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Slide Forward – Rick Bagwell
Tag: repent
OPEN HEAVEN
MATT. 7:7 – ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.
THE DOOR TO THIS GREAT PROMISE IS JESUS. ASKING MUST BE DONE, BECAUSE WE HEARD SOMETHING OR READ SOMETHING, STATING,THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE WILL OF GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ASK, OR CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. IF WE BELIEVE THIS, WE CONFESS JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR, AND ASK HIM TO COME INTO OUR HEART.
NOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ASKING, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR HEART, WE BECOME COVENANT CHILDREN, THIS IS THE DOOR WE OPEN BY FAITH TO LEGALLY ASK.
THE NEXT STEP IS SEEKING THE PERSON OF GOD HIMSELF. SEEKING THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INSIDE OF NOW, DIRECTING OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. THIS IS THE GREATEST, MOST REWARDING JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE. SEEKING THE PERSON OF CHRIST. MANY PEOPLE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BUT DON’T KNOW HIM. THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, BUT DON’T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. YOU CAN ONLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, THROUGH SEEKING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
SEEKING THE LORD WILL BECOME YOUR PASSION. I DON’T WANT TO JUST READ A BOOK AND KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM, I DESIRE TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE HISTORY OF THAT PERSON.
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CAN SEEK THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD, WE CAN SEEK JESUS, WE CAN SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT.
MY PRAYER IS SO OFTEN LIKE THIS: HOLY SPIRIT TEACH ME HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, DID JESUS SAY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER. HOLY SPIRIT SHOW ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THIS WORSHIP SERVICE, SO I CAN FLOW WITH YOU. I SEEK YOU LORD, SHOW ME WHAT YOUR WILL IS TODAY FOR MY LIFE, CONNECT ME WITH THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT ARE PURPOSED BY YOU THIS DAY.
WHAT A TRIP, WHAT A JOURNEY, WE HAVE IN LIFE SEEKING OUT THE LORD OF PURPOSE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS, IS TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF OUR WAYS. ONLY THROUGH SEEKING HIM CAN HE DIRECT OUR PATHS.
I LOVE THE LORD SO MUCH, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PUT A PASSION IN ME TO SEEK THE PERSON OF GOD, MY LORD, MY SAVIOUR,MY KING.
I DON’T SEEK HIM TO KNOW ABOUT HIM, THATS RELIGION, I SEEK HIM TO KNOW HIM, TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM.
THIS IS THE JOY OF MY SALVATION, ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. WHAT A PROMISE, WHAT A SAVIOUR.
KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING IS THAT TO DO ANY OF THE THREE STEPS, WE MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH GOD. THE WHOLE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE POINTS US TO OUR CREATOR.
AGAIN, KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING.
IN PRAYER, IT IS LIKE GOING BEFORE THE GREAT JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, HAVING LEGAL PROFF OF PETITION. BRING SCRIPTURE TO HIS REMBERANCE, QUOTING HIS WORD BEFORE HIM, THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM. SAYING LORD THIS IS THE GROUNDS FOR MY RIGHT TO REQUEST THIS TO BE DONE FOR ME. YOU PROMISED THIS .
HE BOUND HIMSELF BY HIS WORD. WE HONOR HIM WHEN WE HONOR HIS WORD. HIS WORD IS TRUTH, THE MOMENT HE SPEAKS IT, IT BECOMES TRUTH. IT BECOMES LEGAL, IT IS LAW.
KNOCKING IS REMINDING HIM OF HIS PROMISE. SOMETIMES WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND NEED HIS HELP AND WE QUOTE HIM HIS WORD AND THE JUDGE SAYS, I SAID THIS BUT THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS, MY PART AND YOUR PART, I SAID I WOULD DO THIS, BUT YOU MUST DO THIS. YOU HAVEN’T DONE YOUR PART, YOU DID THE OPPOSITE. THEN WE MUST ASK FOR THE MERCY OF THE COURT AND CORRECT OR REPENT OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE. THANK THE JUDGE FOR MERCY AND TRUTH. IF THERE WAS NO MERCY AND ONLY TRUTH WE ARE IN TROUBLE.
ALL THREE ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK HAS A PURPOSE, EVERYTHING GOD DOES, HE DOES IT FOR MAN, TO BRING MAN TO HIM AND TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MANKIND, HIS CREATION. HE LOVES US, DON’T REJECT HIM OR IGNORE HIM. ASK SEEK AND KNOCK YOU WILL LOVE THE JOURNEY.
