Archive for February, 2023

Draw Near

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

What happens when lawlessness attempts to come before the Presence of THE LORD?

FATHER revealed HIS Holiness before HE revealed HIS Love so if we want to come into full maturity, we must pursue Holiness as well.  We cannot treat our relationship with Our Heavenly Father as common for it is sacred.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Leviticus chapter 10:

1  Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as Holy; And before all the people I must be Glorified.'” So Aaron held his peace.

The word “must” is an emphatic command given to us by Our Heavenly Father.  It is not merely a suggestion.  The word “profane” is a common, non-sacred term that is unacceptable to be associated with the Presence of THE LORD.

Once again, our relationship with FATHER must be Sacred!

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 4:

7  So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you.

8 Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.

9 Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation.

10 Be willing to be made low before the Lord and He will exalt you!

This passage does not deal with salvation but instead, it deals with sanctification.

Later, there were two other brothers who were in charge of offerings before THE ORD.  It is written by THE SPIRIT in 1st Samuel chapter 2:

12  Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.

17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.

24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD’s people transgress.

25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.

Why weren’t these sons judged immediately with death?  The Presence of THE LORD was no longer in the Temple.  They continued to perform rituals and sacrifices without HIS Presence. There is a difference between Omnipresence and manifested Presence.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Timothy chapter 5:

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.

FATHER is not forgetful, nor does HE turn a blind eye.  Judgment will come lest we repent.  Let us actively acknowledge HIS Holiness and cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness so that we can draw near to HIM, at the center of HIS Love.

Fear of THE LORD

Tuesday, February 7th, 2023

FATHER’S Love is at the center of HIS Holiness.

FATHER revealed HIS Holiness before HE revealed HIS Love so if we want to come into full maturity, we must pursue Holiness as well.  We cannot treat our relationship with Our Heavenly Father as common for it is sacred.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Leviticus chapter 10:

1  Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as Holy; And before all the people I must be Glorified.'” So Aaron held his peace.

Profane means “common”.  Do you take your relationship with GOD for granted?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:

28  Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Love without GODLY Fear will not allow you to become His intimate friend.  Moses was His friend but the sons of Aaron weren’t.

T hose who watched the video on Azusa street may recall the Pillar of Fire above the building where a sample of GOD’S Presence came.  Mighty signs and wonders brought people from all over the world.  Healings and miracles were expected results when the Fire showed up.  The same thing happened with the children of Israel when they fled Egypt.

What happened to the pillar of fire?

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 13:

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Moses also recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 14:

24  Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

Within the Holy Fire is the Presence of GOD Who delivers us from the lawlessness around us.  We are to run to the Holiness of GOD rather than to be afraid of HIS Fire.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 4 of his letter:

7  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Fearing GOD is the key to intimacy with FATHER.  Moses’ encounter at the burning bush changed is life forever.  He forsook all the wealth and benefits of Egypt as he became an intimate friend of GOD.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm chapter 103:

7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

You will share you ways with an intimate friend, not an acquaintance!

Moses also recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 20:

20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

When you see the Holy Fire, will you run to It or run away from It?  Do not be afraid!

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 12:

4  “Listen, my Beloved friends, don’t fear those who may want to take your life but nothing more. It’s true that they may kill your body, but they have no power over your soul.

5 The one you must fear is God, for He has both the power to take your life and the authority to cast your soul into hell. Yes, the only One you need to fear is God.

6-7 “What is the value of your soul to God? Could your worth be defined by an amount of money? God doesn’t abandon or forget even the small sparrow he has made. How then could he forget or abandon you? What about the seemingly minor issues of your life? Do they matter to God? Of course they do! So you never need to worry, for you are more valuable to God than anything else in this world.

It is written by THE SPIRIT Psalm chapter 89:

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

Put another way:  You are a God Who is greatly to be feared as you preside over the council of Holy ones. You are surrounded by trembling ones who are overwhelmed with fear and dread, stunned as they stand in awe of You!

Don’t allow your relationship with FATHER to become common!

Reconcile The Lost

Monday, February 6th, 2023

You and I are called to reconcile the lost to GOD.  His calling demands our response.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5:

17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us The Word of reconciliation.

And Jesus spoke after His resurrection in John chapter 20:

21   Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you!” And he told them, “Just as the Father has sent me, I’m now sending you.”

Did any of the disciples have their doctorates in Theology?  No, they were no different than you or me.  Jesus is the One Who empowers us to preach the Gospel.  Our job is to plant seeds of HIS Word into the lives of the lost.  It is The Holy Spirit’s responsibility to cause those seeds to grow, not us.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 17:

20  “And I ask not only for these disciples, but also for all those who will one day believe in Me through their message (seed).

21 I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as You and I, Father, are joined together as One. I pray for them to become one with Us so that the world will recognize that You sent Me.

22 For the very glory You have given to Me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that We enjoy.

23 You live fully in Me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that You Love each one of them with the same passionate Love that You have for Me.

24 “Father, I ask that You allow everyone that You have given to Me to be with Me where I am! Then they will see My full glory- the very splendor You have placed upon Me because You have Loved Me even before the beginning of time.

25 “You are My righteous Father, but the unbelieving world has never known You in the perfect way that I know You! And all those who believe in Me also know that You have sent Me!

26 I have revealed to them Who You are and I will continue to make You even more real to them, so that they may experience the same endless Love that You have for Me, for Your Love will now live in them, even as I live in them!”

Jesus Loves the sinner but hates sin.  We need to see the lost in the same way.  I was once lost and in sin yet He sought me out and He did you.  Let’s afford the same opportunity to all those we encounter, in Love, not judgment.

