I once heard a standup comic talking about his work. He spoke about the kinds of moments he wants to achieve in a comedy routine. He wants his routine to be full of “Ha-ha” moments, when people laugh at his humor – and the humor becomes contagious...“Ha-ha-ha.” But he also wants to achieve one or two “Ah-ha!” moments during his act. “Ah-ha! Now I see!” Any comedian can get a few laughs if he’s any good, but to aim for a couple of “Ah-ha!” moments is far more ambitious and far more profound, isn’t it.
An “Ah-ha!” moment....is when the light bulb goes on above your head and you understand something in a fresh way or for the first time, and all your thinking about a
particular subject changes, and new opinions are formed.
Speaking of light bulbs coming on.... How many country and western / southern gospel singers does it take to change a light bulb?....Five ... one to change the light bulb and a quartet to sing about how much they long and whine for the old one in the good old days ...
How many are needed to help a pastor to change a light bulb? We will never know, because everyone fell asleep during the sermon. How many does it
take to help a politician to change a light bulb? We'll never know, because when he says it needs to be changed, no one ever believes him...
How many Fantasy Fest goers does it take to change a light bulb? How dare you be so intolerant! So what if the light bulb HAS chosen an alternative light style?
Let’s get some of the definitions that are available to us for a light changing moment....or otherwise known as a “defining moment’....
It is an experience or occurrence that effects and determines all related events that follow....
It is the point at which a situation is clearly
seen to start a shift and change things as they were before....
It is a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, or group is revealed or
clearly identified... It is also referred to as “Turning points, deciding moments, a crossroads event, the boiling point, a breakthrough, being on the brink, coming of age, crunch time, put up or shut up, the threshold, a landmark event, make-or-break time, do or die, a milestone moment, the moment of truth, the flashpoint, high noon, the point of no return, sink or swim, red-letter day, a watershed moment, an epiphany, and zero hour...
We’ve all experienced those times, when life just doesn’t make sense. You look around and you think, “What in the world am I doing with my life? Where is God when I need Him the most? Does God even care about what is going on in my life?”
But then, as you journey down the road, something happens that makes us say, “Oh. THAT’S what God was doing there and Ah Ha, that’s what He was doing then!” And suddenly, it made sense. God was at work after all. We’ve all had moments like that. Each Christmas season we celebrate the courage and dedication of the wise men from the East, who followed the star, not fully understanding all that it truly meant in it’s broader scope...
We are on the journey of learning, after all—just like those travelers from the East, we don’t always get our heads around all that is happening, or even what is explained to us, but we follow our inner compass, and we keep moving forward on the journey... and, occasionally on the path, we have moments of enlightenment. The wise men experienced their epiphany as suddenly the star stood still over the manger where the Prince of Peace lay in a manger bed.
So, now, Let’s make it personal....I pose a couple of questions for you to reflect upon. “What would it take for you to venture forth into the darkness? What is it that would so
steal your heart that would send you into a strange place in search of it? What do you hope to find on the path of your life? What is the star that you are following? What is guiding your path? What is it that you could feel so deeply about, that you would be willing to leave the comfort of your home
and all things familiar to find?”. To Abraham, it was a God moment, when God told a man who had no children that he would be the father of many nations. And Abraham was ushered into a supernatural walk with God, where the impossible was made possible....
To Jacob, it was a night of wrestling with God, a night when running from his destiny, being a prisoner of his fears, and trying to do it in his own strength, came
to an end and he surrendered to the vision of God and was given a new name, a new direction and a new future.... To Paul the Apostle, it was the Damascus road experience...
The question begs to be asked of each of us every day of our lives…. ”are there areas of our lives, where we are living as though the victory Jesus accomplished, is still undecided”? Areas where we speak, and act as though the Lord has not already won the battle?
There’s an old saying that "If one person calls you a horse's rear-end, ignore it. If two people call you a horse's rear-end, look in the mirror. If three people call you a horse's rear-end, it’s time to buy a saddle”.
"To talk to some Christians, you would think it made no difference that Jesus has declared….”It is finished”!!!! That means “He has done everything He needed to do, now it’s up to us to bring it into our lifestyle package. I must believe like the runner who prayed, “Lord, if you’ll help be pick them up, then I’ll do my best to lay them down”
Colossians 2:10 When you come to Christ, His victory, comes to you, too. His power extends over everything. v11 Entering into this fullness is not something you have to figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of keeping a long list of do’s and don’ts. No, you're already an insider – you’re not brought in through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. v12 If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been initiated by submitting to Christ. Baptism into Christ was a burial of your old life. Death is overcome, for God was raising you from the dead as he did Christ. v13 When you were in your old life, you were incapable of responding to God but He brought you into His new life, right along with Christ!
Think of it! All sins are forgiven, v14 the slate is now wiped clean, the guilt and condemnation is canceled and nailed to the Cross of Jesus. v15 He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their stolen authority at the Cross and caused the triumph to be shown openly, for all to behold their defeat. v16 So don't put up with anyone pressuring or putting you in bondage over clean or unclean food, religious rituals, or holy days. v17 All those things are mere shadows of what was to come, because the substance is in Christ. v18 Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions through trances or states of conciousness. They're a lot of hot air. v19 They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Jesus Christ, who puts us together and makes us whole, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We grow up healthy in God, as he nourishes us. v20 So, then, if you have put all of these pretentious and infantile things behind you in Christ, why do you let yourselves be continue to be bullied and controlled by it”?
So then, what is it that causes us to continue to struggle and strive so much if the battle is over and we have won…. Is it, that something in us is not really convinced that it is already accomplished, finished and done with, or that we haven’t really processed the reality of it yet? Sometimes we can know a thing and yet not really know a thing…..
A pet store delivery truck was going down the road, and he stoppedand everyone jumped out and run to the back of the truck, grabbeda 2x4 and started beating on the side of the truck. Somebody asked the driver, "What in the world are you doing?" As he continued to beat the truck, he said, “The truck scales are just ahead and this is only a two-ton truck and I'm carrying four tons of parrots. So I have to beat on the truck, to keep two tons of parrots in the air all the time." (sometimes while we’re trying to have faith for things in our lives, it seems that all we’re doing is moving problems around from one place to another, trying to keep it all from landing and settling in one place at one time….and why is it that we approach prayer in the mighty name of Jesus, as only a temporary fix, instead of a solution that is done and over with, finalized and accomplished in the victory of Christ!!!) Could it be that deep down we’re not sure that God really meant what He said? John 8:31-32 “ Jesus said unto them, "You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." What is it that really keeps us from pressing in to the point that we are open and receptive to see the finished work of Christ take up residence in us?!!!! I believe that, often, it is because we might be afraid of what we might have to give up in order to get it.
It’s like the woman who was talking to her friend about her fear that was keeping her from getting a good night’s rest….she said, “Every time I lay down on my bed I get this terrible fear that there is something under the bed. She had been going to a therapist for months, and spending hundreds of dollars, but her brother set her free in a few minutes….and saved her lots of money…., he just cut the legs off the bed!”….. Jesus has cut the legs off of fear so it doesn’t have a leg to stand on!!!
