ACCEPTANCE – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – AGREEMENT

/in /by

Acceptance – Acknowledgement – Agreement

 

Acknowledgment does not have to equate to acceptance or agreement.  Acknowledgment should be the first and basic step towards overcoming yet many people are physically and spiritual bound unknowingly by the power of agreement verses listening, discerning and acknowledging what is spoken.  How many times have we all made the simple statement  “I can’t believe what that person said, who do they think they are?”   Yet we walk away still pondering and processing the negativity that was spoken as those evil and destructive words penetrate our very being.

 

When you speak to people, do you have to be right versus simply stating and speaking the truth?  When you need to be right you may have built up a wall or resistance to the truth being received.  If you have to be right your identity and acceptance lies in the hands of others and you will likely be confrontational, ego centered and self-righteous. Your need to be right is not redemptive in nature but rather destructive and abusive which will only turn people away. We are all people of free will and a Godly person will never force something up you or “steer you” in your decision-making. God is love and love is embraced not forced!  

 

1 John 4:8 (NKJV)

 

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

Let’s start out by looking at the basic definitions of these words.

 

ACCEPTANCE

acceptance |akˈseptəns|

noun

1 the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered: charges involving the acceptance of bribes | [ as modifier ] : an acceptance speech | he had an acceptance from the magazine.

• a draft or bill that is accepted by being signed.

2 the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group: you must wait for acceptance into the club.

3 agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation: acceptance of the teaching of the church.

• willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation: a mood of resigned acceptance.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

acknowledgment |akˈnälijmənt| (also acknowledgement)

noun

1 acceptance of the truth or existence of something: there was no acknowledgment of the family’s trauma.

2 the action of expressing or displaying gratitude or appreciation for something: he received an award in acknowledgment of his work.

• the action of showing that one has noticed someone or something: he touched his hat in acknowledgment of the salute.

• a letter confirming receipt of something: I received an acknowledgment of my application.

3 (usu. acknowledgments) an author’s or publisher’s statement of indebtedness to others, typically one printed at the beginning of a book.

 

AGREEMENT

agreement |əˈgrēmənt|

noun

harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing: the governments failed to reach agreement | the two officers nodded in agreement | there is wide agreement that investment is necessary.

• a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action: a trade agreement | a verbal agreement to sell.

• the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency: agreement between experimental observations and theory.

• Grammar the condition of having the same number, gender, case, or person.

 

There is a simple fact in life that very few people like to hear or listen to critique.  Critique is often wrongly perceived as judgment and/or criticism leaving us with feelings of unworthiness and not being good enough.  We have all felt this way at times and many people still feel this way today.  Let’s be truthful, many in this world are bound by lies and ungodly words spoken over them by a hurting world. When these type of hurtful words are spoken to us we will be tempted to seek the approval of the person making these statements or accusation thus questioning our self worth, self esteem and worthiness.  When we start validating/believing our feelings of these hurts and untruths, we have fortified the strongholds in our hearts and spirits.  What may be true is not always truth!  It might be true that you feel rejected, hurt, etc. but the truth is you need not feel this way!  Christ is no respecter of persons and He has no partiality or favoritism!  Jesus would have died for one of us yet He died for all of us!

 

Acts 10:34 (AMP)

34  And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

 

Romans 2:11 (AMP)

11  For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. [Deut. 10:17; II Chron. 19:7.]

 

John 3:16 (AMP)

16  For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

 

 

Since the fall of man/woman back in the Garden there has been a continual plague and spiritual warfare against rebellion to God’s word, desires and will.  Adam and Eve both rebelled against the word of God as they were told not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Knowledge and power that lacks humility is destructive not only to one’s self, but to others also.

 

CRITIQUE

critique |kriˈtēk|

noun

a detailed analysis and assessment of something, esp. a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

verb (critiques, critiquing, critiqued) [ with obj. ]

evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way: the authors critique the methods and practices used in the research.

 

I have counseled many people and I ask a very simple and straight forward question such as: “what is it you want to do or be for that person.”  They give me a long list of things such as provide, protect, etc. and I say to them so you wish to be their savior?  I tell them there is only one savior and that is Christ Jesus, however you can compliment, encourage, edify and enlighten someone helping to achieve their own personal relationship with Christ Jesus.  

 

Being prideful, controlling and manipulating is not from God. People with these attributes often falsely believe they hear from God and want to be God’s voice over you. They want you to seek their approval on spiritual matters and often earthly/worldly matters thus disconnecting/hindering your relationship and intimacy with the living God and Spirit of God.  We are not called to be God or Lord over people but to connect them to the Lord.  Satan wanted to be exalted above God and people with controlling demonic spirits feel worshipped when you consult them, need them and approve of them.  Even Satan offered Jesus the earthly kingdoms so Satan could be idolatrized.  Idolatry is rampant as many people worship the temple and leadership over the Lord of the temple!  

 

Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)

13      The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverse mouth I hate.

 

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

 

18      Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

 

 

Matthew 4:8 (AMP)

8  Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them.

 

 

None of us is perfect, yet none of us likes to be critiqued.  So how do we edify, encourage and lift people up in a spiritually dying world?  How do we bring worthiness to those who feel unworthy?  Money, wealth and fame won’t make someone feel worthy because worthiness comes from within and can’t be cured externally.  You can’t promote someone “in the flesh” by giving false promotion, worldly possessions and gifts to heal spiritual problems.  I have seen many people attempt this even in ministry leadership and it does not work!  You don’t treat “cancer” with a bandage as it is a blood disease which is internal, the same goes with spiritual health.  You can’t heal someone spiritually with external remedies. Treating a symptom is not treating the problem.

