Showing posts with label bold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bold. Show all posts

Thursday, January 29, 2026

The Prayer Force

 

God’s Kingdom had come and Jesus delivered it to us on the Cross!

From John 15 to Abide to John 16 : Jesus came from the Father and was going back to the Father

To John 17: His prayer, the High Priest prays for Himself……….the longest prayer in the Bible:

1.      To consecrate Himself to that task before Him……not for Himself but for us

2.      John 17:1-5 To glorify His Father…..

3.      John 17: 6-19…..His thought and purpose ……..for their sanctification to go out into the world

4.      His relationship….was to sanctify Himself to the Word and His Father’s plan

His confession before praying…THIS IS HIS CONFESSION……..found in John 16:27  For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father. 28 I came out from the Father and have come into the world, again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.           His faith was based on going back to the Father…

Verse 32….the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home leaving Me alone, but I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.    He expressed His confidence that the Father was with Him.

John 16:33…..I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulations and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  He had not gone to the Cross yet, but by His confession and confidence in the Word and His Father , he had done it!

Then He prays: John 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come, Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that YOUR Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify YOU.

The ONLY ONES WHO CAN PRAY THAT ARE THE HUMBLE IN HEART…..TO BRING GLORY, AND EXALTATION TO THE FATHER.

Jesus was the example of the praying  person! We should all be praying people! It should not only be occurring when facing a drug addiction, a divorce, a job change, nor facing a disease you have never heard of in this world. It was Jesus who prayed day and night.Without Ceasing We Maintain a fellowship of Prayer:1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

1.   1 Thessalonians 5:17….pray without ceasing

2.   Jesus prayed: Morning time:   Mark 1:35  & in the morning, long before daylight, He got up & went out to a “deserted place”, & there He prayed. Amplified Bible

3.   Evening time: Mark 6:46-47  & after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray. Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, & He was by Himself on the land.

4.   Solitary Prayer time:   Luke 5:15-16 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; & great multitudes came together to hear, & to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.   

The more THE  demand from people on our lives, the more we should pray. All Night:    Luke 6:12  Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray & spent the whole night in prayer to God.. 13 & when it was day, He summoned His disciples & selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers).Jesus chose that time in prayer to choose the 12 disciples.  Prayer had held Jesus in the mind of God. Philippians 2:5…Let this same attitude and purpose & [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

Here again, we see Jesus, a demand of time with answering questions.......Matthew 18:1-5

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.   NKJV

 Mark 10:13-16………13 Then they brought young children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." 16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them. 

 In the Old Testament we are reminded of that which God placed by the 10 Commandments

1.      Old Testament: 10 Commandments…….no one could follow but by being humble. Deuteronomy 10:1-5…..laser written by God Himself on Mt. Sinai

2.      God raised  up prophet to speak to the people…….And THEY SPOKE IN PARABLES!

Mal 4:1-6..."For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven,

And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.

And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"

Says the LORD of hosts,

"That will leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise

With healing in His wings; And you shall go out

And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet

On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.

 4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,

With the statutes and judgments.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet  Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." NKJV

3.      Jesus the Prophet, He is THE Savior, Redeemer, the King : was considered  the Meek……someone who operates in humility and authority...and prayer!

Matthew 21:1-17.....21:1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 "Tell the daughter of Zion,  'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,  A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "   SEEN IN Zechariah 9:9…

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

"Hosanna to the Son of David!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

Hosanna in the highest!" (Saves us now)…..what the people were saying

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Meek Jesus…THE MILD JESUS…………THE PROPHET JESUS WHO had authority……

 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant.

 Let’ see,  Jesus just flipped tables upside down, and what?

Indignant: the annoyed, the angry, the disgruntled, the offended, the irritated

So the INDIGNANT SAID TO HIM…. 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read,    'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants ……You have perfected praise'?"

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.   NKJV

 The children’s worship was with no ulterior motive, but the people did. In their selfishness they did not want the Roman government and got tyrannical rule.