BITTERNESS PART II
MANY TIMES, WE JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THE TRIALS AND EVENTUAL END OF OUR TROUBLES AS AN INCREASE IN OUR LIVES. ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE NOW. USUALLY OUR TRIALS ARE ONLY A FORERUNNER OF THE JOY TO COME. WHEN IT CONCERNS WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US, IT IS REJECTION BY THAT PERSON’S ACTIONS THAT TROUBLES US THE MOST, EVEN IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS UNTRUE.
IN HANNAH’S CASE, SHE DIDN’T RETALIATE AGAINST HER HUSBAND’S OTHER WIFE (POLYGAMY WAS TOLERATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT FORBIDDEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT), BUT PATIENTLY ENDURED ALL THE REPROACHES CAST UPON HER, YET SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THERE WAS A REASONING IN THE MIND OF PENINNAH FOR HER TORMENT OF HANNAH: BECAUSE HER HUSBAND LOVED HANNAH MORE. SHE HAD FALLEN INTO A STATE OF JEALOUSY, BY WHICH SHE JUSTIFIED HER ACTIONS.
IF WE COULD JUST “GET-IT”, THAT GOD CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR LIVES, AND, AS A CHRISTIAN, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THEY WILL TURN OUT FOR OUR GOOD, WE WOULD HAVE JOY IN THE KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT STAY THE WAY IT IS NOW, BUT THAT GOD WILL SOMEHOW TURN IT ALL AROUND.
ANOTHE EXAMPLE OF BITTERNESS IN THE BIBLE, IS ABOUT SIMON WHO WAS A SORCERER. HE WAS IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS. WHY? BECAUSE WHILE HE WAS A SORCERER, BEFORE HE RECEIVED SALVATION, IT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM, WHEN HE BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE, “THIS IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.” BUT AFTER SALVATION, HE NO LONGER HAD THE EVILPOWER.
ACTS 8:9-11; 13; 18-22 – BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE:
TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FORM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.
AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD BECAUSE OF LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES (WITCHCRAFT).
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO; AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WERE DONE.
AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLE’S HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY.
SAYING, GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY MY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.
THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER, FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
REPENT THEREFORE OF THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE.
VERSE 23 – FOR I PERCEIVE THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY.
THEN ANSWERED SIMON, AND SAID, PRAY YE TO THE LORD FOR ME, THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS WHICH YE HAVE SPOKEN COME UPON ME.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? WHY WAS PETER SO UPSET WITH SIMON? BECAUSE ALL THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD ARE FREE, AND NONE COULD BE OBTAINED BUT THROUGH GOD, AND NOT FOR A PRICE. JESUS HAD ALREADY PAID THE PRICE ON THE CROSS.
SIMON HAD GIVEN UP HIS UNHOLY GIFT OF WITCHCRAFT, BUT HIS FLESH STILL LOVED THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE ATTENTION IT BROUGHT HIM. HE SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS MANIFESTED ON THOSE RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST AND THAT THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM IN SUCH A SUPERNATURAL WAY THAT OTHERS SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN, THAT HIS FLESH WANTED THIS POWER.
BUT WHAT WAS HIS BITTERNESS? I BELIEVE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD THE POWER TO THRILL PEOPLE LIKE HE ONCE HAD, AND SEEING THOSE WHO HAD THE POWER OF GOD ON THEM, HE WAS JEALOUS: WHICH IS A PART OF BITTERNESS.
THE GALL: A PERSON, A WICKED PERSON, WHOSE LIFE AND BEHAVIOR IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD. I T MEANS THIS WAS THE DEEPEST KIND OF BITTERNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS MIND HE WAS ASSOCIATING THE EVIL SUPERNATURAL WITH THE DIVINE.
HEBREWS 12:15 – LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OD GOD; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLE YOU, AND THEREBY MANY BE DEFILED (OR HOW YOU ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING YOUR LIFE).
THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS, IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED BITTERNESS THAT COULD SPRING-UP UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY TIME AND TROUBLE THE PERSON WHO POSESSES IT. IT CAUSES THEM TO SAY THINGS THAT CAUSES DISCORD IT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND FAMILIES, AND CAN DEFILE MANY.