 

When need to speak the truth in love, mercy, compassion and grace while manifesting the fruits of the Spirit.  We need to be submitted to the Lord while ministering to others and we need to put their needs above our desires just as Christ put the needs of others above His own.  Sacrificial love moved by compassion in the spirit of the Lord breaks the yokes of bondage.  You can read over and over in the bible where Jesus was moved with compassion and signs and wonders manifested as people were healed, delivered and the multitudes were fed.  

 

Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

We must minister to others in the fruit of the Spirit.  It’s one thing to receive a word of knowledge it’s another thing to deliver that word of knowledge.  We must submit that word of knowledge or prophecy to the Lord seeking how the Lord wants us to deliver and apply that word just as if it was from the Lord Himself.  We must die to self to represent the fullness of Christ thus being totally surrendered to the Spirit and will of the Lord.   

 

So you may wonder where is this all proceeding?  Well the Lord put in on my heart to help people to understand the power of humility and the power of agreement.  Humility is willing to think less of yourself, surrendering pride to the cross of Jesus Christ and crucifying one’s self to become humble and meek.  Don’t confuse meekness with weakness as humility is powerful, freeing and a true manifestation of a Christ filled/centered life.  We must remember above all that we first submit to Christ Jesus while honoring others.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess then Christ Jesus must be first, foremost and above all in our lives, hearts and minds.  There is a great difference in “preaching the gospel” vs. “commanding the gospel.”  

 

 

 

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

5      Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

 

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

8      Blessed are the pure in heart,

For theyshall see God.

 

Humility will listen while pride shuts and ear.  Humility will seek the Lord Jesus for clarification/confirmation seeking a “witness” from the Lord.  This being said we must always seek the Lord regarding all things spoken to us and about us in our quiet/private time with the Lord.  You will know a Godly person has spoken to you about your inner most problems when they lead you to the Lord Jesus and the atonement of the cross.  The gospel and Jesus will always give you a direction towards redemption and may very well advise you of the consequences of disobedience to the Lord’s will and word. 

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)

 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

John 4:14 (NKJV)

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NKJV)

 

7      “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

8      For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

 

Jesus constantly stood in the face of accusers, are we to truly believe this will not happen to us?  When someone speaks to us we are to remain humble listening, discerning and submitted to the Lord.  We listen but we need not come into agreement with negativity, accusatory nature, ungodly words, lies and manipulations.  We submit everything spoken to us to the Lord without needing/seeking validation or worthiness in the face of our accusers.  Contrary to what I hear many professing Christians speak the Holy Spirit does not confirm our personal identity, it confirms who Christ is in us and through us.  Jesus did not die to become like us.  Jesus died so we could become like him, restored to our original creative state in the image and likeness of the Father.  The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and sanctification so we can become more Christ like.  Our identity is Christ in us and through us; the flesh must decrease so the spirit can increase.  The lust of the world must die so the desires of the Kingdom and a Christ centered life can be fulfilled.  

 

Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)

 

23      Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24      And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

 

John 15:5 (NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

 

Christ Jesus was crucified and resurrected because we are worthy and redeemable in the heart and eyes of the Lord.  You are redeemed through the cross, blood and finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ and NOT by any mortal human!  

 

Humility is very powerful, in fact the enemy hates repentance and humility as these characteristics lead us to the Cross of Jesus Christ and the enemy/Satan was defeated at Calvary.  Does your church preach on repentance, humility, the blood of Jesus and the Cross of Jesus Christ?  If not have you wondered why, isn’t that the basis of salvation and sanctification through Christ!  The enemy does not want you to take up your own cross nor focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ.

 

The next time you are being critiqued/reproofed submit everything to the Lord while listening WITHOUT coming into agreement.  A godly person will tell you to seek the Lord about what they are speaking/ministering for they have no personal ownership in the words spoken on behalf of The Lord they are just humble servants of the Lord.  Notice they are HUMBLE servants, not prideful, boastful, forceful, demanding, coercing, manipulation or steering you into a decision process.  

 

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan Jesus did not raise his voice, shout back or seek the approval of Satan.  He stayed submitted to the will of the Father and walked in the fruit of the Spirit.  

 

Jesus was the master at asking questions testing the hearts of people.  Jesus already knew the answers so why did he ask questions?  Questioning is a way of testing the spirit, hearts and motives of people.  The word of God is sharper than a double-edged sword able to divide soul from spirit and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

 

1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

 

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)

12  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

 

 

Questions are very valuable in adding to your discernment and will validate what you discerned in the spirit or what was revealed in the spirit.  We are told to test every spirit and this is done and aided through questioning.  Once you discern something we should observe what you have discerned.   You will notice that spirits have characteristics which aide in your discernment.  These are behavioral characteristics NOT physical characteristics (although they may manifest in the physical/natural).  This is very important to understand that we judge no one by the flesh, but by the spirit and we war not against flesh but in the spirit.  (Ephesians 5&6)  Questions bring things to “light” and there is great power and revelations through questioning.  

 

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 (NKJV)

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

 

 

 

It is very important to seek Godly wisdom and we do this first by submitting and seeking Christ Jesus and secondly by seeking Godly counsel.  We must remember that what appears to be godly is not always godly!  Soul ties are created through/by ungodly people who often appear godly.  A controlling spirit often seeks knowledge to your inner hurts, feelings and emotions.  They seek to share experiences of similar hurts, feelings and emotions.  They want to relate “relationally” to your experiences so they can speak into and over your life while appearing to be genuinely concerned, caring and compassionate yet they themselves are spiritually bound and seek to create a soul tie with you in the spirit so they can become the voice of God over your life.  This is a very easy way to come into agreement with a controlling, manipulating and coercive demonic spirit.  (There are various ways soul ties are created, this article is about the power of agreement.)

