Remind Me Dear Lord....

`Dottie Rambo wrote the song by that title, in 1966. She wrote over 2500 songs over her life time. Some of the lyrics are..                                                         “The things that I love and hold dear to my heart, are just borrowed they're not mine at all. Jesus only let me use them to brighten my life, So remind me, remind me dear Lord.Roll back the curtain of memory now and then. Show me where you brought me from, and where I might have been. Remember I'm human, when others forget, So remind me, remind me dear Lord”....

The apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:1 “Beloved, I now write unto you, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance...”

Peter wants us to know that so often, to advance, we must go back to our roots and remember how the Lord has led us, and think upon His faithfulness and how faithful He’s been along the way.

This is the concept behind Christian retreats, where we get back to essentials, and remember what our purpose and our priorities are.

It’s so easy to stray from the path of our purpose and veer off on some side road and find ourselves somewhere that we never intended to be. 

It has been well said that Sin will take you where you never intended to go, keep you there longer than you ever intended to stay, cost you more than you ever intended to pay, and make it hard to get back to where you began in the first place (but for God’s grace).

When I lose my way, remind me dear Lord....

The doctor told a couple that it might help them remember certain things if they wrote it down on a piece of paper. One night the couple were watching TV, when the husband got up to go to the kitchen. His wife asks "Can you bring me some strawberries?" "Sure." "Aren't you going to write it down so you don't forget?" "No no. It's fine." "Well I also want some whip cream. You should write it down so you'll remember." "Don't worry. I've got it." "I also want some chocolate syrup on top. You *really* should write it down, dear." "Don’t worry, I’ve got it. Strawberries, whip cream, and chocolate syrup."                                                                                                     The wife gives a sigh as her husband disappears into the kitchen.                                       After 20 minutes of the sounds of banging and clanging, the husband finally comes back and puts a plate of eggs, bacon, and sausage in her lap. 

The wife looks up at him and says ohhh, that’s so sweet of you to do that for me, just what I wanted, but "You forgot my toast?"

We have statues, and monuments to remember by. There are libraries full of history so we can remember. The internet has millions of files of information that we can go back to and remember.

Thank God, we have faithful witnesses who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write as they saw and experienced.

When the apostle John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, after being boiled in oil, but miraculously coming out alive, he received a vision which became the book of Revelation. This was a back to the future experience which brought John through a very rough time in his life. As he remembered what was waiting for him in heaven, it made the trials and tests of this life much more bearable. For centuries, it has inspired multitudes of Christians to bear up under hardships and persecutions, remembering that it will be worth it all, if we endure till the end. 

John believed that If God put him in it, then He put in him, what heneeded for it! We were made for this....If He brought us to it, He will bring us through it!

A quote in Dr. Seuss, says "Don't cry because it's over, smile because you had the opportunity." Wow, you’re about to grow!

And I like this anonymous quote... "Good times become good memories and bad times become good lessons that we were destined to grow through."

Don’t just go through it, GROW THROUGH IT!!

I love the fact that with all that the apostle John endured, as he was suffering on Patmos....boiled in oil, but survived, then put to work in the slave mines on Patmos. 

It says, “He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”.... This is the disciple who leaned on Jesus chest at the last supper, he was referred to as the “one that Jesus loved”, It was this disciple that Jesus committed his mother to from the cross “Mother behold your son, son behold your mother”... Tradition tells us that as a young man, Jesus took John in and raised him like a son. So, John’s meditation, on the isle of Patmos, where he was exiled, lifted him above his emotions and physical condition, above the politics and forces of darkness and brought him into the higher spiritual plain where he ascended into heavenly realms in the Spirit. From that spiritual plain, he gave us the book of Revelation. 

Remind me Lord, that you have invited all your children, to be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

Certainly, one of the major roles of every minister of the gospel, whither they be teacher, evangelist, prophet, pastor or apostle, is to help folks to remember... To stir up our pure minds by way of remembrance... We are told that this is one of the major functions of Holy Spirit....                         John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you”.

The scriptures tell us that this is one of the major functions of the body of Christ....which is the biological church....  

Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name”.

Think of it.... Somewhere, some angel scribe is recording our conversations with one another. As we stir up one another’s thinking on the things of Christ! Perhaps there are conversations we don’t want recorded, Huh?!!!

We would be surprised at the things God is raising memorials to.... kindnesses, patience, unqualified love, longsuffering, and faithfulness..  Mark 14:9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in remembrance of her.”.....      What did she do?.... While they were at Bethany, preparing for the last supper, this woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, and broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus head. This act of unbridled, sincere and selfless worship, Jesus said will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached.... It didn’t matter what people thought, it didn’t matter what they said....She worshiped with all her heart!

Remind me Lord, that you put a great value on our worship!

I’m remembering the time when the disciples were fishing all night and in spite of all their training, their skill as professional fishermen, and their knowledge of the water, they caught nothing, and their nets were empty. We all know what it means to be ‘kopos’ (the Greek word ) for being weary to the bone, feeling discouraged, and feeling like you’re the wrong person for the task. You’veworked hard with little to show for it, you’ve tried your best and come up with nothing. And the nets are empty – and we wonder how we’re going to buy groceries, pay our bills, send our kids to college, look after aging parents, and find some way to move forward in our lives. We’ve all known discouragement.  And we’ve known the fear of failing and many of us – if not most – have experienced those inner and outer voices telling us that God made a mistake, we’re not the person for the job, or it would be different....

But Jesus answer to them and to us.... Remember, who you are in Christ.    I can still make you what you need to be. He still knows how to fill empty nets! He still turns water into wine, He still multiplies manna in the wilderness, He knows how to turn a shepherd boy into a giant killer!

Remember who He says you are....He says you are forgiven, adopted, loved, whole, Strong, able, victorious, joyful, fearfully and wonderfully made, with a sound mind, a citizen of heaven, with a glorious future..

Remember what you have been given and who you are!

The words of a song by Lauren Daigle come to mind....

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough

Every single lie that tells me, I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?

Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don’t belong, You say I am Yours

And I believe, I believe, What You say of me, 

If there is such a thing, I believe a lot of Christians have spiritual Dementia because they can’t remember who Jesus said they were .....

The phone rang and the lady of the house answers..."Hello can I help you."

The caller asked for "Mrs. Adoline, please." "Yes, this is her Speaking."

"Mrs. Adoline, this is Doctor Jones from the Lab that has your husband’s blood work. When your husband's doctor sent his blood sample to the lab last week, a blood sample from another man arrived with the same name...

We are not certain which one belongs to your husband. But, either way, the results are not too good." "What do you mean?" She asked with concern.

"Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV, but we can't tell which is which."

"That's dreadful, what am I supposed to do now?" Well, maam, "The MEDICARE Helpdesk recommends that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, just don't sleep with him! (It’s important to be able to remember certain things)

Isaiah spent the entire 40th chapter remembering the nature, power, person and character of God, and then he comes to the 28th verse....                                   Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. 29 He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But they that wait (expectantly) upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.

If you’ve been in a health club and seen someone running on a treadmill, then that's the mental picture that comes to my mindhere. We're running as fast as we can to keep from falling off the back, and we desperately need to stop that torture machine and take a breather. But we can't reach the button that will turn the thing off. So, we keep running. For weeks. Months. Maybe years.                                                                                   And often we are running with a huge burden on our backs, full of all the things we think are "important" in our lives. Things like family, career, unhealthy bodies, financial plans, personal goals and "to do" lists. The trouble is, all of that running is beginning to catch up with us.We're worn out and exhausted. Even the wisest, healthiest and most capable among us feel it. There is a collective sense among us that our personal lives are controlling us instead of our controlling it, and we wonder if we are ever going to get the upper hand.

But God does have the “off button”...

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, (that’s about remembering) let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, (this is talking about a renewed mind) will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”                                                                                                                                         Paul tells us that we need to make some quality choices. Guard what you let take up residence in your mind and heart. What you and I decide today will be ourfuture on or off the treadmill. Obviously, We can’t determine what will happen to us, but we can make the choices that are in our power which will get us moving in the right direction, then let God take over.

I found this item in the Preacher’s commentary......                                              “Remember that there is nothing that can happen to you that has not    

happened to millions of others.” 

“Remind yourself that as a human being, stuff can happen.”

“Remember, there are people who began their path to greatness, facing exactly 

what you now face.” 

“Remember to say, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to handle this, but with God, anything is possible.”

We remember the deliverances the Lord has accomplished and hope springs for greater deliverance.... We remember the way He has led, and we begin to believe for new guidance and direction.... We remember the blessings He has bestowed, and faith arises for greater provision.... We remember The victories He has won and we become confident that this battle is also won.....We remember the encouragements He has given us along the way and our joy springs forth.... and something deep within us cries out “Do it again, Lord”, “Do it again”!! “Do it again”!

The story of Adam and Eve is a story of rebellion against letting God be God. Once they believed the lie that God didn’t have their best interests in mind, they decided to go ahead without God and do what they wanted. They became, in effect, their own god. Too often, this is exactly what we do today. When God tells us to wait, we don’t trust him, but go ahead and find ways to accomplish what we want to happen anyway. We decide to be our own God....                                                                                                            Mark 8:36 “What good is it to gain the whole world now — (whatever it is we think we want)— and forfeit our souls’ or (intimacy with God, and staying in His will) ?

There’s a screaming child in all of us, that wants what it wants and it wants it now, if we don’t follow our better self! But we allow our spirit man to say....“Wait.” That’s miserable, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful to our flesh, so we will not let the little, baby god, take over when it wants to.                                                                  We have learned that God is trustworthy and that “There is actually something happening while we see nothing happening”. God is using our waiting seasons to change us, before he changes everything else.” And suddenly we remember how we ended up on the treadmill in the first place.....AAAHHAAAAA! And, we take a deep breath, release our clenched hands, and let go of the impatient, selfish, ego part of us that wants to be God!! .

Some of the greatest figures in the Bible — Abraham, Jose"ph, Moses, David — had to wait for many years for God’s promises. Everything that happened in the meantime was used to prepare them, inwardly as well as outwardly. Then, when they reached their promise, they were blessed beyond measure. Be careful that you don’t let your ego self, take you where your Gifts and anointings can’t keep you, and Satan uses it to cause you to question and doubt your gifts and anointings. 

It wasn’t about your gifts and anointings, you just got over into playing God.

Lord, let me remember that I’m not God!

The book of common prayer has a great prayer that it offers....                                 “If God says stand up, help me to stand bravely.  If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.  If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.  And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. And giveto me the Spirit of Jesus that I may be ready, Lord, for whatever may be required”.

I want to close with an amazing story ....In 1921 David and Svea Flood went with their two-year-old son from Sweden to the heart of Africa, to what was then called the Belgian Congo. This missionary couple met up with the Ericksons, another young Scandinavian couple, and the four of them felt led of the Lord to set out from the main mission station to take the gospel to the village of N’dolera, in a remote area.

There, they were rebuffed by the chief, who would not let them enter his town for fear of alienating the local gods. The two couples opted to build their own mud huts half a mile up the slope.

They prayed for a spiritual breakthrough, but there was none. Their only contact with the villagers was a young boy, who was allowed to sell them chickens and eggs twice a week. Svea Flood—a tiny woman only four feet, eight inches tall—decided that if this was the only African she could talk to, she would try to lead the boy to Jesus. And she succeeded with the one God sent her!

Svea found herself pregnant and a little girl was born, whom they named Aina. The delivery was exhausting. Svea Flood was already weak from bouts of malaria so the birthing process took a lot out of her and she died only 17 days after Aina was born.

Something snapped Inside David Flood at that moment. He dug a crude grave, buried his 27-year-old wife, and then went back down the mountain.He left Aina with the Ericksons, and angrily went back to Sweden. Telling them “God has ruined my life!”

Within eight months, both the Ericksons were stricken with malaria and died within days of each other. Baby Aina was then turned over to another American missionary family who changed her Swedish name to “Aggie”. Eventually they took her back to the United States at age three.

That’s how Aggie grew up in South Dakota.

As a young woman, she attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. There she met and married Dewey Hurst. They enjoyed a fruitful ministry and in time, her husband became president of a Christian college in the Seattle area. One day Aggie found a Swedish religious magazine in their mailbox. She had no idea who had sent it, and of course she couldn’t read the words, but as she turned the pages, a photo suddenly stopped her cold. There, in a primitive African setting, was a grave with a white cross—and on the cross were the words SVEA FLOOD.

Aggie got in her car and drove straight to a college faculty member whom she knew could translate the article. “What does this article say?”

"It is about missionaries who went to N’dolera, Africa, long ago. A baby was born. The young mother died. One little African boy was led to Jesus before that. After the missionaries had all left, the boy grew up and persuaded the chief to let him build a school in the village. He gradually won all his students to Christ and the children led their parents to Him. Even the chief became a follower of Jesus! Today there are six hundred believers in that village, all because of the sacrifice of David and SveaFlood."                                                                                                                                                                                                                Aggie and her husband were attending an evangelism conference in London, England, when a report was given from Zaire by the superintendent of the national church there, representing some 110,000 baptized believers, he spoke passionately of the Gospel’s spread in his nation.Aggie could not help going to ask him afterward if he had ever heard of David and Svea Flood.

“Yes, madam,” the man replied as his words were translated into English. “Svea Flood led me to Jesus Christ! I was the boy who brought food to your parents before you were born. In fact, to this day, your mother’s grave and her memory are honored by all of us.”She is considered a national treasure. He embraced Aggie for a long time, sobbing.

“You must come to Zaire! Your mother is the most famous and honored person in our history.”

When Aggie and her husband went to N’dolera, they were welcomed by cheering throngs of villagers. She went to see her mother’s tomb with a white cross bearing her name. She knelt in the soil to pray and give thanks to God.

Later they were able to go to Sweden and Aggie sought out her birth father.

Aggie walked into the squalid apartment, which had liquor bottles strewn everywhere, and slowly approached her 73-year-old father lying in a rumpled bed. She called his name and He turned and began to cry.

“Aina!""I never meant to give you away!” “It’s all right, Papa,” she replied, taking him gently in her arms.

“God took good care of me.” Her father instantly stiffened and his tears stopped. “God forgot all of us. Our lives have been like this because of Him.” He turned his face back to the wall in anger.Aggie stroked his face and then continued, Papa, I’ve got a marvelous story to tell you!

"You didn’t go to Africa in vain. Mama didn’t die in vain. The little boy you won to the Lord grew up to win that whole village to Jesus! The one seed you planted in his heart kept growing and growing! Today there are 600 people serving the Lord because you were faithful to the call of God in your life!" "Papa, Jesus loves you. He has never hated you or abandoned us.”

The old father turned back to look into his daughter’s eyes. 

He slowly began to talk. And by the end of the afternoon, he had come back to the God he had resented for so many years. Over the next few days, father and daughter enjoyed warm moments together. A few weeks after Aggie and her husband returned to America, David Flood died, with the knowledge that God had not forgotten....

Remind me dear Lord, that our labor, our prayers, our giving and nothing we do in your name, will ever be forgotten by You. So, all that we do, we do it unto You Lord, and only eternity will tell all that You accomplished. Little is much when God is in it!!

On Your Way To Somewhere Else

Let me begin by saying that if your happiness, your blessings, your successful Christian life, and all the things you are going to do for God, are somewhere else, you’ll never be happy, blessed, successful as a Christian, and you’ll never accomplish your goals. 

“Daniel 11:32 “The people that do know their God (right where they are) shall be strong and do great exploits.” 

Right where you are is where you begin, and when you get to somewhere else, you’ll still be right where you are!

I remember I pastored one church back in the days when we sang from the hymnal and we had pew bibles in every pew. On the inside cover of each bible they had put a label that said....                                             “Not to be taken from the church”.... And I thought perhaps they had a problem with people stealing bibles, which I thought would actually be a good thing. I even thought of making an announcement during the offering... “Please feel free to steal a bible. Or take two”, because it made me think that too often, in that church, the practice of their faith went no further than the church building. As I go about my life, I get the feeling that someone, somewhere put a label on too many Christians that says, “Not to be taken from the church pew”.....

