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Sermon of the Week 
Friday, December 17 2021

The News Behind The News

My title comes from the story that took place on December 17, in 1903, after the Wright brothers were successful in getting their ''flying machine'' off the ground, they telegraphed the message to their sister Katherine: ''We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.'' Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, ''How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.'' Theeditor totally missed the big news—that man had actually flown,in a heavier than air flying machine!                                                                             It’s no different with Christmas. People get so involved in all the many things that are associated with Christmas, that they forget the big news is that Jesus Christ, God's miracle Son was born. It was no different in the days ofJesus’ actual birth. Back then, taxes were the big news. In the crowded town of Bethlehem, among all the hustle and bustle,very quietly, in a cow barn, the real story of the ages was taking place. As it was then, so it is now, people miss the big news of Christmas.

Iran, China, Russia, the coming 2022 congressional election, and the Supreme Court decision on Roe vs. Wade, are being pushed as the big story, but Jesus outshines them all.....

I need to address something here, as I begin, that we need to be very tuned in to as we move through this season. At a time when we celebrate the birth of the savior of the world, the king of kings, and lord of lords, behind the greatest story ever told, there is another story developing. We are living in a world where ourgovernment wants to legislate death.... I’m talking about the fact that during this Christmas season, it has been once again handed to the Supreme Court of this nation, the task of making the decision of either reversing the legalization of Roe Vs. Wade in this country or continuing to refuse the right to life to millions of unborn children.                                                                                                                      Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life ordeath, blessings or curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live v20 so that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life (It’s very source), and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give you....”

Just like the people of Deuteronomy, our nation once again is choosing life or death. The implication here is that if we fail to choose life, then our life will be shortened and God’s blessing would no longer be upon our land. 

We need to be doing some serious faith prayers and declarations over the nation’s Supreme Court as they make their deliberations.And I am told that the issue hangs possibly on one swing vote from one Supreme Court Justice who could go either way. 

God is the source of life, and our constitution was not written in order to justify the killing of unborn babies, it was written to guarantee all men, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

I am told, that if we had not killed millions of unborn babies, we would have enough doctors, scientists, engineers, conservative politicians, apostles, evangelists, pastors, prophets, and teachers to radically change the world we all live in for the better.....

I want us to take a moment and decree life, when death is wanting to continue to haunt and stalk every child in the womb....A decree must come from a higher power and in this case our decree comes from the constitution and the word of God.

DECREE..... We decree according to the Constitution of America, and God’s own word, that all human beings have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our decree is based on the truth that every child is a precious and a sacred giftfrom God.

The sanctity of every human life must be protected, cherished, and defended. We declare that according to God’s word, each person is ‘wonderfully made and a baby in the womb, is a reflection of the majesty of God’s creation. We take our place as the voice of the voiceless, born or unborn, who are made in the holy image of God.

We will pray, declare, decree and speak into the rights of the unborn until we see Roe Verses Wade overturned. Until that day comes, we declare according to God’s word, that a hedge of protection be over and around all unborn Children so they might live and fulfill God’s plan for them. In the name of Jesus, according to God’s holy word. 

If it were left up to the liberal thinkers of our day, Mary would have been sent to an abortion clinic, since she was having a baby out of wedlock, which back then was justification for a woman to be stoned to death if her fiancé so desired it. 

Luke 1:26: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27: to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28: And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."                                                                                                                             At that instant, as the words came forth, “The Lord is with you”, the seed of God went into Mary to perform a miracle) God is with you right now friend.... a miracle is with you and in you right now, because the Lord is with you. Emmanuel means “God is with you”, in the same way that Gabriel spoke it to Mary. It’s the name that declares “a miracle is in you”.

Luke 1:29: “But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30: The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31: And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus”.

Gabriel said “and now”...... the moment the angel spoke it, in the now, Mary was pregnant!

The moment the Holy Spirit quickens the Word of God in you... you become pregnant in your spirit, and something supernatural begins to grow in you, but you must declare it... nurture it and feed it....

I found out something.... Conception begins the moment the egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube, forming a one cell entity called a zygote. The zygote gets 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 from the father. Which in this case is God! These chromosomes determine the baby's sex, and basically who it will be to a large extent. This child is still in the fallopian tube and it’slife is pretty much determined biologically. 

Listen, what God told you, what He promised you, may still be in the fallopian tube, it may still be just a zygote, but all the ingredients that constitute the full manifestation, are already in you!!!

The zygote travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. At the same time, it will begin dividing to form a cluster of cells resembling a tiny raspberry called a Morula.                                                                                                                        The rapidly dividing ball of cells — now known as a blastocyst — has begun to burrow into the uterine lining (endometrium). 

This process is called implantation. When implantation occurs, the Morula begins to create it’s own invironment, and starts influencing the body of the woman who is it’s host or mother. The mother’s body starts to change inside and out to accommodate the human being that is now implanted anddeveloping within her...

James 1:21 Uses the process of implanting, in referring to God’s word.....”Therefore, get rid of all moral corruption and every practice of evil, and humbly accept the word implanted in you, which can save your soul. v22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only”.

How many can see the spiritual parallels that are evident here.....As the word is implanted in us, we allow the word to begin creating a spiritual environment to accommodate the spiritual things of the kingdom, that are developing in us. We allow God’s word to begin to influence our thinking, our actions, and ourenvironment to line up with the things of the spirit. 

As an example, tithing is a very spiritual exercise, and implants blessing into our finances and rebukes the destroyer from our lives. It becomes a force that injects God’s blessing into every area of our personal and family life in ways that have a domino effect which influences many other areas in our circle of life. 

So, getting back to the word spiritual. It’s one of those words we use all the time, but did you know there’s no word for spiritual in the Hebrew language? Hebrew is the language of the first three forths of the Bible, or what we call the Old Testament. Look up the word spiritual in Genesis to Malachi which is the Bible used by Jesus. You’ll find It’s not there. Why? Because in a Hebrew worldview, all of life is sacred and spiritual.

Even when you get to the New Testament, the word spiritual is mostly a term which is used by the apostle Paul. In the writings of Paul it means...                                             “all that is animated by the Holy Spirit.” And as far as Paul is concerned, every facet of our life should be spiritual. That’s why Paul says “all things work together for the good of those who love God and His purpose, or intentions toward us”.....

I think if you could ask Jesus about His spiritual life, He would have looked at you very confused. My guess is He would have asked, “What do you mean by My spiritual life? All of My life is spiritual”.

Jesus didn’t buy into the sacred vs. secular thinking. Not one bit. To Him, the God He called Father is as close as the air against our skin. To Him, life is a seamless, integrated, holistic experience where the sacred is all around us. As it was for Jesus, so let it be for us, God wants to be involved in every square inch of our lives, because everything is spiritual to our God. 

The word Spiritual in the Greek is “pnuematikos” It’s from the root word pneuma, where we get the word pneumatic, which is a driving force.       It is a driving, empowering presence in us to do what God calls to do as we “occupy until He comes” back to thisEarth.

We can see spiritual examples in all creation around us. My wife loves to watch the Pelicans as they skim the water and dive for fish. But I found out something very spiritual about Pelicans.                                                               Since medieval times, legend has it that when a pelican’s chick has been bitten by a snake, it will strike its chest with its beak until it bleeds and then it will let the chick drink it’s blood which contains the antidote to the snakevenom. How spiritual is that!

If this is done by the pelican for it’s chicks, imagine all that God does and will do for us.  We are his children, His most precious treasure, and He has shed His own blood so that we might receive the antidote to sin and death. 

When the serpents of this life reach out and bite us. They inject their poison of doubt, worry, fear, and unbelief, into us but they cannot overcome the Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God that washes away the sin of the world and the sting of death. Don'tpanic if the serpent surprises you and gets in a bite, just make sure that the Lamb's Blood is flowing through your veins.”

In Genesis 2:15-17 God told Adam, that “if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He would surely die.” God didn’t say that He would kill him! The moment they ate in disobedience, their bodies began to die, but most important, their relationship which they enjoyed before   with God died! A separation, the wedge of sin came between them.                                               When Karen was little, she would open the doors under the sink, where all the cleansers were kept. And I would tell her, “honey, if you drink the Drano, you will die!”.... I didn’t say I would kill her, I just told her of the consequences of those actions!

So they tried to hide their disobedience from God, which lets us know that they had some messed up theology. It was a mix, like a lot of folks today which messes them up. Then God teases them and says “Where are you”... It’s like when the kids were little we would play hide and seek, and I would see their head sticking out from behind the couch and I would still say, “Where are you?,but I could see them all along.....

The thing is that Satan told them that if they ate the fruit, they would get what they already had, but didn’t understand what that was. They already had eternal life, because death hadn’t happened yet. And they had all knowledge, because God told them to name everything and that’s the name it would have and besides, God was there to tell them everything.

If we would get our theology right, Satan wouldn’t stand a chance, because we would be enjoying everything we have been given in Christ!

Take a quantum leap forward from the garden and take another look at Mary, which is another name for “second chance for mankind”.....           As a matter of fact, one of the meanings for the name of this young virgin,   is “The hoped for one”.... (We know that’s true for Alan anyway)

Mary was the most popular girls name until 1946 when Linda took first place away from her.  

In those days, a 13 year old was already promised by her dad to someone or espoused to them. Whoever offered the best dowery, of sheep, goats, or camels, or money.... got the girl. In this case, Joseph was an older man who had a solid business as a carpenter, which her father Heli felt was a good bargain and he probably built them a house as part of the deal.

Why did God choose this 13 year old who was a virgin... still a kid!

Because she was available to God. Mary’s first words were “Do unto me according to thy word”....

She was saying “God use me, however you will, whenever you will, where ever you will”....That will get God’s attention every time!!

He’s still looking for that kind of folks to work miracles through today!

Listen, if you were 13, and had never been with a man in that way, and you are just told that you’re pregnant, your first question will not be should I go with swaddling clothes or disposable diapers....Is it a boy or a girl?.....should I name the baby after my father according to custom.... No.... none of that mattered at the moment....                                                          Your first question is “How can this be”.....which means, This doesn’t’ make any sense!

How can Zechariah and Elizabeth be having a child because,they're too old and she’s barren... How could Abraham and Sarah be having a child because they were too old and she too was barren.....

How’s this going to happen.....Well, you better listen to Gabriel’s answer..  “The Holy Spirit is going to come upon you”.....

We don’t have to make Christmas special, magical, spiritual or super natural.... That’s the Holy Spirit’s Job.... We only need to be available! Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord!

John 14:17 “For he [the Holy Spirit] dwells with you and shall be in you”.....You do as He tells you and then get out of the way, because the next thing that’s coming out of your mouth is “How can this be”!!!

I was sick but now I’m healed.... I was poor but now I’m rich.... I was blind now I see.... I was lame but now I walk.... I was dead but now I live....

The best thing we can do is what Isaiah said.... “Here am I, send me, use me, Here I am”!!!

I’m here to tell you..... The news behind the news is.... it wasn’t supposed to happen, It should have been bad news, It shouldn’thave been possible, but He’s the same yesterday, for Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah. He’s the same today, for this pastor who received a new heart with no scars, and He’s the same forever, for all who will make themselves available to the miracle working power of the blood of the lamb, that holds the cure and that breaks the power of the curse. 

Now in spite of all this supernatural, miracle stuff going on, angel choirs singing, Gabriel showing up.... wagging tongues wag, pointing fingers point, and Mary and Joseph are put in a tight spot. Mary is stigmatized by the community for being single and pregnant... Joseph is being encouraged to put her away....which means either stone her or get rid of her.... But even in all of this, when the pressure is on, and the cards are all on the table.... They are able to hear from God and keep their spirits open to him....

Listen to me..... sometimes your hardest time is just before your break-through... just before the manifestation of your miracle... All hell is breaking loose around you and it seems that everything is the opposite of what you’re believing for, and what God has spoken goes against common reasoning.... That’s when you press in even harder.....get over into fasting along with praying and use the two edged sword.... God said it shall be, and every other voice is a liar....

All things are still possible if we will believe and say “here I am”

I believe we need to declare and decree some miracles in this place..... All things are still possible no matter what the circumstances look like....

Let’s get in position for some supernatural manifestations.....                                                      In 2 Chronicles 36:22 God used the son of Esther, King Cyrus, to send forth the decree, that the Jewishpeople would be released from Babylonian captivity, and be given everything they needed to return home and restore the city and rebuild the temple....

It says “But in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make this proclamation throughout his kingdom, putting it into writing: “All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the Lord God of heaven, and he has instructed me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. All among you who are the Lord’s people return to Israel for this task, and the Lord be with you.”

There’s a spirit of liberty and freedom here this morning, to release you into your miracle....

Where does our right to declare and decree come from?.....

You are God’s family through Christ. . .you are the child of the King. . .and empowered by His blood and His Word to make decrees.

God wants you to be an agent for change here on planet earth. . .yes, to even make decrees that will alter the course of things as we know it. We have a mandate to occupy until He comes. A decree is not just what we say, it is a decision to do somethingthat will activate spiritual things in the natural world around us....by making yourself available to Him....

Are you ready? Then, Let’s Decree!...... ​

Today I decree that I shall receive sudden answers to prayer. Ideclare that the Holy Spirit that is on me and in me is releasingmiracles at this very moment. I declare that I am entering aseason when things that have taken years and months will manifest in hours and days, even at the sound of my voice. 

I prophesy that I am supplied with daily supply and provision! Ibreak the power of every hindrance and blockage from the enemy in Jesus’ Name! I bind the power of every attack that would come to defeat my faith and confidence. I bind weariness of mind and I release hope, fresh inspiration and renewed zeal. 

I declare a season of open doors, successes, blessings, favor, promises manifested, opportunity, and increase resting with andupon me! I declare an end to decrease in every area and I call forth answers, break through, creative ideas, and divine connections. Let it be loosed and break forth on every side beginning now! In the name of the King of kings and Lord of Lords, Amen!

Now, let’s spend some time praising Him for it, if you believe it!!!!

Posted by: AT 08:29 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Monday, December 06 2021

Avatar is Much More Than A Movie....

I want to share a modern parable with you today. As you know, Jesus used parables throughout his ministry. These were stories which were about things, people and places that most of thelocal population were familiar with, and Jesus used these things to extract and present a Spiritual truth from them. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a Big Si-Fi fan. And one of my favorite Si-Fi movies is Avatar! I am one excited camper about the fact that Avatar 2 is coming out in December 16, 2022. Then #3, #4, and #5 will be released every other year until 2028. My goal is to see the 3-D version which has so far eluded me, but I have hope!                                                                             I say that Avatar is much more than a movie, because I see it as a major revelation about living the Christian life. It is a revelation of our true identity and our reason for believing that all of us are much more than we can see. But once we get the revelation, we will never be the same.

In the movie, we are not told what the very first Avatar was, but we are told that the Avatars were biological life forms, which were produced in the likeness of the native inhabitants of the planet Pandora who are called “the Na-vi”. These biological life forms would allow the humans to interact with the local inhabitants and learn their ways and customs,  when they entered these genetically altered bodies. 

My scripture as we begin, is a real life record of the first Avatar....                                 Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed man (a biological life form) from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life (His own Spirit life) into his nostrils, and the man became a living being”.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; (He breathed His own life into them) in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”                                                                                                                        The word incarnate is what happened when the Spiritual life breath of God entered into the lifeless biological form of man. 

I’m sure you know what incarnation means? If you've ever had chili con carne,  or you remember what a carnivore is, then you know. Chili con carne is chili with meat. A carnivore is a meat eater. In-carnate is literally "in the meat." or God in the flesh,with His life in us. 

