Posted by Jesus Christ on January 1, 2010 at 9:30pm
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.You will spend your days in prosperity, and your descendants will inherit the land.You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.Then you will win favor and a good namein the sight of God and man.Trust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight.
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Posted by Jesus Christ on December 24, 2009 at 1:26pm
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep.""Simon son of John, do you love me?"Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.""Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
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Posted by Jesus Christ on December 13, 2009 at 2:28am
I Pray for My Disciples6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.I Pray for All Believers20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
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There are several steps involved in going on a short-term missions trip. First thing is to understand what a short-term mission trip really is. Well, it is defined as those experiences that are cross-cultural missionary assignments into another country ranging from one week to up to two years. Having now decided to go on a short-term mission trip, one must decide the destination. For me, it was Ghana West Africa.Passport ProcessMy husband encouraged me to obtain my passport for my birthday in 2007. The process was an easy one, but I did not know where I was going. However, within two weeks, God revealed by his Holy Spirit the ministry I would connect with and the destination.Connect with MinistryThe ministry I connected to was Charlene Crossley International Ministry (CCIM) of Chicago, IL. CCIM has been going to Ghana West Africa since 2000. I am the website designer for the ministry's website and was very familiar with various aspects of the ministry through that association. The president, Apostle Charlene Crossley, is building a school in a town named Assesswa. She is also over a group of pastors and ministers in the surrounding areas of Accra, the capital city of Ghana.Begin the fund raising ProjectAfter connecting with the ministry and obtaining the associated cost, the work of fund raising began. This was a tedious yet rewarding project to speak to persons about what I believed God was sending me to do. And, along those lines it is important to know upfront what your specific role will be, to the extend possible. My Lead Missionary encouraged the team with these words "a missionary is always flexible" as anything is subject to change when one is going on a short term mission trip in this case to Africa. Additionally, my spouse admonished me to go with the "flow". For me, these words were key to my having a God-driven experience in Ghana West Africa.Immunizations and MedicationsA very crucial part of the preparation for the short term mission trip is that of Immunizations and Medications. For Ghana, there were several shots to be taken. One day I remember taking 5 at one time- I wont do that again. I later discovered that I could have spread them over several weeks. Then, there are the malaria pills and the other pills (antibotics) one must bring just in case there is a need. What about insurance? My plan actually had doctors listed. However, I spoke with one of my doctors who had a contact in Accra should I have need of one. It is also good to have a doctor whom you can call should you have to - I experienced that first hand.Read more here:http://hubpages.com/hub/Short-Term-Mission-TripRead more…
Missions Ghana West Africa International missions can be scary. In 2007, I experienced my first short-term missions trip to Ghana, West. Africa. It was an extremely challenging yet rewarding experience for me. There were some physical and emotional challenges (i.e. Jet lag, sleepless nights, not drinking enough water, dry eye syndrome, anxiety, all kinds of stressors, etc. . .) as well as cultural ones (shock). Join me as I take you on an awesome and scary journey into an amazing place and time - Ghana West Africa - through the lens of this novice. Below is a photo of one of the jets of the flight (there were 2), there was so much excitement in our team of short-term missionaries. Following are reflections from this experience.
Reflections The highlight of the 2007 trip, for me, was the visit to the hospital. As background, it is a custom and practice, at that particular hospital, for women who cannot pay their bills to be detained until their bills are paid. The hospital does not feed them, but the women rely upon family and friends to provide their food. On this trip, there was a woman, who lost her child, that had been there for 218 days. The other six (6) women and their babies had been there well over one hundred (100) days each. Can you imagine a child being raised in that type of hospital environment? You should have seen their faces as they did not know that we were coming, let alone that they would be going home to their families! I captured some of their expressions, but it was heart wrenching to say the least. There was not a dry eye in the entire room! It was truly a blessing to be apart of the plan of God in the lives of the seven(7) women and six(6) babies (one transitioned) who went home to their families as a result of our paying their bills (~$4K USD) and providing them with monies for transportation. I praise God for the team and the people who gave specifically for that cause. As I went with the other team members to one of the maternity floors of the hospital, I was truly overwhelmed with the level of condition of the facility and that of the women. However, the expressions on the faces of those women spoke very loud and clear to me! The compassion and comfort of God came forth in me like never before. All that I have experienced in my life and ministry (interceding for family and friends, chaplaincy at Good Samaritan, pasturing, etc.) was for that day. Jesus was glorified in me that day! We gave personal hygiene gifts to the new mothers and an outfit for their babies that were donated by the team and other persons. We prayed for each of them including those who were awaiting delivery and those who had lost their babies. My other experiences were so very enlightening and included seeing the places and faces as we traveled from destination to destination, being on the Ghana soil and ocean shores, interacting with the people such as the ladies at the conference, hotel staff, bus driver, and the African staff of the ministry, going to the market and shopping at the Art Center (a type of outdoor/indoor composite of shops). The latter was an interesting experience of negotiating - I had fun. In addition, the African ministry team was so welcoming and supportive. Read more here: http://hubpages.com/hub/MissionInGhanaRead more…
Individuals, more often than any other times of the year, tend to transition from this life during the summer, Christmas and New Year' holidays. Those left behind often suffer with deep feelings and with a sense of great loss. Psalms 23:5 offers relief, it states that your rod and staff, they comfort me. The 23rd Psalm is a very familiar passage to many. The shepherd in the story is none other than David. This part of the Psalm centers on your comfort matters. This was the topic of one of my recent devotional given to a group of mental health patients.In the Middle East, the shepherd carved only a rod and staff. The rod, which I will address first, was made from a tree. It was very similar to a policeman's club. For the shepherd, it was their main weapon of defense for them and their sheep. For the sheep, the rod represented continuous comfort or strength.The RodCan you recall the story of Moses of how God referred to him as the desert shepherd? Well, he sent Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt from under Pharaoh's bondage. It was his rod that was used to demonstrate the power vested in him. God manifested miracles thru Moses' rod to convince Pharaoh of Moses divine commission and to reassure the people of Israel.The rod speaks therefore of the spoken Word of God. It is the, "Thus saith the Lord". The scriptures are his rod.When we find ourselves facing loss of any kind, physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges, it is reassuring to know we can turn to the Word of God! It is a comfort to have this powerful tool at work for us. Just like Jesus, our Good Shepherd, used the Scripture in his desert temptation with the devil so can we in whatever that maybe! Our comfort matters to the Chief Shepherd.The StaffThe next weapon a shepherd uses in addressing our comfort matters is a staff. This instrument is very unique only to sheep. It will not do for cattle, horses or hogs, but is designed and shaped and adapted especially to the needs of the sheep.The staff is a symbol of the concern and compassion that a shepherd has for his flock. It is primary for the comfort to the flock.The staff speaks of long-suffering and kindness. Now, what does that look like? The shepherd's staff is normally a long, slender stick often with a crook or hook on one end. Just as the rod of God reflects the Word of God, so does the staff of God. It is symbolic of the Spirit of God.One of the primary areas of sheep management in which the staff plays a great role is intimacy. The staff draws sheep together into an intimate relationship. In the Christian life, we find the Holy Spirit, The Comforter, drawing us together and to himself. The following poem provides an image of the special attention we can receive from the shepherd.Foot Prints In The Sand by Mary StevensonOne night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you."Our Good Shepherd is concerned about our comfort matters. See articles at http://hubpages.com/author/megasuite/bestRead more…
Through experience as well as observation, it has been noted that a deviation from the "old pathways" of zero tolerance for rebellion, lawlesness, disobedience, and irreverence within the household of faith, has manifested within the walls of Zion, and it has opened many portals and doorways of entrance for the enemy to come in and delude, weakn, and hold hostage those things of God we were divinely chosen and privleged to receive stewardship over, and will have to stand before God and give account for. It wasn't that long ago that when someone, or "people", in the flock consistlently, and deliberately continued to live a life of sin, to resist instruction and despise Godly counsel, to cause mayhem and malcontent, cause others to stumble, and rebel against the commandments of God and the set leadership within the church, that grace was extended, but rebuke and correction was instituted, without respect of persons. The bold disregard and irreverence that is found amongst God's people would never have been given the free reign and enablement that is seen at this present time, because the principle of being careful to not allow a "little leaven" to infect the whole lump was lived by and adhered to, and in so doing, the open and wildly out of control of lust, adultery and fornication (especially amongst the "piests" or ministry leaders), "shacking" by the parishoners, plotting, scheming, isms, schisms, lack of discipline, and other oppsitional activies would've been confronted, corrected, and rebuked with a quickness! There is such great and illegal "license" to live any kind of way that suits an individuals's "fancy", with no conviction, shame, or evident awareness that God still hates sin, and is not "mocked",by any stretch of the imagination. This in and of itself, is a great deal of the reason we are ineffective, powerless, and without an honorable testimony amongst our own ranks as "Christ's Church",or even amongst the "gentiles". We acknowledge the fact that some churches are way over at the other end of the spectrum, and bondage and self rightousness is in operation, and where the flock is being governed legalistically and by constraint, but evenso, it is an injustice to those who are in rebellion and resistant to the full counsel of God, when they are not admonished, counselled and rebuked for their error and wrong doing, just as it is potentially detrimental to a child to go through life undisciplined, and allowed to act out and be uncorrectible without ever suffering consequences. No, no one is inferring that the people of God are "children", but the BIBLE says so, and truly "grown" folk will put away childish things and recognize that the chastening of the Lord is a blessing. David called it "good" for him, because it taught Him GOD'S statutes, and whom the Lord loveth, He correcteth! Deut. 8:5 says this;" Thou shalt consider also, in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee."This matter of tolerance for things we've been commissioned to pluck up, challenge, and bring into correct order and alginment with the will and commands of God, began as a "puppy", but now it has grown to the proportions of a "full grown German Shepherd, and the church of God barely resembles a "church", but rather a religious institute of various religious rituals and ministrations to appease the need