Through the Covid pandemic, the number of people working from home is huge. Companies are issuing ultimatums for folks to come back to the work place or lose their jobs. But now, so many have enjoyed working away from the company’s physical location, that they don’t want to come back, and there is a huge movement to keep working away from the company’s physical location. I believe that’s pushing it too far. But what if the body of Christ was that busy outside of the church building, with the work of the ministry.

What if we as believers were so mindful of Jesus’ words, to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”, that there was a total turnover of who’s in church because we are out in the world, and we’re enjoying winning souls, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, and declaring the favor of the Lord, and we’re getting a whole new group of folks into the church building to be trained and discipled, so they can do the same. We should all come to church and have to introduce ourselves to all the new folks there.... because we’re so busy winning souls, restoring the backslidden and getting them to church, there is constantly a turn over in the crowd who are attending. 

I remember the G-12 movement, which was made popular by Juan Ortez who pastored in .... Buenos Aires, Argentina. The concept consisted of each leader in the church, choosing 12 people, to mentor. Then after one year, each of those would choose 12, plus the leader would choose 12 more, and repeat the concept. The church began to multiply 12 times 12 times 12, and on and on. 

Jesus chose 12 men, to mentor, and those 12 reached the world. We see this In Revelation 4:4 “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads”                                                                                   12 is the number of God’s spiritual government, and is the spiritual pattern in the old and new testament. There were 12 tribes and 12 apostles.  So, we see that the G-12 movement was very scriptural, and was God’s pattern for the New Testament church.

Jesus practiced mashed potato love. The early church was with average people who came together with one purpose, and that was to love God, and one another, lift up Jesus and one another, and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, in unity with one another. When you mash potatoes, it’s hard to tell which potato is which. They just all blend and work together. None are more important than the others, because they are all important. None are above the others because they are all together. They were all going their individual way to somewhere else, until they all came together for a common cause where they were. 

Jesus prayed “ That they be one even as we are one.” As we are all on our way to somewhere else to do the work of lifting up Jesus, he told us that right where we are, whatever else we are doing, and whoever we are with, our First God given goal, is to put Him first, and then become one with one another as He and the Father are one. We can’t do that without putting Him first, then all the rest can happen. 

All the apostles were on their way to somewhere else when God chose them to be leaders in the church. Some were on their way fishing, another was on his way to collect taxes, another was on his way to a career as a physician, but they were all on their way to somewhere else.

God loves to cause a disruption in our journey to somewhere else.... Paul’s journey to somewhere else, was disrupted by a meeting with the one who is the way, the truth, and the life....Andhe found his way, he found the truth and he found a new way of living.

Moses was on his way to somewhere totally different than where he ended up. He was on his way to enforcing the bondage of a nation of 

people. He was raised for it, and groomed for it. Then it was all disrupted and he was exiled to somewhere else, and it was thereGod captured him. Somewhere else became where he was to be all along, and when God was finished with him where he always wassupposed to be, he ended up leading those very slaves to their national inheritance that they had received from God. 

God will have the final say on our way to somewhere else. When your family, your friends and those you’ve known all your life, and grew up with, look they’re headed somewhere else, you need to shout within your spirit, “My God will meet them somewhere else”.....

God is waiting to disrupt their journey, to somewhere else....

The woman at the well was going to the well for something else. She had come to the well to draw water, and left with the living water. Everything she thought was somewhere else was right where she was. 

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Even now it is springing up. I want to show it to you. I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Thank God for the Divine disruption, because otherwise we would never discover God’s new and better way.

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and we end up walking the path of disappointment, because we were on our way to somewhere else and where we are is not what we hoped for, worked for, planned for, and invested our time and energy into, We can thank God that He has intervened in our plans to get us to where He knows we should be....As rough as it may be and uncomfortable, He has been fighting for us, and working behind the scenes, to get us to that new place and new thing. The place of our disappointment is the tipping point where the correction, the connection, the correlation, the intersection between God’s ways and our ways comes together. 

Would you say, “Whatever it takes, Lord”....                                                       Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God intended it for good.”

I love the song....”He didn’t bring us this far to leave us, He didn’t teach us to swim to let us drown, He didn’t build His home in us to move away. He didn’t pick us up to let us down, He didn’t pick us up to let us down”...

Sometimes you might feel like the Israelites who were trapped in a mountain pass, with the Red sea in front of them and the army of the Pharaoh and his chariots thundering toward them. And just when all seems lost, God hits the switch and opens up a pathwayin a direction, you would not have chosen before, because you didn’t consider it before and wouldn’t have chosen it...

I didn’t choose ministry. I was on my way to rock and roll, with a band that represented my life’s dream. Sing and play and travel. The lights and sounds and wild side were calling my name.... Like Job, I said about the ministry, “The thing I feared most, has come upon me”.... God was a party pooper, a spoil sport, and a wet blanket to my dreams. 

Like David, I was on my way to somewhere else.... When God showed up. 

David was taking lunch to his brothers, who were in the army. And had the lunch sack on his shoulder, when he heard goliath roar his threats. They were facing the mighty Philistine forces, in all it’s might and power. In the midst of this atmosphere of war, God calls forth David when his mind was on something else, to change his destiny and the direction of a nation. Getting David to the giant was God’s idea not David’s. Somebody say, “God has a better idea”.

“I've seen You move, You move the mountains. And I believe, I'll see You do it again. You made a way where there was no way, and I believe, I'll see You do it again, I’ll see You do it again!”

Be sure to Give God the glory in the midst of what you’re going through. And give him the praise while you’re going through it, not just after you see the new thing.                                                                               Don’t be like the guy who was running late for a very important meeting and couldn’t find a parking space. (right now everyone is looking for an empty space aren’t you) So he’s driving all around this huge parking lot that’s totally filled. “Lord,” he prays. “I can’t stand this, If I don’t make this meeting, I’ll be fired, if you open a space up for me, I swear I’ll give up drinking and cussing and go to church every Sunday.” Suddenly, the clouds part and the sun shines on an empty parking spot like a spot light from heaven. Without hesitation, the man says: “Never mind, Lord, I found one myself!”

Let me recommend some scriptures for you to read that will help you when God is interrupting your plans. My favorites are those inside the bible. That’s right take your pick... Genesis to Revelation the stories are there, and God won’t do for them what He’s not willing to do for you....

Have you ever been betrayed? 

Take a read at Joseph and his brothers who were in the land of promise. They had made it to the place every Jew had ever prayed to be. But what might have been great for everyone else, was not God’s choice for Joseph. God’s choice for Joseph was the last choice Joseph would ever have made for himself. During the unspeakable act of his own brothers throwing him in a pit, selling him to a travelling caravan, being sold as a slave, and being thrown in prison, God was bringing him to his destiny in Egypt.....W...H...A...T?!!!.

JEREMIAH 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

Have you had to deal with loss.... Take a read at Moses’ mom. They were killing Hebrew babies in Egypt. Surely, Moses’ mom, could not wrap her head around the fact that putting her baby son in a reed basket and hiding it in the crocodile infested waters of the Nile river, was God’s very best solution.... how could she know that putting her baby somewhere else, so far from what she had planned and wished in her mind and dreamed for her child, was exactly what God had chosen for the future deliverer of Israel...When you trust God in the times of disruption, God will get you to places that you could not get to in an entire life time or longer, if you’ll submit to his divine disruption.

Have you wondered how things ever got so out of control. How the path your children have taken, could be so different than what you’ve prayed and called out to God that it should be.

Is what you’re seeing way different than what you planned....Theplan was that all your children would grow up loving Jesus Christ....             The plan was for them to have children and raise them that way as well....The plan was that everyone would come home on holidays and dad would cut the holiday bird and each family member would talk of their love for God and their desire to serve him. and it would be such a pleasant time as everyone loved one another and got along so well because they all loved the Lord......but that’s not the way its turned out..... Don’t be so quick to flush it all because you believe what you see, more than what God has promised you...                                                             

A man with terrible eyesight was visiting Texas. When he gets to his hotel room, he sees the bed. “Wow, this bed is big!” “Yes, Everything is bigger in Texas,” says the bellhop. The man heads downstairs to the restaurant, he settles into a huge chair and orders a root beer. A mug is placed between his hands. “Wow these drinks are big!” The waiter replies, “Yes, Everything is bigger in Texas.” After drinking two mugs of root beer, the nearly blind man asks where the bathroom is. “Take the Second door to the right,” said the waiter. The blind man heads for the bathroom but accidentally enters the third door, which leads to the swimming pool, and he falls in. Popping his head up from under the water and flailing his arms, he shouts, “Please Don’t flush, don’t flush!”

So don’t be to quick to quit believing and “Don’t flush” what you don’t see now, and don’t understand. God’s doing it a better way. "                                                                 

Things can load you down and wear you out. When David faced Goliath, notice that Goliath was loaded down with armor, a heavy sword and spear, a large shield and the expectations of all the Philistines. David on the other hand was traveling light. He had just a sling. He had put aside the burdensome armor that Saul tried to put on him. Saul wanted to put his disobedience, and rebellion and his fears and doing things his own way on David. But David said “I cannot fight with this”...                                                         We need to travel light, not be burdened down about all the things we will never understand because it’s different than it appears to be. We will never see ahead as far as God sees, and we cannot understand in the natural mind what God has planned in His higher ways and thoughts. Listen to the words to one of David’s songs...(We call them Psalms)...                                              Psalm 55:22 (Amplified bible) “CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD (releasing the weight of it) and He will sustain you. HE WILL NEVER ALLOW THE RIGHTEOUS (those who choose His ways) TO BE MOVED (made to slip, fall or fail). So travel light....

David’s reply to Goliath reveals the contrast between them. Goliath said, “I will, I will, I will” but David said “The Lord will, The Lord will, God will, God will”.....“You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; (natural weapons, natural strength and understanding) but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel…”                                                                         That is the way David lived while he was in the wilderness, facing lions and bears. He didn’t know that it was training him to defeat the giant. What you’re going through or you’ve been through, is preparing you for a life changing event that is coming.                                                                      Daviddid not declare what appeared to be, He called out what did not yet appear! God is looking for a mouth piece that He can speak creative words through, and create something from nothing....

Isaiah 51:16 “I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish, and to say”.....                                                                                                                             Jeremiah 1:8 “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. 9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth”.                                                                                                           Exodus 4:12 “Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say."

When the pain became unbearable and I made the decision to go to the hospital on Monday night. We thought it was a heart attack because the pain was in my chest, running to my left shoulder and up my neck. I began to ask God why He would have me be there. What is the bigger picture and how did this fit His plan. After spending Monday evening in the holding area adjacent to the emergency room, I was put in room 315, on Tuesday evening, when a Nurse came in named Charlotte and was logging me in. I asked her about her family, and she told me she had a son. I then noticed the picture of a baby on her phone screen. I asked the Lord to let me know what to say to her and I said “is that your grand baby?” She turned and said no and I want nothing to do with it. I asked whose it was, since it was on her phone. She said that her son’s wife had gotten pregnant by someone else, and she wanted nothing to do with this child, because of what his wife had done. Boy, I was praying under my breath. I then told her about our niece Ann. Ann was raped by a black man. Everyone told her to abort, since the child was from rape. She refused and said it is not the child’s fault it happened, so why should it be punished. She said, God loves this child and has a special plan for his life, otherwise He would never have been born. How can I destroy someone that God came and died for. I need to love what God loves. She and her husband raised the child as their own, and he has graduated and moved on as a productive member of society. Charlotte broke down in tears and thanked me, saying yes, God loves this child and so will I. It opened the door for further ministry, and Charlotte said that it had changed her life and she would never be the same again. Hallelujah.

They found that I had (pleurisy) which is an inflammation in the lining around my lungs. I totally believe I went through the pain, and discomfort, for a meeting with Charlotte, which I would never have chosen, but I asked God to let me appreciate and embrace what I could not understand at the moment. When it was over, all the pain and symptoms were gone by Wednesday. Because things are not always as they seem to be! Winnie and I were able to minister to several others as well. 

Isa 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, Soare My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God is telling us today that Things are much more than we cansee. 

The doctor examined Larry and said, “Everything looks great. How are you doing mentally and emotionally? Are you at peace with God?” Larry told him, “God and I are tight. He knows I have poor eyesight, so He’s fixed it so when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, poof! The light goes on. When I’m done, poof! The light goes off.” “Wow, that’s incredible,” the doctor says. A little later in the day, the doctor calls Larry’s wife. “Bonnie,” he says, “Larry is doing fine! But I had to call you because I need to get further information on his relationship with God. Is it true that he gets up during the night, and poof, the light goes on in the bathroom, and when he’s done, poof, the light goes off?” “Oh, no,” exclaims his wife. “He’s using the refrigerator for the bathroom again!”Things are not what they seem, especially for Larry.                                                                                                                                      There’s a song by Rachel McCutcheon that says....Your ways are higher than mine. I want mountains to move, You want me to climb. So I'm gonna' trust Your work, Your will, and Your time. Your ways are higher, much higher than minethan mine”..

Roman's 8:28" must travel the great journey of 12 inches if it’s ever going to do us any good.... It must go from our head to our heart.....                                                                                 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”."                                                                                         

Oh, when you know by faith but you cannot see. You believe because God said it, but it’s still in the spiritual realm not the physical. You know in your head that it’s true, but the 12 inch journey from your head to your heart, is still taking place.... it’s in that transition period, that many folks lose their faith, punch their hope ticket and check out. We wish we could see what He sees. There are times when God gives us a glimpse of His plan, but it’s often a little bit at a time. So we stand on the promises, we rest in blessed assurance, and we trust the one who knows the end from the beginning. And we believe that God is still speaking if we will only listen....                                                       

I believe I have a word from God for you..... Are you still trying to figure things out according to your ways, not according to My Ways. When you ponder My Ways, you will 'hear' how to 'walk' how to 'do' and how to 'speak.' Ponder My Ways. Spend more time pondering My Ways and less time thinking about your ways and you will find my favor, and the blessing of divine provision. You sometimes convince yourself that your ways are My Ways. Well this is the time for that to be corrected. The Holy Spirit in you will show you. He will reveal and adjust and apply. Let Me speak to you when you are praying  and I will speak of My Ways and those mysteries of My Ways will speak to you as you are praying in the Spirit. They are aligning you and bypassing your thinking, so that your hearing and your spiritual sight are clearer. Align yourself with Me, for when you walk in My Ways, you're walking in the abundant life I have for you. All the paths of life, true life, come through Me. So look at the priorities you've set in your life and ask yourself the question, 'Do these priorities align with my priorities?' Know that I See what's in your heart. I care so much about you.  All you have to do is talk to Me about how you 'really,' feel and where your thoughts really are, where your heart really is. When you turn to Me with that, then I can come in and help you change it, help you turn it around from expecting bad news to Good News.  I know your sorrow, for I know you. You have hidden your sorrow over the way things turned out and how you’ve pushed it down in the recesses of your heart. Release the sorrow.  You deserve to be free. It’s time to lay down your sorrow at the foot of the cross. When things are fluctuating all around you and within you, know that I Am the solid and sure place for you. If you see it and hear it, you can have it. Receive My Love. Receive My grace, receive the finished work which I have planned for you in this moment. let your worries go, and know that I Know All about you and I know everything that you need me to 'work' on, and I Am working on it even as you sleep. Know my rest for your Spirit, your mind, and your body which is always available to you. Come here by My side, My children, and walk with Me, hear the voice of your Father, know my touch, let me hold you and comfort you and see how much I love you!

Receiving and Keeping Your Healing and Other Blessings....                  Since we’ll be talking about your body and Soul today, I came across this little account... A science teacher was grading a science test at home that she had given to her elementary-school class and was reading some of the answers. The subject was “The Human Body,” and the first question was: “Name one of the major functions of the skin.” One child wrote: “One major function of the skin, is to keep people who look at you from throwing up, skin covers a lot of gross looking things”....                          

A pastor was praying with folks around the altar, and he got to Gladys the gossiper, and said “Spirit of God come upon this, your servant, and close up all the places where the blessings are leaking out”....

