MAKE US GLAD

 A Season and A Time

To everything there is a season,  A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born,  And a time to die;  A time to plant,  And a time to pluck what is planted;  A time to kill,  And a time to heal;  A time to break down,  And a time to build up; A time to weep,  And a time to laugh;  A time to mourn,  And a time to dance;  A time to cast away stones,  And a time to gather stones;  A time to embrace,  And a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to gain,  And a time to lose;  A time to keep,  And a time to throw away;  A time to tear,  And a time to sew;  A time to keep silence,  And a time to speak;  A time to love,  And a time to hate; A time of war,  And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Jesus Christ is the Way-Maker and Winds in every storm. Every man, woman and child must face the storms which He sends their way and overcome by the blood of the Lamb. There are no more crumbs off of the master’s table because now they have the real thing available to them. They have the real Jesus and His real Presence in the Holy Spirit. Yet, many perish and many more suffer needlessly because they have chosen their own way rather than the LORD’S!

They work their folly in many different ways but the end is still the same—destruction, devastation and great loss. Can men say they can live without the truth in their lives? No. Yet, many chose to live as though God don’t exist or as though the truth is not alive. But the truth and Jesus Christ  are one in the same, they are both the Great I AM. For Jesus Christ is the truth personified. He is the healer and defender of all mankind, yet many chose to believe in “something out there” and assume He is on their side “no matter what!”

If this were true more people would be more of what they want to be doing rather than suffering and dying as they are. They would be more successful in the physical realm, which it appears they are not. They would be more successful in the spiritual realm, which appears they are. But, looks are deceiving and deception is conceived in the very heart of man. He is the first one to believe he is doing it right and is pure beyond all others, when the truth is far from their reality.

But men, even religious ones,  have created a world for themselves that deifies their ways and glorifies their path and leads them to death. They think they have the reality of God’s Person and His truth and they have neither. So, what is the answer? How can men return to God when they have strayed far from Him? By bending a knee in true humility and saying with contrite heart, “I have sinned forgive me?” Then, recognizing their true worthlessness they turn from their pride and surrender each day from then on–to God alone.

But, winsome ways and proud hearts continue upon their dubious path and finally end in wayward destruction and can only ask—how can this be that I have ended this way? The answer is in the Word and their path. Had they lined one up with the other, the two would be one and there would be no difference.

But, men don’t understand the heart of God. They assume too much and presume the rest will be acceptable—‘somehow.’ That paths that have departed by an inch can become incorrigibly separated by a very long mile, are somehow acceptable to a perfect and loving Heavenly Father. This is true. He is a loving and Heavenly Father but one does not negate the other. His love does not include unconditional acceptance just because we whisper His Name and align ourselves a little with His truth.

The time has come for judgment and the resurrection light to dawn upon the sons of men. They have established themselves upon the earth and propagated  and done what they desire to do but they have not done what God has desired them to do. So, now is the time of reckoning. They are receiving exactly what they desire—not more and not less. Each will receive his due reward.

A false front is a poor substitute for the real thing. Jesus Christ is the real thing and no man comes to the Father except through Me. So, let no man say he is able to stand when he can only fall continually. He is the greatest restorer of the breach and the only One who cares to restore at all. God’s people must return to Him for others will not be their  salvation only Him. And He will do it with a mighty outstretched hand and great power!  His word is true:

God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations. Psalm 82:1-8

But the end is coming for many who thought themselves superior and above the truth.  Their Waterloo is here. They have to walk by the Spirit of the Lord or pay the price for not walking by the Spirit. For God’s word is true:

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, So that men will say,  “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;  Surely He is God who judges in the earth. Psalm 58:10-11

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’  Says the LORD of hosts.  ‘Who are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!  And he shall bring forth the capstone  With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ‘ ” Zechariah 4:6-7

The winds of change are blowing all across this land. The sea breezes are flowing and destroying the land. The helmet of salvation is full of holes. The arrows of discord have pierced it through.  Many men say they have done better than them all. Yet, they walk in discord and love only themselves. They have turned to the right and the left without thought of what they have done. They forget their place and walk among the dead as one dead themselves.

Dead men’s bones can’t resurrect themselves. Only a God of mercy and grace can do this. Yet, they carry on in their pride and deceit and wonder why all their plans have come to naught. They curse the enemy and shake their fist at God. They turn their heads from right to left and feel sorry for themselves. They could never solve it except on both their knees. Yet, they continue on as though their LORD could be so easily led and deceived.

But, God is no fool. He knows their hearts. He knows their plans have no place for Him or his cohorts. His true Ones are never given place or recognized as “who they are” because then they would have to admit how wrong they are  before Him. This they could never do so they’ll go along their merry way assuming they are doing God good will.

Generations march along living their vain lives, in assumptions of their own making, never coming to a knowledge of the real truth because they are so busy with their own lives. Oh, vain fools. Who told you to escape the wrath to come? Could you not hear the clarion call? Could you not see the simple truth?

There is no way but His. There is no path but His. There is no profit but His. There is no success save His. There is no other interpretation of the truth but His. Any other interpretation leads to heresy and death. You have chosen the way of death because you have chosen your own interpretation of God’s immutable truth.

