Theresa Phillips:
"Wake Up, O Sleepers! All that I Have, and All that I Am I Give to You, Says I Am!"
An Awakening Dream
I had a dream that was shocking to me. It certainly brought me to my knees...with joy! The dream: I was driving with my husband down a hill when I saw some people driving next to us in a car. I saw the other car drive out of control and hit a column of concrete near a bridge. The car was totaled. We felt the impact. Both cars were damaged.
I dialed 911 immediately and went toward the victims in the car. I saw one child bleeding and covered up that child with a blanket and began to carry the child to a nearby hospital. I dialed 911 again. I soon got a second victim to that hospital, and while in the hospital, I called the police because no one was coming to help these victims—even when we were in the hospital!
I noticed my husband had lost consciousness and I called for help! No one came. I found a roll of masking tape and began to care for the wounds of a woman who was severely torn across her abdomen. As I began to bind her wounds with what I had, I tried calling for help again...I whispered, Jesus. Then the wound stopped bleeding and she sat up. I was relieved, yet no one came. I saw my husband come to. I saw the child awaken and start to show signs of life. ALL bleeding had stopped. I called the police again...no one came.
Then standing in front of me was a man with tan trousers and a crisp white shirt. I said, "Where were you, Doctor?" He said, "I was watching you...you did better than I was allowed to do." He was in fact a doctor NOT allowed to work on the patient. In my dream I was so upset that the professional medical people of that hospital were not available.
As I woke from this dream I was actually shaking. I knew what it meant. I knew something drastic was on the mind of GOD: I knew I was being awakened from a different slumber—a slumber of forgetting Who He really IS. I knew it was wake-up time for many, and I wanted to be included!
Then I began to feel HIM—His Presence about me! I had said out loud His name in the dream. YES, I USED HIS NAME and I saw Him honor it. I saw results in the dream! I was keenly aware as I was awakening from my sleep. The Church could and would be willing to change things. I shouted this out loud: "WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!" We will and must make the change...SHIFT!
The man in the dream was in fact Him, our Good Doctor, Jesus. He was NOT allowed to move. He said, "I was" when in the plain, simple truth, HE IS "I AM." I knew Holy Spirit was awakening us to fresh revelation. We can and must take the I AM at His Word.
We Must Take "I AM" at His Word
And Moses said unto God, "Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, 'The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you'; and they shall say to me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say unto them?" And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM": and He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."—Exodus 3:13-14
God sent I AM to help the people that Moses was entrusted to tend to. That is an I AM word: present, active, alive and moving. GOD gave something of Himself—He gave to Moses a revelatory moment that changed the course of history and time. To Abraham and Isaac and Jacob He made covenant, but to Moses He gave His NAME! He is a GOD that changes NOT!
If you read the Scripture, He says to Moses, "to Pharaoh YOU will be GOD" (meaning Me). Why? Because I AM is with you. It is relational, it is powerful, it is revelatory! Moses had seen GOD reveal Himself. Today, many are facing their burning bush. Why? Because many today will see the need for I Am to be moving.
In this very moment we KNOW He is very present. This is vital, for He says, "I will never leave you or forsake you..."
The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.—Deuteronomy 31:8
...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—Matthew 28:20
"I AM" is Released to You NOW
See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.—Exodus 23:20-21
I AM has given an angel His own name! He is dispatched from the Holy City of Heaven. It is here we see the "ministry of angels doing the Lord's bidding to protect Israel." I AM has shared His name. Why? To protect His people. BUT, it does not stop there:
And God said moreover unto Moses, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."—Exodus 3:15
TO ALL generations, the powerful name of the Lord GOD Himself is sent to all of us to do what? To use and declare His works among the people! His name is the most powerful demonstration we could have! It makes the pharaohs to bow. It causes knees to bow. It cleanses the lepers, heals the sick and drives out demons. AND, whatsoever you ask in the name of the Lord, He will give it!
"O, you," says the Lord, "as you wring your hands in worry and you hear the disturbing reports about you, lean your ear to this, O My children! O you who have an ear.
"I AM is released to you NOW. I AM is revealed to you NOW. Go in power and revelation of I AM PRESENT among you to do mighty exploits. Heal the sick! Cleanse the lepers! Cast out the demons! Bind up the brokenhearted! Set captives free! Tell them I AM has sent you! I give you permission to bear My name; I give you rights to use it and demonstrate it—I call you to it!
"Wake up, O sleepers, wake up! All that I have, and ALL that I AM I give to you, says I AM!"
Theresa Phillips
Senior Pastor, PMI Glory Institute
Email: Info@ChicagoPropheticVoice.net
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
*God Chose You*
*God Chose You*
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame in Him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)
The devil likes to condemn us and keep us down by whispering in our ears,"Look at you trying to act as if you're somebody when you know you're nobody! You've come from nowhere, and you're going nowhere." the devil uses the same old tactic in every battle. He deceives, lies, accused, and seeks to destroy every on of us.
When he does, remember David faced similar attacks form the enemy. When Samuel came to visit David's family, his father, Jesse, didn't even call him form tending sheep (1 Samuel 16"11) Samuel came to anoint a king, but no one in David's family believed that he had the right stuff to be king. His brothers were older, wiser, taller, more handsome, and more experienced Saul and his men laughed when David wanted to take on Goliath. These things don't count when your in God's hands.
Now what David accomplished in his life for God had nothing to do with where he started and everything to do with the fact that God picked him out. God did this with David so don't you think He'd do the same for you? Be not dismayed--regardless of your circumstances, God will take you out of wherever you are and bring you to wherever HE WANTS YOU TO BE. Let's remember God knows what's best for our lives.....
O Lord, Your calling on my life is Greater then any man can believe, I cannot look to others for my self-esteem or self-worth, so O LORD, I turn to You my Lord, in you I AM ROYALTY!! Lead me O Lord in Your way for My Life ... In Jesus Holy Name AMEN
Peace be with you always
Pastor Elisabeth Stewart
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame in Him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)
The devil likes to condemn us and keep us down by whispering in our ears,"Look at you trying to act as if you're somebody when you know you're nobody! You've come from nowhere, and you're going nowhere." the devil uses the same old tactic in every battle. He deceives, lies, accused, and seeks to destroy every on of us.
When he does, remember David faced similar attacks form the enemy. When Samuel came to visit David's family, his father, Jesse, didn't even call him form tending sheep (1 Samuel 16"11) Samuel came to anoint a king, but no one in David's family believed that he had the right stuff to be king. His brothers were older, wiser, taller, more handsome, and more experienced Saul and his men laughed when David wanted to take on Goliath. These things don't count when your in God's hands.
Now what David accomplished in his life for God had nothing to do with where he started and everything to do with the fact that God picked him out. God did this with David so don't you think He'd do the same for you? Be not dismayed--regardless of your circumstances, God will take you out of wherever you are and bring you to wherever HE WANTS YOU TO BE. Let's remember God knows what's best for our lives.....
O Lord, Your calling on my life is Greater then any man can believe, I cannot look to others for my self-esteem or self-worth, so O LORD, I turn to You my Lord, in you I AM ROYALTY!! Lead me O Lord in Your way for My Life ... In Jesus Holy Name AMEN
Peace be with you always
Pastor Elisabeth Stewart
Turning The Negative Into The Positive
*Turning The Negative Into The Positive*
Turning the negative into positive can sometimes be a very heard thing to do. It could be the hardest thing you do in your life, because you most likely will have to do something you don't want to do, like give up or cut back on something. But it is worth it, being Positive is important because it effects our everyday walk in life. When you get up in the morning how you get up and what kind of mood you have will trigger your emotions, and your emotions can cause you to react in a negative way.
One thing that trigger's off or gets it clicking is the words that come straight our of your mouth, as soon as you speak. A lot of times we speak before we think. I've been guilty of this. When you get up in the morning you can leave a cloud over you that can and will most likely be with you all day until we do something, or say something to change it. But in order to do this we must do it positively. This something we must do before God can move on our behalf, because God does not bless Negative actions or words.
Like for instance if someone does you wrong it is not your place to try to or get revenge .(Romans 12:19) declares Vengeance is mine; I will repay; saith the Lord. See we really can make matters worse, we must forgive, that's our job. That is Positive action on our part. Forgiving someone is one of the Greatest Positive Movements I believe in. Yes change is a very important thing. I know that sometimes we do not like to admit to it but we have to change.
Change how? We must realize that in life there is someone greater who must be in control and that is Jesus Christ. When we as Christians try to do things on our own without God involved, we usually mess it up. When God is in control we will not fall back, but move forward and that is Positive, which is not moving back , and when we keep moving forward that is Powerful. (Ephesians 3:20) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
And that power is Jesus Christ and Jesus is Positive.
May God Bless you always as you Seek Him.
Pastor Don Stewart II
Turning the negative into positive can sometimes be a very heard thing to do. It could be the hardest thing you do in your life, because you most likely will have to do something you don't want to do, like give up or cut back on something. But it is worth it, being Positive is important because it effects our everyday walk in life. When you get up in the morning how you get up and what kind of mood you have will trigger your emotions, and your emotions can cause you to react in a negative way.
One thing that trigger's off or gets it clicking is the words that come straight our of your mouth, as soon as you speak. A lot of times we speak before we think. I've been guilty of this. When you get up in the morning you can leave a cloud over you that can and will most likely be with you all day until we do something, or say something to change it. But in order to do this we must do it positively. This something we must do before God can move on our behalf, because God does not bless Negative actions or words.
Like for instance if someone does you wrong it is not your place to try to or get revenge .(Romans 12:19) declares Vengeance is mine; I will repay; saith the Lord. See we really can make matters worse, we must forgive, that's our job. That is Positive action on our part. Forgiving someone is one of the Greatest Positive Movements I believe in. Yes change is a very important thing. I know that sometimes we do not like to admit to it but we have to change.
Change how? We must realize that in life there is someone greater who must be in control and that is Jesus Christ. When we as Christians try to do things on our own without God involved, we usually mess it up. When God is in control we will not fall back, but move forward and that is Positive, which is not moving back , and when we keep moving forward that is Powerful. (Ephesians 3:20) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
And that power is Jesus Christ and Jesus is Positive.
May God Bless you always as you Seek Him.
Pastor Don Stewart II
*The Authority Of The Believer*
http://www.faithpowerministries.org/7.html
Faith-Power-Ministries International
*The Authority Of The Believer*
According to (Ephesians 6:12) we wrestle against principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness. These are evil spirits. Our combat with the devil should be with the confidence that we have authority over him. (Luke 10:19) Jesus says," I give you authority to tread on seperants and scorpions and over all power of the enemy." What is authority? Authority is Delegated Power.
(Ephesians 1:20-23) tells us when Christ was ascended, He transferred His Authority to the church. Christ is seated at the right hand of the father-place of Authority. The source of our Authority is found in the resurrection and exhortation and exaltation of Christ by God.
(Ephesians 2:5-6) deals with the conferring of authority. The authority was delegate not only in the body but also upon the head because the head and body are one. (Mark 16:17,18 and Revelation 12:11) show in three resources we use in exercising authority over the devil. They are the Name of Jesus the Word, and the Blood of Jesus.
The Authority is Yours whether you feel like you've got it or not. Authority has nothing to do with feelings. (Mark 16:18 & James 4:7) indicates that in exercising authority over the devil we must Resist him, then he will FLEE US.
I truly pray that this has Blessed you . Please take the time and continue reading through our web-site and Please Sign our Guest-Book.. Thank you
Love & Prayers
Pastor Don Stewart II
*Quit Worrying & Give It To God*
Why do we tend to worry about the things we cannot change? We only need to remember that God has our lives arranged. For He new us when we were being formed within our mother's womb. He planned our life ahead of time from our birth until the tomb.
Remember He knows our problems and our fears we have to face each day. We need to just Trust that He'll walk beside us and know He'll be with us every step of the way. When we think we can't get through the day and let despair set in our way. We just need to Look above and ask for the Help that He's always ready to send our way.
Rather then placing our trust in God , we often think we can do it alone. This is just part of our human nature; the sin of pride as it is known. God Loves us dearly and wants to help us; He's just a Prayer away..
Let's call upon His wonderful name; Yahweh( I Am Lord), Abba Father, Jehovah-Shalom(Lord Of Peace) El Elyon (The God Most High) He'll get us through our day.. through the storm's of life. For He is our Redeemer, Our Messiah, Our Mighty King!
I have had many days I thought I would never get through. BUT when I stopped and talked to God , He said,"I'm here for/with you." When I heard His tender soft voice, it gave me the Strength I needed. With GOD you CAN'T be Defeated!
Remember there is No worry or Problem that's too Large or to Small for our Lord to handle. Remember that on our darkest days, His LOVE is like a candle. His Love for us will light our way with the Beam so very Bright.. No Matter what we have to face, God will help us WIN the fight..
Beloved Our Jehovah-Jireh is in Control
for He is Our Provider!!!
Glory be to GOD!!
Peace and Joy be with you always
Pastor Elisabeth Stewart
Faith-Power-Ministries International
*The Authority Of The Believer*
According to (Ephesians 6:12) we wrestle against principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness. These are evil spirits. Our combat with the devil should be with the confidence that we have authority over him. (Luke 10:19) Jesus says," I give you authority to tread on seperants and scorpions and over all power of the enemy." What is authority? Authority is Delegated Power.
(Ephesians 1:20-23) tells us when Christ was ascended, He transferred His Authority to the church. Christ is seated at the right hand of the father-place of Authority. The source of our Authority is found in the resurrection and exhortation and exaltation of Christ by God.
(Ephesians 2:5-6) deals with the conferring of authority. The authority was delegate not only in the body but also upon the head because the head and body are one. (Mark 16:17,18 and Revelation 12:11) show in three resources we use in exercising authority over the devil. They are the Name of Jesus the Word, and the Blood of Jesus.
The Authority is Yours whether you feel like you've got it or not. Authority has nothing to do with feelings. (Mark 16:18 & James 4:7) indicates that in exercising authority over the devil we must Resist him, then he will FLEE US.