I may be sharing this in a way you may have never really considered. But let’s get started with Luke chapter 4....Jesus took the scrolls and read from Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy.... 

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”…

Park the car right here for a moment.....

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in Isaiah, and repeated it here in the gospel of Luke, to let those who were listening know, that this prophecy was about Him. Then He made it clear in John’s gospel, that the Spirit which anointed Him, was going to take what was on Him, and put it on every believer who received Holy Spirit into their lives. 

John 16:13 “When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew (or demonstrate) it unto (and through) you”.

Jesus told us that Holy Spirit would demonstrate to us and through us, liberty to the captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed of the devil, and the favor of the Lord! (doesanyone come to mind?)

Let me tell you first, how to increase your faith and anointing for these things. Jesus told us we should be receiving them and doing them. Jesus said in John 6:63 “The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.”                                                                                                        So, First....Get full ofthe Word of God.... The Word is anointed and Spirit breathed. If you want to see people saved, fill up on scriptures about people getting saved. If you want to see captives set free, fill up on scriptures about captives being set free. If you want to see the sick healed, fill up on scriptures about the sick getting healed. If you want to see the oppressed of the devil set free, fill up on scriptures about deliverance. (Faith comes through and by the Word of God)

As a believer, your Spirit will receive a transfer of the anointing embedded in the Word, which will cause those very things to begin to happen in your Christian walk. If the Devil hits you, the Word should come right out of you, instead of that other blankety, blank stuff!

The word of God will retrain your brain from all the stinking thinking which we’ve all been programed with all of our lives. The believer’s brain is begging for the Word so it can be whole and healthy.                                       Holy Spirit is referred to as fire, because there are some things in us that need to be consumed, that are nothing but brain trash....BURN HOLY SPIRIT!

The Spirit is referred to as water because we need a good cleansing with the heavenly “shout it out spot and stain cleanser” CLEANSE US HOLY SPIRIT! 

The Spirit is referred to as Wind and breath, because there are things that are depriving us of the heavenly atmosphere. May God breathe upon us mightily once again. BREATHE OH BREATH OF GOD!!

When you get your healing, your freedom, your deliverance, if you don’t stay in the word, and keep fueling your faith and your confidence, you will find that the enemy will steal it from you and make sure you’re worse off than you were before. I see it all the time.

Stay free, by staying in the word, staying in prayer, and staying filled with the Spirit!

Your Spirit man needs to feed on the Word just as much if not more so, than your physical man needs nourishment. What you feed will grow and develop and what you starve, will wither and die, or at least be sickly and unwell.

Genesis tells us that Spirit was breathed into man by the very breath of God. God Himself "breathed into (man's) nostrils the breath (The RU-ACH) of life and He became a living soul or PSYCHE, a conscience being, capable of knowledge, reasoning, emotions, and inter-relations". Notice that the spirit came first and then came the soul, which made the body alive. God created the order in which man was to function and we only function well and whole in God’s order.

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually (of the Spirit) discerned”.                          When the body rules, self indulgenceis in control. When the soul rules, rebellion against God is the norm. When the Spirit rules, a person comes into harmony with God’s plan and purpose. 

Many people are physically well, but their spirit is diseased, deformed, or totally dead, because the wrong ruler is in control!This will constantly be talking your Spirit out of what the Word says you can have.                                 One day a primary school teacher was talking about Jonah and the whale. He said that it was impossible that a whale had swallowed Jonah, since whales live on small crustaceans such as krill, plankton and schools of tiny minnows. A young girl disagreed with him saying that the Bible said it had happened so it must be possible.

The discussion went on and both the child and teacher were insistent that they were right.. Finally the girl said that when she got to heaven she would ask Jonah herself. The teacher replied, ‘but what if Jonah is not in heaven but is in hell?’ Immediately the girl replied, ‘In that case you can ask him for yourself!’

So, because many are in a state of confusion about the connection between the Spirit and the soul and the body, I want to take a moment on this. It’s important because it has a lot to do with staying healthy mentally, emotionally and physically....

OK, we are not a body, we LIVE IN a body. (someone said, “as long as we have a body we are never homeless”) We are not a soul, we HAVE A soul. We ARE A SPIRIT that has a soul, which lives in a body.                                        This body is the earth vehicle which we have each been given, so that we can operate in and have authority in this physical realm, which by the way, God designed to be a very spiritual place! This realm was given to man as a spirit being, who could interact with God the Spirit, and that spirit is designed to be healthy, prosperous, wise, fully equipped, eternal, and was created in God’s own image.

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself (God’s Spirit) bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children (having the image) of God.”                                                                                                                                     Your spirit knows, whither your soulish self acknowledges it or not, that Holy Spirit is there pressing against your own spirit and constantly bringing up the important subject, of your being created in the image of God. Holy Spirit is a master of communication.

That doesn’t mean that we always yield to those inner promptings, but it means that every person is at some level,having them. We are instructed in Hebrews that we play an important part in how much these promptings influence our total life. We hold the key that opens the veil which allows the Spirit’s promptings to enter our physical reality.                                 We must intentionally give attention to these inner spiritual messages, spiritual urgings and red flags.

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, (who have developed in spiritual principles) even those who by reason of use, have their senses (faculties) exercised (through obedience and self-denial) to discern both good and evil”.                                                                    We may refer to it as conscience, a moral gyroscope, an inner compass, core values, a sense of duty, inner promptings, scruples, gut feelings, or an inner voice. But for believers, we fine tune those senses by the Word of God!

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. You may have read a bible verse many times and it didn’t really quicken in you and then suddenly the verse comes alive. We call that “the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.” He will never lead you contrary to the Word of God but will always be in line with the Scriptures if we will receive and acknowledge it.                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Reagan called it the “Trickle down effect”.... Whatever happens at the top always trickles down to everything else.                                                                                            Scripture tells us that if the Soul is not under the rule of our spirit, then it becomes our enemy. The body is the outer level, followed by the soul which is the carnal mind and self identity and the spirit is created and designed to be the leader. It is the Spirit that must give the soul it’s spiritual identity, so likewise the retrained soul or intellect, then gives the body it’s proper sense of wellness or wholeness.                                           Matthew 16:26: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and neglects (training) his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for (not training)his soul?"

This is a self evident truth, that is as apparent as the sunrise or sunset. This is not rocket science. These things are self evident. If you’re looking, no one has to tell you that the sun is rising! Darkness is leaving and light is coming! It’s like asking someone if they are a Christian. If they are, it will be self evident. I have seen so many folks who received Christ as their savior, but never retrained their soul, so the soul continued to run the show and convinced them to leave the church, and their faith, leaving them spiritually shipwrecked and physically needy. 

Matthew 6:22 that says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes (your perspective) is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

If you seek happiness you will never find it, because it is the bi-product of a positive view of life, a good conscience and healthy life values.  God has already decided that we are highly blessed, anointed and with authority in the earth. That’s in the spirit, but the soul has to be trained and convinced of that fact. 

Ephesians 1:3  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Now, that’s how God sees us Spiritually... Redeemed, healed, spirit filled, filled with wisdom and knowledge, anointed and FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, FREE AT LAST!!! If you turn to Revelation, you know WE WIN! No matter how it looks or feels in the moment, WE WIN!

But if the soulish man is not subdued, ruled over, and trained, then it is, “GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY”.. “HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT”....

Now notice Ephesians 1:4 “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

God decided that we were chosen, holy, without blame, and loved with Agape love, before the world was formed. Because God thought it, and God said it, it was so. So now we have to rule our soul, and train it, so that our soul will not contradict what God has decided, and stop blocking it in negative, toxic messages to our body and our emotions.

Ephesians 1:8 “God has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (the ability to do the right thing) 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself, (since the foundation of the world)

So we see here that we were designed to be filled with all wisdomand the ability to do the right thing, and know the mystery of His will...

Ephesians 1:11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”                                                                                                          Now would you say...”TheBest Is Yet To Come”.....

Listen to me, please. Before the world was formed, God adapted you, and gave you an inheritance. If your daddy was a billionaire, and you were 3 weeks old. You might be crying and complaining about a diaper rash, and needing your bottle, and needing a nap. It’s all you can see in life, but you are the heir of a billion dollars, even though you don’t understand it yet. You’re going to grow up, and one day you can get your head around it, but it’s true in the moment before you can even understand it.. 

Say with me, “I am an Heir, and joint Heir with Christ” ..... That means that no matter how your soulish man feels today, and no matter how everything looks today.... YOU ARE NOW AN HEIR.... YOUR INHERITANCE HAS ALREADY BEEN SETTLED before the world began. Don’t let your soulish self, talk you out of receiving and keeping your inheritance. It’s yours!! The soulish self is all about your feelings, your emotions, and your self will....

You’ve discovered your God image, and what God designed you for, before the foundation of the world!!!!

Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.

We can see here, that being filled with the spirit of the word, brings a separation between the soul’s influence over the Spirit, so that the Spirit can become active, healthy and alive!!

When this revelation takes place in us, we begin to know Him, whom to know is truth, life, Spirit, Wisdom, and there comes a demonstration in the earth of the anointing that sets you apart unto Him...

The anointing for all you need in life is activated by worship... giving Him the honor and reverence which He is due. Giving accolades and reveling in His presence. Getting overwhelmed by His very majesty and splendor His eternal omniscience. 

The second thing that activates the anointing is The Word of God, which is His revelation of Himself, for He so longs for mankind to know Him....His will, His intentions, His pleasure, His plan, His love, His power, His provision... Wow!

The third thing that activates the anointing is prayer, or intimacy with Him. (And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own) I talked about access last week, and He wants you to access a new level of intimacy with Him. Where you talk together about everything through out the day. And you let Him into your deepest inner conversations, where no one else is allowed to go. 

You will never spend another lonely day in your life. You’ll never be bored again. You’ll never lack something to do. Your schedule will be so full of His appointments, His stuff, you could be the only one on a deserted island and still be busy for Him!!

Living His life through our spirit isn’t something we’re used tobecause our spirit is so used to competing with our soul and body for every decision. 

When our thoughts, feelings, and intentions of our soul are directed by our spirit, we find it easier and easier to release the things God has already planned into our lives.... Health, joy, prosperity, and fullness of life. When we exercise our spirit by praying the Word of God, the Word releases the full life of God through us. 

Declare with me.....”Lord Jesus, I turn away from living in my soul. I turn to You in my spirit. Lord, I want to live by the Spirit.”

We see a prayer which Paul prayed for the Thessalonian believers... (Drum roll please!)            

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (set you apart for Himself) completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I started this message with “How to receive and keep your healing”.... 

How many can see, that receiving and keeping your healing, and your emotional and mental health, has a lot to do with retraining your soul and keeping your spirit in charge of your total well being.... Our Spirit is ready for a demonstration ofliberty to the captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed of the devil, and the favor of the Lord!

God said it was yours, don’t let your soul talk you out of it!

The more we train our soul, the more healing, gifts and blessings we     will see in our lives....

Yes, there are things that God has embedded in our Spirit, but we all need our soul imprinted upon by God’s word. It’s already yours, don’t let your intellect, emotions, sensory faculties, social self, and will, talk you out of it. Receive your inheritance. It’s waiting for you.

“My message today is ...”We Have Been Given Access”.

I suppose that most preaching is finding another way of saying this. It is a progressive, unfolding truth and God’s word is constantly giving me assurance that when my attitude is based on His character of mercy, grace and love, it will always cause everything to go smoother because He is working it all out for my good and His glory, every moment in my life. He has gone before me to prepare all my tomorrows with the blessing of new places, new things, new friends, new opportunities, and new challenges..

All of this has been achieved at an incredible cost, and thatmakes it the most valuable treasure we will ever have in this life... “ACCESS”....

Mark 15: 25 “It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself !" 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." 36 A soldier ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" 

The veil in the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place where the priest ministered before God, was red on one side and blue on the other and purple in the middle where the two colors came together. It was embroidered with two huge cherubim on each side, who guarded the glory. The veil was 60 feet long, 30 feet high, and it was four inches thick. 

The veil represented relationships.                                                                  Adam and Eve had walked in the direct glory of God and considered it the normal thing in their every daylives. But the relationship was broken and the glory departed. Only a few in Old testament history had access to that relationship and the power and authority that came with it.                                                                                                       You might think of it like this- The President of the US- (regardless of who is in office) is the most protected person on the planet. Layers and layers of security ( fences, personal security, background checks, metal detectors,  bomb sniffers), THEN you get in the house, but still have no access. You could get in outer court of the temple but only a very few could get to God. God wanted so much to have that garden of Eden relationship with His people, but since a man broke the relationship, a man had to fix what was broken. Sin came through a man, and the cure must come through a man.             

1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God (the God man) was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the evil one”.                               If you could sum up all the works of the devil, it would be broken relationships. The veil was always there. Broken relationships between God and man and man with his fellow man. Jesus came to take away the division, and the great void, that stood between God’s glory and man’s greatest need, which was Himself.

God entered the earth realm in a physical body and sacrificed Himself so He could once again have a relationship with us.                                            A woman was taking an afternoon nap. When she woke up, she told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond necklace. What do you think it means?" "You'll know tonight," he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Excited that it was the diamonds she told him about, she opened it to find a book entitled "The Meaning ofYour Dreams." It’s amazing that he lived this long......                                                                     God didn’t just give us a book, He wanted a relationship with us so much that He was willing to move heaven and earth to make it possible. 

So, at the moment of Jesus’ death, having satisfied the justice of God upon sin and the curse, the veil was torn from top to bottom, becoming a physical witness of the completed work of the cross. In so doing, all who were separated, could now come back into relationship by the glorious work of redemption through Jesus blood. Matthew Simpson said the following statement of the roll of Pastors, but I want to expand it to all Christians,                                                   “They stand in Christ’s stead, their message is the Word of God, all around them are immortal souls, the Savior, unseen, is beside them, the Holy Spirit broods over them, angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell await the issues. Oh, what divine associations, and what a vast responsibility.”

Picture the most guarded place in the United States, the Ovaloffice of the president. And picture yourself, walking through all the security, and strolling into the room and sitting down at the President’s own desk. That’s what God wanted for us. To have access to the throne of God almighty!

Ephesians 2:5,6 “And God has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:10 We are to declare....“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (no separation)

The veil between this dimension and the glory of the supernatural has been torn in half, so we can pass through the veil from sickness into wholeness.... from never enough into more than enough.... from division, and strife and turmoil, into healed relationships, harmony and peace. We can have access to the throne room of His glory!

The torn veil, is God’s invitation to enter in....

John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall He do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”

Jesus has gone before us to prepare for our coming. As we keep our eyes on Him, He will show the way, through every veil we face. The veil of lack, of broken relationships, of financial insufficiency, of fear, and inadequacy, of disease and infirmity. Jesus says I have gone before you and prepared for your arrival.

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”   

The tearing of the veil, meant that the temple in Jerusalem was being replaced with a new location for God’s glory. No longer would it require a pilgrimage of great distance to experience God’s glory. No longer would it mean that everyone be required to purchase animals for sacrifice on the altar at the temple, to cover their sins.                                 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are now the temple of God and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are the chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His Glory and marvelous light”. That’s talking about ACCESS!

The bible gives us a picture of parallel events taking place in earth as they are taking place in heaven. We are given a view of a heavenly mercy seat which the earthly mercy seat in the temple was patterned after. Just as the priest was to enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat for the sins of the nation, so likewise, when Jesus rose from the dead, He sprinkled his own sacrificial blood on the mercy seat of heaven.                                                                                                                                        Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the (heavenly) holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The work of redemption wasn’t finished until Jesus sprinkled His blood on the heavenly mercy seat, so that He might prepare a way for us in the heavenly realm.         (songsays) When I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you!

Another scripture having to do with access, is found in...

Ezra 9:8 we read: “That He might leave us a way of escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place.”

Again we see the parallel between the earthly events and the heavenly conclusion. As they were driving the nails in Jesus’ hands and feet, that price He paid was securing for us a place in that Holy place in heaven where thieves cannot enter and time cannot corrupt it. The nail in His holy place is our passport, to enter through the veil, and into all that He gave us access to. .

