Searching HIS Ways

Daniel-Greatly Beloved of God

2012-01-28T17:28:00.001-05:00

It is said of the Prophet Daniel that he is greatly beloved of God. Jesus spoke of Daniel during His earthly ministry. What was it about Daniel that made him so great in stature and effective prayer? I think Chapter 9 gives a clue.

In this prayer Daniel identified with the Children of Israel living in captivity in Babylon. Even though he faithfully prayed facing Jerusalem three times a day, he still realized that it was only by the grace of God that he held the position he had in a foreign kingdom. He never forgot about the City of God and what it was supposed to represent on earth.

He identified with the fallen nature and sin of his people. Although he knew his prayers were heard and he had instant contact with the heavens, he still identified with those who were walking in darkness. His compassion for his brethern is astounding in context with his relationship with God.

Consider, Daniel had angels answer his questions. He spent an entire night in a dungeon entertained by hungry lions, and his three copatriots were thrown into and saved from a firey furnace. Christ Himself appeared and walked in the fire! If I knew God this well the last thing I would want to do is identify with anyone that was not in a proper relationship with God. But not Daniel. And Christ was not like this during His ministry. Jesus was accused of frequenting the company of drunkerds, tax collectors, and even a prostitute.

Consider Daniel's intercessory prayer where he identifies with the sins of his people, the reason for their captivity, and his pleading with God for forgiveness, restoration and the return of Israel to its proper place. In this context, we also can identify with the sins of our people, our friends and family members. We were the same way until the grace and mercies of God saw fit to rescue us.

Here is the prayer. It is amazing how it can fit into our daily prayers of intercession~

" And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought Thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten Thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly."

" O Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy Holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake."

" O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy Name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness, but for Thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy Name."

This mindset is appropriate for our day. You can almost hear the pathos and pity in Daniel's voice. Our nation, the United States of America is known around the world as being founded on the Judean - Christian values of the Bible. The founders always spoke of their total dependence upon God.

How the mighty have fallen! In my own life I have seen the evidence of unbelief, doubt, fear and defeat. What kind of witness is this for one who believes in God? Doubt is evidence of giving Satan a more powerful position that God! Fear is an admission that God is not powerful enough to rescue His people. It is no different that the 10 spies who turned against Moses and Aaron when it was time to go into the Land and overcome the enemies.

There is severe punishment for fear and doubt. Daniel did not fear a lion's den. The three Hebrew children in Babylon did not fear a firey furnace. Why do we doubt and fear? What kind of witness is that?

God forgive us! I identify with these things. I ask God's forgiveness daily in this regard. There are times when the enemy comes in like a lion and we are caught off guard and a momentary period of fear occurs. But we have been given strong promises and God has established enough massive deliverance in His Word that we can overcome these attacks. How? By His Word and reading and remembering His promises to us.

I can identify with what our nation, my neighbors and coworkers are going through. I am just a sinner saved by the grace of God. My prayers now contain a reminder to God that He saved me from an eternity without Him. I request that He forgive our nation's sins just as He has forgiven mine.

Prayer like Daniel's is effective and fervent prayer.

He Brings Us Out!

2012-01-26T18:37:00.001-05:00

There is a set time on God's clock to favor those that are His. We go through learning processes that seem unfair and out of control; but God is always in control. There has never been not will their ever be a time, since the creation of the universe, that He was out of control. For those that are His every situation we experience is for our benifit and His glory.

Psalm 66:12 says, " Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place."

Even when it seems others are getting the better of us, abusing or taking advantage of us, the end result will always be God acting on our behalf to bring us into a wealthy place. We will increase in the wealth of our personnel knowledge of His faithfulness to us. We will increase in the wealth of our faith and assurance that He will never forsake us. Our wealth in our faith as we continue to become more than conquers through Him always working in us, no matter the difficulty or circumstance.

We are confident of this because of His promises to us; "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from them that scoff at him." (Psalm 12:5)

After a season, at the appointed time, after we have ridden through fire and water if necessary, He will arise and have mercy on us; for the time to favor us has come. The set time has arrived! Never lose faith in His faithfulness.

Patience Is A Process

2012-01-22T03:59:00.001-05:00

A word I have always had a problem with! Patience.

Consider One who is greater than all having to wait. Hebrews 9, speaking of Christ says~
"But this Man (Christ) after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God - from now on expecting til His enemies be made His footstool- for by one offering He has perfected forever those that are sanctified (set apart)."

At the set time the expectation occurs. At the set time, our requests are answered. We are given great and precious promises by the Father. He is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

In 1 Timothy, Paul admonishs that we follow after these things; righteousness, godliness,faith, love, patience, meekness. (6:11)

We must keep His commandment without spot and unrebukeable until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ; who in His times He shall show who is the Blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:14,15).

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation! (Isaiah 25:9)

It is worth the wait! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Our Battle Ground

2012-01-21T19:06:00.003-05:00

Psalm 144:1 says, "Blessed be the LORD my strength,

which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."

This is a Psalm of King David. He saw many battles, many invasions and had many enemies in his life time. Today, Believers do not go to war with the armies of Israel (yet!) because the New Covenant Scriptures teach us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (in the flesh) but in the Spirit. Our enemies are the principalities and powers of darkess. It could be an ongoing battle we face in our fleshly lusts and desires. It surely is in our spirital relationship and effectiveness with God's calling and purpose in our life.

Our enemies are evil spiritual forces that war against anything that resists God. We are the battleground! Our fight is in the sphere of effective prayer and intercession. That is warfare. I feel the most difficult thing to do is actually break through in prayer; where we know with confidence that our prayers have been heard and answered in the Throne Room of God. You can feel a spiritual breakthrough when it happens.

Psalm 18:34 says the same thing; "He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." Prayer is spiritual exercise, a crucifiction of our flesh by taking time to interceed and hold others up in prayer and supplication.

When the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land God said that He was leaving five evil kings so the small children, the next generation, could learn how to fight and overcome (Judges 3:1,2).

Is it possible that He is doing the same thing with us? Leaving things that are a thorn in our side, strong enemies, and other issues in our lives so that we are driven to prayer? The older generation is passing on to their reward; who will take their place? If not us, then who?

When we do break through on an issue; whether health, healing or salvation for a loved one, or financial issues, we know that we have broken through after great effort and exercise in prayer.

When this happens, and it will if we persevere, we can boast in the LORD that "It is God that girds me with strength and makes my way perfect! He has given me the shield of salvation (our salvation,the most important victory we will ever achieve in this life!) and His right hand has held us up, and His gentleness has made me great." (Psalm 18)

He girds us with strength for the battle. He makes our feet like deer feet. We will mature in our battles and we will get to the place that we can hop and skip like deer running over the strong, tall mountains that in the natural look impossible to conquer. We will wound the necks of our enemies and they will not be able to rise; enemies such as unbelief, doubt, dispair; and salvation for loved ones that will finally come into the fold because of our preserverance in prayer.

Like Israel of old, it is God that avenges us against our strong enemies. We grow stronger during the battle. Stay confident that God is on our side, no matter the issue. If you are praying for a loved one, He is not willing that any should perish. If you are fighting a stronghold, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places and He has authority over even death and the grave! And He has given us great authority over principalities and powers in spirtual places.

Like my 90 year old spiritual father, Rev. Cooper says quite often, we are already winners! Our ticket is punched and we are ready to go! Fear not, for He is with us. Never, ever be dismayed for He is our God.

HE WILL!

2012-01-18T09:59:00.000-05:00

Psalm 91:14-16

"Because I have set my love upon God He will deliver me. He will set me upon high because I have known His Name."

"I will call upon Him and He will answer me-He will be with me during trouble; He will deliver me and honor me. With long life will He satisfy me, and show His salvation."

This Psalm is probably written by the sweet Psalmist of Israel; King David. A man, when we consider his life here on earth who went through more trials than we will ever experience. He numbered Israel, an act of pride which cost the lives of 70,000 of his citizens. He was a man who had an affair with a woman that was the wife of another man; and was responsible for her husbands death. He lost the child she bore unto him. A man who had a rebellious son who turned against him, Absolom, who attempted to overthrow David's kingdom. His beloved son's rebellion resulted in an untimely death.

This man David wrote this Psalm in spite of his failures. He knew that the mercies of God are renewed each and every morning; great is His faithfulness. So must we.

No matter what has happened or what may happen, never lose hope in God! He will deliver and honor us if we continue to call unto Him.

He will, He has already, and He will continue to show us His salvation. Call upon His Name; His ears will never grow heavy that He cannot hear or His arms grow short that He cannot save!

Hope In God!

2012-01-18T08:43:00.001-05:00

Psalm 33:18-22

"Behold, (pay attention!)
the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him,
upon them that hope in His mercy;"

"To deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine."

"Our soul waits for the LORD:
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
because we have trusted in His holy Name."

"Let Thy mercy, O LORD be upon us
according as we hope in Thee."

Who do we trust? The bank, the government, our employer, our own abilities? Or do we trust in God's Holy Name? Memorize His promises to us; they are the most steadfast source we have in this world. The universe runs upon His words; He can take care of every issue, no matter how small or insignificant.

He is our Father! We can go to Him with any burden. Trusting, believing is our duty. He will take care of you! You are His child!

Present Heaven-New Heaven and New Earth

2012-01-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

I am reading a very interesting book entitled HEAVEN - by Randy Alcorn. One of the chapters reminds us that at the end of the Millenium God will create a new Heaven and a new Earth. What of the present heaven? This is the one to which we go for the time being; either immediately after death or rapture. Here are some interesting descriptions and opinions regarding our future, real home.

These are direct quotes from the book, HEAVEN -by Randy Alcorn, not my quotes or opinions ~

" We can learn a great deal about the present Heaven from three key verses in Revelation: "When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

"Then each was given a white robe, and they were told to wail a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed." (6:9-11)

1. When these people died on Earth, they relocated to Heaven (vs.9)

2. These people in Heaven were the same ones killed for Christ while on Earth (vs. 9). This demonstrates direct continuity between our identity on Earth and our identity in Heaven. The martyrs' personal history extends directly back to their lives on Earth. Those in the present Heaven are not different people; they are the same people relocated-"righteous men made perfect" (Hebrews 12:23).

3. People in Heaven will be remembered for their lives on Earth. These were known and identified as ones slain "because of the testimony they had maintained. (vs. 9)

4. "They called out" (vs. 10) means they are able to express themselves audibly. This could suggest they exist in physical form, with vocal cords or other tangible means to express themselves.

5. People in the present Heaven can raise their voices (vs.10). This indicates that they are rational, communicative, and emotional-even passionate- beings, like people on Earth.

6. They called out in a loud voice, not loud voices. Individuals speaking with one voice indicate that Heaven is a place of unity and shared perspective.

7. The martyrs are fully conscious, rational, and aware of each other, God, and the situation on Earth.

8. They ask God to intervene on Earth and to act on their behalf; "How long...until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (vs. 10)

9. Those in Heaven are free to ask God questions, which means they have an audience with God. It also means they need to learn. In Heaven people desire understanding and pursue it.

10. People in the present Heaven know what is happening on Earth (vs.10). The martyrs know enough to realize that those who killed them have not yet been judged.

11. Heaven dwellers have a deep concern for justice and retribution (vs.10). When we go to Heaven, we won't adopt a passive disinterest in what happens on Earth. On the contrary, our concerns will be more passionate and our thirst for justice greater. Neither God nor we will be satisfied until His enemies are judged, our bodies raised, sin and Satan defeated, Earth restored, and Christ exalted over all.

12. The martyrs clearly remember their lives on Earth (vs. 10). They even remember they were murdered.

13. The martyrs in Heaven pray for judgement on their persecutors who are still at work hurting others. They are acting in solidarity with, and in effect interceding for, the suffering saints on Earth. This suggest saints in Heaven are both seeing and praying for saints on Earth.

14. Those in Heaven see God's attributes ("Sovereign...holy and true") in a way that makes His judgment of sin more understandable.

15. Those in Heaven are distinct individuals: "Then each of them was given a white robe" (vs.11). There isn't one merged identity that obliterates uniqueness, but a distinct "each of them."

16. The martyrs' wearing white robes suggests the possibility of actual physical forms, because disembodied spirits presumable don't wear robes. The robes may well have symbolic meaning, but it does not mean they could'nt also be physical. The martyrs appear to have physical forms that John could actually see.

17. God answers their questions (vs.11), indicating communication and process in Heaven. It also demonstrates that we won't know everything in Heaven-if we did we would have no questions. The martyrs knew more after God answered their question than before they asked it. There is a learning process in Heaven.

18. God promises to fulfill the martyrs' requests, but says they will have to "wait a little longer"(vs.11). Those in the present Heaven live in anticipation of the future fulfillment of God's promises. Unlike the eternal Heaven-where there will be no more sin, Curse, or suffering on the New Earth (Revelation 21:4)-the present Heaven coexists with and watches over an Earth under sin, the Curse, and suffering.

19. There is time in the present Heaven (vs.10-11). The white-robed martyrs ask God a time-dependent question: "How long, Sovereign Lord...until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (vs 10). They are aware of time's passing and are eager for the coming day of the Lord's judgment. God answers that they must "wait a little longer" until certain events transpire on Earth. Waiting requires the passing of time.

20. The people of God in Heaven have a strong familial connection with those on Earth, who are called "fellow servants and brothers" (vs. 11). We share the same Father, "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" (Ephesians 3:15). There is not a wall of seperation within the bride of Christ. We are one family with those who've gone to Heaven ahead of us. After we go to Heaven, we'll still be one family with those yet on Earth. These verses demonstrate a vital connection between the events and people in Heaven and the events and people on Earth.

21. Our sovereign God knows down to the last detail all that is happening and will happen on Earth (vs.11), including every drop of blood shed and every bit of suffering undergone by His children. Voice of The Martyrs estimates that more than 150,000 people die for Christ each year, and average of more than 400 per day. God knows the name and story of each one. He knows exactly how many martyrs there will be, and He is prepared to return and set up His Kingdom when the final martyr dies.

Great And Dreadful

2012-01-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

I wonder quite often if I have a correct concept of who God is. He is described many ways in scripture. I know that His mercies and compassions are renewed daily; with the rising of the sun to the setting of the same He never changes. I depend upon this revelation of Him.

But, while reading Daniel last evening I "stumbled" upon something Daniel said in his prayers that I have never seen before. In Daniel 9 he says, " O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments;

Do we have a healthy fear of the dread of the LORD? I think most unbelievers do not; most are happy enough just to escape hell. There is much more to the character of God than we hear from the pulpit.

A dreadful God? If anyone in Scripture knew God, Daniel did. His prophecies and dreams were even mentioned by Christ Himself when He was here on earth the first time. Daniel is also mentioned by God as one of the three whose prayers would only save themselves should they intercede on behalf of a lost world when the time for judgment comes; the other two being Moses and Elijah. The word dreadful as used in the Hebrew means One who is terrible, One that is to be feared, is formidable and to make afraid.

Daniel also understood God in this context. He had a deep revelation of His desires, His character and what pleases and displeases Him. It is good to pay attention to these matters! We need a healthy fear of God. Yes, He is full of compassion, His mercies endure forever, but when it comes time to pass judgement He does not change for individuals or for nations.

How can we get to know such a God? Psalm 25:14 says,
"The secret of the LORD is with those that fear Him..."

He speaks secretly to those who spend quality time with Him. It takes more than a casual acquaintenance or just to acknowledge that He is God. The secret of the LORD comes by becoming more intimate with Him. The only way we achieve this is by spending time in His presence; listening to Him, reading His written word to us. The secret means He will speak hidden truths to us as indiviuals and give us direction and counsel and counseltation.