I truly pray that this has Blessed you . Please take the time and continue reading through our web-site and Please Sign our Guest-Book.. Thank you
Love & Prayers
Pastor Don Stewart II
*Quit Worrying & Give It To God*
Why do we tend to worry about the things we cannot change? We only need to remember that God has our lives arranged. For He new us when we were being formed within our mother's womb. He planned our life ahead of time from our birth until the tomb.
Remember He knows our problems and our fears we have to face each day. We need to just Trust that He'll walk beside us and know He'll be with us every step of the way. When we think we can't get through the day and let despair set in our way. We just need to Look above and ask for the Help that He's always ready to send our way.
Rather then placing our trust in God , we often think we can do it alone. This is just part of our human nature; the sin of pride as it is known. God Loves us dearly and wants to help us; He's just a Prayer away..
Let's call upon His wonderful name; Yahweh( I Am Lord), Abba Father, Jehovah-Shalom(Lord Of Peace) El Elyon (The God Most High) He'll get us through our day.. through the storm's of life. For He is our Redeemer, Our Messiah, Our Mighty King!
I have had many days I thought I would never get through. BUT when I stopped and talked to God , He said,"I'm here for/with you." When I heard His tender soft voice, it gave me the Strength I needed. With GOD you CAN'T be Defeated!
Remember there is No worry or Problem that's too Large or to Small for our Lord to handle. Remember that on our darkest days, His LOVE is like a candle. His Love for us will light our way with the Beam so very Bright.. No Matter what we have to face, God will help us WIN the fight..
Beloved Our Jehovah-Jireh is in Control
for He is Our Provider!!!
Glory be to GOD!!
Peace and Joy be with you always
Pastor Elisabeth Stewart
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Mark Chironna:"A New Day is Dawning: There is Coming a Breaking Through, a Rising, and an Opening"
Mark Chironna:"A New Day is Dawning: There is Coming a Breaking Through, a Rising, and an Opening"
Prophetic word of the Lord given by Dr. Mark Chironna on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at The Master's Touch International Church in Longwood, Florida:
For there have been days of sadness and sorrow. For some, there have been days of strange warfare. For others, there have been days of taking thoughts captive that never entered the minds of sons before. For some, there have been deep longings. For others, there have been deep yearnings. For some, there have been long seasons of silence. For others, there have been long seasons of pleading.
But for all, there is coming a dawning. There is coming a breaking through. There is coming a rising. There is coming an opening. For the eyes of the Lord are turned toward His sons, His daughters, His children, and He sees and knows and is intimately acquainted with the sufferings and the tests and the endurances that His people have been going through.
He will make His people a praise in this season. He will make His people a glory in this hour. For His affection is upon His people. His Church is His Beloved. His Church is His Bride. He will not forsake her. He will not disown her. For He now is revealing, through the tests of the sons and daughters of God, to principalities and powers, His manifold glory.
This season has not been for naught. This season has not been to wear you out. This season has not been to tear you down. This season has been to prove and manifest to the forces of darkness that the Church cannot be hindered; the Church cannot be stopped, and the Church cannot be thwarted for she will rise in this hour with greatness and glory. She will have weapons on the left and on the right. She will have dominion in arenas she never had dominion before. And God will make her young again.
I Am Going to Restore the Seasons of Loss
For hear now what the Spirit of Grace would say to those who have ears to hear: "I am making you young again. I am going to restore the seasons of loss. I am going to restore the seasons of denial. I am going to restore the seasons of betrayal. I am going to restore the seasons of strife, and when I restore them, and it will be in yet a little while, I will turn the captivity of My people and there will be laughter again in Zion. There will be joy again in Zion.
"I have seen the sacrifice of praise that has gone up from the ends of the earth. I have seen My people, who in the midst of their warfare, have lifted their hands high and have shouted the shout of victory even while the powers of darkness have seemed to prevail over their minds, hearts and spirits. Yet, even in the face of demons, My people still praise. Even in the face of dark forces, My people still rejoice. Now watch, for I am about to crush satan under your feet."
Song of the Lord, Bishop:
The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep within
The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep inside
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.
We're waiting for You right now
To come in Your splendor and power
The yearnings deep within us cry
We want to hear Your lullaby
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.
My heart within me cries
And the Spirit testifies
A new day is dawning in my life, even now.
The roaring of the lion has ceased
The powers of Hell cannot be released
For lo, He comes to bring increase
To your life
He rides upon your praises, high
He comes to you and you draw nigh
And as you lift His Name on high
He comes
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come; even so, come
Even so, come.
Dr. Mark J. Chironna
Mark Chironna Ministries
Email: markchironna@markchironna.com
Prophetic word of the Lord given by Dr. Mark Chironna on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at The Master's Touch International Church in Longwood, Florida:
For there have been days of sadness and sorrow. For some, there have been days of strange warfare. For others, there have been days of taking thoughts captive that never entered the minds of sons before. For some, there have been deep longings. For others, there have been deep yearnings. For some, there have been long seasons of silence. For others, there have been long seasons of pleading.
But for all, there is coming a dawning. There is coming a breaking through. There is coming a rising. There is coming an opening. For the eyes of the Lord are turned toward His sons, His daughters, His children, and He sees and knows and is intimately acquainted with the sufferings and the tests and the endurances that His people have been going through.
He will make His people a praise in this season. He will make His people a glory in this hour. For His affection is upon His people. His Church is His Beloved. His Church is His Bride. He will not forsake her. He will not disown her. For He now is revealing, through the tests of the sons and daughters of God, to principalities and powers, His manifold glory.
This season has not been for naught. This season has not been to wear you out. This season has not been to tear you down. This season has been to prove and manifest to the forces of darkness that the Church cannot be hindered; the Church cannot be stopped, and the Church cannot be thwarted for she will rise in this hour with greatness and glory. She will have weapons on the left and on the right. She will have dominion in arenas she never had dominion before. And God will make her young again.
I Am Going to Restore the Seasons of Loss
For hear now what the Spirit of Grace would say to those who have ears to hear: "I am making you young again. I am going to restore the seasons of loss. I am going to restore the seasons of denial. I am going to restore the seasons of betrayal. I am going to restore the seasons of strife, and when I restore them, and it will be in yet a little while, I will turn the captivity of My people and there will be laughter again in Zion. There will be joy again in Zion.
"I have seen the sacrifice of praise that has gone up from the ends of the earth. I have seen My people, who in the midst of their warfare, have lifted their hands high and have shouted the shout of victory even while the powers of darkness have seemed to prevail over their minds, hearts and spirits. Yet, even in the face of demons, My people still praise. Even in the face of dark forces, My people still rejoice. Now watch, for I am about to crush satan under your feet."
Song of the Lord, Bishop:
The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep within
The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep inside
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.
We're waiting for You right now
To come in Your splendor and power
The yearnings deep within us cry
We want to hear Your lullaby
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.
My heart within me cries
And the Spirit testifies
A new day is dawning in my life, even now.
The roaring of the lion has ceased
The powers of Hell cannot be released
For lo, He comes to bring increase
To your life
He rides upon your praises, high
He comes to you and you draw nigh
And as you lift His Name on high
He comes
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come; even so, come
Even so, come.
Dr. Mark J. Chironna
Mark Chironna Ministries
Email: markchironna@markchironna.com
Chuck Pierce Clarifies More About His Prophetic Insight
Chuck D. Pierce:Follow Up: "Chuck Pierce Clarifies More About His Prophetic Insight on the Economy and Gives Strategies for Action"
http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/7945
I am a watchman and try to watch carefully for patterns and trends that affect each of us. The enemy loves to change times and laws. Therefore, he will use worldly structures and controls to hinder Kingdom advancement.
If you have not been able to watch this month's Zebulun School class, "Positioned for Growth", you can still register to watch that "on demand" through August 30. Go to our webstore to purchase that e-ticket. We have some great leaders to help you in the future to understand the faith realm God is calling us to NOW! For our next class we have invited Peter Roselle, a minister leader in New Jersey, and a market leader with Morgan Stanley. We will be discussing trade structures. Blake Morris, another business leader, recently shared some financial insights that I will share below.
Praying for Supply Lines to Open, Economic Shifts to Occur, and the KINGDOM TO ADVANCE!
The Word from Florida: I want to encourage you to reread what the Lord spoke to me while we were at the Let the Eagles Gather conference in Florida. I want to be sure we are processing the word correctly. Therefore, what God said was: "Watch for an economic shift by the end of this month. Between August 24 and October 17, there will be great changes in the financial system. Be aware that the banking system has not finished making its changes. We will start into an accelerated shift in structure. The government is in an open rearrangement." (To see this previous word, click on the link at the end of this article.)
I do not believe that the Lord is talking about a big Stock Market Crash or a Bank Run. This could happen, but that is not the overall issue to understand. There is a full rearrangement of the economic system going on worldwide. If you have not read The Future War of the Church and God's Unfolding Battle Plan, there are chapters in each book on wealth that could help you.
Here is one perspective that is important for you to understand: even though the dollar is changing and fluctuating, this is a time your dollar could really work for you to acquire resources.
Many banks have resources they have acquired from loss. These resources could be redeemed by those who have extra dollar buying power. You could seek to acquire resources. Some banks must move now to alleviate themselves from the over abundance of failed loans and corresponding properties. This could be a catalyst for Kingdom advancement.
However, no one seems to have extra dollars to "take the land." If we look at the "giant" that is controlling economic structures and choose to shrink back, then we could lose ground and miss an opportunity to advance now. Also, this could leave an open door for a thrust from a dark side to control the land and keep the land from being occupied with those who hold God's plan.
So here is what I have done personally: I cashed in my retirement and paid off debts; I gave to the future of the land; I helped some others advance; I made sure the Eagles of God accounts were up to date; I helped two children advance; we analyzed foreign currency, such as the Australian Dollar, Euro, Turkish Lira, etc., to see how currencies are moving worldwide.
I do not think that this is a reactive type of prophetic word—just a word to be prepared by October 17. The economic structure as we have known it will not be same. So if you are buying stocks on the same basis and understanding of a system of yesteryear, you will probably not see the return you are looking for.
Wisdom from Blake Morris
I always like to get perspectives from others. Yesterday, I visited with a successful business friend of mine, Blake Morris, who gave the following wisdom:
"There is a way out of this famine supernaturally, and what the Lord has begun He will finish. He did tell me to prepare myself to negotiate very shrewdly and consider all options! I know that I must let go of some assets, and if this requires drastic cuts that is ok. Bankruptcy may be an option to be evaluated and considered. I feel we must understand and know all options in order to see our way into the future and receive strategy to take a key turn.
"I believe it is a time to expect the supernatural and place a high demand on the Spirit of God to move. I hear the Lord reminding me of a word you gave last year around September that said we must move and do something even if we make a mistake. This is a mentality of 'I refuse to stand still and perish in the famine.' The example you gave was climbing up on the highboard and jumping when you did not know how to swim.
"I hear the Lord saying, 'Out of desperation comes creativity, and for a season I will be like an artist that paints a new picture with many colors.' My normal personality is to focus in on one or two things to maximize profits, and now I am painting all over the canvas to find the new. I am not sure what I will create. Hope that makes some sense! I feel we should move in the entrepreneurial anointing and pioneer...there is not a path to follow that has been cut out for the season ahead. Therefore, we must open the way.
"We have to cut the path and be the forerunners in this season so others may follow. Businesses must be birthed and others are being linked into their destiny and choices will be presented. If we will dig the well, God will fill it with water for us to drink from in the future.
"I also hear that many 'churchy people' or 'religious people' will not be able to see the new thing God is doing to impact the world. The wealth is there to be transferred. But we must see and move in His timing. Businesses are coming forth that 'church people' will say, 'You should not have linked up there and you can't take money out of that arena.' However, the Lord is saying, 'Align and watch Me give you entryways to fields you have never entered before!'"—end of quote by Blake Norris
Here Are Some Points to Watch NOW!
The way the Church gathers and strategizes is very key for days ahead! Here are some points for us to embrace at this time in history:
Shifting, Changing Laws! The enemy loves to change times and laws. Therefore, he will use worldly structures and controls to hinder Kingdom advancement. We must stay active in Civil Government. How we vote is how we are visited in the future. Politically motivated shifts in laws and governmentally influenced ventures and investments will produce blame and create power wars that divide and control certain institutes of societies.
Changing Supply Lines! Go back and review the Gold Market in every decade so you can find your pattern for the shift that will take place in currency in each season! Money, economic regulations, and changing financial structures do not affect the Kingdom, but do affect how we build the Church in days ahead.
Unregulated derivatives will continue for a while longer. This will cause the Banking System to change drastically and expand the supply of money and credit. This creates another bubble waiting to burst. For instance, in the United States, individual states are losing revenue and beginning to cut services. Some effects from this are: the poor will get poorer; a decline in state workers; a cut in medical services; a lack of Medicaid funding for the elderly; a decline in education; a potential for violence; and the exhaustion of unemployment benefits.
Slavery structures must be reviewed. Watch your debt structure! Develop a plan for debt management and alleviation. Ask for favor with institutes. Watch governmental manipulation beginning from July 2009. Many institutions will attempt to manipulate debt to make money. Debt produces poverty. We must watch debt patterns in our lives, counties, cities, and nations.
Changing Economic Structures Worldwide! Inflation could happen at any time, so always have a plan for inflation. Consider your ways! Have plans to diversify your investments and resources. Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Do not have a basket so "tight" that you cannot remove or add or redirect resources into Kingdom purposes and plans; your funds must not be so restricted that you cannot move in God's timing of shifts.
For instance, keep watching and moving your natural resources, like gas and oil to gold and silver stocks at the appropriate timing. Watch the emerging markets of China and India. (I am sold on watching this!) Watch products that enhance the land such as fertilizer and other agricultural-related ventures. Biotech developmental groups are always key for us to watch. His Kingdom is a sure thing in times of shifting economic trials!
Restoring Waste Places! Carefully watch the cities where bulldozers begin to demolish old structures. Watch as the Repairer of the Breach calls us into a rebuilding season. Certain cities must be transformed.