When you refused to accept the gift of the Holy Presence in your life. When you failed to tune your spirit to His Voice. When you decided on your own understanding and interpretations. When you ignored the hurt and needy. This you did to your own destruction. You forgot the immutable truth—when you give sacrificially as the Lord told you tom you will receive multiplied back to you many times.

When you remain humble in the master’s service—you become useful and pliable to His very command and desire. Then you are truly useful. Anything else is purely self-deception. You can go on for a little while but you can never escape the judgment awaiting you. You forgot your first love. You thought and planned and schemed and forgot He is watching from above to judge the quick and the dead. He has not forgot you. You should have listened to Him while you could.

Now, that time of listening is over. Your pride stands between you. The wall is greater than any you could ascend yourself. You need to grow quiet and humble and this time both knees if you please.

The enemy is being totally destroyed this very moment. He looks up and asks why and God’s answer is the same as it is to all oppressors. You failed Him and therefore failed yourself in the process. You loved Yourself more than Him. You desired your own comfort and pleasures more than His Kingdom. Now, is your hour of destruction and oppression is the millstone around your neck.

The wayward always ask the same thing—“Why Am I suffering so much?” The answer is, “You are  paying for the crimes you have committed in your body. You chose your own understanding. You chose your own way. You decided your own fate. Now, it is time to pay the piper. The enemy is defeated come what may.”

Heaven has not begun to do what it is capable of doing. It restrains itself to giving frail humanity a bit of mercy and a lot of grace. But, time  is passing and still the answer remains the same. Oppression is marching on without remorse.

So, this is Heaven’s answer–the trumpet has sounded, the bugle has called, the ram’s horn’s clarion call has gone forth. The army is driving forth and armed for destruction of all who would think that sincerity is enough to appease the God of Heaven. Little do they know Him—because if they understood they would not do what they have done. They would cower in fear and beg for mercy and sue for peace.

But, as it is they don’t understand. Their ears are deaf. Their hearts are devoid of wisdom and truth. So, now is their hour of judgment. God is not to be mocked, what a man sows so shall he  also reap.  His word is true:

Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,  And princes will rule with justice.  A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,  And a cover from the tempest,  As rivers of water in a dry place,  As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.  The eyes of those who see will not be dim,  And the ears of those who hear will listen.  Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge,  And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

The foolish person will no longer be called generous,  Nor the miser said to be bountiful;  For the foolish person will speak foolishness,  And his heart will work iniquity:  To practice ungodliness,  To utter error against the LORD,  To keep the hungry unsatisfied,  And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.  Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; He devises wicked plans  To destroy the poor with lying words,  Even when the needy speaks justice.

But a generous man devises generous things,  And by generosity he shall stand. Isaiah 32:1-8

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DO BETTER

JESUS IS YOUR RESTORER AND NOURISHER

Ruth 4:15 – And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age…

Famine impoverished the life of Naomi, an Israelite. But it was the deaths of her husband and two sons that left her completely destitute. (Ruth 1:1–5) Or so she thought, until Boaz, who was a wealthy and close relative, entered her life.

As her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz married Ruth, Naomi’s widowed daughter-in-law. And through that union, Naomi had a grandson. The birth of her grandson gave her a new lease of life, causing the womenfolk in her village to declare that the restorer of life and the nourisher of her old age had come into her life. (Ruth 4:14–16)

Boaz is a picture of Jesus, our kinsman-redeemer. Jesus became our kinsman when He was born into this world as one like us. And He became our Redeemer when He paid with His life and blood at the cross to redeem us.

Jesus gave Himself to us as our restorer of life and nourisher of our old age. When the restorer of life is in our lives, what we have lost can be restored. (Joel 2:25−26) And with the nourisher of our old age in us, our bodies can be gloriously renewed even though we advance in our years.

That is why when Moses died at the age of 120, his eyes were not dim and his natural vigor was not diminished. (Deuteronomy 34:7) Caleb, at 85 years old, could still drive out the giants from the land. God had literally nourished his body and made it strong for war. (Joshua 14:11) Sarah was certainly rejuvenated in her old age by God for she was still desirable to a king at the age of 90. (Genesis 20:1–2) God even renewed her womb. She received strength to conceive seed (Hebrews 11:11), giving birth to Isaac in her old age.

Beloved, God is outside of time and your faith in Him brings you into this timeless zone. There, what the years have stolen will be restored. And even as your years increase, you will not grow weak and weary because the restorer of life and nourisher of your old age is in you!

JESUS – THE NAME ABOVE NAMES

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. – Luke 23:9

Not only does Jesus’ refusal to defend Himself show His humility, but His refraining from venting His wrath against the man who senselessly killed His friend who was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets (Mt. 11:11), also displays His humble nature.

Because of Christ’s humility and obedience to the Father, God gave Him a name that is above every name in heaven, earth and under the earth. There is no exemption for anyone or anything from coming under the Lordship of Jesus. He is Lord of ALL.

Jesus has not only been exalted above every “being” that has a name, but He is also highly exalted above anything else that can be named. If you can put a name on it, Jesus is above it. Sickness, poverty, depression, anger – everything has to bow its knee to the Lordship of Jesus.

Every knee of men, angels, and demons will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. Those who have denied His existence will bow in worship. Those who have spent their lives rebelling His authority will finally bow in submission.