Wow, man had it all, and his mandate was to subdue the earth and have dominion over it, but he gave the power that was his to Satan who had appeared to Eve as a beautiful, beguiling serpent. Now, because of this, mankind became the slave of sin through disobedience to God. God said “thou shall not eat of this tree”... but Satan’s argument was that God was holding out on them, and they could do as they wished, no matter what God had told them..... (sounds a lot like the avatars of today, doesn’t it)

But God already had a plan to give the human race a second chance. Once again He formed a biological life form in Mary’s womb who had never been with a man. This Avatar would not fail to accomplish what Adam and Eve had failed to fulfill. That Avatar would be known as Jesus. The angel told them “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins (or their willful rebellion and disobedience against God)                             

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shone in darkness; and the darkness could not understand it 

(skip to verse 9) He was the true Light, which sends light (Divine life) into every man that is born into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

v12 “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word was made flesh, (a biological life form) and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”.

So Jesus, became the Son of God, Son of man, or God’s Biological life form, which He could use to become one of us, in order to be tempted in every way we are tempted, and break the cycle of spiritual failure which would then break the power of the curse and take back what was lost.

1 John 3:8 “For this reason was the Son of God made manifest (given a physical body) to undo (destroy, break, and cancel out) the works of the devil”.

You see Jesus went beyond the sin of man, and struck at the very heart and soul of sin.... The first sin originated in the Devil, so that’s where it had to be stopped. Oh, yes, Satan still has power, we see that all around us, but now, power had been given backto mankind, to overcome the Devil. 

In the movie, Jake Sully was crippled and confined to a wheel chair. But when he went into his Avatar, that was named “TorukMakto” he is able to do things he could never do as Jake Sully.His Avatar was 10 feet tall, and powerful. In his avatar body, He could now stop those who wanted to destroy the planet of Pandora and all the local inhabitants...

Ephesians 4:22 Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

And what about Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your physical body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not offer your body to sin as an instrument for unrighteousness, but offer yourself to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and submit your body to God as an instrument for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

And we have to include....Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Consider as dead what is earthly (of the old life) in you, sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, drunkenness and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

6 Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming on the earth. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you have the power to put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, cursing and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old way of living with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Wow, how clear the scripture makes it, that with the Spirit of Christ in us, we have been reborn, so that we can now do what we could never do before. Our redeemed Spirit now inhabits this biological life form and makes it possible for us to overcome what we could not overcome before. You see, it’s not how much of the Holy Spirit you have, but how much of you, the Holy Spirit has!!!

My mom used to call us in and tell us to wash up before dinner. I always thought that it was such a waste, because I was going to go right back out and get dirty again. Well, now I realize it was not dirt that mom didn’t like. IT WAS OLD DIRT SHE DIDN’T LIKE. 

God realizes that we all can get dirty by the world, but it’s old dirt that He is against. When there is no repentance and no desire to begin to live in the new life that He has provided. So we keep on washing, until we master the art of dealing with the old dirt!                                                   I had a friend, who would always stay clean and unspotted when we would be out playing, while I would be dirty from head to toe....I would wash it off if mom made me.... But he was already clean, and only had to wash his hands. You see, God wants to show us how to get less and less dirty so we can devote our time to helping others stay clean, instead of constantly needing to deal with our dirt and never taking charge of our own avatar (biological life form) it is then we move from living on grace and operate in the favor of God....

My mother didn’t just teach me about dirt....My mother taught me RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, "You better pray the stain will come out of the carpet."                                                                                        My mother taught me LOGIC: If I questioned her, then I got logic...."Because I said so, that’s why."                                                                                                                       My mother taught me FORESIGHT: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident."                                                                                                     My mother taught me IRONY: "Keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about."                                                                                                                                   My mother taught me about ENDURANCE: "You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is finished."                                                                                                                                  My mother taught me about WEATHER: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."                                                                                                                                     My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out...(Thanks Mom) couldn’t have done it without you!

In the Avatar movie, everything was connected to Eywa (Sounds a lot like Yahweh) anyway, this was the name of the tree of life, and there was a deep awareness of how sacred and connected everything in the life of the Na-vi was. To a redeemed child of God, who has taken the journey into new life in Christ. Everything is connected. There are no little or insignificant things. God has it all connected in a way we cannot imagine.                                                                                                 Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.                                                                                           Colossians 1:6 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.…

The railing on our balcony is loaded with lights (it was Chris’ idea. He wanted to help while he was here.) At night, my balcony is ablaze. But during the daylight you can’t even tell that there are lights on it. My point is this. It is in the darkness that you should really shine. That’s when God gets the greatest glory. Hey, real Christianity is not for whimps!!! When it’s all going wrong, and everything is upside down, and you don’t know how it’s all going to land. It is then we have the opportunity to really shine. It’s when our faith, our joy, our peace and our strength allows the Holy Spirit to really reveal Himself through us...                                                                That’s why we can give thanks in all things, because we believe God will work all things out for His glory and for our good, in ways we could never comprehend, as we stand still and see the glory of God revealed in it all.

Speaking of how it’s all connected...How could Adam and Eve ever imagine that the authority they gave away, would affect all mankind. That thousands of years later, people would suffer the consequences of their actions. Don’t give away your authority, which Christ has given you.                                                                                                                    We have Delegated Authority.....A manager has delegated authority. But if that manager resigns, he cannot come back on the job and tell anyone what to do. He has no more authority there .                                                                                                                                         A policeman with a badge and uniform has delegated authority when he directs traffic at the traffic junction or pulls up behind you with the disco lights flashing. But if he quits the force, turns in his badge and takes off the uniform...and stands in traffic, he may qualify as road kill! He’s lost his authority. We just can’t afford to give away our authority because Satan doesn’t care who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been... He only cares about WHOSE YOU ARE. It’s Christ in me the hope of Glory. Jesus said, “I have given you the keys to the Kingdom”....

Mark 11:28“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”                                                                        Jesus knew the source of His authority as He moved about in the earthly body of flesh He inhabited. Satan tried his hardest to trick Him, trap Him, make Him think He was just a man, and even crucified Him to get Him to relinquish that authority. 

What are the places we have given up our authority? Whatever it takes, don’t you do it! It’s the very authority which was so fought for and hard won by Christ, that allows us to have power in our new life, over the devil. Satan will not just roll over and give up because we don’t like what he has done to us... He only responds to authority, that authority comes from our decision to walk and live in our new life through Christ.

Folks ask me, “Why Me”?....“Why have I had to go! through this”... “Why has this sickness come”, “Why would God allow this to happen”.... The bible says that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.... these things come to teach us to use our authority. My answer to anyone....   We are all training to rule and reign. No soldier says they loved boot camp! But when they’re under fire, they appreciate what they learned. God gave Adam and Eve dominion (rulership) and they lost it. Jesus came to give it back. When these things come into our lives, it is so we can learn to exercise the dominion and authority we have to operate in and then learn to walk in it.                                                                                  Good intentions, and a good show, go only so far. You can be Billy Graham’s son, Oral Roberts’ son, or Katheryn Kuhlman’s daughter, and it means nothing.  It is only God’s empowering that turns the weakness of man into a force for God against the Devil. Fighting the devil without the impowering of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is like going into war with a knife and the enemy has automatic rifles!                                                                                                                                     Well, here it is.. Acts 19:13 Some Jews who went around doing exorcisms tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were trying to drive out spirits “in the name of Jesus who Paul preaches”. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.                                                                                                                           They could have rebuked the demons with the name of Hector the cat, and it would have gotten about the same results. 

Someone with 2 karate lessons is a piece of trouble going somewhere to happen. They know just enough to get themselves hurt. It’s not enough to know about Jesus, you need to have a personal relationship with Him. Using the name of Jesus without a personal relationship with Jesus, will only make the Devil mad. And you don’t want to make him mad without the power of the Spirit to overcome him! If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, it’s best to let some sleeping dogs lie, until you’re willing to believe on Jesus and receive Him as your lord and savior.

In the Avatar movie, a person could not live on Pandora unless they were able to deal with the poisonous, toxic air on the planet. But if they could be in the body of an Avatar, they could thrive in the midst of a hostile environment.                                                                                                            God doesn’t isolate us, but He insulates us, to make it possible to deal with and movearound in the midst of a toxic and sinful world, but be untouched and untarnished by it.                                                                                                                    One pastor’s wife was very afraid to fly, so she had to drive everywhere. Her Husband askedher to pray and seek God about the Fear that was controlling her. "Just stand on God’s promises and trust Him about your fear and God will help you." He would tell her. Over time, she overcame the fear. One day, she was flying with her friend through a violent storm in a small plane. The friend was sweating it out while she was fast asleep. When they landed, the friend asked her, "How could you sleep so peacefully?" She replied, It’s because my life no longer belongs to me, it now belongs to Christ”!

Galatians 2:20 “My old life has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. So that I live in this earthly body (my Avatar) by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for my new life.

We have all heard the "Good New!"..."Bad News!" euphemisms. Usually the next question is “Which do you want first?” Most folks say give me the bad news first, then the good news will make me feel better. A fella asked a prophet if they had baseball in heaven, because he was a big fan. The prophet said, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that they actually do have baseball in heaven. The bad news is that You’re up to bat tonight at 11:00.                                                                            I have some "Bad News!...Good News!.. Best News" for you... The bad news is that you’re dying. That’s right, this very moment your biological life form is dying, but the good news is that it is being regenerated at a cellular level. The best news is found in...                                                   2 Corinthians 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent (body) we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 For in this tent we yearn with desire, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling...

If your life is still yours, and you’re living like this is all there is, then you are easy prey for fear, doubt, temptation, worry, the cares of life, the pressure, and all the responsibilities that come daily, to wear you down and wear you out....                                                                                                                     Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God (Shalom, which is completeness and wholeness) rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body (Avatar) and be thankful in all things.

In the bible, the word heart, is not about your blood pump, butthe Greek word is “kar-dee'-ah” from which we get our word Cardio... and it means “Your Center”... You wouldn’t be much without your heart... and what comes out of your center, the core of your being, will determine the quality of your life...now and for eternity....When the Devil bumps you real hard, make sure only Jesus comes out! (and you will surely get bumped!)      When your life is hidden in Christ, then you can say like the old poem... What though wars may come with marching feet and beat of the drum, I have Christ in my heart. What though nations rage as we approach the end of the age, I have Christ in my heart. God is still on His throne, Almighty God is He. And He cares for His own through all eternity. So let come what may, whatever it is, I only say, that I have Christ in my heart. I HAVE CHRIST IN MY HEART!

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR AVATAR... It’s training you to Reign!!!

Prayer......Heavenly Father, I surrender my life to You, my finances, my family, my thoughts, and my will.  Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by what is going on around me that I am lost for words, but you see my heart. In those times, I know that all I need to do by the power of the Holy Spirit in me, is call on the victorious name of Jesus. I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is my spiritual and personal worship unto You. 

I surrender my burdens, my worries and my fears. Enable me Lord, even when the pressure is on, and I am challenged on every side, that in it all I will magnify and glorify You.  When temptation comes my way, I stir up the Holy Spirit within me, to give me wisdom, strength and guidance to triumph over whatever situations I face. I confess Proverbs 3:5 I Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I do not lean on my own understanding. 

In all my ways I acknowledge You, and You make straight my paths. Lord I know that You are with me always, transforming my heart, shaping me, molding me, guiding me and leading the way as I seek first Your kingdom.Help me to manifest Your light and Your truth in this world so that many may find You and discover life in You. Lord I look to You as my source, my provider and sustainer. Keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me under the shadow of Your wings, In Jesus name, and for Your glory, Amen.

Posted by: AT 04:14 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Monday, November 29 2021

Contentment In A World Filled With Discontent....                                                                     

I guess you could say that my message today is for all the folks that don’t want anyone to tell them what to do. The widow woman didn’t want to bake a little cake for the prophet, but she’s glad she did... Peter didn’t want to cast the nets after catching nothing all night, but he was so glad he did....Gideon didn’t want to face 150,000 Assyrians with 300 troops, but he won because he did.... Moses didn’t want to go to Egypt, but every Israelite is glad he went.... Esther didn’t want to go before the king, but the nation was spared because she did.... and on we could go....rightup to the places that we don’t want to hear what God may be telling us to do....

Last week as my son Chris closed his message, he mentioned that intimacy with the lord, will result in CONTENTMENT.... Solet’s take a further look at this truth! Let’s hear from Paul as he addresses the Philippian church...

Philippians 4:11 “I am not speaking out of some personal need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength”.

Contentment is sometimes like playing “Where’s Waldo”.... It’s there somewhere, you just have to look close until you find it....                     (sorry but I am not stopping this sermon until you find Waldo)!!                                                          The truth is that if you have a redeemed perspective, Waldo is everywhere you look!! Paul says it is a learned or perspective thing!!! It is not a where but a “How”... to see.

The Bible dictionary defines the word contentment as.....”To be free from worry and care because of being satisfied in and with what you already have”.

It actually means “self contained.” And it is a description of the person who has discovered that their true source is within themso that they do not have to depend on other sources for their happiness”

When Paul says, “I have learned to be content in all things”.... He was saying that he was self contained through Christ who always strengthened him, in every situation...

Chasing the rainbow has become many people’s full timeoccupation... (I’m not talking about pursuing your vision, and improving yourself, I’m talking about living with pipe-dreams......

I came across an item that says... “I have always wanted what I didn’t have... I was a child, but I wanted to be an adult, with all the freedom and the respect. I was a teenager, but it was 30 I wanted, to be mature and sophisticated. I was a senior citizen, but it was 20 I wanted, the youth and the free spirit. I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted, the presence of mind without all the limitations. Now My life is over. But I never got what I wanted. It was always somewhere else”.

An airline pilot was flying over the Tennessee mountains and pointed out a lake to his copilot. “See that little lake down there?When I was a kid I used to sit in a rowboat down there, fishing. Every time a plane would fly overhead, I’d look up and wish I was flying it. Now I look out from the cockpit and wish I was in a rowboat down there, fishing.”

1 Timothy 6:6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing (materially) out of it.”

Karl Barth, was a famous theologian that influenced a lot of Christian thinking. He was asked, what was his deepest theological thought. He responded, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Money can buy you a bed, but not sleep.... It can buy you books, but not wisdom.....it can buy you a wedding, but not a marriage...it can buy a house, but not a home.... it can buy you medicine but not health.... it can buy amusements, but not friends..... It can buy you about anything but peace with Godand contentment.

At the heart of Christian contentment is founded on a strong belief that God is in control and has the answer before there was a problem. He had the cure before Satan came up with the disease. He had a way prepared, when there was no way.

Romans 8:28 still says “All things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose.” God is working everything to accomplish His purpose.

God providentially arranged for Joseph to go through all he went through so he could rise to a high position in Egypt in order to preserve His people. We may not understand God’s purpose for where we’re at, but His plan is much bigger than we can see now...

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good that many people may be kept alive.”

“If you’re chasing happiness, you’ll never be content.” But...If you learn to be content, then you’ll find happiness will come with it.”

In our opening scripture, Paul is quoted as saying that Contentment is a learned behavior and attitude...

Philippians 4:12 “I have learned in ALL THINGS to be content”...  You can choose to be the most contented person you ever met!

There will always be people that make more money than you. There will always be people who are smarter than you. There will always be people who are better looking than you. You will never find contentment by looking around at what others have or don’t have.                                                             

I don’t have to have what others have to be happy.

I don’t have to be liked by everyone else in order to be happy.

You don’t need everybody’s approval to be happy.

Even Jesus couldn’t please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even Jesus could not do, and that’s please everyone!!!