THOSE WITH IT, MOST OF THE TIME, DON’T BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT, OR DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS SO EMBEDDED DOWN DEEP WITHIN. IT HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THEIR PERSONALITY, AND HAS BECOME A PART OF THEM.
TO GET RID OF IT, THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE IT, AND ASK GOD TO EXPOSE IT TO THEM; CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE; AND BAPTIZE THEM WITH LOVE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, ALARMINGLY, THEY HAVE HAD IT SO LONG, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT. SO, MANY ARE DEFILED AND ARE AFFECTED, OR SHOULD I SAY INFECTED.
EVEN IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE A PORBLEM, ASK THE FATHER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT, AND SHOW YOU IF ONE EXISTS. IF IT DOES, GIVE IT TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO DELIVER YOU. ASK HIM WHAT CAUSED IT TO TAKE ROOT, AND EXPOSE IT TO YOU. THEN FORGIVE.
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
I would like to thank my heavenly Father for making this ministry possible, and giving me the grace to follow Him.
Our Scripture reading is found in Genesis Chapter 37, and Ephesians 5:28-33.
When we think of jealousy and rivalry, our minds go back to times in our lives when we have seen this in action. Could be, our actions, or the actions of others around us, or it could be what we hear from the media; but wherever we hear it, or experience it, we know it is rampant on this globe.
It is very important we know what the Bible has to say about it, so we can avoid it.
Jealousy means: Possessiveness, resentfulness, morbid suspicion, mistrust, and flaming anger.
Rivalry means: Competition, opposing, striving to win, struggle to surpass, contest, battle of wills.
Wow!
You might say, “I read in the Bible where it says, God is a jealous God.”
You’re right. We are going there first.
Exodus 20:5,6 —-Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (referring to idols),nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
God said it. I am a jealous God.
God will not give His glory to another.
He will not tolerate a rival near His throne.
He is not jealous as the Greeks thought; of mere success, or greatness; but He is very jealous of His own honor, and will not have the respect and reverence which is due to Him, given to other beings or objects.
What about family ?
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the family:
Marital
Siblings
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
and so on —-
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the Church family
And jealousy and rivalry in the work place.
But God wants us to get above that and come out to freedom from this torment, because …jealousy has torment… attached to it.
Let’s look at a family situation in Genesis 37:4,11,18,28,31-32,35, where jealousy between brothers causes much pain to the family.
Our story begins when Joseph was only seventeen years old.
He was shepherding the flock with his brothers, and brought his father a bad report on them. (verse 2)
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors. (verse 3)
4- And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaecably to him.
5- And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren (brothers): and they hated him yet the more.
He had dreamed they had bowed down in respect to him. (verse 7)
This caused them to hate him more. (verse 8)
In verse 9 and 10, he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers and his father. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you?
Verse 11 —- Joseph’s brothers envied him ; but his father observed the saying (his father took notice of the saying and pondered over it)
Although Joseph was seemingly trying to do the right thing, and his brothers were doing evil things, it seems to me these kinds of dreams should have been kept in his heart, and not shared with his brothers.
We see here to, his father did correct him when he needed it.
In our day and time we would call this a dysfunctional family, because the other brothers were the sons of two other wives. (verse 2)
Joseph was their half brother.
One day, when the brothers were feeding and shepherding their father’s flock; Israel told Joseph, “Go see whether or not everything is all right with your brothers and with the flock, and report back to me”. (14)
18 – And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said to each other, “Here comes this dreamer, and master of dreams. Let us kill him and throw his body in some pit ; then we will say to our father, some wild beast has devoured him; and we will see what will become of his dreams!” (verses 19,20)
Reuben heard it and said, let’s not kill him, for Rueben’s plan was to rescue him, and take him back to his father. Reuben said, “Shed no blood.” So they took him and stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him in a well-like pit with no water; and sat down to lunch. (verses 21-25)
25- When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, going on their way down to Egypt.
26- And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?”
27- Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver, which is a sermon of it’s own, because Jesus was betrayed and sold-out for twenty pieces of silver: —- but let’s go on.
28- And They took Joseph into Egypt.
29- Then Reuben , who had not been there when the brothers plotted to sell the lad, returned ; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit.
31,32- They killed an animal, dipped it in the blood and sent it to their father.
34- And Jacob tore his clothes, would not eat, and went into mourning.
35- His sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said “I will go to my grave to mourning for my son.”
And his father wept for him.