Every being from all ages will ultimately bow and worship Jesus. If we bow our knee to His Lordship now, we will enjoy a wonderful life here on earth, and an eternity in His blessings hereafter. Those who deny His rightful claim to the Lordship of their lives will suffer for it in this life as well as in the next. They still will have to bow their knee to His authority, so there is nothing to gain and everything to lose if they refuse to make Jesus Lord of their life.

WHAT IS A MIRACLE?

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. – Luke 23:8

Herod desired to see Jesus perform some kind of miracle, and some of the questions he asked Jesus made this desire obvious. However, Jesus did not use His faith to do any miracles for Herod.

Miracles are God’s way of meeting the needs of those who seek Him in faith. Miracles will sometimes be used to demonstrate God’s ability so that people may believe (Mk. 2:10-11), but they will not happen to skeptics who are tempting God (Lk. 4:9-12).

A miracle is a supernatural intervention of God’s power over natural law.

Healings occur within the boundaries of natural law while miracles are not limited to natural law. A person with a high fever who receives prayer and then begins to recover is experiencing a healing. The Lord intervened but in natural ways. The virus, infection, or whatever was rebuked left the body (Lk. 4:39) and then the natural healing process that the Lord built into all of us took over. When something totally supernatural happens, that’s a miracle. When Jesus reattached the servant’s ear and it was instantly whole after Peter cut it off (Lk. 22:51), demonstrated a miracle. It was also a healing, but it was a miraculous healing.

Feeding the five thousand (Mt. 14:19-20), walking on the water (Mt. 14:25), translating a ship and all aboard to the other side of the sea (Jn. 6:21) – all these are miracles. Miracles are usually instantaneous whereas healings are sometimes gradual.

The Lord has never had anyone who was qualified working for Him. It’s by God’s grace that He uses any of us. Anyone who claims to be used of God because of his great holiness is either deceived or a deceiver. It’s our faith in the grace of God that allows miracles to flow through us.

BLESSINGS ARE COMING YOUR WAY …

May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! – Deuteronomy 1:11

God wants to release favor and blessing into your life. He longs to be good to you. Some blessings are stored up for you because someone in your family line honored Him. It may have been a parent or grandparent, or maybe someone way back in your history that you don’t even know; but because they lived a life of faith, now you are going to reap the rewards. It may have been a hundred years ago, but God wants to increase you a thousand times over your ancestors. When you have those moments where you feel like you’ve received “favor out of nowhere,” that’s the time to thank God for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for His promise to pass down blessings from generation to generation.

We serve a gracious and mighty God, and His favor lasts a lifetime! Open your heart with an attitude of expectancy because blessings are coming your way!

God doesn’t bless you because you have been good. He blesses you because of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross for you! Jesus’ precious blood has washed you whiter than snow. That is why God is for you today even when you fail!

And if God Himself is for you, who can come successfully against you (see Rom 8:31)? What adversity or adversary can stand against you? There are none! Hallelujah

CREATION CAN’T BUT REDEMPTION CAN!

John 9:7 – And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

When Adam sinned and fell, everything about creation fell. Yet, people today are still putting their trust in creation. For example, they try to become healthy by eating what is called the “Eden diet”—vegetables and no meat. They are acting as if creation did not fall. They also forget that there are people who eat well and exercise regularly, and still drop dead in the prime of their lives!

Thank God that what creation cannot do, redemption can and did. Jesus demonstrated this when He spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva and put it on a blind man’s eyes. (John 9:6–7) Now, it is certainly unusual to put clay on a blind man’s eyes because he would become doubly blind!

So why did Jesus do that?

He was demonstrating to us that all our body parts come from the ground and that because creation is fallen, the work of creation cannot open a blind man’s eyes. But the work of redemption can! That is why He sent the blind man to the pool of Siloam. The word “Siloam” means “Sent”, referring to the sent one, Jesus. When the blind man washed his eyes in the pool of the sent one, he received supernatural healing for his eyes.

Beloved, when we go to Jesus, the sent one who came to redeem us with the price of His blood, and we rest in His finished work, we will receive the miracle we need. If we believe that by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5), we will have greater health than those who trust in creation.

Jesus was sent to redeem us from every curse that came upon creation with the fall of Adam. (Galatians 3:13) He has redeemed us from sickness, pain, sorrow, depression, poverty and even death. The world may know Him as the Creator. But today, we know Him as our Redeemer. Where the work of creation cannot save us, His work of redemption can and has!