Howard Hughes was asked, "How much money does it take to make a man happy?" He answered in typical Hughes fashion..."Just a little more than you already have." Hughes died alone and miserable...                                

How well do you handle change, and how well do you adapt to the changes around you? That question could indicate your level of contentment.

Some people get moody. Some people get mad. Some people get frightened. Some people get uptight. 

A psychiatrist asked a patient at a mental institution...

"How did you get here? What was the nature of your illness?" He got the following reply.

"Well, it all started when I got married and I guess I should never have done it. I married a widow with a grown daughter who then became my stepdaughter. My dad came to visit us, fell in love with my lovely stepdaughter, then married her. And so my stepdaughter was now my stepmother. Soon, my wife had a son who was, of course, my daddy's brother-in-law since he is the half-brother of my stepdaughter, who is now, of course, my daddy's wife.

So, as I told you, when my stepdaughter married my daddy, she was at once my stepmother! Now, since my new son is brother to my stepmother, he also became my uncle. As you know, my wife is my step-grandmother since she is my stepmother's mother. Don't forget that my stepmother is my stepdaughter. Remember, too, that I am my wife's grandson. But You see, since I'm married to my step-grandmother, I am not only the wife's grandson and her husband, but I am also my own grandfather. Now can you understand how I got put in this place?"         So, how do you handle change?

Paul says that one of the secrets of learning to be content in life is the ability to adjust to all kinds of circumstances and change.                   He says “In all things, I have learned to be content”....If we are going to be successful in life we need to learn to adjust to change in a positive manner. Your happiness in life is largely dependent upon your ability to adapt and to adjust to change. Change is going to happen whether you like it or not. Let’s look at what Paul tells us again in our opening scriptures....

Philippians 4:11 “I have learned in whatever circumstances I find myself, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

I can live above the problems of this world. I can live above the hurts I have suffered. I can live above the bad memories. I can live in victory rather than live as a victim.

If I don’t like what I’m watching, I switch the channel. If I don’t like the way I am thinking about something – I change the way I think about it. If I am hungry – I get up and eat. If I am thirsty – I go get a drink. Contentment means that I always have options... I’m not stuck in some pit of life. – I understand there are some things I can do to improve my situation – and I can always choose do them....

If contentment is a learned thing.... then we need to learn it, and get it deep down in our soul and spirit.

Learning to be content in life comes from the confidence that God will see you through. That He will give you the power to meet each and every situation and circumstance head on. He will supply the connection you need, the life partner you are looking for, the resources that you are believing for, the healing, the strength, the ability, the faith, the finances, and on we could go......

We may not like the person that says, “That’s not good for you” Or “Why are you doing that”... We want to push them away or tell them to mind their own business... but they are addressing the source of our discontent, and if we will listen, we can change and we can learn to discover contentment in every area of our lives. 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:19 Paul says “My God shall supply all my needsaccording to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” That’s contentment with a capital C!!!!!

Those are great scriptures, but how about what Paul says when he addresses our greatest source of discontent....                                                  2 Timothy 2:24 “And the Lord's servants must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting those who oppose themselves with understanding. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”                 “Those who oppose themselves” is a perfect description of folks who live with discontentment.

The United States has one of the richest economies in the world.A few years ago, a survey showed that this country had more than 5 million millionaires and 269 billionaires. However, the research indicated that only 20 percent of North Americans were happy, and content. Maybe that is why psychologist Ed Diener of the University of Illinois says,   “The focus on Materialism can be toxic to happiness”.

People are discontent, because they have a God shaped hole in them that only He can fill. They try to fill it with...

people, popularity, possessions, politics, position, projects,performance, & earthly power (can anyone think of any other words that start with P....)

Anyway.... An old Chinese Proverb says this…. If you wantcontentment for an hour, take a nap; if you want contentmentfor a day—go fishing, if you want contentment for a year,  inherit more money than you could possibly spend... but if you want contentment for a lifetime- help others find contentment.Happy people inspire happiness... But so many look at other people and think …they sure look happy…why do they seem to get all the breaks in life? What are they doing that I am not doing? And sometimes if we really get to a low place we start thinking everybody’s happy and everyone else is content except poor little old me. I’m gonna eat some worms....

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you”

Let’s look at Philippians 4:8. “Let your mind dwell on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, andthings that are praiseworthy”.  Solomon said it this way…. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.

Let’s look at 8 CONTRIBUTORS TO CONTMENT AND PEACE OF MIND

Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” They came up with of list of things that contribute to emotional and mental stability.....                     1. The absence of bitterness and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in discontent.                                                                                  2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression and discontent.                                     3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Stop trying to run away from it, and do what you can do.                                       4. Force yourself to stay involved with the world around you. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.                                                                                             5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept that you’re not an exception.. that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.                                                                                                 6. Hold on to and keep the virtues of love, humor, compassion and loyalty.

7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goalsyou have set, feelings of inadequacy and discontent are inevitable.                                    8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest on any test for measuring contentment.

Doctors practice medicine, lawyers practice law, Musicians practice an instrument and we must practice contentment....                                                                                       I can get through grief, pain, hurt, personal loss, sickness, deep disappointment, and so much more as I keep practicing contentment.... As I realize that all these things are opportunities to keep learning this and find that God truly does supply all I need, as I put Him first!

Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, ask an important question... Why am I here on this earth?.... Every person must identify their purpose in life and decide to live according to that purpose. Too many folks live with the Christopher Columbus syndrome.                        Christopher Columbus left on a journey without knowing where he was going, when he arrived he did not know where he was, and when he returned home he did not know where he had been.

Too many people only live to work, eat, sleep, and squeeze in a little fun and entertainment in the evenings and week-ends, without any greater purpose. Pay the bills, buy groceries, and just try to break even. When it’s all said and done. None of that can bring contentment.

We as redeemed people, need to Step out of the ordinary...and live the Extraordinary Life Jesus promised.... We can choose to Smile when we don’t feel like smiling, give when you don’t feel like giving, be kind when you don’t feel like it, forgive when you don’t feel like it, help someone when you would rather feel sorry for yourself. Get up, dress up, and show up with a purpose!Believe what you cannot see....

Get beyond your feelings and find your mission....

We need to be more thankful...It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy!!

Oprah Winfrey was celebrating that her program was being televised to 109 countries, and in appreciation of her success, she decided to give a brand new car to 276 surprised people that showed up to watch the program that day in the studio audience.You would think that all of these people–without exception–would be thankful for receiving a brand new car valued at over $28,000. Instead, many complained because at the end of the year, they would have to pay extra income taxes based on the value car....

God gives us this mandate: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.

I believe God is saying that as we learn contentment, others will see and believe and step into their own freedom, and the chains of their captivity will fall off... The Psalms tell us “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out of them all.”

Gratitude makes sense of the past, brings peace for today, and creates a path for the future! If we learn contentment, we need to hit the reset button and start learning from our past instead of letting it beat us up. 

Come on! Let’s stand together and take this time just to give thanks, and to give praise unto God. Let’s give Him the glory that all things are working together for our good as we love him and serve him. 

Your problem can’t handle your praise. Your prison can’t stand up to your purpose. Your circumstances can’t handle your contentment in Christ!

David said “May the righteous constantly be glad and rejoice before God”

Paul said “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice”

Prayer.......Father, It is my desire to give all praise and glory to You. Help me today as I seek contentment in everything I do. No matter what journey I have to travel, I desire to be contented, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Where I fall short Father, lead me and guide me into Your victory. I choose to walk with you, in all my ways.

As you did with Joseph, and with Paul, let my praise release a breakthrough and bring me to a higher place. Shield my thoughts with your peace and comfort, and my soul with your love as I give thanks in everything. When things do not work out the way I want or expect, help me to be contented. Let my light shine in the midst of adversity as I put my faith and trust in You. 

I choose to rise above my feelings, and any situation that I face.My heart, my life, my soul, my all, I give to You, as I live in faith, trust, and hope. I can now speak with confidence, courage, and joy that will cancel out the fear, worry and doubt. Today, I choose to walk in love, peace, happiness, and favor wherever I may go. I choose to delight myself in the Lord, that He may give me the desires of my heart, In Jesus’ name.

Posted by: AT 05:14 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Monday, November 22 2021

Goal for this message: To give a new perspective on God’s Word; So we will be wise, creative and discerning as believers. 

I. Nature of LOGOS-Point of Origination Where it all came from.
  I have been stuck in the 1st chapter of the gospel of John lately.
  I’m not one to blast through chapters at a time. I like to take my time & hang  
  out with a verse for a while. John chap 1 has got a hold on me and I pray that    

  it captures your heart as well.

   A. IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD
       1. (John 1:1) In begining was the WORD and the WORD was God and with God. 
       2. (John 1:9-10) The true LIGHT that gives LIGHT to everyone was coming 
            into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world…
            WAS MADE THROUGH HIM, the world did not recognize him.

       3. (John 1:14) The WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us.

    a. I get in many discussions about some of the stuff we just read. 
        HONESTLY - The whole concept of the Trinity (the Word that was with 

        God and is God) is amazing! 
        Do I REALLY understand it? NO! 
        If I DID figure out how to comprehend the nature of God, well, I 
        probably shrunk him to the point that He was no longer God at all.
    b. I HAVE HEARD SO many attempts to illustrate the trinity.
        Some are worse than others. I am sure y’all have heard some too.
        Pie: different slices but all the same pie.. (not too bad actually) Key Lime?
       Water: Gas, Liquid, Solid (but not all at the same time right?)
      An Orange: Peeling,Seed & Fruit… (Lame)
     Pizza: Toppings, Sauce, Crust (that’s a stretch haha! Get it, cheese is stretchy)

B. YOU SEE THE WORD “WORD” ISNT A WORD AT ALL: 
   The word used here in John 1 is Actually  LOGOS (Not LEGGO’S )

       1. Note: A Greek philosopher named Heracleetusfirst used the term  

           Logos about 600 B.C. to designate “the divine      

           reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe”.

           Ya, we’ve been trying to land this concept for thousands of years.

       2. We have interpreted Logos to mean WORD (Word up)

            BUT not only does it  NOT mean writtenword-it doesn’t mean word     

            as we understand it at all. 

            A better meaning according to its original intent is God in action"  

           “God in Action” was made flesh & dwelt among us. God isn’t a  

           passive observer .But. Active/Creative! Not removed or Distant.   

C.  ON TO MORE WORDS about WORDS: (II Tim 3:16) 

      “All scripture is given by ‘inspiration of God’, and is profitable for 
      doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”

1.) THIS POINT IS PRETTY SIMPLE. I AM PROBABLY NOT SHARING ANY HIDDEN MYSTERIES ON THIS. BUT. I AM GOING SOMEWHERE FUN. TRUST ME J
When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, he actually didn’t write it in English. Hahaha! WOW! THAT IS DEEP!!! 

a. Where we read Scripture, Paul used the term “Graphe” grrraf-ay'
   Meaning “SACRED WRITINGS” Graffe rhymes with Sashe’ hahaha
   According to Vines Bible Dictionary; this term refers to the Divine Author    
   with an indicator or indirect hint, that it remains eternally characterized as 
   the living voice of God. (REPEAT FOR EMPHASIS!!!) 
b. Where we read inspiration of God, Paul used the term: theopneustos   
   Meaning divinely breathed in (Theos, "God," pneo, "to breathe"),    

2. THE WORDS WE READ “IN WRITTEN FORM” ARE THE DIVINE 
      BREATH, THE ETERNAL LIVING VOICE – OF THE GOD IN ACTION.
      BREATHING life into OUR MIND, WILL, EMOTIONS; BODY & SPIRIT.
3. The Same God Who Breathed Life Into A Pile Of Dust & Created Mankind    
    Desires To Breathe Creative Life Into Our Situation. OR. Struggle.
    My conversation with guy deployed on aircraft carrier: “INVITE HIM IN!”
    Whatever it may be. We can invite His Breath… RIGHT WHERE WE ARE.
4. My little girl Parker loves to cuddle. We snuggle so close I can feel her 
   breath on my neck. I can feel the beat of her heart. She knows who she is;   
   DADDIE’S GIRL. That Only Comes From Such Moments Of Closeness.
   She knows she’s REMARKABLE. Because She Has Been That Close.
   No matter what any kid at school may tell her. She knows she’s Beautiful 
   and She Is Loved. She lives everyday knowing she carries a piece of my heart.
There are some things that can only come from drawing close to our heavenly Father’s heart; close enough to feel His breath upon our soul.
It Builds Confidence & Brings Us To Our Final Word.

II.PIETY: This brings me to another frequently misunderstood word. 
            PIETY: Let’s talk about this shall we J What is it & Why we need it.

   A.  THE POWER OF PIETY (used to think this meant rigid/over religious BUT...)
        1. While In college, I read a sermon The Pleasures of Piety by Dr. J.A. 
            Broadus. In this timeless message from 1889, he referred to Piety 
            as: “the quality of the soul that springs forth from continued fellowship with 
            God. It provides us with confidence to proclaim the gospel to any man”.   

     2. JESUS HIMSELF, PRAYED FOR US TO EXPERIENCE THIS.
       a. Christ prayed that we would walk in the confidence that comes from 
          intimacy with Him. This is a time when a worldwide discontent is 

          present in so many lives. It’s purpose is to destroy intimacy with the 

          Father.

         (We need to learn DIVINE CONTENTMENT )PAUL        

           SAID IT IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR....Piety equips us with

          contentment as we have faith in the Divine action of the Word within us 

           and with us...

       b. John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will 
           believe in Me through their word; (21) “that they all may be one, as 
           You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in 
           Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

B. MOVE OVER POWER RANGERS!  “THE PIETY RANGERS ARRIVED”     

  1. When we draw near to the heart of GOD IN ACTION. LOGOS
      When we walk with the “Living Voice Of God” GRAPHE resonating in our soul... 
       ** Our Mind, Will & Emotions***       

     When HIS “God Breathed” inspiration THEOPNEUSTOS fills OUR spirit... 
    The Evidence Is DISTINCT.
    2. We Don’T Just Carry “GOOD VIBES” Positive Karma (Anyone Been Told That?)

i.        According to John 1:4 There Is:
   a. LIFE!!! Real and genuine, active vigorous, Full and Blessed!!!
       ​We Are The Life Of This Worlds Party! 
       When We Walk In A Room – According To John 1:4
   b. LIGHT!!! WE LIGHT IT UP!
       Like, When Moses Rolled Down The Mountain with 2 stone tablets.
       WALK THIS ONE OUT... DEMONSTRATE IT -  LIGHT!!!   LIGHT!!!  
       A heavenly light such as surrounds angels when they appear on earth.
       We are the light of the world...         When This Is IN Us... Its who we are.


c. BECAUSE THE WORD IS IN US – OUR WORDS CARRY POWER!
       When HIS Words are in OUR words & His Spirit fills OUR spirit...
       THINGS HAPPEN! We can speak to the chaos/emptiness
       WE CAN SAY LET THERE BE!!!

      Before there was anything, God said “Let There Be”.....

We were at the Butterfly Avery on Duval St. One of the workers pointed out a large moth and informed us that it had a life span of 5 days. This is because it has no mouth and no digestive tract. It is born and dies, having never eaten anything. If we don’t devour the word which is the Divine action within us, we will be powerless and without God’s intended purpose for our lives. We will die having never take in the life which flows from the Spirit of God. 
       Lets stop & think about the areas where we need to say    
     – LET THERE BE, through the Divine action of the Word within us!   

*.....Closing 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 not keep records of wrongs as I walk in Your love and forgiveness. 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 the product of Your grace and I am the redeemed of the Lord, in Jesus' name.