There are things God reveals to me that even my spouse is not aware of. It comes from having intimacy with Him; loving Him with all of our soul and all of our might. It is worth the effort! He has rewards we are not even aware of.

Knowing Him removes all fear, doubt and unbelief. He is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him.

2012-01-15T17:43:00.004-05:00

PERSONALIZE PSALM 91

2012-01-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

Claim this Psalm in the coming months; it is as steadfast and true as the sun coming up tomorrow morning and it applies to us as we take hold and believe what it says; every word, every phrase, every promise.

PSALM 91 ~

Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD that He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I will trust.

Surely He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the noisesome pestilence. He will cover me with His feathers, and under His wings will I trust; His truth shall be my shield and buckler.

I will not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes will I behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because I have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High my habitation; there shall no evil befall me neither shall any plague come near my dwelling

For He will give His angels charge over me, to keep me in all His ways. They shall bear me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone. I will tread upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and dragon will I trample under my feet. (demonic powers)

Because I have set my love upon Him, He will deliver me. He will set me on high because He knows my name. I will call upon my God and He will answer me. He will be with me in trouble, and will deliver me, and honor me.

With long life will He satisfy me and show me His salvation.

Our Trust Is Our Confidence!

2012-01-08T17:48:00.000-05:00

Trust in the LORD at all times;
pour out your heart before Him-
He is a Refuge for us. (Psalm 62:8)

He shall cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings shall you trust-
His truth will be your shield (protection)
and buckler (stability). (Psalm 91:4)

What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.(Psalm 56:3)

Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to all that put their trust in Him. (Proverbs 30:5)

ASHER INTRATER FROM ISRAEL

2012-01-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

ASHER INTRATER - REVIVE ISRAEL - IN ISRAEL

Advocate or Accuser

I. Twisted Words

Satan is a word-twister. When he first approached Eve, he asked "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree in the garden?'" – Genesis 3:1. He was twisting God's words, using innuendos to cast doubt about God's character and intentions. This remains Satan's method today, in order to cause division. He twists words, which causes mistrust, which causes offense, which results in division.

The more we serve the Lord and become more like Yeshua, the more there will be attacks against us of miscommunication and twisted words. It will seem as if people are waiting to catch you in one word and blow it out of proportion in order to accuse you (Luke 20:20).

There will be a flood of words coming out of the mouth of the devil to overwhelm you with rejection and accusation. "The serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away" – Revelation 12:15. The Hebrew word Alehom means "a widespread attack of criticism and defamation on a certain person or body." By the cross we can rise above the flood of evil (Isaiah 59:19).

II. Accuser or Advocate

When there is mistrust, even our prayers may turn negative: bombarding the throne of God with criticism and complaints of our brothers and sisters. Or we bring the criticism and complaints to others for "counsel," thus creating evil rumors and discussions behind one another's back.

There are two ways to come before the throne of God: as accuser or advocate. Revelation 12:10 – The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

I John 2:1 – If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. The accuser is Satan; the advocate is Yeshua. Which side are we on? Someone already has the position of accuser; and someone as advocate. Which role are we fulfilling? Let us ask ourselves: "Am I among those defending my brothers and sisters, or defaming them? Am I an accuser of the brethren or an advocate?"

III. Covenant and Cross

How can we become an advocate when we feel we have been wronged? There are two options: 1) covenantal dialogue and 2) conforming to the cross. If we know that we have hurt someone, it is our duty to go to them to be reconciled. This takes priority over worship, the Lord's Supper, tithing, and religious ritual. "If you bring your gift to the altar, and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift… First be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift" – Matthew 5:23-24.

If someone has hurt us, it is also our duty to go to them. "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother" - Matthew 18:15. Who goes first? If he hurts you – you go. If you hurt him – you go. In either case, we have the moral obligation. The purpose here is not to prove that the other is wrong, but to be reconciled, to heal the relationship, to win our brother's heart.

This passage that speaks of covenant dialogue, speaks also of unilateral, abundant, repeated forgiveness. When Peter asked how often he must forgive his brother who sinned against him, Yeshua answered, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" – Matthew 18:22. This attitude of gracious forgiveness is the attitude of the cross.

Yeshua forgave us even though we don't deserve to be forgiven. The attitude of the cross precedes covenant dialogue. No amount of dialogue can bring reconciliation if we are not filled with the spirit of unilateral forgiveness from the cross. We forgive one another as He forgave us (Colossians 3:13). It hurts. It takes all we've got. It is the only way to bring reconciliation and preserve unity.

He Is Our God

2012-01-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

Why write? Why speak of God continually?

" Whosoever offers praise glorifies Me;
and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of the LORD!" (Psalm 50:23)

That is reason enough for us to speak of God often, and if we like to write, write! I do not have a church, nor a theological degree, nor did I attend a Bible College or Seminary; but I can speak of God who has been faithful to me all of my years, even years living in rebellion and despair. It is probably good that I did not attend Seminary; Brother Leonard Ravenhill calls them Cemeteries; they kill more preacher's than they produce!

God has always been my Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. I believe He has allowed many troubles in my life just so He could prove Himself faithful, and to see if I really believed by my actions to the circumstances, or if I was just a mouthpiece for Him who had never seen difficulty.

By everything I read in the secular press and by some "think tanks", 2012 is going to be a year of great turmoil and trouble; both for the world and for the United States. Yet, we are still here; the Rapture has not happened! We must prepare for what could take place. The preparation must be spiritual first and foremost! Get to know God. Get intimate with Him and know Him on a first Name basis. Be confident He is with you and will answer you. This confidence comes because whatever may occur, you know He is always there because you are always talking to Him.

Memorize His promises. I have them underlined in my Bible and read, examine and think of them on a daily basis. Psalm 46 says that even if the earth is moved or utterly removed we are not to fear. Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea we must not fear. Have you tried to imagine some of these things happening? It is an awesome thought. I remember several months ago when there was an earthquake here in the Washington, D.C. area early one afternoon. I was standing in my dining room getting ready to leave for work and my wife was standing in the living room. The light in the dining room started swaying, there was an underground noise coming through our woods, and the water in our swimming pool was dancing about. The house was shaking! And that was a mild quake. Can you imagine the earth itself moving and mountains falling into the sea? We are still not to fear.

Though waters roar and are troubled, and when mountains start to shake; still, fear not. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. We must tap into that river daily; even when we do not fell like it. That river never runs dry. Do not be condemned when we do not feel like it; this is the enemy resisting us and then condemning us; his favorite past time, do not fall for that old trick. If you do not feel like reading get an old song book and look at and sing some of your favorite songs. The spirit of praise and worship will come; often accompanied with tears of thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness. Doing this daily has a Biblical beginning; just like the Children of Israel in their Wilderness journey, they got a fresh supply of manna falling from heaven daily. It was never stale. If they thought they could store up on the manna for a few days, like living all week on a Sunday Morning service, it rotted within a day! We must have a daily, fresh supply to remain calm in the coming months.

The heathen are going to rage, they already are. Kingdoms are being moved; God utters His voice and the earth melts. That same God who created all things is now and will always be in control. The LORD of Hosts (armies) is, and will always be with us. The God of Jacob is our place of refuge. He is our strong and mighty tower into which we can run the days of adversity.

Psalm 46:8 says, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He has made in the earth." He is behind the desolations; not satan. These things must be before He establishes His Kingdom on planet earth. We are as a Body of Believers citizens of that Kingdom. We are safe and secure. To doubt this is to doubt God!

Be still and know that He is God. He will be exalted among the heathen and will be exalted in all of the earth. The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge.

We can look upon the things occurring on the earth and say with the song and Psalm written by the sons of Korah in Psalm 48:14,"For this is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide even unto death. "

This is the same thing the three Hebrew children said in the Book of Daniel; "you can throw us into the fiery furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and even if He does not, we are still not going to bow down and worship your image!" This God is our God; we know Him and are well acquainted with Him because we were just speaking with Him.

His Garden

2012-01-03T19:55:00.000-05:00

One of the most unexplained, least read Books of the Bible has to be the Song of Solomon. If taken from a spiritual prospective, the love and feelings between the Bridegoom for His Bride, the Bride for Him and the difficulty the Bride has with her surroundings without the Presence of the Groom, it is an excellent picture of our walk with Christ.

I was reading in Song of Solomon chapter 4:15,16 and chapter 6:2,3. The picture is of the Groom going into His garden to examine His flowers, plants and trees. Taken in context with the earth being a fruitful field, to be reaped at the Last Day, this is interesting. The soil of any beautiful garden needs to be broken up, tilled and cared for properly. The beautiful spices do not come out unless they are broken or crushed between the fingers.

In that context, I just spoke with another Minister friend of mine I met on one of my stays in the hospital and he has been having kidney issues and is trusting God to heal him; I know God will. I have had three days of total misery with a stomach flu unlike anything I have ever experienced. In the middle of this broken and crushed condition, he and I had prayer for each other, reminded each other of God's faithfulness and quoted many of the promises of God to His children.

We are the sheep of His pasture; He is a faithful Shepherd. His ears have not grown hard that He cannot hear or His ears grown heavy that He cannot hear.

In our sicknesses, trials, difficulties and troubles, which we will have because we are in a sin sick world, in the midst of this, our faith, prayers, belief and statements in support of the promises of God are the fragrance, the spice, the fruit in His garden.

" Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south;
blow upon my garden, that the spices may flow out.
Let my Beloved come into His garden and eat His pleasant fruits."

" My Beloved is gone into His garden, to the beds of spices,
to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.
I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine:
He feedeth among the lillies."

The crushing that occurs at times serve a purpose, not necessarily our purpose, but His. The perfect sacrifice to God is a broken and contrite heart; He will not refuse their prayers. There are days of great victory and days when He walks through His garden to gather
the fruit it is producing. Do not lose heart; everything serves a purpose. He is a faithful Gardener and will do no more than is necessary to bring for a pleasant fragrance.

He Is Coming!

2012-01-02T14:07:00.000-05:00

Glory and honor are in His Presence; strength and gladness are in His place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. (1 Chronicles 16)

2012 will be a year that further gives crediance that the days of rebellion against God are coming to a close. There will be untold crisis in weather, earthquake and war. These things must be; they are a harbinger of the One that is coming soon to sit up His Kingdom of righteousness and peace. Christ said nation would rise against nation, an increase in earthquakes and distress, and war and rumor of war. The birth pangs of a new age have to happen before He returns.

Most hear of the last days and great fear comes. It should not be this way for Believers. It is an excellent opportunity to witness to our friends and relatives why we do not fear. Christ instructed us to lift up our heads and realize that our redemption is drawing near. In His Kingdom there will be no more war, no rebellion, no murder or other scourges that afflict mankind now. We should do everything we can do to hasten the coming of the LORD; not fear what has to happen before He arrives.

Sin and rebellion are even now being exposed for what it is; evil. It ultimately leads to eternal seperation from God. We are children of the Light and we should conduct ourselves as such. We must not fear as the world does when these birth pangs increase in frequency.

Christ has made great and precious promises to His children; I will never leave you or forsake you. I will guard your going in and your coming out, every move we make is under His watchful eye.

We must worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; fear before Him, all the earth. We will be stable and not moved. As this happens on a daily and personal basis the heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice. All of nature itself is awaiting the revelation of the children of God!

Do not fear; no matter how bad it looks, or is, the LORD sits above the circle of the earth and He observes the comings and goings of the children of men. As His coming draws near the fields will begin to rejoice, and all that is in them. The trees of the woods will sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He comes to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. He is our salvation and He will deliver us from the heathen. We will give thanks to His holy Name and glory in His praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever. (1 Chronicles 16)

Translated Into The Kingdom

2011-12-30T20:48:00.001-05:00

Colossians 1:12-20

"Giving thanks unto the Father which has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"

"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins;"

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the First born of every creature. For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth - visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by Him and for Him:"

"And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence."

"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell: and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. "

We are safe and secure in Him. ALL THINGS, everywhere, and in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES are under Him; our Saviour and Lord.

The Cross-T. Austin Sparks Thoughts

2011-12-29T19:03:00.001-05:00

Further thoughts from a book called SCHOOL OF CHRIST by T. Austin-Sparks

Christ said, " If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" and "Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple." (Luke 9:23 and 14:27)

"...in the cross we have been brought to an end. The Lord Jesus took this way and set baptism right at the beginning of His public life, and under the annointing of the Spirit, from that moment He absolutely refused to listen to His own mind, apart from God, to be in any way influenced by anything arising from the dictates of His own humanity, sinless as it was, apart from God."

* (my thought-Jesus said that He did not come to do His own will, but the will of the Father. This infers that He had a will, like we do as humans, and He was also human, called the Son of Man. But He continually and without fail did the will of the One who sent Him)

"All the way along He was being governed by the Anointing; in what He said, what He did, what He refused to do: where He went, and when He went; and was putting back every other influence, whether coming from the disciples, or from the Devil, or from any other direction. His attitude was , Father what do You think about this: what do You want: is this Your time? not My judgments, but Yours; not My feelings, but what You feel about it! He had died, in effect to Himself; He had been buried, in effect. His baptism had meant that for Him, and that is also where we stand."

" Whosoever doth not bear his own cross..." Christ is saying we can never know Him unless the cross is operating continually to put us out and make way for Him; so that we can accept His mind, and the cross means that we have been crucified to our own mind about things; our mind has come under the cross; our feelings, our ways have to come under the cross daily. This is how we make our way of learning Christ, His mind, His government, His judgment, His everything. This is the school of discipleship, the School of Christ."

Learning By Revelation-T Austin Sparks

2011-12-28T18:23:00.001-05:00

"The revelation of Christ in emergencies is the way to keep Christ alive, and the only way in which Christ really does live to His own."

"The Holy Spirit's way with us is to bring us into living, actual conditions and situations, and needs, in which only some fresh knowledge of the LORD Jesus can be our deliverance, or salvation, our life-

and then to give us, not a revelation of truth, but a revelation of the Person, new knowledge of the Person, that we come to see Christ in some way that just meets our need. We are not drawing upon an it, a technique, but upon a Him."

* In Jesus dwells all the fulness of the Godhead (mine)
God always keeps the knowledge of Himself in Christ, bound up with practical situations. We have to be in a situation. The Holy Spirit will bring us, if we are in His hand, into the situation which will make necessary a new knowledge of the LORD. If we are in a situation which is a very hard and a very difficult one; We are in the very position to ask for a revelation of the LORD."

* God's ultimate goal for each of us is to be changed into the image of His Son.

At The End Of Your Rope-David Wilkerson

2011-12-28T16:44:00.000-05:00

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011

AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

Paul wrote “. . . that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). He said, in essence, “The Lord brought me to the end of all human help, the brink of death. It was a place so hopeless, only the God of resurrection power could have rescued me!”

What a wonderful place to be—at the end of your rope! I have always said that when you hit rock bottom you bump into God! Yet, if you listen to most Christians in the midst of their suffering, you hear, “I’ll make it somehow. I’m hanging in the there. I just live one day at a time.”

Since childhood we have been spoon-fed the concept of self-sufficiency: “Take it like a man! Men don’t cry!” How many times have you tried to work out all your troubles? How often have you been flooded with temptations that overwhelmed you?

Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe God want us to fight the good fight of faith, but the Lord has a way of allowing us to be “pressed out of measure.” Nothing you try works. Nothing you have read seems to help. No counsel of others makes any sense. Suddenly, you are forced into a crisis that obliterates all your trust in yourself. You have no hope—except to give up all human hope. You are forced to trust God—and you see that the only way out is to trust!

Paul clearly is saying to us, “I had the sentence of death in me. I was tested beyond measure, at the end of all hope. And it was all so I would no longer trust in myself! I had to turn to God, with faith that He alone could save me out of my sufferings!”