I want to give each person a symbol of your passport beyond the veil. Our hope and our faith hangs on a nail, that was fastened in heaven, as a symbol of our complete access. It cannot be affected by things of this world, it is secure and outside this dimension. It is anchored in eternity.

The rending of the curtain of the Temple, was a symbol of a new covenant which we enter into through the death and resurrection of Christ. 

Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh....”

The curtain that once kept those who were inadequate, flawed, unqualified, and sinful outside, and unable to enter in, now encourages those same ones to come and enter boldly through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our point of access. 

Where there was fear and hesitancy, now there is confidence. Hebrews 10:22 "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in the full confidence of faith.”

Our confidence is in the faithfulness of God. That confidenceis reflected in a transformed heart and a changed life. It springs forth from the core of our Spirit and it is demonstrated in a surrendered will... “Not my will but thine be done”...

To know that He is faithful even when we are not faithful. He is just when the world is unjust. He knows us better than we know ourselves and yet He loves us as we are, so we can become what we should be and He’s prepared for our arrival. He has gone before us and made all He has done accessible to us. 

We may look at all this, as a huge step, but it is a series of small steps simply taken, one foot in front of the other, in obedience and it produces huge, results. 

In 1847, a boy named Homan Walsh went out to fly a kite. Homan was taking part in a kite-flying contest, so he brought his best kite, and plenty of string. There was a crowd of people competing.

He stood on the Canadian bank of the Niagara River, letting more and more of that string go out, until it stretched nearly 1,000 feet. At that point, a man on the American side of the Niagara Gorge, grabbed the string, and the crowd that had gathered let up a mighty roar. For the first time in history, people on opposite sides of this great gorge were holding onto the same string. And Homan won $5, the top prize in the contest.

Quickly, the string was tied to a tree on the American shoreline, and a cord tied to the Canadian end of the string. The cord was then pulled across the 800-foot span. A rope was tied to the cord, and pulled safely across. To the rope was attached a wire cable, and to the cable, a thicker cable was attached. It was the beginning of an engineering victory over one of the greatest natural barriers that had separated Americans and Canadians.

Fifty-foot towers were built on each side of the river, and more cables became a part of the picture. In time, they walked on a foot bridge for price of a quarter. But less than a year after Homan’s kite first flew across the river, people were safely riding their horse-drawn carriages across the Niagara, on a marvelous suspension bridge that hung 220 feet over the rushing water.

Today, thousands of passengers travel across the multi-lane, high-speed bridges and it never occurs to most of them, that somewhere in the past, just to get this modern-day miracle that gives access between two countries, under way, somebody had to fly a kite.

If great bridges can get their start with a boy’s kite and string, then you can be sure that great spiritual experiences can get their start 

with amazingly simple choices that we make every day.

I have seen some remarkable transformations in people’s very nature and character when they genuinely entered into and surrendered to God’s new covenant of access. 

II Corinthians‬

Jesus said “I have given you the keys of access” and Paul took the keys and made good use of them. Look at the Apostle Paul and you see that where there had once been hate, there was now love. 

Where there had once been unbelief, there was now faith. 

Where there had once been pride, there was now humility. 

Where there had once been strict obedience to human traditions, there was now submissive obedience to God’s Spirit.

Where there was resistance, there was now total surrender.

Paul had entered into God’s new covenant of access, He discovered a new way, A new heart. A new mind. A new belief system. A new attitude. A new Spirit within him. He chose a new way of living. He was a remarkable example of what New Birth is all about. 

Here are four ways we are made new:

What does the mind of Christ look like?

Jesus thought of others before Himself.

Jesus gave priority to the Kingdom of God. Not my will but God’s will.

Jesus thought it was more important to serve rather than be served.

Jesus had the attitude of humility and compassion.

2.... We receive a new heart.

What does our new heart look like?

We put ourselves in the place of others and feel what they feel.

Our hearts are deeply stirred over sin, even if everyone is doing it. 

We rejoice with others, even when we are in need ourselves.

We humbly seek the good of others over our own.                                         Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

To guard our hearts does not mean we try to eliminate all risk from our lives. That would be just another type of bondage. If we try to eliminate all the risk, we would be eliminating all love from our lives.

3.... We are given a new belief system with new behaviorpatterns.

What does that look like?                                                                                                             We remain sexually pure.                                                                                           We are honest and trustworthy in all we do.                                                      We honor our promises and pay our debts.                                                   When we say we will pray for someone, we pray for them....

We guard our ears, our eyes and our thoughts.                                        Scripture tells us to give no place to the enemy. 

4..... We are given a new redeemed Spirit.                                                                                                                                              What does that look like?                                                                                               We have received power to overcome sin.

We have received power to withstand temptation.

We have received power to stand firm in the trials of life.

We have received power to come boldly before God’s throne.

And if we fall short, it still says....                                                                                                                                        2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.God never makes a mistake when He gives His callings and choosing, so He never says “Oops, I didn’t see that one coming”!!!.

And if we fall, we start right where we are, repent, and receive the grace of a new beginning, and access to all He has given. We just have to allow God, once again, to do His new thing in our lives.

The veil has been torn, the barriers have been removed, access has been granted, the new covenant is still in tact, our relationship with the Father has been restored. Thank You Jesus. Whosoever will may come, and whatsoever thing we ask shall be granted. Ask and you shall receive, continue to seek, and don’t quit.... knock and the door shall be opened.... The door of forgiveness, the door of relationship, the door of access.....It’s based on His willingness, not your fears, weaknesses, flaws and lack of faith. 

Hear Christ say “Behold I make all things new”                                                        Or maybe you need to hear once again, “Behold I make all things new”....All things are now available.....

The Threshing Floor

The threshing floor is a flat surface, usually smooth, which is used during the harvest of grains. Often, animals would be used to walk on and crush and break the sheaves of the grain on the threshing floor or people would use sticks to beat the grain and break the sheaves apart. As a result, the grains would be separated from the husks, which were called “chaff”. The threshing floor would often be located in a windy area, so that the final part of the process of separation would be done by tossing the grains upon the wind, thereby, finally separating the grain still in the husk from thosethat were ready to eat. The process is called winnowing.... Thank God for the winds of the Spirit, that blow away the chaff from the good things that God has planned for us. 

The bible tells us that Ruth (from the book of Ruth) whose husband was the son of Naomi, had followed her mother-in -law to Israel where she was encouraged by Naomi, to go down to the threshing floor of Boaz as it is recorded in Ruth 2:20, (Speaking of Boaz, she said) “The Lord bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. He is our close relative and he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”                                                            Ruth’s life had fallen apart. Her dreams were crushed, her husband had died, suddenly she was a single again person, and now she’s among strangers where she knows no one but her mother in law. But Naomi knows that the best place for Ruth is the threshing floor!

You see, a technician can install something, but it takes a mentor to instill something... and in between stands the threshing floor.

So Naomi encouraged Ruth to go to the threshing floor and wait for Boaz to finish tending to the barley, and then lie down for the night at Boaz’s feet. In doing this, she was demonstrating that she was choosing him to redeem her and keep her in the family. As a result of Ruth’s act of submission to Boaz, she became grafted into the lineage of Jesus Christ. 

She had nothing to offer, as a stranger in the land, but in offering herself she received far more than she could possibly give. That’s what grace is all about. We who can offer so little, discover that little Is much, when we give it to our kinsman redeemer Jesus Christ and make ourselves available to Him.                                                   

Isaiah 9:6 “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this”.  

Aren’t you glad that you have a kinsman redeemer, who is waiting for you to surrender, so He can redeem you from your past and bring you into His family and give you a new life and a new future!

Look with me at Ruth 3:14 “Boaz said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.      Now as I was studying for this message, I found out that Jewish law required, that the next of kin take the deceased relative’s wife, so that he might have an heir. I was very surprised to find out that according to the Jewish law, for Boaz to redeem Ruth, he needed to redeem Naomi’s husband’s property, and by doing so, she came with it. So, not only did he take Ruth as his wife, but Naomi as well as part of the deal. But Naomi was too old for child bearing so he redeemed the inheritance through Ruth.You probably know that Ruth’s son Obed was the grandfather of King David, which makes him of the lineage of Jesus through Mary. 

Ruth 3:16-17 “When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”                                                                                                                        What an amazing picture of God’s grace that is greater than all the hurdles we throw in front of Him!

Church, you will never fall at Jesus’ feet, and go away empty-handed! Matthew 12:20 promises... “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until he brings justice to victory, and in his name those who have been turned away will find hope.” Hallelujah, the bruised reed will be restored and made whole, and the smoldering wick, those who have lost hope, and lost their faith, will be re-fired and set ablaze!!             

Threshing floors have global impact. David was instructed by the Lord to buy the threshing floor of Araunah to use as the temple site. David was to build an altar to the Lord on this threshing floor. God told David to turn the place of thrashing and winnowing, into a place of worship...                                                                                                          When we realize all that we have been redeemed from, it causes us to build some altars and worship the Lord our restorer. Hallelujah, we need to turn some threshing floors into places of worship. When we have been tried and tested, we shall come forth as pure gold.

The threshing floor was a place of separating the worthless from that which was profitable and useful. It was a place where the chaff was gathered to be burned. But that’s exactly where our Kinsman Redeemer likes to hang around and snatch souls from judgment and give them new hope and new life! You will always find Jesus at the threshing floor. 

Jesus knows how to free us from our husk, that wants to enslave us, and keep us from becoming all we were meant to be.                                       You May remember that the mother of Boaz, was Rahab the prostitute. She is referred to as a prostitute when we first meet her at the walls of Jericho where she let down a scarlet cord from her window. She is referred to as a prostitute when she and her family are spared. She is referred to as a prostitute when she is listed in Hebrews along with all the great examples of people of faith. She is referred to as a prostitute when spoken of in James as an example of Godly action.

Was this taking place because she had a label on her that would never go away? No. This label was a reminder to those throughout history, of the redemptive work of God and his ability to make us acceptable in his sight, regardless of labels the world may place on us. The world called her a prostitute but in God’s eyes she was a rescuer, a woman of great faith, and a Godly example. She found God at her own threshing floor.

2 Chronicles 3:1 “Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

So, Solomon’s temple is built on the very same threshing floor where David was instructed to build an altar to the Lord! It was filled with the glory of the Lord, so that people would be overwhelmed by the shekinah.... Many want the glory, but they are not willing to come by way of the threshing floor, where the husks are separated from the good wheat....                                                                                                                 Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

It is also significant then, that this is the same location on Mount Moriah where Abraham made the offering of Isaac, his only son. In fact, Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on Mount Moriah, known as Har Ha-Bay-it in Hebrew, has been the most disputed threshing floor in the world. And it will once again be a blessing to the whole earth when God has finished separating the wheat from the chaff....

The threshing floor is where God does His amazing work of grace. It’s where he does what He knows how to do, in threshing out righteousness from unrighteousness, carnal from spiritual, a dead end from a Godly inheritance, instant gratification from a Divine destiny!

At the threshing floor, He makes a way where there is no way, He creates something that didn’t even exist before! He turns a Saul into a Paul.... He turns Cephas into Peter the Rock.... He takes a Jacob and transforms him into an Israel who prevails with God.... He takes a red headed, freckled faced teen age shepherd boy and anoints Him as David King of Israel and When Jesus is called “Son of Joseph, son of David, he is blending both lineages in a powerful demonstration of the house hold that could only be possible by Grace!

Who have you written off at the threshing floor? But God is still threshing and winnowing.... would you please give Him a chance.... Give Him a little room here.... There’s a king in the making on the threshing floor... There’s a prophet, an apostle, an evangelist, a pastor and teacher, that’s in the works, and what a work it is!!!

Give God some room, at the threshing floor....

Matthew 25:31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another....”

I believe the nations are on the threshing floor. I believe right now America is on the threshing floor.... I believe the church of Jesus is on the threshing floor.... There is a separation process going on 24/7...

Listen to me, as long as there is a threshing floor, your family is being brought into the process of God’s grace.... and the separation is happening, righteousness is raising up, your prayers are casting the good part into the air (your prayers are the winnowing fork) that’s causing the good part to be cast into the wind, so the chaff can fall away, and reveal God’s cleansing, purifying, sanctifying, work!

Don’t let up, don’t slack off, don’t lose heart.... keep using yourwinnowing fan of prayer, that is casting the good grain into the air where Holy Spirit can blow away the unrighteousness part.....

Don’t be like the guy at the wailing wall in Jerusalem, who was asked how long he had come to pray at the wall. He said “I’ve come here every day for 65 years.” He was asked how it felt to pray all those years at the wall. He said, “Well, it’s like talking to a wall.”.....                                            Listen, know that something is happening. The winds of heaven are blowing across the threshing floor. Today is a day of visitation at the threshing floor of the Holy Spirit!

Matthew 3:12 “His fan is in his hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the storehouse, and He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Notice the possessiveness: "His fan;" "his hand:" "his threshing floor;" and "his wheat." We know that Christ purchased the church with His own blood. John describes the church that Jesus bought and paid for as being His threshing floor.

This should be the place where destinies are unwrapped, and a super natural work of transformation takes place in hearts and lives....                         1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where then shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?                                                           Listen friends, The church needs to feel the winnowing fan of the Holy Spirit in this hour. Separating us from the world and giving us a fresh cleansing and impartation of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus taught that the world is the field. He also told us that the primary work in the field is sowing the seed for harvest. Everyone has a job to do in the field. In our world, we sow, we water, and we reap. We witness, we testify, we pray, we invite, we help, we teach, we spread God's good news! We teach people the power of faith in God. We tell people how they can respond to the gospel through allowing the work of separation to take place as we all together, repent, surrender, and offer our lives to Christ. Our sins lose their grip as we are being filled with new life by His Spirit. Can you see this.... we sow the seed, we reap the harvest and we meet together at the threshing floor. 

When the sheaves of grain were brought in from the field, they would be laid across the hard stone of the threshing floor. The grain was literally caught between a rock and a hard place. This pressure served to loosen the kernel of grain from its stalk and the husk that enshrouded it. On the threshing floor, what it had been was separated from what it would be, the future was separated from its past, old things passed away, behold all things are become new!

When folks sit under the preaching of the word of God, Holy Spirit starts applying the pressure and righteousness begins to be elevated. Choices must be made. Hearers begin to feel conviction to let go of their past and let God have His way. The power of the Word places people in a position where they must change or grow harder! The same Sun that melts butter will harden clay!

When Pentecost came to the threshing floor of the Upper Room, the disciples heard a sound like a rushing, mighty wind....Remember Ezekiel the prophet who was dropped into a valley of dry bones? As he preached, bones noisily began to reassemble. He preached some more and the winds began to blow. He preached some more and that which was dead came to life!

A weatherman in Los Angeles was once asked if the prevailing winds would clear the haze from the city. He replied that they would not. He said, "That would take a wind from somewhereelse."

That's what the Holy Ghost is. It’s the wind from somewhere else, that removes all manner of problems from our lives. While we can't see the wind, we can see the effects of it passing through, It’sa cleansing, separating, demon chasing wind!

In light of all that, let me share with you some thoughts at the threshing floor.....                                                                                                                                                                                      Strong people don’t have attitudes; they have standards and convictions.                                                                                                                                                                                              You can’t pour very much from an empty cup....                                                                                We haven’tforgotten where we came from, we just realize we shouldn’t stay there....                                                                                                                                                                            Stop shrinking to fit in places you’ve already outgrown....                                     Givers need to set limits because takers rarely do.....                                                             If it costs you your peace, it’s way too expensive.....                                                Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.....    If you’re waiting for a sign from God before you start,this is it, go ahead and take it!.....

When we’ve done all we know how to do, it’s time to remember that the threshing floor is an altar where we fall down and worship and glorify the Lord of the threshing floor, who never sleeps, or grows weary. Like David and Solomon, the threshing floor is where God is telling us to partner with Him to build a temple for His glory! There is no shadow of turning with Him.....He’s willing, ready and waiting, right now!!. 

Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even the young folks grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”.

We realize that perfection lies close to imperfection, wheat lies close to tares, grain lies close to chaff. We take everything and offer it to Him. The wind will perfect our praise and the fire will cleanse and purify.