*.....Now would you take a moment and speak the blessing of the Lord over those around you before you go today....Let's speak the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26....God said that if we would speak this blessing, His name would be upon us....

" 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 yourcoming 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….

Posted by: AT 06:45 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Friday, November 12 2021

Launch Out Into The Deep

Luke 5:1 “On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, 2He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 

Jesus had gotten pretty popular at this time. He’s been wandering around the area of Galilee casting demons out of people, healing folks, teaching and declaring that the kingdom of God is at hand. So, a lot of people have gathered around and want to hear him teach.                                                           Well, it’s pretty crowded, and he’s next to a lake. And he sees that there are two boats there on the shore. So he gets into one of the boats and asks Peter to take his boat out a little way in the water. (I am told that this location acted as a natural amplifier so all the people could hear him)....                                                                                                       Luke 5:4 And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch”.       

Well, this is apparently more than Simon bargained for, and he takes exception with Jesus’ request. He says, “Sir, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.” Which is true. The text told us that the fishermen had been cleaning their nets. They had fished all night long, and they had to clean their nets because if you don’t clean yournets, they will rot. In other words, they had worked a full shift, and done what they needed in order to just go home and rest at the end of their work day. And Jesus is like, “Throw your nets out in the deep water.” I mean, if I had been these guys, I would have hesitated, too.                                                                                                                                        But, Simon decides to obey and says, “If you say so, I will let down the nets.”                                                                                                                                        It turns out Jesus knows something about fishing! And we will find when we give Him a chance, that He is an expert in whatever situation we find ourselves in….They catch so many fish that they have to call their partners over to help haul them in. But! It was so many fish that even with two boats, they were getting so full that they began to sink.                                                                                 Simon Peter could hardly believe it, and he’s filled with the kind of awe-of-God that it’s overwhelming. He’s like, “To God be the glory, there is something bigger than me or any of us that is going on here.” And he falls at Jesus’ feet and says, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”   His friends James and John are pretty freaked out by this as well.                                                                      

In my imagination of this story, at this point, Jesus laughs….and he says, “Simon, do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching people, , because I’m taking you where you never dreamed you would be, to do things you never thought you would do!.”                                                                           Have you ever felt like Simon?  you’ve been working all day, and all of a sudden God shows up and is like, “Just do this one more thing.” And you’re like “Seriously, God? I’m tired. And besides we tried that before and it didn’t work last time, so let’s not?”                                                                                But after all, it is Jesus, so you say “Never-the less, since it’s Jesus, I guess I’ll do it even though I don’t really feel like it?”                                                                                                                 So, for this morning, let’s shift the scene, and it’s not taking place on the shores of Galilee, It’s not happening with those fishermen, but it’s happening where we live, where we work, with our circle of friends, or where we attend church. We’ve been doing what we’ve always done and Jesus shows up and says, “Now that you’ve done what you always do, do what I want you to do, no matter how it feels, or appears like”….                                  Jesus finishes preaching, and now He turns to each of us and says “launch out into the deep”….Perhaps we echo Peter’s comment, “Master, we have toiled all the night [by our methods, and the best way we know] and have accomplished nothing. In other words, we’ve done it our way and we didn’t get the results we needed, so why should we do it Your way?    *.......The children’s pastor was just finishing a lesson on honesty. “Do you know where children go if they don’t put their money in the collection plate?” the teacher asked. No one seemed to know, so she asked again and little Bobby raised his hand. Yes Bobby, where do children go if they don’t put their money in the collection plate. “Well, ma’am, Bobby said, I think “They are able to go to the movies.”                                                                                          All of our attempts to serve the Lord in our strength and on our terms, will yield empty nets every time. His words, “Launch Out”… are calling us into obedience and surrender. After all, we’ve never been here before.                                                                                                    1 Samuel 15:2 says “Obedience is better than all of our sacrifices”….       And what was so powerful about this fishing story, is the simple obedience of these fishermen, that tapped into the supernatural here!!

What has God been telling you deep in your heart and soul, that you have pushed aside, or put on a back burner..? What change has He been calling to you to make, or what thing has He been calling you to do, but you are determined to do it your way or what you’ve always done!!                             Where is the launching point that He’s calling you to launch from…

The definition of insanity, is to do what you’ve always done and expect different results!

Someone else said, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll be what you’ve always been”….

Launching out, means for some folks, releasing the anchor that has been holding them where they’ve always been….the anchor that has prevented them from moving forward and progressing in their walk with the Lord. The anchor that is holding them in the same place they’ve been for years. 

This story tells us that the fishermen’s nets were empty even though they had toiled and labored and done everything they knew to do…. Do you have some nets in your life that are still empty, even though you’ve done all you know how to do….. IT’S LAUNCH TIME....it’s time to launch out into some area of obedience which is His call to you to move into that deeper place, beyond what you can do or that you can make happen without Him…. 

Keep casting the net.....According to the Barna Group, a nationwide research organization, less than one-third of those who say they are Christians, said they personally share the plan of salvation with someone else on a regular basis.. Don’t get discouraged, even though you may see no results, and maybe you feel like you really botched it, or you’re afraid you’ll make a mess of it, keep on casting. Soon it will be second nature. If you are uneasy about sharing your faith, bring them to church and get them under the word. Practice makes perfect....

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out for the day. So, the proud papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. He was looking forward to it and all was great until the baby *........started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Finally, the dad got so worried he decided to take the baby to his mom’s. His mom immediately examine the baby’s diapers. When she undid the diaper, he found that the diaper was full."Here’s your problem", the she said, "He needs a change." 

I don’t understand, the dad responded, the package said, “Good for 15 lbs”

Jesus chose a messy boat....When Jesus got in Peter’s boat, it hadn’t been cleaned yet. It was smelly, slimy, and dirty. It was still a mess from the night of fishing. Listen please, Jesus isn’t waiting till we are all cleaned up, and have everything just perfect and in place before He can use us and launch us. The truth is, we will never feel good enough, or holy enough or capable enough to answer the call and launch out in obedience. We will never deserve what He offers freely.

As soon as the demoniac of Gadara was delivered, he went back to his village and told everyone and showed himself to them. The entire village saw and believed….

When the Samaritan woman at the well, who was a prostitute, encountered Jesus, immediately she returned to her village and told them about Jesus, and the entire village believed.

And when Jesus healed the blind man, immediately he went and told his friends and neighbors. “I once was blind but now I see”. And he sent them all to Jesus....

Each of us have something we can do that no one else but us can do! We can tell our story, then tell it again. No one else has our story of what we overcame, and the journey God brought us through….

There is never a perfect time for you to take action. “I don’t have the time. I am not capable. Someone else will do it. It’s too late now. Now is not the right time. I am not talented. I am not ready. I’m too scared. I don’t feel motivated. I’m too tired. Nobody will help me. What if I fail?” And on, and on, and on, and on…… TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!…..

There is never a perfect time for you to launch that new project, to spend time with your family, to read the book you’ve been meaning to, or change a habit, or develop a new habit. Once we acknowledge this, our lives will become much more meaningful and fulfilling… trust me, I’ve been there.

That’s the problem with waiting for perfect! That perfect person, perfect thing, perfect place, never comes! Studies consistently show that when we look back on our lives the most common regrets are not the risks we took, but the ones we didn’t take. Of the many regrets people describe, regrets of inaction and indecision, outnumber those of any actions that were taken by nearly two to one.

Hebrews 11:6 says it best, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe Him and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”.                                                                                                     Our job is to tell, the Holy Spirit’s job is to convince them of the reality of Christ, as we make ourselves available!

In other words, it’s time to stop arguing with Christ and start trusting Him!

The defining words to this story is when Peter said “Never the less, at your word, I will.” It is that moment when we acknowledge that God’s power is greater than our logic….greater than our messy boat, and our unfinished stuff....If He has chosen us, believe and trust His choice.....

How do we get to that launching point, how do we arrive at that place of obedient faith?..... Launching out, comes in stages for most of us. God knows where we are and He only asks us to do what He knows we can believe for at the level we are at.                                                                                   I think of Ezekiel’s description of this process…

Ezekiel 47:3 “Then He led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this? 

We don’t expect a baby to walk before it crawls. Ezekiel begins with ankle deep or crawling water....                                   

Nowhere in Scripture do you find Jesus REBUKING His disciples for making MISTAKES. He doesn’t even REBUKE Peter for openly DENYING Him. But on several occasions, we find Jesus rebuking the disciples for their lack of FAITH. Faith is that place where we push past all the other voices that are competing with God’s voice, and believing that we stand at a defining moment, a breakthrough moment, of the very place we have prayed for and believed for. And it’s all waiting on the other side of our obedience! Paul told the church, that transformative Faith comes by hearing (or responding) to the word of God.... The Lord loves us just like we are, but He loves us enough to not let us stay where we are.... So, He reveals Himself to us from level to level, so we won’t be overwhelmed....                               

“At thy word”—was the launching pad which released the miracle for Peter, and the other fishermen and it will work for our miracle as well! 

Ships aren’t built for the safety of the harbor, but for the wind, waves and deeper waters. God didn’t design us for the safe places, or the trouble free life. We were built to experience all that life has to throw at us and declare that “Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world”….

These are the ones who will hear our Lord say on that day “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord forever.”.

In the words of Matthew Kelly, “God of deep waters and infinite riches, challenge me to go where I fear, to do what is difficult and what I thought could never be done. Push me to go to the deep waters of life and cast my net wide, for I put all my hope, trust and faith in you”.

There was no way that Gideon could defeat the 150,000 man Midianite army with 300 men, but “At Thy Word”.....he launched out in faith and obedience, and God gave a miraculous victory….

There is no way that Moses could stand against the entire Egyptian empire, but “At Thy Word”...he launched out in faith and obedienceand God brought that nation to it’s knees….

When Jesus was finished preaching, He said, “Now, launch out”…they probably went out only 50 feet from where they had called it quits! 50 feet from where they were giving up. 50 feet from packing it in and going home…. But even though they were done, they weren’t finished….            YOU MAY BE DONE, BUT GOD’S NOT FINISHED …. You see, your miracle, your answer, your dream fulfilled and your mission accomplished, is closer than you think…

Jesus is telling you that you’re closer than you think to seeing your family saved, closer than you think to your healing, to your financial provision, to your freedom and your dream coming together….                                                                                                                              There’s another fishing story In John’s Gospel, and we see one of the post-Resurrection appearances of our Lord. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, John, James, Zebedee’s sons, and two other unnamed disciples were fishing on the Sea of Tiberias.  After an entire night, once again, they haven’t caught a single fish. Then, a figure appears on the shore and said to them….John 21:6 “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No we haven’.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the other side of the boat.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.”

Stop looking for God to do it somewhere else, your miracle is right where you are. Your answer is where you are… Don’t get so convinced that what you need is somewhere else, because you will miss the power of right where you are. You are in the right place for your miracle! 

When Elisha showed up at the widow’s house, in the midst of famine, where she and her son were waiting to die. His amazing question to her was “What is in your house”… She had the stuff of miracles right there in her house, but it took the man of God to activate it and release it. All she saw was lack, and insufficiency, but God saw that little was much when it was turned over to Him!Her miracle was right where she was!

All of our effort and pushing and manipulating in the world won’t accomplish what surrender and obedience will accomplish.                                                       

Sometimes we have to give away what we’ve got in order to have what He wants to give us. There is some action which we can takethat will be the key to our break through. There is a step of obedience which will begin the process of your blessing. It’s something you can do, that God has been speaking to your spirit,because like the widow woman, her act of faith set everything in motion. 

Don’t be like little boy came late for children’s church. He was usually on time or early, so his teacher asked, “Johnny, is there anything wrong?” “No, ma’am, not really,” he said.” I was going to go fishing, but my daddy told me that I needed to get on up and go to church.” The teacher was very impressed and asked Johnny if his father had explained to him why it was more important to go to church than to go fishing. “Yes ma’am, he did,” Johnny said. “My daddy said he didn’t have enough bait for both of us.”       God wants to work with us and through us, not in spite of us!

God has instructed me at times to empty out my closet, or give to someone in need, in order to set in motion provision in some other area of the family… Give and it shall be given unto you, full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, the scripture tells us.                                         I want to share with you a poem by T.H. Allen....                                               “Leave The Miracles To Him”...

Whatsoever He bids you, do it!' Though you may not understand;

Yield to Him complete obedience, Then you'll see His mighty hand.

`Fill the waterpots with water'—Fill them to the very brim;

He will honor all your trusting—Leave the miracles to Him.

Bring to Christ your loaves and fishes, Though they be but few and small;

He will use the weaker vessels—Give to Him your little all.

Do you ask how many thousands Can be fed with food so slim?

Listen to the Master's blessing—Leave the miracles to Him.

O you Christians, learn the lesson! Are you struggling in the way?

Cease your trying, change to trusting, Then you'll triumph every day.

`Whatsoever He bids you, do it!' Fill the pots up to the brim,

But remember it’s His battle— Leave the miracles to Him.—              

I want us to notice that when Elijah showed up for the widow, He also asked her, what God had told him to….. “What can I do for you”…..

I need to tell you that God is constantly asking us that question, if we’re listening, willing and obedient!                                                                                   No matter how it looks, or what the situation, God is right there asking “What can I do for you”.... Please hear Him today....

The Israelites were without food and water in the desert, and God was there asking what can I do for you.... Manna came, quail came, water came. 

When Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, and Samson's motherwere barren, God asked “What can I do for you”.... and He opened their womb.

When Moses had brought the people to the Red Sea, with the chariots of Egypt bearing down on them, and it was flood time.... God asked “What can I do for You”.... and Moses lifted high his shepherd’s staff, commanded the waters and God parted the Red Sea...                                                                                                                  

At the victory of Jericho, they were required to walk around the city...He anoints our feet as we go.....The bitter waters of Marah were healed by throwing in the hyssop....He anoints our obedience... Goliath was slain when David cast the stone... (His anointing is in our hands) Naaman was healed when he dipped 7 times at the Lord’s command....The Assyrian army was defeated when the people dug ditches at Elisha’s command.... These and so many more, were actions of obedience which released miracles!!When He met lepers, the deaf, the blind, the lame and even dead folks, He was asking “What can I do for you”? He’s asking you “What can I do for you”..... Step out in obedience, do the thing He’s asking, and watch Him move for in your life! `

Prayer.... Father God, we thank you that when you are for us, nothing can be against us. We are believing for miracles, and we know that you have freely given us all things. We thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are continually interceding for us and we thank you that nothing can separate us from your love. Lord, your Holy Spirit at work in me can do far more than I could think or ask or imagine. I rejoice with unspeakable joy, for you are even now moving and working in my situation. You are my living hope and I will not waver in claiming my miracle. I am fully persuaded that as I pass through this storm, and keep my focus on you and not the wind and waves, I can walk on water, and I will rise above the storm. In all things we are more than conquerors by your power and grace. Lord, you said that if we believe you, we would see your greater works, and that nothing would be impossible. We stand on Your Word, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. We pray that every stronghold that has risen up against us shall be demolished in Jesus’ name. We ask that the winds of the Holy Spirit will fall upon us and that the spirit of “true evangelism” will be released. Father, clothe us with power from on high in all that we do for Your Kingdom and for the growth of Your kingdom in the earth. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Posted by: AT 01:01 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Thursday, November 04 2021

A brand new pastor took his first church, which consisted mostly of elderly folks. In four weeks he did eight funerals, so he didn’t have time to write his regular Sunday Sermons. Instead, he used the sermon from the Sunday before - 3 more times.  The church council went to the head of the denomination and complained that this new pastor had used the same sermon 4 times in a row.  The overseer asked them to give him a overview of the sermon they were referring to. The elderly Council couldn't remember, since most of them had slept through it, and they scratched their heads and hemmed and hawed - but they really couldn't remember.  The overseer said, "Let him use it one more time, sounds like you haven’t got it yet."