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HOW GREAT

Through Faith

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:30-34

God did not give men faith to be religious but rather that through faith they would subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword, out of weakness be made strong, become valiant in battle, and turn to flight the armies of the aliens.  For God’s word is unchanging:

So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.  And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.  For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:19-22

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:52

Yes, the use of our faith makes us well spiritually, physically and financially. Yes, the use of our faith helps us to overcome the world and gives us the victory.  For God’s word is true:

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?  “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?  “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” Luke 17:5-10

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4

Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith taught and anticipated that His true disciples  would use their faith, even a mustard size of faith,  to do greater works than He did in the current time of life  and then say  when you have ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ Yet  God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious;  So a fire was kindled against Jacob,  And anger also came up against Israel,  Because they did not believe in God,  And did not trust in His salvation. Psalm 78:21

Unbelief is not faith and it’s not a friend but an enemy of God’s people that robs them of many things including mighty works, miracles and the moving of mountains. For God’s word is true:

Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

Jesus did some miracles for some despite people’s unbelief but not as much as He would have loved to do:

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Mark 6:5-6

Jesus, Himself, taught that If one could can believe, all things were possible to him who believed. He even helped those who asked for help in this area:

Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  “And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”  He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. ” Mark 9:17-29

Jesus, Himself, was exasperated with what He called a faithless generation. But He who is the Lord of all is more than capable of handling any situation and problem that is brought to Him in faith. Casting out demons in Jesus name is an authority that God has given to all His true ones and is in the great commission Jesus gave to His people.

Mind you some things do not come out except by prayer and fasting. Not so much because God’s power is limited but that men are so full of unbelief that they need to change so that they can be full of faith and power. For unbelief short circuits the power of God.

Unbelief and hardness of heart is something that God in Jesus Christ rebuked His disciples for. It is definitely not something that God approves from His disciples. God’s word records:

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. Mark 16:14

But God is faithful, even when others do not believe:

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?  Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. Romans 3:3-4

Nevertheless God’s people are to beware for there is an evil heart of unbelief which willfully makes a person depart from the living God through the deceitfulness of sin. For God’s word tells His people:

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,  while it is said:  “Today, if you will hear His voice,  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses?  Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?   So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:12-19

Unbelief even causes God’s people to harden their hearts and rebel against God and as a result incur His judgments instead of His blessings. It results in the inability of God people to inherit or enter into the promises of God receive its blessings and gifts and callings. We see this in the life of a a priest named Zacharias, whose  wife was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless and had prayed for years for a son. God’s word records:

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,  according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and  your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. Luke 1:7-22

It is interesting that the angel had brought good news to Zacharias to tell him that his prayer was  heard  and his wife Elizabeth would  bear him a son. A son who would go who the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

But Zacharias did not believe the words of the angel, as he looked to his circumstance and situation. Hence, the same angel pronounced judgment on him.  As a result Zacharias would be mute and not able to speak until the day these things took place, because he did not believe the words of the angel, which would be fulfilled in their own time.

It’s very interesting that God brought judgment upon once of His servants, a priest, who did not believe his words. Just like He brought judgment on the children of Israel when they came out Egypt for their unbelief in believing the negative reports of the cowardly ten spies. As a result of their sin the children of Israel never went into the promised land but died in the wilderness. For God does these kind of things even in the current time of life.

But Zacharias’ story did not end there. For on the eighth day when they came to circumcise the child, Zacharias wrote on a tablet, “His name is John.” God’s word records:

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,  For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us  In the house of His servant David,  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,  Who have been since the world began,  That we should be saved from our enemies  And from the hand of all who hate us,  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers  And to remember His holy covenant,  The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  To grant us that we,  Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,  Might serve Him without fear,  In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;  For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people  By the remission of their sins,  Through the tender mercy of our God,  With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;  To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,  To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. Luke 1:64-69

Zacharias filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied about the plans and purposes of God for His people that most people have not appreciated nor claimed. That the Lord God of Israel, not only has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for them in the house of His servant David.

As a result now they would be saved from their enemies and from the hand of all those who hate them. For God had come to deliver them from the hand of their enemies – so that they might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.  Deliverance from enemies and all those who hate them is in the Covenant which God has with His people.  This is something that  many have not accepted and as a result is not real to them because of unbelief.

But God has come in Christ Jesus to deliver His people from all kinds of enemies and to give them victory over them. For His word is true:

“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

“So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people.  “And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;  ‘for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'( to give you victory) Deuteronomy 20:1-4

“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 16:33

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx
EXTRACT FROM Be Filled
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
https://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts

 

TITHING

IS TITHING VALID UNDER THE NEW COVENANT?

 I see the prosperity teachers sell books and DVDs and ask for donations on fb and TV but that’s not something i would want to emulate.

H.P. WRITES

I used to be prosperous without much effort other than committing my way to the Lord.  It was when i joined the Word of Faith church that i lost everything due to the sowing and reaping doctrine (which is actually in the Bible).  I sowed everything into the kingdom instead of the bank.  I was encouraged to do this by the entire Kenneth Copeland team who went over all the scriptures.  That was my financial doom. Over the past 20 years, I was believing God for my harvest but it never came.  I noticed the ‘mastercraftsmen in the desert’ passage over 10 years ago and tried my hand to different things including, singing and acting.  I asked for wisdom, even compiling a book on Proverbs.  I’ve asked for favor many times, and sent my angels out too.  I see the prosperity teachers sell books and DVDs and ask for donations on fb and TV but that’s not something i would want to emulate.  My needs being met is a covenant promise that is free and already belongs to me.  Why  i don’t see it in my life, exceedingly more than i could think or ask, is a mystery to me.

Evil men who use and teach tithing for their own gain are nothing but criminals, money grabbing thieves.   They are interfering with the covenant and deceiving hordes.