For 10 days the disciples of Jesus waited in prayer for the promise. In this high place above the city of Jerusalem, work was done. Perhaps, they reminded themselves of the promises of God. Maybe they preached to one another and found that Simon Peter seemed to have a gift in that The threshing floor was now officially open for business!!

Here's a promise: The Word loosens the chaff from the wheat, the Worship lifts the chaff, and His Wind carries the chaff into the fire. And What goes into the fire is not coming out again!

I want to announce officially, that here, at Eagle’s Rest, the Threshing Floor is now open! For the saint and the sinner, for the down and outer and the up and outer, for the insider and the outsider, for the bound and the free, and for you and for me.... 

Closing prayer....."Heavenly Father, we come into agreement in the wonderful and powerful Name of Jesus Christ, that where two or more are gathered, there You will be in the midst of us and anything we agree upon as touching in obedience, You will surely do. Lord, in Your name, we have the power to overcome whatever difficulty we may face. It may be through it, around it, under it or over it, but we can conqueror it, through Your victory which you have given us. 

The past is behind us and the future is full of hope and promise, and we speak to any hindrance and command it to bow down and yield to Jesus Name! Let Your peace flow where there was worry and fear, let Your favor now flow, where there was struggling and resistance, let Your victory overwhelm all failure and defeat! We declare that we are no longer under the problem, but it is under our feet. It tried to put us under, but we’re coming out with greater power and anointing. 

Every obstacle is moving out of our way, and Your Spirit within us is greater than all that may be against us. No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises against us shall only work for good and not for evil. We declare it, believe it, and receive everything we’ve prayed, and give You glory in advance for the answer, by faith in Jesus' Name!

Now I give You praise and thank You for the answer before I see it, feel it, or enjoy the manifestation! 

It’s my time to take back what the enemy has stolen from me.... It’s time to take my family back... It’s time to take my job back..... It’s time to take my joy and my strength back.... it’s time to take my vision, my promise, and my mission back... It's time to take the gifts of the spirit back......I take it back.... Satan you can’t have it anymore....In Jesus' name. Hallelujah, Praise God!!

Prepare Your Nets

Monday night, the Lord spoke to me in a vision, and said “Prepare Your Nets”...

This was especially attention getting, after the word I shared at the end of my message last Sunday....I don’t think I have ever repeated a word that I received, but Let me review that word with you and you’ll see why I’m excited about what the Lord said this past Monday night.....

“The seed that you have sown in the past is being called forth in this season for it is your season of crossing over.” You have been through some things that you thought would kill you and you thought you might not recover, but God said “I am going to restore the years that the locust has eaten, for My word does not come back void, but accomplishes what it is sent there to do and what you sowed in your earlier days is now going to bear fruit in these days. Many have been in a pruning season so that now in this hour you will bring forth “much fruit!” The correction that I brought into your life was not to kill you, but to heal you!! So there fore now I will bring forth the seed of the past that was sown in love and I will multiply your seed sown in this new season and it shall spring forth together! Get ready to see and know the reason for the last season is about to be made manifest to you and why you had to even become a seed that was hidden in the ground will be understood, and a great sense of loss came in your spirit and you mourned a great mourning, but I tell you unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it abides alone, but if it dies it will bring forth much fruit!! You still don’t understand many of the things you had to walk through, and you may never understand. But know that your God is faithful and He will take what was meant for harm and turn it for good. Know that God has said that ‘you would not go under but would come out with plunder.’ You have often felt you would not make it through to the other side, the loss was so great and the pain so heavy. But you are still here, still serving God, still loving God, still trusting God. Your faith is greater than it has ever been. What meant to destroy you, only made you stronger in God. You have allowed this process and yet have still gone forth after Him with all of your heart and now the time of the greater works of God is upon you!! I say to you the reaper will overtake the sower in this hour!! For this is the time of the rain, the former rain and the latter rain in the same season. This is the time of the harvest for my harvesters! This is your time for multiplication! This is the time when a small one will become a hundred and a hundred will become a thousand. For my math is not your math! My multiplication is not limited! I give you the heathen and the scoffers for your inheritance, so enlarge the place of your tent for you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left and your seed shall inherit My promises in this day! Get ready you are about to come under an open heaven. Know this and receive it for your God will accomplish it in your time!! This is the set time of favor!! Hallelujah! Come on, get your excitement back, and give God praise for the seed covenant that is even now at work in your life, in your body, in your finances, in your home, your career, your relationships, and your destiny!! Don’t let Satan muzzle your shout, your praise and your declaration!!! Some boulders that looked unmovable are being broken by the power of the seed you have sown. What looked irresistible, is having to yield to the seed covenant God made with you. The reapers are bringing your harvest, it is your season. Somebody needs to praise God for your seed covenant being activated, It’scoming forth, it’s springing up!

And He said to me again “Prepare the Nets”....

So in this vision, that I received on Monday and then it reoccurred on Tuesday night, I saw myself throwing out a net, then pulling it in full of fish. Then I saw myself going to each of my children and helping them pull their nets in. Then I went to each of my grand children and did the same. Then I went to each one in the church and helped you pull in your nets full of fishes. It seemed like hours went by, and I’ll tell you, my arms and my shoulders were getting tired and sore from pulling in nets of fishes....

The lord said to me....”My first call to the disciples, was a call to evangelism”. I looked up Matthew 4:18 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.…

Then He had me turn to … Luke 5:4 “When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear”.…And He said again “prepare the nets”

There was a guy who called his boss and told him “I can’t come to work today” The boss asks why and the guy says “it’s my eyes.” “What’s wrong with your eyes?” asks the boss. “Well, I just can’t see myself coming to work”, he said, “so I m going fishing instead…”

I wonder perhaps, if too many Christians, have eye problems, because they just can’t see themselves winning souls for the Lord even though He clearly told us that that was our mission and purpose. 

I believe The Lord was telling me in this vision, that we need to start seeing ourselves involved in this last days harvest, because the time is short, and He’s saying that this harvest is going to be a supernatural harvest. We have looked at the task of harvest in the light of our own strength and ability. But the Lord is telling us that this is something supernatural. All we need to do is show up and do what we normally do, but now do it in the power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Miracles are not what we do, it is what He does. We need to just believe enough to show up!!

Here what the Lord is telling His church today....                                                   Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The church without evangelism, is like, well, let me tell you what the Lord did to me to emphasize this....

He took me to a restaurant, that had a menu displayed in the front, but when I went in, no one was there to greet us so we had a seat, the waitress came over and said, “Sorry we have no food”.... So I thought “what is a restaurant, with no food”?                                                                    And I went into the kitchen, and the folks in the kitchen were talking and playing cards and some were dancing and singing, and having a good time, but no one was preparing any food for the people in the restaurant, so folks were leaving without being able to eat. 

Then I went down to the ocean front, where all the fishing boats had their signs up, and people were getting on the boats for the fishing trip. So I got on too, cause I love fishing. The strange thing was that there were no fishing rods and no bait on the boat. But everyone was dancing, and eating fish sandwiches which no one caught and no one was fishing. And I thought, this is weird.... And the Lord said, this is the church without evangelism. They have lost their real purpose.

Then He quoted Luke 14:23 to me....”And the lord said unto His servants, Go out into the highways and bi-ways, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”.

The work of Evangelism is not an accident, it is done intentionally. It is not a side issue on the church program, it is the heart beat of the gospel

It was brought back to my mind, the vision that changed William Booth’s life, who was the founder of the Salvation Army. After his conversion Booth, began to preach the salvation message at 17, on the streets of London.                                                                                                    Booth said of the Salvation Army, what should be said of every Christian organization.... "We are a salvation people - this is our speciality - getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting everybody else we can, saved as well.”                                                                                                                             In His vision, He saw I saw a dark and stormy ocean. … In that ocean he saw multitudes of people perishing in the dark waters, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and they cursed and screamed until they sank to rise no more.  And he saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock, he saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, hesaw a large number of the poor struggling, drowning multitude who were able climb out of the angry ocean. He saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform, were going in and helping many who were still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety …As he looked on, he saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the drowning people out of the sea. … though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean themselves, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about those who still needed rescuing … These people did not seem to have any deep concern to do anything about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning before their eyes… They were so caught up with praying about their problems, and church fellowships, and meeting at the rescue station, and feeling good about their salvation, they were not mindful of reaching out to rescue the perishing.                                                                                                                                  Because of the vision, he started the Salvation Army in 1865, which originally, went all around the various cities singing, and preaching the salvation message. They started thrift stores to provide finances for the ministry 13 years later.

Mark 1:16-20, “As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, his brother, throwing a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John, his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 Immediately He called them also. And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Jesus.”

The nets spoken of here represent evangelism. And you will notice that these fishermen spent a lot of time mending their nets, so that they might effectively contain the catch of fish. If there were holes in their nets, of course the fish would escape. 

I want us to look at The Enemies of Evangelism......There were many things which would damage their nets, and make them ineffective, for the fulfilling of their purpose, so let’s check outsome of the things which are the enemies of our nets, which would cause them to need mending....Again, The Lord Said “Prepare Your Nets”.....

Our next scripture deals with several of the enemies of evangelism...   Matthew 9:37-38 The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Pray the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” 

The first enemy mentioned is PRAYERLESSNESS. How much time do we spend, praying for the harvest,                                                                       The Second, enemy, is lack of workers. When we are finished praying, are we willing to say with Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord send me”...             The third enemy mentioned is failing to see the harvest all around us, everywhere we are. Jesus said it is plentiful... Every day, all day long, we are surrounded with those whom God is dealing with at some level, the only thing they need is someone to show them the entrance sign to salvation and bring them in. Holy Spirit does the work, we just need to show up with our nets, and be the guides.

Another enemy of the harvest, is found in John 9:3....“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”                                                                                                    This enemy is a lack of urgency, while we have the opportunities that are given unto us. The time is coming fast, when the opportunities will be over and those people will no longer have a chance. What if we defeat this enemy, by realizing we may be the last hope and chance they have...

There have been multitudes of times when I led someone to Christ and it’s the last time I saw them this side of heaven. But what a blessing to know that I will meet them someday in heaven, because of a few minutes introducing them to Christ. I usually ask if there is something I can pray with them about, and in that prayer I ask them to repeat a prayer after me, accepting Jesus as their savior....

Look at another enemy.. John 6:38-39 “For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but to do the will of Him who sent me.  And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up on the last day.” 

This enemy is “Forgetting my purpose.... I make a decision to put aside my will, when He asks me to do what He wills. Jesus on one occasion said, “Why call me Lord, if you do not do the things I ask you.” We are not just hanging out somewhere, we are sent to the place we are, for His greater purposes. I go to the grocery store and I ask, “what is your purpose for me being here Lord”.... If I’m on vacation, I ask “What is your purpose for me being here....” John says “this is the will of Him who has sent me, that I shall lose none of those He has given unto me....”                                                                                                                    This also deals with another enemy.... The fear of people.... What if we were more afraid of missing God, than we were of upsetting someone? What if we were more afraid that someone was going to spend eternity in the eternal torment of hell, thanwe were that someone may not like us! (come on now)

Woah, here’s a big enemy, that really tears up the evangelism nets.....                                John 4:35-36 “Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest..” 

This is the enemy called inconvenience.” Satan loves this one. He will make sure that some emergency, some distraction, some urgent situation, or something you would just rather do or somewhere you would rather be always happens. Just when you lose your patience, when you get angry and get caught up in the thing that is frying your bacon.... OOOPs it was harvest time, but you had the gaping hole called inconvenience in your net!

Isaiah 43:7 says "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- everyone who I am calling, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

This falls under failure to Give God the Glory.....Is there anything more important than giving God glory, or getting Him glory that He is due and deserves. We greatly Honor Him by seeking His pleasure. There is great power, effectiveness and reward in putting the Lord first.            Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these. things shall be added unto you”.

The things you thought you had to do, but you obeyed Godinstead, will be added to you thru your obedience to Him. The things you put first before the Lord, will not be added.... Friend, that’s God’s promise to you. 

My last scripture pretty well sums up what God is saying when He says Prepare Your Nets......It’s not only about obedience, but our motives....

Matthew 22:37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Winnie doesn’t just want me to say “I love you”.... She wants me to show her that I love her! God is no different!

Closing prayer......”Lord of the Harvest, as we live and work in our city, we see so many who are lost and afraid. And yet in our own strength, we know that there is nothing we can do unless you increase our faith and give us the boldness we need to fill this city with the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Father, we pray that as the seeds of the gospel are scattered and planted, they would land on good soil and bear much fruit. We bind and command every enemy of the harvest to leave, in Jesus name. 

Lord help us to not become distracted by the many things Satan uses to keep us from the great calling of the harvest of souls. Put us where we need to be and put the words in our mouth to turn them forever to You.  As we go out from this place, bring us into contact with those who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear. Direct our steps and lead us to those You have prepared. 

Holy Spirit, we know that unless You build the house, our labor is in vain and yet, when You move in power and conviction, the mighty work of salvation shall be accomplished In Jesus name, and for the glory of the Father, Amen!

Now, let us lift our hands and thank Him that He has heard, and praise Him for the harvest that is coming in, for His glory!!! Hallelujah!”

SEED POWER”.... 

Since we’re talking about seeds, it reminds me of farming, so here’s a farm humor quiz....What do you call a pig’s bath... (Hogwash).... How did the organic vegetables die? (Natural causes)..... What do you call a cow with no legs? (Ground beef).What kinds of pigs know karate? (Pork chops)...... What do you get when a chicken lays an egg on top of a barn? (An eggroll!).....What do you call a cow with no calf? (Decaffeinated)...... Why did the cow jump over the moon? (The farmer had cold hands).....

If you can’t laugh, just groan good and loud!!!

OK, Let’s look at our subject today.....”USING YOUR SEED POWER”                                                              Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth remains, there shall be seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, these shall never cease.”       

If you have bought any seeds from Home Depot, or the internet, you were part of the amazing covenant of seed time and harvest. The seeds you buy at the store, were stored in a package for months, maybe even years. But all it took for new life to take hold,were the right conditions. A little moisture, Some sunlight, and some soil to grow in.                             They have found seeds in the pyramids, that were dormant for thousands of years, and when they were planted under the right conditions, they grew and flourished. Think for a moment about the miracle that’s actually happening, Underground, away from all human observation or interference.                                                                                                           But the real marvel lies in this powerful covenant process.. in spite of the fact that the seed itself falls apart and decays, losing its original characteristics, that process allows the covenant within it to be revealed, and in death, the life within it lives on when activated by the right conditions.                                                                                                        Just as the covenant within the seed puts a demand on its environment, the covenant seed within each of us, puts a demand on the environment God has placed us in, when activated by faith and obedience.                                                                                            Scripture tells us Habakkuk 2:3 "Though the vision (the covenant manifestation) tarry, wait for it (have faith in it) for it shall come to pass!                                                                                                                I’ve often seen Christians praying for more power. More faith. More wisdom, andI think that’s fine. But do we realize that we already have what we need in the power of the seed covenant! The word of God tells usthat, no matter what happens, there is indestructible seed within us that cannot be stopped, waiting for the right conditions to spring forth. The seeds of healing, of Divine joy and peace. The seeds of giftedness, and the fruit of the Spirit, the seeds of our destiny, and purpose.                                

You can be gone from this earth and be in heaven, in Jesuspresence, but the seed, for example, the seed that many sowed in me, who are long gone from this earth, is still growing and producing in me. (How many can say that this morning)? That seed which was planted in you is still growing, and putting a demand on your life to produce.                             (Are you with me, here?)

In Luke 17:5 “The disciples asked the Lord “Increase our faith.” But I want you to notice Jesus’s reply in verse 6. “And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea, it should obey you.” He never specifically told them how to increase their faith. He simply showed them how to use their seed.

