Tag: JEWS
TRUST
THERE ARE THOSE WE TRUST, AND THERE ARE THOSE WE HAVE NO TRUST IN. MANY TIMES WE TRUST PEOPLE AND FIND OUT LATER THEY ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY. HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
MOST OF THE TIME IT’S THROUGH A PROCESS OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY BETRAY OUR TRUST, OR HOLD TO THE TRUST WE PLACED IN THEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY.
TRUST IS FAITH IN ACTION. TRUST MEANS: TO PUT ONE’S CONFIDENCE IN.
IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE FIND INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST. I WILL LIST THEM: WEAPONS (PS. 44:6); WEALTH (PS.49:6,7); LEADERS (PS. 146:3); MAN (JER 17:5); WORKS (JER. 48:7); OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (EZEK. 33:13).
THIS SHOWS US WE CAN’T PUT OUR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, NOR OURSELVES. WELL, THAT COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING BUT GOD, THAT IS.
WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PUT THEIR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, AND THEMSELVES, BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD?
BELOVED, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WEAPONS, WEALTH, LEADERS, MANKIND, OUR WORKS, AND EVEN OUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS CAN FAIL US AT ANY TIME.
THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRUST, BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S NAME: PSALM 33:20-22 – OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.
FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME.
LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S MERCY: PSALM 52:8 – BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD’S WORD: PSALM 119:41 – LET THEY MERCIES COME ALSO UNTO ME, O LORD, EVEN OUR SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.
SO SHALL I HAVE WHEREWITH TO ANSWER HIM THAT REPROACHETH ME: FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.
WHEN GOD’S FAVOR IS MANIFESTED TO US, WE CAN SUFFICENTLY ANSWER OUR ENEMIES WITH THE WORD. WE TRUST IN GOD’S WORD: WE TRUST IN HIS PROMISES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HIS WORD, FOR HIS SERVANTS.
MATTHEW 12:17-21 – THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED:
I WILL PUT MY TRUST UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW MY JUDGMENT OT THE GENTILES.
HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.
AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.
THIS IS DESCRIBING WHAT JESUS DID FOR OUR SALVATION; AND WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR US. ALL OF US, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE, CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
THIS BEING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, THERE ARE MORE WONDERFUL BENEFITS TO TRUSTING CHRIST: BENEFITS OF JOY: PSALM 5;11 – BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE THOU DEFENDEST THEM: LET THEM ALSO THAT LOVE THY NAME BE JOYFUL IN THEE.
IT’S EASY TO HAVE JOY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE STILL PUTTING OUT TRUST IN GOD AND THINGS ARE NOT SO GREAT?
I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE DAY A WHILE BACK, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT.
FIRST, MY MOTHER HAD CANCER IN HER ARM, AND IT WAS REMOVED. THANK GOD, THE DOCTOR THINKS HE GOT IT ALL. THIS WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR MOTHER AND HAD ALREADY SEEN OUR DADDY, WHO WE LOVED DEARLY, PASS WITH LUNG CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING.
I DROVE BACK HOME TO BE COMFORTED BY MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WAITING FOR ME: AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TOLD ME, WAS OUR PET, ROSIE, WAS VERY SICK AND SHE WAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CRUSHED. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I WAS STILL DEALING WITH MY TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER, NOW THIS. ROSIE WAS OUR SPRINGER SPANIEL, WHO WAS QUITE A PERSONALITY, BUT VERY OLD AND WEAK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH.
I JUST HAD TO GET ALONE WITH GOD. I DIDN’T WANT MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS, BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, AND IN THE END, I KNEW I HAD TO SURRENDER TO THIS. IT WASWHAT WAS BEST FOR ROSIE.