36- And the Midianites, and Ishmaelites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
39:2- But the Lord was with Joseph.
As the story goes on we see Joseph being put down and then being lifted up to the number one place next to Pharaoh.
God had given to him the gift of interpreting dreams, and used this gift to lift him up to this great position to eventually help his family in a time of famine, to keep them alive, and because his family had to come to Egypt where they could buy food, they in due time, did bow before Joseph, because reigned next to Pharaoh.
H
In this story, we see sibling rivalry in the worst degree. Jealousy and rivalry which led to hate and anger and a conspiracy to do harm followed by lies to cover-up. After which, grief filled the family.
Many do not actually carry-out what they think to do to their siblings, but to hate them shows what is in their heart.
Christians struggle with jealousy at times, which brings on curses and severe problems to come upon them, if not dealt with.
I can think of other accounts of jealousy that arises in families, such as one family member is more prosperous than the other.
A Mother-in-law may be jealous of her Daughter-in-law, or the other way around. Sometimes they may see each other as rivals for his attention.
I tell you, this should not be going on in the life of a Christian.. It is walking in the flesh. This brings so much trouble into the family that does not need to be there. Get over it! It grieves your relationship with God.
Woman of God, understand this: the love the son has for his mother, is different from the love he has for his wife. To try to cause division between either of these two relationships will backfire on you.
Listen to this Scripture in Ephesians 5:28-33 —-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: (or just like the Lord does the Church).
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
For this cause (or this reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular (or personally) so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence (or honor) her husband.
Mother-in-laws sometimes think their son or daughter could have done much better in choosing their spouse: but many times they are looking at the faults of the in-law, and they fail to see their child’s imperfections.
There should be a love bond between in-laws because of the marriage bond of their child to the one they choose.
God If that child of yours is so perfect and intelligent and such a magnificent Christian, why do you think they made such a bad choice?
Think about it!
I tell you, if more time was spent trying to understand, and praying for that child’s spouse, there would be more peace and harmony in their lives, as well as your relationship with your child; not to mention the relationship between you and God.
If there is no harmony in the family, the children pick-up on it and become like you.
I am sorry to say, jealousy and rivalry are rampant in the Body of Christ as well as in family life.
This shouldn’t be. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and change you into that person that overlooks the faults of others.
Pray this prayer with me: Father, I want to be like Jesus. Help me to deal with any jealousy or rivalry in my life. I repent of it. I know it hurts my relationship with You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Bring harmony in every area of my life. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
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.
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.
WAIT
Someone told me you can’t
get ahead of God, but I tell you, I did once, and got myself into all kinds of
problems that could have been avoided.
Wait means to tarry; to
expect; to look patiently.
You see, I had an experience
with God like I never had before. It was
my first, I call, supernatural experience.
I was reading an article in
a magazine about street children in
Mexico who were being cared for and feed by a man whose heart went out to
them. The presence of God came upon me
and I began to weep uncontrollably. He spoke to me, “You will be involved with
children like this.”
I set out from that day to
make it happen. I knew nothing about
waiting on God, and following Him.
I was a school crossing
guard at that time.
One day my Lieutenant came
to me, and told me he had recommended me for a job in the police
department. I would be working with
juveniles. I thought, “This is it. I’ll
will be working with troubled children”.
I was so happy. I had
found my place in the kingdom, or so I thought.
The plan at the police department, was to put the first women on the
force. They could go straight to the
individual divisions, without going into the uniform patrol.
I went for the evaluations,
and passed them all. Then they set me up
for a physical, by the City Doctor.
Unexpectedly, he found a problem in my abdomen, and sent me to the City
surgeon. Upon his examination, he found
a large mass. I failed the medical
exam. I was heart broken. My dreams of helping troubled youth had
crashed to the ground.
I asked if the job would be
still open after I had my surgery, and was told it would. I couldn’t wait, I flew trough a quick
recovery, and went back to get my job.
When I got there, they told me the procedure had changed for women
officers, I would first have to go in uniform patrol, and then later I could
apply for the other position. I was
crushed. What was going on? Had I missed God?
Well, to make a long story
short, God would wake me up at night, and say, ”No.” I didn’t understand. Here I was so close to my vision, and it was
God who was saying no.
My husband didn’t understand
me at all, and I’m not sure I did. All I
wanted to do was to find my place in God’s
kingdom, and follow Him.