Realignment of Nations! There will be "chess move" made by Russia and China to counteract the dollar base of world currency over the next 18 months. This will affect many systems, but will fall short in complete governmental dominance and control. Israel will become more and more the center of discussion and division in nations in days ahead. China is attempting to create a new reserve currency. China is gathering and securing gold resource throughout the world. The effect will be that a new world currency base is developing.
A Major Shift in Training in God's Kingdom Plan. We must develop creative skills! We must become sensitive to the problems of people. We must address every obstacle as a challenge with a solution that is available. We must not fear causes because we know the Spirit can produce results through us. We must be motivated by a covenant expression of God's plan in the earth through His vision rather than through money.
We must be adaptable and observant to the changes around us. We must see the world around us differently, ask a lot of questions, and synthesize things from an intuitive perspective. We must become a fluent, flexible and imaginative people who are not afraid to be original and divergent in our thinking processes.
We Must Align and Be Trained for the Future! God has a battle array and an order that will reflect His holiness in days ahead. We will have a new vocabulary, a new presentation of identity, and a new dimension of authority as we enter the next season. New training structures are being developed to help God's people understand their covenant blessing and spiritual inheritance.
To read Chuck Pierce's previous word "Between August 24 and October 17, There Will Be Great Changes in the Financial System" click here.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Chuck D. Pierce's Itinerary:
http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/7945
I am a watchman and try to watch carefully for patterns and trends that affect each of us. The enemy loves to change times and laws. Therefore, he will use worldly structures and controls to hinder Kingdom advancement.
If you have not been able to watch this month's Zebulun School class, "Positioned for Growth", you can still register to watch that "on demand" through August 30. Go to our webstore to purchase that e-ticket. We have some great leaders to help you in the future to understand the faith realm God is calling us to NOW! For our next class we have invited Peter Roselle, a minister leader in New Jersey, and a market leader with Morgan Stanley. We will be discussing trade structures. Blake Morris, another business leader, recently shared some financial insights that I will share below.
Praying for Supply Lines to Open, Economic Shifts to Occur, and the KINGDOM TO ADVANCE!
The Word from Florida: I want to encourage you to reread what the Lord spoke to me while we were at the Let the Eagles Gather conference in Florida. I want to be sure we are processing the word correctly. Therefore, what God said was: "Watch for an economic shift by the end of this month. Between August 24 and October 17, there will be great changes in the financial system. Be aware that the banking system has not finished making its changes. We will start into an accelerated shift in structure. The government is in an open rearrangement." (To see this previous word, click on the link at the end of this article.)
I do not believe that the Lord is talking about a big Stock Market Crash or a Bank Run. This could happen, but that is not the overall issue to understand. There is a full rearrangement of the economic system going on worldwide. If you have not read The Future War of the Church and God's Unfolding Battle Plan, there are chapters in each book on wealth that could help you.
Here is one perspective that is important for you to understand: even though the dollar is changing and fluctuating, this is a time your dollar could really work for you to acquire resources.
Many banks have resources they have acquired from loss. These resources could be redeemed by those who have extra dollar buying power. You could seek to acquire resources. Some banks must move now to alleviate themselves from the over abundance of failed loans and corresponding properties. This could be a catalyst for Kingdom advancement.
However, no one seems to have extra dollars to "take the land." If we look at the "giant" that is controlling economic structures and choose to shrink back, then we could lose ground and miss an opportunity to advance now. Also, this could leave an open door for a thrust from a dark side to control the land and keep the land from being occupied with those who hold God's plan.
So here is what I have done personally: I cashed in my retirement and paid off debts; I gave to the future of the land; I helped some others advance; I made sure the Eagles of God accounts were up to date; I helped two children advance; we analyzed foreign currency, such as the Australian Dollar, Euro, Turkish Lira, etc., to see how currencies are moving worldwide.
I do not think that this is a reactive type of prophetic word—just a word to be prepared by October 17. The economic structure as we have known it will not be same. So if you are buying stocks on the same basis and understanding of a system of yesteryear, you will probably not see the return you are looking for.
Wisdom from Blake Morris
I always like to get perspectives from others. Yesterday, I visited with a successful business friend of mine, Blake Morris, who gave the following wisdom:
"There is a way out of this famine supernaturally, and what the Lord has begun He will finish. He did tell me to prepare myself to negotiate very shrewdly and consider all options! I know that I must let go of some assets, and if this requires drastic cuts that is ok. Bankruptcy may be an option to be evaluated and considered. I feel we must understand and know all options in order to see our way into the future and receive strategy to take a key turn.
"I believe it is a time to expect the supernatural and place a high demand on the Spirit of God to move. I hear the Lord reminding me of a word you gave last year around September that said we must move and do something even if we make a mistake. This is a mentality of 'I refuse to stand still and perish in the famine.' The example you gave was climbing up on the highboard and jumping when you did not know how to swim.
"I hear the Lord saying, 'Out of desperation comes creativity, and for a season I will be like an artist that paints a new picture with many colors.' My normal personality is to focus in on one or two things to maximize profits, and now I am painting all over the canvas to find the new. I am not sure what I will create. Hope that makes some sense! I feel we should move in the entrepreneurial anointing and pioneer...there is not a path to follow that has been cut out for the season ahead. Therefore, we must open the way.
"We have to cut the path and be the forerunners in this season so others may follow. Businesses must be birthed and others are being linked into their destiny and choices will be presented. If we will dig the well, God will fill it with water for us to drink from in the future.
"I also hear that many 'churchy people' or 'religious people' will not be able to see the new thing God is doing to impact the world. The wealth is there to be transferred. But we must see and move in His timing. Businesses are coming forth that 'church people' will say, 'You should not have linked up there and you can't take money out of that arena.' However, the Lord is saying, 'Align and watch Me give you entryways to fields you have never entered before!'"—end of quote by Blake Norris
Here Are Some Points to Watch NOW!
The way the Church gathers and strategizes is very key for days ahead! Here are some points for us to embrace at this time in history:
Shifting, Changing Laws! The enemy loves to change times and laws. Therefore, he will use worldly structures and controls to hinder Kingdom advancement. We must stay active in Civil Government. How we vote is how we are visited in the future. Politically motivated shifts in laws and governmentally influenced ventures and investments will produce blame and create power wars that divide and control certain institutes of societies.
Changing Supply Lines! Go back and review the Gold Market in every decade so you can find your pattern for the shift that will take place in currency in each season! Money, economic regulations, and changing financial structures do not affect the Kingdom, but do affect how we build the Church in days ahead.
Unregulated derivatives will continue for a while longer. This will cause the Banking System to change drastically and expand the supply of money and credit. This creates another bubble waiting to burst. For instance, in the United States, individual states are losing revenue and beginning to cut services. Some effects from this are: the poor will get poorer; a decline in state workers; a cut in medical services; a lack of Medicaid funding for the elderly; a decline in education; a potential for violence; and the exhaustion of unemployment benefits.
Slavery structures must be reviewed. Watch your debt structure! Develop a plan for debt management and alleviation. Ask for favor with institutes. Watch governmental manipulation beginning from July 2009. Many institutions will attempt to manipulate debt to make money. Debt produces poverty. We must watch debt patterns in our lives, counties, cities, and nations.
Changing Economic Structures Worldwide! Inflation could happen at any time, so always have a plan for inflation. Consider your ways! Have plans to diversify your investments and resources. Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Do not have a basket so "tight" that you cannot remove or add or redirect resources into Kingdom purposes and plans; your funds must not be so restricted that you cannot move in God's timing of shifts.
For instance, keep watching and moving your natural resources, like gas and oil to gold and silver stocks at the appropriate timing. Watch the emerging markets of China and India. (I am sold on watching this!) Watch products that enhance the land such as fertilizer and other agricultural-related ventures. Biotech developmental groups are always key for us to watch. His Kingdom is a sure thing in times of shifting economic trials!
Restoring Waste Places! Carefully watch the cities where bulldozers begin to demolish old structures. Watch as the Repairer of the Breach calls us into a rebuilding season. Certain cities must be transformed.
Realignment of Nations! There will be "chess move" made by Russia and China to counteract the dollar base of world currency over the next 18 months. This will affect many systems, but will fall short in complete governmental dominance and control. Israel will become more and more the center of discussion and division in nations in days ahead. China is attempting to create a new reserve currency. China is gathering and securing gold resource throughout the world. The effect will be that a new world currency base is developing.
A Major Shift in Training in God's Kingdom Plan. We must develop creative skills! We must become sensitive to the problems of people. We must address every obstacle as a challenge with a solution that is available. We must not fear causes because we know the Spirit can produce results through us. We must be motivated by a covenant expression of God's plan in the earth through His vision rather than through money.
We must be adaptable and observant to the changes around us. We must see the world around us differently, ask a lot of questions, and synthesize things from an intuitive perspective. We must become a fluent, flexible and imaginative people who are not afraid to be original and divergent in our thinking processes.
We Must Align and Be Trained for the Future! God has a battle array and an order that will reflect His holiness in days ahead. We will have a new vocabulary, a new presentation of identity, and a new dimension of authority as we enter the next season. New training structures are being developed to help God's people understand their covenant blessing and spiritual inheritance.
To read Chuck Pierce's previous word "Between August 24 and October 17, There Will Be Great Changes in the Financial System" click here.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Chuck D. Pierce's Itinerary:
Summer is Not Over Yet
Daily Golden Footprints
Summer is Not Over Yet
Friday, August 21, 2009
There are things that the Lord has been speaking to you that haven´t happened yet. The Lord has been telling you several things for example the fact that this is a summer of fulfillment and even more things. He is telling you some of those things again today. Be encouraged.
1. Summer is not over yet. The Lord told you that this is your summer of fulfillment. The Word He is speaking to you today is, summer is not over yet.
2. As the Lord has been telling you in His Word, you will be either bringing life or death into your situation by what you speak. There are some folks that just have to have the last say. Be careful. That will get you to speaking what satan is saying and not what God is saying. You are now moving into another realm in Him and you are even more accountable than ever before. What you say is what you get. You get to open the right doors. Use your authority wisely. God did finally give His people a King they kept asking for. It was never God´s will and it was not a blessing for them. (Pro 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. To be sure that what you are asking for is God´s will, consult the Word of God. It won´t fail you.
3. You have been making excuses instead of living in obedience. This is why things have not been working out right financially. You have struggled so to pay your bills. No matter which way you look at it, you are required to give 10% which belongs to the Lord. You have a choice. You can have 90% left to you which is blessed or you can have 100% which is cursed. (Pro 3:9) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
4. There has come a time that you have the knowledge about what you are to do or to not do. Now it is required of you to act God´s way. God wants you blessed, therefore make up your mind today that you will never allow those negative words out of your mouth again. (Pro 4:24) Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
5. The Lord is pleased that you have been seeking for more of Him lately. When you live in obedience, your financial blessings are met when you are following Him with all your heart. (Pro 8:17) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Pro 8:18) Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
6. The Lord has placed a new anointing of favor on your life. Nothing will ever be the same. (Pro 8:35) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
7. Because you have and do love Him, He will give you substance and treasures in your life. (Pro 8:21) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
8. Your gift from the Holy Spirit is opening a door for you. Your gift is causing strategic people to notice your ministry. In so doing they will receive what God has for them. These next weeks will be a season of networking via the Holy Spirit. He is placing you in just the right places to do your next assignments from Him. (Pro 18:16) A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
9. The enemy has a plan today to really step on your last nerve. Bind the enemy in the name of Jesus. Then you must resist the devil. Put a special guard on your tongue today. It will spare you a lot of trouble. (Pro 21:23) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
10. There will be some more changing of the guards. (The going home of saints who have finished their tasks) It is just their time. Celebrate a job well done.
11. The fall is to be so special that you cannot imagine it. God has some special plans for His body. It is to be very exciting.
12. However, until then, again, the Lord is telling you that this is your summer of fulfillment. The Word He is speaking to you today is, summer isn´t over yet.
In Him,
Prophetess Frances Lloyd
(Scheduling & Contact Information)
www.dailygoldenfoot prints.com
footprints@dailygol denfootprints. com
Summer is Not Over Yet
Friday, August 21, 2009
There are things that the Lord has been speaking to you that haven´t happened yet. The Lord has been telling you several things for example the fact that this is a summer of fulfillment and even more things. He is telling you some of those things again today. Be encouraged.
1. Summer is not over yet. The Lord told you that this is your summer of fulfillment. The Word He is speaking to you today is, summer is not over yet.
2. As the Lord has been telling you in His Word, you will be either bringing life or death into your situation by what you speak. There are some folks that just have to have the last say. Be careful. That will get you to speaking what satan is saying and not what God is saying. You are now moving into another realm in Him and you are even more accountable than ever before. What you say is what you get. You get to open the right doors. Use your authority wisely. God did finally give His people a King they kept asking for. It was never God´s will and it was not a blessing for them. (Pro 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. To be sure that what you are asking for is God´s will, consult the Word of God. It won´t fail you.
3. You have been making excuses instead of living in obedience. This is why things have not been working out right financially. You have struggled so to pay your bills. No matter which way you look at it, you are required to give 10% which belongs to the Lord. You have a choice. You can have 90% left to you which is blessed or you can have 100% which is cursed. (Pro 3:9) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
4. There has come a time that you have the knowledge about what you are to do or to not do. Now it is required of you to act God´s way. God wants you blessed, therefore make up your mind today that you will never allow those negative words out of your mouth again. (Pro 4:24) Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
5. The Lord is pleased that you have been seeking for more of Him lately. When you live in obedience, your financial blessings are met when you are following Him with all your heart. (Pro 8:17) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Pro 8:18) Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
6. The Lord has placed a new anointing of favor on your life. Nothing will ever be the same. (Pro 8:35) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
7. Because you have and do love Him, He will give you substance and treasures in your life. (Pro 8:21) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
8. Your gift from the Holy Spirit is opening a door for you. Your gift is causing strategic people to notice your ministry. In so doing they will receive what God has for them. These next weeks will be a season of networking via the Holy Spirit. He is placing you in just the right places to do your next assignments from Him. (Pro 18:16) A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
9. The enemy has a plan today to really step on your last nerve. Bind the enemy in the name of Jesus. Then you must resist the devil. Put a special guard on your tongue today. It will spare you a lot of trouble. (Pro 21:23) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
10. There will be some more changing of the guards. (The going home of saints who have finished their tasks) It is just their time. Celebrate a job well done.