Sometimes we are afraid of what will happen if we really give God control of our life. And what we’re saying is, "I don't want anybodycontrolling me." Who are we kidding? We're being controlled all the time. We're controlled by the opinions of other people. We're controlled by hurts we can't forget. We’re controlled by our baggage, our habits, hang-ups, other people’s agendas, or even our own ego! (come on, it’s amen or oh me)
During a terrible flood, the water got so high, neighbors were gathering on the roofs of their houses. They watched as things were floating by, a couch floated by, lawn furniture floated by in the current. A small car owned by one of the neighbors came floating by next! Then they noticed something strange, they saw a hat float by, but after it got about 20 feet past the house, it turned and started floating back upstream against the current. Then it got about 20 feet on the opposite side of the house and reversed direction again. They watched it with amazement, as it did this seven or eight times and someone said, that is the most amazing thing, what in the world is it?“ One of the ladies said, “Oh, that’s just my husband Raymond. He said he was going to mow the lawn today, come hell or high water.”
Sometimes you have to plunge in and not look back, set your course and move forward, come hell or high water! There are some decisions you don’t have to keep making. Once you’ve made them, it’s done, it’s decided. I will be faithful to my wife, I will put God first in my choices and decisions, I will treat my body as the temple of God, I will treat others as I would want to be treated….onceyou make these decisions, you don’t have to keep making them, they’re now just a part of who you are.
Don’t clutter your life, your mind and spirit with a lot of undecided, unresolved issues, that’s what keeps you awake at night. Make your choice, make up your mind, and move forward! You’ll sleep better and you’ll get it behind you, so you won’t keep running into it.
I see this in Joshua 24:15, he stood before the people and said…“ If it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve….but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.
Not just when everything is great, and my roses have no thorns, but when hurricane Irma seems to have a personal grudge against me, and no one understands…..
We all need to find a quite place on a regular basis, and soak in the 23rd Psalm, and let ourselves be saturated with it’s truth… It speaks to our spirit…..as deep is calling unto deep….
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. v2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. v3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. v4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and You staff they comfort me. v5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup is overflowing. v6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the very presence of the LORD forever”.
We can shout amid the turbulence, strife and fear that arises…“The Lord is my shepherd. I am satisfied with Him!! I do not want. I am satisfied with Him!! He makes me to lie down in plenty, peace and fullness. I am satisfied with Him!!!!” I look at what is and then declare what He said it could be!!! If there’s a way to do it, He’ll get it done!!!
But sometimes in life we confuse the decision-making phase with the problem-solving phase. Some of you remember back in 1963 when John F. Kennedy announced publicly, "We're going to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade." That was the decision. Had all the problems been solved when he made that decision? No!
If you're a good manager you know you never confuse decision making with problem solving. Kennedy said, "We're going to do it, and full resources will be made available to accomplish it" then it was NASA's problem to figure out the details. They didn’t have to make the decision, they needed to make it happen.
The more things that leadership has to make happen, the less will be the quality, and the number of vision filled decisions that get made….
If you have ever bought a house, You make the decision, but then you have to get financing, insurance coverage, the closing, then pack boxes, arrange moving trucks, fill out change of address cards, and all the rest. The details get handled after the decision is made.
At the age of 12, I made the personal decision to give the Lord control of my life. Since then, I have been sending out change of address cards to my past, saying, ”The future has moved me again, and left no forwarding address”!!! My past shoudn’t limit my future…I don't do those things anymore, I don’t live there anymore, that's not the new me, that's the old me, my shepherd and I have a new address."
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns”.
In World War II, the Marines had a definite strategy they used in the Pacific arena, when they went to retake it from the Japanese. They used the same strategy on every island and it worked every time. First, they would get a fix on the island that had been taken by the Japanese,
and they would start bombing it. That was called the softening-up period. Some of you are in the softening-up period right now, and all kinds of explosions are going off in your life. Your life begins to look like a battlefield…You finally come to a point where you say, "Yes, I need help beyond myself." It's softening up your pride. It’s softening up places where you are locked into toxic choices. It’s softening up places where you got in a rut and don’t know how to get out. After the softening up phase, the Marines would come in and establish a beach head, maybe only twenty yards deep and two hundred yards wide but they would just get a presence on the island. Had they completely liberated the island when they established the beach head? No, they had just set up a perimeter – but from there they began to fight the battles. Sometimes it would go back and forth, but once they established a beach head, total liberation of the island was inevitable. In the history of WW II, once the Marines had landed and established a beach head they never lost an island. It was just a matter of time that the island would be set free.
When you take the step of letting go, what happens is that the Holy Spirit has set up a beach head in your life as you welcome God to come into the situation and begin the process of setting you free.
Romans 8:19 calls it the earnest expectation of the creature awaiting the full manifestation of the sons of God.
2 Corinthians 5:5 calls it the earnest down payment of the Spirit.
Does that mean everything in your life is perfect? Absolutely not. It means that God has established a beach head and for the rest of your life He's going to be liberating your mind, your emotions, your soulish desires, and freeing your spirit so He can rule and reign in your life…, once you’ve made the decision, all the resources you’ll ever need have been made available in Christ…victory is inevitable if you don’t give up!!!! . We just to stay committed and focused in agreement with God’s solution.
We don’t want to be like the kamikaze pilot who went on 40 missions – he was very involved but he was never committed!!!! He never made that final ultimate, point of no return trip!
Ephesians 3:9 “That all men might see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: v10 ForHis intention is that the principalities and powers in heavenly places might know the manifold wisdom of God through His church, v11 According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, v12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him”.
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FAITH ,BUT IT’S ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR GOD! It’s not about your power, but God’s authority that backs you up! Your faith doesn’t have to be “perfect” to get results
An ad appeared in the lost-and-found section of the newspaper….
It said "$50.00 Reward for Lost Dog. Three legs. He is blind in one eye, He’s missing his right ear, his tail is broken and he was accidentally neutered. He Answers to the name of ‘Lucky.”
Well, thank God, we’re not “Lucky”… Christians aren’t lucky, we’re the recipients of the good fortune which comes through the blessing of surrender to God and His will for our lives. (tell someone, you aren’t lucky, you’re the recipient of God’s good fortune)
So, let’s answer to the name He calls us!.... He calls us blessed, justified, free from the law of sin and death, joint-heir with Christ, new creature in Christ, chosen, holy, and blameless, seated in the heavenly places, God’s workmanship, complete in Christ, friend of God, beloved of God, blessed with every spiritual blessing….winners, not losers….OH MY!!!!
Colossians 2:9&10 says, "For in CHRIST dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
There is embodied in us through the work of Christ, the, the mind of Christ, the faith of God, the authority of God, the love of God. We have in us the very life of God, because we are in Christ Jesus.
Deuteronomy 28:1 If you listen obediently to what your God is saying, and heartily obey what He speaks to you today, Your God, will place you on high, and give you favor above those around you. v2 All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of your God.
v3 You shall be blessed in the city, and blessed in the country. v4 God's blessing shall be on your children, the crops of your land,and even the animals of your household. v5 God's blessing shall be upon your food pantry and your table v6 You shall be blessedin your coming in, and blessed in your going out. v7 God will resolve the conflict among you and give you peace. v8 God will order a blessing on your storehouse and your workplace. He will bless you in the place that He is giving you. v9 God will develop and fashion you as a people separated to Himself, just as He promised, if you obey what He says and live the way He has shown you”.