 

2 Timothy 3:5 (AMP)

5  For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

 

 

We must test every spirit and by asking methodical questions this will help you to validate what you have discerned.  We must remember that the Spirit of God leads to ALL TRUTH and the Spirit of God is incapable of lies!  

 

John 16:13 (AMP)

13  But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

 

Asking questions is very powerful in discerning spirits and quite often the spirits will elevate or even manifest during reasonable questioning.  A controlling spirit does not like it’s authority being questioned. If you ask a question regarding something minuscule asked of you to do or perform or directed towards you; the spirit will likely elevate and show itself.  

 

Don’t confuse “fruit” with followers.  Fruit is the manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord.  With so many people feeling rejected, oppressed and abused they easily submit to the “crowd” mentality as fellowship supersedes a relationship with Christ Jesus.  I have personally witnessed the worship of sensual feelings over the worshipping of Christ in many worship services and churches.  It’s easy to confuse sensual “feeling good” with real God centered worship.

 

I pray and hope that this has been enlightening and edifying as there is much greater depth that could be discussed.  We must remember to submit everything to the Lord in Spirit and truth and to first seek the Kingdom of God and all things shall be added.

 

 

 

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

33  But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

 

There will be false teachers, prophets, apostles as well as false signs and wonders.  It is imperative that we seek the Lord’s heart with passion, humility, honesty and integrity of heart.  If you truly desire the gift of discernment seek to know the heart, will and love of the Lord in fullness.  There is only on true God.

 

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMP)

5  For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

LOVE BEARS ALL

/in /by

LOVE BEARS ALL

 

Many of us have often wondered why is love so painful at times?  Why am I not worthy of love, why am I not accepted?  Are you feeling heartfelt pain, dealing with rejection, feeling unworthy or dealing with brokenness?  Are you feeling abandoned or all alone? Have others made you feel this way? 

 

This may sound shocking to you but the very fact that you are able to feel hurt is because you desire love, seek love and are able to love.  Talk about a paradox and a roller coaster of emotions that flood our hearts and minds.  A hardened heart is unable to put the thoughts, hearts and intentions of others first and is often self-centered operating in a mode or method of “self protection” which inflicts and causes pain to others.  The simple fact that you desire love from your family, siblings, friends and others is because of your ability to love and desire to feel loved.  Oh how the human heart desires love, intimacy and spiritual awakening and nourishment.  The bible tells us to guard our hearts above all.  So how do you love those that hurt you and guard your heart at the same time? Isn’t this what all of us believe we were actually doing; yet the pain continues and our hearts are filled with unhealthy thoughts and emotions.  Don’t confuse what is true with the TRUTH.  It is true that you feel hurt but the TRUTH is you need not feel that way.  To guard your heart you must abide in Christ Jesus and He must abide in you.  Jesus must become your primary source for love, truth and intimacy.  You must learn to walk in the Spirit of The Lord.  

 

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

The heart is the very “treasure chest” that feelings, emotions, pain, suffering and passion flows from.  The very hurts, wounds, scars and emotions that this world and daily life create can corrupt, distort, pervert and attempt to block the purity, sovereignty, glory, intimacy and healing power of real love only found through Christ Jesus and the Father.  The simple truth is that man is inherently evil and that the world (earth) is of spiritual darkness.  To overcome we must focus and stand on the Living Word and Christ Jesus.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  The love of Christ never fails for He never changes.  We are truly blessed that in a world that constantly changes that the Lord never changes and His word will not return null and void.  He is the “Rock” and “Cornerstone” and when we abide in Christ Jesus we will be able to stand in His Truth, His Righteousness, His Holiness and walk in the fruits of the Spirit.

 

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

Mark 7:21 (NKJV)

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

 

 

 

 

Oh how a child so wants to feel love from their parents, siblings and friends yet we can only obtain pure uncorrupted and Godly love from Christ Jesus and the Father.  We often feel persecuted by the very people we seek love from.  We so want to be accepted, embraced and loved from those we hold dear to our heart but the very people we are seeking love from may very well be suffering from their own burdens and feelings of inadequacies of perfect love.  We can only obtain perfect love from He who is perfected, He who redeems us and reconciles us and through His grace sanctifies us in His grace, mercy and love.  

 

Oh how humanity longs for perfect love yet seeks it in a dying and corrupt world never to feel fulfilled, complete or embraced in the measure or divine love that only Christ Jesus can give us.

 

I often reflect on the proclamations Jesus made in Isaiah 61 that He was here to set the captives free and exchange mourning for gladness, mending the brokenhearted and open the hearts of the imprisoned.

 

Isaiah 61 (NKJV)

The Good News of Salvation

 

61      “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2      To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3      To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

 

4      And they shall rebuild the old ruins,

They shall raise up the former desolations,

And they shall repair the ruined cities,

The desolations of many generations.

5      Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

And the sons of the foreigner

Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6      But you shall be named the priests of the LORD,

They shall call you the servants of our God.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,

And in their glory you shall boast.

7      Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,

And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

Therefore in their land they shall possess double;

Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

 

8      “For I, the LORD, love justice;

I hate robbery for burnt offering;

I will direct their work in truth,

And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

9      Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,

And their offspring among the people.

All who see them shall acknowledge them,

That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed.”

