GOOD CHANGES , THAT BRINGS GREAT JOY AND PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
JESUS BEGAN’S TO AFFECT OUR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, AS WE READ THE WORD OF GOD AND DEVELOPE IN OUR PRAYER LIFE; WHICH INVOLVE’S WORSHIP.
OUR DESIRE’S BEGIN TO CHANGE OUR CONDUCT BEGAN’S TO CHANGE.
THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN’S TO GOVERN OUR CONDUCT, AND CONDUCT REVEAL’S CHARACTER.
CONDUCT IS WHAT WE DO, CHARACTER IS WHAT WE ARE.
CONDUCT IS THE OUTWARD LIFE. CHARACTER IS THE UNSEEN LIFE, HIDDEN WITHIN; YET EVIDENCED BY THAT WHICH IS SEEN.
CONDUCT IS EXTERNAL, SEEN FROM WITHOUT.
CHARACTER IS INTERNAL, OPERATING WITHIN.
GRACE IS WORKING IN OUR LIVES PRODUCING CHARACTER AND GODLY CONDUCT.
CHARACTER IS THE ROOT AND CONDUCT IS THE FRUIT.
GALATIANS 5:22,23 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, 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 AND LUST’S.
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 – FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
HELP MY UNBELIEF
MARK 9:23 – JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
LIMITED FAITH IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR AND UNBELIEF.
LIMITED FAITH RESTRICTS THE POWER OF GOD.
LIMITED FAITH IS CONTROLLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES.
LIMITED FAITH DOESN’T RESIST OR FIGHT FOR THE PROMISES OF GOD, IT JUST LAYS DOWN AND DIES.
FAITH IS PRODUCED BY GOD’S WORD AND IS UNLIMITED, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. ANYTHING THAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR US BELONGS TO US.
FAITH RELEASES THE ANIONTING AND ALSO FAITH RELEASES ANGELS.
THE FATHER OF THE DEMON POSSESSED CHILD SAID, LORD I BELIEVE YOU CAN DELIVER MY CHILD, BUT HELP MY UNBELIEF.
WE ALL HAVE UNBELIEF, BUT JESUS CAN HELP US OVERCOME OUR UNBELIEF.
IF WE GET FULL, AND STAY FULL OF THE LORD, UNBELIEF WILL DISAPPEAR AND FAITH WILL APPEAR.
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE READ OF A MAN CALLED STEPHEN, WHO WAS FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FAITH. THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF IN THIS MAN’S LIFE.
HE PREACHED WITH SUCH POWER, HIS SERMON’S WERE FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD. WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW HE GOT FULL OF FAITH AND POWER, HE WAS FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER FILLS OUR LIFE WITH FAITH AND POWER, A FIRE BURNS IN OUR HEARTS, A PASSION FOR MORE OF THE LORD. SO STRONG THAT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF OR LIMITED FAITH. THE FIRE OF FAITH AND POWER THAT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR GREAT WONDERS AND MIRACLES.
WE CAN BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST AND POWER, THAT GIVES US A PASSION FOR PRAYER, WORD, AND WORSHIP.
DON’T LIMIT HOW MUCH OF GOD IS IN YOUR LIFE, LET’S BE LIKE STEPHEN: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER. WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH ANOINTING WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE.
GOD MAKES HIS PRESENCE AND POWER AND FAITH AVAILABE TO US, WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH WE WANT: WE CHOOSE.
I DESIRE HOLY GHOST FIRE TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, AND TO STAY FREE MYSELF: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER.
THE PREACHER THAT QUIT
I KINGS 19:1-4
AND AHAB TOLD JEZEBEL ALL THAT ELIJAH HAD DONE, AND WITHAL HOW HE HAD SLAIN ALL THE PROPHETS WITH THE SWORD.
THEN JEZEBEL SENT A MESSENGER UNTO ELIJAH SAYING. SO LET THE gODS DO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF I MAKE NOT THY LIFE AS THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEM BY TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME.
AND WHEN HE SAW THAT, HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE, AND CAME TO BEER-SHEBA TO JUDAH, AND LEFT HIS SERVANT THERE.