 Two Governments Represented:

1.      One that was evident: Antonia Fortress, a strong fortress built and named by Herod in honor of Antonius, also known as Mark Antony

2.       was situated to the Northwest from the Temple area in Jerusalem. It was garrisoned with Roman soldiers, who were there to preserve order in the Temple courts.

3.       It was in the time of the Roman Occupation in the region of Jerusalem, that Herod in his reign as king some 33 years from 37 BC to 4 BC had transformed the city as no other king had.  Since the time of King Solomon, no other had produced such grandeur for other’s to see. For all that was built, his only focus was that on that of increasing the importance of Jerusalem and producing an elegant beauty in the eyes of those who had some power at the time. And that was of the Roman Empire.

4.      In the time that Jesus was on the earth, the Roman Empire had established a government consisting of Roman overseers and Jewish leaders who exercised all their control in the name of Rome. Herod was the prominent leader in a tyrannical rule. Pontius Pilate was in place as we read in the last hours of Jesus’ ministry on earth.


5.      The Sadducees were considered the hard-headed business men…….they sought compromise to retain their wealth and power with Rome.

6.      The high priest was considered sacred, was to have his term for life, but in the time of Jesus, the Roman government named and deposed high priests according to their political plans.

7.      Their thoughts were the High Priest held too much power.

                 

8.       At the time of the “Passover” was when Jesus entered The Temple. He was addressing that state which the Temple had become.  A RITUAL…….A BURDEN 

 

9.      All Jews had to pay an annual temple tax that was equivalent to two days of work (Matthew 17:24) and as for the maintenance of the clergy as well. On this date was the sacrifices and the currency exchange of that which was of commercialism based on swindle, being managed and administrated by the high priests. Jesus was confronting the political, those with the allegiance to adhere to the gain through being greedy, and to that which was viewed as a group geared for financial great gain through a dishonest practice of gaining more capital through those who gave their sacrifices to God.

 

10.  They had obtained Roman domination: They compromised!

11.  Another thing, was a revolution had appeared on the scene and was geared toward violence. It was the Zealot movement that rose up in an armed rebellion to rid the Roman oppression. As today, one could view them as the terrorist. But the one zealot who was ‘Simon the Zealot’ came to be a follower of Jesus. In the conflict that was rising in the time of Jesus……the Roman Empire fearing the power Jesus had as a priest……a teacher of truth…..but carried no weapons.

One represented a throne backed by money of the Roman government. And the other Jesus showed us…………..the Kingdom of God He represented was that of spirit and power through prayer!

Isaiah 9:6-7....6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it With justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. NIV

Power of One: Jesus, “not My will but Yours be done.” Jesus is Identified in His confessions: Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God. “Get behind Me Satan! For it is written you shall worship the LORD your God & Him only you shall serve.” “It has been said, You shall not tempt (test) the LORD your God.”

God Spoke the One Whom we are to Hear: Matthew 17: 1- 13  NKJV  Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  3 & behold, Moses & Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered & said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, & one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; & suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”  6 “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces & were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came & touched them & said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”  8 When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  Matthew 17: 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” 10 and His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 “But I say to you that Elijah has come already, & they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.

Power of One: Jesus reached many for His Father…& 3 were on the Mount of Transfiguration: Peter, James and John

1.   Peter preached the first sermon on the Day of Pentecost: Acts 2

2.   And when on trial before the High Priest & Sadducees sent them to a common prison, but released by angel of the Lord, he told them to go out stand in the temple, & speak to the people all the words of life. Acts 5:18-20…. When brought again before the council,  Peter answered the council demands by speaking, “We ought to obey God rather than men.

3.   James wrote the epistle of James pointing to genuine faith that would demonstrate validity of their experiences with Christ. He regarded the gospel as foundational: James 1:27 Pure & un-defiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans & widows in their trouble, & to keep oneself un-spotted from the world.  James 4: 1-10  Where do wars & fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust & do not have. You murder & covet & cannot obtain. You fight & war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask & do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers & Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God……5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God & He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; & purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Lament & mourn & weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning & your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, & He will lift you up.