There’s no luck here, this is all about God’s successful outcome in your life and guaranteed blessings!
MAKE A QUALITY COMMITMENT TO ACCEPT ALL THAT THE LORD’S SACRIFICE HAS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH THE PURCHASING POWER OF HIS OWN BLOOD, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
ACCEPT GOD’S WAY AS YOUR NEW STANDARD FOR LIVING.
ACCEPT GOD’S WILL AS YOUR OWN GOAL FOR YOURLIFE. Say it with me…. “Your will be done, in earth as it is in heaven”
ACCEPT GOD’S POWER AS THE SOURCE OF YOURSTRENGTH. Years ago, before smart phones and Google maps, a delivery truck was taking a special shipment to the Visitors Bureau in California… and he got hopelessly lost. The driver stopped at a gas station and asked for directions. Now ordinarily this wouldn't have been unusual. People get lost all the time, I'm sure you get lost every once in a while. What made this incident so odd was that - in the back of the truck were 50,000new maps of the area from a map company. The truck driver got lost - even though his truck had 50,000 maps INSIDE of it… maps that could have easily helped him find his way to his destination had he only used what he was delivering in his truck. Our bible, which is available on our smart phones, and everywhere on the internet, can be the map to help us find our way, if we will just access what is so available to all of us!
GET CONNECTED to folks who have your back and folks who are busy building bridges instead of walls!!!....
Also, Prayer in faith believing, is the way you plug into God’s power.
PRAYER AND OUR CONFESSION TAPS INTO WHATEVER GOD CAN DO!
The Lord’s Prayer is not WHAT we should pray, it is an example of HOW we should pray…..
Notice that the Lord’s prayer or the “Our Father”… contains all the steps we need and forms an acrostic which spells out the word “Recover”….
(R) I realize that I’m not the source and He is!
(E) I earnestly believe that God has already released what I need.
(C) I choose to commit my life and my stuff into His care
(O) I openly confess and declare my decision according to His word
(V) I reserve time with God so I can know my shepherd and Lord
*….Chuck Swindoll once got a letter from a lady who didn't get married until she was 30. She said she never worried about getting married, she just trusted God with her future. However, she said that every night she hung a pair of men's pants on the end of her bed and prayed this prayer… “Father in Heaven hear my prayer, and grant it if You can. I've hung some trousers on the end of the bed, would You please fill them with a man?”
Well, I’m not promoting this as a “how to get your man” program, but I thought it was humorous….
But, I believe this is your time to recover what Satan has stolen from you, what the deceiver has delayed in coming to you, and what he’s blocked from getting to you that God says is yours!!!!
When Jesus shouted from the cross…”it is finished”….He made it possible for us to get plugged into all the power we will ever need. It’s waiting to be released and it’s all available through faith in Christ….
Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, be removed to yonder place; and it shall be removed and nothing shall be impossible unto you”.
Sometimes the entire mountain moves, and sometimes it’s moved a truck load at a time….but it will move!
When pilots fly planes, they either FLY by “Instrument Flight Rules”, or by “Visual Flight Rules”….Every pilot is flying by one or the other. Visual Flight Rules are fine as long as you can see everything, if it's clear weather and you don’t have a lot of air traffic.. All professional pilots fly instrumentation, but a lot of amateurs fly visually. The FAA reports that a lot of small plane crashes could have been prevented if the person in the cockpit had simply picked up the microphone and told the tower, "I need help, except that the thing about deception, is that you don’t know you’re deceived." (An example is John Kennedy Jr. who perished needlessly because he could not fly instrumentation when he could no longer see the horizon)….
You may have made it pretty well, so far in life, flying visually But one day, if you fly enough, you're going to eventually hit bad weather and the storm will have you flying in the dark. (it’s an inevitable part of life that you're going to have some bad weather). You're going to hit some places where you can’t judge by what you see, cloudy areas where you can flip upside down and you don't even know which direction you're going.
It’s then you have to call the control tower and say, "I need to switch over to Instrumentation " and you submit yourself to the settings, which the control tower gives you fly by. We all come to that point where you've got to pick up the microphone and switch to God’s directions, His plan and His ways… or take a chance on blind luck!!!!....BAD OPTION!!!
Ask someone….Is your name “lucky” or is your name “blessed”…..?
Luck is a maybe, thing…. Blessing is a guarantee from a God who cannot ever lie, for He not only speaks truth, He is truth!!!!
When you’re flying with Trinity airlines….you’re gonna be glad you did!!!
Let us Pray together….“Heavenly Father, today, we expect this to be the greatest day of our life. We thank you, Lord, for the favor which will flow through us today, for this is a day when you will be glorified by what we think, say and do. Lord, we thank You for freedom in speaking and being a mouthpiece for You, for fearless confidence, for cheerful courage, and for boldness with supernatural assurance.
We command stolen blessings to be restored in Jesus name. We have angels assigned to minister and strengthen us in the things that God has called us to do and that go before us to protect and to guard us and bring us to the place that God has prepared. Aswe seek after God and His will, we are of good cheer for the Lord has overcome the world and given us His victory. We have been made more than conquerors in Christ.
He enables us to come forth victorious and be raised to a higherplace as we receive full understanding of our rights, privileges, and authority in Jesus. The lord sets us on a path of ever increasing success so that the latter days of our life are much greater than any previous time. We now leave the past behind as the Lord brings us into the wider place of His abundance. Wewalk in happiness, peace, Divine favor and good fortune. Ourfamilies are blessed and anointed and our possessions are secure,because the limits have been taken off in God’s covenant of fullness.
We declare that we were healed 2000 years ago, when you were crucified and Your word says we are the healed in Jesus’ name. We boldly declare that we are made whole, spirit, soul and body, for the power of sickness, infirmity, disease or deformity is no longer given any permission to be in our body and it no longer has any place, in Jesus’ name!
We declare that the Lord sustains us, even in our old age. He gives energy, vitality, health and rescues us from feebleness and calamity. We now receive His ability, power and anointing, that we may be established in the place of His covenant design and plan. We cancel premature death and receive the full number of our days and the ability to pass on wealth and honor as an inheritance for the next generation. Lord, may You be honored and glorified as all these things come to pass, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!!!
Well, we have had an interesting several weeks, and we will all long remember our encounter with a woman named Irma.... she was a giant... and she showed us that it is certainly true that the worst of times brings out the best in a community, as folks reached out to one another at a greater level than we normally see.
The level of compassion and aid which has poured into the area, is overwhelming and inspiring. We have seen the power of compassion and love operating among us, which has the ability to change our mess into a message and our test into a testimony. We have seen compassion confront great needs and take authority over them.... Much of the authority that touches our lives, operates from the outside, but those who lead by love and compassion change us from the inside out. We were blessed to team up with Words of Life Church in Miami, and the American Legion on Stock Island…..We were able to clear several properties and offer an assortment of supplies to those who came to the distribution area….
It reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 59:19 "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him". ....Our source is supernatural which far out weighs the natural....
Today we will continue the series….”Another Name For Christian”…. Our subject today is “Another name for Christian is Ruler”…..
The Merriam-webster dictionary defines authority as, "The ability to determine things, to lead by permission, to delegate, and to enforce something previously agreed.