My husband was delighted I
was in the Civil Service but he didn’t too much want me to go into uniform
patrol. I would be in danger.
The morning I was to go for
my strength and agility test, I put out a fleece. “God if you don’t want me to take this job,
don’t let my car start.
You see we had a new car,
and it was not probable that it wouldn’t start.
I put in the key, and to my
surprise, it wouldn’t hit-a-lick. I
called my husband, and then called in and said, I you have a job in parking
control I will take it. They did and I
did. Still, every night, the Lord would
wake me and say, “No”. My husband didn’t
understand, but I quit the job after five months of torment to my mind.
Later we began to go on
missionary trips; and guess where we went first? To an orphanage in the Dominican Republic,
where street boys are housed and fed and taught the Word of God.
We are still going there and
are supporting them each month through the ministry. My daughter also spent three and one half
years there as a missionary.
Our ways are
not His (God’s) ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts.
Look at Isaiah 30:21 —- And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This
is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to
the left.
And Proverbs 3:5,6 —- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not to thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.
Where did I go wrong?
I got ahead of God. I tried
to make it happen.
Many women of God receive a
calling, and get so excited; they run with the calling before they get wisdom
from God in what direction He has planned for them.
James 1:5 —- If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
He wants us to seek Him
first, and then follow His leading.
Psalm 32:8 —- I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
When a minister takes off quick without spending much time with the Lord alone, he can get off the track quick, and live out the mistakes he makes by trying to do it himself. Rest in the Lord, wait for Him to open those
doors, and then quietly go through them.
This is not always easy for
our generation that has fast food, quick service, and appliances that do
everything for us.
Don’t kick yourself if God
is pointing you out, just repent of trying to do it yourself, and fall in line
behind Him. He can take your mistakes
and turn them into good. It’s not as
though you were trying to do something
wrong from your heart. It’s just that
you didn’t wait on Him. You took the
lead.
The Holy Spirit is our Guide
—- John 16:13 —- Howbeit when He, the
Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not
speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall He speak: and He
will show you things to come.
The Holy Spirit can and does
come upon us and show us things in the future, but remember, it is the
future. If it were right now, He would
show us that too.
We just have to learn from
our mistakes and remember, His way is best for all concerned.
I Thessalonians 5:24 —- Faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it.
When we abide in the vine we
can bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15)
We learn we can do nothing
without Him, and we are nothing without Him. But Phillippians 4:13 reads
—- I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me.
How does He strengthen
us? Through our time with Him, in our
Secret place. By going to Church,
fellowshipping with other Christians, and Christian books and Christian media.
When we spend time seeking
Him, we will find Him.
He hasn’t left us, we just
get too busy.
When a pastor or minister
has a moral failure, it can be traced back most of the time, to his or her lack
of personal time with the Lord.
I have seen this
happen.
Sometimes they get so
popular, they think they are above sinning.
Even if you don’t seem to
have time, woman of God, make time. He
is waiting to give you direction, to comfort you and give you that peace that
passes all understanding. Every voice
you hear is not God.
Every direction is not God.
He is only a prayer away, as
the old saying goes, and those who miss their time in prayer miss the strongholds
being pulled down around them, and their family, and ministry.
We have to grow-up in the
Lord and we can be victorious every time.
Our enemy will put obstacles
in our path, but through Christ, and when we abide or live in Him he makes us
wiser than our enemies.
As They Were Able To Hear It
…AS THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR IT.
Do you struggle with the question: What is my role in God’s kingdom?
“I desire to be the best I can be in every area of my life, But where are those older women who are supposed to teach me? I want to please God. I want to be a godly example in my home, Help me!
Well, this program was birthed by God, to do this very thing.
I will try to answer your questions.
Mark 4:33
And with many such parables spake He the Word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
After reading this verse of Scripture, I kept meditating on the last portion …as they were able to hear it (Or, as much as they were ready to understand).
You know how sometimes you are reading and all of a sudden a verse just jumps out at you?
Well, this is what happened.
So, I decided to do some homework.
I was impressed to search the Scriptures and commentaries for it’s fullest meaning.
The Bereans are called more noble than those in Thessalonica, because they received the Word and searched the Scriptures daily. (Acts 17:11).
Have you noticed How our the Holy Spirit teaches us things as we are ready to receive them? We are all on different levels with Him.
Some are not ready to receive some things from God yet, while others are like the Disciples in verse 34b …and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His Disciples.