for people to feel that they're in "right standing" with the church becaus they've done the "Sunday-go-to-meeting" thing, with a few mid-week Bible studies, and a conference or two! This may satisfy , in their mind, the ritualistic requirements of rightousness according to the estimations of mere men, but being in "right standing" with the Church "ain't" hardly, necessarily, being in right standing with God! We are doing no one a favor by overlooking things that the Bible and tenets of conversion clearly eXpect and command, and many leaders have become complacent and overly accomodating, because they don't want to offend, "rock the ship of Zion", or "or cause anyone to leave". We are setting the wrong standard, and aborting the standard set by God when we allow new converts to continue to dress like they just left the club, oir came straight from the "stroll" to the church. Yes, it is understood that many have adopted the reasoning or justification of "catching" the fish before you "fry" them, but fish out of water for too long, that's not properly preserved and "dressed"/seasoned before frying will spoil, or be offensive to the palate when it's served up! We have an obligation to, of course, work with them, but also to instruct them in what's acceptable and expected as they grow in grace daily. You'll not find a job that requires a certain uniform, willing to allow an employee to dress in "what they've got" until they manage to get a uniform, because when the employee applies for the job,he knows the requirements and accepts the responsibility to procur them, if they really want the job! We owe it to the flock and to our "peer" leaders to provide a "check and balance", so that we're not caught "occupying incorrectly", and that we walk worthy as ambassadors and emissaries of God and for the kingdom to which we've been honored with "citizenship".When correction, in love, was the order of the day, the saints were far more reverential, in fear of God, and conscious of their lifestyles and the service they rendered unto Him in every dimension. No one had to constantly remind them to work out their salvation in fear and in trembling, or of the fact that the all-seeing eyes of God are everywhere, and so are the eyes of men who may be watching the way that the people of God live as examples of disciples of Christ! There are several other areas that have nothing to do with the outward appearance or representation, and it's not just new converts who are , sometimes, in need if rebuke, but quite often, it's within the closed ranks of leadership., where the reachers and preachers dwell. There was a time when one would've been embarassed if they had to be corrected because they were causing a distraction or being a stumbling block to someone, because too much cleavage or too much "back field " was being revealed, especially for those sitting in the pulpit! There was a time that the local "trouble maker", sower of discord and "mess master" would've been nipped in the bud long before their effort at disruption and sabotage had time or room to take root! There was a time when no leader who was in any known sin, would be allowed to preach, teach,or serve in any ministry capacity without rebuke and a "timeout" until restoration was manifested! There was a time when the bold "flirting", and "mating games" that are familiar to the church now, would've compelled open rebuke, before it could evolve into situations of utter shame and scandal! There wa a time when those brethren who slithered from one sister to the other, in the congregation, seducing them and misleading them, would've been aggressively rebuked and corrected, and if they held a leadership position, which most of them did, they were placed on "involuntary sabbatical" until God said better!Then there's the matter of correction with "partiality" which is a "fat fox" in our midst is "partiality" in rebuke and correction, in that everyone is not rebuked and corrected the same! I'm sure that everyone has witnessed circumstances where certain people committed all kinds of transgressions "with no shame in their game", and not covertly, or under the cover of darkness, but "as bold as cuff", and it's as if their actions and behaviour were invisible to the same leaders who had no qualms at all about openly rebuking others for far less infractions. For instance, consider a situation in which particular leaders, who've been 'on board the mothership' since the day the foundation was laid, and so they are allowed to get away with being abusive, contrary, to mishandle people, be arrogant, misuse authority, be conniving, cause intense conflict within the ministry, and wound and offend people whenever they feel like it, and yet their "rebuke" or correction never seemed to manifest, even though people were leaving or not being drawn to the said ministry, purely because of the behaviour of these individuals. This sort of administration of leadership is very destructive for the morale of the others, and it's disheartening and confusing for those who have to witness this. We have an obligation to maintain a "safe" consistent environment for God's people, just as we do for our children , so that they know there are boundaries and rules, and if those things are violated, there will be measures taken to correct those issues, and they can therefore be secure. The people of God deserve to be confident that any and all potentially harmful situations that may hinder their journey in Christ will be handled, and they won't be allowed to be prey for those in need of deliverance, and they need to be assured that if need be, correction, rebuke, whether "open" or "closed", will be executed, because if God considered it relevant and "need be", then the servants of God will absoutely honor the obligation to bring correction, in love, and through divine wisdom and authority.To not rebuke the saints because you're afraid that your membership, tithes, popularity, and attendance may "suffer" is a travesty and a poor leadership posture, because in being given the oversight and watch over their souls, correction is a part of fulfilling that mandate as a "spiritual parent" or leader. To not correct their spirits, and lives in any area because you don't want to offend them or don't want them to" vote you out", or not "bless you real good" for your anniversary ,or birthday celebration the next time around, is defying your committment to honor the obligation to "not lose one", due to your own misdeeds as a leader! To not rebuke a sister for consistently wearing clothing that reveal the cut of her "thong", and the location of her "tatoos", or for being blatantly seductive with the brothers is not going to fly with God! To not correct things that are directly a contradiction to salvation, because of any feared reaction of "man" is an offense to God, because the obligation to realign situations and correct attitudes and behaviours is TO God, but it is For the flock of God, that they might be presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, and that man/woman of GOD" receive their crown of glory!Tags:Share< Previous Post0 CommentsAdd a Comment
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Just about everyone should be familiar with the story of one of the greatest Prophets in history, Elijah, and how he went from impacting and commanding the people and many regions, performing great signs and wonders of awesome proportions, only to make a quick "dip" when he heard that a mere woman, named Jezebel had a hit out on him. You may be familiar with the original "Terminator", David hiding in a cave as he was being pursued by his enemies after countless, outstanding victories on the battle field. Then there was Adam, who initiated the very first " hide and seek", when God called Him out about his sin and disobedience. There's something about conversing with a snake that renders one "simple", because after Adam came out of his brief "fellowship" with the serpent, he seemed to have forgotten that "The One" satan was just "in his ear about" was still the God, Omniscient,and and omnipresent,and the fact that it was this same Lord who created and designed the "hiding places" and gave him dominion over them, so of course He knew just where they were located! Someone got the revelation as God continued to reveal Himself to those who were of a mind to know Him, andd posed the question, "Where can I go to "hide" from God, because if I make my bed in hell, He's well known there, and "IF I ASCEND UNTO THE HEAVENS, THEY ARE HIS THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS HIS FOTSTOOL"! It is remarkable, if not fascinating to note how these spiritual Goliaths went from slaying giants who ridiculously outsized them, defeating kings with formidable power and reputations, slaying 10,000's, resurrecting little dead boys, praying down fire and rain, commanding droughts by mere spoken words, standing, in the flesh, right next to the Absolute God, and having the privilege of calling all that He created by whastever name he fancied, fellowshipping with the I AM, as a lifestyle and way of existence, to hiding like frighteneded little jack rabbits and other powerless little creatures! What could compel grown men of such profound divine authority and anointing to revert back to behaviour that's expected to be found among those who don't recognize that there is a God, Who is such agreat King of Kings, btut should never be found amongst the "elect", the servants of God, who've tasted of Him, witnessed and been used by His great power! How does one wind up as a cave dweller, when their destiny is the palace, sure dwellings, and to eat the very "fat of the land?" How does one find themselves trembling beneath a "false anointing", and under the "refuge", of imposters, and those who have a form of Godliness, but deny the power, thereof? It is the demonic manifestation of "fear", which makes scared litle children sleep with a "Hello Kitty", or "Power Ranger" night light on, and cover their heads up, or hide beneath their beds! Fear, indeed, has great torment, because fear separates one from faith, and that separates one from God, which is the absoute "fear Zone", because it prohibits you from drawing nigh unto God, and gives the enemy free course to release chaos on your mind and life, until you remember that God is "The Rock", and to run unto It!!There are times when God will hide you from your enemies to keep from having to kill them, because when He says "touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm, that is precisely what He means".When David was on the run from King Saul, it was not so much that he feared what her could do to him, but he was desperate to not have to harm this man, even though he was practically insane with hatred and jealousy towards him, and was hell bent on taking his life. This is why, there'll be times when the Lord will move you, to delay judgement on the foolish, who don't have the wisdom, discernment or insight to recognize that even though they don't think much of you, in their ignorance, intimidation and jealousy, God happens to view and love you as the "apple of His eye"! You don't even have to fret your anointing, because anything that drives yiu into a deeper intimacy with God, deserves a littyle extra intercession, and mediation, while you're in "IN HIDING" with God and His golden sceptre of grace is extended to you! Hide yourself in the Name of the Lord, because it's a Strong tower, and the rightous run unto it, and they are safe! Hide yourself in the perfect willmof God, remembering that "They that sow in tears, shall come again, rejoicing and bringing their sheaves with them"! When your adversaries have viciously, and maliciously assaulted you, and God has Hidden you "And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the SHADOW OF HIS HAND HATH HE HID ME, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me; and said "THOU ART MYSERVANT, O Israel, in whom I WILL BE GLORIFIED!", and they accuse you of running in fear, just remind them that you're not running FROM them, but FOR them, that God not destroy them for their malice, larceny, and evil towards you!Out of all these great Bible patriarchs, David had the strongest grasp on the revelation of just Who and What God is, and he expressed it profoundly in "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me , my heart shall not fear;though war should rise against me,in this will I be confident"........For in the TIME OF TROUBLE, He shall HIDE ME in the SECRET of His pavillion, in the secret of His TABERNACLE shall HE HIDE ME;He shall set me up upon a Rock"! Thank God that He has made provision for our times of needed shelter and refuge, not because we're fugitives from the enemy, but because He is our ROCK, and an ever present help, in the storms. Having spent most of my life in New Orleans, I can relate the fact that, because it's an ara known to be slammed brutally, by tropical storms and hurricanes, an evacuation plan was developed years ago,not out of fear, but rather out of wisdom, so that the people might survive the meteorological destruction, and live to praise God about it. In many instances, the ways and means of being "hidden", may not make practical sense to