George Carlin said "I have as much authority as the most powerful person on earth, I just don't have as many people who believe it".
Shakti Gawain....When we are constantly doubting our own authority, because we are always looking to others for validation, and approval, we give our personal power away.
1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, that you are called unto, and continue to profess a good profession before many witnesses. v13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate mantained a good confession.. v14 Keep this commandment without spot and remain uncompromised, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: v15 Whichin his times he shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, v16 Who alone has this unique immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen".
Then we see....Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty".
These titles describe an absolute, all incompasing, Imperial authority... "The king of kings and lord of lords"....."The Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End"....
But wait, there's more....Hebrews 7:24 "But this man Jesus, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood".
Now we have added the title of "Priest"... and these together cover the whole scope of human life. The king is supreme over the lives and property of men; the priest holds sway over the hearts and consciences. If the legal and the sacred power are then combined in one person, nothing can escape from its domination. The thoughts, the feelings, the conduct—all the inward sources of action, and all the external ingredients of human existence, wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, life and death, every hope and every fear of which man is capable—all are subject to his sway. He who possesses this twofold authority stands on the loftiest pinnacle of human power, of human pride, of glory, human as King and Lord and Priest forever!!!
And here's where it really gets incomprenhensible......
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, v6 And He has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Russell M. Nelson....It is vital that we understand the source of our authority and we need to master the keys that control its power.
There is only one who has the authority to grant to someone the title of King and priest.... it is the one who holds all power and all authority Himself. "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords"...and "Priest forever"
Only one could qualify us by granting us the great gift of salvation, so that through the Holy Spirit's entrance, we are given that which flows from His Spirit into our spirit.....the impartation of keys to rulership!!!
Really, if the truth were known, you don't give God authority over your life. He already has it, totally and completely. However, when we yield to His authority, the result is His favor, which releases power in your own life to accomplish His will.
Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing".
In order to guard the anointing which we have received of the Lord, we must guard the thought gate, the heart gate, the eye gate, the ear gate, and the mouth gate. These are all places of entrance into our spirit. It is so easy in this day we live, to allow your spirit to become confused by all that is taking place in the world around us. As the old saying goes, "the smallest boat can cross the biggest ocean as long as the ocean stays out of the boat"!
Let's take a moment and eavesdrop on a conversational prayer Jesus is having with the Father and we can see His heart desire to impart and transfer rulership and authority even as it takes place.....
Jesus is speaking in John 17:19 "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. v20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for all those also which shall believe on me through their word. v21 That they all may be one, as You are Father, in me, and I in You, that they also may be one in us... that the world may believe that You have sent me.
v22 And the glory which You gave unto me I have given unto them, that they may be one, even as we are one. v23 I in them, and You in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them, as You have loved me. v24 Father, I will that they also, whom You have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which You have given me, for You loved me before the foundation of the world".
Jesus knew that in order to be effective in spreading the gospel of the kingdom through- out the world, He would need to transfer His rulership to all those who would believe in Him.
So a quick review would let us see that on the day of Pentecost, the crown of His authority to do His works in the earth....came and rested upon His disciples and became available to all who would receive it. Jesus won't take anyone any further than they are willing to go, but to those who are willing, He will give power from on high!!
Act 1:8 "But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth".
Since we're talking about the Christian as those God has chosen to have rulership in the earth.....we need to reflect often upon and have an understanding of the "power" which Jesus said He would give.....this power is a force, a God given ability, an abundance, a purpose, having supernatural might, possibilities, enablement, supply, and mighty works....
The word "Power" in Acts 1:8. is translated into 4 Greek words.....
Dunamis, Exousia, Ischus, and Kratos...so let’s have a quick review….
Dunamis is the power to overwhelm whatever would try to overwhelm you..... It is the source of power or the power producer, the dynamo within us that functions in alignment with God’s power. Just as a light bulb is designed to give light and everything is there to allow it to do what it is designed to do…but it can’t happen until it is connected to a power source… We have all that is needed to accomplish what we need to, but unless we are connected to the power source, it can’t be done….
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power (Dunamis) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt (overcome) you".
Someone has said that the enemy would like to cause clergymen to be defrocked and Christian lawyers to be debarred, so doesn’t it follow that, if we don't understand our authority in Christ....electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted or decomposed, cowboys deranged, dry cleaners depressed, laundry workers could be decreased (eventually becoming depressed and depleted), bed-makers will be debunked, baseball players will be debased, bulldozer operators will be degraded, software engineers will be detested, and worthy politicians would be devoted.....Wow! (all that and more)
But Dunamis is the power to overwhelm what has tried to overwhelm you.
It puts the odds in your favor, it levels the playing field, it transforms turkeys into eagles and weakness into strength… Dunamis is the ability to “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might”…..
The next word for power is "Exousia", this is delegated authority, when someone authorizes you to act in their behalf.... When Jesus spoke those "Exousia" words in Mark 16:15, He is commissioning them and equipping them at the same time.....
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. v16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. v17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. v18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover". (in my name) is a legal term for power of attorney…
When I was growing up, all of my aunts, uncles, and grandparents were given Exousia, by my parents, to act in their behalf, and I couldn't get away with anything!. And when we operate in our Exousia, the Devil can't get away with anything either!!!!
The third word for power is "Ischus"..... we might use the term “A little dab will do you” for this word….It’s about a little becoming a lot… it’s when lack is transformed to plenty, when greatness is wrapped in a small package, when weakness is made to become strength.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom". Ischus is the five loaves and two fishes feeding over 5000. So we don't look at what we have, but what God says it can be! We look at our lack, at our insuffeciency, our inability, through the power of Ischus!!!!
The fourth word which is translated "Power" is "Kratos".... It’s another way of saying “you will prevail for the battle is the Lord’s” “He will fight for you, so you will surely overcome”…this word is about invincibility, and has to do with what takes place when we are sent by the Lord and we are involved in an assignment from heaven.....When the vision of our hearts becomes the walk in our feet and the work of our hands…..
When the disciples were told by Jesus, to go over to the other side in a boat... even though the worst storm of their lives arose and tried to drown every one of them, they were operating under the Lord's Kratos authority and that superceeded the force of the storm. Because Jesus told them to go to the other side, as they obeyed, they were invincible and the storm could not hurt them until they fulfilled their assignment.
Find your mission, know your purpose, be under orders, get on your assignment, and you need not fear the powers that might try to overwhelm you.....
Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight”.
We can only access the level of authority which we are willing to acknowledge and accept.....
This also tells us that we need to understand that with all the power and authority which we have looked at, it is important to know that we are not always given what we want because God knows that something better is planned for us, than we had planned! He sees much more than we are able to see….
I heard that after all the hard work for his doctor of Divinity degree, one theologian named Joseph Tweedle refused to walk in the graduation procession, and accepted his degree in private. He said, "It’s bad enough being being named Tweedle without being called "Tweedle, D.D."
Well, folks, there are people who refuse to stand up and operate in the authority they have been given for many reasons.....
Jesus summed up all of these phases of power, that He makes available to us, when He taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven"...
Christian rulership is about the alignment factor. It is about coming into harmony with the will of God in all the circles of our influence and connections. It is about God bringing us into His right place, at His right time, with His designated people, for His right reason and purpose.