Well, we’ve heard many sermons about the name of Jesus, but we need to hear it one more time……(can someone say “One more time”)

I’m titling my message today, “The Divine Mix”  Today is reformation Sunday, when we celebrate the impact of Martin Luther on the world, as he presented the message of Salvation by grace in Jesus name, with the stamp of heaven upon his efforts…..The proclamation which he nailed to the Catholic Church Door is called “The Sola Gratia” or Salvation by grace alone…..It is a celebration of the difference one believer can make when they continue to walk in surrender and obedience to the Lord…..My text is from…                                                                                                     Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.  2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,  4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.  5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.                                                                                                                                                           15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.  16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

You can see that the miracle which took place here was based on God mixing His name with the names of Abraham and Sarah, causing them to not only have new names but supernatural possibilities…..

He created a Divine mix, adding His name to theirs, He added the “H”… which is the breath of God… The same breath He breathed into Adam and Adam became a fully functional being, where before, he was just a form of a man which was made from dust.                                                                            When He added the “H” of His breath into Abram and Sari, at 100 and 90, their bodies were dead the scripture tells us. But they became a fully functional man and woman, so that they were able to produce something that was not physically possible…                                                                         Why can’t we believe that this same God, can breathe on His people today, through Holy Spirit unction, and allow them to do things still today that otherwise would just not be possible. Our God is not bound by the forces of nature, He created all that was created and it answers to Him, not the other way around.

When I am asked to do a dedication ceremony, and ask the parents, “What is the Christian name of this child?” I am not only asking, “Who is this child I am dedicating?” but also, “What do you want this child to become? What are your visions for this life?”.. “What are God’s plans for this eternal person, He has placed in your care?”

Don’t settle for an Ishmael When you don’t See the answer

Right away …..Abraham wasn’t so different from us, because he didn’t see it happen quick enough, he took matters in his own hands and did it his way instead of God’s way. He had a child by His hand maid, and named it Ishmael, (the counterfeit, the substitute, the compromise)… How many times have Christians settled for an Ishmael when God had an Isaac planned for them….They settled for less than the best God had for them. but the good news is that it’s never to late for redemption, if we are willing to repent, and Go God’s way and surrender to His plan…                                          One preacher announced from the pulpit," I have good news and bad news. The good news is we are about to reach our entire city, every man, woman and child with the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was a thunderous applause. The preacher continued….The bad news is that the results are up to every man, woman and child in the church”. And the church was totally quite!                                                                                                                                                      Acts 11:26"the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

This divine mix, when God adds His name to ours, is a picture of the moment we receive the redeemed life of Christ and He adds His name to ours….and we are called “Christian”… I am now Charles “Christian”…. You are your name plus “Christian”….(take a moment and introduce yourself to someone by adding “Christian” after your first name….                 (Hello, I am, ---------------- Christian!

When God mixes His name with ours, everything changes!!!Something new is created which is full of potential and loaded with possibilities! Numbers 6:22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “‘The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. 27 In this manner, the priests will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

God was telling the ministers, to remind the people of the potential they have and the possibilities that are theirs when Hisname is mixed with theirs!!!

The prophet Isaiah said, in Isaiah 62:2 "You shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall designate".

We have been given the name of redemption, the name of restoration, a name of deliverance, of second chances, of renewal, hope, a way where there is no way, an all things are possible identity, where miracles abound, and where the supernatural is now natural!!

When something is restored by God, it is always better than it was to begin with. God's promise to us is a better way, a better life, a better future for ourselves and our loved ones.

He still says to us who take His name…."The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly." John 10:10. Every thief must bow to God’s higher law, fulfilled and enforced in Jesus Christ. 

Back in the day when churches had wood burning stoves to heat the sanctuary, the pastor and his sons would bring in the fire wood for the stove. They discovered that one of the neighbors were stealing fire wood from the church wood pile. The father told his sons not to fetch the fire wood, that he would bring all the wood in for a while. One Sunday during the message, there was a terrible explosion next door to the church. The pastor had embedded dynamite in some of the wood. He informed his sons that it was safe for them to bring in the wood now!!! The preacher caught the thief and so did Jesus…..                                       Jesus’ name is dyn-o-mite!!! 

Read the story of Job, of Moses, of Jacob, of Joseph, and Paul, and the disciples of Jesus and marvel at God's miracles ofrestoration.

Psalm 71:20-21 declares, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."

Child of God, listen to Joel 2:25-26 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. ... You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed"                                                                                                 God is promising us a chance to break generational curses and to have generational blessings in their place through His name!!

WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE!!!! Will you believe your circumstances, or your history, or your fears, or your insecurities, or the report of the Lord……                                                                                                                                                                 Naming is a way of hoping and declaring forth. We name a child after someone or some quality that we hope he or she will become—a saint, a hero, an admired ancestor or friend. What greater goal could anyone have for their family, than to be able to call them “Christian”….

If you weren’t worthy, then why would God put His name on you. He puts His name on you because you are worthy through His name!                             It’s important how you identify. Do you identify from a purely human perspective or from the new name and identity you have in Christ.

Men can identify as women, Girls can identify as boys, I read that one woman identified as a couger….well, well! With all this identifying, we should raise the bar and identify as “Christian”…. Come on!

The Ancient Hebrew word for blessing is “Ber a kah” – and it means….. Anointed to win, Empowered to overcome, Blessed beyond the curse

It’s about His favor, wisdom, protection, abundance, ability, grace, joy, freedom, peace - all resting upon you in His name, inwhatever you put your hand to.

One Christian family decided to let their three-year-old son record the message for their home answering machine. Theyrehearsed it several times…..“Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone right now. If you’ll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”So, he insisted they leave the room and the recording was made, 

Then came the test. The father pressed the record button and their son had said sweetly, "Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone right now. If you’ll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they’ll get back to you as soon as Jesus comes.”

Well, God has a message for us in the here and now, before Jesus comes

There are definitely times of trials, testings and challenges - but with the blessing of the Lord upon us, we have strength, endurance, and favor….

We can declare the Name of the Lord and His truth and blessing and favor over ourselves today and every day. We need to keep on rehearsing it and do it until we get it right…Sometimes I do it with a little song, you may know it….. (I am blessed, I am blessed, every day of my life I am blessed. When I wake up in the morning, and I lay my head to rest, I am blessed, I am blessed)

Believe THAT instead of your fears, believe THAT instead of your worry, believe THAT instead of the news, or the tale bearers and nay sayers!

In the story of the Jewish Passover. The spirit of death was passing through the towns of Egypt and would kill every firstborn of every house...unless there was a substitute sacrifice of a pure lamb. The blood of the lamb on the doorpost would prove that death had already visited that house, so the spirit of death would pass over those who lived there.

The powerful thing about the story was that the spirit of death didn’t go inside the house to investigate what kind of people were in there. When he saw the blood of the lamb, he passed over. What does that mean for us? 

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve come from, or what you’ve done - if you’re covered by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, the enemy has to pass on by! If Jesus has qualified you! You are forgiven and washed clean. You are covered. You are now a blessing magnet!!!

Let me tell you something else, if this is true of you, then your name is known and recognized in high places…..

Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven”.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" That means to each of us, that when He gives us His name, there is always a way, the truth is available in every situation of life… and we have access to the meaning and purpose of life because we have access to Him….

It’s important what we call ourselves……I have people who know me at many different levels. 4 people call me “Dad” (my 3 kids and Vickie) I have 8 that call me grandpa. Some call me “Pastor” and some call me “Chuck”, Some just say “Hey You”…. But the important name is what I call myself when I look in the mirror….

Even though Abram looked in the mirror and saw a 100 year old man who had no sons by his wife Sari who was barren at 90, he called himself “Abraham”…. It was more than a label, it was who he now was through God… It was who Sarah now was through God’s power.

So he began to call himself “fruitful”… “Father of many sons”…. “Healed and delivered”… “A new man”…. With new potential and new possibilities!

Whatever difficult place, whatever hard place, whatever challenging place you have found yourself in…. Jesus gets excited. He gets excited because He knows the power and authority of His name in all of our situations and circumstances…. And Abraham saw that power more than he saw the condition of his body or Sarah’s…..

Bam! Within 9 months, Isaac was born and Isaac brought forth Jacob, and Jacob had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes which were the nation of Israel… God did what He said He would do!

You see, I look in the mirror and I call that guy in the mirrorwhat God’s word calls him…..(the bible has 721 names that He calls us) for example…

Peacemaker, Faithful Steward, Soul winner, Seed sower, Doer of the word, Faithful one, Lover of God, Believer, Justified, Worshiper, Redeemed, King, The anointed, Salt of the earth, Priesthood, Friend of God, Light of the world, Joint-heir, His dwelling place, His treasure, Overcomer, His chosen, and on and on… 721 amazing names.!!! But it’s only possible when I allow His name to be mixed with mine….

Isaiah 43:1 “But now says the Lord, He who created you, He who formed you, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine”.

Why don’t you start right now today, speaking to the person in the mirror, the redeemed names God is calling you…. 

That’s why so often we end a statement or a prayer or confession with “In the name of Jesus”!!! We’re declaring the power of the Divine mix! Jesus, or “Yeshua” is interpreted from Hebrew as “Yahweh the Savior or Yahweh our deliverer.” It also means the “anointed one and His anointed”…. There it is, the Divine mix!!!!

In closing, I declare that same power, the power that is released in Jesus name over you today….. I declare that you are, Peacemaker, Faithful Steward, Soul winner, Seed sower, Doer of the word, Faithful one, Lover of God, Believer, Justified, Worshiper, Redeemed, King, The anointed, Salt of the earth, Priesthood, Friend of God, Light of the world, Joint-heir, His dwelling place, His treasure, Overcomer, His chosen, and on and on… 721 amazing names…… In and through the power of Jesus’ name!!!!

That name is the Chief Corner Stone, The Living Bread, The Sure Foundation we can build our lives upon. He is the Great Physician, The Lord of the Harvest, The Rock of Ages. The Pearl of Great Price. He is our Counselor, and heavenly attorney, The Light of the World. The Wisdom of God revealed to us. He is the Word of God, The Author and Finisher of Our Faith, The New and Living Way, The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
He is the Son of the Living God, our Savior, our Redeemer and our Lord.—What a beautiful name, what a powerful name, what a super natural, miraculous name it is!!! We do not take it lightly, or slightly, or as just another expression or explicative that we might utter with our mouth…. “Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”….   
Prayer, “Lord, I declare that there is no limit to your miracles. In your hands all things are possible. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I render possible every impossible situation in my life for the glory of God. Lord, I am believing for some things that only You can do. I am believing for a miracle. Lord Jesus, heal me, whatever You see in me that needs healing. 

Heal me of anything that might separate me from you. Heal my memory, heal my heart, heal my emotions, heal my spirit, heal my body and heal my soul. I believe you have the miraculous power and strength to conquer the darkest enemy, break the strongest barrier, and silence the greatest deceiver. Your name is Worthy, Glorious, Almighty in power and I claim victory today in Your name. 

I am waiting, and I am ready to receive my blessing and I receive my breakthrough in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. I know You are aware of my situation and I now walk in your blessing and favor that is upon me. Lord, thank you for blessing me with wisdom and knowledge to do your will and to accomplish my divine purpose of creation. In Your name and for Your glory I pray these things, Amen!

Come on, take a moment and honor the name above all names, in heaven above and in earth beneath. Every knee must bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. It is the eternal name, which gives us an audience at the throne of Almighty God. Honor Him today, praise Him, exalt the name that brings salvation, healing, deliverance, and every good gift that comes down from the Father…..

Posted by: AT 07:05 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Monday, October 11 2021

The Shadow Casters 

Shadows are created when something is blocking the light. If there is something the light cannot pass through, darkness is created and we call it a shadow.  Anger, lust, jealousy, fear, unbelief, worry, greed, etc. are shadow casters, because they block the light of God from shining through us. These shadows, block our fellowship with one another, they also keep us from being the light in the world which God has commissioned us to be…Satan knows that if we will just be the light, folks that are lost and floundering, will find their way. So he’s committed to blocking the light, using every means he can to keep folks in the shadows.

Light does not cast a shadow. When light shines upon light, it only intensifies the brightness. I don’t believe Jesus’ resurrection body cast a shadow, because the light was able to pass through Him. Remember, He was able to pass through the wall and enter the room where the disciples were gathered. “It says He appeared in the midst of them, the door being locked”… The bible tells us He is the light, and there is no darkness in Him.

So when Jesus rose from the dead, light was shining through light.

John 1:6 “If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. v7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light,  walk we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin”.                         

Our challenge as those who walk in the light, is to get rid of as many shadow casters as we can as His light reveals them to us..His Truth eliminates the shadow casters, and we are able to reflect His light.                                                                                              

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. 14 A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a cover. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the area”. 

As a kid, I used to love horror movies about werewolves. And mummies, and monsters, and oh yeah, vampires. I would stay up late on Friday night and then be afraid to go to bed, because they were going to come into my room and eat my flesh and drink my blood…. Silly kid to choose to torture myself like that…. But one thing I learned, is that if a vampire came after me, the light would keep them back. I learned that they vaporize in sunlight. You have to fight them with the light… I never had to face a vampire with this knowledge, (thank God) but the principle is very real. You see, I stepped into a shadow world and allowed the shadows of fear to get in me and block the light of His presence and His peace…I have repented and broken the power of those things in my past.

Things that block the light, and cast shadows in our lives, are destroyed when we stand in the pure light of God!                                                                                         James 1:17. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no changing or shifting shadows.”

Darkness cannot overwhelm the light, it can only cast shadows.                                                               Satan knows that God’s light of Holiness, Righteousness, Integrity, Faith, love, Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy, is far greater than anything He has to resist it with.                          

So we must give our permission, to shadow casters, and embrace and nurture anger, lust, jealousy, fear, unbelief, worry, revenge, greed, and doubt, so that the light which is greater than darkness, is blocked from shining through us. He can’t cancel the light, he can only block it or cover it from shining….

Putting your light under a bushel, or cover, is about secret sins, unrighteous habits, and patterns in our lives that block the light from shining there….

In one of the national zoos, there is an area called– “The House of Night.” It’s a place where creepy and crawly creatures that dwell in the night crawl and fly about. She said that one day, when she stepped into the exhibit, it was immediately total darkness. And then… a small hand grabbed hold of hers. She smiled and asked “And who do you belong to?” The little boy quietly said: “I belong to you till these lights come on.” 

We don’t have to be afraid of the shadow casters that may have found their way into our lives. They are defeated by the Light of God.  John 1:6 told us that If we walk in the light, He cleanses us from all of sin’s shadow casters!!

We should be able to say to all the shadow casters, what David said to the Giant shadow caster, Goliath.                                                                    “I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down that all may know that that the battle is the LORD’s.

David was declaring that the light was greater than the darkness!

Daniel was in the den of lions, He was declaring that the light is greater than darkness

The Hebrews in the fiery furnace declared that the light is greater than darkness…

When Moses faced the Pharaoh, Light defeated darkness….           MARTIN LUTHER IN 1517, ONCE COMMENTED THAT, "FAITH IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS." IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS ONE THING TO SAY "THE LORD IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"; IT’S ANOTHER TO SAY, "THE LORD IS MY LIGHT."

All the shadow casters that ever existed, cannot defeat the light of God in You!!

David simply says "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadows, (Oh, there were things that wanted to block the light) I will fear no evil for You, Oh Lord, are with me!!!