We live in a time where they have developed genetically altered oranges and watermelons and grapes that don’t have the inconvenience of seeds. But the tragedy of our society is that we have thought that we could have seedless actions and behaviors which would allow us to live anyway we want, without reaping the consequences of the seeds we have sown. We have convinced ourselves that we can be rude, and selfish, and disrespectful, without having a harvest of those things. But as some have said... those folks have the lights on but nobody’s home, their elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top, they’re a few cards short of a full deck, and they’re trying to dive and swim in an empty pool..

But the bible is clear, Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 So,let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (don’t ever stop sowing)”.

If you were to ask me about where I see life’s greatest mysteries, I would tell you about seeds. They are probably the most fascinating part of our world that exists. Think about it. A little tiny seed is basically a treasure chest of DNA, prepared to give birth to any of a vast variety of things.                                                                                                                       Look around you. Probably the cushion of the chair you are in came from a seed, the clothes you are wearing, The rubber tires on your car, the walls or paneling of the house you live in, almost all the food you eat, and last but not least – YOU and another 6 billion people, all came from a seed.

1 Corinthians 15:37 “And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. 38But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body”.

For a moment, think of a computer chip. Considering that it has so much information imbedded in it, it stands on its own as quite an accomplishment, the result of hundreds of brilliant copywrites.  It can be as small as the tip of a needle, but contains within it the programming data for controlling a very technical and complicated bit of knowledge. It took many years of science to design it to function properly, and it can perform many functions simultaneously in fulfilling its purpose of making available the information needed for the proper functioning of your computer.You insert it, hit the button, and it is activated!

Then, consider a single orange seed. It contains within it all the DNA information that exists about growing a tree with all the complications, photosynthesis, establishing the root system, transferring water and minerals to its body parts, responding to the proper growing and resting season, while creating oranges and seeds that will propagate future generations of oranges. And, even though the orange seed is much larger than a computer chip, it has one incredible quality that a computer chip does not have.

It is programmed with the ability to transform itself and become a perfect copy of the object it contains the information about. That would be comparable to creating a computer chip that is programmed to convert itself into an I-phone, or a golf ball, or another computer chip. Then consider that the animal or human seed, is far more complicated than an orange seed, and a small fraction of the size of the smallest computer chip, and it grows to be something much more complicated than an orange tree. It has the ability to impregnate an egg, and merge its data immediately to be able to create a completely new type of living being (with unique features unlike any other). One of a kind, with a unique set of fingerprints, eye print and voice identification.                           You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.

So next time you spit out a watermelon seed, do it with great respect for what that seed is. It is a physical symbol of an eternal covenant that God has entered into with every person who lives and will live. The covenant of seed time and harvest.                                                                                                                  Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word (seed) of our God endures forever.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word(seed) will never pass away.

A single seed in the crevice of a rock will absorb nutrients from the very surface of the rock and with, sun and rain, it becomes an irresistible force that will split a boulder as it grows. Our words are like seeds. Every word has the power to produce good fruit or to break what seems unmovable and unshakable in pieces. Whether I want to acknowledge it or not, we are the planters and guardians of the seed.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture (seed) is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”. This tells me that we are given the creative power of seeds, which will go forth and embed themselves in what we send them forth into and become that. Words of peace, words of healing, words of forgiveness, words of encouragement and instruction, that can be irresistible in the hands of God. a powerful choice: to give messages of love or hate. Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Each moment of each day we choose to release the force of joy or gloom, peace or discord, patience or intolerance, kindness or cruelty, goodness or corruption, faithfulness or betrayal, gentleness or harshness, self-control or instant gratification. The seeds we plant give rise to either good fruit or bad.

I’ve said it before, but we may be looking at the apples on a tree,        God sees all the apples on all the trees in all the seeds of the apples we see on the tree. May God help us to never underestimate the power of every single seed we have been given stewardship of.                             

Isaiah 55:11 “So is my word (seed) that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desireand achieve the purpose for which I sent it”.

His word (seed) is referred to as.... Alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, it endures forever, it is our shield and sword, It is a sure foundation, It is life and health, The Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, it is meat to the mature and milk to the babes, it is the truth that sets us free, it is a refuge and a strong tower, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld the glory of the only begotten Son of God.

Author, Andy Andrews, wrote in his book, The Lost Choice, “You have been created with the ability to change the world. Every single choice you make…every single action you take…matters”.                                    Do we always get it right, NO....                                                                                                                                  But even if just a few seeds fall on fertile soil and trees grow from those few seeds, something amazing happens. All He asks of me is to be a faithful planter who simply releases the power of the amazing, creative seed that I have been given.                                                                            When Satan fell from heaven and laid the world waste so that it was without form and darkness covered the face of the deep, God planted His seed.                                                                                                    When His kingdom was ravaged and His people had forgotten His name, God continued planting His seed. When the soil of the human heart had grown hard and cold, He planted His seed. When religion had become a ritual and the temple a trading post, He planted His seed.

Our God is constantly operating in the seed time and harvest covenant, which He made with this earth and it’s people.                                                                                I quote Max Lucado..... “itwas the final stone that proved to be the supreme test of the seed. The stone of death—rolled by humans and sealed by Satan in front of the tomb. For a moment it appeared the seed would be stuck in the earth. For a moment, it looked like this rock was too big to be budged. But then, somewhere in the heart of the earth, the seed of God stirred, pushed upward, and sprouted. The ground trembled, and the rock of the tomb tumbled. And the flower of Easter blossomed. Never underestimate the power of a seed”.                                                           What is the harvest you are looking for.....?                                                                 Good seed produces good fruit; it produces after it’s kind.                                  The seed is your WORDS.

The seed is your EXAMPLE.

The seed is your SACRIFICE.

The seed is YOU!

You are the seed of God!

You can have great seed, but if it isn’t planted in the right soil, it ishindered, and handicapped.                                                                                                                                                           “The natural mindreceives not the things of the Spirit of God…” Your flesh doesn’t receive them, but your spirit DOES. Your flesh is screaming, “NO!” and your spirit’s crying. “YES, YES, YES!”                                                             When you start filling your heart with the good seed of the Word of God, things begin to happen differently for you. As you start believing good things, you’ll start speaking good things. Believing and speaking is what comes before receiving good things. “I believed, therefore have I spoken.” Satan wants to silence your word seeds, because He knows how powerful they are. He wants to silence your praise, your worship, and your ability to declare and decree God’s word.                                                                                                                       For example, the Bible says that you’re blessed and you might believe it, but it’s hard to get your mouth to say it. It’s hard to release it from being just in your heart and then speaking it with your mouthand releasing it into your environment.                                                                                              As long as your beliefs are just in your heart, they’re very limited. When you speak them out, they become unlimited. You have the seed of the Word of God in you. The seed of the Word of God inside you is programing you to prosper, to be whole and healed, and to achieve your purpose.Christ has redeemed you and He has purchased you so that you can walk in God’s favor and provision. He freed you so that the blessing of the Abraham covenant can come on you.                                         

As you are sitting here today, God is depositing seed in you, and watering it by the Holy Spirit, as it begins depositing in the soil ofyour environment, your circumstances and challenges. Seeds of healing, Seeds of reconciliation, Seeds of giftedness, Seeds of restoration, Seeds of opportunity and new beginnings. 

As I was preparing this message, I wrote down this word that the Spirit of the Lord is saying..... “The seed that you have sown in the past is being called forth in this season for it is your season ofcrossing over.” You have been through some things that you thought would kill you and you thought you might not recover, but God said “I am going to restore the years that the locust has eaten, for My word does not come back void, but accomplishes what it is sent there to do and what you sowed in your earlier days is now going to bear fruit in these days. Many have been in a pruning season so that now in this hour you will bring forth “much fruit!” The correction that I brought into your life was not to kill you, but to heal you!! So there fore now I will bring forth the seed of the past that was sown in love and I will multiply your seed sown in this new season and it shall spring forth together!                                                                  Get ready to see and know the reason for the last season is about to be made manifest to you and why you had to even become a seed that was hidden in the ground will be understood, and a great sense of loss came in yourspirit and you mourned a great mourning, but I tell you unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it abides alone, but if it dies it will bring forth much fruit!! You still don’t understand many of the things you had to walk through, and you may never understand. But know that your God is faithful and He will take what was meant for harm and turn it for good. Know that God has said that ‘you would not go under but would come out with plunder.’ Youhave often felt you would not make it through to the other side, the loss was so great and the pain so heavy. But you are still here, still serving God, still loving God, still trusting God. Your faith is greater than it has ever been. What meant to destroy you, only made you stronger in God. You have allowed this process and yet have still gone forth after Him with all of your heart and now the time of the greater works of God is upon you!! I say to you the reaper will overtake the sower in this hour!! For this is the time of the rain, the former rain and the latter rain in the same season. This is the time of the harvest for my harvesters! This is your time for multiplication! This is the time when a small one will become a hundred and a hundred will become a thousand. For my math is not your math! My multiplication is not limited! I give you the heathen and the scoffers for your inheritance, so enlarge the place of your tent for you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left and your seed shall inherit My promises in this day! Get ready you are about to come under an open heaven. Know this and receive it for your God will accomplish it in your time!! This is the set time of favor!! Hallelujah!

Come on, get your excitement back, and give God praise for the seed covenant that is even now at work in your life, in your body, in your finances, in your home, your career, your relationships, and your destiny!! Don’t let Satan muzzle your shout, your praise and your           declaration!!!

Some boulders that looked unmovable are being broken by the by the power of the seed you have sown what looked irresistible, is having to yield to the seed covenant God made with you. The reapers are bringing your harvest, it is your season. Somebody needs to praise God for your seed covenant being activated, It’s coming forth, it’s springing up!

Pre-conditioned for Victory...                                                                                  When I’m reading a story, I like to cheat and look at the end to see how it turns out, then it’s easier to handle all the drama that is part of the story. When you know the outcome, it’s easier to walk through the valleys, and keep out of the ditch. 

I heard of a guy was watching a football game with a friend. He said, I’ll bet you $1,000 on the Red Skins. Well, no one was betting on the Red Skins, so the friend says, “you’re on, I’ll take your money”. Sure enough the Red Skins won. What the friend didn’t know was that it was a replay and the big bet was because he has already seen the game. (The back of the book says we win) Our victory is assured before the battle begins. Jesus said “Before you call I will answer and before you cry out, I will hear”....Jesus bet his life on our victory, because He won and handed it to us!                                                                                                                               Last week we left off at Mark 4:38, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Fear and unbelief will precondition us for failure, or at least will diminish our ability to reach our potential. What happens is that they will bring us under the law of condemnation and death to our hopes and dreams, and will bring us under the power of the destroyer. Your daddy had cancer so you are pre-conditioned to get it too. Your grandpa had heart trouble, so you are pre-conditioned to get it too. Your mamma was crazy, so you’re going to be crazy too!                                                                      The LAW, is about judgment, and retribution and making you pay.                        The LAW has no place for mercy, peace, grace or favor....The LAW is without love, joy, and hope. Satan wants us to think.... You’re not good enough, You’re not talented enough, You’re not knowledgeable enough, you’re not qualified.Why try, it hasn’t happened so why do you think it will ever happen? You’re bailing out the boat and more water keeps coming in.                                                                                                              Jesus didn’t help them bail out the boat, He focused on rebuking the storm. Stop the storm and nobody has to bail. Jesus was pre-conditioned to overwhelm the storm, instead of allowing the storm to overwhelm him. Matthew gives us a principle to use in pre-conditioning our mind for victory.....He was teaching the disciples to get rid of the bucket and pick up the scepter of rulership and authority.                                                                                                     Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’. This scripture pre-conditions us to know that...                                                                                      No matter how low we are. He can pick us up.                                                                  No matter how dirty we are. He can clean us up.

No matter how broken we are. He can bind us up .

No matter how financially broke you are. He can bring us out.

No matter how far we are. He can bring us back.

No matter how sad we are. He can cheer us up.

No matter how empty we are. He can fill us up.

No matter how lost we are. He can connect us back to the Father !

What if while you were crunching numbers in the budget, and seeing more red ink than black, and while you were struggling with where the money was going to come from, and how the gas bill, the electric bill, the water bill, the groceries, and the house payment were ever going to be paid.. You declare, “I have put the Lord first, so all these things shall be added unto me”....!

The truth will change our perspective. An alcoholic was told by his friend who was a nurse. “When you drink vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure. When you drink rum over ice, it can give you liver failure.

When you drink whiskey over ice, it can give you heart problems.

When you drink gin over ice, it can give you brain problems.

The drunk came to the conclusion that ice is really bad for you. Sohe warned all his friends about using ice.                                                                                             Truth will do you no good if you don’t yield to it!                                                                    

How about, while you were struggling with victory over heart problems, back or joint problems, muscle cramps and pains, head aches, stomach trouble, cancer, tumors, skin disorders, blood disorders, and various infirmities and other physical conditions.....You declare truth, “I have put the Lord first, so all this victoryshall be added unto me”....!

Or maybe it’s problems in the family, in relationships, on the job, legal issues, court dates, juggling schedules, and trying to keep your sanity... You declare, “I have put the Lord first, so this victoryshall be added unto me”....!

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”.

God wants to pre-conditioned us for that moment when He honors His word and comes through and makes a way where there is no way, no matter how it may look in the natural.                                                                                                                           A basket ball player will shoot thousands of free throw shots, to prepare for the moment in the game when the game is down to 2 points and he is standing on the free throw line....and it’s sink or swim.

A Quarterback will throw a football countless times, from every possible direction, standing and running, long and short, to prepare for that moment when it is the final inning, and the last play of the game, and the team is 6 points behind with the clock ticking. 

A professional golfer will hit sand trap shots, shots from the woods, from high grass, and from every conceivable hazard he may encounter, so that when he’s 3 shots down and it’s all on the line, his preconditioning comes through and allows him to not only finish well, but to win!

They are preconditioned to come through at the last moment, when the odds are against them and the pressure is on!

So we push through, because we know how great our Lord is. We know that He is a miracle worker, who knows exactly when to stand up in the boat and speak to our storm at the critical moment!

Without preconditioning your mind, your body, and your spirit, you will not make it to the other side, and if you do, it will be “when the saints come dragging in, instead of marching in”!!!

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will”.

God’s will is that you have a renewed, transformed mind! That download begins when you receive Him and open the word of God.                                                                         God tells us that He has a plan already in place that will prosper us.

A plan is already in place that will give us hope AND a future.

It’s not just about the goals we have in life, or our health or our finances.

It’s a super plan that gives us the ability to have everything Heaven has in store for us!

The ONLY stipulation is that we seek Him and be open and alert to hear Him when He speaks to us! The more we listen, the more He speaks. The closer we get, the better we hear. An old song we used to sing is.... 

“Walk with me Lord, walk with me. Talk with me Lord, talk with me. All along Life’s pilgrim journey, I want Jesus to walk with me. Hold my hand Lord, hold my hand. Help me stand Lord, help me stand. All along this pilgrim journey, I want Jesus to hold my hand”.

It’s the same way in EVERY relationship!!! Friendships fail because nobody is listening. Marriages fail because no one is listening, relationships and careers fail because no one is paying attention. 

One guy got tired of the Jehovah witnesses who kept knocking on his door, trying to make him change his mind.

"Please, someone help, they kept yelling!", "Let us out, we won't bother you again, we promise!", "Have mercy!" They are very good at talking but not listening!

In the 12th Chapter of Genesis, God gave Abraham (the Father of Faith) 3 commands that would pre-condition him for a transformed life.

(1) Get out of your lesser place, your not where you’re supposed to be place. Get out from under the world’s pre-conditioning that you have come under.

(2) Leave your in-laws and outlaws and nosy-laws and cousin cheap-as, aunt poor-as, uncle lazy-as and brother lying-as. (that’s not king James)

(3) Leave behind what you have learned and inherited which binds you to this world’s anti-God system, leave your status quo, and your pre-conceived thinking behind, that is not of God. Leave your stinking thinking and get a check-up from the neck-up, and I will show you a new way of living.

Abraham was being pre-conditioned to reach his potential. 

Abraham didn’t just go to another place, He went to another level and another REALM. THE REALM OF THE SUPERNATURAL!

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the new day the Lord has made. 

You were spiritually born again and made Jesus Lord of your life, through your belief and confession. DON’T STOP NOW!