When our lives become God centered, His will becomes our heartbeat and begins to align us with His deepest desires....
Jesus came to build a kingdom within a kingdom. He came to raise up the kingdom of God in the midst of the kingdoms of men.
Everywhere God's children are is the realm where they are given rulership and authority. It may be the realm of the home, the school, the neighborhood, the workplace, the government, or whatever their circle of influence.
We must be the change we want in the world…. this kingdom authority begins with each one of us.... The greatest obstacle to personal power is ourselves, because we carry the baggage of our own insecurities and past experiences which try to convince us that it can't be done....The desires God placed in you are always possible, but the path to getting there is not always apparent. We must begin to rule our own spirit.....and keep on Belonging, Believing, and Becoming. There may be many things you can’t control, but you can control yourself….
Proverbs 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his own spirit is greater than he that takes a city".
How often have we seen it true, that someone who has not bothered with ruling their own spirit, has been given authority, and it becomes the means of their destruction. Their personal character is filled with flaws because of a lack of self-discipline and the power they receive brings those flaws into the spotlight. But there’s good news if we will rule our own spirit….
Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing".
In order to guard the anointing (anointing means authorization) which we have received of the Lord, we must guard the thought gate, the heart gate, the eye gate, the ear gate, and the mouth gate. These are all places of entrance into our spirit. It is easy in our time, to allow your spirit to become confused by all that is taking place in the world around us.
We are all the sum total of what we believe.....
An Atheist decided to take a vacation, and go fishing. He picked as his destination a certain lake in Scotland. While out in a boat fishing, the Loch Ness Monster suddenly appeared and frightened him to the point that the Atheist cried out, "Lord, save me, help me Lord!"
A voice from Heaven came down and said, "I thought you did not believe in Me!" The Atheist, was looking a bit sheepish and said "A minute ago, I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster, either."
We become what we believe.....
An important aspect of our rulership in this heavenly kingdom is described as a royal priesthood of believers....
A priest is one who stands before God for others..... it is an intercessory position. As part of God's priesthood in the earth, we are all intercessors.... A royal priesthood indicates that it is a class of kingly priests, who serve before the King of kings Himself….see it again….
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”.
In all that we do, we are called to be those that stand before God in behalf of others.... not just others that we agree with, or others that we call friends, but the ones who have been outside our circle and outside our places of preference.
Remember that our commission is "Go into all the world".....as priests and kings....and as we do in obedience....as part of this priesthood, we visit the sick and poor, we become pro-active in the Church to empower it's mission, to devote some portion, not only of our finances, but of our time and our prayers, to Christ's service...And as we do...He promises in Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy....
This generation we are part of is chosen by God to accomplish something important and significant in His grand scheme of things. This generation is called to contribute what no generation has done, or will do….No matter how dark or how hopeless it may look, God has a plan for each of us in our day, in our generation…..
Since we are to be kings and priest before God in the earth, would you join me in praying together in agreement, a prayer for those who are suffering the devestation which has ravished this island nation of Puerto Rico....
Prayer.....Lord, I join my prayers with the family of faith around the world, for the island nation of Puerto Rico...."Father, Let the nation of Puerto Rico experience your path of wholeness, completeness and restoration, and may it continue to grow brighter and brighter until she reaches the full light of her new day of destiny, in the mighty name of Jesus. I believe together with all her people, that she shall be miraculously brought back from the effects of this devastation. In Jesus’ name, I ask the Father for legions of the Holy Angels to insure her positive and victorious faith filled outcome. We take authority over any stronghold of lack, insufficiency, disease and infirmity, which would try to rise up, in Jesus’ name. Anoint her national spirit, to prosper and Let the fire of Your anointing cause the fires of revival to burn into all her ways, her thinking, and all her procedures... socially, politically, economically, and demographically. Let her become a channel of blessings and a fountain of life for the nations, in Jesus’ name. I thank you for the release of divine favor, angelic involvement and positive results. Father, make Your face to shine upon Puerto Rico, with Divine enlightenment as You bestow Your favor upon her, so that she may continue to be a blessing in her time and place. I thank you and praise you, and give you the honor and the credit for all these things, In Your name and for Your honor and glory I pray, Amen".
And now, as God's priesthood, would you stand before God with someone around you and just stand in your priesthood, and interceed in their behalf....for their family members, their life choices that need to be made, that their needs be met and the supply that God wants to bring to them would come to them....their physical healing, and that the souls in their circle of influence would come to Christ....In Jesus Name.....
Well, we have had an interesting several weeks, and we will all long remember our encounter with a woman named Irma.... she was a giant... and she showed us that it is certainly true that the worst of times brings out the best in a community, as folks reached out to one another at a greater level than we normally see.
The level of compassion and aid which has poured into the area, is overwhelming and inspiring. We have seen the power of compassion and love operating among us, which has the ability to change our mess into a message and our test into a testimony. We have seen compassion confront great needs and take authority over them.... Much of the authority that touches our lives, operates from the outside, but those who lead by love and compassion change us from the inside out. We were blessed to team up with Words of Life Church in Miami, and the American Legion on Stock Island…..We were able to clear several properties and offer an assortment of supplies to those who came to the distribution area….
It reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 59:19 "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him". ....Our source is supernatural which far out weighs the natural....
Today we will continue the series….”Another Name For Christian”…. Our subject today is “Another name for Christian is Ruler”…..
The Merriam-webster dictionary defines authority as, "The ability to determine things, to lead by permission, to delegate, and to enforce something previously agreed.
George Carlin said "I have as much authority as the most powerful person on earth, I just don't have as many people who believe it".
Shakti Gawain....When we are constantly doubting our own authority, because we are always looking to others for validation, and approval, we give our personal power away.
1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, that you are called unto, and continue to profess a good profession before many witnesses. v13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate mantained a good confession.. v14 Keep this commandment without spot and remain uncompromised, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: v15 Whichin his times he shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, v16 Who alone has this unique immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen".
Then we see....Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty".
These titles describe an absolute, all incompasing, Imperial authority... "The king of kings and lord of lords"....."The Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End"....
But wait, there's more....Hebrews 7:24 "But this man Jesus, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood".
Now we have added the title of "Priest"... and these together cover the whole scope of human life. The king is supreme over the lives and property of men; the priest holds sway over the hearts and consciences. If the legal and the sacred power are then combined in one person, nothing can escape from its domination. The thoughts, the feelings, the conduct—all the inward sources of action, and all the external ingredients of human existence, wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, life and death, every hope and every fear of which man is capable—all are subject to his sway. He who possesses this twofold authority stands on the loftiest pinnacle of human power, of human pride, of glory, human as King and Lord and Priest forever!!!
And here's where it really gets incomprenhensible......
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, v6 And He has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Russell M. Nelson....It is vital that we understand the source of our authority and we need to master the keys that control its power.
There is only one who has the authority to grant to someone the title of King and priest.... it is the one who holds all power and all authority Himself. "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords"...and "Priest forever"
Only one could qualify us by granting us the great gift of salvation, so that through the Holy Spirit's entrance, we are given that which flows from His Spirit into our spirit.....the impartation of keys to rulership!!!