My pastor is a compulsive gambler!  He gambled a huge donation to build a church in an overseas ‘investment’.  Lost the lot.  He also took the tithes of the church which were meant to pay the bills and renovated his house with them!  He did this two years running and then the members had to have an emergency meeting to pay the bills.  This pastor takes the mission money and goes on mission/holidays overseas.  The Lord told me clearly to flee all this and he spent the next three years un brainwashing me and healing me spiritually and emotionally.

The Lord showed me to stop tithing NOW.  I was a bit shocked and realized i tithed because i feared the devourer Mal 3.  I protested to the Lord that the devourer would destroy my finances!!!’ While i was still hyperventilating the Lord reminded me of my former prosperity and how broke i had been since i started tithing.  It was bringing the curse onto me because it belongs to the law not grace. I stopped immediately and before long, i was able to support myself for the first time in 15 years.  Soon i hope that complete financial restoration and compensation will begin for me. It’s not God’s fault.  It’s not my fault.  Evil will turn up in the most unexpected places.  I have learned wisdom and discernment through fire.  Still I survived, just, and continue to wait upon the Lord for a fulfillment of his promises.

I am a great believer in Word of Faith Theology and the prosperity principles but not in one man led TV Evangelists who are off the wall.

A.S. WRITES

We too often hear Church sermons on the need to give money to the local storehouse, supposedly the local church, under the heading of tithing being even applicable today? Tithing was divinely instituted by God under the old covenant and was compulsory only upon the people of  Judah. Israel  ( upon Jews only)  who worshiped God. Under the new covenant we are not bound by these now redundant  laws;

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

IT IS TRUE, A FACT THAT FOR  many years many people have been looking even for the one Bible verse that would make them rich and famous too. AND TOO MANY  PEOPLE ARE LEAD FALSELY TO BELIEVE THAT TITHING WILL LEAD TO, GUARANTEE  FINANCIAL PROSPERITY (1 Tim 6:10 KJV)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Pastors these days  who falsely now  demand tithes are still not only liars, imposters, Bible ignorant, Not led by God to do this but are thieves cause not only did the tithes belong always   to God only and to be used in the way God had intended it to be used but tithes ate not applicable these days not sanctioned even by Jesus Christ and the Apostles in fact. As there is not one verse confirming tithing in the new testament as still being applicable and do prove me right!

There were several types of tithes, according to the source of Israelites’ income: the tithes from the land (seed and fruit) and the tithes from the domestic animals (flock and herd). In other words, God HAD expected His people to set aside one tenth of all OF THEIR increase (income).

By the way tithing was not to be used for the upkeep of the local temple structure now as well but was for the support of the temple workers, the poor people and even for the benefit of donator’s family. The upkeep of the temple was still done by separate offerings..

Numbers 18:20 (NIV) 20 The LORD said to Aaron,  You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites..

(Deu 12:17 KJV)  Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: but (Deu 14:23 KJV)  And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

G.W. WRITES

The “Law of Sowing and Reaping” has only to do with “sowing of the seed of the Word ( Matt. 13: 3 – 9, 18 – 23; Mk. 4: 3 – 9, 13 – 20; Lk. 8: 4 – 8, 9 – 18). The “Word” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   The Harvest is about people who receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, that is what is popularly called being “born again of water and the Spirit” (Jn. 3: 3, 5, 7). This not about money and wealth. It is not about the popular and unbiblical “Law of Sowing and Reaping” money. This is not about feeding people’s hunger and thirst for money which is called greed. It is about satisfying, what Jesus called, “the hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5: 10) or a “right relationship with Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit”.

Or as Paul so vividly described, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6: 9 – 10). These so-called prosperity preachers, like Benny Hinn, have led people far away from Jesus by making money the proof of His love and Gospel. They forget what Jesus said to the rich young man after being very impressed with him. “And Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matt. 19: 21 – 22). Like many people who are attracted to Jesus, he was not willing to do what is the first requirement.

In Oral Roberts: An American Life, biographer David Edwin Harrell, Jr., describes how Roberts discovered the prosperity gospel and how it became the centerpiece of his message. He also writes:

Oral Roberts’ best-known and most far-reaching brainchild was the Seed-Faith message. Roberts taught that money and material things donated to his organization were the seeds of prosperity and material blessings from God, and that God promises to multiply in miraculous ways whatever is given–and give many times more back to the donor. It was a simple, quasi-spiritual get-rich-quick scheme that appealed mainly to poor, disadvantaged, and desperate people. It generated untold millions for Roberts’ empire and was quickly adopted by a host of similarly-oriented Pentecostal and Charismatic media ministries. The Seed-Faith principle is the main cash-cow that built and has supported vast networks of televangelists who barter for their viewers’ money with fervent promises of “miracles”–and the miracles are invariably described in terms of material blessings, mainly money.

… Furthermore, the heir to Hagin’s standing as chief of the word-faith preachers is Kenneth Copeland, who went into television ministry after working as chauffeur and pilot to Oral Roberts. So even though it would not be quite accurate to portray Oral Roberts as an aggressive proponent of word-faith doctrines, he acted as more of an ally than an opponent to the movement.

One thing all the obituaries agree on is that Oral Roberts paved the way for all the charismatic televangelists and faith-healers who dominate religious television today. He did more than anyone in the early Pentecostal movement to influence mainstream evangelicalism. He parlayed his television ministry into a vast empire that has left a deep mark on the church worldwide. In many places today, including some of the world’s most illiterate and poverty-stricken regions, Oral Roberts’ Seed-Faith concept is actually better known than the doctrine of justification by faith.