some, and they may even fell let down by God, when their son or husband is charged, found guilty, and imprisoned, when in fact, they are being "hidden", not in fear, but in sovereign foresight, from hollow point bullets with their names on them, waiting on the very next opportunity to cancel their futures! When Moses was placed in a basket and hidden in the bulrushes, it was to preserve his destiny, that would impact a whole nation! When Joseph was cast into Potiphar's dungeon, he was actually being "hidden and preserved for his predestined purpose, and hidden from the weapons of destruction formed by Potiphar's wife, and to secure the safety and wellbeing of a multitude of people! There are hiding places prepared for all of the servants of God, who are all going to be nigh fainting, and wearied in well doing, and He has established a peacable habitation, a sure dwelling, and a quiet resting place, IN HIM! He said "They that dwell in the SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH, shall abide UNDER THE SHADOW of the ALMIGHTY, and I will say of the Lord, HE IS MY REUGE AND MY SHELTER, my God in Him will I trust!" THERE IS, INDEED, A HIDING PLACE, IN GOD, WHERE THEY THAT ARE WEARY, CAN HAVE THEIR CUPS REFILLED, THEY CAN RECEIVE A FRESH TOUCH FROM GOD, FIND REST, FIND PEACE, AND JOY UNSPEAKABLE, AND THEY CAN GO AND REST THEIR HEADS UPON HIS BOSOM IN INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP AND SWEET COMMUNE, AND NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID, BUT TO BE HIDDEN IN HIM WITHOUT INTERRUPTION,OR DISTRACTION!Every sold out servant of God will endure seasons of vulnerability, assault and intense persecution, and will be in need of a "hiding place" for personal survival,restoration, and tender care, and as they yield to the call of God "Come away with me, beloved", and take spiritual "sabbaticals", those who delight in speculation, gossip, and who have absolutely horrible "manners", evidenced by their 'corrupt communication', will always misconstrue these delicate times of God hiding the weary but faithful,and take the sovereign will of God to remove his servants from the heat of the battle to undisclosed places, spiritually, to refortify and reinstruct them, as their successful efforts to chase them out of God's will by their pathetic scare tactics, and attempts at intimidation! It messes them up when they can't"locate' you spiritually,or guage your next move, your level of confidence, or the effectiveness of their manipulations and assaults, because God's got you in hiding, but not in fear! Go ahead and allow God to hide you among the "greeters", the "ushers", and nursery workers, even though everyone knows you've got a sure Word in your mouth, because when He releases you from that hiding place, the impact of the depth of God in you, will blow the roof off the sanctuary! Yes, let them continue to assign you to clean the toilets, and drive the van, with all that anointing just lying dormant, as you're hidden behind the wheel of a bus, or confined to keeping sani-fresh flowing in the men's/ladie's room, because when God ushers you out of "hiding" in Him, your very enemies will know that the last thing you are in the world is "afraid"! Let God hide you in silence, because once you utter a single Word,your cover will be blown, because the real power will be exposed, and your enemies will really have an A.P.B. (ABOUT TO BE PROMOTED) bulletin on you, and double the price on your head! By all means, let God hide your little church/ministry in obscurity, and even though you may feel ineffective, constrained, and insignificant, you'll soon discover that you were hiddden, "under construction", so that the enemy couldn't locate you before the Lord determined that "It is finished", and your being hid was from the "noisome pestilence', and the "arrow by day" that was bombarding everone else around you! Go on and be hidden in shame, humility, and painful testimonies, but not because you are afraid, because it's out of the ashes of demolished buildings that long forgotten, and unexpected valuables are found! No one has to know your "secret place", or your hiding place, because it's a place of the utmost intimacy with God, so you must guard it with all within you, and should you be accused of "running and hiding", just let the devil know, that only "treasure" is "hidden", and it's "TRASH" THAT'S EASY TO FIND!Every sold out servant of GodTags:Share< Previous Post0 CommentsAdd a Comment
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Throughout the scriptures, we find that it has always been the heart of God,that we share in the inheritance of His kingdom,and that upon salvation, we become "joint heirs", in, and with Christ,but there are some things that were never intended to be attained through the principles of inheritance,because an anointing, and the predestined will of God is involved. This concept of spiritual "nepotism" or appointing people to offices, based on blood relationship, or other dimensions of carnal favoritism, is neither a new, or an unexplored concept, because it has been in existence since the Old Testament days. Unfortunately it wasn't very productive or effective then, and it's causing more damage and destruction, in this now, present "Church age". This practice of "passing down mantles", to "keep it in the family" has brought the Church under great scrutiny, cost it a lot of it's "credibility", and weakened its position of power and divine influence through the embracing of political maneuverings in filling positions of Church governmnet and administration. One can only marvel that after all the years and incidents of shame, scandal, failure, and extrme lack of productivity of those churches or ministries that operate in this fashion, few are still crying loud and sparing not, to reverse this misuse and abuse of spiritual authority, andkingdomgovernmental privileges. Yes, this is another one of the "golden calfs" that are only discretely "murmured" about behind closed doors, usually, and no one wants to openly address and expose, but we stand on the cusp or threshhold of such a severe northern wind of being 'slammed" with, and by the immutable truth, and the judgement that must first begin in the house of the Lord, that we can not afford the luxury of offense or denial, because for those who choose to not heed the forewarning trumpet blasts,therell" be no extended measure of mercy to accomodate these practices, because the Lord has already provided us with a great window of time, and opportunity to get it together, and conform to the Word, as it has been distributed to us down throught the ages!.In the world sysytem, nepotism sometimes works, but has been know to cause full blown "family feuds" and all out wars, and even the disciples suggested spiritual nepotism to Christ,when they were bickering over a position they didn't even understand, and had not yet, been made available, in their selfish ambiton, immaturity, and cluelessnes, to comprehending the ways and mind of God! History depicts that in organized crime families, nepotism has provento be fateful to many, and it provoked ruthlessness and mayhem amongst blood brothers and other kin, and it is manifesting in the very church of christ, iun pretty much the same way. it is foolish, and potentially destructive, to practice making ones relative the "next in line for a leadership position, because of relationship in the flesh, and it is unfair to those whom god ha euipped and wualified, and to those hom the illegal heir will have watch and authority over. We seem to have forgotten that ministry positiions and the church government heirarchy is not established on natural "birthright", but rather the sanctioning, and divine "call",appointment,and anointing of God. To position an individual, by this method,is often,detrimental to them,because there is a grace assigned to every person who has been divinely called for a position in the house of God,( in particular, upper leadership, and the pastoral office),and when an "imposter", or a "write in" is placed in it, the enemy is aware that this individual has no sanctified "armor" to adminstrate the office, and that they are trying to operate in it in an illegal armor that is ill fitting, unproven to be workable for them, and useless against the adversary! To select someone as "shepherd/pastor" over the flock of God who has not been down to the "potter's house",and endured a season of being "made', who was not called for such a position as this, from their mother's womb, who has not a "pastor's heart, patience, diligence, wisdom, and gifting", is a recipe for disaster, and those pastors or leaders usually wind up as victims of the warning of Jeremiah 23:1 "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy the sheep of My pastor, saith the Lord." Therefore , thus saith the Lord of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; "ye have scattered the flock,and driven them away, and have not visited them, behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord"! Somebody needs to send a corporate memo that mimistry offfices are not 'vocations",or "gigs", but consecrated positions, for the euipping of the saints and the preparation of "THE BRIDE", without spot,or blemish,and to be carried out by specificly originated and selected servants,who've been purposefully ordained and divinely chosen!It is a travesty and an injustice to see those whoare not hardly called, or by no means, euipped to adminstrate the church of Christ, and who have absolutely no intimate knowledge of, or relatinship with God, no prayer life, and who haven"t remotely, studied to show themselves approved, or been "tried by the fire"! Nepotism may have been a reality for the bible patriarch,Eli, whose sins, Phineas, and Hophni, clearly demonstrated no character traits at all that would've qualified them for the positions they held, and led to their demise,as well as their father's. We understand father's desire to "pass the store on to their sons, and to see them carry on their legacies, but not when it comes to the things of God, and matters of the kingdom. It is offensive to God, and those who are sold out to serving Him,in excellence, to see these circumstances of nepotism, where the "illegal heirs" sit proudly in their illegally inherited positions, arrogantly running the church, commanding the people of God, leaning back in the "pastoral throne", and raking in perks, prestige, and benefits,hand over fist, while offering the flock of God a whole lot of "nothing"! To even have the audacity to administrate a consecrated office, in the church of God, knowing that its not by the will or calling of God, and to not be convicted, afraid, or uncomfortable, is a testimony of how desensitized to and unaware of the reality of having a Godly fear, and an understanding of the wrath and judgement of God, we have become! To even aspire to such a position,because one has "peeped" the potential lucrativeness of such aa office or area of service, is wicked and suspect,because as one nurtures a genuine relationship with God, He reveals the seriousness of being given stewardship over so great a charge,and as He unfolds and reveals the "cost", and the assured difficulty of the "path", and the varied seasons of tribulations, one looks into that "cup of purpose" and destiny and declares, "IF IT BE POSSIBLE , LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME,!There are many blessings and inheritances, both now, and for eternity, promised and provided for us, but not the ministry of Jesus Christ, by way of "association",or "relations", rather than by divine design and predestination! There are many things one can covet" if they choose, but not the "mantle' of the servants of Jesus Christ,as they administrate His Church! You can easily identify a Church with a "misplaced", unprocessed, or uncalled leader, because everything about such a Church or ministry will be "off", unstructured,, unproductive, and with an atmosphere of "confusioin, and spiritual chaos! There is a "grace" and a "measure" to will and to do, for everyone, and finding your 'lane", and perfecting your service in it, is a consuming endeavor, even if it's not that of church government, but God's process and requirements for elevation and promotion are concrete, and one can not be eager or overzealous to apprehend them, because they come though utter humbleness and humility, serving in" esser" capacities, faithfully and with contentment, before one can even be considered for the legally inherited positions within the temple of God. Through the provisons of salvation and the privilege of being engrafted in, we all,as believers, have a portion in God's kingdom, and an assigned work to do, and we are all under a new standard of kinship, and kingdom relationship, but it is the favor and sovereignty of our "blood" relationship to Christ, that will qualify and position us in the house of God, with precision, divine endorsement, grace to execute it, and the proving and sealing of it by the Holy spirit!Tags:Share< Previous Post0 CommentsAdd a Comment
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This is not just for corporate workplace, we still need to learn this skill within the church.