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What is this way of escape? It is coming to the end of your own strength and turning absolutely to God! It is saying, as Paul did, “I do not trust in myself anymore!”

The way of escape is simple, childlike faith in God. It is trusting Him totally to see you through it all, resigning yourself and saying, “God, I put everything on You!”

School Of Christ-T. Austin Sparks

2011-12-27T20:05:00.001-05:00

Further thoughts from SCHOOL OF CHRIST by T. AUSTIN SPARKS

" You and I are going to face God sometime. We are going to come face to face with God literally in eternity and then the question is going to arise, Has God at any point failed us? Shall we be able, on any detail, to say, Lord, You failed me, You were not true to Your Word?

Such a position is unthinkable, that even any being should be able to lay a charge like that at God's door, to have any question as to God's truth, reality, faithfulness. The Holy Spirit has been sent as the Spirit of truth to guide us into all truth, so that there shall be no shadow whatever between God and ourselves as to His absolute faithfulness, His truth to Himself, and to all His Word. The Holy Spirit has come for that.

If that is true, then the Holy Spirit will deal with all disciples (us) in the School of Christ to undercut everything that is not true, that is not genuine. To make every disciple to stand upon a foundation which can abide before God in the day of His absolute and utter vindication. "

" This foundation has to take a fairly heavy responsibility, no less a responsibility than our eternal well being and destiny, nay, the very vindication of God Himself."

School of Christ Thoughts

2011-12-26T18:12:00.001-05:00

Here are a few thoughts that I have gleaned from a small book entitled SCHOOL OF CHRIST by T. Austin Sparks. It is a booklet mentioned often by Brother David Wilkerson in his sermons and writings. One can ponder just these few thoughts for days!

To learn Christ, we must first see Christ.

The mark of a life governed by the Holy Spirit is that such a life is continually and ever more and more occupied with Christ, that Christ is becoming greater and greater as time goes on.

If we ever come to a place where we think we know, we have it all, we have attained, and from that point we become static, we may take it that the Holy Spirit has ceased operations and that life has become stultified (useless or ineffectual).

If we glimpse so much in Christ that we know we are beaten, that we are out of our depth, and will never range all of this; that it is beyond us, far beyond us, and yet we are drawn on, and ever on, this is the mark of a life governed by the Holy Spirit.

Some Are For God?

2011-12-25T19:25:00.003-05:00

I have been intriged over the past month over some issues regarding my recent "bout" of bad health issues. On December 8th, very appropriately the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, I had an operation, or procedure called an ablation on my heart. This was like my own personal Pearl Harbor! It reminded me of my mortality in a way I have never experienced in my 57 years.

The day before the operation I stopped by a retired minister friends home for prayer and spiritual conversation. This man of God who has served the LORD most of his adult life has been a well spring of inspiration and spiritual insight for me. We met just a short 5 years ago at a grocery store here in town. His first words to me as I was working in the crowded store on a Saturday morning as he pointed into the crowded dairy isle was " I wonder how many of these people know God..."

I did not know this elderly man from Adam and I honestly thought he may have been intoxicated! I have never had someone approach me in such a manner. He and his wife came into the store on the weekends and as our conversations developed over time I found myself anxiously looking for him on those busy Saturday mornings.

My wife and I had just moved back to this area in Martinsburg WV after moving the North Carolina for what I thought was my final move after retirement. It was not to be. My Father-in Law developed cancer issues, my Mother was getting ill in Florida and as I bounced between the two we decided to make the move back to West Virginia. I have an only son who lived nearby in Frederick Md. so the decision was not to difficult.

This elderly minister friend was easy to spot in the store; even in the parking lot. As other customers came into the store in their shorts, flip flops, tatoo's, short skits and skin tight clothes, he came in a suit and tie and very nice hat. His wife was dressed very modestly with a dress down to her ankles and what I would call church shoes.

One day I was really having a rough time of it. The renters of our unsold home in North Carolina were behind on the rent, I was still having to make house payments there and expensive rent here in WV. The home was being trashed right before my eyes and a few times I even had to drive 300 miles to mow the lawn! Quite a stressfull period in my life.

As I walked through the parking lot to go into the grocery store to work, the minister was walking in at the same time. He asked me what was troubling me and I poured in on! He said "lets walk back to my car..." I followed him and he instructed me to lay my hands on the hood of his car. I did not know what to expect. He laid his strong hand on top of mine and said that he was going to take this to Someone who could sell the house in NC for me, God!

Right there in the parking lot of the busiest store in the area; he lifted his voice and prayed for me and my situation. I peeked around and sure enough, people were watching us! God is my witness, within two months our home was sold. I was beginning to see that this man was not one of your normal "Christians" that we meet every day, or even in church. He seemed to have an inside track with God; the Maker of all things. I became very interested.

My father was a minister and as a child I had met regular "church people" who would say they would pray for you and I always wondered if they ever did; and if they did, what did they say and how long did they pray? This retired minister took it to the Throne Room of God right then and there; no matter the surroundings or circumstance, and God honored his prayer. God and I both know that I did not deserve any favors from Him. I have always believed in God but for short spurts I had never been totally sold out to Him, come what may.

Shortly thereafter the minister's wife died. They had been married over 65 years! He, of course missed her dearly. His heart was broken and he was now very lonely. I have visited him once or twice a week since our meeting that one fateful Saturday morning. I talk to him almost every evening.

He prays constantly. As a minister son during my childhood there always seemed to be a real prayer warrior in each of the church's my father ministered in. One or perhaps two; never more. They were what kept the church going, it seemed. Now God had seen fit to introduce one for me when I had reached my 50's! What a compassionate God we serve. I did not know that I was about to lose the last two surviving members of my family, my Mother and my last living Brother. The retired minister met my Mother briefly in a nursing home in nearby Maryland after she moved from Florida to be nearer to her last two sons. He took time out of his schedule to take communion with her shortly before she died. We had developed quite a friendship.

At times during my visit to the minister's home he would break down and cry. A very awkward situation. I have never sat and watched someone cry the way he did. I would get ready to excuse myself and quickly leave but I would hear an inner voice to "Sit down, Stay, and observe." I did not feel like it, but I did. I would watch this man of God as he worked his way through his loneliness and sorrow. It did not take too long before he would begin to raise his hand in the air and start to claim how great and good God is.

Even in great sorrow he worked his way through it by giving God praise and honor for all things. Most often for salvation, security in his salvation and the mighty ways of God; He is in total control. I have even witnessed him talk directly to what was troubling him; the feeling, the troubling spirit, or whatever one may want to call it. The first several times I thought he was talking to someone else in the room as he would say, "Oh no, I know who you are and what you are trying to do.....you do not belong here, I rebuke you, get out of my house, I am a child of the living God!"

At first I looked around the room thinking someone other than I was there! One or two times he actually got up out of his chair when rebuking this "thing" and demand that it leave his house. He would turn around and smile and say he could see them running down his street with their tail between their legs! I could visualize it as he said it.

He and I started praying for each other; both in person and over the telephone. He has developed eye problems, hip problems and is loosing his hearing and having trouble with hearing aids. We pray almost every day. He for me, and I for him. I did not realize it but God was teaching me through him to pray and interceed. I have found myself not only praying for the minister and his issues, and me for my issues but it has been expanding to quite a number of people, ministries and issues.

Suddenly I had a mild heart attack. They have been trying to treat it with medications but there have been problems. A heart ablation was performed on December 8th of this year; just a few weeks ago. During my visit with the minister he said something very strange. He is having trouble dozing off when I start talking, but he then wakes up and says what he has to say. My wife said that she also feels like falling asleep when I talk, so do not be offended at him!

He said that this operation was not for me, but it was for God; God was behind it. Here I have been praying for total healing and restoration; clear arteries, no heart issue and restoration of health. And I know that God can do that; and He will in His time. But for me to have an operation for God? I have never heard of such a thing and I thought the minister was finally starting to lose it in some way or the other as those of great age sometimes do.

I was about to find out another way of God. The operation was successful, the doctor said. But an hour or so later I started to bleed internally, very badly. I had swelling the size of a football in my right leg. There were two nurses and the doctor who were leaning on my leg with both hands and applying pressure to try to dissipate the blood and stop the bleeding.

If I am awake, I am talking, and although in great pain I noticed a "religious" tatoo on one of the nurses. I asked her about it and she said they are not allowed to wear a cross or anything pertaining to God because it might offend patients. I commended her on her decision to have the tatoo. We started talking about passages of Scripture and I told them all that as a child I had memorized Psalm 23. My favorite part was God's promise that He would take us "through the valley of the shadow of death...." Not over the valley of the shadow of death, or over it, or avoid it all together, but take us THROUGH. I told them all that this was as close to that valley I had been, and that God was taking me through, I could feel Him right there, right now.

The nurses stayed beyond their duty hours, one young lady stayed over two hours past her time to leave. After the new nursing staff took over the nurse with the tatoo came back into my room and was amazed at the conversation we had just had. She said that I did not realize the impact the conversation had on the other nurse. She was raised Catholic, she was attending mass with her two small children and she was not getting anything out of mass and she was tired of taking her children. She realized that her children would end up just like her; not really knowing God in an intimate way. I was beginning to get a picture of why I had bled so badly. No matter how much it hurt, it was for a reason. I have added both nurses to my prayer list. Perhaps this is what the elderly minister was speaking of, "this one is for God...?"

Just a few days later at another job, I am now a custodian at a local school, late one evening a teacher I did not even know came into the office where we were taking a break and she exclaimed, "thank God, you are here..." I did not even know the teacher. She said that she had told her husband that she had to talk to Mr. Peacher . She started crying and said that she had been through all of her sick leave, she had no leave left, she had 1/2 inches of fluid around her heart and she her heart was beating 170 times a minute. And they had just found a lump or mark in one of her lungs. She was in tears.

I asked her if she prayed. She said she does. I talked with her qujite a while about the issue of prayer. I was honest and told her that I sometimes cried myself to sleep as I prayed; and that God hears every single word that she says to Him. He never sleeps or grows weary of our coming to Him. I also told her that I would add her to our church prayer list. She talked openly about God, prayer and spiritual matters.

Was this another fulfillment of what the retired minister was talking about that "this one is for God?" I think so. I want to know God that intimately. It is not easy. It takes quality, quiet time in His Presence. It will cost you something. Christ said to "buy of Him gold, refined in the fire...." He was not speaking lightly of these things pertaining to Godliness.

Is it worth it? Sure, I would like to have a quiet, nice, prosperous retirement one day soon. Will I get it? Possibly not. The days are getting short before His return for His Bride. The enemy of our souls is pulling out all of the stops and he has declared total war against anything that represents God. But take heart; the Book of Daniel says that in the last of days "those who know their God will do great exploits!"

Praise God! We are there! God has trusted each and everyone reading this post a spot among those who "know" there God. It will cost us something but it will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. One look on His dear face will say it all.

Like my Minister friend likes to say, "Hang in there, we are winners, our ticket is already punched."

A Baby - A Light

2011-12-24T05:50:00.002-05:00

"I am the Light of the world; those who follow Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

A small baby, laying in a manger makes this declaration to all of mankind thirty years later. All of eternity for all of creation is encompassed in His hands. In the book of the Beginning, Genesis we see the Tree of Life disappear. That tree from which if man would have eaten he would live forever; but for the fall he may have done so. It was put there on purpose, not as a tease or temptation for God tempts no man.

Now, in John we have encompassed in a little Baby the Light of Life! (John 8:12) John the Baptist came to bear witness of that Light; the true light that lighteth every person who comes into this world. And most profoundly it is stated that those who receive that Light He gives power to become sons of God! (John 1)

He is the Light never to be extinguished-He who shines from the beginning into the ages of eternity. For us there is no condemnation that accompanies His coming. But this is the condemnation of the world - that Light came into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Every one that does evil hates the light, neither do they come to the light lest their deeds be reproved. (John 3)

In direct contrast the children of the Light prepare for the brightness of the Son of Man's soon coming. The sons of darkness on planet earth will fear and be in terror, crying for the rocks and the mountains to hide them from the brightness of His coming. Believers, children of Light are even now walking in the brightness of His coming, being cleansed as our deeds are exposed; ever mindful of the holiness of our God.

We were also sometimes in darkness-but now are we light in the LORD-walking in light as children of light. If we walk in the day (light) we will not stumble because we see the light of this world; but if we walk in darkness we will stumble; trip and fall because there is no light in us. (John 11) Jesus is the Light; stay in Him! There is no darkness for those walking in Jesus. The Father of Lights sent Him on our behalf. He is wisdom, light, and the fear of God. Proverbs 3 says length of days is in wisdom's right hand; in her left hand is riches and honor. Wisdom is the tree of life to those who lay hold of her; and happy are those who retain her.

Light, Wisdom, the Tree of Life. All available to we who believe. These three are were wrapped in swaddling clothes and layed in a manger. This small child, born of a virgin, conceived of the Spirit of God has delivered our soul from death; He will deliver our feet from falling and give us the power, ability and even the desire to walk before God in the Light of the living. (Psalm 56:13)

We are left here for a reason; and for a season. In John 17 Christ asked the Father that we not be taken out of the world, but that we become one with Him and the Father. Each of us are the reflection of the Father of Lights; shining in the darkness that surrounds us.

Jesus said, " I pray not that Thou should take them out of the world but that You should keep them from the evil. They are not of this world even as I am not of this world. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, so send I them into the world. (John 17)

As He was sent, so are we. Born of a woman, learning obedience from the things we suffer. Finally learning after a season of suffering that it is better to walk in the Light. We can sing with Isaiah ~

" Sing, O heavens; be joyful O earth;
and break forth into singing, O mountains;
for the LORD has comforted His people
and will have mercy upon His afflicted. "

" We shall not hunger nor thirst,
neither shall the heat nor sun smite us;
for He that has mercy on them shall lead them,
even by the springs of water shall He guide them."
(Isaiah 49)

The true Light sent to us by God is never extinquished from the beginning into the Ages of Eternity. We can walk in the light, as He is in the light.

Already Sealed!

2011-12-21T11:29:00.002-05:00

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 gives us a picture of our position in Christ. Right now, not at some future date. It says, " For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are yes, and in Him amen, unto the glory of God by us."

Image that! The glory of God by us. He has distilled by His Spirit in us great authority and position. Not at some future date, but right now.

The passage continues, " He has also sealed us, and given the earnest (down payment, just a portion) of the Spirit in our hearts."

The only One who is worthy to open the 7 seals in the Book of the Revelation of Christ has already sealed each individual Believer. What an awesome thought.

In this context He admonished us to not labor or worry about meat that perishes, but for the meat (life style and beliefs) that endure unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give to you, for Him hath the Father sealed. ( John 6:27)

This is a major lifestyle change compared to our friends, family and coworkers. We are set aside for Him. We need to appropriate this and realize our position in heavenly (spiritual) matters.

It is our faith in these concepts, these truths, that overcomes the world. We are admonished to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God whereby we are already sealed (set apart, locked into) until the Day of Redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

How can we grieve the Holy Spirit of God? In the same manner in which the Children of Israel did in the Wilderness Journey; they did not believe what God said. Do not fall into this catagory. We need to have a full revelation of our position in Christ. We must believe and appropriate the authority He has given us as Believers in every circumstance in our daily lives.

He who has the power to open the seals at the end of this Age is called Faithful and True. He cannot lie. He will never fail us or forsake us; we are His - bought with a very heavy price.

Christmas-War Delclaration?

2011-12-18T17:26:00.001-05:00

Christ was more that a baby laying in a manger scene in the small community of Bethlehem in Israel. His birth was a declaration of war against Satan and his forces here on earth. Mankind has been tormented for thousands of years because of the mistake of Adam and Eve in the garden of God.