 

10      I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11      For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

 

 

 

 

Have you ever stopped to realize that humanity crucified Jesus Christ Who IS perfect love?  We didn’t recognize, embrace or appreciate the perfect love of Christ Jesus even when He stood before us as God in the flesh.  Jesus bore the sins of the world and the wrath of the Father for our behalf.  Jesus endured persecution, rejection, chastising, beatings and abuse unto death on our behalf.  (Isaiah 53)

 

 

Romans 3:24–26 (NKJV)

 

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

Oh how the hearts and souls of mankind yearn for perfect love yet we seek it from the wrong places, from a dying and dark fallen world of hurting and troubled people.  We seek earthly pleasures to compensate for genuine undefiled love yet we are left feeling incomplete, inadequate often still feeling unloved. The simple truth is that only Christ Jesus can fulfill the love, intimacy, soul and spirit that our hearts long for.  Earthly possessions will never fulfill the essence of our original created state of being, the very image of God and Spirit.

 

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

I have traveled across this nation witnessing the pains, hurts and troubled hearts of humanity that is longing for a love that will edify, sustain and complete the essence of our original created being, the image and likeness of God who is perfect love. I have ministered to the hearts of hurting people longing for uncorrupted and undefiled love, a love that is true, genuine, sustaining and beyond earthly perception.  There is only “One” that is perfect love and that is Christ Jesus.

 

While counseling is often helpful it may still leave us with feelings of emptiness, still feeling a void and yearning for acceptance, genuine undefiled and pure love that is only found in Christ Jesus. Humanity embraces programs and methodology over biblical principles, truths and Jesus Christ.  We unknowingly and unintentionally, often out of desperations seek the wisdom and counsel of men/women when we truly need the Godly undefiled counsel, truth and life through Christ Jesus.  The worldly methods often leave us constantly coping rather than overcoming.  Jesus overcame the world and through Christ Jesus we too can overcome the world.

 

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

 

The soul (self-will/flesh) of humanity will always battle with the Spirit until the soul (self-will/flesh) becomes surrendered or overcome by the Spirit of The Lord.  We must not let emotions or feelings rule our thought or actions.  We must focus on the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  We must be “born again” living in the Spirit of the Lord giving our hearts to the Living God Jesus Christ, truly make Him Lord of our lives leading us into conviction, repentance, redeeming and restoring us through His grace and mercy.

 

Romans 8:7 (NKJV)

 

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

 

I’d like you to take a moment to reflect on John 2:19 and Mark 14:58 to seek revelation and insight from the Lord.

 

John 2:19 (NKJV)

19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

 

Mark 14:58 (NKJV)

58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

 

Here we have Jesus Christ, God in the flesh crucified and resurrected.  Even God in the flesh had to be crucified as man and resurrected, why are we any different that Jesus?  Have you ever considered that we too must fully die to the flesh and that the very trials, tribulations, hardships and emotional scars must die fully to be resurrected fully, being transformed into a new creation through Christ?  Have you ever considered that the measure of pain and suffering that Jesus suffered is a direct correlation to the very depth of His love for us?  Now let us reflect on our own hurting hearts bearing the inflicted pains from others and realize that the very fact that we feel pain is a direct correlation to our ability to love and desire love.  Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit which many do not teach upon, but it is the very spiritual strength/substance of Love that embraces and desires undefiled genuine love, seeks/stands in righteousness through a hurting and spiritually dying world. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a brother or sister, love bears all and forgives a multitude of sins.  This can only be accomplished through abiding in Christ Jesus.

 

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

John 15:13 (NKJV)

 

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

 

John 15:5 (NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

 

May the Lord bless you with revelations of His love, grace and mercy and may you embrace your imperfections so that you may surrender them in humility to Christ Jesus.  Share the depths of your heart; surrender the hurts, pains, and brokenness with a full barren and open heart so that The Lord may bring healing, fullness and restoration.  

 

Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)

 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

 

6      For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Imagine how people desire to be loved perfectly yet these very people torture, crucify and persecute perfect love.  We seek love through imperfect people who are also processing their own shortcomings, hurts and the pressures of earthly influences.  The only way to overcome is with a life surrendered and abiding in Christ Jesus.  A life of abiding in Christ transforms you into His very essence and persona. God is love, God loved us first and God desires us to love Him.  Give yourself the greatest gift of all to yourself, the gift of eternal and everlasting life only obtained through abiding in Christ Jesus, make Jesus the Lord of your life by abiding in the Lord so Jesus can abide in you.  

 

1 John 4:7–10 (NKJV)

 

 

Knowing God Through Love

 

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

WORTHINESS vs. ENTITLEMENT

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WORTHINESS vs. ENTITLEMENT

 

In a lawless society many confuse, twist and pervert “free-will” with personal liberty.  Liberties come with a cost that most are not willing to pay and one’s actions have consequences to self and others.  Ask a veteran the cost of liberty/freedom as they freely and willingly serve(d) to protect the very liberties you proclaim and desire.  Everything comes with a cost, the problem remains when others pay the cost for your “free-will”. 

 

We are all worthy to receive Christ Jesus. We must embrace that worthiness in Christ Jesus, however the truth is many will not embrace Christ Jesus.  Society has twisted, manipulated and perverted “worthiness” into “entitlement”. I am all for helping people truly in need, down and out and in need of assistance but we must also assist them in becoming self sufficient and empowered.  So many people are struggling with severe issues of rejection, abuse and trauma which inhibit their sense of worthiness to become self sufficient.  These people may very well need counseling and spiritual assistance along with provisional assistance until they can become self sufficient.  My focus is on those which are healthy and able to work and not those people that become unemployed, physically/medically challenged, etc.  