Oral Roberts Insists Son Did Nothing Wrong

TULSA, Okla. — Oral Roberts says he doesn’t think his son, who has been accused of misspending funds at the university the evangelist founded, did anything wrong.

In a visit to the Oral Roberts University campus Saturday, the 91-year-old Roberts said that he and Richard Roberts didn’t discuss his son’s decision to resign as the school’s president in late 2007.

The younger Roberts, a televangelist, was accused with his wife, Lindsay, of spending money on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses for their daughters at a time when ORU was badly in debt. The couple have denied wrongdoing.

ORAL AND RICHARD ROBERTS https://www.scribd.com/doc/17098294

BIG MISTAKE BY COPELAND AND FRIENDS   http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-1Jc

SAM AND BENNY HINN THE SCOUNDRELS http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-Lf
BENNY HINN THE SCOUNDREL http://www.scribd.com/doc/17673980 

THE SAME

PREACH THE WORD

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2    speaking lies in hypocrisy

2 Timothy 4:
1    I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4    and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5    But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

In spite of the fact that many today will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;   and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. we are to  preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching, for God  desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The truth remains Beloved, Christ has redeemed you from sickness, lack, and destructive situations, so that the blessings of Abraham can come upon you!
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…”Gal 3:13

The power and the glory, the victory and the majesty and all that is in heaven and in earth is the LORD and He has given it to His blood bought children who are to receive it by faith and spend it for the furthering of His kingdom. Poverty and sickness are to be rejected by God’s people as from the devil. They are to seek from God His richest, honor, power and might for it’s God who gives every good thing.

Yes, God’s children must take a step of faith and to believe God to reverse and restore all things to them including their health, wealth, good name and power just like they took a step of faith to be saved. And the good news is that the very moment they pray, God gives them the answer. That very moment God hears them and He commands His angels to bring the answer to them. However they are living in a spiritual warfare where a war goes on and their enemy, the devil, will try to delay the answer from coming through to them
The majority of Jesus’ recorded miracles had to do with healing and deliverance. Jesus is God’s will in action. Beloved, the Father wants you healed, healthy, wealthy, whole,wise and strong!

ABUNDANCE  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Az

PROSPERITY   http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Av
IF ANYONE  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Ar
He healed them http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2yw
ALL I NEED  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2wT
MY ROCK MY GOD  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2xX
DO IT  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-27m

GOD’S BLESSING  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2sv
YOU MUST BELIEVE GOD http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-Fc
A HEALTH AND WEALTH CHRISTIAN  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-24v
HEALING AND RESTORATION  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2yW
Prayer Against Sicknesses  http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2zs
GREAT POWER   http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2zI

I WILL

I Will Deliver  

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;  I will set him on high, because he has known My name.  He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

God doesn’t lie. His Word is true and He keeps His word. If anybody is a liar it’s the devil and man for God’s word is unchanging:

“Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

“But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.   “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” John 8:43-51

The devil is a liar and so are his friends. The word of God warns us that some will depart from the faith and give heed deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,  speaking lies in hypocrisy.  They will speak great swelling words of emptiness.  While they promise  men liberty they only bring them into bondage. But God’s word is true:

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

The wayward man is a man of empty ambitions devoid of the purpose and call of God upon his life. He walks in total evil self-centeredness and wonders why he is in trouble most of the time. He is happy only occasionally and that due to circumstances he is currently enjoying for joy is not really in his spirit or his heart. He walks in the shallowness of his every evil thought and wonders why he is not happy.

Happiness is a condition of man as a result of a right relationship with the Lord. It comes upon one when attitudes and actions lines up with the truth of Heaven. This is possible in the duration of time as one comes to a true understanding life is not selfish, carnal or temporal. It is other centered, spiritual and eternal. When one lives with this understanding then with time and attention for establishing the truth in one’s life, one’s existence may become productive for the Kingdom of Heaven and the precipitation of that is peace and joy in one’s life.

Life is not meant for man but man for life. For life is only truly lived in the realm and presence of the LORD and his teachings. When one truly understands this, then Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross begins to make sense. He provided the sacrifice and the alternative to selfish carnal living and opened the door to Heaven for mankind once again. For man broke his covenant and relationship with his creator long ago but recaptures it with the acceptance and a renewed relationship with Jesus his Savior. With this understanding, a spiritual dimension opens up in the man’s life and once again he can have a personal and intimate relationship with his creator-The Father of Heaven-The LORD!

This awakening is only the beginning of his relationship. He must understand that he must acquire the truth each day for the rest of his live and continue to build his relationship with the Heavenly Father each day through Jesus Christ. This is possible only as he spends both quality and quantity of time alone in the Presence of the Lord. He sets aside time for spiritual refreshment and instruction.

The Lord specifically said, he had taken away Jesus so he could send the Comforter or the Holy Spirit to each one of His children who truly believe. This relationship with the Holy Spirit is the beginning of their relationship with the Father of Heaven and must be cultivated, nurtured and matured. This takes time, attention and teachableness. One must not be closed to new instruction, as long as it is not contrary to the written Word of God and falls in line with the personality of God.

