YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST OVER

I HAVE BEEN TOLD, WHEN WE ARE TRIED, AND DON’T PASS THE TEST OF ENDURANCE, AND TRUST GOD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLE —- BY THIS, I MEAN, WE TAKE IT IN OUR OWN HANDS —-WE WILL AT SOME POINT IN LIFE, HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME TEST OVER AGAIN.

IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND WATCH GOD MOVE ON OUR BEHALF, AND WAIT IT OUT, AND LET GOD GET THE VICTORY FOR US, THAN TO HAVE TO FACE THIS AGAIN.

YOU WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A TRAIL, DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT; BUT YOU WILL FACE  ONE AT SOME POINT AND TIME AS YOU SERVE THE LORD.

II CORINTHAINS 8:2 –  HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRAIL OF AFFLICTION (OR IN A TIME OF MUCH TROUBLE)  THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED UNTO THEIR RICHES OF THEIR GREAT LIBERALITY.                                                                                                                                                    PAUL IS WRITING A LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS TO INFORM THEM OF HOW THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH A TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE, WERE STILL FILLED WITH JOY THAT THEY COULD BE IN AN OVERFLOW OF GIVING TO THE CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM.

MANY OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A GREAT TRIAL, WHETHER IT BE PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL, WHATEVER IT IS, COULD LEARN FROM THESE MACEDONIANS. THEY WERE ONLY ACTING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.

THEY DIDN’T ALLOW SATAN TO STEAL THEIR JOY, AND THEY WERE SOWING AN OFFERING AGAINST THEIR OWN POVERTY TO MINISTER TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO US.

IF WE ARE BEING TRIED, WE SHOULD FIRST, PRAISE GOD THROUGH IT, AND THEN, TRUST HIM FOR THE OUTCOME.

ALSO, WE SHOULD ASK HIM, “LORD,WHAT CAN I LEARN THROUGH THIS?”

I PROMISE YOU, HE WILL SHOW YOU, AND BRING YOU TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HE WORKS.

JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS  (OR VARIOUS TRIALS):

     KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH  (DEVELOPS)  PATIENCE.

     BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT  (COMPLETE) WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT  (MATURE)  AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING  (OR LACKING NOTHING).

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN GOING THROUGH TRIALS THAT DEVELOPE PATIENCE, AND BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL. BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL , IS BEING DRAWN AND ENTICED BY YOUR OWN LUST.

GOD DOES NOT TEMPT MAN TO DO EVIL (JAMES 1:13-18).

JAMES 1:12 – BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION:  FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.

JAMES TELLS US TO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN WE FALL INTO TRIALS (VERSE 2), BUT HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT FALLING INTO SIN, HE IS TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERING THAT WE CAN FIND STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION AND ENDURE TRIALS, THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS POWER.

WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER, TRIALS CAN CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BECOME BITTER AND CRITICAL AND LOOSE THE CROWN OF LIFE.

VERSE 12 READS …WHEN HE IS TRIED… THIS SHOULD TELL US  SOMETHING: WE WILL BE TRIED AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES. 

LETS PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME, SO WE WON’T HAVE TO TAKE IT OVER AGAIN!!! 

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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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DON’T BE CONTENT WITH LESS

Luke 11:13 – If ye then, being evil, know  how to give good gifts unto your children; How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask?

We are Gods children  if we have accepted Jesus as our saviour. We are told we can ask the Father for more of the Holy Spirit. More of the Holy Spirit in our lives, means His power and influence is greater in measure inside  us.

His desires begin to consume our thoughts and wishes.

The glory of His presence is changing us and filling us with a hunger for His Word and even a greater thirst for His Spirit.

As the Holy Spirit directs me to his Word, I begin to understand the Lord’s purpose for my life.

Great faith and peace overcome my thoughts.

The Love of God overwhelms me. 

It now becomes easy to love those with whom I have a problem loveing.

His presence fills me with love.

The Holy Spirit will give us revelation of all things paid for by Jesus Christ, and belongs to us.

The Holy Spirit will not only reveal those things to us; but will show us how to believe and receive. 

I Corinthians 2:9-10 – But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. But God hath revealed them by His Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The Holy Spirit will reveal to us the power, authority, and blessing we have in our spiritual birthright in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit can do so much and longs to do it for us.

I Corinthians 3:21b – For all things are yours.

Ephesians 3:20 – Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

That power is the Holy Spirit.

We must be full of Him for Him to work in us.

When we are full of the Holy Spirit, the power is flowing, our thinking is great, and our asking is greater.