WHAT IS LOVE?
Based on 1 Corinthians 13,
Spectacular Spiritual Gifts Even Fruit of the spirit without Love is no Good:
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Philantrophy without Love Avails Nothing
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
What IS LOVE then?
4Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
5It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
What is PATIENCE?
The Thesaurus dictionary defines patience as "the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. "
Dictionary.com says
Patience is
1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care;
According to Webster, the definition of patience is:
1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2. manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3. not hasty or impetuous
4. steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
5. able or willing to bear
Interesting, patience really tests our faith. Let's see what being kind really means:
Being kind means showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious
LOVING THE UNLOVABLE IS PART OF THE COMMAND OF CHRIST TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR.
Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version) 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
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We are all in the same family of God and in the covenant of love between us and with God. So how do we succeed in speaking the truth in love with an imature believer with extreme personality issues?
Speaking the truth in love is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are mature we are able to be patient and love the unlovable:
Ephesians 4:14 says "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
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If we were to do a general survey or assessment of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus, the CHRIST, we would find a pattern of purposeful precision, and willful intent in everything concerning His presence on the earth, before, the earth, and the promise of, after the earth. The Bible states it as "In the beginning WAS THE WORD, and THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, and THE WORD WAS GOD, was made "flesh", and dwelt among us. This is a very concise and clear dissertation on the testimoy of Jesus, the Christ, and it reveals that nothing about His existence was happenstance, by chance, incidental, or accidental, even His betrayal, persecution, subsequent executuon, three day "retreat" in hell, or His ascension, back into the heavens, where the earth is once again,His footstool. When the Holy Spirit "came upon" the Virgin Mary for the most intimate of "fellowships", it was done with premeditation, predetermination, and as the fulfillment of God's predestined will, so it's safe to say that She experienced the ultimate intimacy with God, with "extreme prejudice"! There were, back in those days, (THANK GOD!) many, many, young virgins of the age of fourteen, but none of them were chosen, and I'm sure that the Spirit of God bypassed multitudes of young virgins, just to get to the one called "Mary", espoused or engaged to a man named Joseph of the house of David, because He was "biased" in His choice of her, according to the sovereignty of His will, and according to His good pleasure. Our patriarch, and the predecessor of the Very Saviour, Himself, David, was also selected, with extreme prejudice, to be king of Judah, even though he was an unlikely, and an unorthodox choice in the minds of many. There was such extreme prejudice involved in appointing him as king, that everyone of his, more practical choices for king brothers, were brought before Samuel, and they were rejected and dismissed,one by one, because God had already made His choice and it was unnegotiatable, way back when darkness covered everything! Queen Esther was chosen as successor to the throne, next to her king, with extreme prejudice, even though there were, certainly hundreds of young ladies more beautiful, with more beguiling looks and figures, who were more skilled in a number of areas, who were from far more affluent backgrounds, and who, quite possibly, better suited, but she was the Sovereign God's selection to fufill a particular "expected end"!Keeping all these facts and references in mind, one should get a better, and unmistakable understanding of the concept of "extreme prejudice"! Everything pertaining to Christ was done by, and with, extreme prejudice. HE WAS PURSUED AS A NEWBORN INFANT, WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE, and a "hit" was put out on Him, while still nursing at His Mother's breast, innocent and defenseless, with extreme prejudice. This "hit" could be compared to those used by certain criminal groups and alliances now, when some unfortunate soul makes the grave error of "crossing them", and a command is sometimes issued "dead or alive", while others are more precise and deadly "I want them dead or executed, by any means neccessary!" Certain criminals who commit unspeakably horrendous crimes are doomed to a verdict of being "tried with extreme prejudiced, and executed by the state or government in like manner. That being noted, it would stand to reason that there are certain things,while in the sevice of the Lord, that we should do "with extreme prejudice"! We should "shun hell" with extreme prejudice! We should eschew sin, and disobedience to God, with extreme prejudice! We should daily examine ourselves, to see' if we be in the faith", with extreme prejudice! We should bear a burden for the lost, wounded, helpless and the hopeless, with extreme prejudice! Our soukls should "seek to please Him, with extreme prejudice! We should daily, work out our own salvation in fear, and in trembling, with extreme prejudice! We should make an irrevokable determination and covenant vow to demonstrate the character and agape' love of God, especially to our enemies, with extreme prejudice! We should sow seeds of natural substance,, and our spiritual giftings, being sure to consecrate them so tht they not be offered up and received by God, as 'strange fire", with extreme prejudice. The Bible says that we should serve the Lord with all of our 'might', and this is , extreme prejudice!Out of all that we can do, and should do for the Lord, those things that are not done as a "favor" to Him, but are our reasonable service, the most relevant and acceptable demonstrations of our genuine gratitude to Him that we can offer up, is to worship Him, and to declare His works unto men without restraint, and with fervor, passion, and zeal. Our surrender, submission, and broken acknowledgement of all that He has selflessly, and sacrificially done for us, should be demonstrated with deliberate, intentional, "on purpose, and extreme prejudice! When He was brutally, and hostily beaten until the flesh hung from His bones, it was done with extreme prejudice! When His innocent life was demanded to pacify "out of control", religious "church folk", it was done strategically, with extreme prejudice! When He was forced to carry a cross that probably weighed as much as He did, in a near fatally wounded condition, it was done with intentional malice and wickedness, and with extreme prejudice! When He was paraded through the city, in humiliation, acording to the perceptions of foolish men, it wasn't done impetously, or on an impulse, but with extreme prejudice! When those spikes were hammered into the unprotected tenderness of His hands and feet, and the sword was ruthlesly thrust into His side, it was with extreme prejudice! When they offered a viciously abused, fevered, and dehydrated, near death Man, the bitterness of a sip of vinegar, to add further insult, and suffering to the Lamb of God, t was with the utmost, extreme prejudice! When we look into His Holiness, and meditate on the absolute perfection of His lve, and kindness towards us, we should not render a "hit and miss?", superficial, distracted or rehearsed worship, but we owe it to Him to worship Him with extreme prejudice! We should align our minds, hearts, spirits, and soul, with His very heart beat, while dismissing the thougt of anybody and anything else, and deliberately, with our minds stayed and fixed on theGod of our Salvation,and press beyond the regular, the ordinary, and the routine, and worship Him with extreme prejudice! We should approach the realm of worship with "attitude" that serves the devil and the saints notice that you are on a mission, with a singlemindedness, and radical resolve to not allow the provocation,or maneuverings of ANYBODY to prohibit you from blessing and exalting the "onlyise God, ith extreme prejudice! You owe it to yourself and unto the Lord to let the record show that your intent and purpse is not to "big up", or show adulation for the awesomeness of the praise team or the psalmists, the powerfulness of the preacher, or anything else that 'flesh" may have on the agenda, because you laid down at night, got up in the a.m., and determined throughout the mid-day, to submit and render up unto God a pure, unflavored, uninhibited, unrehearsed, unashamed, and blemishless offering of "maranatha" worship with extreme prejudice! When He looked down and upon you from the cross, He was at peace with His humbly carried out destiny and bitter-sweet assignment, having obeyed the Abba Father, even unto death, He saw your years of rebellion, transgressions, sins, and rejection of Him, the unappreciativeness of, and indifference towards the shedding of His blood, and still decided and determined to stay upon the cross, and make a way of escape for you, from the destruction to come, with extreme prejudice!Tags:Share
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As we enter into another harvest season, and one where "wiccans", satanists, and other pagan religions gear up to celebrate their high feasts, we can semi-celebrate the fact that we, especially the Black church, have come a long way in distancing ourselves from the customary "trick or treating", and costuming our children as vampires, fairies, monsters, and witches, but they are still very much alive, and present in the house of God. Many believers and Christian leaders tend to avoid and shy away from this taboo subject, either in ignorance, fear, genuine disbelief, or not wanting to be bothered with the "underbelly" of ministry, and deliverance that can get down and dirty when contendng with, and confronting the "violence" that the kingdom suffers. The enemy gets comfortable, "fat", and strong under these conditions, and he thrives on disbelief and ignorance concerning these very real powers and principalities, and spiritual wickedness in high places. He throws an absolute parade when we fight amongst ourselves as to whether he and his kingdom are real, have any power, or are operating in the household of faith.. BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF WITCHCRAFT HAS COME FULL CIRCLE IN APPEARANCE, PRESENTATION, AND METHODOLOGY, IT IS QUITE EASY FOR IT TO GET PAST THE "WATCHMEN", AND THE "PRIESTS" WHO GUARD THE TEMPLE GATES, BECAUSE IT HAS ADAPTED TO, AND WITH EVERY TRANSFORMATION, TRANSITION, AND REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH, AND IS NOW, VERY CHARISMATIC WITH A MASS APPEAL!! Don't expect the "witch" to be in need of "plastic surgery", with a 6 inch nose, afflicted with warts, and don't expect it to always be a 