King Herod was so enraged at hearing of the birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem that he murdered all of the male children two years of age and younger. Joseph, Mary and the Baby fled to Egypt to avoid the slaughter.

Years earlier another evil man named Haman, under the influence of satan sought to murder all of the Jews living in the Kingdom of Persia which extended from northern Africa, throughout the Mideast and all of the way to India. But for the intervention of Queen Esther and the fasting and prayers of the Jews the possible birth of the Holy Child would have been destroyed.

The birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ once and for all retained the victory for the Kingdom of God. Christ now holds the keys of death and the grave. He is the Risen One! The war has been won on behalf of all mankind. It is up to us to decide whose side we are on.

Why would anyone want to serve or be subservient to a defeated foe? Satan lost this war and shortly he will reach his fate for all of eternity. Believers are already seated with Christ in heavenly places. Our duty is to pick up where Christ left off; we are now His arms, His legs, His voice and His people spreading the good news that the battle has been won!

This is truly what the Christmas story is all about. Merry Christmas!

His Way - His Seed

2011-12-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

The seed of delivery for mankind was declared from the very beginning. When God punished Adam, Eve and satan it was prophecied that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent.

Consider the process as recorded to protect the Seed. Hundreds, perhaps over 1000 years later He finds the one faithful man in Abraham. One man and his wife. One man's faithfulness preserved the seed of man when the earth had become so wicked that God was sorry that He even created mankind. But for one man none of us would be here! Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Those eyes that are all encompassing. In Ezekiel's vision of the wheel within a wheel, it was encompassed with eyes that saw in every possible direction. He observes affairs among the son's and daughter's of men; always.

Consider the tens of thousands of babies that were alive and born when the Children of Israel were in Egypt in the time of Moses. One little Hebrew baby put in a boat of bulrushes, found by a daughter of Pharoah, protected from death while the other male children were killed. And Christ Himself as an infant having to flee again to Egypt with his parents from certain death decreed for all children in the Bethlehem area. The seed is still protected.

This must drive satan absoultely mad! In the Book of Esther Haman again seeks the destruction of all Jews in the Kingdom; a massive area that included Egypt, northern Africa, all of the Mideast that even extends to India! Still one little Jewish girl, Queen Esther in the court of the King interceeds for the Jews in the kingdom. The seed, still protected by God.

And here we are today in 2011. We are also the protected seed. All Believers are called the Children of God. He is our Father. When we start feeling all alone and in great danger think of the record of protection that God offers those who love and serve Him. He is faithful and true. Never have one of His promises been broken.

This Christmas Holiday think of that one little seed, the Baby Jesus, protected from certain destruction by His Father and our Father, His God and our God.

Israel, the Church and Queen Esther

2011-12-16T09:01:00.001-05:00

A very important message regarding Israel and the Church, for such a time as this. Please watch when you have a moment....(18 moments to be exact). Thanks! randy peacher

http://vimeo.com/33685209

Considerations

2011-12-16T07:22:00.001-05:00

There are several things I have been considering over the past week during my recovery since a heart procedure one week from today. I have been wondering why, during frequent pains, soreness and blood pressure issues I still do not feel "normal". I do not necessarily know what normal is, but I know that I do not feel "up to par".

I have quietly felt in my spirit that I am very impatient; ask my wife, she will confirm this! I have been thinking of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. A man who talked to God face to face, one who was called the friend of God because he was a man of faith. How long did he wait for the promised seed that would bring salvation to the world? Tens of years! And this man talked face to face with God. Angels visited him and his wife with the promise; he talked with them in person and fixed a meal for them! Still, the period of waiting.

What purpose could this possibly serve? God waited until Sarah's womb was beyond the capibility to conceive. She was as barren as a female can be. Abraham wanted the son of Sarah's maid to be the promised seed; he was not according to the will of God. What Abraham did in the natural would not do. God Himself shut that down in short order when the time of promise had finally come.

Consider Moses in the back side of the desert. Forty years in obsurity tending sheep. Day multiplied upon day, month upon month, year upon year for Moses. I wonder what this man thought as he gazed into the starry heavens remembering his calling? Did he question God or just give up? Finally! A burning bush! A sign that the time had finally come.

Consider Joseph and his great dreams and promise of nations bowing before him. Hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, set up in Pharoah's court by the wife of Pharoah and charged with rape! In prison for years. The time of waiting had begun.

These things happen for a reason. There is a purpose for the wait. I believe these men were changed and it brought out things hidden deeply in their hearts that even they did not know existed deep within their being. Issues that had to be dealt with that could only happen in times of isolation. Not surrounded by friends, family or a support system. Only God and the person, dealing with each other.

One thing I have learned that I do not think I would have seen in any other way is the necessity to hold others up in prayer. When I was feeling good I causally prayed for people, for their salvation, their healing or any other pressing issue. But when confronted with my own mortality and my own recent walk in the valley of the shadow of death, it has been embedded deep into my soul the finality of eternity after death.

God has given me a new sense of the eternal state of those who pass into eternity. There are two people I work with that I cannot even stand to be in the same building with them. God has forced me to pray for them with more passion. They are lost, misguided, full of themselves and their issues, even at the expense of others. But yet, they are lost without God. "Pray for them...." I will stand before God one day soon and that issue will arise. As I watch or hear of their final judgment I will be asked, "Did you pray for them?" Was there someone to stand in the gap between eternity, heaven and hell, for these two people?

I want to be able to say I prayed. I would not have learned this important lesson unless I had went through this ordeal. During the night seasons I have had dealings with the LORD about these things. There are truly treasures in the darkness the Bible speaks of; and the only way to retrieve that treasure is to go through the darkness and stop skirting around it or avoiding it at all costs.

Another minister friend of mine who has issues of his own, high sugar, dialisis and other things said that when we are walking through that fearful valley that Jesus is called the Lilly of the Valley. How true. He has never left me nor fosaken me. He is always there.

I feel that when that tinge of fear tries to overtake me during these times the choice is mine; do I yield to it or do I fight it off? It has been my choice and will always be my choice. A sudden fear, I believe it is a tangible spirit of fear that attacks the children of God even more so than non-Believers descends. It is our duty to know the Word of God, to quote the promises and remember what our position is as Children of God.

Fear not! I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. Bowing down to fear is of the devil. It could even be a case in our spirit of bowing down to Satan in fear. God says NO! It is not to be. When that tinge of fear comes around, fight it off. Be strong and of a good courage; the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead dwells in our mortal bodies. He is a Spirit of life, of breath, of renewal.

The waiting periods in our lives may be long, they are sometimes blessfully short, but God is sitting at the controls. Everything works together for the good of those who love God. Never lose heart.

Healing And Praise - by John J. Parsons

2011-12-13T21:14:00.001-05:00

" Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise." (Jeremiah 17:14)

It is good to praise and trust the LORD despite our afflictions, and indeed, suffering itself presents an invitation to come before God in prayer (James 5:13). Suffering offers us a nisayon, a test, for our hearts to be exercised in ways otherwise rendered impossible should the path of our lives be attended without real struggle.

In this connection I am reminded of a quote from Sadhu Sundar Singh, " Should pain and siffering, sorrow, and grief, rise up like clouds and overshadow for a time the Sun of Righteousness and hide Him from your view, do not be dismayed, for in the end this cloud of woe will descend in showers of blessing on your head, and the Sun of Righteousness rise upon you to set no more forever."

It's been said that both the devil and God want your soul, but their approaches are diametricially opposite to one another...God offers you a bitter cup that, after it has been duly tested, will be turned sweet, whereas the devil offers you an artificially sweetened cut that, after it has been duly tested, will be found bitter to the last of the dregs....When you accept the suffering as ordained by God-by the LORD of Glory who could easily deliver you from all trace of its presence in but the twinkling of an eye-your heartache is sanctified, and your praise becomes more dear to Him.

Only the wise and loving LORD knows how bitter waters may be made sweet; only the great Refiner of our souls knows how to bring beauty up from ashes....So heal me, O LORD (even if that means suffering and pain for my life) and I shall be healed; save me, O LORD (do whatever it takes to bring me to the end of myself), and I shall be saved-for You are my praise.

If you are afflicted, troubled, or in any kind of pain, you have a great opportunity to glorify your Father in Heaven by offering Him your praise...Praising God is the appropriate response to all of reality; the affirmation of God's glory transform everything. " Is anyone among you feeling bad? Let him pray. Is anyone feeling good? Let him sing praise" (James 5:13)

Remember that regardless of how you presently feel, your emotional life is centered in the Presence of God...As George Mueller once affirmed, " Be assured-if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you."

From Him-To Us

2011-12-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

We go through things some times that make us realize that we are not sufficient in ourselves; it is not something we can work up by our own doing. I have been mistaken in this regard for most of my life. 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, " Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is in Christ."

In John 15:5 Christ tells us that He is the vine; we are the branches, we abide in Him and He in us. Without Him we can do nothing. I can muster up a little but it is usually working it up myself. After a short while I tire and realize how useless my effort is for any lasting effect.

We are but yet only beholding, as in a glass, the true glory of the LORD. But as we do we are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD. Not of ourselves, but of Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

He is first and foremost in all things that pertain to any godliness we may claim. He is all in all. Yet He has chosen us in which to place this treasure; in earthen vessels so that the excellency of any power we may have is of Him, not us.

When we feel weak or forsaken for a small season at times, remember that we are always bearing about in our body the dying of the LORD Jesus so that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our body. Then we realize that it all comes from Him! (2 Corinthians 4:10)

Out Of The Book

2011-12-10T13:54:00.001-05:00

King David said, " Because I have set my love upon God He will deliver me. He will set me on high because I have known His name. I will call upon Him and He will answer me - He will be with me during trouble; He will deliver me and honor me; With long life will He satisfy me and show me His salvation." (Psalm 91)

Precious promises. Isaiah said, " Seek ye out of the Book of the LORD, and read; not one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate (words will be a perfect union) for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them."

Every word spoken by God is truth. We can "take it to the bank", we can cast our lives upon it, and it will live for all of eternity. Every issue, every circumstance, every prayer and promise are serving an eternal purpose. For the ages of the ages of eternity we will still be studying the Words and Ways of God! What an awesome thought!

Post Heart Procedure 12.10.2011

2011-12-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

I have never been through such a thing in my entire life! What a trip! I felt like I was visiting the valley of the shadow of death itself. It is as close as I have ever been aware I have been. A large bleeding out on my right leg happened shortly after the operation. The doctor's entered through both legs to access the heart. They believe the operation was a success. I am confident that it was. I have reminded God repeatedly in prayer that He says He holds our heart in His hands; and I cannot think of a better place for it to be.

The large bleed out Thursday evening is called a hematoba; a very large collection or pool of blood that leaked from the incision site. It got to the size of a softball, 5 x 7 inches. They worked on me for several hours to get the "blue and purple" bump to go down. The doctor said that my leg would possibly turn black and blue down to my ankle. I told him that blue is a nice color; the color of the sky or the ocean!

I have never felt such severe pain as the staff at the hospital was pressing on the blue bump with both hands, leaning on it with all of their body weight. Two nurses especially interviened when the doctor was called away. One nurse had a tatoo with a passage of Scripture on her arm that promises of God's continual presence. She and I started talking about where we attend services. The other young lady just smiled, pushed the swelling in my leg and listened.

I told both of them that God had promised me that I was going to be alright. I had Believing friends and a 90 year old minister friend who felt this way also. I reminded them both of the famous 23 Psalm where God said that He would take us through the valley of the shadow of death; not around the valley, not over the valley, or avoid the valley; but THROUGH! I thought that going through with Him has to serve some pupose we do not realize right now. But, I know God was there. I reminded them of the promise of Jesus to be with us always, even to the very end; He is there. They both tired out and gave me a pain medication and the shift for them ended. The one nurse stayed almost two hours beyond her shift to listen and talk.

The nurse who was a Believer came back and said that I have no idea of what had just taken place. The other nurse had been raised Catholic, had two small children that she hated to take to mass because it did not do anything for her anymore; so why take her children. The young lady had been asking questions of fundamentalist Believers and showing a strong interest in the things of God. I could not fathom what she was really saying. I was amazed. Is this why the internal bleeding happened? I do not know. But Rev. Cooper said something that came to mind when I got back home. He said that this operation was for God, not for me. What a strange thing to say. I am still contemplating that statement and it is a profound thought. Is one eternal soul worth the pain I went through that night? Yes, it is. I now pray that the seed that was planted fell in good soil; God said His word would not return to Him void but it would accomplish what He pleases.

Last night after getting home I went back to the emeregency room here in town thinking that I had started bleeding again. The doctor did an ultra sound and thought a blood clot may have formed. It has not and the bleeding had stopped and I went back home. I actually slept a solid 8 hours last evening. Thank God! Jane did also. The first nice rest we have had in what seems to be weeks.

Thank each and every one of you for your prayers. You will never realize what it means to have your name mentioned in the presence of God in intercession. It has profound effects.

Effective Prayer

2011-12-07T11:48:00.001-05:00

The Book of James says the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth (accomplishes) much. The definition of fervent means to have a zeal, prayers that are so intense to bring to a boil. This is not casual prayer. We say grace thanking God for the food we are about to eat; we thank Him for safety and nice weather. These are all good prayers. But in times of great need our prayers change in fervency.

We have no righteousness in ourselves; so forget the thought that we have to work up something in our spirit before we go before the throne of God with our prayers. Our righteousness is in Christ Jesus and Christ alone. The Spirit of God places an urgency in our spirit so we come into God's presence with the appropriate urgency; no matter the need.

Christ encourages us to "buy of Him" gold. Not the gold of the world, but spiritual, heavenly gold; refined seven times. In the Book of Daniel it says that King Nebuchadnezzar had his mighty men heat the firey furnace 7 times hotter because the three Hebrew children would not bow to his image and worship. The same thing happens to us. Believers will experience trials, tests and temptations that will get as hot as it can possibly get. But there is One that is also walking in our midst during the heat and fires that come our way.

These trials serve the purposes of God. We may have a sense of what the purpose may be; but most of the time we have no idea; we just trust. All the fire usually does is just burn off what has had us bound, hand and foot, like the Hebrew children in the Book of Daniel. (our hands representing what we do and feet representing where we have been walking). We are freed through the fire! Unbound! Never forget that Jesus said that all authority both in heaven and on earth has been (past tense!) given unto Him. We belong to Him; never lose sight of that fact. He is with us always, even to the very end.

He has been with me through my heart issues. He will be with me tomorrow morning on the operating table in Winchester, VA. It has been a great trial but I have felt His presence, the presence of the Angel of God through the entire process. When fear and sadness trial to make inroads, and it has and will, it is up to me to believe what God promises me. That choice is mine and mine alone. God told Joshua " Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)

God did not say I recommended that you not fear, or My suggestion is that you not fear, but "I command you to not fear....! I fall down on that side of the fence. He is in total control, always ahs been, always will be. The believing part is up to me!

Fear not, for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed,
I AM your God.
I will be with you and I will comfort you.

Jesus said, "I AM with you always,
even to the very end.

That is good enough for me!!

Still Learning!

2011-11-29T20:11:00.001-05:00

One of my supervisors at work is a "piece of work." I have traveled the world and thought I had met every type of person possible. I was wrong! How was I wrong.

I have had to defend myself numerous times from this fellow and nothing seems to work. I have used every "trick in the book" in an effort for him to just leave me alone and let me do my assigned jobs. All to no avail.

I asked God a number of times to help me figure out an angle to get the better of this fellow so he would back off a little bit; nothing!

All I could pick up on from heaven is the phrase pray for him; pray for him. Pray that He finds God. Pray that he sees his error and that lying and back stabbing are not right. This is a tall order for me. I like to think myself compassionate. I would like to think I would give the shirt off of my back if someone needed it. I think I would.