I have a GPS in my phone. If there is a place I want to get to, I just say the name and street, and BAM!!! It shows a map to get me there. My phone won’t show me, unless I give it the information it needs…. God already knows where you need to be, before you knew it. He knows how to get you there if you ask Him.

Job 23:10 “He knows the way I take, when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. 11 My feet have followed in His paths, I have kept His way without turning aside”. 

Job showed us that light is greater than the shadows which came his way…..Shadows are proof in themselves, that the light is shining….

A young mother was putting her daughter to bed one night. Her husband was gone and they were there all alone. The moon was out, the wind was howling and lightning was flashing in a frightful way. The daughter was becoming frightened and asked her mother if the moon was God's night light. "Yes, dear," the mother replied.

She asked, "Does God turn out his light when he goes to sleep”? "No honey, she said, God never sleeps." Hearing that, the little girl quietly said: "Well then, if God's going to stay up all night, there's no sense both of us being awake." And with that, the little girl turned over and fell asleep." Her trust in God’s light was greater than her fear of the shadows!

II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound (so-fron-is-mos'…. Self disciplined, enlightened) mind”.

A lot of people are wrestling with shadows…. They have done all they know to do to be successful, yet they remain in a place of constant struggle. The promise of full life has remained elusive for them; their children are in rebellion, their marriage is unstable and sicknesses has becoming a vicious cycle in their lives. Just when they think they’ve got one thing worked out, other things get out of control. They are constantly struggling with something they cannot seem to identify. They come so close, they’re almost there, they’ve nearly got it, but it just stays beyond their reach. It’s called wrestling with shadows….

We can get distracted by these shadow casters….. and find ourselves doing things we never thought we would ever do…..as an example of this… I remember one Sunday night after a Sunday night service, we got so involved with fellowship, and closing up the church, that when we got home, someone said, “Where’s Chris”? We searched the house, looked in the car, and realized he had been left behind at the church. I rushed back, unlocked the door, and found him sound asleep in the very last pew. He never even knew He has been forgotten! We got distracted with other things and didn’t take care of the main thing.   

The next scripture gives us an inside look at what causes us to get off track and over into majoring on minors….struggles that cause us to  fall short in spiritual fulfillment.

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters, (who have absolute ownership and power over them) for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and (any other absolute owner) ”.

What is being described here is a state of mind called “double -minded”

A double minded person cannot be totally committed to anything. Because their struggle comes from the indecision about who they will ultimately serve and give the right of ownership to their lives. 

Here’s another scripture which describes the source of the struggle…

1 Corinthians 10:21 “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too”. 

This is really about light and darkness. We cannot walk in the light and walk in darkness at the same time, they are opposites and contradict one another….

We should be like plants that are drawn to the light. They will twist and bend to get to the light. They will even grow sideways in order to get in the light and out of the darkness. We should be the same way and what ever it takes, we want to be in the presence of the one who is the light of the world. 

The children were doing a presentation for the church’s children day celebration. A little boy forgot his lines in the presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered to help him, "I am the light of the world.? The child beamed and with great feeling and in a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world.?

Light can shine in darkness without being defiled by it….

So if we’re struggling and don’t seem to be able to break through or break free… we may be wrestling with things from the spiritual shadow world, which we have given a place to and these shadow casters are blocking the light. They need to be removed so we can receive the blessing and come into the place of God’ calling in our lives….

Let me give you some brief examples without getting too deep, and keep it at a very applicable level….

Scripture tells us that if we honor our father and mother, we will be satisfied with long life…. So disrespect and dishonoring our parents will create a struggle between light and dark, because this becomes a light blocker which will set up a struggle in our family and relationships…. (can anyone see this)… Once you give up territory to the devil, by eating at his table, and opening yourself to rebellion, unforgiveness and vindictive attitudes, not to mention disobedience to God’s commands.

Let’s look at another one…. Sexual perversion, pornography, lust and unnatural desires, is drinking from the cup of the dark Lord, Satan. As far as the Bible is concerned, it opens a person to shadow casters, and causes them to wrestle and struggle with shadows that keep blocking the light in their life.                            

2 Timothy 2:21 “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts and passions, Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Keep companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts”. 

Why do some people enjoy the blessing of the Lord on a constant basis, while others are constantly struggling and never coming into the blessing?

Stealing from God and man, sets up folks to wrestle with the shadow casters, who are always blocking their light. We steal from God by not honoring Him with the tithe, and we steal from our fellow man, by not honoring their possessions and their space. 

People who don’t pay their bills are actually thieves. They were given credit or a loan with the promise to pay, but when they don’t, they have taken what doesn’t belong to them. 

Holy Spirit spoke to me once when we were struggling to pay our bills and keep our head above water. I saw something that I wanted and was going to buy it, when Holy Spirit said, “If you buy that, you’re using money that is not yours without their permission” “WHAT?”….. Well, if I couldn’t pay my bills because I bought that thing…. Then I was using money that wasn’t mine to purchase it. I was stealing…. 

Romans 13:8, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law (or pays their vows)."

When we violate this principle, we set up a conflict between light and darkness in our lives. And those shadows will keep blocking the light from multiplying our seed, and increasing our harvest. A vicious cycle will be set up that will produce a cycle of defeat.

Our heavenly Father wants to break the cycle of wrestling and struggling and making little or no headway….

Some great news is found in Colossians 2:14-15 says, “For He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”                                                                               It may be that folks allow self defeating patterns to continue in their life because they don’t understand the value of what the Lord offers them…and all they have to do is reach out and take it….                             A man once robbed a bank in Ottawa, Canada, stealing $6,000. But the interesting part of the story is this: When they arrested him and took him to jail, they discovered he had used a 1918 Colt revolver to commit that crime. Now, anyone who knows anything about guns already understands the point of this story. This colt revolver was valued at more than $100,000, yet this man robbed a bank for only $6,000. He could have simply sold the gun he used for the robbery and walked away with more than ten times what he got in the robbery. But he didn’t sell the gun because he didn’t know the worth of what he already had.

1 John 3:8 “He that commits sin has yielded power to the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the power of the evil one”.

Where there is the fruit of pride, rejection, covetousness, envy, rebellion or anything that is a shadow caster, and light blocker, there are roots that are nourishing and feeding it. What if Jesus turned to you like He did to Peter, and said “Get thee behind me Satan”… Woah! Peter didn’t realize he was being used of Satan, but he was….

It’s not about a certain thing or sin, it’s about the power we give Satan to block God’s blessing from coming into our lives. We’re giving Satan the club he is beating us with….

As I was sharing this morning, if anything I have mentioned brought back the memory of a time when you allowed the light blockers and the shadow casters, to enter and keep the light of God from bringing His full blessing, then we’re going to pray a prayer together right now, and break that cycle, and command the blockers to leave, because their power is broken from this day on…It’s like turning on the lights and watching the darkness flee from the room.

Matthew 4:16 “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." 

So whatever it is, if down deep inside you feel there is something preventing you from receiving and walking in the promise God has made to all His children… pray with me….We’re going to get serious here…God wants you to be free! He who the Son sets free is FREE indeed!

(Lay your hand on your chest, as we all pray together)

Lord Jesus, I repent of anything I have done which has given the enemy any power or authority in my life. I refuse to let the light blockers any longer to have power and authority to keep messing with my blessing, in the name of Jesus.

I choose to stand in the light of God where there is no darkness and no shadows. I cancel all satanic claims against me, my health, my family, and any blessing God has for me, in the name of Jesus.

I break off every addictive behavior, and any activity or pattern which is opposing me in my walk with the Lord, in the name of Jesus.

I bind the spirit of death and hell, that wants to kill my dreams, my hopes and my future, and stop my walk with the Lord, in the name of Jesus. I pull out the root, so the fruit can no longer grow. I break the power of every dark force that is trying to make a claim upon my life, I send you back where you came from, in the name of Jesus.

I crush the head of any spirit of deception, fear, intimidation and compromise, in the name of Jesus. I erase every accusation of the accuser that has been sent against me and I cancel it by the blood of Jesus. I call upon the fire of the Holy Spirit, to begin to burn in my body, and burn up every connection, every link, and every cord which the enemy has used against me, in the name of Jesus.

I break every generational curse, every dark force, every stronghold, and every net from the past that wants to entangle me, in the name of Jesus.

Now, I thank you, I praise you, and I exalt you Father, in Jesus’ name. For He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. 

Jesus said “Call and I will answer you and show your great and mighty things which you cannot imagine”…

So come on, let’s give Him the kind of praise that believes things have been broken off, and things have been opened up so the blessing that has been hindered can now come and rest upon His people….

Posted by: AT 09:36 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Tuesday, October 05 2021

Calling All The Gatekeepers

As I think of gatekeepers, I think first of those who bring race horses into the gates, and calm them to prepare them for the race, I also think of those who are the flagmen for Jets on aircraft carriers as they are launched from the gate and off the carrier.

I want to use as my launch scripture for the message today….

Psalms 24:7  Lift up your heads, O you gates (gates don’t have heads, people do) and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. v8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

The Hebrew word which is used here for gates, is “Shoh-are” and it means “One who escorts, ushers, or brings you in… One who guards the gate” The Hebrew word for “Doors” which is used here is “the place of entering in, or brought it”….
As we stand at the gates of this new season in our lives, we not only look at the things coming our way, but we look above and beyond them, to the one who has planned for all things to work out to thegood of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes and plans. 

There are things that will frighten us and things that will excite us in this coming season, but as His children, we know that they will all have to pass through His hands first.

Maybe the Lord will return before the year is out and maybe not…..But whether He returns or not, we are called upon to “occupy until He comes”

Revelation 12:11 says that just like we have now overcome, we will continue to overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

What do you see? Our perception of what is ahead, becomes ourreality, and powers our faith or our fears for what is coming in the days and weeks ahead! It determines whether we achieve or not, whether we move ahead, stay where we are with no progress, or go backward…                                                                          There are three kinds of people, those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who stand around wondering what happened.

Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, why do you cry unto me? speak unto the people, that they go forward. (That’s what faith does) Faith keeps moving forward, following His voice and His leading.Sometimes you have to command yourself to do what you don’t feel like doing. I have to command myself every morning! Your body is not who you are, Who you are lives in that body! I have to command my mind, my emotions, and my will, by my redeemed spirit….(look at this)

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit (yoo'-thet-os…positioned or well placed) to (benefit or receive the benefits of) the kingdom of God. When you’re plowing, you first position yourself by looking across the field and targeting where you want to end up and you keep your eye on that spot. Otherwise your row will be anything but straight. It will be all over the place….

The truth is that we can have whatever He wants us to have if we are willing to surrender, to His plow, and we can accomplish whatever is in our hearts, if we want it badly enough to give it all up if He asks us to…and if we are completely convinced it can be done with God as our helper, there is no power that can stop us!You gotta know when to hold up, know when to fold up, know when to walk away, know when to run…..

I’ve said it many times and I will repeat it again…We have been given 4 phase power…. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you”…..The 4 Greek words for power are, Dunamus, Ischus, Exeusia, Kratos…. The power to overwhelm what is trying to overwhelm you…(Dunamus) The power to cause little to become much… little is big…(Ischus) The power of delegated authority. When He sends us He backs us up fully.….(Exeusia) The power of invincibility..If He has sent us nothing can stop us (Kratos) If He says you’re going to the other side, it’s a done deal, no matter what stands in the way! He empowers who He sends!

It’s easy to look at how much better someone else has it….It’s easy to blame someone or something else, for our lack of success or progress... but in the end, we need to take personal responsibility for climbing up to our own full potential. In Christ we are tapped into power from on high!                                                                                       Colossians 3:1 So, if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things which Christ has provided. v2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on above all this- that's where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Gate Keepers see the bigger picture….We need to see things from the vantage point of where Christ is seated, and look at that which is far above what we see in the temporary realm! Because of that we don’t get locked into the moment. The past is the place we are getting ready to leave….God’s new beginning is the place we’re going…..and we have the road map, called the Bible, full of all the information we need.

A wealthy man and his wife, looked around the table at his family who had gathered for the family meal. "Boy, he said, “I do not have a single grandchild," and he gave a big sigh. "Listen everyone, I'll give a million dollars to the first one of my kids, who presents me with a little one to bounce on my knee this year…... Now, let's all say grace before we eat." When the old man opened his eyes from prayer, his wife was the only other person at the table.

(It’s amazing what the right motivation will accomplish)

Ralph Waldo Emerson…..”Write it on your heart that every day you live is the best day of the year”.

Steven Spielberg….None of us, by the end of the year, are ever really the same person who entered the year.

Tom Peters….This year, celebrate and showcase everything that you want to see more of in the rest of your life.

Jonathan Edwards….My first life commitment is that I will live for God. My second life commitment is that If no one else lives for God, I will anyway.

When Jacob stopped running and began to seek after God and walk in obedience to the Lord,  Genesis 28 tells us that he came to a place called Haran and he fell asleep. While he slept, heaven opened and a ladder was revealed with angels ascending and descending between heaven and earth….he had come to a place of New beginning in his life, it was a gateway that had opened upbringing the glory of heaven to where he was. Jacob called the place Bethel, but God was trying to show Jacob, THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY THE GATEWAY through which the things of heaven were entering into this world. You are the gatekeeper, you are the place where heaven enters earth….

All those who believe, become the gateway or the doorway to heaven, where the things of heaven ascend and descend between heaven and earth!

When the Israelites cried out in Egyptian bondage, God came down to a man named Moses. He was the gate keeper. We are the gate to someone’s victory, someone’s liberation, someone’s defining moment.                           Ephesians 2:5 “God embraced us. He took us and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! v6 Then He picked us up and set us down in heaven's highest places in the company of Jesus. v7 Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. v8 This is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It is certain that He is able to finish all that He has begun throughus”!.  

(would you tell someone… “Don’t you dare give up on God”….)

Don’t remember what God has forgotten.....and don’t forget what God said He would remember. We can only walk in one direction at a time.  The problem comes when we try to look backwards whilewe're walking forward with Him….I need to tell someone, don't listen when others say you're finished, what’s the use, it’ll never happen…. Shut your ears to that, until you’ve reached the place God is bringing you to. Jesus  knows who you are, and what you did and He still loves you, but He loves you enough to not leave you like He found you”….                                                                               Don’t be so busy wishing for the visitations of the past that you miss the greater things God has yet prepared for you and through you….

Louis Le'Amour once said, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished, but you will find that it is only a new beginning."

Genesis 1:1 – tells us that In the beginning God created something new that had never existed before, and God is STILL creating today.  He's creating new opportunities, new direction, new vision and new anointing.  God is creating new hearts.  He's creatingforgiving hearts to replace bitter ones, He's creating hearts of faith to replace hearts of fear.  He’s creating loving hearts to replace toxic, jealous, vindictive hearts. He’s replacing broken hearts with hearts that are healed and full of new hope.                                     Yes, we can rise up and walk in newness of life, this is a brand newday a new window to the rest of your life is opening for each of us to view something bigger, and better and beyond all that has come before!!!

And each one of us is actually the gateway, where God enters earth and begins His wonderful, mysterious, amazing work!!!!                                                                             Richard Rohr said that “Spiritual Maturity is the ability to joyfully live in an imperfect world” I came across some reminders that we are living in an imperfect world…we know…

1---That Light travels faster than sound. That’s why many people appear smart until they begin to speak.

2---If you think nobody cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.

3---Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

4---Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.It’s an imperfect world, but we are the gate way to new beginnings.

Paul said…1 Corinthians 16:9  “For a great door of opportunity is opened unto us…and there will be a "right time" for each of us. v13 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, v14 keep on loving and never stop”.