11. The fall is to be so special that you cannot imagine it. God has some special plans for His body. It is to be very exciting.
12. However, until then, again, the Lord is telling you that this is your summer of fulfillment. The Word He is speaking to you today is, summer isn´t over yet.
In Him,
Prophetess Frances Lloyd
(Scheduling & Contact Information)
www.dailygoldenfoot prints.com
footprints@dailygol denfootprints. com
With GOD ALL things are POSSIBLE
God has a positive answer:
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
( Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
( John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
( Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself "
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
( Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
( John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
( Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself "
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The 21 Laws of Relationships Part 1 By Junior DeSouza
By Junior deSouza
The 21 Laws of Relationships (Part 1)
By Junior DeSouza
Relationship Pre-Laws
The twenty-one laws to follow pertain to relationships already in progress. These three pre-laws, however, are simply guides for the selection process, before relationships happen.
Pre-law #1: Relationships are abundant, not scarce Being in Relationship Prison too long or too often makes one feel that relationships are rare, that there is simply not enough love to go around. Consequently, we cling to whatever mediocre or malicious person that floats into our orbit. Why settle? There's plenty of good relationships to go around, if you know and follow relationship laws (Ps 34:9,10, 84:11).
Pre-law #2: Know what you're looking for Where there is no vision people perish (Pr 29:18 KJV). Know the type of relationship you want. Many wander from person to person hoping to be saved from themselves, their past, and their sense of nothingness and emptiness. Consequently, they become a string puppet in someone else's theater. Understand yourself and enjoy your own company, and from this knowledge establish clear values for what you want in a relationship. You can only love a neighbor as you love yourself (Mk 12:31).
Pre-law #3: Break the pattern Don't keep drifting to subpar people! This repetition compulsion is a subconscious phenomenon whereby we keep repeating disappointing relationships until we "fix it" and "make it right". Make a conscious effort by the Holy Spirit to engage different, more wholesome, people. Be choosy. Intentionally go against the pattern and break it. Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV): The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
#1...THE LAW OF FOUNDATION
Relationships flourish when comprehensively founded on the person, principles, and presence of Jesus Christ.
Any relationship's outcome will depend on its deepest foundation, its truest center, its strongest motivation for existence and continuance. No other foundation exists other than Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11). Anything built upon Him and His Word is sturdy, steady, and secure, while any other foundation will prove disillusioning when visited by life's ferocious realities (Lk 6:46-49).
For a relationship to fully flourish under God's pleasure, each person must contribute a personal spirituality founded on the Lord Jesus Christ. This means a daily, vibrant, growing relationship with Him and His kingdom. The deceptive counterfeit is when a person has a mere intellectual agreement with Christianity. This is NOT being founded on the Lord, but simply a person smart enough to recognize truth. A person founded on Christ is a born-again organism that is perpetually breathing, feeding, growing, and reproducing in Him in obvious ways.
#2...THE LAW OF PERSONAL WHOLENESS
Relationships flourish in proportion to the inner wellbeing of each person.
Whole individuals make happy relationships, while broken individuals make unhappy ones. The more emotionally sound the individuals are, the more relaxed and enjoyable the relationship. The stronger the individuals' sense of personal worth and identity, the stronger the relationship. The equation is pretty common sense.
It is a fool's game expecting someone else to be responsible for our happiness. Relationships often go belly-up because one person is unwhole and unhappy internally, yet blames their partner. Your life is your own stewardship! Become emotionally whole and filled with a sense of identity in Christ (Isa 61:1-3, Lk 4:18 NKJV). Then, and only then, will you be able to pull your weight toward a great relationship.
#3...THE LAW OF PERSONALITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to personality understanding and empathy.
We all were divinely designed in uniqueness and difference (Ps 33:15, 139:13-16, Eph 2:10). This means each individual contains a distinct set of passions, values, opinions, and behaviors stemming from their personal nature. Relationships crumble when individuals compromise their basic personality, or when it is not understood, appreciated, and encouraged. On the other hand, relationships soar when individuality and empathy abound.
The Bible gives us enlightening truths about human personality, which is ultimately traced back to divine personality. Some people are naturally powerful and strong-willed, like Paul the intense leader (Ac 23:2,3, Gal 2:11,14). Some are naturally peaceable and submissive, like Abraham, the compliant partner (Gen 16:1,2,6, 23:16). Some are naturally playful and sanguine, like Elijah, the sarcastic provocateur (1Ki 18:27). Some are naturally pensive and serious, like Jeremiah, the brutally realistic and weepy prophet (Jer 20: 14-18, 15:10, Lam 1:16,20,21, 2:11, 3:48).
Understand yourself and be yourself. Though a part of you will form a new identity with this individual(s), your basic person must remain intact. Some need to discover (or rediscover) themselves before they seek to discover another. In discovering another, celebrate what you find, though it differ from you.
#4...THE LAW OF FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Relationships flourish in proportion to the functional biblical knowledge of each person.
Functional knowledge is "knowledge that is performing." It is acting on what we know. It is the application of information. In God's kingdom, it is putting biblical knowledge to work. Functional biblical knowledge goes beyond hearing, reading, and learning Scripture, into doing, practicing, and experiencing it (Jas 1:22-25). God told Joshua his success in conquering the Promised Land depended on his functional knowledge of the Scriptures (Jsh 1:7,8). The psalmist said whoever lives by the Law of Lord will be like a fruitful tree planted by rivers of living water, prospering in anything and everything (Ps 1:2,3). God's Word! Relationships depend on it as a light and lamp to illuminate the best way (119:105). Biblical ignorance and inaction have left many promising relationships withering and wandering in a hot, dry desert.
#5...THE LAW OF ROLE INTEGRITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to the role integrity and faithfulness of each person.
Role refers to the specific "job" each person performs in the relationship to make it succeed. Therefore, role integrity refers to faithfully practicing and fulfilling that particular job.
For example, in a biblical marriage, the husband is appointed the role of leader, the wife the role of helper (Gen 2: 18, Eph 5:22-24). If they are faithful and efficient in these roles and their implications, the relationship can succeed. If not, role confusion and role reversal will give way to disorder, conflict, even termination.
Also consider friendships. Some friendships are vertical; one person is clearly the leader, mentor, and teacher, while the other is clearly the follower, learner, and protégé. If this is truly the best scenario for both persons, then the relationship can flourish only if they are both faithfully fulfilling their roles. This does not mean the relationship cannot graduate into a horizontal friendship (walking side by side as "equals", with no distinct leader or follower), it simply means that in each particular season both persons must discern and fulfill their roles for the welfare of the relationship.
For example, Jesus had a vertical relationship with the disciples for most of His ministry. He had the clear role of rabbi and they the role of students. Then, at the end of His life, He declared them no longer servants, but friends, upgrading the relationship to a side-by-side friendship and partnership (Jn 15:15).
All relationships come with roles, even professional ones. Each person must assess the nature and intent of the relationship, and, what role they must fulfill to ensure the relationship's wellbeing and success.
#6...THE LAW OF MUTUAL COMMITMENT
Relationships flourish in proportion to the commitment of each person.
The modern proverb is true, It takes two to tango! A relationship flourishes when all individuals involved are equally committed and contributive. Different types of ongoing investments will be required for different types of relationships (spiritual, emotional, intellectual, financial/material, marital, etc.). The nature and intent of the relationship will determine what investments are appropriate and relevant. Are all persons willing to invest and give, and do so ongoingly? If so, there can be success. If not, the relationship deadlocks and becomes a one-sided project. Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
#7...THE LAW OF TRUST & SECURITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to the trust and security level present.
Trust and security, like many of these laws, grow progressively over time with positive experiences. Everyone needs the assurance they are relating with someone dependable, faithful, loyal, and reliable. Within such a safe relationship, persons feel liberal with honesty and vulnerability, resulting in a high level of intimacy and fulfillment. Relating persons must take extreme measures and exert meticulous efforts to perfect trust and security. Without it, suspicions, accusations, and paranoia threaten to swallow the relationship whole, making us hear what is not said and imagine what is not real.
Proverbs 20:6 (NKJV): ...but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 25:19 (NIV): Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble. Luke 16:10-12: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
#8..THE LAW OF LOVE DEFICIT & PROVISION
Relationships flourish in proportion to love deficit and provision.
Love deficit refers to the specific type of love each person feels they need most. These "love languages" are well summarized in The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, though each language has subtle "dialects" (variations) from person to person. Love provision refers to the other person's cognizance and willingness to regularly provide that specific type of love.
For example, David had a tremendous love deficit from the ongoing shame and rejection from his brothers (1Sam 17:28,29). God sent Jonathan as a brother-type to provide the very type of love he needed to balance his emotional debt (ch20). Instead of shaming David, Jonathan admired and affirmed him. Instead of rejecting him, he embraced and loved him as himself.
All people, to differing degrees, pursue decisions and relationships by their love deficit, with the hopes of finding the corresponding love provision and rebalancing their heart. Emotional relationships (family, romances, close friendships) are the most susceptible to the power of love deficit, yet possess an equal capability to provide for, heal, and bring balance to those very debts. When people's love deficits are overlooked and not provided for, anger, depression, conflict, retaliation, manipulation, and chaos loom. Relationships are a place where God pays off our emotional debts. Be sensitive to this and discern what role you are to play, healer or being healed or both.
#9...THE LAW OF CHANGE-INCLINATION
Relationships flourish in proportion to the change-inclination of each person.
Change-inclination refers to a person's level of desire and willingness to change attitudes and behaviors detrimental to intimacy, or, certain benign habits that simply hinder or retard greater intimacy. This translates into flexibility, adjustment, and sacrifice in any and every way necessary to ensure mutual fulfillment.
Besides other purposes, relationships were intended to change us (Pr 27:17, Ro 15:14). A stubborn goat unwilling to change will never enjoy relational happiness. They will forever remain in Relationship Prison wondering what's wrong with everyone else. Don't you be that goat!
Relationship is the merging of two (or more) worlds and the creation of a new one. Some of the elements of these worlds are beautifully compatible, some can be made compatible with patience and wisdom, and some must be sacrificed totally. A wise person who enjoys Eden-type relationships understands change-inclination very well. They are ever ready to change themselves, willing to adapt, adjust, bend, compromise, submit, and sacrifice to walk in Eden with others. Not weak-willed, but soft-willed.
We cannot change others. You know that right? Many become obsessed with rearranging or fixing others, and fail to see this is codependence at best, manipulation at worst. Personal transformation is the prerogative of the Holy Spirit and the person's freewill alone. Certainly we can apply the power of example, humility, love, truth-speaking, confrontation, and other provocative agents to motivate change, but our efforts have limits, limits we must respect and accept. When each person in a relationship has a high change-inclination, their bond will never stop ascending into greater and greater intimacy and joy.
#10...THE LAW OF PEACE-ORIENTATION
Relationships flourish in proportion to the peace-orientation of each person.
Peace-orientation refers to a person's level of zeal to achieve and maintain unity and harmony in a relationship. I am not referring to a false peace or an avoidant peace-faking, whereby one person indulges or enables another person's evils. Peace-orientation is a bentness for true, interpersonal peace that inspires one to be solution-oriented, negotiable, and most of all, loving and humble. This quality is determined largely by the spiritual and emotional maturity of the person.
Scripture has a mouthful to say about peace-orientation. Paul said to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph 4:3, emp added). In the verse before he tells us to be completely humble, gentle, patient, and loving. He also said, "If it possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Ro 12:18). Jesus said, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mk 9:50). Salt preserves...preserve peace. God's Word is commanding us to have a high peace-orientation.
Those with a low peace-orientation are constant perpetrators of chaos, drama, and conflict. Scripture frowns on them. Proverbs 29:8,9: Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger. If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. Psalm 120:5-7: Woe to me that I dwell in Meshach, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
The 21 Laws of Relationships (Part 1)
By Junior DeSouza
Relationship Pre-Laws
The twenty-one laws to follow pertain to relationships already in progress. These three pre-laws, however, are simply guides for the selection process, before relationships happen.
Pre-law #1: Relationships are abundant, not scarce Being in Relationship Prison too long or too often makes one feel that relationships are rare, that there is simply not enough love to go around. Consequently, we cling to whatever mediocre or malicious person that floats into our orbit. Why settle? There's plenty of good relationships to go around, if you know and follow relationship laws (Ps 34:9,10, 84:11).
Pre-law #2: Know what you're looking for Where there is no vision people perish (Pr 29:18 KJV). Know the type of relationship you want. Many wander from person to person hoping to be saved from themselves, their past, and their sense of nothingness and emptiness. Consequently, they become a string puppet in someone else's theater. Understand yourself and enjoy your own company, and from this knowledge establish clear values for what you want in a relationship. You can only love a neighbor as you love yourself (Mk 12:31).
Pre-law #3: Break the pattern Don't keep drifting to subpar people! This repetition compulsion is a subconscious phenomenon whereby we keep repeating disappointing relationships until we "fix it" and "make it right". Make a conscious effort by the Holy Spirit to engage different, more wholesome, people. Be choosy. Intentionally go against the pattern and break it. Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV): The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
#1...THE LAW OF FOUNDATION
Relationships flourish when comprehensively founded on the person, principles, and presence of Jesus Christ.
Any relationship's outcome will depend on its deepest foundation, its truest center, its strongest motivation for existence and continuance. No other foundation exists other than Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11). Anything built upon Him and His Word is sturdy, steady, and secure, while any other foundation will prove disillusioning when visited by life's ferocious realities (Lk 6:46-49).
For a relationship to fully flourish under God's pleasure, each person must contribute a personal spirituality founded on the Lord Jesus Christ. This means a daily, vibrant, growing relationship with Him and His kingdom. The deceptive counterfeit is when a person has a mere intellectual agreement with Christianity. This is NOT being founded on the Lord, but simply a person smart enough to recognize truth. A person founded on Christ is a born-again organism that is perpetually breathing, feeding, growing, and reproducing in Him in obvious ways.