'woman".WItchcraft is a "spirit", the "spirit of rebellion", to be exact, and not a gender, and it will operate through whomever makes themselves availabe, and is willing to "shake hands with the devil', even children.!This matter of witchcraft sitting, roosting, teaching, preaching, prophesying, stretching forth hands to impart, governing, and overseeing the house and people of God has been a real truth for centuries, and there was a time in history when the CATHOLIC CHURCH, READILY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS, AND AGGRESIVELY SOUGHT OUT AND PERSECUTED, AND KILLED ALL THOUGHT TO BE OR KNOWN TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SORCERY, BLACK MAGIC, CURSING OTHERS, ENTERTAINING FAMILIAR SPIRITS, AND CASTING SPELLS. It was unfortunate that many innocent people were wrongly accused and murdered during those times, but the Church made a "zero tolerance" statement to the witch, and all things related, and they didn't have the problem of bold presences and manifestations right smack dab in the middle of the temple of the Living God, with no shame, fear, or scruples, whatsoever. As the witches have evolved, they are highly "fashionable", corporate looking, sweet and innocent, with a false meekness and submission, matronly and nurturing lookng, and well versed and behaved in "Sunday School". Some of them have been in the house and holding a position for years, if not decades, undisturbed, because their subtility, and cunningness has allowed them to deceive the "very elect". This regiment of latter day witches are especially well studied in the scriptures and, very engaging, captivating, in whatever they do ministry-wise, and they usually excel at it. They can "preach you silly", prophesy accurately, and "sang 'em under the pews", and for people who are superficial and impressed by the "obvious" without discerning deeper into "what's really God", the echantment and "bewitching" is made easy, and those who practice this witchcraft laugh,and despise the weakness of folk who are supposed to be "demon slayers", " hand clapping, tongue-talking, foot stomping, Holy Ghost "saints", and their gullibleness, carnality, and unstable committments and minds!One of the main things we forget is that even the "demons" know the "scriptures" and they tremble! These latter day witches and warlocks" walk tall and carry big Bibles", and qwuote scripture like water from a foiuntain. They arew skilled in homoletics, hermeneutics, theology, and doctrine! They are fluent in both Hebrew and Greek, and when they stretch forth their hands, folk "go down",and demons manifest, and perform! They can hold their own with the Pharisees and the Saducees, and evidence false signs ad wonders, like the prophets of Baal, but to the truly discering, there's knowledge that "something ain't kosher"! These witches and warlocks gain favor with the "pointmen/women" in the church, (those with the greatest influence), because if thy can seduce their "ears", then the rest of the work of enticing the whole congregation will be made easy! They operate through the power of suggestion, subliminal messages, or illegally imparting or transferring spirits, or speaking and releasing word curses, secret chanting, or the "planting" of certain occult charms and potions around, or in , the object of their curse's property, person, or personal belongings. They, sometimes . like to "bless" people with food, pastries or other "tokens", because these items have been cursed, and wind up in their target's home, or body, thus causing chaos in ther environment, and infirmity in their health. When worship service is systematically, and routinely hindered, sabotaged, and weighed down through oppression, and the mid-binding of the people of God, there's likely a witch nearby. When there are sudden manifestations of interrupted blessings, finances, divine health, comraderie, peace, marital accord, soundness of mind, and the stalling of ministry, that can not be explained, search out the source of the witchcraft curse, or prayers. When outbreaks, of certain ilnesses and afflictons, that the Doctors can not trace, manifest, search out the source of the occult practices. Witchcraft zeroes in o the Pastor, or Pastor's wife to confound and bewitch their minds, as a means to gaining control over the entire vision, or whatever part of it, it's interested in. Witches are known to be powerful pray-ers, but you need to listen closely to WHAT they're praying,and HOW they're praying i!. Sometimes, certain smells are associated with them, and people who are really sensitive to evil,will react in a physical way, when it's within their parametersSadly, not all will receive the warning and education regarding latterday wtches and their craft, in the Church of God, and many thingsa shall be suffered, unneccessisarily, and the enemy shall gain great ground in his effort to totally ensare and pervert Christ's Church,and at th day's end, what was the truth, when the Bible declared "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" in the Old Testament, wll still hold true today, tomorrow,and the coming mileniumas, whtehrwe accept, believe and deal with ot or not!.No, you don't have to worry about "Samantha", Endora",or "Sabrina" the teen-aged witch", wiggling their noses and turning you into a "frog", or an "aardvaark", but it is foolish to dismiss the fact that the devil,does have power, indeed, and it's just that by His grace and mercy, through Christ, we have more power, and have been assured the victory, but still, WE DO WRESTLE, MUST WRESTLE, AND WILL WRESTLE! Many believers have been harshly rebuked and scorned for trying to share their concern or revelation about witchcraft in their churches, and many of them were correct, but when this sort ofrejection, denial, and rebuke happens, the enemy's "foothold",becomes a "stronghold", and he opens the door for all powers and principalities to pass through the gates of the Church unchallenged, and unacknowledged!.No, we don't go on witch hunts, but if one crosses our path, especially in the sanctuary of the Most High God, it should be offered salvation and deliverance , or dealt with.No, we don't need to be paranoid, but we do ned to be aler ad aware, because they can't be "blimked" or"wished"away!. Somtimes,we need to assess ourselves, and make sure that that spirit hasn't attached itself to us, because due to our ancestry, sometimes someone else down through the generations, made a pact with the devil, and we were chosen to carry the satanic legacy, but the blood of the Lamb prevented it, but that spirit will dog one's heels, until it realizes you are genuinely sold out to the Lord, but you must remain submitted and humble because it will bombard it's way in through pride, and other carnality.You may say that the devil can't harm you, but the scripture says "No weapon formed against you will PROSPER",but it didn't say that it wouldn't touch you at all! The truth is all "snakes " don't have scales and slither on ther bellies, and all "witches" don't have black cats and "ride brooms"! You may be standing right next to one on the praise team, or following one around the country to hear them preach, but they are alive, and dwell amongst Zion!Tags:Share< Previous PostNext Post >
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Out of all the falseties, forewarned "imposters", and charlatans we've been confronted with,acknowldged and confronted, not many address the presence, potential, and absolute destruction of a "false Christ". The reality is that they have always been among us, and even now,live among us, awaiting an opportunity for the disgruntled, unanchored, uncertain, confused, disenchanted, and the offended to murmur, complain, or rebel enough to extend an invitation for them to gain access to their spirits. "And Jesus said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For MANY shall come in my Name, saying, "I am Christ; and shall deceive many". It stands to reason, that wherever there's a "true" anything, a "false" or imitation is close by. The Bible warned us of the "M.O." of the "false teacher", in that it revealed that they are perverters of grace,money lovers,"Truth resisters",bound by tradition and religious ideology,, unnstable, cunningly deceptive, and lustful. We were forewarned that the false Prophets would come "prophesying" peace when that was not the unction of God, they would profess another "doctrine" to draw men away from the established truth, they would teach lies, and try to deceive the people into believing that that they bear the true oracles of God ,as pure vessels. He assured us that the 'false pastors" would have no genuine concern for the flock, and that they would be selfish and greedy, no more than hirelings, scattering the flock of God, and causing the sheep to flee. The "false apostles' would be recognized by the absence of the confirming signs and wonders, their manipulation and mind control of the people, the building on another man's foundation, and the false miracles, and false dsiciples they raised up amongst men. "False Evangelists" would have no proven works, of consistent soul winning or in-gathering, and their trumpet blast would not leave the confines of the building.Now, the "false Christs" were, and will be another matter, deceiving the "very elect", if it were possible, "And Jesus answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you...And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must need be ; but the end shall not be."......"And then if any man shall say to you, "Lo, here is Christ; or lo, he is there; believe him not: for false Christs and false prophets shall rise , and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." But take ye heed, for I have foretold you all things." He has always had our best interests at heart and declared that he wouldn't have us ignorant of the enemy's devices, so He loved us enough to leave us with a perpetual "head's up" through His Logos,and the Rhema that He yet sends through His Apostles, and Prophets.We've been warned that he shall be callled a "Man of sin", and the "son of perdition"! Some shall recognize him as the "wicked one", the "Antichrist", or the "beast". This is not just some mystical entity that flavors horror movies and novels, or some abominable semi-human with the brand of 666 tattooed somewhere on their body, but it is a powerful spirit and presence, that is a force to be contended or reckoned with, but whose satanic, and all- evil knee must bow at the Almighty, All powerful, Omnipresent Name of Jesus, the Christ! He will be identified by his bold and arrogant lawlessness, as he challenges all that God and the kingdom of heaven stand for and represnt,and many shall be enticed and seduced by this "strange doctrine" that justifies and accomodates their rebellion,and non-coformity to the proscribed commandments of the God of Holiness."Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he,was as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." ...."And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrightousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they shoulld believe a lie." There is grave danger here, in that the Lord, Himself, is soon to turn the rebellious, and the unbeliever not only over to a reprobate mind, but to allow them to believe a lie, based on that being their preference. This excites the "false Christ" to no end, because these "trophies" he has lusted over, since time began, are being handed to him, without resistance, but that's only the foolish, the proud, and those to whom "this" Gospel is hid! People of God, you need to get the wisdom that the "false Jesus"is not coming LOOKING LIKE A "FALSE CHRIST",becuase he's more cunning, creative,and subtle than that, and he enjoys the "game" of making "sport" over the alleged "saints" of God. No, He will look humble, meek, and mild, like He truly loves the Lord,willing to "serve,be a "blessing", give generously, be faithful and committed, and demonstrate a "form" of worship,but you must pay close attention to whom it is that hes actually "worshipping"! That, ( the deception and the "game") alone is half of his pleasure.This "false Christ' also has a "false anointing", much like the "prophets of Baal." Thse who are so impressed and moved by signs and wonders will be easy targets for the "false Christ", because all they'll need to do is to reveal to them a "mystery", "recite their phone number", or perform a "trick", and they'll be sold, just like the "Jim Jones tragedy". This false Christ shall come to deceive the world, to persecute Christians, make it difficult for them to express their faith openly or to proselytisize or worship,even as we see the beginning evidence in the removal of prayer from the public school systems, and other establishments. This "false Christ" shall be tied into politics, because the battle between the devil and God, good and evil, has always been about authority and power, and simply because He knows that the real promise for Zion, is that the "government" shall be upon OUR shoulders"!The spirit of the Antichrist can never confess nor acknowledge that Jesus,the Christ is Lord of all Lords, Saviour and King, the Only Begotten Son of Jesus, Who came in the form of a man, led captivity captive, was crucified, dead and buried, arose on the third day, took back the keys to the kingdom, and ascended on high, back unto the Father for His eternal reign. "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of "Antichrist", whereof ye have heard that it should come, and "EVEN NOW ALREADY IS IT IN THE WORLD.! THE LORD CONSSTENTLY AND THOROUGHLY FOREWARNED AND PREPARED US WITH ALLTHINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, SO THAT WE BE NOT SIFTED AS WHEAT, NOR HAVE ANY EXCUSE!" He even admonished us of those who would infiltrate our ranks, pulpits, fellowships, Colleges of Apostles, Prophetic camps, and places of worship; "My little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, EVEN NOW ARE THERE MANY CHRISTS, whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from amongst us (usualy by offense or rebellion) but they were not of us; for if they had bee of us, they would have, no doubt,continued with us: but they went out ,that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us:but YE HAVE AN UNCTION FROM THE HOLY ONE AND YE KNOW ALL THINGS"! Who is a "liar" but he that denieth that Jesus is THE CHRIST. ("THE" IS A DEFINITIVE ARTICLE, REVEALING THAT THERE'S ONE)" HE IS THE ANTICHRIST, THAT DENIETH THE FATHER AND THE SON". We are confrontng some very uncertain, and unsettling times, that our current socio-economic crisis, and individual finances, marital and family assaults, are only a small portion of,but they are tied into the "beginning of sorrows, and make no mistake about it, but it's utterly suicidal and insane to ignore the trumpet blast regarding girding up one's loins ,and sober mindedly intensifying the watching and praying, for the "son of perdition" is very much here, and not as a "sleeping giant, either, but as an active "church goer", preacher", charismatic wonder worker, and so much more. He just might be your "shouting partner".Tags:Share< Previous PostNext Post >
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As wise counsel to the Christian believer, to acutally apprehend being "more than conquerors", being the "head and not the tail" in our journey to eternal life, we are admonished to be "as harmless as a "dove", and as "wise" as a "serpent", but have we really stopped to consider the depth of such an allegory? What "wisdom" could a snake possibly possess,seeing as how he didn't have the "mother wit" or the "common sense" to mainatin his rent-free, "full benefits" package "in the garden? How could such a one who has been cursed to eat the dust of the earth, and to be in constant danger of being "under the feet" of every living creature that walks in an upright position? We know that the Bible says that he would bruise the "heel" of man, and "man" would bruise his "head", but what about finding one's self, as a serpent, under the "feet/hooves" of an elephant, gorilla, rhinnocerus, an ox, or some other heavy duty creature? Perhaps the serpent's wisdom is measured by his ability to stay alive. and avoid being "road kill" by stampeeding buffaloe, or a herd of bull elephants, and perhaps it's based on it's ability to live out it's life in the "dust", crawling on it's belly, and yet, being able to "take down" other creatures and men thousands of times it's size. The truth is that a serpent has to be quite cunning abd resourceful,just to exist as a serpent, one of the most feared and hated creatures on God's earth. Men don't have to even know a thing about a serpent, of any size, color or personal snake habits, but pity the snake that runs across a man's path, if he has any kind of weapon in his hand or near by, because that's guaranteed to be a serpent with a "past", but not a "furure"! In spite of these, apparently unbalanced :odds", snakes have always been abundantly plentiful, and will probably never be in danger of extinction, so, considering the present genocide of men, the serpent, does, indeed, possess some level of intelligence and wit! Even though, men, with all the intellect, knowledge, and advanced skills and understanding they possess, have always systematically worked against themselves to extinguish the life of the human race, very few of those deaths were from "serpent bites", but rather, at the hands of other "humans" or men! I've yet to hear of a snake "biting" another snake, or going out of it's way to "jack" another snake for their "scales, "extra venom", or out of simple jealousy! Therein lies "great wisdom"!Part of a serpent's wisdom is acknowleding, and working within the confines of that knowledge, that he is a serpent,no more or no less, and they recognize that they can't fly, sprint, hop, gallop, or drive a car,because they were created to "crawl", and to slither, and so they mastered "staying in their lane",and 'staying on their given "square"! Wsdom is the principle thing, here! They so mastered their limtations, and made them great assets and even parlayed them into brilliant "weapons", that many serpents can blend into their environment, and you'll never know that they're there, until you trespass, and find yourself in "biting" distance. This is contrary to the nature of men, because, typically, "man" is going to be "loud", "flamboyant", and obvious, making sure that his presence is announced and known, and often to his own detriment! Serpents don't run amongst alligators, and lions, because they recognize that these are not environments conducive to their "health" , well-being, or productivity, so they usually hang out amongst other serpents, if not alone.There's some "WISDOM" for you! Serpents don't, generally go seeking trouble, but they will fight when need be, and they will stand their ground, and guard what's important to them. Herein lies wisdom! There are some breeds that are simply not going to "run" because an "imposter" has trespassed their territory, no matter the size of the adversary! Because they don't randomly, or haphazardly, engage in battle, when it's necessary to handle their little "snake's business", they have a reservoir of strength, and reservoirs of venom, and they know when to strike, and when to retreat, and bide their time, so that their next "strike" will hit it's mark!! Herein lieth wisdom! Serpent's don't bite a "lion", because a "bear" crossed them, but they concentrate their attention on their immediate enemy, and don't allow environmental activities, no matter how loud the "monkies" are chattering, or how chaotic the atmosphere of the other "wild life", to distract them from engaging their adversary in battle. They're not distracted by the battles of yesterday, when there's a more imminent dager, right now, right there before them! Therein is great wisdom!One of a serpent's greatest traits of revealed wisdom, is his posture of subtility, and cleverness. Many an "alleged' "snake charmer" have found themselves on the deadly end of a snake, by making the mistake of thinking that their serpent was being seduced, and beguiled by them and their flute, when they fatefully discovered who or what was really in charge! Serpent's know how to give the appearance of looking like logs, vegetation, or playing dead, and many beguile humans into believing that they are nice, safe, "pet" material, and tameable, when the very notion of a pet snake" is an "oxymoron"! How cunning can a serpent be, to convince a rational human being into bringing home a boa constrictor, or any other kind of serpent, and considering them to be a part of the household? As tragic and unfortunate as it is when someone's child, poodle, or the pet owner, themselves, become snake attack vitims, the fact is, it was born a snake, it was a snake when you brought it home, and it's still a snake! The fact that they know how to lie perfectly still, patiently wait and watch,and strike in timely, synchronized fashions is a demonstration, of wisdom, discipline, and a determination to survive, in a hostile and ruthless environment. Serpents operate hanging from trees, around bodies of water, and moving along the ground, but they don't allow the absence of feet with "Nikes" prevent them from moving at lightning fast rates of speed, or their small size hinder them from swallowing whole, animals, much larger than them.There's something to be learned from everything God formed and created, and the very nature of the serpent reveals God's sovereignty in the creation of all creatures, because he made the serpent a formidable foe, and opponent, from the "garden" to the "grave"! If you want proof of this, observe the ones that sing in the choir, and preach 'em under the church house floor!Tags:Share< Previous PostNext Post >