In 1 Samuel 17, when the Philistines faced the armies of Israel, King Saul only saw the giant Goliath and it limited his ability to perform in an effective and successful manner paralyzing him into inaction…He saw only the problem, and not the opportunity that God had given into their hands.

That’s why David rejected the armor of Saul, because he could not fight and win, in the fear and the intimidation that had gripped Saul. David had developed his own weapons and skills…So, Saul sat in his tent, while David ran forward towards the enemy and to better things to come. 

While David saw Goliath, (all 91/2 feet of him) he also saw something else above and beyond the giant, something greater, and something that made him more than a match for the challenge he faced. It was more than the wealth, more than the position he would be given and the kings daughter (ya’ll give a whistle) which David had been promised if he won! David knew that Goliath wasn’t fighting him, he was fighting God, and all David had to do was get his own fears, intimidation, doubts, and unbelief out of the way and LET GOD WIN!!! Fear, intimidation, doubt and unbelief, are no match for a person whose values are founded on faith and trust in God! With all that tried to stop David, he succeeded because he guarded the gates that brought heaven into earth. God could reign on the throne of David’s life and ambitions.                                                                                                        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"!

Proverbs 16:32 "He that controls his emotions is better than the mighty; and he that rules his own spirit (is greater) than he that takes a city".

The conquest of ourselves, and our own passions, requires more dedication and commitment, and a more steady, constant, and regular management, than ruling a city. When our emphases is on our rights, and our feelings and our injustices the new level of faith and prayer…..and the greater level of living for God is hindered and blocked, and we are not wide open for God’s fresh supernatural manifestation in the earth!

As we gather here today, on the threshold of new beginnings and new things from God that are waiting to enter through our lives…We are compelled to “Keep Move Forward” in our way of thinking. What are the areas that we have been thinking too small for too long. What are the areas where we must think bigger for our Church, our Home, our Family, and our Life in general. What can we do, moving forward, to be the gateway for God to do bigger and better things in our life, in the days and weeks ahead?Everyone that is part of a family, is the gateway into their home… Every employee is the gateway into the workplace…. Every neighbor is the gateway into their neighborhood….

Ephesians 3:18 “Reach out and experience the breadth! Test the length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19 Live in the fullness of the love of God. 20 God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it by working through us, deeply and gently, by His Spirit.”

We are compelled to “Move Forward” in our emotions, in the season ahead. We can’t be wearing our feelings on our sleeve. We must let God rule our feelings by His Spirit within us. We can’t let those around us rule over us by controlling our emotional health.We may have prayed. We may have Fasted. We may have done all the right things, but until we “Go Forward” in our emotions, we can undo everything else, and our emotions will lock us into past hurts, offences, injustices, broken relationships, and unresolved conflicts…… when we move forward in  emotional health and stability! As we are emotionally delivered and set free, we will experience Unrestrained, free and liberated praise, worship and love flowing forth in power, 

1 Timothy 1:5 The point is simply to love with your whole heart - love which is uncontaminated by self-interest, ulterior motives and counterfeit faith, by a life that is open to God. 6 For those who fail to adhere to this, soon wander off into emotional dead-ends.

Also look at Proverbs 4:23 “Guard the entry to your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow all the issues of your life.”

When I’m driving my car, vital information is relayed to me through the dash board. Oil pressure, speed, tire pressure, milage, and who’s too close to me, the condition of the road, battery charge, and how much gas, to mention a few… 

What if you had an emotional or heart dash board, which allowed you to constantly get a read out about your heart’s condition. There would be red, green and yellow lights along with other information feed back. Fear, pride, greed, self-pity, resentment, anger and a needle which would indicate if you are becoming spiritually lukewarm. Oh, yes, there would be a flashing light to let you know you hadn’t prayed or read the word and a green light would come on if your spiritual tank was healthy and full.                                             Philippians 4:13 from the Passion Bible...

It’s time to be the best version of you that you can be. It’s time for you to take a stand and embrace happiness. It’s time to stop blaming others for what you have or don’t have. It’s time to stop wondering why I’m not providing things that I’ve given you the power to go after yourself. It’s time to laugh more, to stop making excuses, to stop looking at your situation as if it’s hopeless. It’s time to take steps, no matter how small, toward your dreams. I have made you powerful!

I recall that a missionary had observed how each person in the village had their own path which led out to their personal place of prayer and meeting with God. When a person had a solid prayer life, their path would have no grass on it, but if they weren’t keeping up their prayer habit, *……everyone could tell, from the grass on their God path… 

Is there grass growing on your God path? Is it time to renew your commitment and passion for Him? Is it time to remember the vows you made to Him, and the zeal you once had for Him….We are the place where God enters this earth, we are the gate keepers….

Our Father in heaven, as we stand at the beginning of this new season we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we move into the future. We each have our hopes and expectations for what lies ahead of us—but You alone can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands in Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during the coming days. In the midst of life’s uncertainties, You assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.                                                                 

Lord Jesus, In the midst of life’s disappointments and heartaches, You are the stability and comfort we need. In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost. And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sufferings around us in our world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. 

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray that You would bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” As we look back, we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. 

May we not remember what You have forgiven and forgotten but may we never forget all Your mercies that have brought us to this present place, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives. Father, we thank You for the promise and hope for this new season, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. We ask this, in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. In Jesus’ name…..Amen.

I speak to each one of you, as the gatekeepers God has ordained you to be. This is a call for the gatekeepers, who guard the gates and refuse to let the enemy have any place. Our pastors are are believing God that all which God has designed and prepared for you, and all that He has fashioned you to be, will come together in an awesome display of what is best for your life and all those around you in this season ahead. That you truly will be the gateway, through which God can operate freely and powerfully in your circle of influence and connections…. and in all the things that touch your life and your family.

Posted by: AT 09:33 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Tuesday, September 28 2021

Becoming What You Already Are….

I have no idea how many books I have read over the years — nor if I am honest, can I remember a lot of what many of them contained. But there are a few books, and a few sentences in those books, that have lodged so deeply in my heart and mind that I can honestly say, they have shaped my life in ways I can’t begin to describe. They are like launching pads, for discovering the person I can become.                                                             One of those sentences is found in Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s book “God’s Ultimate Purpose”. In which he repeatedly reminded his readers, that “our greatest need is to become who we already are in Christ.” *…..2 Timothy 1:6 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you …"                                                                                                                             I was a throw away child, who was given away 4 times by my foster mom, after my biological mom gave me away to her. (that makes 5) They kept bringing me back. But the fact that who I was going to be, was who was already within me, gave me equilibrium in all of that… That God had a plan for me and it was encoded within me. My foster mom, told me that finally, God spoke to her, and told her that He had His hand on my life, and He had entrusted me to her care to raise me for Himself.                                                                                It has placed in me a deep desire to help others discover their real identity in Christ, and to know that God has a plan, which He has already put in place for their lives, if they will only embrace it, and receive it…

Think about championship racehorses. On the screen is a picture of Seabiscuit and 7 little biscuits he sired. (how many are looking at the Power point and counting?) Race horses have generation after generation after generation of winners in their blood. However, when the colt is born, it’s legs are wobbly and skinny. It’s not very attractive, but the owners don’t get discouraged. They know inside that wobbly colt has the DNA of its father. That’s how you need to see yourself. You may be wobbly sometimes. You may not look exactly like you want. You may not appear to have the talent, or abilities, or skill set, but inside of you are the strength, abilities, wisdom, and fortitude, and everything you need to win your race. If you’re living with less than you should or could be, check your DNA. You may not look like much right now but wait till they see you then! Our God has put His Spirit in you, and He never fails….When you were born, He knew what you were capable of                                                                                       Today, we’re making the transition…..When we transition from being what we thought we needed to be or aught to be, to becoming what we already are, we shift from wishing and hoping, to receiving and applying the gifts which God has already placed within us in Christ.                              There’s a good reason why the windshield is a lot bigger than the rear view mirror! Thank God He has brought you this far, but what we’re dealing with today is that because of what He has already done, you can look out through the windshield with great rejoicing and expectation!                                                                                                                   I want to use as my scripture text today….                                                       Galatians 4:1 “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. v2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. v3 So also, when we were spiritual children, we were subject to the spiritual forces of the world. v4 But when the time appointed had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the world system, 

v5 to redeem those who were subject to those same spiritual forces, that we might receive adoption into sonship. v6 Because we are His true sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” v7 So you are no longer under subjection, but you are God’s child and since you are His true child, God has made you also an heir”.

When people come to faith in Christ, our first instinct is to teach them what to do or not to do. But sometimes that is like the cowboy who jumped on the horse facing backward. You can keep turning the horse, but the cowboy will always be backward. We need to get off the horse and face the right direction… and that starts with who we are in Christ. 

If we are to successfully negotiate the maze called “living for Christ” in all the muck of life, and cope with the ups and downs of our emotions, and the whims of circumstance, the injustices and stuff that hits us out of the blue, and the sheer pressure of our human brokenness, then the first step is to make sure that we know who we are as children of God. Or I should say WHO WE ALREADY ARE, as children of God.                                             This is the underlying truth that will enable us to get out of bed in the morning and face the delight and despair, the ups and the downs, the defeats and the successes of our world. It will enable us up to walk humbly and yet confidently with Christ through the day, and at the end of the day stand with a steadfast faith, that will allow us to lay our head on our pillow and sleep in perfect peace.

A little humor about identity…. The Recording said - "Hello, Welcome to the Psychiatric Hotline." If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependent, please ask someone else to press 2. If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5 and 6. If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line until we can trace your call.                             If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press. If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

On the other hand 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 tells us “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (Now that sounds like a much better deal)

Lets make another phone call here, and we get…

Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to complete His good purpose”.… (this is about becoming who you already are)                                                                                                                                              But we need to be careful, because as D.L. Moody has said, “God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves”.                      Someone else said, “The smallest package in the world is a person wrapped up in themselves”. There is a big difference in knowing who you are and being full of yourself!!                                                                                                                                                                      Then there was the guy who said “You can be whoever you want to be!" And now he is currently serving time in prison for identity theft.                                                                                                                                               When a king is still a child, his mom disciplines him, and he is provided various training opportunities and disciplines to enable him to fulfill the high office which is his by birth, but he has yet to master the skills and abilities which will allow him to receive the crown and begin to rule in his appointed time. 

Who are we? The good news gospel announces to us that as those who have believed and received Christ, and repented of our sin, have been born of God. We have been adopted into God’s family, as His children.

So, we stand before God forgiven and cleansed and yet with a propensity to sin, forgiven yet flawed, secure and confident in Christ, while understanding that there is much work to do, as we press on into that for which Christ Jesus has made a claim on our lives.

Sometimes winning or losing is about reaching the point of no return. It’s known as the ‘Tipping point”. If you’re half way across a frozen lake and the ice starts to crack, which way are you going to go? You’ve already come this far, you might as well finish the crossing!                                                  We move from “Who am I?” to “Who He says I am”…..

Philippians 3:12 “ It is not as though I have already obtained all of this, or already been made perfect, but I press forth to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus already made available tome. v13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have arrived. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind (what I used to be)I strain forth, toward what is ahead, (who I am in Christ)”

Knowing who we already are in Christ enables us to make that choice day after day to press forward, beyond the obstacles and distractions, into who we are becoming, for the rest of our lives.

I call it “Being satisfied with a dissatisfied satisfaction”….

In school we learned to sound out words, and it was clumsy at first, but it was so exciting to begin to speak and to read fluently. We learned to say the letters of the alphabet, and then write the letters and spell words which would allow us to form and express our thoughts on paper, and cyberspace. And there was Math, Science, History and Geography and sports. We were being prepared to take our place and become a productive member of our community by improving our skill sets in all of these areas.These were foundational things that we would continue to build upon. Our foundation determines what we can build upon it….

How much more important is it that we approach the word of God the same. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, have all taken a personal interest in our growth and development since we have been given rulership, authority, and power in God’s kingdom.                                                                   All of my children have cars of their own and drive them everyday. But I would be insane to give them my car keys and say, “well one day you will have a car and you will drive, so, at 6 years old, I want you to drive to the grocery store and get the weeks groceries”. I would not only put their lives at risk, but many others as well. And I would probably have soda, pop-tarts, chocolate CoCo puffs, and candy bars to eat for the entire week!

Look at Psalm 8:4 “What is man, that You oh God are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him? v5 For you havemade him a little lower than the angels, and You crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands, You have put all things under his feet (or subject to him)”.

If you know the end game, then you begin to prepare yourself, in order to bring it to pass. A runner can have all the things physically that would make them a world class runner. But many of those very people are sleeping on the streets, without purpose or meaning, because they lost their way and forgot the end game. 

There are thousands who should have become doctors, scientist, engineers and professors, who would have changed the world we live in. But they died on a drug overdose or from alcoholism, because they never realized their purpose and their God given destiny.

While walking through the forest one day, a man found a young eagle chick who had fallen out of his nest. He took it home and put it in his barnyard where it soon learned to eat and behave like the chickens. One day a game warden passed by the farm and asked why the king of all birds should be confined to live in the barnyard like a chicken. The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly. Since it now behaved and thought like the chickens, it was no longer an eagle.                                        "But Still it has the heart of an eagle, and can surely be taught to fly." And he lifted the eagle toward the sky and said, "You belong to the sky and not to the chickens. Stretch forth your wings and fly." The eagle, however, was confused. He did not know who he was, and seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again. About that time, a majestic eagle, flew overhead and let out a loud eagle call. The young eagle looked up and answered the call, and in a moment, recognized who it was. It spread it’s wings and mounted up to become who it had been all along! Sometimes you may feel like an eagle living in a world of turkeys, or scratching around with the chickens…IT’S TIME TO LOOK WITHIN OURSELVES AND LOOK UP TO HIM! 

We do not begin with some distant end or goal in mind of who you want to become but we begin with the truth of who wealready are.

If you have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, here’s a list of who you really are.                                                                                                          You are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).                                                You are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).                            You have been rescued from every curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13).                     You are now God’s child (1 John 3:2).                                                                           You are kept by the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:8).                                                You have been given God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).                                            You are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).                             You are forgiven of all past sins and washed in the blood (Ephesians 1:7).               You have been delivered from the power of darkness and placed in God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). You have healingby the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24).                                           You are raised with Christ and seated in heavenly places Ephesians 2:6).                                                                                                        You have overcome the world (1 John 5:4).                                                                 You don’t have a spirit of fear, but love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).                                                                                                           You are part of the family of God (1 Corinthians 12:27).

You are given all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).    You have been justified (just as if you had never sinned) (Romans 5:1).                  You have access to God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16).                                 You are now a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).                                                           You have peace with God (Romans 5:1).                                                                         You have everlasting life (John 5:24).                                                                             You cannot be separated from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39).                                   You are qualified to receive your inheritance (Colossians 1:12).                                God will finish the good work that He started in you (Philippians 1:6).                          God is for you even when others are against you (Romans 8:31).

Speaking of not knowing what we already have, every time my kids come home, they show me features in my smart phone, and my lap top, that I already have but never use. It’s there, it’s available, and it’s already mine but because I don’t know what I have, and how to access it, it doesn’t do me any good…. (do I have anyone that knows what I’m talking about)

Romans 8:31 “What shall we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? v32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? v33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. v34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (You have the best attorney in the universe)                                                                                                                                                                                 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. v39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Now, when you want security, there’s security for you!                                                                                                                                                             I heard a story about a man passing a tattoo shop. In the window were displays of different tattoo designs, so he stopped to look. One of the designs read, “BORN TO LOSE.” The owner saw the man looking and came out and asked if he wanted a tattoo. He said no, but does anyone really tattoo themselves with “BORN TO LOSE”. The owner said, “Oh yes. Before it is tattooed on their body, it is tattooed on their mind.” 