#2...THE LAW OF PERSONAL WHOLENESS
Relationships flourish in proportion to the inner wellbeing of each person.
Whole individuals make happy relationships, while broken individuals make unhappy ones. The more emotionally sound the individuals are, the more relaxed and enjoyable the relationship. The stronger the individuals' sense of personal worth and identity, the stronger the relationship. The equation is pretty common sense.
It is a fool's game expecting someone else to be responsible for our happiness. Relationships often go belly-up because one person is unwhole and unhappy internally, yet blames their partner. Your life is your own stewardship! Become emotionally whole and filled with a sense of identity in Christ (Isa 61:1-3, Lk 4:18 NKJV). Then, and only then, will you be able to pull your weight toward a great relationship.
#3...THE LAW OF PERSONALITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to personality understanding and empathy.
We all were divinely designed in uniqueness and difference (Ps 33:15, 139:13-16, Eph 2:10). This means each individual contains a distinct set of passions, values, opinions, and behaviors stemming from their personal nature. Relationships crumble when individuals compromise their basic personality, or when it is not understood, appreciated, and encouraged. On the other hand, relationships soar when individuality and empathy abound.
The Bible gives us enlightening truths about human personality, which is ultimately traced back to divine personality. Some people are naturally powerful and strong-willed, like Paul the intense leader (Ac 23:2,3, Gal 2:11,14). Some are naturally peaceable and submissive, like Abraham, the compliant partner (Gen 16:1,2,6, 23:16). Some are naturally playful and sanguine, like Elijah, the sarcastic provocateur (1Ki 18:27). Some are naturally pensive and serious, like Jeremiah, the brutally realistic and weepy prophet (Jer 20: 14-18, 15:10, Lam 1:16,20,21, 2:11, 3:48).
Understand yourself and be yourself. Though a part of you will form a new identity with this individual(s), your basic person must remain intact. Some need to discover (or rediscover) themselves before they seek to discover another. In discovering another, celebrate what you find, though it differ from you.
#4...THE LAW OF FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Relationships flourish in proportion to the functional biblical knowledge of each person.
Functional knowledge is "knowledge that is performing." It is acting on what we know. It is the application of information. In God's kingdom, it is putting biblical knowledge to work. Functional biblical knowledge goes beyond hearing, reading, and learning Scripture, into doing, practicing, and experiencing it (Jas 1:22-25). God told Joshua his success in conquering the Promised Land depended on his functional knowledge of the Scriptures (Jsh 1:7,8). The psalmist said whoever lives by the Law of Lord will be like a fruitful tree planted by rivers of living water, prospering in anything and everything (Ps 1:2,3). God's Word! Relationships depend on it as a light and lamp to illuminate the best way (119:105). Biblical ignorance and inaction have left many promising relationships withering and wandering in a hot, dry desert.
#5...THE LAW OF ROLE INTEGRITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to the role integrity and faithfulness of each person.
Role refers to the specific "job" each person performs in the relationship to make it succeed. Therefore, role integrity refers to faithfully practicing and fulfilling that particular job.
For example, in a biblical marriage, the husband is appointed the role of leader, the wife the role of helper (Gen 2: 18, Eph 5:22-24). If they are faithful and efficient in these roles and their implications, the relationship can succeed. If not, role confusion and role reversal will give way to disorder, conflict, even termination.
Also consider friendships. Some friendships are vertical; one person is clearly the leader, mentor, and teacher, while the other is clearly the follower, learner, and protégé. If this is truly the best scenario for both persons, then the relationship can flourish only if they are both faithfully fulfilling their roles. This does not mean the relationship cannot graduate into a horizontal friendship (walking side by side as "equals", with no distinct leader or follower), it simply means that in each particular season both persons must discern and fulfill their roles for the welfare of the relationship.
For example, Jesus had a vertical relationship with the disciples for most of His ministry. He had the clear role of rabbi and they the role of students. Then, at the end of His life, He declared them no longer servants, but friends, upgrading the relationship to a side-by-side friendship and partnership (Jn 15:15).
All relationships come with roles, even professional ones. Each person must assess the nature and intent of the relationship, and, what role they must fulfill to ensure the relationship's wellbeing and success.
#6...THE LAW OF MUTUAL COMMITMENT
Relationships flourish in proportion to the commitment of each person.
The modern proverb is true, It takes two to tango! A relationship flourishes when all individuals involved are equally committed and contributive. Different types of ongoing investments will be required for different types of relationships (spiritual, emotional, intellectual, financial/material, marital, etc.). The nature and intent of the relationship will determine what investments are appropriate and relevant. Are all persons willing to invest and give, and do so ongoingly? If so, there can be success. If not, the relationship deadlocks and becomes a one-sided project. Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
#7...THE LAW OF TRUST & SECURITY
Relationships flourish in proportion to the trust and security level present.
Trust and security, like many of these laws, grow progressively over time with positive experiences. Everyone needs the assurance they are relating with someone dependable, faithful, loyal, and reliable. Within such a safe relationship, persons feel liberal with honesty and vulnerability, resulting in a high level of intimacy and fulfillment. Relating persons must take extreme measures and exert meticulous efforts to perfect trust and security. Without it, suspicions, accusations, and paranoia threaten to swallow the relationship whole, making us hear what is not said and imagine what is not real.
Proverbs 20:6 (NKJV): ...but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 25:19 (NIV): Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble. Luke 16:10-12: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
#8..THE LAW OF LOVE DEFICIT & PROVISION
Relationships flourish in proportion to love deficit and provision.
Love deficit refers to the specific type of love each person feels they need most. These "love languages" are well summarized in The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, though each language has subtle "dialects" (variations) from person to person. Love provision refers to the other person's cognizance and willingness to regularly provide that specific type of love.
For example, David had a tremendous love deficit from the ongoing shame and rejection from his brothers (1Sam 17:28,29). God sent Jonathan as a brother-type to provide the very type of love he needed to balance his emotional debt (ch20). Instead of shaming David, Jonathan admired and affirmed him. Instead of rejecting him, he embraced and loved him as himself.
All people, to differing degrees, pursue decisions and relationships by their love deficit, with the hopes of finding the corresponding love provision and rebalancing their heart. Emotional relationships (family, romances, close friendships) are the most susceptible to the power of love deficit, yet possess an equal capability to provide for, heal, and bring balance to those very debts. When people's love deficits are overlooked and not provided for, anger, depression, conflict, retaliation, manipulation, and chaos loom. Relationships are a place where God pays off our emotional debts. Be sensitive to this and discern what role you are to play, healer or being healed or both.
#9...THE LAW OF CHANGE-INCLINATION
Relationships flourish in proportion to the change-inclination of each person.
Change-inclination refers to a person's level of desire and willingness to change attitudes and behaviors detrimental to intimacy, or, certain benign habits that simply hinder or retard greater intimacy. This translates into flexibility, adjustment, and sacrifice in any and every way necessary to ensure mutual fulfillment.
Besides other purposes, relationships were intended to change us (Pr 27:17, Ro 15:14). A stubborn goat unwilling to change will never enjoy relational happiness. They will forever remain in Relationship Prison wondering what's wrong with everyone else. Don't you be that goat!
Relationship is the merging of two (or more) worlds and the creation of a new one. Some of the elements of these worlds are beautifully compatible, some can be made compatible with patience and wisdom, and some must be sacrificed totally. A wise person who enjoys Eden-type relationships understands change-inclination very well. They are ever ready to change themselves, willing to adapt, adjust, bend, compromise, submit, and sacrifice to walk in Eden with others. Not weak-willed, but soft-willed.
We cannot change others. You know that right? Many become obsessed with rearranging or fixing others, and fail to see this is codependence at best, manipulation at worst. Personal transformation is the prerogative of the Holy Spirit and the person's freewill alone. Certainly we can apply the power of example, humility, love, truth-speaking, confrontation, and other provocative agents to motivate change, but our efforts have limits, limits we must respect and accept. When each person in a relationship has a high change-inclination, their bond will never stop ascending into greater and greater intimacy and joy.
#10...THE LAW OF PEACE-ORIENTATION
Relationships flourish in proportion to the peace-orientation of each person.
Peace-orientation refers to a person's level of zeal to achieve and maintain unity and harmony in a relationship. I am not referring to a false peace or an avoidant peace-faking, whereby one person indulges or enables another person's evils. Peace-orientation is a bentness for true, interpersonal peace that inspires one to be solution-oriented, negotiable, and most of all, loving and humble. This quality is determined largely by the spiritual and emotional maturity of the person.
Scripture has a mouthful to say about peace-orientation. Paul said to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph 4:3, emp added). In the verse before he tells us to be completely humble, gentle, patient, and loving. He also said, "If it possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Ro 12:18). Jesus said, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mk 9:50). Salt preserves...preserve peace. God's Word is commanding us to have a high peace-orientation.
Those with a low peace-orientation are constant perpetrators of chaos, drama, and conflict. Scripture frowns on them. Proverbs 29:8,9: Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger. If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. Psalm 120:5-7: Woe to me that I dwell in Meshach, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Perceptions, Expectations & the Pleasure of God by John Belt
Perceptions, Expectations & the Pleasure of God
by John Belt
I. EXTERNAL APPEARANCES
Perceptions we draw from "external" actions or what things "look like" on the outside will be incorrect, Jesus said if we make decisions based on external appearances our conclusions would be incorrect.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
(John 7:24)
God looks at the heart. God will even ask us to do things that look offensive to others by appearance just to test our heart in matter of how radically we will obey Him no matter what others think. The things that God will ask us to do will offend the natural mind that likes to have everything figured out.
II. RELIGIOUS EXPECTATIONS
Then answered the Jews and said to him, What sign show you to us, seeing that you do these things? (John 2:18)
The Pharisees and religious leaders always demanded Jesus to do things according to their expectations. When Jesus did only what the Father desired the Pharisees were blinded to the works of Jesus and of the Father's will. They could not see the glory of God in the will of God. They just wanted what they expected on their terms. Therefore they were blind to the things that they should have seen. So it is today. God sets things up in such a way that people will have expectations of us, then when we don't please them according to their expectations they are offended. This is a test on both their hearts and the obedient heart who is choosing please God alone. Jesus lived for the Father's pleasure. Only the Father's affirmation mattered to Jesus. The opinions of man are of no value to the one who follows after the voice of God. The voice of God is paramount to our fulfilling the divine destiny that God has purposed for our lives. Compromising this for something that is dumbed-down to try to please both man and God will result in a life like Saul who lost the blessing and anointing of God. Saul did not obey and rather did something religious because of his desire to please the people.
And Samuel said, What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people ... And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly: you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: for now would the LORD have established your kingdom on Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart...\
(I Samuel 13:13-14)
III. LIVING FOR THE FATHER'S PLEASURE
And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49)
Just like the Lord we need to live for the Father's pleasure allowing Him to fill us and flood through us into the earth. We are the living, walking habitations of His glory living to continually pour out His goodness. The glory filled life is what He has called us to live, reflecting the image of His Son. A life infused in His Presence has no limitations and is free of expectations of others. We can live this life as we continue to access His power and blessing upon us.
Lord help us to come into deeper walk, a higher place, a better place that is full of Your blessings and goodness that we may be conduits of your love's attributes to others overflowing with the fruits of heaven!
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries.com
by John Belt
I. EXTERNAL APPEARANCES
Perceptions we draw from "external" actions or what things "look like" on the outside will be incorrect, Jesus said if we make decisions based on external appearances our conclusions would be incorrect.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
(John 7:24)
God looks at the heart. God will even ask us to do things that look offensive to others by appearance just to test our heart in matter of how radically we will obey Him no matter what others think. The things that God will ask us to do will offend the natural mind that likes to have everything figured out.
II. RELIGIOUS EXPECTATIONS
Then answered the Jews and said to him, What sign show you to us, seeing that you do these things? (John 2:18)
The Pharisees and religious leaders always demanded Jesus to do things according to their expectations. When Jesus did only what the Father desired the Pharisees were blinded to the works of Jesus and of the Father's will. They could not see the glory of God in the will of God. They just wanted what they expected on their terms. Therefore they were blind to the things that they should have seen. So it is today. God sets things up in such a way that people will have expectations of us, then when we don't please them according to their expectations they are offended. This is a test on both their hearts and the obedient heart who is choosing please God alone. Jesus lived for the Father's pleasure. Only the Father's affirmation mattered to Jesus. The opinions of man are of no value to the one who follows after the voice of God. The voice of God is paramount to our fulfilling the divine destiny that God has purposed for our lives. Compromising this for something that is dumbed-down to try to please both man and God will result in a life like Saul who lost the blessing and anointing of God. Saul did not obey and rather did something religious because of his desire to please the people.
And Samuel said, What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people ... And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly: you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: for now would the LORD have established your kingdom on Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart...\
(I Samuel 13:13-14)
III. LIVING FOR THE FATHER'S PLEASURE
And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49)
Just like the Lord we need to live for the Father's pleasure allowing Him to fill us and flood through us into the earth. We are the living, walking habitations of His glory living to continually pour out His goodness. The glory filled life is what He has called us to live, reflecting the image of His Son. A life infused in His Presence has no limitations and is free of expectations of others. We can live this life as we continue to access His power and blessing upon us.
Lord help us to come into deeper walk, a higher place, a better place that is full of Your blessings and goodness that we may be conduits of your love's attributes to others overflowing with the fruits of heaven!
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries.com
BEWARE OF THE FALSE ORDER OF SUBMISSION
BEWARE OF THE FALSE ORDER OF SUBMISSION!!
By Deborah Hecker
www.lopmlifecenter.com
I love and enjoy the apostolic anointing!!!
Partly because the warrior mantle that is upon my life..I just enjoy watching the enemy squirm, and seeing the victory won at Calvary for us enforced upon the demonic kingdom!!! The scripture says that God sits in the heavens and laughs. Recently, there has been a fresh mantle of laughter upon my life, and I have realized that as the warfare increases against us, we ought to just look up to the heavens and laugh more and more and more..Yes, God pour it on and in and through us!!!