   

4.   John wrote of relationship, of the Shepherd: John 10:11-12 I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, see the wolf coming & leaves the sheep & flees; & the wolf catches the sheep & scatters them , life in Him: John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life., and of the spiritual status of man: John 16:13-15 NKJV  However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears he will speak and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine & declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine & declare it to you.. John addressed error, that false doctrine  that Jesus was real and of flesh, blood and bone. 1 John 2: 6 he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 3:7-9 Little children, let no one deceive you, He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

5.   John also described the Holy Spirit at work: 1 John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

6.   Holy Spirit testifies to the reality of the incarnation of Christ: 1 John 4:2 By this you know the  Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and 1 John 5:6-8 NKJV 6 This is He who came by water and blood----Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

7.   Thirdly, the Holy Spirit leads true believers into the full truth concerning Jesus so that they will oppose heretics who deny that truth: 1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.; 1 John 4:4  You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.               

Galatians 6:9 and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

David was called a man after God’s own heart! He had trusted God when he faced a lion and bear, and he would run toward the unclean giant Goliath: 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword , with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air, and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. When this occurred, David was not hiding, but ready to face evil.

Esther had to have courage in the face of persecution from Haman and his followers. Esther held her courage in God and prayer. She sought to know His perfect will and she went when not invited to the king’s court.  She had to go against common sense in order to follow God’s plan. Esther would have to approach the king not with a group of people but by herself, though she didn’t have permission. This could have meant certain and sudden death for her, since it was even against the law to approach the king. Esther’s response: “If I perish, I perish!”

Noah had to keep the faith in God that he would do what He said He would do.  Rain did not appear till one hundred years later. Noah built an ark while corruption flourished around him. He built what God instructed him to build and then God invited Noah and his family to come aboard for a great ride into their future! He knew nothing of rain but it was coming. And instructions were heeded.

Peter, James and John were plucked from the shores of Galilee to become fisher’s of men. Called to teach and to proclaim the gospel, to dispel the darkness and be lights to those perishing.  In James 4:12-17 Amp. Bible 12 One only is the Lawgiver & Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life & death]. [ But you] who are that [ you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?  13 Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money.  14 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor ( a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while & then disappears [into thin air]. 15 You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live & we shall do this or that [thing]. 16 but as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong. 17 So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.  

James pointed to the truth that sin is not only actively committing evil deeds but it is also passively failing to do what we know God wants us to do. a clear indication of one with the characteristic of having an affair with worldliness in making plans without consulting God for it is seen as those people who will boast in their own strength without God…so that they control any circumstances that will appear in their life! 

This prayer force, the Power of One, is the one submitted to the Holy One: Jesus! It is prayer, and worship to God that will demonstrate that relationship where loving God is giving Him words that are filled with not only faith but a faithfulness to abide in Him.   Hebrews 11: 7 prompted by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there were no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for deliverance of his own family.

Our faith is established in the truth that it exists in the blood and water of Christ. We take hold of it though we cannot see it. But our expectation, that very hope is in Him ,who PROVIDES it! God made revelation knowledge available through our new birth. Looking with spiritual eyes to see our Father who loves us, revealing His nature before Us, we walk as He walks and we speak as He speaks. Power of One will be seen in one who is totally submitted to the Lord and willingly goes toward what is the religious platform where the gospel is given. It is in His power and His spirit! It will be the person speaking truth of what Jesus told those in leadership in Jerusalem. In the secure place of the Lord, we will valiantly go forth into the future with heads held high, and a voice proclaiming the Lord.

What will it be…what scripture proclaiming the Lord….It is a prayer force! We will not hide!!! Are you with me?

   Teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

STRONG

Holy Spirit Power
I had gotten a number of thought processes of some scriptures this past weekend for a blog. And in them all, some were definitely mine and one was for prayer for a family we know, but I kept on reading through Proverbs and other passages. Then I heard this testimony that forever changed a young man’s life early this morning. He was not saved till he was a teenager in the early 1960’s and the couple of who had prayed for him was neighbors and not of his own family. This devout couple prayed for this young man to preach the word as God had called him to do. And today I had seen his going home to be with Jesus. Oh my, how many have passed on to glory with Jesus just in these last months. And many yes, we know have been those about eighty years of age and older. Still, we think of those who are still among the living, and have a new year to encounter. If we truly lead, may we lead others to be strong in this hour and to finish strong by the end! And for this gentleman, he had a great going home adventure. His testimony was that this couple had told him that he would preach God's word. And he said no to that when he had been saved. He continued to tell the woman who told him he was that coming preacher whenever she saw him, but his answer remained the same till one day. It was later in the 1960's when he was going to someone's home but as he got to the shallow creek, the creek had become a river and was swollen even though it was a sunny day. He could not drive his car over the fast moving river. He would not be stopped! He got out of his car, rolled up his pants legs and proceeded to remove his socks and shoes and march across that river. Well, with great faith and patience to move slowly across the rocks in swift water, he reached the bank and started to climb. Then a "voice" was heard: "Are you the preacher I have been praying for?" AND his reply: Yes, I am that preacher!" And he went to preach the word of God!

On his headstone: Strong!

I know people use this word as their focus for their community either from a terror attack like seen in Boston, Massachusetts just a few years ago or those overseas in other nations like Paris, France and abroad. A school uses it for Sandyhook Strong where young children were killed in their school rooms targeted by a person not in their right mind for life. Another like Boston Strong, that represents those who were killed or maimed by the shrapnel that was poised against those who ran marathons. Sad that many innocent always find their end when they are targeted as in this tragedy by the whims of a madman. But our focus is finishing STRONG! People use this slogan to enforce their community and it is good. Still we are to be strong every day, every hour whether day or night, peace or tribulation, we are to be strong in the Lord!

Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV  10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

WE put on the divine nature of God to stand against the enemy who can and will use others to terrorize.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

NOT Against Flesh and Blood: To discern between the spiritual struggle and culture with the social, the personal and political difficulties: Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things hall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 The DEFENSIVE is the Armor: Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

 But the DEFENSIVE is :Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God: Hosea 6:5-6 NKJV Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like  light that goes forth. 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

God had sent His prophets to shape the nations but by rejecting them, the people called upon themselves the penalty that now must follow. God desires our relationship with Him more than He desires our service for Him.       Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

From 4:12 powerful, energes ( en—er---gace) Strong’s #1756 energetic,..it is the opposite of “ineffective”

Spiritual Warfare is Victorious Based on the Provision of the Cross and Christ’s Blood: Colossians 2:13-15 and you being dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision  of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Grounds of Authority: Jesus triumphed over sin: Ephesians 2:13-16 NKJV 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”) 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NKJV Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” 11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

 

Entering Conflict: Know what side you are on! Right now, our faith is to be unwavering, the result of an abiding relationship in Christ Jesus.

Faith’s confession: Matthew 5:3 blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The beatitudes belong to those only of the kingdom of God: fulfilled in prophecy in Luke 4:16-21 was first given in Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

 Jesus on the cross, giving up His body and by shedding His blood completely satisfied God’s requirement: Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are going sanctified.

Opened up the gates of Heaven for anyone that would believe in Him John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

In HIM, we have the benefit of life eternal.  1 John 5:10-12 NKJV 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Romans 2:6-11 Amp. Bible 6 for He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]. 7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [spring from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the disobedient to the Truth  but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. 9 [And] there will be tribulation & anguish & calamity & constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does  evil, the Jew first & also the [Gentile]. 11 For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another. Our answer is in Jesus from Matthew 11:29-30 He said “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle &lowly in heart….you will find rest for your soul. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The Holy Spirit Prepares Us for Kingdom Victories Today: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---

This is any prayer directed by, energized by and sustained by the Holy Spirit. It is prayer prayed in the Spirit. It falls in the category of being in the Spirit, speaking by the Spirit of God and singing in the Spirit.  Praying in the Spirit: according to God’s will which is His word: 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

It will glorify the Father through His Son: John 14:13 and whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Always based on God’s character, Gods, ways and His Word: John 15:7 NKJV If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.