But pray for someone like this guy? You have got to be kidding....but I have been. At first I was gritting my teeth and felt like a hypocrite. I asked God to help me to pray for him. I did not have to tell God how I felt about this fellow, but I did, and He spoke softly to me and said I understand.

Deep in my spirit I started to understand the depth of God's love for a rebellious world. Total rebellion against God. Subservient to Satan; under his control and liking it. Yet, God gave the earth His only Son to not only die, but to be beaten, spat upon, mocked and hung on a cruel, crude tree instead of us dying for our sin. Christ died for ours.

In my recent health problems I have had a sense of the finality of death. It is appointed to mankind to once die; and after death, judgement. I have put this fellow who is giving me so much trouble in that situation and I have suddenly been fearful for him. I find myself now praying that he will see his error; ask God to forgive him, because I can and I know God will. God said that all who call on the Name of the LORD will be saved. He is not willing that any should perish. Not ONE. Not even the people I do not necessarily like!

I am on a strong learning curve here in this situation. God will never be finshed teaching me. He knows how hard headed I am.

God, soften my heart to those who are in strong error and seem to have no sense of the finality of eternity with out You. Give me a heart of intercession and compassion. Help me to not get so angry when I am offended, taken advantage of, or used.

Give me a heart like Jesus!

Confidence!

2011-11-28T11:46:00.001-05:00

God is at our side;
Why should we fear?

He is ever present in times of trouble;
Why be afraid.

When the enemy comes in like a flood;
God lifts up a standard.

He promises, " Fear not, for I AM with you,
do not be afraid, for I AM your God."

In times of trouble when fear and doubts start to come in,
call on His wonderful Name and His Spirit, the same One that inhabits eternity itself is right there beside us.

He will never leave us, or forsake us!

Stand Up!

2011-11-26T08:40:00.001-05:00

I have been reading about several men in Scripture who met God in circumstances no one else I know has experienced. In Acts 26:16 Saul (later Paul) fell off of his horse when he was confronted by a bright, blinding light. The light was so intense Saul lost his eye sight. The encounter is recorded thus ~

" Jesus said, "Saul, why persecutest thou Me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks (his conscience) "Who are You, LORD?" I AM Jesus whom you persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet..."

In the Book of Daniel,(10:9-11) it is recorded by Daniel "heard the voice of His words: and when I heard the voice of His words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face was toward the ground. And behold, a Hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And He said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words I speak unto you, and stand upright...."

Ezekiel speaks several times of the Spirit of the LORD getting hold of him and lifting him up from a sitting or laying position. In Job's ultimate encounter with God, at the end of his grievious trials God told him "Gird up your loins like a man (get yourself together!) for I will demand of you, and answer thou Me! (Job 38:3)

These examples of close encounters when God appears on the scene in a powerful, unusual way, are given for a reason, I believe. We have to get up, stand up during our despair and wonderment of our situation and realize Who is speaking to us and what our position is in Him. The enemy is not the victor. Christ has told us many times in Scripture that He is the victorious One. We are not just going to be seated with Him at some future date; we have a position in Heavenly places with Him right now!

In times of great trial we must stand, and having done all we can through prayer, petitions and faith, continue to stand upon His promises. Christ never wavers or changes His words like men do. He is God! He does not change.

Ephesians 6:12-18 wraps up this thought very nicely. It says ~

" For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

He identifies with our weakness; do not lose heart. We must realize our weakness and recognize that we can never do it on our own. It is not something in ourselves we try to work up; it is done by and through Him. It is His responsibility and He never fails.

Isaiah 63:6 says, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

We have great spiritual authority in and through Christ in us. Whatever we are going through will eventually, and it is a process that takes time, bring maturity, patience and obedience to the Spirit of God. The end result of our increased faith also brings great spiritual authority.

The final result is that Christ is magnified and glorified through our prayers, faith and patience. Jeremiah 1:7-10 m;akes the point of our position when we reach this place in Christ ~

" But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words into thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, and to build and to plant..."

These promises in Jeremiah are for us. They are an exact mirror of the evil powers and strongholds mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 6. These are times to stand up! Realize and claim the authority Christ has given us; authority in our homes, with our families, town, state and nation.

Stand. And having done all, Stand!

Out Of The Depths

2011-11-24T20:29:00.001-05:00

Out of the depths have we cried unto You, O LORD. LORD hear our voice; let Your ear be attentive to the voice of our supplications. (Psalm 130:1)

Some of the trials we go through are to strengthen our faith. Brother Wilkerson said that many of the trials we go through are because of our faith!

Consider the three Hebrew children in the book of Daniel. They were cast into the firey furnace, heated just for the them, seven times hotter because of their faith.

And, the Prophet Daniel himself was thrown into the lions den because of his faith. This man had proven his faith for years. He was so close to God that he could not only interprete dreams but tell a king what the dream was in the first place! He was already a man of faith.

When we go through the firey trials and it seems that we, as Daniel are being thrown to the lions, we are being changed in the process. Faith is not knowing that God can rescue us, it is believing that He WILL rescue us.

There were four men walking in the fire of the furnace in Babylon; Christ walking and talking with the three Hebrew men. He has also promised you and I that He would never leave us or forsake us. That is a promise we can take to the bank!

There are times when deep, distressing trials come and I feel like throwing in the towel. "God, this is it, I cannot take it any more...." I feel in my spirit that God does not pity me, not one bit, He knows just how I am feeling. What He tells me to do most of the time is what He told Job after His severe trial; stand up on your feet! Cast off the dust from yourself and recognize what is going on and remember Who I AM.

He is in total control. Even in my recent travels through my valley of the shadow of death, or at least as close as I have come to that spot thus far, I have felt His presence. While crying and praying on my trips to the emergency room as my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest; I could feel His presence upon me.

I did not understand why it was happening. Brief pangs of terror would try to overtake me; but I could feel the presence of God upon me. At the same time the enemy would say "He does not hear you, He never did, you have been playing a game...." When I felt terror; I prayed it away. It was a tangible spirit of terror, difficult to explain. But this thing is real. We are not in a battle of imagination. We fight the same wars all Children of God fight. Especially if we desire to draw closer to Him than we are. Hell knows and sees this desire and will throw everything it has at us because of our desire for more of God. Hell knows those who are just satisfied to be going to heaven and those who want all of God they can get for the short period we are here on planet earth.

We do not need to fear these feeling and thoughts when they come, and they will come. It is not because we are far from God; that is what the voice insinuates, it is just the opposite, the lies and events occur because we want MORE OF GOD. This battle is real world, real time and as personnal as it gets. But if we know anything about God, He is more than real, He is very present in times of trouble.

I can say without equivocation, God is with us at all times. He calms the stormy seas in our times of trouble. He speaks calm to our souls. Going through these things causes great examination of how deep we are in the things of the Spirit of God; it draws us ever closer. We are purified and mature during these fearful events. He is always there.

A deeper understanding of His faithfulness occurs. A more mature understanding of His ways becomes enbedded in our soul. It is something not easy to forget. During my five visits to the hospital since May as the billows of fear try to roll in He enables me to fight them back in the spirit, by His Spirit. I have to stand up on the inside, realize who He is and who He said I am in Him, and the billows start to disapate. We are already seated in Heavenly (spiritual) Places in Christ Jesus. The battle is already won; we are just walking it out in our own lives and learning and growing through the process. Christ is coming back for a mature Bride who knows Him; really knows Him. So everything we are going through is serving an eternal purpose.

I am having an operation on December 8 of this year, in two weeks, and no matter what happens He has been here with me, even closer than any brother; all I have had to do is call upon Him and know that the One who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, the One who said He holds our hearts in His hand, is ever present.

He is faithful and true. Bless His Name.

O Ye Gates!

2011-11-23T16:21:00.001-05:00

There are many gates mentioned in the Bible. There are gates mentioned that are great and high; the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem. The gates mentioned in the Old Testament were where the city leaders would frequent; Lot sat at the gates of Sodom; he was a influential man with a good reputation in that city. The Bible mentions gates of death; and the gates of hell and the grave.

In this physical body we cannot perceive these gates wih our natural eyes. They are spiritual in nature. I remember sermons by Brother David Wilkerson about the forces that have influence over New York City. Gates of finance control that city. Washington DC the gates are powerful in the influence, position and politics. San Francisco the influence of money, sex and influence have powerful influence.

In the areas in which we live there are also principalities and powers in control that we battle on a daily basis. But no matter the influence, they all have to bow in the Presence of God. The Presence of God in us causes great difficulty for these spiritual powers. This is where our battle lies. We have been given great power in the pulling down of strongholds. We have this power through prayer.

Psalm 24:7-10 ~ " Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up. ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. "

" Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Hosts (armies) He is the King of Glory!"

At the Name of Christ every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess, that He is LORD of all!

Your Calling?

2011-11-20T16:16:00.001-05:00

I firmly believe that the calling of every Believer in Christ is to be constantly changing into His image. Christ came to interceed, to suffer and to die for lost humanity; because God the Father so loved the world that He gave His only Son as a sacrifical lamb. The Lamb that is worthy at the end of this age to open the books and the break the seals in Heaven to bring His own, finally, to be with Him for all of eternity. Christ was an intercessor; and so should we be.

Do not lie to yourself, have others lie to you, or most of all believe the lies of the enemy of our souls that we have missed our calling and that it is too late to make admends. If you have prayed for anyone that is lost and without Christ, you are fullfilling your calling. If you pray for a pastor or missionary or other ministry you are fulfilling your calling. If you are trying to live a life in Christ Jesus, you are fullfilling your calling.

It is Christ in us that is the hope of glory. Faith and prayer move heaven, earth and hell, We do not fight physical battles but our battles are spiritual. They look physical because evil spirits roam the earth and attack every Believer and often use physical means to expose their deeds.

How powerful is this weapon of prayer? Here are several examples and they involve the man Moses who was dealing with a very hardheaded, stiff necked people. His intercession on behalf of Israel in their Wilderness travels will live for all of eternity as an example of a man who had great influence with God. He saw God face to face! And he was not afraid to present his case before God, to disagree and argue with God, as it were, over something He was about to do. This event is recorded for us to read in Numbers 14:11-20 and again in Exodus 12:8-14.

God told Moses, " How long are these people going to provoke Me? How long will it be before they believe Me, look at all of the signs I have given them? I will smite them with pestilence and disinherit them and will make of you a great nation, mightier than they."

Listen to Moses argument and reply to God, "Then the Egyptians shall hear of it, for You brought this people up in Thy might from among them; and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land for they have heard that You LORD are among this people, that Thou LORD are seen face to face, and that Thy cloud stands over them and that You go before them by day in a pillar of cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if You shall kill all of this people as one man, then all of the nations which have heard the fame of You will say that You are not able to bring this people into the land that You have promised them......"

How is that for an argument? Did Moses cross the line? Would we cross a line if we prayed in such a manner? I think not. God has instructed us to present our case to Him. He says "come now and let us reason together...( Isaiah 1:18) Present your case in prayer. It is as if we are presenting our case in a Court of Law. "God, You have changed my heart to hunger after the things of God; do the same thing for them."

The Apostle Paul is another excellent example. He said that if he could be accursed so that his brethern could be saved he would be willing to do it. That is intercession!

Exodus 32:7-14 is another example for us to follow when we present our arguments during intercession for other lost friends, family members or even when taking our enemies before the Throne of God. It says ~

" And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down (get out of here!) for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt (Moses people, not God's anymore!) have made a golden calf, worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it and said, "These are the gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

" And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people and behold they are stiffnecked. Now therefore LEAVE ME ALONE! that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them, and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God and said, LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people (no one wanted to claim them!) which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?"

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay
them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent (change Your mind) of this evil against Thy people..." verse 14 says that God repented, changed His mind because of what Moses said to Him. What an awesome thought; changing the mind of God.

On what basis as New Testament (New Covenant) Believers can we pray in such a manner? 1 John 5:14,15 says, " And this is the confidence that we have in Him (not in ourselves, but in Him because we know His character) that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him."

He has said that it is His will that none perish. Remind Him of this when interceeding on others behalf. He did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. This is His will; this is our prayer. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to our prayers (Psalm 34:15)

Do we not feel confident in praying thus? Do our hearts somehow condemn us? Remember 1 John 3:20-22, " For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing to Him."

What is more pleasing to God than intercession on behalf of lost friends, relatives, enemies or even nations?

Perhaps I should not write this but I will explain one of the ways I pray; when interceeding for someone who has really been layed on my heart I remind God that He forgave me; the one I am interceeding for surely has not sinned any worse than I have in my 57 years! If You forgave me LORD, how can you not forgive them? You, LORD, have been merciful with me and You called me back, You gave me a new heart, You changed my heart from one of stone to one of flesh; do the same for them.

Those who win souls are wise!

To Be One

2011-11-19T16:56:00.001-05:00

When Christ was leaving His followers He said a prayer in John 17 that brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. He told the Father that He did not desire to take His followers out of this world, but that they may become One with He and the Father. What a prayer! That mere humans could possibly become One with God. This has to be possible because Jesus is not one to waste words. God is not a man that He should lie.

There is a picture of this in the book of Revelation. John the beloved saw in his visions One who was walking among the candlesticks; the seven churches; both then and now, the corporate invisible Church that has always existed since His going back to heaven.

Revelation 1:19,20 says, " Write these things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter (our time); The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlestick which thou sawest are the seven churches."

Chapter 2 gives further explaination, " Unto the angel of the church of Epesus write: These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven candlesticks..."

Christ is seen here walking among the candlesticks, the church. He has promised us that He would never leave us alone. He is with us always, even to the end. Before His coming God dwelt in the Temple in Jerusalem. the Bible speaks of His coming down at the dedication of King Solomon's Temple and His glory being so intense that the Priests could not even minister; the glory, the weightiness was so intense.

God does not dwell in temples today. He dwells in His children. Where we are, He is. He ministers to a lost world through us. We are His representatives. It must be possible for us to be One with Him or Christ would not have made that request before His Assention.

Colossians 1:21 says, " To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ..."

It is possible. We do not live by human feeling or emotion. The enemy of our souls will throw everything in his arsenal at us to keep us from believing this possiblity. Do not fall for his lies. We are being changed daily into the image of Christ. Believe what Christ says, it is possible and it is happening even now.

He is our hope and the hope of the world. Continue to fight the good fight of faith until that great day when we see Him face to face!

Two Cities - Two Destinies

2011-11-13T19:22:00.001-05:00

Joseph A. Seiss Bible Commentary ~

The world and all its activities and achievements is made up of two opposing sides; the side of the heavenly, which is the good and blessed, and the side of the earth, which is sensual and devilish; the true and the false;

the things which gravitate toward eternal life and the things which gravite toward destruction and the second death; the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the devil.

These two sides are at present intermingled and are differently situated toward each other at different periods; often hard to distinquish from each other. But everything on either side has an affinity for its own and is true to its own, so that in the process of time each side becomes more and more itself-developed and consolidated until the two antagonistic influences, tendecies, and parties crystallize to their true spirit and finally come out in two seperate cities (Babylon and the Heavenly Jerusalem).

The one is destined for everlasting extinguishment under the wrath of God; the other for eternal illumination with His unveiled presence and glory.

* Which city influences us more?

Getting To Know Him

2011-11-13T17:33:00.001-05:00

Those who know His Name will put their trust in Him; why? Because they know His character, His faithfulness, His love. We are not going to bother going through the extensive process of really getting to know someone if they do not have good attributes.

Psalm 9:9,10 says, " The LORD also will be a Refuge for the oppressed, a Refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee."

