Archive for July, 2017

No Pain No Gain

Saturday, July 22nd, 2017

It is written in the Book of Joshua by THE SPIRIT:

Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
 
Those who were called to take the Promised Land were called “men of war” (v4) and had to have their foreskins removed before they were qualified to be a part of the overcomers who were to take the land with Joshua and Caleb.  FATHER literally cut the covenant with them and they had to remain 3 days and heal before they could be fully prepared.  Only then could they fulfill their calling.
 
We often think that we will suffer nothing during our preparation to walk out HIS plan.  I dare say this is the exception rather than the norm.  FATHER knows that in order for us to be compassionate for others, we must understand suffering as well.  Jesus suffered in all manner because He took on all sin and sickness however in order for us to get some understanding, we will suffer in some manner in order build our faith and to better express our Love in ministry.
 
The circumcision took place according to FATHER’S timing and we must not attempt to override HIS schedule for our suffering.  We don’t get to put our schedule in place but you can be assured that HIS schedule will have HIS fingerprints all over it.  The doors will be open and your preparation will be as swift as necessary in order for you to move to the next aspect of your calling.
 
FATHER places HIS people who are called to be a part of your preparation.  Those who actually take part in the surgery are given the skills to do their job by FATHER so that the preparation will be quick and efficient.
 
If you are going through challenging times, know that FATHER is not unaware but is still in charge of your preparation.  I purpose to be grateful every day of my preparation no matter what circumstance I find myself in.  In the end, my time is HIS time.  There may be pain involved but I expect gain to come from it.  Replace the frown with a smile and it will seem to speed up the process.

John’s Preparation of Love

Friday, July 21st, 2017

Luke wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 3:

18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

John the Baptist was preparing “The Way” for people to receive Jesus Christ and their Lord and Savior.  What exhortations did he include in this time of preparation?

 

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

 

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

 

11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

 

12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

 

13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

 

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

 

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
 
John emphasized “bearing fruits worthy of repentance” where he specifically spoke bearing good fruit in peoples’ lives.  Becoming a giver is the first fruit mentioned.  If you have an extra tunic and see another who has no tunic, then give your brother your extra tunic.  The tax collectors are to only collect what is due rather than exploit people with their assigned power.  The soldiers should refrain from abusing their power as well.  Be content with your wages and do not complain.  Effectively, “walk in Love” was the essence of John’s exhortations yet we are told he included more warnings to the people concerning their conduct as it relates to the two great commandments of Love which focus on FATHER and our neighbor.
The people knew to heed these warnings from the prophet who was compared to Elijah (John 1:21).  John made these exhortations from Bethany (John 1:28).
Once again we are at a crossroads in history and the new age is upon us.  There have been years of warnings and preparation for those who will be used by FATHER in some aspect of this change.  There will be events unexpected by the world but I believe FATHER will prepare us by giving us revelation before hand in order that we are not caught unaware.  We must not attempt to put FATHER in a box as HE will utilize a higher way or method than what we could envision.  We must place our trust in HIM and know HIS Love is the guiding motivation in all that HE does.  We have been fully prepared by Love.


Maintaining Status Quo

Thursday, July 20th, 2017

Would you give up your livelihood for the ministry of salvation and healing to flourish in your community?  Love will often define the answer.  In Matthew chapter 8 it is written by THE SPIRIT:

33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

In the early 1900’s some of the great evangelists in England would come to the village and minister salvation to the people living in the area.  Shortly thereafter the local pub would close down due to a lack of business.  The above passage describes a similar situation where those in the local swine business wanted nothing to do with the ministry of Jesus Christ.  They begged Him to leave their midst.  We would normally assume that Jesus’ ministry would be embraced by those He would come in contact with but they feared the unknown and rejected Love.

The Pharisees were no different.  They were well-entrenched in their customs and wanted nothing to change.  They were unable to recognize the Son of GOD when He stood before them.

We must not expect everyone to initially embrace our calling and ministry.  There will be those who are drawn by the Holy Spirit to us and there will be those who are drawn away by their own lusts and fears.  Don’t take it personal.

The Troubled Heart

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT the Beloved Disciple wrote in 1 John chapter 3:

18 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.

19 This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. 

20 It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 

21 And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! 
22 We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. 
23 Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. 

24 As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

We must quit viewing FATHER and HIS ability in light of man’s restricted abilities.  HE is able to discern the hearts of men and has no problem in dealing with each of us in our time of need.  HE is able to cleanse us of any self-criticism that we accumulate over time as well as the interaction with others who would promote this aspect of worry in our lives.  People will use our tendency to worry and other such weaknesses for their benefit in an attempt to control us.  This is sometimes passed down from generation to generation.

Once FATHER removes this self-doubt in us, we are able to walk in greater faith than what seemed possible before.  Worry and fear have the ability to impede our walk with FATHER even though what we are focused on may rarely materialize in the manner we are concerned about.