 

We must remember what is witnessed/manifested in the natural is first birthed in the Spirit.  A short time ago the Lord spoke to me and said to me just as society has perverted worthiness with entitlement so have many whom preach, teach and proclaim to follow Christ Jesus.  

 

Our passion, motivation and free will to advance the Kingdom of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ must be birthed, manifested and maintained abiding in the genuine reciprocated love of Christ.  The love of Christ is compelling, motivating, passionate and pure energy motivating us to share the love of Christ with others.  The Agape love of Christ is moving, alive and sustaining and His grace and mercy is sufficient.

 

While it is true that Jesus desires all of mankind to have salvation our worthiness is not entitlement.  True salvation comes at a cost and Christ Jesus paid the price.  Baptism reflects a death and resurrection.  Have you truly died to self to be fully resurrected in Christ?  Attempting to obtain salvation without making Jesus Lord renders no real conversion or sanctification.  

 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

We must remember salvation is a confession of the heart and not to be reduced to words without commitment, action and perseverance.  

 

 

Salvation through Christ Jesus if a “free gift” and not by the works of the flesh because Jesus paid the price, yet each of us must work out our own salvation.

 

Philippians 2:12–16 (AMP)

12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

 

It’s the Christmas season and people buy and exchange gifts with family, friends and loved ones.  Why overlook the real meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Messiah by distorting/eliminating the Cross on Calvary to merely focus on the gift of salvation and redemption overlooking the price Jesus paid for our redemption?   Every gift comes with a price that others have paid; don’t let the death of Christ be in vain.

 

John 3:16–17 (AMP)

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

 

 

This Christmas even if people do not give you a gift or send you a greeting card let us remember the greater gift is the love you hold for them within your very own heart.  Just as Jesus, we can love them first.  

 

1 John 4:10 (AMP)

10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

 

1 John 4:19 (AMP)

19 We love Him, because He first loved us.


Knowing Him and Trusting in His Love and Goodness

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Yesterday my niece and her husband lost their 10 month old baby girl.  In our grieving the Lord impressed upon me the words He spoke to me several years ago; “Your kingdom walk is in your knows and what you speculate about I will bring to your knowing when you need to know it.”  We cannot understand why we suffer such tragic loss in our life, but we know our Lord and that He is with us and we must rest in what we know in Him.  My wife Sherry felt impressed to write the following concerning the loss of little sweet Cate. I am posting these words because I believe they may be a salve to open wounds and a heavenly perspective for those suffering their own loss. This is the Facebook post she made:

“I by no means have been appointed official spokesperson by my wonderful family.  No one even knew I would post, nor did I know I would be posting anything on Facebook today.  The Lord has been dealing with my heart as Scott and I have been praying for sweet Brittany, Lane, Olivia and Ava, Kenny, Rhonda, Hayley (the most amazing Aunt in the world) and the entire Thompson, Baker and Roberts families.  I would first like to say that we love and appreciate everyone so much for your prayers and words of encouragement.  Where would we be without the Lord, and where would we be without all of you rallying around us so lovingly and prayerfully at the sorrowful passing of our beloved Baby Cate.  Cate was truly a precious gift from the Lord, as are all of our children.  As James says in scripture, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  Baby Cate is a perfect gift that we have been so blessed to love and cherish and will continue to love and cherish as we remember her sweetness and beautiful face full of smiles.  Can anyone explain why things like this happen?  I sure cannot, and I will not try.  What the Lord has been dealing with me about is to trust who He is and know that there is no variation or shadow of turning with Him.  He is good all the time, His mercies are new every morning, His love and faithfulness is great and everlasting,  and there is nowhere we can go nor any pain we can go through that He does not cherish us and hold us in the palm of His hand.  We do mourn, as right now, Brittany and Lane would love nothing more than to have their little family together again, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope.  Our hope is in you Lord and the promise that we will see you, Cate and all of our loved ones in you again.  As you tell us in Isaiah, it is you, Lord, who gives us a crown of beauty instead of ashes and the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  We will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  If you do not know this wonderful loving Jesus we serve, you can.  Please seek Him today with your whole heart, and He will meet you right where you are.  We love you all.”

God Bless you, and thank you Lord for allowing us to have each other and the precious gift of our time with baby Cate. We are grateful she is with you and we will be with her again because of you Lord.

 

Contend for Christ in Your Thoughts

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The Lord has been putting on my heart the issue of our thought life.  Our thoughts reveal our heart.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…….

If entertaining evil thoughts precede and lead to the action of sin, conversely entertaining Godly thoughts lead to the action of love and confidence in the kingdom truths which leads to our kingdom walk.  Thoughts are not ours until we agree with them.  When we agree with heavenly inspired thoughts we produce Christ in us, while thoughts of worry, bitterness and strife produce despair.

Philippians 4:8 tells us:

[Meditate on These Things] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

In any vacuum of heavenly thoughts the seeds of despair are being sown.  We must sow seed of life and life more abundantly.  Our own intimacy with the Lord is increased as a result of our heavenly thought life, the choice to cast down ungodly thoughts and rest in what we know in Him. Our heart is the soil for His word and we can prepare our soil to grow the goodness of Christ in us by choosing a heavenly thought life.

Entertaining wrong thoughts birthed the sin we were washed clean from, but we still have to contend for holiness.  We must align our thought life with Christ to be overcomers and eliminate the distractions which hinder our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and cause us to fall short of walking in a pure gospel of Christ.

Renewing our mind is essential to believe the truth of Christ to the point of trust and obedience when our natural reasoning may bring a thought or conclusion in conflict with the word of God.