Really, if the truth were known, you don't give God authority over your life. He already has it, totally and completely. However, when we yield to His authority, the result is His favor, which releases power in your own life to accomplish His will.
Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing".
In order to guard the anointing which we have received of the Lord, we must guard the thought gate, the heart gate, the eye gate, the ear gate, and the mouth gate. These are all places of entrance into our spirit. It is so easy in this day we live, to allow your spirit to become confused by all that is taking place in the world around us. As the old saying goes, "the smallest boat can cross the biggest ocean as long as the ocean stays out of the boat"!
Let's take a moment and eavesdrop on a conversational prayer Jesus is having with the Father and we can see His heart desire to impart and transfer rulership and authority even as it takes place.....
Jesus is speaking in John 17:19 "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. v20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for all those also which shall believe on me through their word. v21 That they all may be one, as You are Father, in me, and I in You, that they also may be one in us... that the world may believe that You have sent me.
v22 And the glory which You gave unto me I have given unto them, that they may be one, even as we are one. v23 I in them, and You in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them, as You have loved me. v24 Father, I will that they also, whom You have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which You have given me, for You loved me before the foundation of the world".
Jesus knew that in order to be effective in spreading the gospel of the kingdom through- out the world, He would need to transfer His rulership to all those who would believe in Him.
So a quick review would let us see that on the day of Pentecost, the crown of His authority to do His works in the earth....came and rested upon His disciples and became available to all who would receive it. Jesus won't take anyone any further than they are willing to go, but to those who are willing, He will give power from on high!!
Act 1:8 "But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth".
Since we're talking about the Christian as those God has chosen to have rulership in the earth.....we need to reflect often upon and have an understanding of the "power" which Jesus said He would give.....this power is a force, a God given ability, an abundance, a purpose, having supernatural might, possibilities, enablement, supply, and mighty works....
The word "Power" in Acts 1:8. is translated into 4 Greek words.....
Dunamis, Exousia, Ischus, and Kratos...so let’s have a quick review….
Dunamis is the power to overwhelm whatever would try to overwhelm you..... It is the source of power or the power producer, the dynamo within us that functions in alignment with God’s power. Just as a light bulb is designed to give light and everything is there to allow it to do what it is designed to do…but it can’t happen until it is connected to a power source… We have all that is needed to accomplish what we need to, but unless we are connected to the power source, it can’t be done….
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power (Dunamis) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt (overcome) you".
Someone has said that the enemy would like to cause clergymen to be defrocked and Christian lawyers to be debarred, so doesn’t it follow that, if we don't understand our authority in Christ....electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted or decomposed, cowboys deranged, dry cleaners depressed, laundry workers could be decreased (eventually becoming depressed and depleted), bed-makers will be debunked, baseball players will be debased, bulldozer operators will be degraded, software engineers will be detested, and worthy politicians would be devoted.....Wow! (all that and more)
But Dunamis is the power to overwhelm what has tried to overwhelm you.
It puts the odds in your favor, it levels the playing field, it transforms turkeys into eagles and weakness into strength… Dunamis is the ability to “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might”…..
The next word for power is "Exousia", this is delegated authority, when someone authorizes you to act in their behalf.... When Jesus spoke those "Exousia" words in Mark 16:15, He is commissioning them and equipping them at the same time.....
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. v16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. v17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. v18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover". (in my name) is a legal term for power of attorney…
When I was growing up, all of my aunts, uncles, and grandparents were given Exousia, by my parents, to act in their behalf, and I couldn't get away with anything!. And when we operate in our Exousia, the Devil can't get away with anything either!!!!
The third word for power is "Ischus"..... we might use the term “A little dab will do you” for this word….It’s about a little becoming a lot… it’s when lack is transformed to plenty, when greatness is wrapped in a small package, when weakness is made to become strength.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom". Ischus is the five loaves and two fishes feeding over 5000. Sowe don't look at what we have, but what God says it can be! We look at our lack, at our insuffeciency, our inability, through the power of Ischus!!!!
The fourth word which is translated "Power" is "Kratos".... It’s another way of saying “you will prevail for the battle is the Lord’s” “He will fight for you, so you will surely overcome”…this word is about invincibility, and has to do with what takes place when we are sent by the Lord and we are involved in an assignment from heaven.....When the vision of our hearts becomes the walk in our feet and the work of our hands…..
When the disciples were told by Jesus, to go over to the other side in a boat... even though the worst storm of their lives arose and tried to drown every one of them, they were operating under the Lord's Kratos authority and that superceeded the force of the storm. Because Jesus told them to go to the other side, as they obeyed, they were invincible and the storm could not hurt them until they fulfilled their assignment.
Find your mission, know your purpose, be under orders, get on your assignment, and you need not fear the powers that might try to overwhelm you.....
Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight”.
We can only access the level of authority which we are willing to acknowledge and accept.....
This also tells us that we need to understand that with all the power and authority which we have looked at, it is important to know that we are not always given what we want because God knows that something better is planned for us, than we had planned! He sees much more than we are able to see….
I heard that after all the hard work for his doctor of Divinity degree, one theologian named Joseph Tweedle refused to walk in the graduation procession, and accepted his degree in private. He said, "It’s bad enough being being named Tweedle without being called "Tweedle, D.D." Well, folks, there are people who refuse to stand up and operate in the authority they have been given for many reasons.....
Jesus summed up all of these phases of power, that He makes available to us, when He taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven"...
Christian rulership is about the alignment factor. It is about coming into harmony with the will of God in all the circles of our influence and connections. It is about God bringing us into His right place, at His right time, with His designated people, for His right reason and purpose.
When our lives become God centered, His will becomes our heartbeat and begins to align us with His deepest desires....
Jesus came to build a kingdom within a kingdom. He came to raise up the kingdom of God in the midst of the kingdoms of men.
Everywhere God's children are is the realm where they are given rulership and authority. It may be the realm of the home, the school, the neighborhood, the workplace, the government, or whatever their circle of influence.
We must be the change we want in the world…. this kingdom authority begins with each one of us.... The greatest obstacle to personal power is ourselves, because we carry the baggage of our own insecurities and past experiences which try to convince us that it can't be done....The desires God placed in you are always possible, but the path to getting there is not always apparent. We must begin to rule our own spirit.....and keep on Belonging, Believing, and Becoming. There may be many things you can’t control, but you can control yourself….
Proverbs 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his own spirit is greater than he that takes a city".
How often have we seen it true, that someone who has not bothered with ruling their own spirit, has been given authority, and it becomes the means of their destruction. Their personal character is filled with flaws because of a lack of self-discipline and the power they receive brings those flaws into the spotlight. But there’s good news if we will rule our own spirit….
Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing".
In order to guard the anointing (anointing means authorization) which we have received of the Lord, we must guard the thought gate, the heart gate, the eye gate, the ear gate, and the mouth gate. These are all places of entrance into our spirit. It is easy in our time, to allow your spirit to become confused by all that is taking place in the world around us.
We are all the sum total of what we believe.....
An Atheist decided to take a vacation, and go fishing. He picked as his destination a certain lake in Scotland. While out in a boat fishing, the *…..Loch Ness Monster suddenly appeared and frightened him to the point that the Atheist cried out, "Lord, save me, help me Lord!"