What do we spend time on as far as pondering, thinking, and dwelling?  Are we preoccupied with our troubles or is our focus on our gratitude toward FATHER?  If we have a peaceful heart and walking in a peaceful state, FATHER is more easily heard than if we are in turmoil due to a trouble heart.  We tend to think our troubles are greater than anyone else’s yet there are people with far greater issues than most of us.  Let us take time to thank FATHER for dealing with out troubled hearts on a daily basis so that we can produce positive results for the Kingdom.

Let This Nation Repent

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Daniel chapter 9, Daniel prayed:

17 “So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.

18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 

19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

The people did not deserve to be restored but by HIS Grace and Mercy Daniel prayed to FATHER anyway “for HIS own sake”.  Daniel understood the need to talk with FATHER concerning matters of national implications thus he was willing to intercede for the masses.  Let us pray and agree in like manner.  This country needs to turn around and go a new direction.  Let our prayers be heard as we pray the above prayer.

Daniel interceded for a substantial period as revealed when Gabriel came to assure Daniel:

20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 

21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 

22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 

23 At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.”

Daniel was not moved by any delay in the answer to his prayer.  Gabriel revealed that the command was issued at the beginning of Daniel’s supplications rather than the end.  A prayer of this nature will confront notable resistance by the enemy so we must not give up just before FATHER’S response takes place.  This requires faith IN HIM.  FATHER will send whatever resources are necessary to overcome the enemy including but not limited to Michael the archangel being involved.

If we need instruction FATHER will oblige by giving HIS messenger (angel) whatever clarification or assurance we need as our prayers are being answered.  This passage provides us with assurance that FATHER is actively listening to our prayers and responding with appropriate solutions.  This country needs to repent of its wicked ways so let us pray for it rather than complain about it.

New Song

Monday, July 17th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT it is written and recorded in Psalm chapter 40:

I waited patiently for the LORD;

 

And He inclined to me,

 

And heard my cry.

 

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

 

Out of the miry clay,

 

And set my feet upon a rock,

 

And established my steps.

 

He has put a new song in my mouth

 

Praise to our God;

 

Many will see it and fear,

 

And will trust in the LORD.

 

Attached to a new song is a testimony of praise and deliverance.  New songs come forth as a result of FATHER delivering us out of a severe situation and/or circumstance and is to be remembered by song.  When the children of Israel were delivered from the Egyptians the Song of Moses arose out of that event to be remembered by the children of Israel.  We too should expect a song of praise to come forth as we go through our own challenges in life.

In 1 Chronicles chapter 6 we find that David reserved an area specifically for the Songs to be sung:

31 Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest. 
32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.

The songs given to us by FATHER are important enough to be included in the House of THE LORD so we should be sensitive to the new Songs HE gives us.  Yes, HE may have delivered us 40 years ago but we should not assume that is the only “song” to come forth on our behalf.  The end times are challenging and there will be much deliverance occurring at this time as well.  Let us expect new songs to be written on our hearts and let us share them with those who are receptive to our testimony.

Freely Give

Sunday, July 16th, 2017

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 10:

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[fn] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 

10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

Kingdom healthcare operates under a totally different business model than the world’s healthcare system.  Those who are called to be healers are freely given the ability to heal thus they do not have to charge exorbitant prices to offset their education and facilities.  The current system is built on the lack of revelation to heal and generally caters to those who are “treaters” rather than “healers”.  There is a great disparity between the two types and treaters vastly outnumber healers.  We have a huge infrastructure based on the current lack of healing revelation.

Jesus spent much time and focus conveying Heaven’s willingness to heal by revelation.  The woman with the issue of blood revealed that the physicians of that era were set up to “practice” medicine for a charge.  She spent her entire life savings without success.  Only when she came into the presence of a “healer” did she finally receive her full and complete healing.

Now for the question that must be answered- Why is the power to heal being held back today?  Yes, there are healings occurring in some areas but not on a massive scale.  It is written by THE SPIRIT in 2 Chronicles chapter 7:

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 

16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 

We must remove the wickedness from our midst and humble ourselves.  What is more important than having our “land” healed?  We must take on the attributes of Agape Love and become givers rather than takers.  Our actions must speak louder than our words so let us give freely!

Sensitivity to Noise

Saturday, July 15th, 2017

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

 Sounding brass and clanging cymbals clearly represent noise and distortion.  Their purpose is associated with keeping the beat in music but at the most rudimentary level.  Music featuring drums and cymbals tend to appeal to man’s low level worldliness whereas music without these instruments tend to appeal to man’s higher, sophisticated appeal.  Rappers’ rage and anger are accentuated by noise.  There are exceptions but consider what noise perpetuates.  Does it promote peace and tranquility or lawlessness and incite anger?