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

My Prayer for you:

Dear Father in heaven, I ask you in Jesus name to quicken to our spirit the thoughts which are not yours and the desire to cast them down, to live in the truth of your word and your hope.  May our hearts be purified so that we release pure love in which the world will see Jesus Christ in everything we say and expression of our behavior and choices.  Amen.

OUTPOURING

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OUTPOURING

 

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” ( Luke 6 : 38 NKJV)

 

Yesterday while having coffee with a couple of brothers in Christ one of the brothers expressed his concern about not feeling accepted in his church as he has a heart for the lost and wants to be utilized by the Lord. This man is in his mid 60’s and a very gentle soul whom is questioning his calling from the Lord as his church will not embrace people who desire to serve. I have visited this church several times and witnessed and discerned this very thing.

As Christians and followers/believers we must have full realization that while only Christ can be all things to all people the Lord has given people spiritual gifts to be utlized along with the five-fold ministry.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ( Ephesians 4 : 11-16 NKJV)

 

This brother in Christ was asked several times by other churches to go on mission trips to help preach the gospel and share the love of Christ Jesus but when he asked his church leadership for support and prayer covering they told him that this mission trip was not of the Lord for him. I am saddened by this to say the least. While several churches asked this man to go on mission trips his own church was not supportive or embracing the passion and committment this man had to witness to the lost.

We must recognize and embrace the true five fold ministry for the edification of the saints and not allow our personal visions and callings to be exalted above the Kingdom of the Lord. One’s personal calling is not to be exalted above the calling of others. We all serve one Lord, under one Kingdom, for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

The body of Christ needs to edify the saints utilizing the five-fold ministry as well as the gifts of the Spirit to equip the saints for their callings and ministry. I have witnessed this also as I have supported many churches and leaders in their callings and visions yet when the Lord has sent me out while I was supporting their ministries I was accused of a lack of commitment to their visions and ministries.

The “great commission” isn’t about all of us in one building it’s about building one Kingdom and preaching the gospel to the four corners of the world. As I was conversing with my brothers about this the Lord spoke several scriptures into my spirit. The Lord brought into my spirit Luke 6:38 which is a very popular tithing verse that we hear so often. While I believe this scripture to be true in it’s context here is what the Lord spoke to me in my spirit.

“Why do so many leaders tell my children during the tithing offering that the more they give the more they shall receive yet when my people want to utilize their spiritual gifts I have given them they are shut down. The Lord said my grace is to be given away so that I may pour more grace into my people.”

The Lord gave me the following verses:

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ( Acts 3 : 6 NKJV)

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. ( Matthew 10 : 8-10 NKJV)

 

Let’s not exalt the anointing, giftings or callings above the Lord Jesus for we are nothing without Christ Jesus. All the glory goes to the Lords as we are nothing without Christ Jesus.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ( John 15 : 4-5 NKJV)

 

 

THE ENEMIES WE FACE

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THE ENEMIES WE FACE

 

Ephesians 6:10–13 (AMP)

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 

11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 

13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

 

 

None of us are exempt from trials, tribulation or persecution from spiritual forces which are unseen from the human eye or logical reasoning that operate around us and through us. Spiritual things are discerned spiritually and logical reasoning alone can not discern things that are spiritual.  The Word of God tells us to test every spirit and to know people in “the spirit”, not by the flesh.  While natural symptoms, characteristics and observations are necessary they fall short of what is spiritual.  There is a vast and decisive contrast to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) of The Lord and those that are not in the Spirit of The Lord (Gal. 5:19-21) .  Notice that Ephesians 6:12 tell us that we are wrestling which is “physical” in nature.  In Mark 3:27 Jesus tell us we must bind the “strongman”.

 

1 John 4:1 (AMP)

BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

 

Galatians 5:22–23 (AMP)

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

 

2 Corinthians 5:16 (AMP)

16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].

 

Galatians 5:19–21 (AMP)

19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, 

20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

 

Salvation and deliverance is only found through Jesus Christ, Christ crucified and Christ resurrected.  I believe that while many people truly want to be right they are not thirsty for the righteousness of Christ Jesus.  Needing to “be right” is not the same as abiding in the righteousness of Christ Jesus.  Vindication is the Lord’s.  Jesus told us that those who thirst for righteousness shall be filled.  We must not separate Spirit, Truth and Righteousness for we worship the Lord is Spirit and Truth!

 

John 4:24 (AMP)

24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

 

Matthew 5:6 (AMP)

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! [Isa. 55:1, 2.]

 

Each of us is responsible for our own salvation and eternal destiny.  We are called to edify and encourage the brethren but ultimately each of us is responsible for our obedience to the Lord Jesus.  I have attached a four part video series courtesy of Derek Prince called “The Enemies We Face” which I believe will help to enlighten you, encourage you to be over comers through Christ Jesus.

 

Father I give you thanks and praise for your Beloved Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Lord I thank you for your sacrifice on the cross and loving me despite of myself and my fallen nature.  Lord I thank you for your cleansing blood and the truth of your word which will stand forever.  Lord I thank you and praise you that you never change which allows me to stand in the truth of your Word and Spirit.  Lord continue to search me and cleanse me. Renewing, transforming and sanctifying me into your image and likeness.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERING WITH TRUTH

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PARTNERING WITH TRUTH

 

What you partner with you also give a measure of influence and authority to.  Contracts, agreements and partnerships have a “voice” or sphere of influence over you.  The honor, measure and fulfillment of those partnerships, agreements or promises is only as good as the potential fulfillment of those promises, partnerships, agreements and truths including those whom you partner with.  Sadly many people partner with lies that have been disguised as truths and are in bondage because of those lies.  Have we reduced the holiness, righteousness and purity of the Lord to merely equality of our sinful nature?  Are we not “thirsting for righteousness”?