Like Abraham, get out of that old place and old thinking and enter the level he has always had prepared for you.                                                                                   There was a kid that told the Russian president, that he wanted to be President one day! Putin told him... “Are you stupid? Are you an idiot? Are you out of our mind? Have you let go of your senses? The kid thinks for a moment and says: “You know what, forget about it, I never knew there were so many requirements”.

You’re moving to a new level and a new realm. You understand that God has a plan for your life. You know things have to change.You don’t know exactly how to accomplish everything, and often, you struggle between your new life and your old life. But you’re doing the drill, you’re going through your stuff, and you’re sorting things out, and you have two piles, the old pile and the new pile. (That’s a big step right there)

BUT DON’T STOP THERE!

(Philippians 2:5) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. In this exhortation the apostle Paul is telling the people of God, “Let the mind that is in Christ—the very thinking of Jesus—be your thinking also. It’s now about “How does the Lord see this problem, how does he approach this situation”? His mindset is the one we all are to seek and activate.”

Say this with me.....”Father God, as I surrender to You, move me to the next spiritual level, so that I can achieve my potential in that new realm! I choose to accept the mind of Christ that I have been given! I choose to see things as You see them so that I may walk in the realm of the impossible. I accept, receive and put on the Mind of Christ”!!

If I get a credit card, I have to ACTIVATE it or it is useless to me. I have to activate the mind of Christ in my mind and spirit.

With increasing UNDERSTANDING comes increasing POWER!

With increasing POWER comes increasing AUTHORITY!                                                       With increasing AUTHORITY comes increasing MANIFESTATIONS!

What was ruling you, you are now ruling over.                                                                                                           Wholeness, joy and eternal hope now reign in your life.

We can’t remain who we were and enter into the abundance of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God isn’t coming, it is already here. It’s flooding our being right now. We can be in the kingdom because the kingdom has come into us. 

1st Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”.

If I want to be LIKE someone, I must THINK like them. If I THINK like them, I will ACT like them. I will do what I see them doing.  

Jesus said, He only did what He saw the Father do.                                                                                Each day there are so many who are stepping through into the next level of spiritual living. To see into the spiritual, is to walk in the supernatural. To have the mind of Christ, we must leave limited thinking, small vision, fearful living, and a doubtful mind behind us. (Abraham had to leave that placeof faulty thinking and limited living.)

We have to see and know God’s ways before we can WALK IN God’s ways.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      God said His ways were HIGHER, He didn’t say they were impossible to see and know! The mind of Christ is the ability to discern things of the Spirit as Jesus did. It is about thinking as Jesus did, in our relationships, places of influence and responsibilities.                                                                                                                   To pray, “thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” is to pray that we, will also be an overwhelming force in the earth by the presence of God.           Make up your mind that you will not be limited by anything that has happened to you in the past! You’re stepping through.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Romans is telling us that as we surrender, we are pre-conditioned for Transformation. The word translated “transformed” is the word from which we get the English word “metamorphosis”.

This is an inner change, which has observable outward manifestations. This is not something you can do yourself.

Metamorphosis is actually beyond our understanding. We can only state plainly that a caterpillar will become a butterfly, we cannot explain why or how. It is the work of God. The caterpillar simply yields himself to the process. Likewise, we yield ourselves to God so that the work of transformation may have its way in us.

The OUTSIDE expresses and manifests what is on the INSIDE. It is the outflow of a new life which pre-conditions us for the mind of Christ.

Why have some Christians transformed quite drastically, and rapidly, and others take a longer time or never.

Because its about our willingness to yield and to trust. 

What we put the Word into our mind, it changes us! We become what we think. God cannot work in a vacuum. We have to give Him something to work with. Our minds cannot be empty of the truth of His Word. If we don’t choose what goes in our minds, Satan will choose for us! The bible says that in the last days, they were ever learning, but never coming into the knowledge of the truth.

Our spiritual well-being is a reflection of what we are thinking on, and putting into our minds. What do you think is the ratio between the amount of time you spend in God’s Word and listening to the truth, and the amount of time you take-in the messages from the world through television, and the internet? Is it more Google than Gospel!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, our weapons have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish every act of disobedience, once our obedience is complete.”

There is great freedom, release and effectiveness that comes when we allow our minds to be pre-conditioned by the mind of Christ.

Let’s say that a friend agreed to meet you for dinner. You looked forward to it and changed your tight schedule to fit them in. You got to the restaurant early and waited. It was getting late, in fact, your friend did not show up at all.

You got upset, that’s another way of saying you got mad. You could not get them on the phone. No news, no phone calls, nomessage, nothing. You left the place steaming. You resolved not to take their call. “She is always like that” you tell yourself. You do not want to talk to them at all.

A few days go by and you get an “AAHA” moment. You meet herbrother on the street and you find out that she had had an accident on the way to the restaurant that day and was in the hospital.

At that instant, all your anger and toxic thinking just vaporized. Not only that, sympathy and compassion filled your heart in its place.

Can you see how our feelings can change instantly with new knowledge, information and understanding? There was a transformation of the mind with new thoughts and actions... now you want to go visit her in the hospital and see how you can help. All the old feelings of anger and toxic thinking are gone....

Yielding to the right thinking activated the new information and action took place to support it. Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it and hear it as often as you can.                                                                                  Remember, when you activate new information (say it with me)                                                        With increasing UNDERSTANDING comes increasing POWER!

With increasing POWER comes increasing AUTHORITY!                                                        With increasing AUTHORITY comes increasing MANIFESTATIONS! 

What was ruling you, you are now ruling over. I am what I think! You have what you activate. You can achieve what you activate. You can become what you activate....So what are you activating? I pray that we will all have many “Aha” moments this coming week!

Our prayer today.....”Lord Jesus, when the winds of change are blowing strongly in my direction and nothing seems to be going according to plan. I know that You are protecting me from the things I thought were best for me, and You are making all things work together for my good. You have done it in the past and I know You will do it for me now. I will not allow the fear of change to consume me because my Faith in You is a strong tower.  

Lord my mind is set upon You, my eternal Rock. I know You will do what Yousay You will do, and I can anchor my faith on Your Word. Open the eyes of my spirit, Lord, so that I may be able to identify the plans of the enemy. Nothing in this world escapes Your sight. You are the God that sees, that hears and will deliver me. I activate divine wisdom within me so that I will not be a slave to my flesh or the carnal mind. 

I choose long term spiritual well-being over instant gratification. I look forward to the victories and blessings that are ahead. And I declare and decree that all changes in my life will push, mold, and shape me into a better person daily, as I leave my burdens at the foot of the cross.

Lord, open my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, as I allow the Holy Spirit to operate in and through me. Father, today I activate the Holy Spirit as I draw near and I receive discernment in all that I do. Rise up in me Lord, and take full and complete control of every aspect of my life. In Jesus name, amen”.

Freedom from Comparisons”                                                                        Has anyone here been guilty of the sin of comparison? I’ll say that again so everyone can groan a little bit louder.... Has anyone been guilty of the sin of comparison?

One of my greatest obstacles in pursuing the ministry, was the failures and flaws of many of those who had been my mentors. As I watched their failures and their short comings, which contradicted many of the things which they had taught me, it caused me second thoughts. I started comparing my weaknesses to their failures. Let me be honest, it brought me fear, that I would not be able to measure up, or stand the tests, if someone as wise and capable as they were, could not, then how could I?

I was in danger of being so occupied with the failure of others, that I was not listening to what the Lord was telling me! I had to come to the place that whatever others had or had not done, it had nothing to do with my responsibility to follow Jesus for myself...

In our scripture today, Jesus is telling Peter what kind of death he would suffer for the cause of Christ. Peter looks around at John and it says.....                      

John 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him(John)?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Or we might say “That’s none of your business, your focus should be on following me.” Jesus was looking for heroes, not busy bodies.

Don’t follow the sheep that follow the shepherd, follow the Shepherd. When the paramount motive of service is that we may get something, we miss what being a servant of the Lord is all about.                                                                               

It’s easy to get lost, when you don’t have good directions, so Jesus was giving them a map for servants to follow.                                                 On some of our trips, before Serie came along, I had Winnie.                                    We would drive through the night many times and she would sleep while I drove, and sometimes I would keep driving when I should have been sleeping. My “Winnie map finder” was asleep, so I would keep driving when I had no idea where I was going and get all of us totally lost. I didn’t intend to get lost, but my reference point was sleeping, so I was predestined to be lost without my “Map reader”. 

Most folks don’t intend to get so lost that they can’t find their way back, but they get distracted by a lot of other lost people, and they don’t hear the Lord telling them, “Mind your own business, and just focus on following me. Satan wants us to focus on other things....

While the pastor was giving a sermon one Sunday, he heard two teenage girls giggling and disturbing the people. He interrupted his sermon and announced sternly, "There are two of you here who have not heard a word I've said." Well that quieted them down for the rest of the service.

But when the service was over, he was greeting people at the front door. Twelve adults apologized for going to sleep in church, promising it would never happen again....

No matter where we are in life we can easily find ourselves looking around, doing the comparing thing, and thinking:

● Why don’t I have as much as they have?

● Why don’t I have the opportunities they have?

● I wish I had the talents they have.

● I wish I had the looks they have.

● I wish I had the family they have.                                                                                                    Comparison is such a “subtle sin” because it’s almost always

internal… and it’s one of Satan’s greatest tools against Christians

because it’s so easy for him to use it. He doesn’t have to really do

anything. He just has to convince us to take our eyes off of Christ and

simply look at something or someone else.

The Bible actually encourages us to be “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God.” So, what we need to do is train ourselves how to compare properly.                                                    We need to lead our comparisons in the right direction — away from envy, pride, covetousness, and self-pity, and toward Christlike imitation and the fear of God.

This quote from author Jaquelle Crow perfectly sums up the kind of

comparison I want to talk about today:The more we compare ourselves, the more we need to compare ourselves. It’s an addiction. We’re on a quest for acceptance and joy, but we find ourselves paralyzed by the pressure to look, do, and be better than the people around us. Because of this, we are distracted from our purpose, our mission, and our need to pursue holiness.”

The big question we need to all ask ourselves, is “Who or what is going to define my worth”?

Comparison always forces us to see the world through the lens of 

“better than” or “worse than.”

So you look at someone and determine that you’re “better than”. And that kind of comparison is called PRIDE. 

And Pride transports you to the land of –ER:

In the land of -ER, my worth and value is defined by being

Thinn-er...Rich-er....Happi-er....Bett-er....Smart-er....Pretti-er...Healthi-er... Fast-er, Great-er, Nice-er, Young-er and on, and on, and on.....

Jesus called pride by the name Pharisee-ism...                                                   Luke 18 tells us the story of a Pharisee who stood up and prayed to himself: “God, I thank you that I am not the likeother men—robb-ers, evildo-ers, adulter-ers, and tax collect-ers.”The Pharisee determined that as long as he was more “-er” than the other “ers,” that made him

worthy and respectable and holy-er in God’s eyes.

Listen to this quote from Trevin Wax (this might offend some folks”       “If you feel like you have reason to boast because you’re still a

virgin, because you’re heterosexual, or because you’ve never

been divorced, then you need a fresh dose of God’s grace. As

long as you’re looking up to God for salvation, you cannot look

down on anyone else.”Think about it.....how can a Christian –someone who says, “I did NOTHING to deserve my salvation. Iwas lost, on my way to hell, completely unworthy. I contributed nothing to my salvation except SIN…yet Jesus stepped in and saved me” – how can we boast in anything other than Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus alone?

If you take your eyes off of Divine grace, mercy and favor, your heart will immediately steer you towards pride & Pharisee-ism.                                It is well said that you should never look down on anyone, unless you are helping them up!

In Romans 12:3, Paul warns Christians that we should “not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.”

Comparison will pull you over into jealousy and resentment. 

Jealousy says “I wish I had it.” Resentment says “I wish they didn’t

have it.” Have you ever had that friend who always haseverything go their way? And then, just maybe, for once, something didn’t go their way and internally you actually rejoiced a little bit? (“I knew it was coming, they didn’t deserve all they had anyway... Oh, the things I know about them, if only people knew what they were really like”...)                                                 And they call and you say, “Oh, I’m so sorry, that happened to you” but you’re not! (You’ve been waiting for it to happen all along)                        THAT’S MESSED UP!

Another cost of making comparisons, is INSECURITY, because what the sin of comparison does, is it makes us try to find an external conquest to satisfy an internal longing.

There is no external answer to your internal spiritual need.

External validation from someone or something can never fill

an internal void. Augustine used to say, “Our hearts are restless,

until they find rest in Christ.”The happiest, people in the world, are folks that don’t try to pretend to be anyone other than who God wants them to be.

They’ve discovered the secret that it’s hard to be distracted with

comparisons when you’re captivated by your calling.

In the gospel of John, Jesus’ first and last words to the disciples were

simple: “Follow me.”.... “Follow me”. Or, “be more and more like me.” 

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on

Jesus…”

Peter’s calling – which is also our universal calling – is to keep our

eyes on Jesus and run the race marked out for us.                                                  You will never see an Olympic runner looking all around, checking out the crowd!

No! They keep their eyes on the prize – they’re fixed on the finish line – and they stay in their lane!

Tap your neighbor and say, “Stay in your lane!”

Don’t worry about what someone else is doing in their lane.

God has marked out your lane, so keep your eyes focused and

follow him to the finish line.... don’t get distracted.

A minister bought a lawn mower from Gary who was having a neighborhood yard sale, but he returned it a few days later, complaining that it wouldn’t run. “Oh, It’ll run,” said Gary. “But you have to curse at it to get it started.” The minister was shocked. “I have not uttered a curse word in 30 years.” “Well, sir, Just keep pulling on the starter rope long enough —and it will all come back to you.” (that minister refused to leave his lane or his calling and purpose)

What is it to you that “Betty All That” can manage 5 kids while keeping her house clean, and afford Starbucks every day, and still manage to read a book a week? Stay in your lane and follow Jesus.

What’s that to you that “Bobby Better Than You”, doesn’t even have to study and he still aces the test while you study your butt off and barely

pass? Stay in your lane & follow Jesus.

What’s that to you if Marvelous Mark has a big house, nice car, a gorgeous wife, 2.5 kids, a golden retriever and a high poweredjob? What’s that to you? Stay in your lane & follow Jesus.                                                                                Lord, some people have more talent than I do. “What is that to you? You follow me!”

Lord, look at how she treated me. “What is that to you? You follow me!”

What’s that to you that he/she/or they, can have/ or do/ or possess

whatever? Stay in your lane & follow me.

If you think you need Jesus PLUS something/ or someone else that’s in

another lane in order to be happy or satisfied, or have worth or value, then you’ve never truly met the Jesus of the Bible. 

The beauty of the gospel is that even without all the stuff, without someone else’s talents or their approval, their things, their good looks, their money, you are still loved unconditionally by God and he has marked out a lane for you that no one else can fill.

Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul”?

When folks fall, they don’t need pity, they need perspective. When we step over into Pharisee-ism, it’s our perspective that needs adjusting. 

For some folks, their lane will take them to the mission field and they’ll see many people come to know Jesus…for others it will be to pour into your neighbor or your co-worker for years and years, even when you don’t see any sign of God moving in their life. But God gets the glory in both cases.

For some your lane will be to raise your kids in the admonition of the Lord, day-in and day-out… for someone else it will be to live your life never having kids even though you may have desiredthem, but you glorified God in other ways.

For some, your lane will be to make lots of money and be successful in the business world… and for others it will be to exude the joy found in Christ even when you don’t have many worldly possessions.And in all of these various callings and outcomes, we can encourage one another, pray for one another, and rejoice in each other’s uniqueness...

Oswald Chambers wrote “The way we continually talk about ourown inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us.” Here’s what I know: If you are somewhere, God has called you there.

Wherever you are, at any given moment, God has sovereignly

appointed you to be there and has something specific for you to do.