There are varying degrees of noise and people can be subtly manipulated by noise over time.  That is why we must be on guard and protect what enters in through our five physical senses.  If Love is promoted, receive it.  Anything else must be discerned to see if there is some value associated with it.

The current political environment is promoting noise like never before and it is wearing down the population.  People are tired of hearing the same political arguments over and over.  The repetition has turned into noise and has become of little or no value.

White noise is an even distribution of all sound frequencies within the range of normal hearing. White noise sounds like a hiss, like the spray from an aerosol can. Although all the audible frequencies are equally represented, it sounds higher-pitched to our ears.  In applications where we use white noise machines or recordings to help us sleep or concentrate, we say that it “masks” or “drowns out” other sounds. That is the problem, noise drowns out other sounds, voices, music, etc.

As we focus on removing the noise from our midst we will begin to hear with greater sensitivity to FATHER’S Voice and HIS SPIRIT.  We will come to realize that HE has not been silent as much as we have not been in a position to hear.  Love wants to communicate and promote life as well as healing in our lives.  Furthermore, our bodies begin to respond quicker to HIS Word has provides healing to come forth by minimizing the noise in our lives.  The importance of hearing cannot be overemphasized. FATHER spoke in Deuteronomy chapter 29:

 Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.

And in Ezekiel chapter 12:

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

If we knowingly choose to allow the noise to become predominant in our lives, haven’t we become rebellious as well?  Don’t the state and national news act as witnesses to this reality?  Love is the only answer!

Don’t Give Up

Friday, July 14th, 2017

Wisdom spoke in Proverbs chapter 4:

20 

 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.

Wisdom reveals the power of life and healing: In FATHER’S Word.  Their origin are not found under some high-powered microscope or other advanced technology although the result of Wisdom may have been used to create this technology.  FATHER is not against the use to doctors or aids in dealing with sickness and disease.  Jesus did not criticize the woman with the issue of blood for going to her various doctors in an attempt to get relief from her ailment.

As I mature, the solutions seem to require greater commitment and faith.  When I was young, FATHER’S grace and mercy filled in the gap because of my lack of maturity.  In Luke chapter 12 verse 48 Jesus spoke:

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

As we navigate through life, there will be many opportunities to give up.  We may have had years of little or no crises but they will surely come our direction at some point.  We don’t need to seek them out for they will find us.  Most of us simply want to live a peaceable life without any major issues.  The disciples had challenges so we must assume we will have similar challenges confront us on an individual basis.

Reading and studying The Word is not a destination but instead is part of the journey.  Each time I read one of the books of the Bible, FATHER shows me something fresh and applicable to my life.  This is why we should never assume we have extracted the fullness of the revelation within a passage.

Knowing that life and healing are found in The Word, let us never consider giving up when confronted with what would appear to be an insurmountable situation.  Know this that FATHER has the answer for HIS Love is greater than any problem facing us.  We must decide to take the necessary steps to find the solution in HIS Word no matter if it is written or audible.  Just don’t give up!


Comprehending Light

Thursday, July 13th, 2017

The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in John chapter 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

He was in the beginning with God. 

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Everything FATHER does and says promotes life.  Without light how could we see HIS plan?  Without Love how could we comprehend the choice to live in light or darkness?  Without the witness of creation, how would we know to seek a higher power?

John was the greatest of prophets for he was chosen to bear witness of the Light Who is Our Lord Jesus Christ.  All legal requirements were met for him to fulfill his calling yet the legal experts of the day could not comprehend such a calling.  Darkness prevailed in their lives thus FATHER found it necessary to open the eyes of John by showing him the light.

By its very nature darkness cannot comprehend light for when light comes it dissipates the dark quickly and effectively.  We must allow the Word to cleanse us on a daily basis so that darkness will not enter in.  Compromise must not be allowed to take root for it will choke out the newly planted Word already in us.

We cannot minister the revelation of Christ to those in the darkness by giving our opinion established by logical means.  We must speak the WORD where the power lies.  As people respond to the light, their eyes will open and then they will exclaim how “self-evident” the Truth is.  They will toss out evolution as the means for the current animal and plant kingdoms to come forth in their current state.  The will begin to see the fingerprints of the Creator’s intelligent design found in all areas of life.  It is only a question of “when” not “if”.

As you and I further comprehend the Spiritual Kingdom we will be given appropriate revelation to share with others.  I am fully convinced that this will occur suddenly around the world among those who have been chosen in a manner similar to John the Baptist.  The intensity of our current trials is an indication to me of the intensity of the ministry we are called to be a part of in the coming age.

You will see a sudden lack of interest in the trappings of this world.  The emptiness of the current idol worship will be exposed for what it is- a facade.  Light will shine brightly on all aspects of life and the chaff will be removed.  Love will keep the anger and rage at bay for people will repent of their past actions and words.  The whole world will finally begin to comprehend the Light of the world.