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In times of civil unrest, or threats of enemy invasion, one of the strategies of those appointed to "watch" and defend the walls and chief borders of the city, is to establish "defensed" areas of counter-attack, that are occupied by those trained in military discipline, assault, and deployment. In times of "rumors of wars" or actual enemy fire, "militarized zones' are mapped out. set up, and activated, with full regiments of specifically trained soldiers, to handle ground artillery, airborn attacks, and hospital units to attend to the, inevitable "wounded", and casualties, so thaaat the liberty,safety,and way of life , the people have a right to live, can be maintained and safeguarded. It is not uncommon to see army "tanks", armed foot soldiers, M.A.S.H "tents", and portable "mess halls", because these entities should exist, and be equipped with such sharpness and precision, that at a moment's notice, an actual Army/Military "fort", or installation, can be erected anywhere on the earth, with little or no effort, and be fully operative and functional to handle any "war or combat" related situation, and answer any assault against it with extrme prejudice,and the loss of as few lives as possible.. The fact is, that on a covert level, spiritually, the kingdom dimension,in which the people of God exist in, should NEVER be "DEMILITARIZED", because the Bible is very clear that "Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom suffereth violence, but the violent taketh by force", and that satan, consistently, and perpetually, "since babies could crawl", has gone about, to and fro, from one end of the earth to the other, from city to city, home to home, chrch to church,marriage to marriage, vision to vision, seeking whom he might devour, and he's "no ways tired", after all these milleniums!It has always been the downfall of man, to relax his position, and be seduced into a state of "false security" or presumptous or premature victory. Men have also, become cocky and arrogant because it "appears" that they may have won a small "skirmish" or a temporary "battle", while losing sight of the complete war, and so they revert back to a state and existence of "demilitarized zones", and send the "special forces" on vacation, pull back from the "altar", and whereas, during the intensity of the assault, they "pressed in" to deep intercession, sore travail, and calling on "Jesus" for dear life, and maintaining an uninterrupted prayer posture that was so dedicated, that the "altar" became their "other home",but because a slight shift came in the area they were being attacked in, they now, grace the altar in heartfelt intercession, once a week, and submit the "short form" of prayer, if they can get away with it! This is the beginning of a demilitarized zone, and a city without defense, and the enemy knows it, so he only gives the apppearance of having taken an "L", and moved on to less aggressive foes, because he recognizes that as soon as the saints begin to hit the "all you can eat" grazing field consistenly again, he can launch his real attack, and they will be easy to defeat, because nobody's "watching" the city, and everyone is so heavy laden, from satisfying and feeding their flesh, that they can be stampeded over, taken hostage, or executed, without being able to put up much of a fight! This is why we are admonished that "men ought always to watch, and pray without ceasing." Knowing that the enemy has a mind to defeat the Church of Christ, and is willing to sacrifice millions to do it, we should be just as focused, and determined that he won't, and realize that in times of "apparent" peace and rest, our adversary is relentlessly, and ceverly at work,with his own "chiefs of staff", and "war counsels", to advance the battle, renew their artillery and weaponry, and rebrief their "intellingence", and this is why you'll never catch the adversary "slipping", winter, spring, summer, or fall, or day or night!We've been given the privilege, and security of dwelling in "defensed cities", and having angelic hosts occupying the unseen atmosphere around us, but we have also been given the responsibility of maintaining a posture of "readiness", and preparation to shift into battle mode, by the utterance of a single prayer, because we have the Supreme Intelligence and counsel of the Holy Spirit, and the examples of the warring angels, and the battles fought by those who occupy the "Gospel Hall of Fame", like Joshua, Gideon, David, Jehoshaphat, and many others who maintained a "military", and a "militant" posture, through their "praise on demand/command", and their steadfastness in hope, and petitioning God! The only time the children of Israel ever took a "beat down" was when they stepped away from consistency in worshipping, and serving God, which translates into receiving radical "downloads" of militant "aggression" in the spiritual service of God! Many of our churches are failing, and becomin latter day "valleys of dry bones", and "cisterns that can't hold water", because they've fallen into the barren, unproductive existence of "demilitarized zones" that can't fight off the "pigeons" that keep the sidewalks in front of their churches "slippery! We are losing a generation of sons and daughters who are being "picked off"at will, and for sport, by the enemy, because they have to live in, and walk and pass through "demilitarized zones"! We have the saddest numbers amongst the statistics for divorces, as believers in the True and Living God, because we tolerate and are not provoked to spiritual violence" by being victimized by "demilitarized zones! We "rally" without questioin when we are encouraged to "Come, let us rise up and build!", or to "name it and claim it" or " confess it and possess it", but none of these anthems will matter if we don't answer the admonishment to "OCCUPY"(militantly), until He comes! We've been given the weapons of our war-fare, and counselled to "put on the whole armor of God", but hat we are missing is the wisdom to keep one's hands, actively, on those weapons, and to never take off the whole armor, not to "bathe" or even to "sleep", because this is the strategy that guarantees eternal victory, in "military zones", that get it in !Tags:Share
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Throughout the corporate Body of Christ, there's a great sighing, waiting, hoping, pressing, and travail to see the Lord's 'goodness", so that we faint not, so that we can apprehend Him for WHOM we were apprehended, and finish our course with joy. From one end of the country to the next, men and women of GOD, who are actively and faithfully laboring in the vineyard are being pressed on every side, and in such a depth of financial lack and drought, that they are experiencing relentless frustration and anguish! There is such an overwhelming manifestation, bombardment, and assault of the "devourer", that some are falling back in their service and committment to labor for the Lord, because the enemy has conviced them that it's not worth it, things will never change, and God couldn't possibly be concerned, when they're facing foreclosures, repossessed vehicles, overdrawn and penalized bank accounts, and bare cupboards. Our adversary is ruthlessly mocking the servants of God, and asking them "Where is your great God now?"., as the servants of the Lord who formerly dwelt in the "wealthy place" and never experienced a day of need or want in their lives, but are now being forced to seek provision from food pantries, and to rely on "Christian charity" just to survive. It is not a question of "WILL GOD?', because we've seen Him move in the eleventh hour many times before and we've watched Him manifest one creative miracle after another, but the dilemma is that we find ourselves in a place "betwixt and between" our last miracle, or blessing, and the one that we need, and are believing God for right now! There's no doubt that God's going to what He said He would do, and up until the pressure of pushing and plowing through this present eleventh hour, we were steadfast in our praise, radical in our prayer and intercession, and assured in our day to day testmonies, but somewhere between the former rain of blessings and the heat of the "right now" barreness and drought, we "slipped" in our posture of a "yet praise", and perpetual worship!We are often so distracted by the great magnitude of our "perfecting" seasons that we forget our mandated posture of standing like a tree planted by the rivers of water, whose leaf shall not wither, and we falter in our posture of determined singleness of vision "looking steadfastly to the hills", and focus. Our posture begins to bend under the weight of those struggles and hard places, of bad healthh reports or brutal assaults on our bodies, minds, marriages, relationships with our children, and extended families! We begin to waver and falter, and miss a step here and there, because the spiritual ambushments blindside us, and throw us off balance. Our posture becomes, somewhat awkward and cumbersome, and we find ourselves in serious danger of "falling", or getting out of "sync" with God, because we've forgotten how to take His yoke upon us, and release "ours" to Him, for His "yoke" is easy, and His burden is light! Our posture of blessed assurance that "JESUS IS MINE", is shaken, and it makes our steps "wobbly" and unsure, and the danger therein, is that, sometimes, when we "fall", we fall on somebody else, or cause them to falter in their posture, because they've been watching our lives, and being strengthened by them. When we shift in our posture, and go from "bended knee", or prostrastion on our faces, and when we stop "lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting", we cause God to shift His posture towards us! He said that "IN OUR WEAKNESS, HIS STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT", and there are some testings that are so severe to us, but they provoke God to shift His posture from being "seated at the right hand of the Father, to standing up to look down through the heavens, to behold us, and to turn to the Father, and turn to the Holy Ghost, and boast on us, and send an immediate answer or provision for our circumstances! When we allow our posture to fall out of proper alignment with our confession of faith, we assume another posture of "curvature of the "spine" which affects our walk, distorts our appearance, and ability to run and not grow weary, and throws us under close scrutiny and contoversy!There are productive solutions and remedies to make sure that our posture remains consistent and pleasing to God, no matter how intense the heat of the fiery furnace, or how grueling and devestating the dynamics of those tribulations may be. There's a reason why, in some seasons, we MUST be "TIED" to the horns of the.altar, so as to not move from our posture of steadfastly interceding and seeking the face of God! There's a reason why having our hearts "circumcised" is not sufficient, but they must also be "anchored", and unmovable, to assure our posture of keeping our minds stayed on Jesus, and the great wonders of His mercies! There is great wisdom in praising God with EXTREME PREJUDICE AND "ON PURPOSE" ZEAL, to firmly establish and ground our yet praise as a habitation for the Lord! There is even greater wisdom in fellowshipping and being edified by others with the same posture as you, or allowing God to sustain you ALONE, to avoid the transfer of unbalanced, and out of alignment postures! David understood this kingdom wisdom well, and he had determined to maintain a "posture of "seeking", and beholding the beauty of the Lord, and a posture of perpetually "INQUIRING IN HIS TEMPLE"! because He proclaimed that " FOR IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE, HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS PAVILLION, IN THE SECRET OF HIS TABERNABLE SHALL HE HIDE ME; HE SHALL SET ME UP UPON A ROCK!" He manifested a remarkabkle commitment to believing, and exhorting, and praising God while he was between blessings, and his seasons of great recompense of reward! The Apostle Paul demonstrated a postureof longsuffering, and "hoping against hope", in between seasons of abundance, and abasement, and assumed a posture of being content in whatever state he found himself in!. If your times of testings and provings seem to be ridiculously extended, and appear to have no end in sight, check your posture, because maybe you've begun to "lean" on the arms of flesh, or rely on this world"s system for what you should expect only God, alone, to accomplish for you! Maybe, you're tilted, dangerously, too far back, brcause you're trying to distance yourself from the trouble in your life, hoping that it will "work itself out"!Better yet, you may be stooping or squatting,, about to "go down" under the heaviness of what you're going through, when you really should be stretched out on the altar, or your living room floor! There are times, too, when we're between blessings, that we shift our posture in "giving", because we reason that we "don't have enough to pay this, that, or the other", when you should really assume a more determined posture to sow into God's kingdom, in obedience to His Word! As you reassess your posture, remember the patriarch, David's outstanding posture while betwixt and between, when he said "Even though HE slay ME, yet will I serve/praise him"!Tags: HE, HIDE, SHALLShare< Previous Post