Another reason why I love the apostolic and prophetic anointing is it brings God's order in where deception has been established as order, and re-establishes and shifts us into the TRUE KINGDOM ORDER!!!
Recently, God opened the door for me to minister at a conference where the whole conference was dedicated to the subject of submission. When I heard this, my initial response was Oh God; this group of women are either crazy or radical for seeking the true path of your ways!!! But, either way my soul cried out "Help me JESUS!" Then the Spirit of the Lord spoke and said, my people have fallen subject to a religious spirit and are bound by religious mind sets, and the spirit of Jezebel (control, manipulation, intimidation, and domination), and I came that they may be free! Well, certainly God had my attention now. He went on to say, that the religious people of HIS day seen themselves as the highest religious order and they viewed themselves as the most skilled in the ways of God. They wanted Jesus to bow His knee and submit to their religious order, but the Lord said, "I refused, because they were not in my kingdom order of LOVE!"
The Lord went on to release a powerful prophetic word in the area of submission. The entirety of this word preached is now available on line, and can be ordered at our website @ http://www.lopmlifecenter.com/Store.html
Here is a part of the word released:
The Spirit of the Lord said, "My people are advancing without permission." Submission is really the permission to advance, and is the pre-cursor of advancement! Remember King Uzziah? He was appointed into the Kingship and decided to put himself in the Priesthood as well. So, one day satan deceived the king's heart, and he went into the sanctuary to take on the role of the Priest. Aaron and eighty-five other priests followed him in the temple, yelling after him that it was not in God's order for him to do such a thing. Immediately, it is recorded that God struck him with leprosy and he was put out into isolation. Because of his own rebellion against God's order, he was disqualified from further kingship. Wow, do you know that our rebellion against God's order can put us into spiritual isolation, and disqualify us from our race???
God wants us to understand His View and Order of True Submission, so we can be faithful to fulfill our call and destiny in the Kingdom! One of the first errors the Lord showed is we have taken submission and threw it in one large mixing bowl, mixed it up and applied one for all. In doing so, we made it a game of human will and control, which is not God's Order of Submission...my, I hope you are ready for this word today!!!
Holy Spirit taught me that submission means in the hand of or love and care of, and is a picture of discipleship. Submission is NOT being a yes person and living in fear of authority. In fact if a leader, or someone in authority (has the care of your soul) over you tells you to start lying, smoking and drinking (extreme examples) you'd better say NO!!! Acts 5:29 tells us that Peter and the other apostles replied "We must obey God rather than men. "
No, on the contrary, submission is a loving protection and care that always has another's interest at heart!
Submission helps someone be who God wants them to be.
True submission will bring liberty in love.
The opposite is control, which keeps someone in fear and bondage, and keeps them from being who God wants them to be. Instead this leader is self focused, and wants the servant to serve their work and vision alone! It is a spirit of religion and control (Jezebel) that keeps them BIG and you small. It wants to prove you wrong and belittle you. Again, in Jesus day this religious group deemed themselves as the highest religious order of the day, and had a fit because Jesus wouldn't submit to their ungodly demands!!!! Godly submission will allow you to grow; control and religion will keep you small. We never have to submit, according to God's Word, to demons!!!!! Control is a form of witchcraft and wants to be in charge, lording over another! Submission in God's Order is HIS Example of Servant Leadership. I love you so much; I will lay down my life for you!!!
God's Order of Submission, sets a loving watch over your soul as a Godly check and balance to watch for the deception of the enemy coming against you......
GOD'S ORDER: A picture of the Godhead - Jesus is our example of the beauty and protection of submission. He said, what I see my Father do, I do. What I hear my Father say, I say. Then one day His Disciples asked him, show us the Father, and He replied, If you have seen me you have seen the Father, for I and my Father are ONE!!! Submission is a picture of ONENESS!!!!
The Trinity is our pattern and picture of true submission:
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit............and THE THREE ARE ONE!!!
Different Roles, but complete ONENESS!!!
For the rest of this teaching, please order the CD as I go more into the revelation and details of the different areas of submission, and what our response is to be. May God make YOU a "Cutting Edge" Warrior......IT'S SOOOOOOOO EASY TO LOVE HIM!!!!
Deborah Hecker
Land of Promise Ministries
Kingdom Advancers Network
By Deborah Hecker
www.lopmlifecenter.com
I love and enjoy the apostolic anointing!!!
Partly because the warrior mantle that is upon my life..I just enjoy watching the enemy squirm, and seeing the victory won at Calvary for us enforced upon the demonic kingdom!!! The scripture says that God sits in the heavens and laughs. Recently, there has been a fresh mantle of laughter upon my life, and I have realized that as the warfare increases against us, we ought to just look up to the heavens and laugh more and more and more..Yes, God pour it on and in and through us!!!
Another reason why I love the apostolic and prophetic anointing is it brings God's order in where deception has been established as order, and re-establishes and shifts us into the TRUE KINGDOM ORDER!!!
Recently, God opened the door for me to minister at a conference where the whole conference was dedicated to the subject of submission. When I heard this, my initial response was Oh God; this group of women are either crazy or radical for seeking the true path of your ways!!! But, either way my soul cried out "Help me JESUS!" Then the Spirit of the Lord spoke and said, my people have fallen subject to a religious spirit and are bound by religious mind sets, and the spirit of Jezebel (control, manipulation, intimidation, and domination), and I came that they may be free! Well, certainly God had my attention now. He went on to say, that the religious people of HIS day seen themselves as the highest religious order and they viewed themselves as the most skilled in the ways of God. They wanted Jesus to bow His knee and submit to their religious order, but the Lord said, "I refused, because they were not in my kingdom order of LOVE!"
The Lord went on to release a powerful prophetic word in the area of submission. The entirety of this word preached is now available on line, and can be ordered at our website @ http://www.lopmlifecenter.com/Store.html
Here is a part of the word released:
The Spirit of the Lord said, "My people are advancing without permission." Submission is really the permission to advance, and is the pre-cursor of advancement! Remember King Uzziah? He was appointed into the Kingship and decided to put himself in the Priesthood as well. So, one day satan deceived the king's heart, and he went into the sanctuary to take on the role of the Priest. Aaron and eighty-five other priests followed him in the temple, yelling after him that it was not in God's order for him to do such a thing. Immediately, it is recorded that God struck him with leprosy and he was put out into isolation. Because of his own rebellion against God's order, he was disqualified from further kingship. Wow, do you know that our rebellion against God's order can put us into spiritual isolation, and disqualify us from our race???
God wants us to understand His View and Order of True Submission, so we can be faithful to fulfill our call and destiny in the Kingdom! One of the first errors the Lord showed is we have taken submission and threw it in one large mixing bowl, mixed it up and applied one for all. In doing so, we made it a game of human will and control, which is not God's Order of Submission...my, I hope you are ready for this word today!!!
Holy Spirit taught me that submission means in the hand of or love and care of, and is a picture of discipleship. Submission is NOT being a yes person and living in fear of authority. In fact if a leader, or someone in authority (has the care of your soul) over you tells you to start lying, smoking and drinking (extreme examples) you'd better say NO!!! Acts 5:29 tells us that Peter and the other apostles replied "We must obey God rather than men. "
No, on the contrary, submission is a loving protection and care that always has another's interest at heart!
Submission helps someone be who God wants them to be.
True submission will bring liberty in love.
The opposite is control, which keeps someone in fear and bondage, and keeps them from being who God wants them to be. Instead this leader is self focused, and wants the servant to serve their work and vision alone! It is a spirit of religion and control (Jezebel) that keeps them BIG and you small. It wants to prove you wrong and belittle you. Again, in Jesus day this religious group deemed themselves as the highest religious order of the day, and had a fit because Jesus wouldn't submit to their ungodly demands!!!! Godly submission will allow you to grow; control and religion will keep you small. We never have to submit, according to God's Word, to demons!!!!! Control is a form of witchcraft and wants to be in charge, lording over another! Submission in God's Order is HIS Example of Servant Leadership. I love you so much; I will lay down my life for you!!!
God's Order of Submission, sets a loving watch over your soul as a Godly check and balance to watch for the deception of the enemy coming against you......
GOD'S ORDER: A picture of the Godhead - Jesus is our example of the beauty and protection of submission. He said, what I see my Father do, I do. What I hear my Father say, I say. Then one day His Disciples asked him, show us the Father, and He replied, If you have seen me you have seen the Father, for I and my Father are ONE!!! Submission is a picture of ONENESS!!!!
The Trinity is our pattern and picture of true submission:
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit............and THE THREE ARE ONE!!!
Different Roles, but complete ONENESS!!!
For the rest of this teaching, please order the CD as I go more into the revelation and details of the different areas of submission, and what our response is to be. May God make YOU a "Cutting Edge" Warrior......IT'S SOOOOOOOO EASY TO LOVE HIM!!!!
Deborah Hecker
Land of Promise Ministries
Kingdom Advancers Network
PROPHETIC SUBSTANCE by IAN JOHNSON
http://www.identitynetwork.net/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=58961&columnid=2093
PROPHETIC SUBSTANCE
By IAN JOHNSON
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
God is calling us to renew the apostolic/prophetic foundation of our faith and to move out of the soul and into a realm that is measured by the impact and reality of the spiritual realm. Oswald Chambers wrote "Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the son of God? God's ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my life." This is a good question and one which demands an answer.
Do you Love Me?
At our meeting in Gore a southern town in New Zealand this week, the Lord laid on my heart a challenge for the people. It was "if an unusual vessel brings the word for Gore will you listen?" The Lord had me repeat this several times just like Jesus did with Peter when he said "Do you love me?" The answer from the people was an ever louder yes, almost with Peters impatience "You know we will" The Lord responded to this immediately and suddenly a young woman in the meeting with a speech impediment had an open vision where she saw straight into heaven, just like Stephen in Acts 7 where it says"He gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." As she gazed into His majesty she began to speak very clearly the things she heard no impediment or stutter just a release of what she was seeing. Jesus was giving instructions regarding His desire to heal His people and then He was giving specific instructions to individuals who responded to the call to healing. The atmosphere changed as heaven flowed into the room through the sights and sounds she was releasing. She became animated and excited because Jesus was speaking to His people in a love language that thrilled her heart and because of who she was she was able to express the whole emotion and feel of His language. The atmosphere changed again and the man standing behind her holding her up said "This is very special" As I looked at her I was inspired by her face and her expressions of joy, as she spoke with childlike abandonment, about the things she heard and saw in heaven.
To see the joy on a face when heavens door rolls back and the scene is revealed is just about as good as seeing it yourself. It's like fragrance that suddenly captures a dream or wind that cools summers air. It burns in your heart and thirsts in your soul till you long to see the door yourself. When that person hears the sounds of heaven and releases them into this world its like your whole being is captured by waves of glory, passion for the eternal realm is stirred and worship for the King is released.
Faith is the Substance
This door builds faith and the sights and sounds become substance in earth's realms just as it says in the book of Hebrews chapter 11"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen" So a glimpse into heaven needs to be released through testimony in order to gain the substance of the unseen in this realm.
Prophetic utterances are not just a few good words that come out of the soul of man, rather they are a release of substance that has been seen in the spiritual realm and then spoken into the earthly realm. The vision has moved from unseen to seen by the release of our testimony. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"
All prophecy recorded in the bible came from a revelation of the unseen realm such as Ezekiel's word in chapter 37 where the Lord says to Him "Son of man can these bones live?" What bones? The bones that he had seen when he was carried in the spirit and set down in the midst of them. Ezekiel was there, it wasn't a picture or a feeling he was carried and set down in the midst.
Gentiles are in the kingdom today because in Acts 10, Peter in a trance saw into another realm and he saw clean and unclean animals and plants on a sheet, the Lord said Peter take and eat but Peter said No Lord for I have never eaten unclean things; The Lord replied, That which I call clean is clean. Peter chose to release that which he had seen in the unseen realm into this realm by speaking it to Cornelius and his household and the glory of that one encounter endures to this day.
True Prophetic Ministry
The importance of release transcends time and brings eternity into this realm. Gore may very well be changed forever because words were spoken out of Heaven into this realm. I want to encourage you to seek Jesus where He is; in the unseen realm and then when he reveals Himself release it into this realm. Its time for the Church to enter into this level of the prophetic again and move out of soulish immaturity. This is true Prophetic ministry and the very foundation of the church. This is a season to move out of the council of men where the realm of the soul reigns and move into the foundation of the apostles; (Jesus being the chief among them) where the spirit reigns. That which comes out of the soul sounds good because it stimulates the soul; but we must move beyond our soul into a zone that is uncomfortable to the soul and release the true spirit of prophecy.
The outcome of such a prophetic revelation is; "Heaven released" it has Substance it is not ethereal or flaky it is a transforming glory it is the Kingdom released on earth as it is in heaven. It is the answer to Oswald Chamber question "Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the son of God?"
IAN JOHNSON
His Amazing Glory Ministries
PROPHETIC SUBSTANCE
By IAN JOHNSON
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
God is calling us to renew the apostolic/prophetic foundation of our faith and to move out of the soul and into a realm that is measured by the impact and reality of the spiritual realm. Oswald Chambers wrote "Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the son of God? God's ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my life." This is a good question and one which demands an answer.
Do you Love Me?
At our meeting in Gore a southern town in New Zealand this week, the Lord laid on my heart a challenge for the people. It was "if an unusual vessel brings the word for Gore will you listen?" The Lord had me repeat this several times just like Jesus did with Peter when he said "Do you love me?" The answer from the people was an ever louder yes, almost with Peters impatience "You know we will" The Lord responded to this immediately and suddenly a young woman in the meeting with a speech impediment had an open vision where she saw straight into heaven, just like Stephen in Acts 7 where it says"He gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." As she gazed into His majesty she began to speak very clearly the things she heard no impediment or stutter just a release of what she was seeing. Jesus was giving instructions regarding His desire to heal His people and then He was giving specific instructions to individuals who responded to the call to healing. The atmosphere changed as heaven flowed into the room through the sights and sounds she was releasing. She became animated and excited because Jesus was speaking to His people in a love language that thrilled her heart and because of who she was she was able to express the whole emotion and feel of His language. The atmosphere changed again and the man standing behind her holding her up said "This is very special" As I looked at her I was inspired by her face and her expressions of joy, as she spoke with childlike abandonment, about the things she heard and saw in heaven.