I CRIED AND CRIED, IT WAS SO HARD. I POURED OUT MY HEART TO THE LORD. HE BEGAN TO COMFORT ME WITH HIS WORD. THE SCRIPTURES BEGAN TO COME THROUGH MY TEARS. GOD INSTRUCTED ME WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO TURN TO PSALM 34 AND 44. ALL OF IT MINISTERED TO ME, BUT ONE VERSE IN PSALM 34, VERSE 18, GAVE ME THE GREATEST COMFORT OF ALL – THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS CONTRITE? THE DEFINITION IN STRONG’S IS: CRUSHED, AND POWDER.
THIS BROUGHT ME BACK TO A SERMON, IN FACT IT WAS THE FIRST SERMON I HEARD TD JAKES PREACH. IT WAS CALLED “ASHES.” HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE ARE SO CRUSHED THAT WE BECOME THE POWDER FROM THE FIRE, WE CALL ASHES.
AS WE SERVE THE LORD, AND CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM THROUGH THESE HARD PLACES. HE BEGINS TO ELEVATE OUR FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH THESE THINGS ALONE.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE LORD, GET THROUGH THESE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR A LOSE OF A CHILD. THEY CAN’T GET HELP THEY NEED FROM THE WORLD THAT BRINGS JOY.
WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: THE LORD RESTORED MY JOY AND GAVE ME PEACE AS I BEGAN TO WORSHIP HIM IN IT.
* PART 2 COMING UP.
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
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!!!!
WHO IS THIS KING? WHERE IS HIS KINGDOM?
JOHN18:36-37 JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, THEN WOULD MY SERVANTS FIGHT, THAT I WOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS: BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM FROM HENCE.
PILATE THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU A KING THEN? JESUS ANSWERED , THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I CAME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH. EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE.
JESUS CAME WITH A MISSION, HE CAME TO REDEEM AND TO RESTORE.
HE CAME TO RECLAIM DOMINION LOST BY THE FIRST MAN ADAM.
GOD BECAME FLESH AND LIMITED HIMSELF ON LEGAL TERMS, NOT VIOLATING HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT LIMITED HIMSELF TO THE ANOINTING AND THE POWER OF A SINLESS LIFE.
HE PREACHED THE TRUTH, BUT HE WAS AND IS TRUTH.
JESUS RESTORED THE KINGDOM RULE OF GOD ON THIS EARTH IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
HE RULES THROUGH A BODY OF BELIEVERS IN ALL NATIONS.
JESUS’ FIRST PHASE OF KINGDOM RULE IS THRU BELIEVERS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE ARE LED BY HIS SPIRIT THROUGH THE LIVING WORD OF GOD, WE TRUST AND OBEY AND WE RELEASE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS WE PREACH, TEACH, WITNESS AND PRAY THE GOSPEL INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SATAN’S KINGDOM IS COMING DOWN, BY THE POWER OF THE KING, JESUS, AND HIS KINGDOM.
THE CHURCH IS PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD, THE POWER OF SATAN IS BEING BROKEN AND DESTROYED BY THE ANOINTING OF GOD.
THE DEVIL’S DOMINION IS BROKEN OVER THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
PROFF OF THIS FACT, I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, FORGIVEN, AND EMPOWERED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PRESENT NOW AND YET TO COME.
JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE KING OF THE JEWS, OF WHOM WE HAVE GREAT LOVE, BUT HE IS THE KING OF PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS WHO KNOW HIM IN THEIR HEART.
SATANS POWER IS BEING BROKEN THROUGH THE POWER OF KINGDOM SAINTS WHO PRAY FOR NATIONS, CITIES AND LANDS. WHO BOLDLY WITNESS FOR JESUS.
SATAN WANTS TO BLIND THE SPIRITUAL EYES OF SAINTS AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE THEY HAVE NO DELEGATED AUTHORITY, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO US BY OUR KING JESUS.
JESUS RESTORED HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH AND IS COMING TO RULE AND REIGN A THOUSAND YEARS ON THIS EARTH AND THEN GOD WILL RULE FOR ETERNITY. WE WILL RULE ALSO UNDER HIS KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
WE ARE NEAR THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO CATCH HIS BRIDE AWAY, WORK TILL HE COME.
SECOND PHASE IS ON THE WAY.