This reawakening is possible through long hours of reading, meditation, study and prayer mixed with praise. Without this time in the dark room of God’s classroom the immature never come to full maturity. The maturity process takes time and it can be speeded up if the person is willing to spend more time and effort with the Lord, until truth takes it’s rightful place in the person’s daily life. Just going to church and listening to a sermon on Sunday or any other day, won’t do it. It’s not enough because it takes quality time spent with the Holy Spirit that brings about real change in a person’s spiritual life and ultimately in their outward daily living.

Change is only possible through the Presence of the Holy Spirit and keeping your spiritual eyes on the Lord.  Changes comes about through spending time in God’s presence:

The Holy Spirit Can Change Anything About You!
He can change your circumstances,
He can change your mind,
He can change your personality,
He can change your relationships,
He can change the way you feel about things,
He can change anything,
If you will give Him one thing–
Time in His Presence!

http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx

EXTRACT FROM Be Filled
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
https://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts

HE HEARS US

Keep Me 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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. Romans 12:1-2

God has a specific plan and purpose for each one of His children that He would love to reveal to them. But first they must surrender their bodies to the Lord and get Him to create in them a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within them. For God’s word is unchanging:

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;  Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.  Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,  O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye;  Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,  From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:6-9

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence,  And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,  And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Psalm 51:10-13

Whatever is not given to God by His people could end up destroying or damaging them spiritually.  For God’s word is unchanging:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

You can do great, marvelous and wonderful things in life and still not do the will of God. As a result it will not profit you at all in heaven. For God’s word is true:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Although many of those who are called by God’s name cannot accept the fact, but lawlessness can be defined as doing your will rather than God’s will. Just like king Saul who did God’s will for the most part, but then substituted his ideas and ways in the process and was rejected by God, many of religious ones could find themselves in places they never expected.  For God’s word is true:

Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,  “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.

So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.”

Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.”

So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? “Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’  “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  “But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

Then Samuel said:  “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,  As in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,  And to heed than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,  And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,  He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:10-23

While the Lord of lords and the King of kings was upset that He had set up Saul as king, for he had turned back from following Him, and had not performed His commandments, Saul thought he had performed the commandment of the Lord and went to Carmel, where he set up a monument for himself.

Blind and deceived Saul did not appreciate at all that God did not delight  in burnt offerings and sacrifices, but in obeying His  voice. He did not understand that rebellion was as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness was as iniquity and idolatry.  As result because Saul had rejected the word of the LORD, God rejected him from being king.

Just because a group of people, even a large number of them such as a particular denomination, liked and did something for God, it is still lawlessness if it wasn’t the will of God.  God’s will is quite simple and Jesus defined it quite clearly. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.  “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.  “And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him. Mark 12:28-34

Based on whether people obey the first and second commandment makes them to be sheep or goats. Sheep go into eternal life and the goats go away into everlasting punishment. For God’s word is unchanging:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Mark 25:31-46

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WITHOUT CEASING

God’s Supply is Unlimited

“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him  “and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Acts 7:9-10

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

For those who will love and serve the Lord like Joseph did, even as a slave and in prison, and hold to their integrity, God’s supply of riches and resources is unlimited.

‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David  A Branch of righteousness;  He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved,  And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called:  THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ Jeremiah 33:14-16

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

God has a season and perfect timing for all things, including when He shall perform for His children, His church and the nation of Israel all the good things that He has promised them. Nevertheless God’s trusting ones are to ask, seek, and knock with a promise from God that “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  God’s word is unchanging:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 8 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18

Seasons for answers and showers of blessings are not under man’s control but God’s. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.  “Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. “And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.

“I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.  “Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord GOD.’ ” Jeremiah 34:25-30

The strength and resources of God’s people is nothing less than God Himself and all His riches and resources, no matter what they are going through. The excellence of the power is of God and not of us.  For God’s word is unchanging:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,  knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.   For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7-17

God’s trusting ones do not lose heart, even though their outward man is perishing; yet their inward man is being renewed day by day.  Their  light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for them  a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  as they   do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In all things the life of Jesus and the glory of God is still manifested in them as God always leads them in triumph in Christ.  For God’s word is unchanging:

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;  You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;  Yes, I have a good inheritance.  I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;  My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:5-8

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? Psalm 27:1

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?  For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 14:14-17

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TRUST IN GOD

 I Will Answer You

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name):  ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’   “For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah, which have been pulled down to fortify against the siege mounds and the sword:  ‘They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but only to fill their places with the dead bodies of men whom I will slay in My anger and My fury, all for whose wickedness I have hidden My face from this city. Jeremiah 33:1-5

God encourages all of His people to ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Now God will do great and wonderful things but not all of God’s signs and wonders are positive ones. As Egypt with it’s mighty Pharaoh found out, God’s signs and wonders were very negative and not a blessing?

God had promised to rescue His people from their bondage, and redeem them with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.  The bible records:

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.  ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ‘And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’ ” (Exodus 6:6-8)

The children of Israel, who were miraculously delivered by God from their Egyptian oppressors and saw God’s great judgment, signs and wonders upon them including the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the destruction and drowning of their enemies in it, chose not to believe that God would fight for them in the Promised Land according to all that He did for them in Egypt before their eyes.  As a result they never went into the promised land but died in the wilderness of their own choosing!