God does not waste anything…and he most certainly will not waste

your life. Keep your perspective on track...                                                           Don’t be like the little boy...who was heading to McDonald's with the family, when they came up to a car accident. Usually when they saw something terrible like that, they said a prayer for whoever might be hurt, so the dad pointed and said to his son, "We should pray for those folks. From the back seat he heard his son’s earnest voice: "Dear God, please don't let those cars block the entrance to McDonald's." Don’t let McDonalds, become more important than the needs around you.

Once you put your faith in Jesus, you’re not a “just” …

You’re not just a teacher…you’re God’s representative in the

Classroom.

You’re not just a student…you’re God’s representative at your

School or university so they can see what Jesus looks like when he

studies hard and shows up for class.

You’re not just a nurse…you’re God’s representative in the

medical field and you’re what it looks like when Jesus cares for

someone who is hurting.

You’re not just stay at home mom… you’re God’s representative in your home so your kids can see how Jesus will never stop loving them, will be patient with them, will always be faithful to them, will never give up on them, and will always be there to put band-aids on scraped knees and

wipe tears away.Who or what is going to determine your value and worth?

If you’re going to compare, then compare with this....

repeat these statements with me and let them wash over your soul. Let’s repeat this declaration together...In Christ…

I am chosen – 1 Thess 1:4

I am changed – 2 Cor 3:18

I am a new creation – 2 Cor 5:7

I am forgiven – Eph 1:7

I am blessed – Gal 3:9

I am victorious – Rev 12:11I am set free – John 8:31

I am healed– 1 Peter 2:24

I am free from condemnation – Rom 8:1

I am more than a conqueror – Rom 8:37

I am dead to sin – Rom 6:2

I am alive with Christ – Eph 2:5

I am accepted in Him – Eph 1:6

I am complete in Him – Eph 2:5Only when my validation is from Christ and not anything or anyone else, will I be able to stop searching and comparing, and be wholly satisfied. Walking in obedience to Jesus is the end of my searching. I know that in Christ, I find my worth and true value and He is enough for me. 

Lord, come take your place as my new reference point. I accept that who you designed me to be, contains my purpose and my calling. I accept my uniqueness and ask that I might glorify you by who I am. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and completes me, in Jesus name. 

The Doctrine of Sanctuary.... A doctrine is a system of beliefs which you have embraced enough that it becomes part of your lifestyle. 

You might say, wait a minute, if we’re talking about sanctuary, then why are we looking at a life, threatening storm at sea on the screen. I thought sanctuary was a peaceful, quite place, free of the stresses and worries of the world. Well, stay with me today as we unwrap this.                                                                            Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.                                                           37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,                                                                                  “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”                                                                                                                                           Jesus never lets a good crisis go by without turning it into a valuable lesson. Tell someone, “Never waste a good crises”! Jesus and his disciples are in a boat on the Sea of Galilee along with several other boats, when a great storm erupts and begins to rock the boat. As the boat rocks with the waves, the disciples become frightened and wake Christ in an effort to be saved. 

With a word of rebuke, Christ quiets the storm, creating sanctuary.Sanctuary, is defined as “any place of refuge”.. Any time we find ourselves in need of shelter from a storm, be it real or metaphorically, we are able to turn to Christ and, with a single word, his is able to bring us into sanctuary. Paul says that many have not entered into His rest, His sanctuary, because of unbelief. 

Christ not only created sanctuary that day in the storm, but it exudes from him like steam from a tea kettle when things are boiling over.           I know that my greatest desire is for my life to be fashioned into a sanctuary for God’s presence to be seen.

A sanctuary is a sacred place; a consecrated spot; a holy place in me that cannot be violated by sin; a place of refuge and protection; a place of shelter from the wiles and attacks of the devil. It’s a place in God, where I can live the abundant life. It’s a place in God where I am not such an easy prey for every wind of doctrine that comes along. It’s a place of safety from the raging storms of life where I have complete rest because I know that my God is with me.

It’s a place where I can live above sin and above the things of this world. In the world but not of the world.                                                                           The song says....”Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and Holy; tried and true, With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, Sanctuary for You”.                       God is with us and it is his desire to that we allow Him to build our lives into a sanctuary for him to dwell in.

God made everything in Genesis, but it was only man, that He breathed His own life breath into. But we were made to be much more than “Holy wind bags”.... I remember as a kid, hearing my mom talk about sister windbag......So, I digress......He sent Jesus, to show us what the Spirit of God in us was supposed to look like.... We couldn’t see God, (Jehovah), but we could see the flesh and blood Jesus, who said “Follow me, and I will make you....”When we receive Christ as our Savior and lord, we receive a renewed “Holy wind bag” Anointing. To be containers of His breath. It’s as though mankind was holding it’s breath, until our redemption came and then we are released to pick up where Adam left off....and we can operate once again in what he lost. We were made to have God’s image and likeness on our lives. We weren’t made from spare parts, because we are like nothing God ever created before, and designed and formed for a unique purpose and calling. 

1 Corinthians 6:15 “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

So, verse 19 tells us that we have become the sanctuary of God’s presence. So, let’s look at what it means to be sanctuary. And we will use the Jewish Sanctuary cities to explore this. 

God set aside 6 cities to be designated as sanctuary cities, and if someone could get to one of these cities, they would be safe from their accusers and persecutors until their case had a fair hearingand they were given a chance to defend themselves. These were safety zones. They are spiritual concepts of what is available to all of us in Christ.

If we are to be designated as places of sanctuary, how safe are people with us? Do we prejudge them, or jump to conclusions, and hold unforgiveness in our hearts. Do we love people, simply because God loves them and gave His only Son to provide redemption for them. Jesus died for us while we were sinners, not when we were deserving of His love.                                                                                                                             Do we insist that everyone measure up to our standards before we will love them.For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only son, so they could believe on Him. Do we love with Agape, God love, or with Eros, limited, frail, human love.

So, let’s look at these Sanctuary cities of refuge. Because, without these cities many people would have suffered and died unnecessarily. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, no one would have been able to enter in. The sanctuary cities were all located in high places.                                                  Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid”.                                                                                                                      If we look at our next scripture, then we see something remarkable about these sanctuary cities....                                                                                      2 Corinthians 5:20 "We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, Be reconciled to God”.                                                               An ambassador is a representative of another kingdom. An ambassador operates out of an embassy which has it’s own laws and policies, which are different than the laws of the land which it is located in. An Embassy is about reconciliation . For example, the American embassy in China, still operates as under the American government. It is like locating a piece of America on Chinese soil. We are ambassadors of God’s kingdom who operate on foreign soil, under God’s government, by the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name, so that reconciliation can take place, man to God and man with their fellow man.

I realize that one political party decided to borrow the idea of sanctuary cities and then pervert it into something that was never intended, but Every place that a sanctuary city is mentioned in the bible, also asks a question of us.                                                                                                 Sanctuary cities Were Available to everyone...How available are we? They Were Accessible to everyone.... Are we accessible?                                                          They were built on mountain tops so they could be easily seen.....                        Do people know our testimony or are we in the secret service?                        They were always prepared to welcome strangers...Are we welcoming and hospitable, or cliquish and exclusive?                                                                     The gates were never closed.... How open are we to those outside our regular circle of friends and family, and are we willing to be inconvenienced and step outside of our comfort zones?                                  They were a place of safety and security.... Are people’s hearts and hurts, and flaws and failures safe with us, or are we the loose lips that sink ships. How often in the church do the prayer lists become the gossip columns!

The first Sanctuary city we see is Kadesh, which means Righteousness.                                                                                                                                                                                              2 Corinthians 5:21“For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God”.                                                                                                     The Greek word “Righteousness”, is dikaiosunh (Dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay) which means “integrity, virtue, purity of life, correctness in thinking, feeling, and action”. So as we enter the sanctuary of Kadesh, we leave dishonesty, impurity, toxic thinking, feelings and actions behind.                                                                                                                    You may be a Solomon in wisdom, a David in praise, an Abraham in faith, or a Joshua in warfare, but if you’re not a Joseph in self discipline, you will end up like samson in destruction!                                                                           Romans 6:13 “No longer yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your body as an instrument of righteousness (integrity, virtue, purity of life, correct thinking, feeling and action)”                                                                                      Paul is saying that our actions are about choices, but by making addictions a disease, we remove a person’s responsibility for their own actions. Sanctuary still demands that we take responsibility for our choices, that’s what recovery is..... guns and knives don’t kill people, bad choices do. Drugs don’t force themselves on people, bad choices do. So righteousness is correct thinking and action....                                       The second Sanctuary city was Shechem from the Hebrew                 (dzoo-gos') that name means Shoulder or government.                                                                                                                                                     Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His (dzoo-gos) shoulder; and His name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace”.                                                                    We all need a good counsellor, in order to do life well, with all it’s twists and turns and ups and downs.                                                                          Isaiah is saying, “You choose what you want, but I’ll take the Mighty God as my counselor”....                                                                                                   His government provides the guidelines that will keep me from going over the edge, wandering from the truth, and allows me to stay in his will and favor.                                                                                                                The one who made it all, is willing to reveal His plan and His kingdom ways unto me. He’s the Father of Eternity, so He sees what’s beyond what I can see, He knows what’s further down the road that I’m traveling and He can position me in this life and the life beyond. He’s the Prince of peace so He can show me how to stay in peace in every situationand carry an environment of peace with me. He can help me keep my equilibrium when everything is upside down and inside out. He gives me solid footing when all around me is sinking sand. 

The next sanctuary city is Hebron –from the Hebrew (kheb-rone')which means Fellowship. (Here’s something about Hebron.....)                                                                                                                                             Caleb stood when all the rest except Joshua, refused to go into the land, and Hebron was given to him as his inheritance. He inspired a spirit of courage and faith in the fellowship of a nation that day. In the midst of fear and intimidation, he provided a sanctuary of courage and faith.                                                             There is sanctuary in fellowship, It was at Hebron that God showed Abraham the land that he and his offsprings would later on possess and he opened up the way with his faith and obedience. Abraham and Sarah were both buried at Hebron and because he believed God an nation received their promised homeland sanctuary.                                                                        God first set David as king over Judah at Hebron, where he ruled for 7 years before becoming King over all Israel.                                                          Our fellowship is deepened by our history togetherand the testimonies we share with one another.                                                                                                                                        Hebrews 10:25 “Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but continue to exhort one another and so much the more, as you see the day approaching”.                                                                                                                               Paul also mentions in Hebrews that the builder of the house (referring to Jesus) is worthy of more glory than the building itself. So, our coming together creates sanctuary as Jesus remains the center around which fellowship occurs.                                                                                                                                                                                     Notice also that in the sanctuary of fellowship, Paul says that exhorting should take place. To exhort, is to stir one another up by sound teaching and counsel. To give urgent appeal and give warning and good advice. So in the sanctuary there is a stirring up, urgent appeals, warning, sound teaching and good counsel. This provides a place of safety, security, protection and boundaries.                                                                                                         The next Sanctuary city is Be zer – from the Hebrew (beh'-tser) which means Fortress or fortified place.                                                                                                                   Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe”.                                                                                                              Psalms 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. He is my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower”.

Life is full of struggles, difficulties, and problems. Some are bigger than others. But whether the Christian’s trials in life are of the garden variety or more along the lines of major tragedy, there is always something we can do while we’re waiting and believing for God to handle the big stuff. I’m not saying that God is not interested in the little stuff, but is there something I can do until God does what He does.                                                  In 1937 architect Frank Lloyd Wright built a mansion for industrialist Hibbard Johnson. One rainy evening Johnson was entertaining distinguished guests for dinner when the roof began to leak. The water seeped through directly above Johnson himself, dripping steadily onto his bald head. Irate, he called Wright in Phoenix, Arizona. “Frank,” he said, “you built this beautiful house for me and we enjoy it very much. But I have told you the roof leaks, and right now I am with some friends and distinguished guests and it is leaking right on top of my head.” Wright’s reply was heard by all of the guests. “Well, Hib, until I can get someone there, why don’t you move your chair?”                                                                                                       Proverbs 22: 3 “A prudent man sees the evil, and prepares himself: but the simple do nothing, and suffer the consequences.”                                                            Thank God for sanctuary, but is there something God has given you to do in order to fortify yourself and remain in a place of safety, until your breakthrough comes?                                                                                    Strengthen your walls by forgiveness and reconciliation. Kick the devil out of your finances by having a budget and staying with it.                                                                 If it’s not in the budget it doesn’t exist. Cut back on the spending and stop scratching every itch you get.                                                                            If you want to stay healthy, change the way you eat.... I’m working on three things right now, “watch the grain, watch the sugar, and watch the dairy products”.... those are the three biggest problems in body illness and lack of wellness. They are the biggest causes of inflammationin body systems, and the biggest cause system failure.                                     Anyway, what the sanctuary of Bezer is saying to me that God is willing to do all things, and He has provided us a safe place, if we shut the door and keep out the devil....                                                                                        Come on, sing it with me.... “Shut de door, keep out the devil, shut de door, keep the devil in the night. Shut de door, keep out the devil. Light de candle, everything’s alright”!!!                                                                                  The next sanctuary city, is Golan, in the Hebrew, it is (aheekh-mal-o-see) which means completeness or wholeness.                                                                               Colossians 2:9 “ For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.”                                                                                                                     This is the sanctuary of His wholeness and completeness. The sanctuaries exist to give anyone accused of anything, a chance for a fair hearing. Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, eternally representing us. When the accuser of the brethren comes before Him, he can’t touch what we’ve put under the blood of Jesus.                       Satan cannot touch anything under the blood, when we have applied the sacrifice of Christ’s finished work on the cross.                                                   Is there something in your life that is not under the blood? The work of forgiveness, and reconciliation is effective to all who have genuinely repented. If you’re holding a grudge, if you have unforgiveness, if there are secret sins which keep cropping up, if anger, resentment, jealousy, or the love of the world have not been brought into subjection and put under the blood, then don’t put it off another day.                                                                                             1 Corinthians 9:27 “I keep control of my body, and bring it under  subjection to Christ, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”. Jesus came and provided a sanctuary, so that we can be whole and complete in Him. 

The last sanctuary city is Ramoth (raw-moth af-an-is-mos'') which means the Heights, or High places. You’re gonna love this one....                                                               Psalm 121:1 ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth’.                                                                                                                Colossians 3:3 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your thoughts and affections on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”.

Paul begins this powerful statement, with the “If” of our faith, hope and trust. The “if” that can determine heaven or hell. The “if” that can make the difference in success or failure. It’s the “if”of regret or the “if” of resolution. It’s the “if” of despair or the “if” of great achievement. It has built within it the highest heights or the lowest lows. How can those with such great potential, be among those who accomplish so little.... it’s all in the “ifs” of life.

Hidden with Christ in God, is a beautiful description of sanctuary. In that place, the high places are available to each and every one of us. The high places of God are not just a possibility, they are the responsibility of every child of God. You are equipped with the wings of faith, the eyes of spiritual sight, ears to hear the voice of God, you have been given the mind of Christ, revealed in his word, and a heart that feels what He feels and longs for what he longs for. 

The greatest question is who do we live to please? If our day to day choices are to please Him, then there is no limit to how high He will take us. Within the sanctuary of the high places, all limits are removed, and we become qualified and empowered.                                                             Therefore, I decree to you by the Spirit, that you have been given the anointing to make a difference, the anointing to be a forerunner and a pacesetter, to open the way and breakthrough so that others can follow. –A greater level of blessings, a greater level of the favor of God upon you, greater results where you have seen very little, a level of achievement that will follow you in future generations. I decree the maximum you are capable of, the top performance you are capable of, and the highest place that God is calling you to. I set you free of any baggage you’ve been carrying, any force, or person, or organization that is holding you back. By the Spirit of the God of Elijah, you are the head  and not the tail, above and not beneath. I declare and decree that you shall reclaim any ground you have yielded to the kingdom of darkness. Every curse is breaking that is affecting you. Generational and ancestral garbage is leaving, and as they fall off, you will be propelled to thethe high places, Into His wholeness and completeness, you have been brought into a fortified place of protection and safety, you shall lift up those around you and bring them along with you, others may sink around you but you shall stand on solid ground, His righteousness in you shall produce correctness in thinking, feeling, and action as you seek those things which are above.... receive it now, in the name of Jesus.