SWEET SLEEP
SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DAILY HEALTH.
OUR BODIES CAN GO JUST SO MANY HOURS WITHOUT IT, THEN MAJOR PARTS OF OUR BODIES BEGIN TO BE FATIGUED AND OR EMOTIONS BECOME ALL OUT OF SORTS; WE CAN’T THINK CLEARLY, AND OTHERS AROUND US ARE AFFECTED.
IT WAS EASIER FOR US TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST WHEN OUR EMPLOYMENT WAS FARMING AND PHYSICAL LABOR; BUT NOW, WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH MUCH MENTAL STRESS: ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. WE HAVE MACHINERY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLIANCES NOW, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR WORK EASIER BUT WE JUST SEEM TO “ADD-IT-ON” INSTEAD OF REST WHILE WE CAN.
SOME YEARS BACK, I HAD AN ILLNESS, THAT REQUIRED MUCH REST AND SLEEP. I QUICKLY NOTICED HOW THE NAPS I WAS TAKING WERE HEALING. IWAS WEARING OUT MY BODY AND WAS ALL STRESSED-OUT.
SLEEP IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
IN THE SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21 REFERENCES, AND MAYBE MORE, REFERRING TO SLEEP OR THE LACK OF IT.
SLEEP IS DESCRIBED AS SLUMBER IN PROVERBS 6:4,10. PROVERBS 3:24, IT IS DESCRIBED AS SWEET – WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID: YEA, THOU SHALT LIE DOWN, AND THY SLEEP SHALL BE SWEET. HERE, IT SAYS…THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID…
SO WE MUST ASSUME, FEAR KEEPS SOME FROM HAVING SWEET SLEEP.
VERSE 25 – BE NOT AFFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR , NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMETH; AND VERSE 26 READS – FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THY CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP THY FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.
MANY PEOPLE ARE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, AND FEAR BRINGS WITH IT TORMENT. WE ARE TOLD IN THE BIBLE, THAT FEAR IS A SPIRIT; IT IS A HARASSING DEMON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING AT PEACE SO THEY CAN’T ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.
SOMETIMES GOD USES THE LACK OF SLEEP FOR HIS PURPOSE: IN DANIEL 8:18, DANIEL WAS GIVEN A PROPHETIC VISION IN HIS SLEEP: – NOW AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH ME, I WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP ON MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND: BUT HE TOUCHED ME ND SET ME UPRIGHT ( OR MADE ME STAND UP).
IN DANIEL 2:1, WE SEE WHERE THE INABILITY TO SLEEP IS CAUSED BY WORRY – NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS…WHEREIN HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND SLEEP BROKE FROM HIM (HE COULD NOT SLEEP). WORRY CAN CAUSE ANY OF US TO HAVE INSOMNIA. IN ESTHER 6:1, THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM TO READ THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
INTERCESSORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN MIND: MOSTLY, SO THEY CAN PRAY AND INTERCEDE ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMEONE.
PETER WAS FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON (DUNGEON). JAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN BEHEADED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, AND PETER WAS NEXT IN LINE: ACTS 12:1-11 – NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING, STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO VEX CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH. AND HE KILLED JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN WITH THE SWORD. AND BECAUSE HE SAW IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED FURTHER TO TAKE PETER ALSO. (THEN WERE THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD). AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM , HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, AND DELIVERED HIM TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS TO KEEP HIM; INTENDING AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER) TO BRING HIM FORTH TO THE PEOPLE. PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON; BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.
AND BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDELS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION. WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH INTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD. AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH THE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE JEWS.
THIS WAS A TRYING TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GOING THROUGH HARASSMENT AND PERSECUTION. WE FIND PETER FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON.
BECAUSE HEROD, THE KING, SAW HOW IT PLEASED THE JEWS TO WATCH JAMES BE KILLED BY THE SWORD, THAT HE DECIDED PETER WOULD BE NEXT: AFTER THE PASSOVER.
SOMETIMES WE FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH A TRIAL DURING THE DAY OR WE ATE PIZZA LATE IN THE EVENING.