A voice from Heaven came down and said, "I thought you did not believe in Me!" The Atheist, was looking a bit sheepish and said "A minute ago, I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster, either."
We become what we believe.....
An important aspect of our rulership in this heavenly kingdom is described as a royal priesthood of believers....
A priest is one who stands before God for others..... it is an intercessory position. As part of God's priesthood in the earth, we are all intercessors.... A royal priesthood indicates that it is a class of kingly priests, who serve before the King of kings Himself….see it again….
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”.
In all that we do, we are called to be those that stand before God in behalf of others.... not just others that we agree with, or others that we call friends, but the ones who have been outside our circle and outside our places of preference.
Remember that our commission is "Go into all the world".....as priests and kings....and as we do in obedience....as part of this priesthood, we visit the sick and poor, we become pro-active in the Church to empower it's mission, to devote some portion, not only of our finances, but of our time and our prayers, to Christ's service...And as we do...He promises in Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy....
This generation we are part of is chosen by God to accomplish something important and significant in His grand scheme of things. This generation is called to contribute what no generation has done, or will do….No matter how dark or how hopeless it may look, God has a plan for each of us in our day, in our generation…..
Since we are to be kings and priest before God in the earth, would you join me in praying together in agreement, a prayer for those who are suffering the devestation which has ravished this island nation of Puerto Rico....
Prayer.....Lord, I join my prayers with the family of faith around the world, for the island nation of Puerto Rico...."Father, Let the nation of Puerto Rico experience your path of wholeness, completeness and restoration, and may it continue to grow brighter and brighter until she reaches the full light of her new day of destiny, in the mighty name of Jesus. I believe together with all her people, that she shall be miraculously brought back from the effects of this devastation. In Jesus’ name, I ask the Father for legions of the Holy Angels to insure her positive and victorious faith filled outcome. We take authority over any stronghold of lack, insufficiency, disease and infirmity, which would try to rise up, in Jesus’ name. Anoint her national spirit, to prosper and Let the fire of Your anointing cause the fires of revival to burn into all her ways, her thinking, and all her procedures... socially, politically, economically, and demographically. Let her become a channel of blessings and a fountain of life for the nations, in Jesus’ name. I thank you for the release of divine favor, angelic involvement and positive results. Father, make Your face to shine upon Puerto Rico, with Divine enlightenment as You bestow Your favor upon her, so that she may continue to be a blessing in her time and place. I thank you and praise you, and give you the honor and the credit for all these things, In Your name and for Your honor and glory I pray, Amen".
And now, as God's priesthood, would you stand before God with someone around you and just stand in your priesthood, and interceed in their behalf....for their family members, their life choices that need to be made, that their needs be met and the supply that God wants to bring to them would come to them....their physical healing, and that the souls in their circle of influence would come to Christ....In Jesus Name.....
Right minded means, normal, sensible, mentally sound, having all their marbles, well adjusted, equitable, ethical, just, conscientious, discerning, with good judgment, level-headed, responsible, rational, well-grounded, both oars in water, playing with full deck ....
Let's check out a couple of scriptures on this subject as we begin....
Philippians 2:2 "Be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. v3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others more highly than themselves. v4 Do not look only after your own things, but let everyone also look after the things of others. v5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Another scripture which shows a distinction between the mental condition of a believer in Christ as compared to an unbeliever, is in Luke 8:35 "Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.." In one scene of this story, the Gaderene is luny as a bed bug.... and Jesus shows up and he's dressed nice and in his right mind....If you had met this guy in a dark alley before Jesus You would know the difference!!!
Let's put it this way.... Picture your life as a train going down a track, "The engine of our redeemed spirit, is hooked to the car of our will, which is hooked to the car of our thought life, which is hooked to the car of our experiences, which is hooked to the car of our flesh, which is hooked to the car of our emotions, which is hooked to the car of our ..(well you get the idea)
We may be on the right track, but none of us are just the engine, we're all these other cars, which are being pulled along with us.... All of this pulling and all of this resistance can wear you down and wear you out, if you are not being renewed daily in your mind and spirit.....
I like reading bumper stickers, and there are some folks that really love bumper stickers, but some express what I've been saying in their own way.... one said, "everyone has a photographic memory, it's just that some have run out of film". And then there's the bumper sticker for those who are always late. "Their ancestors arrived on the June Flower instead of the MayFlower". Then there's the bumper sticker of the guy who's fed up with it all..."Pardon my driving, I am reloading my gun". And last..."Change is inevitable. Except when you're using a vending machine".
We are told in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "To cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
Solomon was one of the wisest men that ever lived, but he did some things that show us that he was not in his right mind..... We can look at King David, at Noah, at Abraham, at Samson, and on and on we could go..... All of these acted in such a way that let us know they were not in their right mind. They started riding in the car of flesh, or the car of emotions, or the car of experience, or the car of their will or thought life, and they allowed it to derail their right mind.
And they would all tell you that it just wasn't worth it.... We can all fall prey to this, and begin to major on minors.....Instead of the engine of our Redeemed Spirit pulling everything, we start letting the things we are giving power to begin to have power over us.
When an olympic runner is in the blocks at the starting line, waiting for the gun so he can break the world record....it's not the time to ask him for an autograph... He will not be distracted by lesser things, because he is single minded and focused, as the race is about to begin......The sprinter has to tie his shoes before he can get to the tape. He gets rid of all excessive weight. Part of being right minded, is learning what needs to be done first - then doing it, and knowing what can wait till later!
Sometimes being Right Minded falls prey to "Excessive choices"..... We live in a day where we have a multitude of options and an avalanche of decisions all rushing at us in the course of each day. We can easily fall victim to our excessive choices..... Which of the 32 brands of toilet paper should we buy....which of the 767 shades of green should we paint the house....which of the 450 soft drinks on the market should you buy.... etc....etc....Then add to that, a culture that can never get enough and stuff can get really crazy! We can all get derailed from our primary purpose with all the distractions and excessive choices that life drops on us...How many extras do we have in our lives that we could cut out and find ourselves further along in our journey of faith and spiritual growth....
I remember when my son David and Vickie, his wife, had one car with 2 kids in seperate schools, plus extra school activities. On top of that, they both were working part time jobs, plus pastoring a church. They were worn out all the time and emotionally frazzled from rushing back and forth.
Unless you can leap and summersault like this guy, on the screen, leaping over the bull, you don't want to go in the pin with a mean bull, when he's alone, or you will be trying on a set of horns for size....you need to send in about 40 cows to distract him and then you can get right up to him. Don't let distractions get their horns in you....
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He handed the disciples a huge task before He left them ....He said (Go into all the world and preach the gospel) But first he told them "Go tarry, (put aside all distractions) until you are endued with power from on high". We have to put off some things before we can put on the things that will make it possible to fulfill our goals and dreams. Scripture tells us to lay aside every weight that would weigh us down, when we are running this race of life.
I wonder how many every week, sing, "'Sweet Hour of Prayer" in church but don't spend 30 minutes a week actually praying. How many lift their voices with, "Bring Them In" and they haven't invited anyone to church in months. How many sing "This is my Father's world" and then litter it with garbage and debris. How many times has the church sang, "Christ Returneth?" and yet live as though He will never return. We love the song "Thy word is a light unto my path" but spend most of our time reading newspapers and social media. We sing, "I Love to Tell the Story" and can't remember the last time we shared the gospel with someone... We sing, "One Step at a Time" and immediately begin to worry about to-morrow!