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There is an ugly, ungodly, unfortunate and unbiblical pattern of rejection, persecution, and judgement within the Body of Christ, which has been in existence for a very long time, but appears to be becoming more prevalent, and "unchallenged" as time passes. I don't think many can trace it's origin, or justify it's practice, because it thoroughly contradicts most of what the Church should represent, and what Christ taught, and commanded. I am referring to the practice of covertly "disfellowshipping, and cursing those of the flock who decide to further their walk with God, sit under new leaders, or expand their process of being "made", in new Churches or ministries, and leave their former ones. This is one of those "sacred cows", and "elephants sitting square center of the dining room table" that no one dares to talk about or address, but LET'S! There're not many who've been saved for a minute, who haven't witnessed or been the victim of this type of erroneous mistreatment, and for those who haven't, count your blessings of being "one of milions", or just "stay saved" for a little bit longer! The way that it usually works, is that an individual will feel led or receive instruction, from the Lord, to leave their present Church, for whatever reason, be it right or even wrong, and they immediately become, outcasts, pirhannas, and "heathen, and they are "disfellowshipped", written off, and frequently "cursed", for following their own path in life, so much so, to where the rest of the flock, is subliminally "counselled" or warned, if not forbidden, to have any contact with their"brother or sister" in the faith. Even the children of those wo move on, in these circumstances, are somtimes sadly, affected, and rejected as well! This thing exists to the magnitude, that the individual who has moved on, is no longer spoken to or acknowledged as a living breathing, creature formed, by the hands of God, if they are run into or encountered at the local Walmart, or Sunday "all you can eat, after shouting real good" buffet. They are handled as if they have committed some great offense, or criminal act, when in fact, they're guilty of nothing more than obeying and hearing God for themselves as they go on working out their own soul salvation,, and even if they are in error,or perceived to be in rebellion, THEY ARE STILL SAVED, AREN'T THEY? They still deserve the same courtesy, forebearance, AGAPE/UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, respect, and Christian charity, as any other believer, and that you (hopefully, or maybe) showed them when they were still counted amognst your flock! How fair is it and what sort of testimony is it to God and those who are watching your life, for these pople of God to be so coldheartedly dismissed, forgotten, viciously maligned and crucified, after they've served faithfully, and often, been your biggest supporters, because they have to follow their own destinies just like you did to get to where you are now? God's house and His flock was never supposed to become "Egypt", and we were never supposed to conduct ourselves and fulfill our charges as "Pharoahs" and nor was it supposed to become a glorified plantation, ruled over by the iron will of "man", according to man's "good pleasure", lording it over the flock and distributing curses according to our good pleasure!The usual progression of this scenario is that the individual becomes the subject of the preached "text" for a few weeks, and this may be done either by the usual method of obvious "throw-offs" and sometimes, the person's actual name is spoken, and their personal business is publicly disclosed from the sacred desk"! It is not uncommon to hear these paricular "shepherds" openly and boldly "curse" the lives of these people, even though, just a few Sunday's ago, they openly prophesied over their lives with a "thus saith the Lord", that these same people were "Blessed coming in and blessed going out", which is frightening because the Bible is quite clear in warning no man to "curse" what God has "blessed", and God is not schizophrenic or double-minded in His blessings or His posture towards us!! There is a name for these curses and this behaviour, and a precise judgement from God attached to it. Yes, it is a "curse" you're speaking upon someone, everytime you decree and declare what will "never happen" in their lives, such as "They'll neve have a successful ministry", or "God will never bless anything they do", or even more profoundly sad, "that's why their son/daughter is going to "die in the streets", their husband will "never get saved", and they will never prosper the way God wants them to, because they "shouldn't have left this church" , this "covering", or this ministry! Well, they didn't LEAVE GOD, and that's the only way to incur a curse. If the only way one can be blessed, prosper, and be in health is to be up under or associasted with a particular, single ministry,then God just stopped being Omnipresent, Omnipotent,sovereign, and with us wherever we may go! If our personal egoes, need to own or possess people,or we need to control, their lives to the point it drives us to become that tyrranical as leaders, we need a sabbatical and a V-8, because that is not how God or the Holy SpirIt shepherds, governs, or oversees the lives of His flock! If you've faithfully and diligently tended the flock of Christ, fed them Manna and the unadulterated Word, and equipped them for the next phase of their walk with God, you should be able to rejoice when they move on, because they're expanding who YOU are and what you represent as they carry your teaching and instruction from faith to faith, and go from "glory to glory", but THEY ARE STILL SAVED, AREN'T THEY? DID they automatically backslide or revert to heathenism,because they passed on to another step in their process? Do you really believe and embrace the doctrine you teach'/preach, regarding "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, AND ONE BAPTISM? Have not we all been, mercifully and graciously "engrafted in", and made the rightousness of God, ONLY through Christ Jesus? Did we not all come unto salvation by the lovingkindness of God, and were we not all purged by no less than the "blood that flowed from Immanuel's veins? We don't throw our natural children away (most of us don't anyway) when they mature and progeressively change seasons in their lives, which change the dynamics of our presence in their lives, and we should handle the flock of God the same way, because we claim that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's liberty!" Bondage, and control is oppositional to liberty, so obviously, "another" spirit is ruling and in control,and it's not the Spirit of the Lord! Yes, for the most part, these souls are still saved,and usable by God, if we would stop traumatizing,them and messing up their spirits with our personal agendas, dogma, and issues!We understand that eveyone doesn't "leave right", and some leave in the midst of confusion and discord, but you should throw a parade that they're no longer your problem, but you still have no right to "curse" or mistreat them, because they are still "firebrands" in need of being plucked from the fire! We should be able to release the people of God with the same zeal that we welcome them in, because THEY ARE STILL SAVED, and precious in the sight of God! We tend to get the scrpiture twisted that says "Touch not mine ANOINTED, AND DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM!" This scripture is not exclusively referring to titled leadership, but to every beleiver who's been purchased with blood! They all deserve the same respect,reverence, acceptance, and service as thise who rank high amongst the ecclesiastia. When we reject any believer we reject the Christ in them, as well, and many shall be astonished when they stand before the Lord, and find out why they were disqualified from eternal life! We are admonished to not rule the flock by constraint, nor to abuse the given authority which should keep them, safe, as we lead by example, whether they're fellowshipping and worshipping with us, or the household of faith next door, across the alley, or up on the hill, they are still saved, and counted worthy unto God. If they are in error, they still have a soul, and we have a charge as intercessors, to remember them when we go before the Lord. When thy falter, or undergo tragedy, in stead of "crowing" and preaching an "I told y'all they were gonna suffer" message, and claim the credit for their misfortune, we should mourn with them, and offer encouragement, and when they surpass their greatest prophecies, in spite of every doomed curse spoken, we should genuinely rejoice and celebrate with them, because if they're regressed sinners, for making a move the felt they needed to make, then so are we, because we didn't start and finish where we are now,and there'll be other moves down the road!Tags:Share< Previous Post1 Comment
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With God there is hardly a drive through or fast food service: God made seasons so that they can bring God's purpose to fruition. Leaves fall in Fall may be to fertilize the soil, Winter is probably there to cool off the earth so that we don't reach umbearable temperatures and to purge the land of some destructive bacterias; all this to work together to make Spring ready for seed sowing so that we can enjoy the fruit in Summer.
God has made everything beautiful in its proper time. This is something we must understand when God is doing something in our own life or lives of those close to us. We must learn to wait on God by not going ahead or before Him. In the meantime there are plenty of work to be done in every season and many fun things of life we can do in season waiting for harvest. In the meantime also we can adjust our defensive and offensive spiritual weapons to fight effectively and be victorious within each season. But in all we do we must avoid what the children of Israel did in the wilderness: complain! Rather we must rejoice because God is surely bringing deliverance and we can only enter our promiseland by faith or we may die in the wasteland. So friend trust in the Lord always and rejoice!
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