 

Matthew 5:6 (AMP)

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! [Isa. 55:1, 2.]

 

The other day I received a message from a woman whom I had met in a coffee shop during my travels whom the Lord had me pray for in a public coffee shop.  She was in immense pain and had struggled for years with extensive pain.  Thanks to the Lord Jesus as the Lord healed this woman and delivered her from a life of pain and physically healed her.  

 

 The woman asked me to pray for her husband who was not with her as he was home in Massachusetts and battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.  I told her I would intercede for her husband and gave the woman my contact information and told her I would be traveling to Connecticut for a few days.  

 

That evening I was in Connecticut and was praying and interceding for many people. I began to pray and intercede for her husband.  I prayed that the Lord would open the door for more salvations in her family as I felt in my spirit that the Lord wanted to reach her family.  The next morning the woman called me and invited me to meet her family.  I went and visited that afternoon and ministered to her husband and children and several salvations came forth as they gave their hearts to Christ Jesus.  I prayed for her husband’s cancer and he gave his life to the Lord also.

 

That evening as I was praying the Lord spoke to me in my spirit and told me that her husband was going to bleed and I could see in the spirit bright red colored blood.  The Lord told me that her husband was not to react in fear or panic and that he needed to seek routine medical care and that everything would be ok. 

 

The next morning I received a text message from the woman telling me that her husband was in immense pain and could barely stand.  He was battling severe back pain and shortness of breath.  She said that she believed that victory was imminent and that the enemy was mad because the Lord was working on behalf of her family.  I called her on the telephone and I informed her that I had a Word from the Lord during interceding for her husband that prior evening while in prayer.  I told her to listen to the whole message before reaching a decision and to share it with her husband.  

 

I told her about the vision and Word from the Lord that her husband would bleed and not to panic or react in fear but to receive routine medical care and not to delay getting to his doctor.  

 

Later that afternoon I received a telephone call telling me that her husband was at the doctors and they were in the process of testing him for a blood clot.  Indeed a blood clot was traveling through his heart and lungs.  When the doctor told them about the blood clot they stood on the Word of the Lord and did not react in fear or panic as they trusted the Lord.  The blood clot passed through his heart and lungs and did not cause any damage!  Praise the Lord.  They partnered with the Word of the Lord.

 

A couple of days ago I received a message from her asking me if I was wiling to be present with her family as the doctor told her that her husband had only18-24 months to live.  She said she believed her husband was going to beat cancer but wanted to ask if I would be present prior and during this time of this difficulty.  I messaged her and told her I would be honored to be there unto the Lord and in brotherly love and that I was continuing to pray and stand on her husbands healing.

 

I went into prayer and the Lord gave me a word for her husband.  The Lord said what you partner with you give influence and authority over you.  The Lord told me to remind her husband that he chose to stand on the Word of the Lord during his blood clot and that her husband needed to stand on the promises of the Lord and not the diagnosis of cancer.  We must speak and empower life not words or agreements of death or bondage.

 

I reflected on the Book of Daniel where Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego proclaimed their faith and trust in the Lord and stated that even if their Lord didn’t deliver them they believed in their Lord.  Praise the Lord!  Every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, even your circumstances must bow to the Lord when you proclaim the Living Word in truth.  

 

Daniel 3:12–18 (AMP)

12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed and set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up. 

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and these men were brought before the king. 

14 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? 

15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very good. But if you do not worship, you shall be cast at once into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that god who can deliver you out of my hands? 

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, it is not necessary for us to answer you on this point. 

17 If our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 

18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up! [Job 13:15; Acts 4:19, 20.]

 

I called her and shared the word of the Lord and she shared it with her husband who was ill and resting.  The next morning I messaged her and told her that I was praying for them.  She messaged me and told me that she gave her husband the Word from the Lord and her husband was doing much better and in fact was able to go to work that day.

 

We must remember that the promises of the Lord Jesus never fail and that we need to partner and hunger for the righteousness and promises of God by being obedient and willing vessels to the Lord Jesus.  We must stand on the full counsel of God’s Word in Spirit and Truth.   Heaven and earth may pass but the Word of the Lord is everlasting.  The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.   While both people and our circumstances change the Lord’s promises and truths will not change.  We must partner with the Lord standing and enforcing His victory proclaiming His Word of truth even when worldly influences seem contrary to the will of God.  We must first seek the Kingdom of God.

 

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

 

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  (Matthew 24:35 KJV)

 

  Partnering with emotions, feelings and lies only deepens and fortifies the strongholds that come against us.  We must cast down all thoughts and imaginations which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (AMP)

3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 

5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

 

Father I pray that you will fortify within us a passion for your righteousness and that everything that can be exposed will be exposed bringing revelations of your truth and divine will in our lives.  Father thank you for your beloved Son, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  Lord thank you for the atonement and resurrection of the cross.  Lord help us to stand in your Word and Truth.  Lord we thank you for the power of your blood, mercy and grace.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIPPLES IN THE WATER

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RIPPLES IN THE WATER

 

Today I found myself sitting by the river for many hours listening to worship music and meditating on the Word of God while seeking the Lord.  I love having quiet time with the Lord meditating on His goodness, love, grace and mercy.

 

As I was looking at the ripples of water as they reached the banks of the river I felt a deep and passionate burning in my spirit.  I focused on the ripples of water as the surface of the water reflected the sun and clouds mirroring the image from above.