THIS STORY OF PETER AMAZES ME BECAUSE PETER KNEW WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE THE NEXT MORNING, YET WE FIND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE WHE WAS TO BE EXECUTED, AN A DEEP SLEEP, CHAINED BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, AND GUARDED WELL.
HEROD’S GREAT DESIRE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE BY GIFTS AND SHOWS OF BLOOD TO WIN THEIR FAVER, HAD BEEN FOILED. HE WAS PLANNING TO BRING PETER UP ONTO A STAGE OR SOME HIGH GROUND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE COULD SEE HIM CONDEMNED WHICH WOULD BE AS GOOD THEM AS A GLADIATORIAL SLAUGHTER TO A ROMAN AUDIENCE.
THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIMING FOR A MIRACULOUS EVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMS THE HOTTEST, THE VICTORY IS USUALLY THE SWEETEST.
SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT SHOWN IN THE PRISON! THE ANGEL HAD TO AWAKE PETER OUT OF A VERY DEEP SLEEP AND RESCUE HIM AS THE SOLDIERS SLEPT ON DUTY. THIS, BY THE WAY, IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACTION OF A SOLDIER. THIS WAS HIS DEATH WARRENT.
WHY DID PETER HAVE SUCH A CALM DEEP SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INTENDED DEATH? BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD, AND KNEW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON FOR HIS LIFE. PETER LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT THE CHURCH.
WE LEARN SWEET SLEEP AND REST FROM THESE GREAT SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS; BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY WE LEARN: AND THAT IS THROUGH EXPERIENCING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH OUR BEING TESTED.
LAST NIGHT I WAS STUNG IN THREE PLACES ON MY BODY BY A SCORPION IN BED DURING MY SLEEP. THE LAST TWO STINGS CAUSED ME TO JUMP OUT OF BED AND TURN ON THE LIGHT. THERE HE WAS, A BROWN SCORPION, READY TO STING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND SOON CAPTURED MY LITTLE ENEMY, AND I WENT BACK TO BED, AFTER CHECKING FOR MORE OF HIS LITTLE SCORPION FRIENDS. —-DID THIS KEEP ME AWAKE? NO! —-I WENT BACK TO SLEEP, LEAVING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL: MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
HOW TO BE FREE
JOHN 8:31,32 THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED.
AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.
TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST LOVE THE WORD OF GOD, THEY LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD.
DISCIPLES OF JESUS HAVE A RELATONSHIP WITH THEIR MASTER.
I REMEMBER HOW BOUND I WAS WHEN I FULLY GAVE MY LIFE TO JESUS.
AS THE HOLY SPIRIT LED ME INTO THE PATH OF THE WORD OF GOD, MAJOR CHANGE TOOK PLACE IN MY LIFE. THE THINGS THAT I USE TO LOVE I BEGAN TO HATE AND THE THINGS I USE TO HATE I BEGAN TO LOVE.
THE TRUTH OF THE CRUCIFIED RESURRECTED CHRIST BECAME REALITY IN MY LIFE.
I BECAME A DISCIPLE OF JESUS, A DISCIPILINED FOLLOWER OF MY LORD.
DISCIPLES MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES.
JESUS CALLED US TO BE DISCIPLES THAT WE MIGHT HELP OTHERS TO BECOME DISCIPLES.
IF WE DON’T ALLOW GOD’S PROCESS BY CONTINUING IN THE WORD OF GOD WE WILL NEVER BE FREE OURSELVES. IF WE DON’T CONTINUE TO LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD, WE NEVER CHANGE AND WE NEVER TOUCH OTHER PEOPLES LIVES THROUGH WHAT GOD WAS ALLOWED TO DO IN US .
IF WE BECOME FREE, WE CAN LEAD OTHERS INTO DISCIPLESHIP.
WE WERE BORN TO IMPACT THIS WORLD WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
WE WERE ALL BORN TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD THROUGH PRECEPT AND CONDUCT.