These kind of things do happen to men even in the current time of life. They make wrong choices and choose to believe false men instead of God and suffer the consequences for their foolishness. For God’s word is unchanging:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 7 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:14-27

Sincerity and presumption are not a guarantee of anything including salvation. You can be very sincere and presumptive and drink a bottle labeled poison and die from it? So similarly false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves, deceive many of God’s people and they miss God’s best for their lives. For God’s word is unchanging:

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.  “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.  “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.  “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Act 20:28-35

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Being born again and filled with the fullness of God’s spirit, speaking in tongues, prophesying, laying hands on the sick so that they will recover, and performing miracles is part of the Gospel that Paul preached. To deny or reject these things to preach another gospel for God’s word is unchanging:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.  Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28

To be ignorant of Spiritual gifts and not to pursue them is against the word of God and the teaching of Apostle Paul and is definitely the preaching of another gospel!

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.  Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:37-40

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AUTHORITY

Walking in the Authority of the Believer

God’s church is facing severe persecution by the enemy, but we can exercise our Believers’ authority over this persecution. In order to do that, however, we must thoroughly understand the power we have been given, and learn how to wield it. We know that trouble is bound to come, but it is written that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. So, armed with this knowledge, the enemy can throw whatever he wants at us, but he will not succeed. According to the Scriptures, we possess even more authority than Adam and Eve.

We have been given all authority, power, and dominion. It is up to us to use it.
In the beginning, God gave mankind authority over all the earth (Genesis 1:26).
By comparison, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had authority not just on the earth, but under it, meaning He had power over demonic forces. He gave that power to us.
At Jesus’ name, everything in heaven, earth, and under the earth, shall bow (Philippians 2:10).
We have the same authority. This means we have dominion over hell.
Jesus had all power. He commands us to spread His Word everywhere, and He promises to stay with us always (Matthew 28:18-20).
When we do His work, we have His authority.
He gave His disciples power over evil, sickness, and death. He sent them forth to preach the Gospel (Matthew 10:1-8).
We are authorized dealers of that power.
We must believe in the very real power we possess. What we have comes from God.
In addition to receiving the authority over all devils and the power to heal, the disciples were also charged with the responsibility to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1, 2).
This authority depends on our belief to activate it.
Submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7).
He will not leave if we do not resist him in every way.
We are commanded to heal the sick (Matthew 10:8).
God has put His power under our authority, and we are responsible for using it.
We see an example in the New Testament of how to walk in our authority.
Jesus tells us to speak God’s Word and heal the sick (Luke 9:2).
Peter and John stood on their authority to heal the lame man (Acts 3:1-8).
In this case, instead of praying to God to do what was already done, they commanded the manifestation.

Scripture References
Genesis 1:26
Luke 9:1, 2
Philippians 2:10
James 4:7
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 3:1-8
Matthew 10:1-8

Resisting the Devil with Physical Actions

If we want to resist the devil the way the Bible tells us to, we must submit ourselves to God’s authority. All power belongs to God, and we have been given the authorization and the right to use it on all levels. The Scriptures tell us that the devil will only leave us alone when we stand up and fight against him. Similar to wars in the physical realm, this type of resistance against the enemy even includes resisting him with our body. Yielding our body to God instead of the devil is an important strategy in this fight. This type of spiritual rebellion against anything not of God connects us to what He has already released on our behalf.

A powerful way to demonstrate our faith is to do the right thing, even if we do not feel like doing it at the moment.
We must submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).
We are told here not just to pray to God, but to actively fight against the devil. This includes physical actions.
Faith without works is dead (James 2:20).
We need to accompany doctrines with action. Resisting the enemy with our body is actually cooperating with God.
When the people turned back from God, they limited Him and the authority He had on earth (Psalm 78:41).
He had to send His Son to earth in a physical body, to strip the authority from the devil and return it to mankind.
Jesus’ power and authority were limited in places where people doubted Him. He was amazed at their unbelief (Mark 6:5, 6).
Even Jesus needed cooperation, but the people refused to cooperate.
As ministers of God, we can choose whether or not to cooperate with Him through our actions.
Lucifer fell from heaven when he said in his heart that he wanted to be exalted over God. When God declared Lucifer would be brought down to hell, He prophesied that mankind would look on him and marvel that they ever feared him (Isaiah 14:12-17).
Hell was never meant for mankind, only for the angels whose power was stripped away because they chose to rebel against God.
The only power the devil now has is what we give him.
As part of our rebellion against the devil, we can witness by stretching out our hand and healing the sick.
Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the cities and accept whatever hospitality was offered to them, while healing the sick and preaching the Gospel (Luke 10:8, 9).
When Peter and John were released, they went back to their people, reported to them all the things the priests and elders had said to them, and praised God. Despite the threats made against them, they used the power Jesus had given them to perform acts in His name (Acts 4:23, 24, 29, 30).

Scripture References

James 4:7
James 2:20
Psalm 78:41
Mark 6:5, 6
Isaiah 14:12-17
Luke 10:8, 9
Acts 4:23, 24, 29, 30