What is our mind tattooed with? If it is tattooed with failure, rejection, unhappiness, resentment, or injustice, then you will live out failure, rejection, unhappiness, resentment, and injustice unless you change that tattoo.                                                                                                                                                                             Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our INNERMOST THOUGHTS and desires. It exposes us for WHAT WE REALLY ARE.

Once two blind men came to Jesus to heal them. Here is what he said. Matthew 9:29 “Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, so be it unto you”.

In other words, “I touched you, but you must believe you can see”. God has touched your life. You must believe your life is something more than you have been seeing before. 

ONCE JESUS TOUCHES YOU, WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF, SETS THE LIMITS OF YOUR LIFE ORIT BREAKS THE LIMITS OFF OF YOUR LIFE.

Remember, no one can cause you to live below your potential without your permission. INSIDE of you is the DNA of an Overcomer. INSIDE of you is more than a conqueror. You are a new creation, in Christ. Let me close with ….

Deuteronomy 28:13 “The Lord your God has made you the head and not the tail—you have been placed above and not beneath—if you obey the Word of the Lord your God that He is giving you today to keep and observe. v14 Do not deviate from any of His Word, neither to the right nor to the left..”

Are you ready to pray the closing prayer….. “Lord Jesus, I pray that You would unlock my heart that I might be fully alive to my true identity in You. Give me clear revelation to see myself the way You see me. Help me to stand in Your truth over the enemy’s attacks against my mind,so that I might guard my heart with all vigilance. Help me to identify the enemy’s false accusations, and reveal to me any places where I am chained to the past in a negative way.                                                         Lord, I repent of judging myself by the failures and faults of the past. Teach me to hear Your voice and not enemy’s lies about who I am. I thank You for my uniqueness and that I am made in Your image. I want to understand and receive the deep things in Your heart for me. I choose to see myself the way You see me. I thank You that I can have hope for the future and know the good destiny that You have for me. 

Lord, You give me vision for my future. I receive greater authority in my spiritual life. I want to know You on a deeper level, and I thank You that I have been justified and I belong to You. I have been established, anointed, and sealed by You. I am chosen by You before the creation of the world. I am forgiven and I am adopted as Your child. I have purpose, I have hope, I am included in Your family, I am an overcomer and I am qualified to share in Your inheritance. 

I have been given the righteousness of God and I am part of Your Kingdomplan. I am beginning to understand more and more what Your will is. I have God's power operating within me by the Holy Spirit, that enables me to live a victorious life. Thank You for the identity I have in You. Help me to live out Your reality in my life every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Lord, anoint our eyes to see, our ears to hear, our minds to understand, our hearts to receive, our spirit to embrace and our feet to walk in all that we have already received from you, In Jesus name, by the power of Holy Spirit!

Posted by: AT 01:14 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Tuesday, September 21 2021

“Look What’s Coming Out Of The Wilderness”                                                 We are all transitioning from the world’s system into God’s system or Kingdom culture, so this message today is about transitions. When God delivered Israel and brought them into the w lderness, it was to transition them and prepare them for a new place and a new position..                                                                                                                           A transition is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "The period of passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, position or place to another condition, form, stage, activity, position or place.                                                                       Someone has said that when you lose your way in the wilderness, you will eventually find yourself…. Because the Wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have even learned to ask so far.”                                                                         Many people have been chosen for a special calling. They are frustrated, and they are eager to get going. They cannot understand the “why” of their wilderness experience, but God is proving them and testing their faith and loyalty. They want to get started, but they have no vision firing their passion and they easily lose their spiritual true North.

A loaded mini-van pulled into the only remaining wilderness camping area. They had driven 7 hours to get there. All the children leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up the camp. The boys rushed to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils.    A nearby camper marveled at the hustle and teamwork, and said to the youngsters’ father, “That, sir, is some display of teamwork.” The father replied, “I have a system — no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up.” Nothing works like good motivation.

If God didn’t originate it, He isn’t required to back it. But praise God He is compassionate and merciful…                                                                                                                The nation of Israel had lived in a culture of bondage and compromise that kept them far beneath their calling and divine appointment. They had to walk away from one culture in order to embrace another. Their biggest struggle was that they kept trying to bring the old culture over into the new culture that God was creating and it kept hindering them from entering in. They were struggling to live out kingdom culture.                                                                                                   God doesn’t always step in and interrupt our actions, but He does let us reap the consequences of those actions. You can leap from a sixty story skyscraper and halfway down ask God’s forgiveness. You may get his pardon, but the law of gravity says that you’re still going to have a sudden meeting with the pavement.                                                                         No one ever has and ever will outwit the law of reciprocity… what you sow is what you will reap. The wilderness is a chance God gives us to adjust our sowing so we can change what we reap…                                    If you go into the wilderness leaning on Him, you will come out walking by His side….Walking in His anointing, walking in His perfect will, walking in surrender, and walking in relationship and in your rightful position of authority.                                                                                                          

Deuteronomy 32:9 “For the Lord’s portion is His people, they are his allotted inheritance. 10 He (God) found him (Israel) in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye”. v11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. 12 The Lord alone led him..”                                        God has it all, but what He yearns for is our devotion, our worship, our hearts. It says that the Lord’s portion is His people, they are His inheritance….

Jesus told us that we were in the world but not of the world and I love the analogy here, of God and the Eagle.                                                           And God compares us to the eaglets who are growing in the nest, like a small child being cared for in their home, and everything they need is provided for them, decisions are made for them, they just go with the flow and no pressure but to just let mom and dad care for them. But then the time comes when the eagle decides it’s time for junior to learn to fly, and get its own food and care for itself, they tear the nest apart, (Junior is thinking, “mom and dad have gone crazy”) and the eaglet discovers that underneath the soft dawn and thatch, are thorns. What was so comfortable isn’t comfortable anymore, and the risk of leaping out of the nest is looking better than stepping on the thorns all day. But Mom and Dad eagle are there when they take the leap from the nest, and if they fall, to catch them and bear them up again… Until they are able to fly like eagles were meant to fly!

Some folks get so religious that they can’t recognize a miracle when they see it. A doubter and his friend are going duck hunting out in the wilderness and the friend went to get a good dog. The friend asks the kennel for his best retriever and he gives him one that can retrieve any duck they shoot. The next day the doubter and his friend go hunting and shoot a duck so the friend sends the dog to go get it. He runs on top of the water and comes back with the duck. This happens 6 times and the friend says to the doubter "Do you notice anything unusual about my dog?" and the doubtersays "I don’t think Your dog knows how to swim." Sometimes we have our minds so made up about something that we can’t see how muchGod is at work right where we are.

Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way through the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. v3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that you cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD”.                                                             Two of the synonyms for the word “desert” are “ A place of correction, or A place of discipline” Often our wilderness experiences come to expose what’s inside these hearts of ours like nothing else. It exposes our idols. What is an idol? It is anything that keeps you from putting God first in your choices, in your workplace, in your home, in your heart. If it pushes God out of first place, and God has to stand in line behind all of that, then it’s an idol. (seek first the kingdom, and all these things will be added unto you)

The wilderness teaches us delayed gratification. It teaches us to stand in faith for the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It teaches us that scratching every itch doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness, and that strength and power are not always externally shown, but true strength and power are internal expressions of peace, joy and contentment, no matter what is happening around you.

The wilderness teaches us all, the power of surrendering to God and ceasing the struggle, so that it is as John the beloved said, “less of me and more of Him, I must decrease that He might increase in me”.                           The wilderness is a place of re-evaluating our priorities.                              Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him, and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever, amen”.                                                                                  But the self life wants to run the show and keep singing the Sinatra tune, “I did it my way”….and establish its own pecking order and hierarchy. Our lives become all about my money, my car, my house, my feelings and my life…. Jesus said, “He that saves his life shall lose it, but he who surrenders his life, shall save it for all eternity”….We have nothing which we have not been given. And the bank probably owns your car, your house, and Visa and Master Card owns a lot of the rest, anyway…

Indiana Jones was at the doctors and the doc asked him, how his day had gone. So he said, "Well, yesterday afternoon, I waded across a lake, escaped from an alligator in the heavy brush, marched up and down some hills and valleys, trekked through the sand, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand, and narrowly avoided an aggressive snake." Inspired by the story, the doctor said, "You must be an awesome outdoorsman!" "No," Jonesreplied, "I'm just a really lousy golfer."

Maybe you too haven’t felt you’ve done very well!                                                                                                         But I’ve discovered that the wilderness is a place of rebuilding what has been torn down, a place of restoring what has been lost, and raising up something new in place of what has been demolished.                                                                                 God will never take anything without giving something better in its place. And wherever Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy, God will rebuild, and raise up something far greater and better in it’s place. But we must let go of the rubble, of the wilderness, move past what has been lost or taken away, and make room for His new thing in our lives.                                         

Solomon certainly experienced his own wilderness, but listen what he learned from it… “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.. a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 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 embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;                                                                                               a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast 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 refrain; a time for confrontation, and a time for peace. He has made everything beautiful in its time”.

I actually find it encouraging that it says in Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness!…. I say this is encouraging, because this tells me that the wilderness is part of God’s plan for us, so, we can either spend our time complaining or we can spend the time learning the lessons, from “Wilderness 101”.

The Song of Solomon 3:6 asks the question… “Who is this coming up out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” Which is where the title of this message comes from… Solomon is referring to the child of God who has learned to lean on the Lord as they come out of the wilderness…

Even though you might now feel weak, get ready to receive power. Let your wilderness time develop a new strength and power within you. He gives us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Power is the ability to act or to make a difference as things turn in a new direction. Power also signifies the possession of authority to command and direct events and circumstances.                                                                         

There are transitions in music, and in language, also in art, in designing, in history and in science, but I want to look at Two major transitions that took place in the bible which are found in                                            Deut. 34 and Joshua chapters 1 and 3 in the Old testament and then Acts chapter 1 and 2 in the New testament. 

In the Old testament references, Moses has lead the peoplethrough the wilderness and God takes Moses up on the mountain so he can see the promised land, and he dies there, then the mantle of leadership falls on Joshua, and Joshua brings them to the Jordon where they cross over and into the promised land. (hold that thought)

In the New testament references, Jesus is taken up on the mountain, where He dies, and the disciples meet as they were commanded, in the upper room, where they meet the new leadership, and Holy Spirit comes down and fills them all, and commands them to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils in Jesus’ name. A major transition takes place…             

In both cases, there is a transition in leadership for a new day, a new time and something far greater than anyone could possibly see at the time. These were major changes which called for major adjustments. During major transitions, we are prone to look back at some point when God moved, or something miraculous happened and want to go back to that, but God says no, keep moving forward, I have far better for you than you have seen before. I am doing a new thing, in a new way, at a new time!

Faith sees opportunities where doubt and unbelief sees obstacles…                                    Even with his eyes plucked out and chained to a column of the Philistine Temple, Samson saw an opportunity… Even when he was betrayed, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, and in an Egyptian jail, Joseph saw an opportunity… Embrace the new season you’re in. Stop visiting the past and what happened then, and follow Me. You have never passed this way before!When the Red Sea was in front of them, and the chariots of Egypt were bearing down on them, the people saw an obstacle but Moses saw an opportunity!!!

I love this scripture in all the seasons of transition….                             Isaiah 22:23 “I will fasten you as a nail in the Holy place— I will establish My power in your hands, as a nail is driven and anchored in the solid timber of a house”.                                                                                                                      God is arrangingsome powerful and amazing situations for you…Others may see them as obstacles, but you need to see them as opportunities. He’s fastened it with 3 nails… 2 in Jesus’ hands and 1 in His feet! Sowe can declare in His own words… “it is finished, and I will not be moved”! When the world wants to knock us off balance, we remain established and centered because there are 3 nails holding us steady. 2 in His hands and 1 through His feet declare I shall not be moved!!

As Jesus fellowshipped with His disciples that night which we refer to as the last supper, He taught at length about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He covered so much material that it took three chapters in the gospel of John to share it! However, one of the most important points Jesus made is found near the beginning of all He shared with His disciples. After that night, the world would see a great obstacle, transformed into the greatest opportunity….

John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, (Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you for ever. v17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it cannot see Him, neither does it know Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.                                                     v18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come (be available) to you. v19 Yet a little while, and the world will see Me no more; but you know me, because I live, you shall live your life through me. v20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you. v21 He that has my word, and keeps them, shows that he loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him and through him”.

This is a major transition between the Old and New covenants, which takes God’s people from the Holy Spirit resting upon them for special tasks and ministry, to Holy Spirit entering into and abiding with them and in them as a constant guide, equipper, counselor, revealer and life coach.  And there is a powerful verse in Ephesians which should encourage anyone no matter what you’re going through, and no matter what wilderness you may find yourself in…..

Ephesians 2:20 “For you are being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone”.                                                      You are built on the same cornerstone as the apostles and prophets. Your foundation is the same with access to the same…. The same Spirit dwells in you that operated in them!        

And I just have to have you look at this…. Listen you are more powerful than you ever imagined, and Satan knows it and hopes you don’t find out!                                               Jeremiah 51:20 "You are My war club, (God speaking) My weapon for battle. With you I will crush kings of darkness and bring kingdoms of wickedness to ruin”. Your wilderness has been preparing you for some great things, that you cannot imagine!

Oh my, you may not look like much right now, but wait till we see you then… You may not look like a leader now, but wait till we see you then. You may not look like an evangelist, or prophet, or world changer now, or a business owner, or water walker now, but just wait till you come marching out of your wilderness! I WANT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY….

You’re getting ready to shift from the wilderness of mourning into the upper room of joy… You’re coming out of the cloud of confusion into the sonshineof clarity and understanding. You’re ready to leave the place of inconsistency and enter the place of Spiritual responsibility and availability. You’re leaving the place of compromise and entering the wide place of consecration and purity… You’re entering the place of provision and moving out of the realm of destruction and loss…You’re leaving the devil’s whipping post and coming into the place of overwhelming and defeating your giants…You’re leaving the place of isolation and loneliness and entering The great cloud of witnesses and divine connections.

Song of Solomon declares, “Well look what’s coming out of the wilderness”!! If Solomon is addressing the one who is coming forth leaning on her beloved, He’s describing you and the Lord who is your first love. 

Where I live, everyone has dogs, some folks more than one. I see them, rain or shine, all hours of the day or night taking out their dogs. They stand there in the rain, in the heat, in the wee hours of the morning, while this dog sniffs a bush… If folks can do that for a dog, what should we do for Jesus, our first love!!?                                                                                                               “Come out, come out, wherever you are”….God is calling!

Ezra 9:8 “But now, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant in a safe and secure place, to enlighten our eyes, and to transform us in His holy presence. Even in our wilderness, our God has brought to us new life and brought light to our eyes. v9 Though we were slaves, our God has not forsaken us in the midst of our bondage, but He has extended to us His grace in the midst of the kings of darkness, giving us new life to rebuild and repair the ruined places, and He has given us a wall of protection.” 

If I had a mirror for each of you, I would have you hold it up and declare “look what’s coming out of the wilderness”….

Matthew 10:7 And he began to send them (and us) forth and He said v7 Asyou go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ v8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give”.                                                              (Well, look whose coming out of the wilderness)

You may feel like you’re finding your way through the dust and barrenness of the wilderness now, but I declare, there is the light of a brighter day just up ahead. Your new beginning is waiting as you walk away from all that the past tried to do to you. You are not the whipping boy of the past anymore! 

Posted by: AT 02:42 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email

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