To see the joy on a face when heavens door rolls back and the scene is revealed is just about as good as seeing it yourself. It's like fragrance that suddenly captures a dream or wind that cools summers air. It burns in your heart and thirsts in your soul till you long to see the door yourself. When that person hears the sounds of heaven and releases them into this world its like your whole being is captured by waves of glory, passion for the eternal realm is stirred and worship for the King is released.
Faith is the Substance
This door builds faith and the sights and sounds become substance in earth's realms just as it says in the book of Hebrews chapter 11"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen" So a glimpse into heaven needs to be released through testimony in order to gain the substance of the unseen in this realm.
Prophetic utterances are not just a few good words that come out of the soul of man, rather they are a release of substance that has been seen in the spiritual realm and then spoken into the earthly realm. The vision has moved from unseen to seen by the release of our testimony. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"
All prophecy recorded in the bible came from a revelation of the unseen realm such as Ezekiel's word in chapter 37 where the Lord says to Him "Son of man can these bones live?" What bones? The bones that he had seen when he was carried in the spirit and set down in the midst of them. Ezekiel was there, it wasn't a picture or a feeling he was carried and set down in the midst.
Gentiles are in the kingdom today because in Acts 10, Peter in a trance saw into another realm and he saw clean and unclean animals and plants on a sheet, the Lord said Peter take and eat but Peter said No Lord for I have never eaten unclean things; The Lord replied, That which I call clean is clean. Peter chose to release that which he had seen in the unseen realm into this realm by speaking it to Cornelius and his household and the glory of that one encounter endures to this day.
True Prophetic Ministry
The importance of release transcends time and brings eternity into this realm. Gore may very well be changed forever because words were spoken out of Heaven into this realm. I want to encourage you to seek Jesus where He is; in the unseen realm and then when he reveals Himself release it into this realm. Its time for the Church to enter into this level of the prophetic again and move out of soulish immaturity. This is true Prophetic ministry and the very foundation of the church. This is a season to move out of the council of men where the realm of the soul reigns and move into the foundation of the apostles; (Jesus being the chief among them) where the spirit reigns. That which comes out of the soul sounds good because it stimulates the soul; but we must move beyond our soul into a zone that is uncomfortable to the soul and release the true spirit of prophecy.
The outcome of such a prophetic revelation is; "Heaven released" it has Substance it is not ethereal or flaky it is a transforming glory it is the Kingdom released on earth as it is in heaven. It is the answer to Oswald Chamber question "Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the son of God?"
IAN JOHNSON
His Amazing Glory Ministries
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Power of Decision
The Power of Decision
by Annette Capps
http://charlescapps.com/ac_1st_qutr_05.html
Life is full of choices. Everyday we encounter countless opportunities to make small decisions and sometimes very important decisions. Occasionally, what may seem like a very insignificant choice makes the difference between tragedy and a life fulfilled. Your life today is the sum total of all the decisions you have made in your lifetime. Large and small, these decisions make up your beliefs, attitudes, and values. A decision to quit your job out of anger may have left you struggling to feed yourself. The decision to continue your education may have led to opportunities to secure a wonderful, well paying career.
Most of the time, we place great emphasis on those Big Decisions, when in reality it is the day to day choices of being steadfast in values that has led you to where you are today.
In Deuteronomy 30:19 (Amp) the Lord said, I call Heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live;
Choosing life and blessing is not a one time choice; it is a choice you encounter in every decision. With every circumstance, there is a choice that leads to life. Even though you may not be able to discern which path leads to life, the Holy Spirit has been given to guide you into all truth. Every time you feel an impression of the Holy Spirit, you have the choice to act or not act on that impression.
Faith or Fear
Every decision you make is made either out of faith or out of fear. Now you may doubt this, but if you look at it a little closer, I believe you will agree. I have made many decisions in my life based upon avoidance. In other words, I chose to do something because it was the safest route. My motivation for deciding for one path was because I was afraid of the consequences of the other path. It was based upon what might happen. I was not fully persuaded that I was taking the path God wanted or even what I wanted, but the path that was reasonably the least likely to be problematic. Imagine what would have happened if Caleb and Joshua had used that logic! The other spies had decided it would be better for the children of Israel to stay where they were than to go after the blessing. It would take faith and hard work, but Caleb and Joshua’s motivation was faith that God was well able to go before them and prepare the way.
It is so very important to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, to pay attention to the promptings you feel in your spirit. Even if you make a mistake in your logic or reasoning, a decision made out of faith will lead to life and blessing! I like the confession my father makes based on Psalm 1:3, I am like a tree planted by the rivers of living water. I bring forth fruit in my season, my leaf shall not wither and whatever I do will prosper. God makes even my mistakes to prosper!
There is no decision that you have made that cannot be turned around by repenting and making choices in faith with the leading of the Holy Spirit. There are always consequences to any decision, but choosing life and blessing leads in the way of righteousness, peace, and joy.
Practical Decision Making
How do you make a good decision? If you are at a crossroads and are having difficulty seeing the right way or identifying the leading of the Holy Spirit, consider these two issues.
(1) You may not have enough information.
(2) There is a delay in the timing.
If possible, always gather as much information as possible about your choices. The quality of decision you make is tied to the amount of knowledge you have at the time, so arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can about the situation. Let’s say you are considering buying a house. You would want information about the price, the neighborhood, the structure of the house, if the title is clear and you might want to talk to the neighbors themselves. Very important is that you actually go on the property and see what it feels like. Do you have peace about it? If it seems that this is your dream house, but you feel somewhat uncomfortable about something, then dig for more information and wait.
Several years ago, I was in the process of leasing office space. It seemed like an ideal situation, but I didn’t feel totally peaceful about it. I waited and kept asking questions and after a week I found out that if I signed the sublease I would be responsible to pay for repairs made by the previous tenant. Those repairs amounted to several thousand dollars.
Timing is often something that must be considered. When I purchased my first home, the realtor was pushing for me to get financing secured immediately. I didn’t have peace about the process, so I delayed for a few days and the Holy Spirit directed me to someone who financed the house for 4% less than the current rate.
Examining Previous Decisions
We can all learn from our mistakes and it is often profitable to examine decisions that we made that resulted in unwanted results. A lesson for all of us, so called bad decisions can be helpful when we sincerely question what caused us to make that choice. Hopefully, we learn from our bad decisions and don’t make the same mistakes when we are 50 that we did when we were 20. Life experiences educate us with a wealth of knowledge about how the world works. When knowledge, wisdom, and experience have been added to your life, there will be great advantage in decision making.
You can re-evaluate and ask yourself, Why did I do that? As opposed to beating yourself over the head, ask:
Did I make that decision out of faith or fear?
What motivated me to choose this?
Is this a pattern I have repeated?
Cut yourself some slack if you are looking at a decision made years ago. Based on what you knew at the time, did you do the best you could? Would things have turned out differently if you had waited a little longer?
The wisdom of God can manifest in our lives many different ways, through the Word, by the Holy Spirit, a word spoken by a friend. It can also manifest by asking God to show us our mistakes clearly so that we can focus on making powerful decisions for our future. A continual series of small choosings shape our life daily. Through the guidance of the Spirit, we can make quality decisions based on the integrity of the Word of God.
Quotes:
Your life today is the sum total of all the decisions you have made in your lifetime.
Every decision you make is made either out of faith or out of fear.
The quality of decision you make is tied to the amount of knowledge you have at the time.
Fulfilling Your Call
Fulfilling Your Call
http://cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1901:fulfilling-your-call&catid=57:destiny&Itemid=91
Articles - Your Destiny by Billy Joe Daugherty You are not only called into fellowship to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in daily communion, but you are called to fulfill God's call upon your life.
There is no human being on earth who doesn't have a calling from God. Now, you may not be called to the office of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher.
You may not be called to the mission filed, to teach in a Christian school, or to serve and work in a ministry as a full-time employee; but there's a calling that God places upon every human being. Why? Because God has no spare parts.
If you are a member of the Body, you have something you are to do. You are not just stuck out there dangling in space and God says, "Oh, I don't know what I'm going to do with you!"
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are learning what God wants you to do. As you answer the first calling to be saved and the second calling to come into daily communion with Him, then you will discover the calling of what you are to do in life.
Examples of Delayed Callings
Why do people lay aside their call? Sometimes it's because of sin, mistakes, or the mistakes of others. Because of it, some feel they can't pick up their calling again.
Sometimes people try to do what they are called to do and they do it the wrong way and make a mistake. Out of the embarrassment or the predicament that results, they forget about the call, or they don't want to go on with it.
Other people lay aside their calling, not because of their own sin or their own mistakes, but because of the sins and mistakes of other people. They are hurt, wounded and rejected.
Others try to do something for God, and people don't respond to it. Consequently, they lay aside that calling.
Samson
Samson had a call to deliver Israel, but he was pulled away from this call by the lust of his own flesh. There are many influencing demonic spirits that try to pull people away from their calling.
Samson fell for it. Delilah satisfied his flesh, but nearly destroyed his life and his call. He ended up with his eyes blinded, grinding meal like an ox.
Here's the good news, though. Samson's hair began to grow again, but his strength wasn't just in his hair. His strength was in his covenant relationship with God. He lost that strength, but it began to return because he recommitted himself to God. The anointing came back.
Let's look at Samson's final feat of victory in Judges 16:25-30. The Philistines called a great banquet celebration to sacrifice to their god, Dagon, for delivering Samson into their hands. ...When their hears were merry...they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them!"
Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there. In fact, there were about three thousand men and women on the roof who watched while Samson performed.
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.Even though this was a bittersweet victory, it was still a triumph in that Samson returned to God in his last days. This means you, too, can start over!
Moses
Moses made a great mistake. When he looked upon the bondage and oppression imposed upon the Hebrews (his own people) by the Egyptians, he killed an Egyptian (Ex. 2:11-12).
Moses' heart was right, but his actions were wrong. That's the way it is with a lot of people. They attempt to fulfill their calling, but they don't get the wisdom and knowledge of Go on how to do it.
As a result of this sin, Moses fled to the backside of the desert and spent 40 years there. It looked like it was over. Moses at 80 years old was tending his father-in-law's sheep. But his calling wasn't over, because "...the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom. 11:29). This means God never pulls them back.
God called Moses to do something. Moses made a mistake in how he was to do it, but the day came when he saw a burning bush that wasn't consumed, which represented God saying, "I'm going to light the fire in your heart again, Moses, and this time, you'll not go in your own ability. You'll go in My power, strength and wisdom to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt" (Read Ex. 3:9-14).
Moses messed up, but God gave him another opportunity to fulfill his call. If you've messed up, repent. The accept God's grace and stand up on the inside! You can still fulfill that which God has called you to do!
http://cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1901:fulfilling-your-call&catid=57:destiny&Itemid=91
Articles - Your Destiny by Billy Joe Daugherty You are not only called into fellowship to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in daily communion, but you are called to fulfill God's call upon your life.
There is no human being on earth who doesn't have a calling from God. Now, you may not be called to the office of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher.
You may not be called to the mission filed, to teach in a Christian school, or to serve and work in a ministry as a full-time employee; but there's a calling that God places upon every human being. Why? Because God has no spare parts.
If you are a member of the Body, you have something you are to do. You are not just stuck out there dangling in space and God says, "Oh, I don't know what I'm going to do with you!"
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are learning what God wants you to do. As you answer the first calling to be saved and the second calling to come into daily communion with Him, then you will discover the calling of what you are to do in life.
Examples of Delayed Callings
Why do people lay aside their call? Sometimes it's because of sin, mistakes, or the mistakes of others. Because of it, some feel they can't pick up their calling again.
Sometimes people try to do what they are called to do and they do it the wrong way and make a mistake. Out of the embarrassment or the predicament that results, they forget about the call, or they don't want to go on with it.
Other people lay aside their calling, not because of their own sin or their own mistakes, but because of the sins and mistakes of other people. They are hurt, wounded and rejected.
Others try to do something for God, and people don't respond to it. Consequently, they lay aside that calling.
Samson
Samson had a call to deliver Israel, but he was pulled away from this call by the lust of his own flesh. There are many influencing demonic spirits that try to pull people away from their calling.
Samson fell for it. Delilah satisfied his flesh, but nearly destroyed his life and his call. He ended up with his eyes blinded, grinding meal like an ox.
Here's the good news, though. Samson's hair began to grow again, but his strength wasn't just in his hair. His strength was in his covenant relationship with God. He lost that strength, but it began to return because he recommitted himself to God. The anointing came back.
Let's look at Samson's final feat of victory in Judges 16:25-30. The Philistines called a great banquet celebration to sacrifice to their god, Dagon, for delivering Samson into their hands. ...When their hears were merry...they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them!"
Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there. In fact, there were about three thousand men and women on the roof who watched while Samson performed.
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.Even though this was a bittersweet victory, it was still a triumph in that Samson returned to God in his last days. This means you, too, can start over!
Moses
Moses made a great mistake. When he looked upon the bondage and oppression imposed upon the Hebrews (his own people) by the Egyptians, he killed an Egyptian (Ex. 2:11-12).
Moses' heart was right, but his actions were wrong. That's the way it is with a lot of people. They attempt to fulfill their calling, but they don't get the wisdom and knowledge of Go on how to do it.
As a result of this sin, Moses fled to the backside of the desert and spent 40 years there. It looked like it was over. Moses at 80 years old was tending his father-in-law's sheep. But his calling wasn't over, because "...the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom. 11:29). This means God never pulls them back.
God called Moses to do something. Moses made a mistake in how he was to do it, but the day came when he saw a burning bush that wasn't consumed, which represented God saying, "I'm going to light the fire in your heart again, Moses, and this time, you'll not go in your own ability. You'll go in My power, strength and wisdom to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt" (Read Ex. 3:9-14).