 

I suddenly became a ripple in the very water that I was meditating on while seeking the Lord.  I thought I am a ripple of water in the River of Life.  How vast and enormous the Kingdom of God is and how each of us is a ripple of life in the River of Life in heaven.  I mediated on this thought as I just praised the Lord for who He is and what He has done for me and mankind.  

 

Revelation 22:1 (AMP)

THEN HE showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb

 

 

I thought about a ripple of water on earth verses a ripple of water in heaven.  How we tend to falsely believe we are are irrelevant in an earthly viewpoint with limited influences to promote change, edification or worthiness in a fallen world.  Yet each of us who are “in Christ” is a ripple from a pure stream in a vast Kingdom each making an impact bringing light and truth to a fallen world.  

 

I began to reflect on a “pure stream” verses a “muddy/defiled stream” and what the Lord calls clean let no man defile.  I could picture the Lord Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well and telling her about the “Living Water” and eternal life.

 

 

Acts 10:15 (AMP)

15 And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean.

 

2 Corinthians 7:1 (AMP)

THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.

 

John 4:9–15 (AMP)

9 The Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan [and a] woman, for a drink?—For the Jews have nothing to do with the Samaritans— 

10 Jesus answered her, If you had only known and had recognized God’s gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water. 

11 She said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with [no drawing bucket] and the well is deep; how then can You provide living water? [Where do You get Your living water?] 

12 Are You greater than and superior to our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also? 

13 Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. 

14 But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life. 

15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw.

 

 

So I’d like to encourage you today to remember when you feel like your just a “ripple” in the stream of life remember which stream you belong to and which stream has cleansed and delivered you!  We must all continue to keep our focus on the Lord and remember that each of us has a unique role in the Kingdom of God and that the Lord is no respecter of persons.  You are just as important as your brothers and sisters in Christ as we encourage, edify and strengthen each other in our Kingdom destinies!  

 

Acts 10:34 (AMP)

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

 

James 2:1–10 (AMP)

MY BRETHREN, pay no servile regard to people [show no prejudice, no partiality]. Do not [attempt to] hold and practice the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory [together with snobbery]! 

2 For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor [man] in shabby clothes comes in, 

3 And you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you tell the poor [man], Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet! 

4 Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives? 

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him? 

6 But you [in contrast] have insulted (humiliated, dishonored, and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts? 

7 Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]? 

8 If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well. [Lev. 19:18.]

9 But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders. 

10 For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.

 

 

 

 

Lord I pray that we will rejoice in all things and praise you in the joy of our salvation.  Lord continue to sanctify us, renew us and strengthen us and may everything we do bring glory to the Father in Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

LOVE THAT IS LONG SUFFERING

/in /by

 

Love & Longsuffering

 

 

Over two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus was crucified and died what should have been our deaths as Jesus bore the sins of the world to free mankind and reconcile us with the Father thus defeating the works of Satan.

 

John 3:16 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

1 John 2:2 (NKJV)

 

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 

 

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

 

In the book of Acts Chapter 9 we read about the story of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. Saul (Paul) was persecuting Christians.  Jesus said to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

 

As we continue to read Acts Chapter 9 we know that Saul was blinded and the Lord told him to continue on his journey to Damascus.  

 

We know that Ananias had a vision from the Lord Jesus that Saul was on his way to Damascus and that Ananias was to lay hands on Saul for restoration of his eye sight as well as be filled with The Holy Spirit.

 

So we know that over 2000 years ago Christ was crucified yet still today Christians are being persecuted and innocent blood is being shed similar to the days of Saul (Paul).  Abortion is at record numbers and innocent lives have been taken!  Have you ever wondered how many Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Teachers or Preachers may have been aborted pregnancies?   

 

Just as Saul was persecuting Christ over 2000 years ago so it is today.  We know that it is “the Spirit that convicts” and yet innocent people get persecuted and martyred.  Have you ever thought about Jesus still being persecuted thousands of years after He paid the price and died on our behalf?  

 

John 16:8 (NKJV)

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

 

 

The Lord Jesus is merciful, slow to anger and loving towards us desiring that none should perish. Jesus is still being persecuted today.  Yet Jesus is longsuffering, loving, righteous, just and holy. Jesus died for us freely as Jesus said that He freely gave His life for us.  

 

John 10:18 (NKJV)

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

 

 

 

Numbers 14:18 (NKJV)

‘The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’

 

Psalm 103:8 (NKJV)

    The LORD is merciful and gracious,

    Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

 

 

 

We all face persecution, yet imagine the Lord Jesus being persecuted even today after paying the price for all of us and being crucified/dying on our behalf even though He was without spot or blemish.  Imagine what it must be like for the Lord to witness humans killing humans and the great persecution that is taking place yet loving us unto repentance desiring that no one should perish.  There is no greater love that the love of Christ Jesus and the Father.  

 

We know that the Lord will return for His bride, He will rule and reign for 1000 years ending the shedding of innocent blood and rid the world of evil.  No one knows the day or hour but we must recognize the seasons and the signs we are given.  

 

Are you ready for the Lord Jesus to return and has the bride prepared herself for the Bridegroom?  

 

Matthew 5:10–12 (NKJV)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

 

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

 

 

Imagine how loving the Lord Jesus is that He would long-suffer on our behalf desiring that no on perish and that all would have everlasting life.  That is love that is longsuffering!  Thank you Jesus for loving us first!

 

1 John 4:8 (NKJV)

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

1 John 4:19 (NKJV)

19 We love Him because He first loved us.