BUT HE HIMSELF WENT A DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS, AND CAME AND SAT DOWN UNDER A JUNIPER TREE: AND HE REQUESTED FOR HIMSELF THAT HE MIGHT DIE; AND SAID IT IS ENOUGH; NOW, O LORD, TAKE AWAY MY LIFE; FOR I AM NO BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.
ELIJAH THE PROPHET WHO HAD CHALLENGED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, CALLED FIRE DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, KILLED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, PRAYED DOWN RAIN OUT OF HEAVEN. WHAT A VICTORY.
JEZEBEL THREATENS HIS LIFE, FEAR GRIPES THE MIND OF ELIJAH. ELIJAH HAD BEEN SO BOLD WITH GREAT FAITH, BUT KNOW HE HAS FORGOTTEN THE POWERFUL RELEASE OF GODS POWER INTO HIS LIFE.
THIS SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL BROUGHT FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT AND CONFUSION UPON HIS MIND. ELIJAH LOST HIS VISION, HIS PURPOSE WAS FORGOTTEN. HE RAN FROM GOD, HE RAN FROM MINISTRY, HE RAN FROM JEZEBEL. HIS PURPOSE AS GODS MAN DIDN’T MATTER ANYMORE.
HE WAS FEARFUL, DEPRESSED, DISCOURAGED, DISILLUSIONED, FULL OF SELF PITY. HE LEFT HIS SERVANT BEHIND AND TOOK OFF.
THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE OF THE ATTACK ON ELIJAH’S MIND, I UNDERSTAND THE WAY SATAN ATTACKS AFTER GREAT SPIRITUAL VICTORIES.
DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE DEMONS IN THESE LAST DAYS. FEAR IS ITS SISTER.
I HUMBLY TELL YOU, I HAVE FELL UNDER THIS ATTACK MANY TIMES, AFTER GREAT VICTORIES COME ATTACKS. DRY SPELLS AND ATTACKS AGAINEST THE MIND.
I HAVE LEARNED TO REST, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I MINISTER TO OTHERS AND GIVE OUT THE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE, THAT I MUST PULL AWAY FROM MINISTRY AND BUILD UP MY INNER MAN THROUGH PRAYER, WORSHIP AND THE WORD OF GOD. READ A CHRISTIAN BOOK, LISTEN TO TAPES OR CD’S ON FAITH. SERVE THE MASTER AS A GOOD SERVANT IN HIS PRESENCE. THE WAR WE ARE IN IS A SPIRITUAL WAR AND MUST BE FOUGHT WITH THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. I AM CONVINCED ELIJAH FELT COLD SPIRITUALLY, HE FELT LIKE GOD HAD DESERTED HIM. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ANOINTING THAT WAS ON ELIJAH WHEN HE CALLED THE FIRE OF GOD DOWN ON THE SACRIFICE. HOW HE FELT WHEN HE PRAYED DOWN RAIN. NOW ELIJAH FEELS NOTHING. DEMONS ATTACK HIS MIND, HE FEELS DESERTED BY GOD, HE THINKS HE’S THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD. DESERTED BY GOD HE TURNS TAIL AND RUNS, HE QUITS. HE HAD NO FAITH OPERATING, I HAVE BEEN THERE, CRYING OUT ACCUSING GOD OF NOT CARING. WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES. WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH AND CLAIM VICTORY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR.
ELIJAH COULD SEE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL BUT COULDN’T SEE THE DEMON’S ATACKING HIS FAITH.
AFTER GREAT SPRITUAL VICTORIES WE NEED TO REST OUR MIND AND BODIES, YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE STRONG AND YOUR BODY TIRED, THIS WILL MAKE YOU WEARY IN WELL DOING.
JESUS PULLED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO PRAY AND SEEK THE FATHER, HE RESTED AT TIMES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER. HE WAS IN A HUMAN BODY HE COULD GROW TIRED.
MARK 6:31
AND HE SAIN UNTO THEM, COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE FOR THERE WERE MANY COMING AND GOING, AND THEY HAD NO LEISURE SO MUCH AS TO EAT.
ELIJAH HEARD THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD ON A SECLUDED MOUNTAIN.