Bringing To Completion

Sunday, February 5th, 2023

True Christianity is based on miracles and will draw the masses to come to Jesus.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm chapter 2:

7  “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 4:

34  Then Jesus spoke up and said, “My food is to be doing the will of HIM Who sent Me and bring It to completion.”

35 As the crowds emerged from the village, Jesus said to His disciples (including you and me), “Why would you say, ‘The harvest is another four months away’? Look at all the people coming-now is harvest time! For their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain-ready for a spiritual harvest.

36 And everyone who reaps these souls for eternal life will receive a reward. And those who plant spiritual seeds and those who reap the harvest will celebrate together with great joy!

37 And this confirms the saying, ‘One sows the seed and another reaps the harvest.’ 38 I have sent you out to harvest a field that you haven’t planted, where many others have labored long and hard before you. And now you are privileged to profit from their labors and reap the harvest.”

Jesus also spoke in Matthew chapter 28:

18  Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to Me.

19 Now go in My authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

20 And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”

I recommend that you make this declaration as often as it takes to fully believe it:

I am a New Testament believer.  Jesus my Lord is risen from the dead and He guarantees His promises for me.  I experienced His energy, the resurrected Christ now lives in me.  The Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus now anoints me.  Thank You Jesus.  You said I can believe all things are possible.  “Possible” in me is as big as You are in me, it is bigger than any problem or challenge before me.  Jesus You are alive in me and the power that raised You from the dead is now at work in me.  Satan knows that and can do nothing about it.  You publicly put my enemy to shame and destroyed his works.  Now You live in me.  The Life and virtue that energized You now energizes me.  I now experience the power that raised You from that dead.  Your energy is now the Living Force in me.  “Possible” in me is unlimited because I experienced the unlimited Christ at work in and through me.

Expect The Supernatural: Part 2

Saturday, February 4th, 2023

Expect to be amazed when the people experience the Power of GOD!

Once again, are you willing to expect the supernatural and be a part of it?

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 22:

17    “Now it happened, when I, Paul, returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

18 and saw Him (Jesus) saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'”

Jesus uses both men AND women to bring forth His message with confirming signs and wonders:

Expect The Supernatural

Friday, February 3rd, 2023

Expect the supernatural!

Are you willing to expect the supernatural and be a part of it?

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in chapter 17 of his Gospel account:

11 Now it happened as He (Jesus) went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole.”

All ten lepers were healed yet one was totally restored and made whole.  He was given new skin where the leprosy had eaten it away.  Both healings and miracles occurred in His ministry.  We are to expect even greater testimonies as we submit to our callings and minister Jesus to the lost.

The following video recounts what happened at Azusa Street in California beginning in 1907.  Should we expect anything less?

Our Message Is Simple

Thursday, February 2nd, 2023

Our message is simple, “Repent and believe in The Gospel”.

Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 1:

14  Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God,

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

The Gospel is the ultimate legal document that not only spans the world but also spans time: yesterday, today, and forever!

Once we have been redeemed and realize that GOD lives in us, we are able and we are to give humanity our best.  All the Jesus did, we are to continue.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 17:

21  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.

Where are Heavenly Places?  Within us who are redeemed.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 1:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ,

He chose us to be His very own, joining us to Himself even before He laid the foundation of the universe! Because of His great Love, He ordained us, so that we would be seen as Holy in His Eyes with an unstained innocence.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Colossians chapter 1:

12  Your hearts can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light.

13  He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom realm of His beloved Son.

21  Even though you were once distant from Him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, He reconnected you back to himself. He released His Supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of His own Body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in His Presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for He sees you as Holy, flawless, and restored,

You and I don’t need to become more Holy, we are as Holy in our spirits as is necessary to dwell in His Presence.  Our spirits are perfected in Holiness and this is why the Holy Spirit can and does reside in us.  We simply need to embrace this revelation.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

28  So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect Plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are His Lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose.

29 For HE knew all about us before we were born and HE destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of HIS Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like Him.

31  So, what does all this mean? If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us?

32 For God has proved His Love by giving us His greatest Treasure, the gift of His Son. And since God freely offered Him up as the Sacrifice for us all, He certainly won’t withhold from us anything else He has to give.

FATHER did not withhold any resources from Jesus as He ministered here on earth.  HE believes in you and me as well, and HE looks forward to blessing us as we walk according to our individual callings.

Being A Doer

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Can The Holy Spirit do the work without us?

Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

26  “But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

You and I are the doers and The Holy Spirit is the Helper.

And in chapter 16:

5  “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

7 Nevertheless I tell you the Truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Kingdom of GOD is the King residing in the believer with all that the King is!  HE has set up His Throne in us.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5:

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

And in Galatians chapter 2:

20   I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who Loved me and gave Himself for me.

I have Christ inside of me thus I don’t need some special anointing that many people seek out.  I once went to a meeting put on by those from the Toronto Blessing.  After a little bit, they moved all the chairs away so they could touch those seeking their anointing.  As they were placing hands on people, FATHER spoke to me and said, “You don’t need what they have, you already have what you need.”  I left.  The Word is superior to any man’s anointing. 

I don’t need a secondhand anointing when I already have the Holy Spirit residing on the inside of me.  I don’t need to shake, quake, or jerk but rather I must allow The Living Word to proceed out of my mouth and minister Love in Its various facets to those in need.

Christ is The Key, not you or me! The Kingdom of GOD should operate through us for we are simply HIS vessels here on earth.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Colossians chapter 1:

26  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

For generations, no one knew FATHER’S ultimate plan of redemption.  The Pharisees had no clue.  Before Jesus went to the cross and was raised from the dead, THE SPIRIT came upon men, women, and Jesus to minister.  Now THE SPIRIT is IN us.  Jesus sent The Helper to help us, not to be sent by us.  We are not to be passive in spreading The Gospel.