It pays great reward to know Him. We do this by studying how He has worked in years past. We study Him and establish our faith in Him by our knowledge of His character, His works and His words. The Bible is our source.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God; and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

1 Corinthians 10:6 says the dealings of God with people in ages past, written by people who were inspired by the Holy Spirit are examples to us to the intent that we should not lust after evil things.

Our knowledge of Christ and the Father will get us through any difficulty we may face in this life; whether the battle is spiritual, mental, physical or financial.

Study how Moses and the Prophets interceded for those they loved, their people. Study how Job and King David worked their way through greater difficulty by trusting God; these men faced greater difficulties than many of us ever will.

Learn the intercessory prayers of Hannah, Abraham, Moses and Jeremiah; the words they used with God give inspiration and knowledge. They moved God's heart.

And most important of all-learn to pray the way Christ did when He faced the cross- " Nevertheless, not My will but Thy will be done." This is the ultimate prayer.

He told us to make our request known to Him. He has given us this great privilege-then rest in His love and faithfulness, knowing full well that He had heard and will honor every word we utter.

We are His children, the sheep of His pasture. Shall not the God of the whole earth do right? Yes He will, He always has and always will.

The Apostle Paul says that if we are in Christ, and we are, we along with Israel are the seed of Abraham, the father of faith (Galatians 3:24) and the children of promise. God's Promise.

For we are a holy people to the LORD our God; the LORD our God has chosen us to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth."

Get to know Him more and more as the day of the LORD approaches. It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus!

Be Not Dismayed

2011-11-12T17:29:00.001-05:00

It is not unusual to find ourselves in some very difficult circumstances these days. As the end of this age grows closer to the great day when Christ finally returns to set up His Kingdom, we have been told that perilous times would come. It is not unusual to experience more and more turmoil as that great day approaches. These are truly the days that try our soul, our faith and our fortitude.

King David in the famous 23 Psalm spoke of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We do also. Having to do this is not our desire. It runs against everything in us that is human; it runs against our grain. We do not wake up one morning and tell our spouse, "honey, I think I might go for a walk through the valley of the shadow of death today!"

But when we do, and we will, God has promised to be with us during that walk. It must serve a purpose or it would not be happening. Every event in a Believers life serves an eternal purpose.

Take Joshua as an example of one who faced insurmountable odds. He inherited the duties of the great Moses. He saw the rebellion in the wilderness and the older generation pass away and be buried in that wilderness. He led 100,000's of thousands of the next generation to the shores of the Jordan River and their first conquest would be the mighty city of Jericho. Its walls were so think that chariots could ride atop of the walls.

God's promise to Joshua is also His promise to us when we face our insurmountable Jericho; " Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. " (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Again in verse 8 Moses says , " And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

As God was with Joshua, so He will be with us. As He was with Moses, so He will be with us. (Joshua 1:5) Be strong and of a good courage. This is not a suggestion from God, it is a demand! Verse 9 says, " Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)

We have much more assurance today. We have the promises of Christ that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He will never leave us alone. He did not say that we would not have bouts of fear and doubt; but these are either our human spirit or spirits of fear that we must reject outright and with the authority Christ has give us. He said He has not given us the spirit of fear; but of a sound mind.

Rebuke this fear when it comes. Rest assured that the same God that told Moses to stretch out a piece of wood over the Red Sea as the armies of Egypt were rushing in to destroy Israel, is the same God that made precious promises to us when we face our Red Sea experience. He is the same; He created the heavens and the earth. It is all His!

" Fear not, for I am with you! Be not dismayed for I AM your God. I will be with you. I will strengthen you, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. " (Isaiah 41:10,11)

It matters not what it is that is against us; doubt, fear, health, humans or principalities and powers of darkness such as unbelief. We have authority given to us by Christ; resist the Devil and he will flee from you. The Name of Christ is above every name mentioned. Learn to use it daily! Spend quality time with Him; get to know Him and His promises to us daily; He who promises will never fail us.

2011-11-11T17:40:00.001-05:00

I sometimes have difficulty opening my prayer to God, uncertain of what to say or I may fear that He tires of me saying the same thing. The Book of Isaiah and Psalms, words breathed by the Spirit of God Himself and penned by men and women is a good place to study the duty and necessity of prayer.

" O LORD of Hosts (heavens armies) God of Israel,
You who dwell between the cherubims- "

" You are God, even You alone of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear and hear:

Open Your eyes O LORD and see; and hear the words of my prayer to You- " ( Isaiah 37:16,17)

and

" But You, O LORD, are a shield unto me; You are my glory and the lifter up of my head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill."

" I laid me down and slept; I awakened; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands people that set themselves against me round about."

" Arise, O LORD, save me, O my God, for Thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek bone - You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD - Thy blessing is upon Thy people. " ( Psalm 3: 3-8)

Forever!

2011-11-11T16:29:00.001-05:00

O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.

O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.

Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.

The LORD has been mindful of us:
He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel: He will bless the house of Aaron.

He will bless them that fear the LORD,
both small and great.

We are blessed of the LORD who made the heavens and the earth!
(Psalm 115)

* These thoughts are again continued in Psalm 118

" O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; because His mercy endures forever.
Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth forever.
Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy endures forever.
Let them that fear the LORD, that His mercy endures forever. "

Has the devil or your own mind been telling you falsehoods that you do not figure in the equasions of God? It is a LIE! Do not fall for it. He hears every word, every sigh, and sees every tear.

We have this promise, God does not lie~

" I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? "(Psalm 118:5,6)

No matter the issue, fear or problem, God hears, He cares, His mercies toward us endures forever.

Veiled In Christ - David Wilkerson

2011-11-05T10:11:00.000-04:00

DA VID WILKERSON PRAYER

CONSUMED WITH PASSION FOR JESUS CHRIST

(prayer in sermon by Brother Dave shortly before his death)

It is time for the Joshua's to stand, lead the LORD'S people in truth and battle the way their Father's have taught them. LORD, only You can speak to the depths of the soul.

I do not know who this if for, but LORD, I am going to speak to those who have backslidden. To those, O LORD, who have been growing cold and indifferent to the call of God and the things of Christ. O God, come and speak.

God says, " The Word that I've sent to you, I did not sent it out to be void - But the Word I have given to you is going to accomplish the very thing I said it would - LORD, I flee to You to hide me. Folks, the original in that says " I will veil myself in You..."

Now you think about it - You see our faith now cannot be based on emotion, our faith cannot be based on just the testimonies of others who have been deliverd. Our faith cannot be cliches'. It cannot be just a shout. We have to have a foundation for the faith we are going to need. And this has to be laying hold of God's own claims of who He is.

This thing starts our right here - Oh, hear my prayer, LORD, Here is my supplication. In Your faithfulness answer me and in Your righteousness. And here is a challenge - God, here is the basis upon which I come to You - Not what I have heard in the past about people, but here is what You told me You are. You said that You are faithful, You said that You are just, You said that You are holy, You cannot lie.

You cannot be Gof if You are not faithful. You said You are the God of peace. You said You are the God of my strength. Now I am coming to You, I am going to lift my hands to You, I am going to believe what You said about Yourself -

And I am coming on the merits of nothing I have done, no righteousness of my own - But on the promise of God, what You told me. Remember the Word to Your servant which You have caused me to hope in. This is my comfort in my affliction, for You have now quickened me. How am I quickened?

LORD, God, I have lifted my hands to You. I have trusted You. I have claimed Your promises. You are who You said You are-From now on - from this day on, I am going to will myself in You. I am going to cut myself off from all confidence in my flesh, or in people, or in anyone else. I am going to throw myself at Your mercy - Your grace - Your power - Your glory - And I am veiling myself in Christ.

Favor Of God

2011-09-18T20:34:00.002-04:00

Thoughts from Matthew Henry - 1600's Bible Commentator ~

Always keep a holy reverence of the glory and majesty of God; a holy dread of His wrath and curse, and dare not provoke Him. Let your thoughts fasten upon that which is good and keep closely to it; even in unquiet times keep your spirit calm and quiet.

We must look with an eye of faith; further than we can see with our eye of sense. "LORD, let us have Thy favor, and let us know that we have it and we will desire no more; that is enough to make us happy."

"LORD, be at peace with us, accept of us, let us be satisfied of Thy loving kindness and we will be satisfied with that."

If we have the favor of God we should beg it for others as well as for ourselves, for in God's favor there is enough for us all and we shall not be less for ourselves for sharing it with others. Though we may be alone, we are not alone if God is with us.

Though we have no guards to attend to us, the LORD alone is sufficient to protect me, He can do it Himself when all other defenses fail. If we have the light of God's countenance we can enjoy ourselves. Our soul returns too God and reposes our self in Him as our rest. (He is our resting place, King David says).

A good person, having by faith and prayer cast our care upon God, sleeps and rests night and day, and is very easy, leaving it to our God to perform all things for us and we are prepared to welcome His holy will.

In singing verses, and praying them, let us, with a holy contempt of the wealth and pleasure of the world, as insufficient to make us happy, earnestly seek the favor of God and pleasingly solace ourselves in that favor; and with a holy indifference about the issues of our worldly concerns, let us commit ourselves to all our affairs to the guidance and custody of the Divine Providence,

and be satisfied that all shall be made to work for good to us if we keep ourselves in the love of God.

2011-09-18T20:33:00.000-04:00

Ready To Fight? David Wilkerson

2011-09-16T11:54:00.002-04:00

David Wilkerson Today
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

NOT READY TO FIGHT! by David Wilkerson[May 19, 1931 -April 27, 2011]

Suppose a boxing trainer took his fighter to an isolated training camp and then spent the whole training session psyching up his man for the big fight. He tells him, “I will be with you at ring side—I will never leave your side. Here is a list of great boxers of the past, so study their every move. You do not have to suffer through hard workouts. I told you that you are a winner and my word is all you need! I will give you some diagrams on how to defeat Monster Man when you step into the ring with him!

”What kind of trainer is this? Absolutely foolish! What would a good trainer do? He would find the best boxer he could, put his man in the ring with him, and let them have it out! Beloved, how many Christians call themselves warriors without ever being tested or trained? We hear so much about the many prayer warriors in this nation. But the sad truth is, the vast majority of them have never been in battle! They have not been trained and they are not ready to fight!

Recently I asked the Lord why so many true believers are going through such heavy, hard times. Why such deep suffering? I asked, “Why are so many being tested to their limits?” God knows that Satan is going to be loosed on the earth for his last hour of warfare. And the Lord is going to need well-trained warriors who will prevail over all the powers of hell. Right now He is doing a quick work in His remnant—it is called crisis training!

These suffering, deeply tested saints are becoming the captains of His last-days army. God is putting Holy Spirit fight in them and He is bringing forth warriors who are tested and tried, because they have wrestled with God.The more they suffer and the more intense the trial, the greater the work He has for them to do! This kind of training calls for physical discipline as well as spiritual.

Jacob threw his whole body into the battle, all his human ability. A fighting spirit had risen up in him and Scripture says, “In his strength he struggled with God” (Hosea 12:3). This verse has great meaning for all who want to prevail in prayer. It says Jacob won the battle “in his strength.”

Dearly beloved, if you are going to prevail in these last days, you are going to have to put all your body and strength into it!

Possibly Events Near Term-Dr. David Reagan

2011-09-16T11:43:00.001-04:00

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Land of Israel: Imminent Scenario

By Dr. David R. Reagan
What is likely to happen next in the land of Israel?

Here is the most likely scenario that I can foresee at the moment. Hamas, the fundamentalist Arab terrorist organization funded by Iran, will take complete control over the Palestinian autonomous areas. Hamas will then unleash a renewed reign of terror on Israel, continuing their lobbing of rockets from Gaza and Jericho to back up their demand for control of Jerusalem.

Abbas will orchestrate world pressure on Israel through the United Nations and the Vatican. In September of this year he will likely proclaim a Palestinian state and then demand that Jerusalem be "liberated" or internationalized.

Since even the most liberal Israelis take the position that Jerusalem is non-negotiable, the pressure will mount toward an inevitable conflict. If Hamas does not unleash the rockets first, then Abbas will ultimately return to the method he knows best — terror.

This will prompt an Israeli counter attack, which, in turn, will motivate the Arab states to come to the defense of the Palestinians. This could very well lead to Syria launching an all out missile attack on Tel Aviv in order to reclaim the Golan Heights and turn attention away from their civilian upheavals.

If that ominous event should occur, the Israelis will be forced to use their ultimate weapon to survive. They will strike Damascus with nuclear weapons. This will fulfill the prophecies that state that Damascus will cease to exist in the end times (Isaiah 17:1-3 and Jeremiah 49:23-27).

In panic, the Arab states will then turn to their natural ally for help — the Russians. And the likelihood is that the Russian government will be only too happy to send an army into the Middle East to destroy Israel (and grab the Arab oil fields in the process).

That is when the Lord will step in personally to destroy the Russian hordes on the mountains of Israel in a supernatural way so that even the Israelis will realize that their deliverance came from the Lord and not from their own military might (Ezekiel 38 and 39).

As the whole world panics on the brink of World War III, a dynamic, charismatic political leader from Europe will step into the vacuum and propose an ingenious solution that will result in peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors — a peace that will enable the Jews to rebuild their Temple.

We live in exciting times when we can watch prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes. The events are ominous and overwhelming, but we can stand firm with great hope because we know that God is on His throne and that He is in control.

The events we are currently witnessing point to the imminent return of Yeshua, and when He returns, the world will be flooded with peace and righteousness, and Israel will enjoy the blessings of territorial integrity and peace forevermore (Zechariah 8:1-8).

VALLEY OF DECISION- From Israel

2011-09-13T12:07:00.004-04:00

Jerusalem Watchman « Stan Goodenough - From Israel
September: Much Ado About Everything
Into The Valley ---Posted on Tuesday 13 September 2011

Today, September 13, 2011, will be a momentous day. Today, representatives of 193 countries are coming together on the east side of Manhattan for the opening of the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Of the 168 items on their agenda, one towers above the rest, guaranteed to dominate the 15-day event: Item #36 – “The question of Palestine.”

When that number comes up on September 20, the nations of this world will secure their places in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. For during the course of their deliberations, they will be called upon to vote for, or against, recognizing a Palestinian state.

Recognizing a Palestinian state means voting for the creation of an Arab state in the biblical heartland of the Land of Israel.

It means voting for the “permanent” division of God’s land.

“For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.

…

Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
Assemble and come, all you nations,
And gather together all around.
Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD.
“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow—
For their wickedness is great.”
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
The sun and moon will grow dark,
And the stars will diminish their brightness.
The LORD also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the LORD will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3: 1-2, 9-16)

“Who will endorse Palestine?” This question headlined an article on the Israeli Ynetnews website two weeks ago.

According to the report, officials in Jerusalem believe the “Palestinians” will secure an automatic majority due to the guaranteed support of the 116 “non-aligned” states,” which tend to vote as a bloc and promote joint interests. Just 12 more “yes” votes will secure a two-thirds majority. And on September 12, Russia announced its determination to support whatever the Palestinian Arabs want.

To try and offset the outcome, Israel’s foreign ministry has targeted the “moral majority” – influential states that include the 27 European Union members, global powers, and several other key countries.

Israel hopes the failure of such states to endorse a unilateral Palestinian move would render the UN decision illegitimate. To further this, officials in Brussels have worked on establishing a united front of EU states that would abstain. Still, it seems Europe’s votes will be split. Few if any nations are expected to vote “no.”

Despite having personally flown to various countries in recent months, appealing to leaders to reject the unilateral Palestinian move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be bracing for what now looks like the inevitable outcome.

Israel stands alone on the world stage. In fact, at the UN – and this is not new or rare –Israel will stand alone in the dock.

The universal recognition of “Palestine” as a state in its own right will be an indictment of the Jewish people, the world’s rejection and dismissal of their claims to their patrimony and a charge accusing them of usurping another people’s land.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aka Palestinian Authority has already stated its intention to drag Israel before the International Court in The Hague.