The disciples were on another level with Him; and out of those twelve, there were three who seemed to be on a higher level than the others.
(Matthew 26:36,37 -Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy (downhearted).
Now, look at Matthew 17:1,2 – And after six days Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother up into a high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
John 13:23 – Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus Loved.This is referring to John, to whom God gave the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1a). We will also remember at His crucifixion, he put His mother into John’s care (John19:26,27).
The disciples were a chosen dozen, of whom Jesus chose out of His followers to a new level of communion with Himself. They stayed close to Him to stay in His presence, to grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding about His kingdom, and He explained the parables to them privately. – Of course we know one of these betrayed Him. He knew the crowd wasn’t ready for it, and some of them were just following His teachings for the loaves and fishes; they really didn’t want to know Him or even understand the mysteries of the parables.
Some were even there to catch Him in something so they could have Him killed. Sounds like some of those today who feel like their calling is to police the true ministers of God.
I tell you, I have seen a lot of this!
How can we grow-in-the-Lord if we are always questioning the content of the messages of true men and women of God?
I am not talking about those who are in error, I am talking about what I call spiritual jealousy, where one is trying to prove how right they are and how wrong the other brother is.
Acts 5:38,39 – And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men and let them alone: for if this counsel (or message) be of men, it will come to naught (nothing): But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
It’s like a war of Words; assassination in the ministry, when they don’t even know about the level the other man is on with God.
You could be wrong, you know.
You could be coming against the work of God.
Our battle is with the devil and demons, not with flesh and blood.
Trouble not the Father, with these emotional outbursts: you will damage your own ministry, and keep the flow between God and you hindered.
In John 16:12 Jesus told His disciples …I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear (or grasp) them now.
Even the disciples had more to learn. Jesus knew they couldn’t grasp them at this time, but He would send the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.
I was growing in the Lord before I received the precious experience of the Holy Spirit Baptism.
I was so hungry and thirsty for all of God I could get.
I still am.
I didn’t really know what was to take place, because my teaching did not include this wonderful experience.
After I was filled, There was a greater understanding of the supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and His gifts.
This is what some who have not yet experienced Him, call “hype;” and other things that I will not repeat.
Believe me, He is real and will lead us into all truth.
Why should we settle for just a portion of God and not experience His fullness.
God began to open-up the Scriptures more and more to me and move me up to another level with Hi. And deliverances began to come into my life.
I had power to witness , like never before.
Believe me, there is a great difference in your understanding of the things of God when the Holy Spirit fills your life.
Growing is a process, and experiencing God is also a process of levels. We move from one level to another.
After we are free, there is no stopping us. We are so in love with Jesus and so hungry for God, we could eat the red print off the Bible.
Ask Jesus to fill you with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He will. You will experience more of God.
This is not a devil as some say.
I’ve never seen a devil that could make me love Jesus more.
All the devils had to leave.
We are all instructed to do something for God. We are saved for more than just a fire escape, or hell prevention. We are saved with a purpose for our lives.
As we grow in-the-Lord, He will reveal to us things in our lives that need to be gotten rid-of.
I can imagine it like a creek or stream of water, in which a whirlpool is circling in the midst. Have you seen what I’m talking about?
During my tom-boy years, I would go down to the creek behind my house and swing across it by holding on to a vine. You know, -like Tarzan.
One day I noticed a big swirl in the water and I kept watching as trash and debree began to surface.
This is how the Holy Spirit begins to work with us to get impurities out of our lives. He causes us to see and recognize in ourselves, as we are able to bear it: those thing that are not pleasing to Him.
If we don’ know they are there, how can we confess them?
We confess them and repent. And He, with His mighty power, reaches down and scoops them out of our lives.
Again and again, as we allow Him to do this, He brings us up to a new level with Him.
Ask Him to fill you with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Search out the Scriptures in the book of Acts with an open mind.
Ask Him, and He will fill you.
This gift is for the believer only. It is free.
Pray this prayer with me:
“Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. I ask You, if there is anything in my life that is not pleasing to You, please take it out. Expose it to me now. I confess it to You, and ask You to remove from my life any hindrances, any sins that keep me from by best with You. Forgive me, and fill me with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. My desire is to go to the highest level with You that can be reached. Amen.”
We can stay free, if we stay out of things the Word of God shows us to leave alone. We also need to keep that personal relationship with God alive, by spending time with Him in that “secret place”.