Moses messed up, but God gave him another opportunity to fulfill his call. If you've messed up, repent. The accept God's grace and stand up on the inside! You can still fulfill that which God has called you to do!
Reaching for the High Calling
Reaching for the High Calling
http://cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2217:reaching-for-the-high-calling&catid=57:destiny&Itemid=91
Articles - Your Destiny by Dennis Burke, Ph.D.
The supreme quest of every true believer is to be developed by God to such a point that he becomes a more perfect tool in God's hand, one that brings pleasure to his Father.
The Christian walk is an unending journey of developing our life to the highest spiritual level. It requires decisive action, determination and discipline, as well as diligence.
In our quest, the book of Colossians encourages us: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2).
Notice the Phillips translation: "If you are then risen with Christ, reach out for the highest gifts of Heaven, where Christ reigns in power."
Look up! You will see the possibilities that lie ahead.
Reach for the highest gifts heaven has to offer. They are within your grasp!
Set the standard high! Seek 100 percent success. That way, even if you were to attain only one-half of what you were reaching for, you would still be ahead of the person who had set his standard at 25 percent and made it.
Set your sights as high as you can. Then allow God to show you how to attain your goal.
You can see the Apostle Paul reaching for the high calling of God for his life: "Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But his one thing I do: forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me, with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).
Paul was reaching out, pressing toward the mark, pushing toward the goal: the high calling of God.
This is not the call of his apostleship. This speaks of the call that God has for every Christian. It is a high calling. The only way to continue toward this high calling is to forget your past failures. Set aside the things Satan uses against your mind to bring you under condemnation. Your failures of the past do not make you a failure today. Your determination to succeed sets your destiny.
When you allow your past failures to dominate your thinking, you undermine any confidence you have in God's ability in your life. Don't allow those destructive, negative thoughts to remain in your mind. Thoughts of despair, ugliness, negativism, self-pity and poverty are detrimental to you. Those thoughts are seeds in your life. Those seeds will ultimately grow if you continue to nourish them.
Cultivate new thinking! Let God's Word create thoughts of prosperity, power, confidence, compassion and beauty. This is God' nature. These new thoughts inspired by God's Word will begin to lift you into a new realm of living. They are seeds of achievement in your life. You begin to see the possibilities that have been made available through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now you have set the stage for your success in the kingdom of God. You have planted the seeds that will produce power in your life. It is those who reach out to know God's ways and think His thoughts who achieve the goals God desires for them.
Psalm 103:7 says, "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." The vast majority of Christians are content to see the acts of God, and those acts are exciting. But it was not enough for Moses to see God's great acts of power and deliverance.
Oh, Moses saw God's powerful acts and praised Him for them. But when he sought to know God's ways, God revealed His glory to Moses as He had to no other man. The more you know God's ways, the more you can be a part of God's actions and experience God's glory.
Our High Calling
One of the things Paul prayed for the people in the church at Ephesus was: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling" (Eph. 1:18). As Christians, each of us has that same high calling upon our life.
* We have been called to liberty. "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty" (Gal. 5:13). We have been liberated from sin, sickness, demons and fear.
* We have been called to the fellowship of Jesus Christ. "By Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9 AMP). When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, it was for a purpose. God created man for fellowship and companionship. That purpose has not been altered. Redemption was planned to restore man to the place of fellowship with God. Now that you have been made God's companion, you are an active part of what He is doing in the earth today.
* We have been called to be conformed to the image of Jesus. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be confronted to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:28-29).
The Purpose of Our Calling
As believers, we are called of God, and the primary purpose of that calling is to change us into His image. We become the reflectors of God's nature to the world.
Jesus was God in the flesh, and He perfectly revealed the desires and attitudes of the Father. You are the very flesh and bone of Jesus, the Body of Christ. He desires to so dominate you that when people are with you, they become inspired to a fresh commitment to walk with God and are uplifted by the contagious way you look at life.
People wanted to hear what Jesus had to say because He reflected His Father. They will want to listen to you because you reflect Jesus.
John G. Lake was one of the greatest men of God in this century. In his article, "Christ Liveth in Me," he states: "Christ has a purpose in you. Christ's purpose in you is to reveal Himself to you, through you and in you." He goes on to say: "God's highest is to bring out all the qualities of God in your soul, to bring out all the individuality that is in your life, not to submerge or destroy, but to change it, to energize it, to enlarge it, until all your individuality and personality and being are of the nature and substance and quality of God."
God's purpose in us is to bring our way of thinking and our attitudes into harmony with His will.
In his book, "New Creation Realities," E.W. Kenyon writes, "As you study the Pauline Revelation you become convinced that the ultimate of every one of those epistles is the building of the Jesus life in the individual. His plan for building Himself into us is striking. We must learn to act in His stead. There must be the conscious training of our spirits to be His actual representatives."
This is the goal God has set before us. We are His ambassadors here on earth to present the world with an accurate representation of our God - this God of love Who replaces man's sin's with His own righteousness, Who substitutes health and healing where there was sickness and disease, Who gives peace of mind where there has been depression, and Who forgives where there is guilt.
The world has not seen that God. They have only seen God through the clouded eye of religion which never knew Him and could not possibly portray Him accurately.
We see in God's Word that the Son of God saves men from their sin, and changes their nature by His power so that they become like Him. He fills them with His Spirit, speaks through them so they would reveal Jesus, as Jesus revealed the Father.
We must reach out for maturity because only as we mature can we reflect the character of the Son of God. There is a breed of harmless Christians who lack the power of God in their life, and who represent a poor sample of the transforming power of the grace of God.
A.W. Tozer makes this pointed observation: "We have today theological saints, who can (and must) be proved to be saints by an appeal to the Greek original. We need saints whose lives proclaim their sainthood, and need not run to the concordance for authentication."
Our righteousness is an important legal aspect of our redemption. Far too many Christians, however, rest upon the righteousness that has been imparted by faith without allowing it to effectively produce the righteous conduct and action for which it is intended.
In the Body of Christ the world sees a reflection of Jesus. He will stand for nothing less than spotless mirrors.
We can see again from 1 Peter 2:9 that the purpose of our calling is to reveal with ever-increasing clarity the beauty of Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We are called a "holy nation." Jesus actually created a new race of people. People who belong especially to God. People with a purpose. This purpose is made clear in the Phillips translation of this verse: "It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of him who has called you out of darkness into his amazing light."
Live Up to Your Calling!
Demonstrate His goodness! Undo the works the devil has done. Reach out into the Spirit realm through the Word of God. It will begin to open to you a lifestyle of diligence. Those who demonstrate His goodness are those who are putting away the things that hold back His effectiveness.
God will create a dream within you, a dream of fulfilling His goals. Ascribe to that dream. Then cultivate a new way of thinking and speaking. Let your thoughts and words reflect the dream that is alive within you.
Then compel yourself to reach out and obtain God's high calling. You will become a living incarnation of His spiritual energy. This is not for the weak-hearted Christian who is looking for an effortless existence, but for the one who is ready to meet the challenge of our times with the greatness of our God.
Your willingness toward God is the limit of your usefulness. You have all of the right ingredients necessary to become a productive, committed believer. Discover what a life of diligence toward God can produce.
http://cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2217:reaching-for-the-high-calling&catid=57:destiny&Itemid=91
Articles - Your Destiny by Dennis Burke, Ph.D.
The supreme quest of every true believer is to be developed by God to such a point that he becomes a more perfect tool in God's hand, one that brings pleasure to his Father.
The Christian walk is an unending journey of developing our life to the highest spiritual level. It requires decisive action, determination and discipline, as well as diligence.
In our quest, the book of Colossians encourages us: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2).
Notice the Phillips translation: "If you are then risen with Christ, reach out for the highest gifts of Heaven, where Christ reigns in power."
Look up! You will see the possibilities that lie ahead.
Reach for the highest gifts heaven has to offer. They are within your grasp!
Set the standard high! Seek 100 percent success. That way, even if you were to attain only one-half of what you were reaching for, you would still be ahead of the person who had set his standard at 25 percent and made it.
Set your sights as high as you can. Then allow God to show you how to attain your goal.
You can see the Apostle Paul reaching for the high calling of God for his life: "Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But his one thing I do: forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me, with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).
Paul was reaching out, pressing toward the mark, pushing toward the goal: the high calling of God.
This is not the call of his apostleship. This speaks of the call that God has for every Christian. It is a high calling. The only way to continue toward this high calling is to forget your past failures. Set aside the things Satan uses against your mind to bring you under condemnation. Your failures of the past do not make you a failure today. Your determination to succeed sets your destiny.
When you allow your past failures to dominate your thinking, you undermine any confidence you have in God's ability in your life. Don't allow those destructive, negative thoughts to remain in your mind. Thoughts of despair, ugliness, negativism, self-pity and poverty are detrimental to you. Those thoughts are seeds in your life. Those seeds will ultimately grow if you continue to nourish them.
Cultivate new thinking! Let God's Word create thoughts of prosperity, power, confidence, compassion and beauty. This is God' nature. These new thoughts inspired by God's Word will begin to lift you into a new realm of living. They are seeds of achievement in your life. You begin to see the possibilities that have been made available through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now you have set the stage for your success in the kingdom of God. You have planted the seeds that will produce power in your life. It is those who reach out to know God's ways and think His thoughts who achieve the goals God desires for them.
Psalm 103:7 says, "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." The vast majority of Christians are content to see the acts of God, and those acts are exciting. But it was not enough for Moses to see God's great acts of power and deliverance.
Oh, Moses saw God's powerful acts and praised Him for them. But when he sought to know God's ways, God revealed His glory to Moses as He had to no other man. The more you know God's ways, the more you can be a part of God's actions and experience God's glory.
Our High Calling
One of the things Paul prayed for the people in the church at Ephesus was: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling" (Eph. 1:18). As Christians, each of us has that same high calling upon our life.
* We have been called to liberty. "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty" (Gal. 5:13). We have been liberated from sin, sickness, demons and fear.
* We have been called to the fellowship of Jesus Christ. "By Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9 AMP). When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, it was for a purpose. God created man for fellowship and companionship. That purpose has not been altered. Redemption was planned to restore man to the place of fellowship with God. Now that you have been made God's companion, you are an active part of what He is doing in the earth today.
* We have been called to be conformed to the image of Jesus. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be confronted to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:28-29).
The Purpose of Our Calling
As believers, we are called of God, and the primary purpose of that calling is to change us into His image. We become the reflectors of God's nature to the world.
Jesus was God in the flesh, and He perfectly revealed the desires and attitudes of the Father. You are the very flesh and bone of Jesus, the Body of Christ. He desires to so dominate you that when people are with you, they become inspired to a fresh commitment to walk with God and are uplifted by the contagious way you look at life.
People wanted to hear what Jesus had to say because He reflected His Father. They will want to listen to you because you reflect Jesus.
John G. Lake was one of the greatest men of God in this century. In his article, "Christ Liveth in Me," he states: "Christ has a purpose in you. Christ's purpose in you is to reveal Himself to you, through you and in you." He goes on to say: "God's highest is to bring out all the qualities of God in your soul, to bring out all the individuality that is in your life, not to submerge or destroy, but to change it, to energize it, to enlarge it, until all your individuality and personality and being are of the nature and substance and quality of God."
God's purpose in us is to bring our way of thinking and our attitudes into harmony with His will.
In his book, "New Creation Realities," E.W. Kenyon writes, "As you study the Pauline Revelation you become convinced that the ultimate of every one of those epistles is the building of the Jesus life in the individual. His plan for building Himself into us is striking. We must learn to act in His stead. There must be the conscious training of our spirits to be His actual representatives."
This is the goal God has set before us. We are His ambassadors here on earth to present the world with an accurate representation of our God - this God of love Who replaces man's sin's with His own righteousness, Who substitutes health and healing where there was sickness and disease, Who gives peace of mind where there has been depression, and Who forgives where there is guilt.
The world has not seen that God. They have only seen God through the clouded eye of religion which never knew Him and could not possibly portray Him accurately.
We see in God's Word that the Son of God saves men from their sin, and changes their nature by His power so that they become like Him. He fills them with His Spirit, speaks through them so they would reveal Jesus, as Jesus revealed the Father.
We must reach out for maturity because only as we mature can we reflect the character of the Son of God. There is a breed of harmless Christians who lack the power of God in their life, and who represent a poor sample of the transforming power of the grace of God.
A.W. Tozer makes this pointed observation: "We have today theological saints, who can (and must) be proved to be saints by an appeal to the Greek original. We need saints whose lives proclaim their sainthood, and need not run to the concordance for authentication."
Our righteousness is an important legal aspect of our redemption. Far too many Christians, however, rest upon the righteousness that has been imparted by faith without allowing it to effectively produce the righteous conduct and action for which it is intended.
In the Body of Christ the world sees a reflection of Jesus. He will stand for nothing less than spotless mirrors.
We can see again from 1 Peter 2:9 that the purpose of our calling is to reveal with ever-increasing clarity the beauty of Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We are called a "holy nation." Jesus actually created a new race of people. People who belong especially to God. People with a purpose. This purpose is made clear in the Phillips translation of this verse: "It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of him who has called you out of darkness into his amazing light."
Live Up to Your Calling!
Demonstrate His goodness! Undo the works the devil has done. Reach out into the Spirit realm through the Word of God. It will begin to open to you a lifestyle of diligence. Those who demonstrate His goodness are those who are putting away the things that hold back His effectiveness.
God will create a dream within you, a dream of fulfilling His goals. Ascribe to that dream. Then cultivate a new way of thinking and speaking. Let your thoughts and words reflect the dream that is alive within you.
Then compel yourself to reach out and obtain God's high calling. You will become a living incarnation of His spiritual energy. This is not for the weak-hearted Christian who is looking for an effortless existence, but for the one who is ready to meet the challenge of our times with the greatness of our God.
Your willingness toward God is the limit of your usefulness. You have all of the right ingredients necessary to become a productive, committed believer. Discover what a life of diligence toward God can produce.
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