However, the judgment on this event has already been determined and will soon be passed. It was seen thousands of years ago by the prophets of Israel who must have shivered as they recorded God’s expressions of His fury.

Joel 3, parts of which are quoted at the top of this piece, is only one of these warnings. Read the whole chapter. See also Isaiah 34, Isaiah 63, Psalm 94, .

God has a day of vengeance for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:8). He describes the valley of Jehoshaphat as the winepress of His wrath into which He will gather the nations. Soon – if He has not already begun – He will start to tread them out, crushing them like grapes beneath His feet.

How awful His judgment will be!

Fearful for their nations, believers in Europe and America have mobilized to act on Israel’s behalf. On September 12 The Jerusalem Post reported “two of the leading Christian groups in Europe have joined forces to counter mounting pressure on the Jewish state.” According to the report, the Dutch organization Christians for Israel and the Brussels-based European Coalition for Israel, will be holding joint protests today (September 13) in The Hague, and on September 19 in Brussels.

Although the Post failed to mention it, the initiative was launched by one man. Back in March, on the cover of the Dutch language publication of his organization “Pillar of Fire,” Jack van der Tang published a facsimile of the mobilization form for military service that the men of Holland received in 1939, when the Nazis were poised to invade them.

Inside the magazine, under the heading, “An urgent message to the church in the Netherlands (and worldwide),” Van der Tang posed the question:

Have you ever wondered what you would have done right before the Second World War, had you known that 6,000,000 Jews were going to be murdered? We did not yet know, then, about the death camps where the Holocaust would be carried out.??Now, in 2011, throughout the countries around Israel, millions are openly, and without shame, calling for the destruction of the Jews.??And we cannot say again, “we did not know.”

After listing the long and growing list of threats and dangers facing Israel, he concluded:

In 1939 a nationwide mobilization occurred in the Netherlands when it was clear that war was unavoidable. ??Let there be an overall mobilization in the Church, today!

Other Christians – individuals and organizations – have followed Van der Tang’s lead. One man, a Czech citizen who has no organizational backing, alone successfully prepared a manifestation that will take place in Prague this evening. Events are scheduled for England too.

The men organizing these gatherings are driven by a) a strong sense of the fear of the Lord; b) a compelling love for the Jewish people and c) deep concern for their nations.

They know, as do many millions of Christians, that the motivation behind the upcoming vote is hardly a heartfelt desire to give the “poor Palestinians” a state of their own.

What will constrain the overwhelming majority – probably all – who choose in favor of Palestine, will be:

Anti-Semitism, manifested in its “new” skin as deeply-rooted and vociferous anti-Israel bigotry, and/or

Unfettered hatred of Israel and a desire to see her destroyed, and/or

Immoral national self-interest that “justifies” betraying a small, peace-seeking, oil-less country to appease tens of large, oil-rich, belligerent ones, and/or

Hatred of God and rejection of His Word.

Whatever their individual motives, what these delegates will be voting for is the manifest theft of land belonging – by the decree of the Almighty; by international law as ratified at San Remo by the League of Nations and never revoked; and by all the rights that legitimize the existence of modern nation states – to the Jews.

For those who still don’t get this, let me spell it out once more:

The territory upon which the UN would establish a State of Palestine is that land where Abraham walked when God promised it to him and his descendants after him, forever. It is that land where Jacob lived and through which he travelled when God made it clear that His promise to Abraham was to his seed through the bloodline of Isaac and Jacob.

It is that land in which Israel’s founding fathers purchased property, and where they lie buried. It is that land conquered by the Israelites under Joshua and given as an inheritance to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It is that land where for nearly 400 years the Tabernacle stood in which Samuel served and where the people of Israel worshipped. It is that land where David was born, and from which and over which he reigned. It is that land that contains the Jerusalem of biblical times, in which Solomon and Zerubbabel and Herod built the Jewish temples, and where, in Solomon’s days, God’s glory was visibly revealed to the Israelites. It is that land where Jesus was born and in which He ministered; where He was crucified, buried, rose again, and from which He ascended into heaven. It is that land to which He will return. It is that land God specifically promised to restore the Jews to after they were dispersed among the nations.

It is THAT land the United Nations will vote this month on taking “legally” out of the hands of the Jewish people and placing into the hands of the Muslim Arabs – the vast majority of whom have been raised on a hate-rich diet of war mongering anti-Israel thoughts.

Recent weeks have seen some Israeli leaders and opinion shapers making calming statements – assuring their people that a General Assembly vote is not binding; that there is little if any point in trying to withstand it.

Darker voices warn that Arab and Muslim protests will be staged all over the world to “convince” the General Assembly in New York that the demand for the creation of Palestine is global and must be complied with.

A sweeping vote supporting the proposal is expected to – eventually if not right away – sway the Security Council towards making it legally binding on Israel.

So WHO is bringing the nations to New York to cast this fateful ballot? Who will lead them? Who will drive them?

The answer, I believe, is the LORD God. For decades they have been pulling and pushing Israel around, instigating wars against her, fomenting hatred of her, taking advantage of her, plotting against her, holding her in derision, and just bullying her relentlessly and heartlessly, in a never-ending way.

But now, now comes the time to decide. God is giving them the choice. For some nations – those that long ago sold their souls to the devil, voting to divide the land of Israel will be easy and quick. For others, there will be ethical and moral questions to weigh up. These nations know that they know that to recognize Palestine will be to do a terrible injustice to the Jews. Will they still proceed?

The few Judeo-Christian nations still left may be given pause by the fact that the Holy Bible contains the unambiguous title deed to the ancient Holy Land.

What they all will do in the end, is decide for or against Israel; for or against the Bible; for or against the establishment of a country that, together with its 21 allied Arab states, will present a terrible danger to the piece of land that will be left of Israel.

The time, it appears, is here. The nations have to decide and the choice they make will be read out in the “valley of decision,” the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Multitudes, it says, will be there.

The Valley of Jehoshaphat is a small, nondescript gully that feeds into the northern end of the Kidron Valley, in the shadow of the Mount of Olives.

I pointed it out last week as I guided a group from the Garden of Gethsemane into the Old City. How, we wondered, will all the nations that are today aligned against Israel and eagerly waiting to “create” Palestine fit into this small place for judgment? Zechariah may have the answer:

And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:4)

Below is a list of scriptures (not exhaustive) in which God promises “all the land of Canaan” to Abraham, and then to Isaac, and then to Jacob; God promises to bring the people of Israel back to this land, which He repeatedly calls “their own land.”

Some of these passages will be read out in the European capitals where Christians are taking their stand today.

This is the point – the final Word: God says the land belongs exclusively to the Jewish people. God Almighty says it is their land. It makes no difference if every nation on earth says otherwise. It matters not if even the democratically elected government of Israel agrees to a “two-state solution” on this land, and wants to give part of it away.

Believers can and must stand on the Bible, and proclaim that, according to it, this is Israel’s land.

We must comfort and encourage the Jewish people by reminding them of God’s promise to be “a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”

And we must warn our nations that God will judge them in fury for dividing up the land – which He calls HIS OWN. (see, again, Joel 3).

* TITLE DEED TO THE LAND: Genesis 12:1-3, 6-8; 13:14-17; 15:7, 17-20; 17:7-8; 24:7; 26:2-4; 28:12-15; 35:10-12; 39:9-15. Exodus 6:2-4; 6-8; 32:13; 33:1-2. Leviticus 20:23-24; Numbers 33:50-54; 34:1-2; Deuteronomy 1:6-8; 11:11-12; Joshua 21:43-45; 1 Chronicles 16:14-19; 2 Samuel 7:10; Isaiah 14:1; Jeremiah 23:8; Ezekiel 28:25-26; 34:13-14; 36:24; 37:14, 21; Amos 9:14-15.

Always With Us

2011-09-07T18:40:00.002-04:00

What a Holiday weekend. Like most I was looking forward to three days rest. It was not to be. Early Saturday morning I arose around 4 a.m. and my heart suddenly started beating out of control; again! I went back to bed, prayed and finally fell into a fitful sleep.

My wife goes to yard sales on the weekends so I did a few small chores around the house, all the while praying that I would start feeling better. It was not to be. Around noon my wife checked me into the Emergency Room of our hospital and I spent the three day holiday weekend in ICU.

My meds have been increased and I am dealing with the side effects of some of them; dizziness, being tired and so forth. I have prayed for and am still praying for healing; total healing. The same God who created the heavens and the earth created the human heart, our soul, body and spirit and all things are possible with Him.

While they doctors were trying to get my heart rate down from 170 beats per minute for over a day, to the normal level of 70 or so, they decided to increase an I.V. med to bring down the heart rate. The next step would have been to trying to shock my heart into regular rythem. Right after they increased the I.V. I started to sweat so bad the bed and my clothes were soaked as if I were standing under a water hose. I almost blacked out and could not see anything! Three things were going through my head at the same time; so this is how it feels right before you die? Why don't I just lose consienceness so I do not see what is happening? And, I had a deep inner sence that God was right there; a sence not of a Presence of any sort but I knew He was in total control of the events as they seemed to be spining out of control in the natural sense, and they truly were. The staff was callling the doctors 911 and such and they were tugging and pulling cords trying to bring my blood pressure back up; it had fallen to 40/20.

Within ten minutes things were back to normal. A close call by any definition. This happened for a reason. Here are one of the things that I feel are going on ~

1. This is a test of my faith; it has been sorely tried since my heart attack of May 9. Do I still believe the promises of God?

2. I agree with Brother Dave Wilkerson that some of the trials and tests we go through in this life are not because of our sin, our faith, the devil or anything of the sort; they are preparing us for what we will be in the world to come. We are earning our stripes, getting experience that will last us into the ages of eternity. I need to get out of an earthly frame of mind and "set my mind on things above, where God is".

I have cried, begged, tried to bargain with God and even this is causing growth in my spiritual man; the man that is eternal. I read a passage of Scripture this evening that explains what I am trying to say ~

" They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth,
bearing precious seed,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him. " Psalm 126:5

Our tears have a purpose. We are bearing seed as we bear our burdens. The precious seed we are carrying is our faith. After the great trials, tests, burdens and harvest, a great day of rejoicing awaits us. Some of the rejoicing will be in the here and now; most I believe will be when we get to our real home in the heaven of heavens; where God is.

I have prayed most of my life to be a man of faith. It is easy for me to have faith when things are going on a normal scale. When things start falling apart to the point that they look hopeless and death is at the door; this is the place where faith is birthed. I pass some tests, I do not do so well on others. But I am learning.

I am confident of one thing and I felt His presence as my blood pressure was dropping this past weekend in I.C.U. ~As fear started to momentarily set in, then a change started to occur and this is the passage " As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henseforth, even forever." Psalm 125:2

Making Deals With God - David Parsons

2011-09-03T12:19:00.002-04:00

Making deals with God - Special Commentary

By: David Parsons - International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem
Posted on: Mon, 07/25/2011

Every passing day, more and more Christians around the world are discovering within themselves a growing love for Israel and a greater appreciation of God’s enduring election over the Jewish people.

Yet many in the growing Christian Zionist movement are no longer comfortable with all the popular ‘end-time’ charts which portray Israel as just another piece of the prophetic puzzle. Many charts have the Church escaping to heaven while Israel goes through hell. This just seems too impersonal, detached and contrary to their burning, heart-felt passion for Israel.

So rather than speculative charts about future events, many Christian Zionists are looking for a more solid biblical foundation which better expresses their zeal for the Israel of today. And they are finding it in the scriptural tenets of Covenant theology.

While some Christians take a very fatalistic approach to Bible prophecy and often focus too heavily on its dark side, Covenant theology is an uplifting view rooted in the very nature and character of God as eternally faithful to his sworn promises to Israel. It sees the great divine covenants with Abraham, Moses, David and the New Covenant as telling the story of God’s salvation plan for all humanity, with the Jewish people playing a central role – both in the past and the future. Indeed, the covenants “belong to” Israel, the Apostle Paul says in Romans 9:4.

Covenant theology holds that Israel’s journey down through time, until she reaches her ultimate destiny, is steered by the promises which God delivered by solemn oath to Abraham, Moses and David, culminating with the New Covenant (Hebrews 6:13-20). These covenants set out the terms and conditions for Israel’s relationship with God as His primary vehicle for world salvation – which pivoted around her eventual birthing of Jesus, the promised Messiah (Romans 9:5).

The Hebrew prophets then come along as “servants” of the covenants. They cannot go outside the covenant promises and provisions which God has already set out by sworn oath. But their prophetic utterances do tell us something about how God will keep His covenant promises to Israel. Thus interpreting Bible prophecy first requires that we understand the purposes, terms and conditions of the successive covenants with Israel. This is where many Dispensational interpretations go wrong.

Thus the modern-day restoration of Israel can and must be understood, first and foremost, as God being faithful to his covenant promise to Abraham to deliver the Land of Canaan as “an everlasting possession” to his natural descendants (Genesis 17:8). Furthermore, this restoration process will continue until God also fulfills the promises of the Davidic covenant that the Messiah will one day sit on the throne of David and rule the earth from a Jewish Jerusalem and a redeemed nation of Israel.

Such an approach is refreshingly focused on the positive side of Bible prophecy and it is built on solid theological grounds. No wonder Covenant theology is finding so many new Evangelical adherents.

Yet there are some ‘prosperity preachers’ out there who are latching on to the concept of divine covenant and trying to twist it for carnal purposes. They speak of making “salt covenants” with their supporters, and promote three-way contracts between you, their ministry and God which guarantee financial blessings in return for donations. In short, they think it is possible to just make deals with God.

This ignores the fact that any divine covenant is first birthed in the very heart of God, and then He finds a suitable human partner to receive the promises. We see this reflected in the Lord’s covenant with Noah, which originated “in His heart” (Genesis 8:21). One does not just decide to enter a contract with God; He carefully chooses the vessel to be entrusted with His sure promises.

Each of the divine covenants with Israel also had a unique purpose in furthering the redemptive plan of God. Christians can be third-party beneficiaries of those covenants, but we cannot just make our own separate deals.

In addition, the divine covenants of the Bible are largely unilateral. That is, God usually makes promises that only He can and will perform. Some conditions of performance are placed on the human partner(s), but the core obligations He reserves unto Himself.

This does not mean one cannot make vows before God. But if we do, the Bible is clear we better pay those vows.

Parsons is Media Director for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

Hidden Treasures

2011-08-29T18:25:00.002-04:00

The Word became flesh; what an incomprehensible thought! I cannot get my mind around this. In the beginning was the Word. Before anything was the Word existed.

From time to time I go though great seasons of dryness, doubt and mental turmoil. It is as if the seasons of my life are changing, seasons of hope and gladness, dryness and sadness, doubt and fear and praise, worship and great faith. It seems to mirror the four season we go through in this part of the world.

While asking God for a word the other evening while sitting on my porch I was led to a passage of Scripture in the Book of Job. Historians of the biblical persuasion seem to think that the Book of Job even proceeds the time of Moses when the Law was given.

I have some interesting thoughts regarding Job 23 which is toward the end of the book and Job has already gone through most of his great and sore trials and outright torture brought about by Satan and allowed by God. Job says, "Oh that I knew where I might find God! That I might even come to His seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me."

Job is not getting any answers; just stone cold silence. Have you ever experienced that? This righteous man was surrounded by three "friends" who had all of the answers. They brought no comfort but were further torment for this righteous man.

Job continues with his complaint, and a good complaint it was, " Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him:"

" BUT God knows the way that I take; when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold. " Deep down in Job's heart he knew that God was still in control even though it seemed that He was hiding; and I believe He was. That is part of the trying; the refining fire that continues to increase in heat to the point that it seems unbearable.