You can't get on a plane to Cuba and expect to arrive in Tampa....that's just mixed up logic!!! You can be sincere and be sincerely wrong! You'll never get there going in the wrong direction no matter how sincere you are. We can't choose the things God clearly says He isn't pleased with in our lives, and expect His blessing to be on it....that just not right minded! When you're out hunting, if you didn't calibrate your gun site, you'll miss everything you shoot at. The word of God helps us keep calibrated and in our right mind!
Listen, I was out on the golf course some time ago and I was having an average game, but then out of nowhere, I made the best drive of my life, I mean I hit the jacket off the ball... but then I realized that I had hit the ball at the wrong green.... When folks go for an extended time without clear direction which causes them to be unable to priortize the things in their lives, they can get mental burn-out.... A double mind is not a right mind....When you get on board with things that pull you in two different directions it's hard to make any headway... somethings got to give....When you hear of a leader of the church falling....that's a mis-nomer... they didn't fall they slid into sin and the slide that derailed them was because they left their right-mind and got double minded! They became divided in their mission, divided in their goals and divided in their values.....
In the book of Ruth, we are told that she was not willing to settle for anything less than Bo-az. She was no fool, she was willing to wait for her Bo-az....But to do that She had to push past ...
Broke-az, Poor-az, Lazy-az, Cheap-az, Dumb-az, Mean-az and Crazy-az, to get to her Bo-az! Stay calibrated and in your right mind, with the Word....
Your past can set you up and catch you up in a domino effect....But No matter what our life and our history has been, we can have a right mind... A right mind, interrupts the domino effect that our wrong choices and the wrong choices of others has set in motion.....
With God, a renewed, transformed mind is possible....Romans 12:2 tells us that we are to “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind[s]”. Philippians 4:8: Gives us the key to renewing our minds and it is by focusing on “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
I believe the Lord wants to show each of us what He can do through a life that is being transformed by the renewing of their mind.
Fasting isn't just about getting rid of calories, it's also about getting rid of wrong thinking.....People may refrain from food and enter into a fast, but we need to also fast in our emotions, our thought life, and the things of the flesh in order to bring ourselves into balance and have a healthy perspective. A right mind doesn't let the emotions and fleshly appetites have the final say....
Let's say that you make a mistake and mess up at work. The feeling you have as a result is may be frustration or disappointment. But your emotions kick in and you let your emotions have the final say, and what comes out of your mouth is...“I’m so stupid. I can’t seem to get anything right, I'll never be able to do this...” We all have feelings but we can't allow our feelings to commandeer our Right Mind. What emotionally charged words have you declared over yourself..... It's time to renew your mind.
Whenever a person starts a fire using a magnifying glas to focus the heat of the sun, they are operating the Law of Concentration... In the Law of Concentration, whatever we focus on and dwell on becomes part of our reality, whether it's negative or positive. What you hate, becomes a strong force in your life, actually attracting the very things you hate. What you fear becomes a powerful force in your life, attracting the very things you fear. There are folks who had homes filled with yelling, and fighting and violence, who can't make the commitment of marriage, because that family background is what controlls their life choices, or their family was broken by divorce, alcohol or drugs, so they fear that those things will happen if they start a family.
But thank God there is a Law of Substitution... If the cross of Christ equals the x factor and y equals our insufficiency, and S equals the supply... So then, the law of Substitution declares to us that the cross of Jesus is enough to replace all of our negative fears with positive faith. We can replace hate with forgiveness and love. We can replace lack with more than enough, we can replace sickness with wholeness. We replace wrong thinking with right mindedness....As we practice this law of substitution more and more, we can become experts at substituting the negative and toxic stuff with positive, edifying, productive things.
I came across this item which is about "Planting the garden of a right mind" that I found very appropriate.....it says that we need to
Plant five rows of "peas"--prayer, preparedness, promptness, perseverance, politeness.
Put in six rows of "squash"--squash gossip, squash criticism, squash fear, squash negative thinking, squash assumptions and squash indifference.
Plant seven rows of "lettuce"--let us love one another, let us be faithful, let us be loyal, let us be unselfish, let us be grateful, let us be compassionate, and let us be truthful.
Put in eight rows of "turnips"--turn up for church, turn up on time, turn up with a purpose, turn up to contribute, turn up with praise, turn up prepared, turn up to be a friend, turn up with the determination to do a better job today than you did yesterday.
To be right minded is to be Spiritually Minded.....Romans 8:6 says, “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Listen, God has a plan for each of our lives. It is a plan to help us live our best life, with the best outcome ever!!! We are a spirit that has a soul, that lives in a body.
In a congregation where there are deaf persons, the person doing sign language will continue signing during the offeratorial because it is just blank space to the deaf person, and the signer is filling in the empty space with the words to the song.....Sometimes we have places in our lives that we could just call blank spaces....Those blank spaces are unfinished things that haunt our minds....when we have blank spaces, a right minded person will let the Holy Spirit fill in the blanks, and go on their way with peace. Don't let your blank spaces mess with your right mind.....
Before classic pianist Clara Schumann, would play her deceased husband Robert's compositions, she would first read his old love letters which he wrote to her, in private. Then, inspired by his words, she was then better able to interpret his musical compositions, and able to help her audience feel their beauty and power.
The same is true with believers in Christ, as we immerse ourselves in His love letters to us, we are more capable to share His truth, His love, and His life changing power.
Isaiah 26.3 " Lord, you will keep those in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because they trust in You".
– that is God’s promise to you this morning concerning the renewing of your mind and the transformation of your life, that we might acomplish our God ordained plan and purpose. When Jesus made any decision He checked with the Father and did what the Father did. He was able to say, if you've seen what I do, you have seen what the Father is doing....As much as possible, shouldn't we do likewise?
Prayer..... Lord Jesus we receive the mind of Christ, and we receive the thoughts, the feelings, and the purposes of Your heart. We place our trust in You, that we may not lean on our own understanding, but in all our ways, acknowledge You, so that You are directing our paths. We place ourselves under the influence of Your Word so that our minds may be renewed and our emotions may be transformed. I desire to prove what is You good, and acceptable, and perfect will, for then I shall make my way prosperous and I shall have good success.
Lord, I will not be anxious about anything, becauseYour peace which transcends all understanding is guarding my heart and my mind. I will think on these things that are worthy of praise and whatever I do, I am trusting you with my plans, hopes and desires. Help me to set my mind on things above and keep records of wrongs as I walk in Your love and forgiveness. In Lord, I commitment myself to live what I have heard and seen in Christ and model my way of living according to Your plan for me. Thank You, Lord that my life is hidden with Christ and I am the redeemed of the Lord, in Jesus' name.
Now speak the blessing of the Lord over those around you before you go today....Let's speak the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26....
" The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace"…. And may the Lord bless you in your going out and your coming in, your rising up and your lying down, your labor and your leisure. The Lord bless all that you put forth your hand to do and cause you to abound and to prosper. May you be blessed in the name of the Lord….