God is bigger, our faith is bigger, our receiving is bigger.Our fruit grows big.

Be filled with the Spirit –

Ask – Seek – Knock 

 

 

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FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II

IN CONTINUING, “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I”, I FIND MYSELF STILL IN A PRISON, BUT THIS IS A STATE INSTITUTION CALLED PERRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF FEDERAL.

A GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS ONCE AN “ACQUAINTANCE IN CRIME”, ZEB OSBORNE, WAS ON THE YARD AS A PRISON MINISTER, AND WE STARTED TALKING OLD TIMES AND OUR PAST.

I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED, OR THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELL. 

I THOUGHT HE HAD A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME GET TRANSFERRD TO A BETTER INSTITUTION. HE DID, AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO DUTCHMAN, AND THEN TO GOODMAN WHICH WAS AND IS A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DRAWING ME INTO THE CHURCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. ON MARCH THE 12TH, 1986, LIBERTY MINISTRIES CAME TO STEVENSON INSTITUTION FOR A CHURCH SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I RODE IN THE PRISON TO STEVENSON CHURCH SERVICE MANY TIMES. WHEN THE ALTER CALL WAS MADE, I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, BUT MY HANDS WOULDN’T LET ME TURN LOOSE OF THE PEW IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THIS NIGHT, I LET GO, AND GAVE MY HEART TO JESUS.

WHEN I DID, THERE WAS DEFFINATELY A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. THE LORD PUT A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD IN MY HEART. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO GOODMAN, AFTER THE SERVICE, I TOOK A PAPERBACK BOOK AND STUCK IT IN THE BLINDS TO CAUSE AN OPENING IN THE WINDOW FOR THE STREET LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH. THIS WAS SO I COULD READ MY BIBLE. I READ MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE,  JOHN AND A PORTION OF ACTS.

SOMEHOW, I KNEW GOD HAD MORE FOR ME.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHURCH, MARCH THE 21ST, LIBERTY MINISTRIES WAS THERE AGAIN. PASTOR ROY PORTER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PREACHING ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST THAT NIGHT. AND I TELL YOU, LIFE DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GJOST.

THINGS REALLY STARTED CHANGING IN MY LIFE. I WAS GOING UP FOR PAROLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO I PRAYED ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND ZEB OSBORNE, SPOKE ON MY BEHALF AT THE PAROLE HEARING. THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT BE MAKING PAROLE. SO HE CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT NEWS, AND I TOLD HIM, “I DON’T ACCEPT THAT.” THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GOD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY GAVE ME MY PAROLE!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO ASK THE LORD IN MY HEART: I WAS WAITING A NEW TRIAL FOR BANK ROBBERY, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL. I WAS READING THE BIBLE, OCCASIONALLY. THERE WERE NO PREACHERS COMING IN, SO I MOSTLY JUST READ. I THOUGHT I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TIMES I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME, AND I’D NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DID DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS JUST WANTING HIM TO HELP ME OUT OF A SITUATION.

IT’S WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT A LOT, “JAILHOUSE SALVATION.” IT DOESN’T STICK. YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL, I’M SORRY TO SAY.

BUT IT HAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON, GOD REALLY STARTED MOVING I MY LIFE. SOMEONE WAS PAYING FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AT ERSKINE THEOLOGICAL SIMINARY. I WENT ONE SEMESTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD EXPELLED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS MINISTRY LISCENSE FOR PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, SO I LEFT.

I WAS AT HOME ON MY KNEES PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING AND ASKING GOD TO SEND A COMPANION IN MY LIFE. I HAD NOR MORE THAT GOT THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAN I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. IT WAS MY EXWIFE. WE HAD BEEN DIVORCED 14 YEARS. SHE WAS SAVED, AND LIVING FOR THE LORD. WE SHORTLY REMARRIED. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS PRAYING AND ASKED THE LORD FOR A SON: THREE WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT. IN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BOY. GOD IS GOOD.

GOD PLACED ME IN A MINISTRY OF GOING BACK INTO THE PRISONS TO MINISTER TO THE INMATES OF ALL AGES.

GOD HAS TAKEN ME TO PLACES I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GO. I HAVE MINISTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHAT A JOY IT HAS BEEN TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED AND HEALED.

I HAVE A TRIP COMING UP JANUARY 2011 TO GO BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

I AM OPEN TO GO INTO PRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE LORD LEADS AND PROVIDES.

O HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR YOU IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART!! AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. REALLY MEAN IT AND HE WILL COME IN. IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO.

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