ELIJAH’S MINISTRY IS NOT OVER YET. HE AND MOSES CAME DOWN ON A MOUNTAIN IN ISRAEL AND TALKED TO JESUS ABOUT HIS SUFFERING IN JERUSALEM. ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF THE PROPHETS THAT WILL PREACH ON THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM IN THE 1ST PART OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS HE WILL PREACH THAT JESUS IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH WHO CAME AND WAS CRUCIFIED FOR THEIR SIN. HE WILL PREACH JESUS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED. AND THAT HE IS COMING AGAIN TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. HE WILL DO MIRACLES AND CALL DOWN FIRE OUT OF HEAVEN. 144,000 JEWS WILL BE SAVED AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. ELIJAH WILL BE THE FORERUNNER OF THE RETURN OF KING JESUS TO JERUSALEM. THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH WILL BE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD BY TELEVISION AND INTERNET, PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS PREACHER STAYED QUIT. NO ELIJAH IS STILL IN THE MINISTRY WAITING FOR HIS PULPIT AGAIN, TO PROPHESY TO KINGS AND PREIST AND TO ALL THE LOST THE KING IS COMING, KING JESUS.
CAN I TELL YOU THAT YOUR MINISTRY IS NOT OVER EITHER, YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH YOU. THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD IS WITHOUT REPENTANCE. STIR UP THAT POWER THAT IS INSIDE OF YOU, LET THE ANOINTING OF GOD REFRESH YOU AND GIVE YOU NEW VISION.
GOD TIMING CHRISTIAN
GENESIS 21:2
FOR SARAH CONCEIVED, AND BARE ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.
SARAH COULD HAVE CONCEIVED 25 YEARS SOONER, BUT THAT WASN’T IN GOD’S TIMING.
ABRAHAM’S FAITH HAD TO BE TESTED. GOD KNEW HOW HE WOULD SCORE, HE KNEW THE GRADE OF HIS REPORT CARD.
ABRAHAM FATHERED AN ISHMAEL BEFORE HE FATHERED AN ISSAC.
HE MISSED GOD’S TIMING, I HAVE MISSED GOD’S TIMING, I KNEW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT, BUT MISSED GOD’S TIMING.
THIS CAN CAUSE CONFUSION AND DOUBT.
MOSES MISSED GOD’S TIMING, HE FELT THE CALL AND KNEW HIS PURPOSE, BUT HE MISSED GOD’S TIMING.
BUT PRAISE THE LORD AFTER WILDERNESS UNIVERSITY, HE RECEIVED A BURNING BUSH DEGREE. WHAT A MAN OF GOD MOSES WAS.
JOSEPH HAD A DREAM THAT HE WAS A LEADER OF THE FAMILY, THEY WOULD ALL BOW DOWN TO HIM. THIS DREAM WAS FROM GOD, BUT JOSEPH’S TIMING WAS OFF. IT WOULD HAPPEN OVER 20 YEARS LATER. GOD’S TIMING. JOSEPH MUST BE TESTED. THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS TRIED. BETWEEN THE TRYING THERE IS CRYING SOMETIMES. BUT THE BLESSING IS WORTH THE WAITING. GOD GIVES GREAT GIFTS TO THOSE WHO WAIT ON HIS TIMING.
DAVID WAS ANOINTED KING OF ISRAEL, BUT HE WAS FORCED TO WAIT ON GOD’S TIMING. BUT WHAT A KING DAVID WAS, HE WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART. HE WAITED PATIENTLY, WHILE KING SAUL TRIED TO KILL HIM. BUT GOD RAISED DAVID UP AND MADE HIM KING.
OUR LORD JESUS WAITED FROM BIRTH IN THE FLESH, UNTIL HIS MINISTRY BEGAN ON EARTH 30 YEARS LATER. JESUS IS NOW WAITING IN HEAVEN FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF HIS MINISTRY, WHICH WILL BE HIS RETURN TO EARTH TO PUT DOWN ALL OF HIS ENEMIES, UNDER HIS FEET, AND SET UP HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN ON EARTH.
GOD HAS SOMETHING GREAT FOR US IF WE WILL WAIT ON HIS TIMING.
GALATIANS 6:9
AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON (TIME) WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT.
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…!
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!!!!