Job says something very interesting that ties in with the New Testament speech of the Apostle Paul. in verse 13-17 Job is as honest as he ever was in his thoughts - But He (God) is of one mind, and who can turn Him? What His soul desires, that is what He does....For He performs the thing that is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him."

Who can change the mind of God? If we are appointed to something it is going to happen, and God is there all of the time. In 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Paul says, " ...That no man should be moved by these afflictions; for you know that we are appointed to these..." In the wilderness when Paul was taught by Christ he was shown the things he must suffer for the cause of Christ . He knew it was coming.

We have been instructed by the Word that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers us out of the all; not out of some, but out of all! I believe what it says!

In this season of testing and trial, I can identify with something else Job says in verse 15 through 17 of chapter 23 ~

" I am troubled at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him. for God makes my heart soft (I realize there is nothing left in me) and the Almighty troubles me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness (before the darkness set in I was not removed for some reason) and He covered the darkness from my face...(I did not see what was coming around the corner...)

These are the heartfelt, honest feelings of the man of God Job. He was calling it like he saw it. Did God get angry with Job? Look at chapter 42 ~ God chastises the three friends of Job for their darkening of counsel toward Job, telling them that they have not spoken of Me what is right, but of Job God said he spoke what was correct.

When Job prayed for his friends they were forgiven. Job received twice what he had before his temptation and trial. More importantly his knowledge of God increased tremendously. We can be confident that nothing is going to happen to us that does not go through God first. No matter how difficult and hazardous the road we find ourselves traveling on any given season, whether through happiness, sorrow, triumph or seeming failure, God is at the controls.

On that great day we can all say with great confidence because we have experience and a track record with God ~

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,
be honor and glory, forever and ever, Amen! ( 1 Timothy 1:17)

You Are Tatooed! David Wilkerson Devotion

2011-08-29T17:24:00.002-04:00

David Wilkerson Today - MONDAY --- AUGUST 29, 2011

GOD’S CHILDREN ARE TATTOOED INTO THE PALM OF HIS HAND!

This is one of my favorite Scriptures:
“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted. But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. ’Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah49:13-16).

God says I am engraved in the very palm of his hand! The Hebrew word means “tattooed”—that is, indelible, inerasable. He cannot stretch out his hand without being reminded of me! Dearly beloved, I want to assure you: You may go through trials and sufferings. You may be far from what you wish to be in the Lord. But you can know one thing more than anything else: You are a delight to him!

I write to you with a confidence and knowledge in my heart that, although I have not arrived, he has made me a part of his remnant. I believe with all my heart I am a royal crown, a diadem in his hand, a delight to his soul. He is not mad at me—he delights in me!

Listen to this wonderful promise:“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place . . . . Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:7-8, 19).

God has given you all you need to be free and victorious. He sees your condition—and he cares. He cuddles you as you call on him and he is ready to come forth to help you that moment.

Truely Forgiven! David Wilkerson Devotion

2011-08-28T18:06:00.002-04:00

David Wilkerson Today

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011

THE FATHER’S DELIGHT by David Wilkerson [May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

The account of the Prodigal Son is very familiar, so I won’t go into the details of the story. I do want to say, however, that it is not primarily about a lost son. Rather, it is about the delight of the father. Certainly the parable of the Prodigal Son is about returning (Luke 15:11-31) but it is not just about the son’s finally coming home. It is also about what keeps the son home.

It is about grace, forgiveness and restoration. Read the story again, and you’ll note that the story doesn’t end when he returns—and this is significant. What is it that keeps the son home? It is the knowledge that his father delights in him! “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

And they began to be merry…[with] music and dancing”(15:24-25).The Prodigal’s father never rebuked him, never condemned him, never even spoke about his running away. Instead, he threw a great party and invited all the family’s friends and neighbors. This father had been longing for his son to come home, and now it had come to pass.

The Prodigal protested at first, telling his dad, “No, no, I’m unworthy.”But his father ignored him, calling for a robe to be put on his shoulders, rings on his fingers and shoes on his feet. Now everything that the father owned was once again made available to the son. And there was great rejoicing, with music, dancing and feasting.
I believe that love brought this young man home.

But it was the father’s delight that kept him there! You see, the Prodigal was kept with the father by the simple act of waking up each day to see that his dad was pleased to have him home. His father delighted at having him present with him.

Moreover, everything in that young man’s life that had been eaten by the cankerworm was being restored.I have known many former addicts who are like the Prodigal. They can focus only on what was lost years ago because of their habit: a spouse, children, a ministry. They feel the Lord’s chastening, and that can be grievous, but Jesus tells them in this parable, “Nothing is lost in my kingdom. You are going to be made stronger through this. You are home now and my grace will restore you in full.”

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/

Heavenly Places-From Jerusalem ICEJ

2011-08-27T19:46:00.002-04:00

* Article From International Christian Embassy - Jerusalem, Israel

In last month’s prayer letter, we saw that the prayer of faith has a strong impact in heavenly places where, according to the Word of God, the real battle between truth and deception is taking place (Ephesians 6:12). Yet these heavenly places are not just places of conflict but also of blessing. Paul states to the church in Ephesus that it is in the heavenly places where God has established His throne and where Jesus was lifted up at his resurrection. “He set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:20)

Heavenly Places

It is in the heavenly places where we find the unrestricted and glorious presence of God. Sometimes, believers were granted the privilege to have a visual glimpse into this realm. “Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Act 7:55) What a glorious sight it must have been!

It is in these heavenly places that all our spiritual needs are being met. Every blessing for your walk with Christ, everything you need to fulfill the call of God on your life, every possible blessing for your nation, your family and for your life, can be found in these heavenly places. The word of God declares that our Father “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). It is a realm of unlimited resources.

Heavenly Perspective

Now the Apostle Paul makes an amazing statement when he explains that this heavenly place of light and abundance is not just reserved for God and His angels. He declares that God has “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

Please note that Paul describes us as “seated” there. You are not only there if you feel an anointing for a short time in a worship service and exclaim “this feels like heaven” – something we hear often from pilgrims during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. But the truth is we are seated there all the time, even if we do not feel it.It is a reality which we have to accept by faith.Right now, as you read this, you are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. When you join us in prayer this and every Wednesday – wherever you are located, it really does not matter – we all will gather in the same room, the throne room of God.

Therefore, as we gather in unity I have great confidence that our prayers will be answered, because it is in the presence of God that all spiritual blessings are found. I encourage you to see yourself seated in heaven 24 hours a day; it will lift your perspective regarding the things God has called you to and impact every decision you make here on earth.Indeed, Moses gained courage and endurance by “seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). His walk before God was determined by his awareness of heavenly realities.

May the Lord help us to pray and act from this heavenly perspective!

Mindset

2011-08-20T19:19:00.003-04:00

We live in days of turmoil. Entire nations are falling apart: Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and others are on the brink of insolvency; France, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and perhaps the USA? What are Believers to do in these circumstances?

Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou (God) will keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him."

This peace does not speak of a surrender to things the way they are; it speaks of a peace that is of such effect that it has great influence upon those who see it operate in us. The word "stayed upon" means to lean hard upon, to stand fast. Another passage that comes to mind is "stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. No one can save like He can!

Our mind is our intellect, our will and our feelings. It also means in the original Hebrew our deep thoughts, imagination and even our understanding; the way we perceive things as when Christ talked about our mind when He said, " You shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul, and all of your mind." He has to be all encompassing for these promises to have effect upon our human mind.

Paul said, " I thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin..." He said there is another law in our members, warring against the law of our mind, and it brings us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members. Who shall deliver us from this body of death? We know the answer; we thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD!

The Holy Spirit has a mind! Romans 8:27 says " And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God..." The LORD has a mind, Romans 11:34 says, "For who hath known the mind of the LORD? and who has been His counsellor?'

Again Paul in his writings to the church in Corinth says, " For who hath known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." Amazing! We have access to the mind of Christ!

Our battleground is the same as the Apostle Paul's and every true follower of Christ, especially those who want a deeper walk with Him, as Paul said, the mind of the Spirit is constantly at war with the mind of our flesh. This battle will soon be won.

" For behold, (pay attention, remember, do not forget!) God is creating a new heavens (plural, more than one) and a new earth (just one), and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

Our goal - the mind of Christ!

Our Calling

2011-08-15T18:49:00.002-04:00

We have a high calling above and beyond anything we can imagine; to be constantly changing into the image of Christ. Daily we are being transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. As we yield and surrender our fleshly selves with its passions, lusts and desires we are yielding more and more space for the Spirit to inhabit.

This same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives and operates in our mortal body. He will not exert Himself where He is not wanted. It is our duty to yield to Him with full knowledge of what we are doing. Philippians 3:9 speaks of being "found in Him" not by our own righteousness; we can never have enough righteousness of our own to be "found in Him..." It says that it is the righteousness of Christ! It is the faith of Christ, not faith in Christ, but the faith OF CHRIST which is from God that operates in our spirit.

This indwelling of another Spirit inhabiting and controlling our spirit has great eternal value. This treasure that we have in earthen vessels is a mystery to our human way of thinking. There are spirits of lust, greed, anger, depression and oppression from the evil one. The Spirit of God supersedes each one of these spirits of evil and has more power that all of the evil spirits combined. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

Our duty is to learn to recognize the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He inhabits every Believer to the degree that we yield to Him. He is always willing to teach, assist, comfort and control. Jesus said that the Spirit takes of what is of Him and gives it to us in every circumstance.

Forget the things which are behind and ever so faithfully reach out by His power toward or high calling that is in Christ Jesus. We must appropriate this by faith; the faith of the Son of God operating in us. If one were to have a church membership of 100,000 and be on television and the Internet 24 hours a day and not have the Spirit of God operating in their life and being changed into the image of Christ it is all for nothing.

I remind myself often of a passage in the famous Isaiah 53 passage that gives an avid picture of Christ suffering while He was here on earth. " ...It pleased the Father to put Him to grief " BUT, because of the travail and bruising many are being (even now) justified and their iniquity was borne by Christ on the tree of Calvary.

Must the process be different for us? Was the Father with Christ during His temptation? Of course. Was the Father with Christ while He was being spat upon and beaten? Yes. Did the Spirit lead Christ into the wilderness to be tempted? Yes. Tribulation works patience. It is a fruit working up into each of our souls like fruit growing on trees that go through drought, strong storms, strong heat and bitter cold.

Because Christ poured out His soul unto death He now has a portion with the great, according to Isaiah 53. We are cut from the same cloth. The Apostle Paul speaks of picking up what is lacking of the suffering of Christ. As gold and silver is refined, so are we. Each to different degree. But God Himself sits as the Refiner; He has His hand on the controls; never forget that.

Our place, our effect, our tent becomes mature and enlarged as our curtains are stretched and our stakes are strengthened in this life. An eternal purpose is being accomplished.

"For He hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The righteousness of God, not our own righteousness but HIS! Our righteousness is but as filthy rags in God's sight; but He has made Christ our righteousness.

That we might attain, know, and appropriate this fact into our daily lives is our high calling, not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus working in us.

Anxious For Nothing-Francis Frangipane

2011-08-14T14:33:00.005-04:00

Be Anxious For Nothing - By Francis Frangipane(En Español)

Jesus warned that, in the last days, the world would face unfolding trauma. There would be wars, earthquakes and many other disasters. Yet, to His disciples, He said, "Do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9). He also said that, because of world conditions, men's hearts would fail "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth"(Luke 21:26 NKJV). Not only would actual events generate worldwide fear, but the expectation of difficulties would cause men's hearts to fail.

Today, heart failure is the number one cause of death in North America. Approximately every thirty-four seconds a heart stops beating and another person dies, usually suddenly. There may be many contributors to heart failure, but one major source is the inability to handle stress.

There are times when stress is unavoidable - the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, moving to a new home, severe illness, or going through a divorce - all take a toll. But most of the time accepting anxiety should not be so readily accommodated. The problem is that, just as death entered the world through Adam's sin (see Rom. 5), so the substance of death enters our personal world through our sins as well. Indeed, when we carry anxiety-related stress, we are carrying in our soul a container of death that, without fail, takes an ever increasing toll upon our lives.

Consider our world: War and terror attacks can occur at any time and anywhere. Our stock market and economy continues to bolt up and down, like a wild roller coaster. We have many unanswered questions about the future that are multiplied stress factors.

We also have personal situations. We worry about aging and our health. We have stress at our jobs and stress with a lack of jobs. Our homes should be a harbor of peace, yet they often are a place of strife and anxiety, especially as our children become teens. Someone once said, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child." It is true for fathers also. We all carry people in our hearts, and as we love them their battles become ours, further adding to the burden of anxiety we carry.

If you want to know how stressed you are, look at your disposition when you drive. If you are always exceeding the speed limit, it reveals the lack of rest in your soul. That extra push on the accelerator is continually occurring on your heart throughout the day, not only when you are driving. Driving simply makes apparent the level of anxiety we have learned to live with.

Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6). Yet we seem to be anxious for everything. In fact, stress-related anxiety is so much a part of our lives that, somehow, it has escaped being identified as being sinful. We medicate it, but do not change the habits of fear that caused it in the first place. But anxiety is sin. At its core, it is a stubborn refusal to trust the goodness of God or rest in His power. Anxiety is a by-product of unbelief. It is a spiritual "terror attack" from hell that is silently killing tens of thousands every day.

God Is With Us Certainly, I am not suggesting we become passive. However, I am saying we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful anxieties that come from not trusting in God. Our Messiah is "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus promised to be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At some point we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise. Those who believe enter His rest (Heb. 3). He is with us always! To mistrust this promise is to reject the very character of God's nature. This is not a minor issue.

Yet, even now Jesus says, - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).

Let us come to Him. Let us cast our burdens upon Him, for truly He cares for us. Let us break our addictions to stress. We don't have to be tied up in knots inside. The God of peace will crush Satan beneath our feet shortly (see Rom. 16:20). Anxiety is sin. Let us break the bondage of this sin and walk as sons and daughters of God, who are anxious for nothing.

Lord, forgive me for my sin of anxiety. I renounce fear. I declare that my soul is Your property, that You have promised to care for me. I believe Your promises. I come to You and entrust all I am into Your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Truths for today August 09.2011

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Let those who put their trust in God rejoice!
Let them forever shout for joy because God defends them.

Let them that love the Name of God be joyful in Him.
For Thou, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
with favor wilt Thou compass them about as with a shield.

Psalm 5: 11,12

God has never told a lie or a half truth. He does not utter any falsehood. All of His promises toward those who love and depend upon Him are as sure as the heat of the sun by day and the light of the moon by night. The LORD hears our supplications and will receive our prayers. In the multitude of His mercies He forgives and He inhabits the praise of His people as we sing and think upon Him.

Our Foundations

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Psalm 89:34,35

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.

Psalm 18
Great deliverance giveth He to His king, and showeth mercy to His anointed;
to David and to his seed forevermore.

Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

I use some of these passages of Scripture as a foundation for my prayers. We are of the seed of Abraham. Jew or Gentile, we as Believers are part of the spiritual commonwealth of Israel. God does not change; He is the same forevermore. What He promised one He promises to all who are now in Christ Jesus.

He has promised to cover us with His feathers, and under His wings we will trust. His truth is our shield and buckler. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor for the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand; but it shall not come near us.

Because we have made the LORD our place of Refuge, even the Most High our habitation. He has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all of our ways. Because we have set our love upon Him He will set us on high because we have known his Name. We will call upon Him and He has promised to answer us. He is with us when we are in trouble and will deliver us and honor us.

What precious promises for each one of us! What more could we want?

STANDING ON THE PROMISES ~ R. Kelso Carter 1849-1928

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring;

glory in the highest I will shout and sing,