Will always come from a clean heart: James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Prayed in full assurance of Faith: James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Asked in Jesus’ name: John 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

 

Whatever our focus at this moment whether to what may occur in the year ahead, the loss of a loved one, or what health crisis that might appear, but direct our focus really at this moment is to be on Jesus our Lord and Savior and remember He sent the Holy Spirit to us: not for a dress code, not for arranging big hair or flat hair, not for the weight or a specific height of a person, not about that certain leader of a business or ministry, but about Jesus. And Jesus said he was sending us His Holy Spirit for purpose. The Holy Spirit for power in our lives!

John 14: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever.

That means the Holy Spirit will do what Jesus did when He is absent from the scene with the disciples. It is continuity of what Jesus did and taught!

You could speak to any number of people in any nation right now and find them grieving over the loss of a leader of their country, a loved one passed on, they lost their job over a virus or they feel like the world has gone off its course! But these all have the Holy Spirit available if they are the saved ones who called on Jesus with a repentant heart.

Let’s choose the present and forget the past! That is a hard one but we can do it! That listening to the lies of the enemy instead of resisting them by the Holy Spirit will only bring us into more grief and worry from what occurred in 2020. We push back by inviting the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse our mind with Christ’s thoughts. We have been given authority: we command in Jesus’ name that all lying spirits have to leave our minds. We will not adulterate our souls to live in confusion…we will live in clarity…We will not be tormented with impure, evil, negative or sinful thoughts but transformed by the renewing of our minds. We prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)    WE are Enabled “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10) ….

WE are not to be anxious for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we let our requests be made known to God, and His peace, which surpasses all understanding, guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) and finally, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, having virtue or anything praise worthy, we think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

So should you and I live in a country or region where the culture throws an agenda of discord against the righteous, or there is one who initiates an attack with fear mongering concerning the welfare of your body, your family or community, or when someone throws you under a bus to save their own flesh, what will come out of your mouth should be a heart that is filled with God’s word. Life & death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

The LORD is the “good” to those who find and take refuge in Him. Sickness is not of God but of the devil who came to steal, kill & destroy. The adversary is the unrepentant, who chooses to kill by spilling blood, by destroying one’s  health, determining our outcome. BUT We are not the cursed, but the blessed of God! We confess: we are the redeemed of the Lord, that He is our light /our salvation, whom shall we fear, He is the STRENGTH of our life of whom shall we be afraid?   Whatever the obstacle, God delivers to set us free for good. And this will be for His glory and to His praise. We are God STRONG! WE are set as warriors with our armor in place and the Holy Spirit guiding us through paths that are narrow and sometimes bumpy, the path we walk has many sounds like munitions firing, but peace holds us, we take not a glance to the right nor to the left, we keep our gaze on the beauty of the Lord WHO spoke “It is Finished.”

He took it all so we could finish strong! He took our sin so that we could be with Him forever. For you and I, we run this race, through the smoke of the enemy, and through the close sounds of whizzing arrows, but we run, for God set the course for us. He set that standard of the Gospel to build us up in Christ Jesus with the same actions and motives that have eternal value. For eternal life started long ago when we accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.

 Jesus’ walk was to a Cross on Calvary. Many things have occurred we did not see coming and we in that sense feel like we have been badly wounded or even destroyed by the hateful intent of others. But we remain alert. John 16:13 However when He the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come. We are Holy Spirit enabled.

We are to remember that we are the righteous and as such will suffer persecution and face trouble of those against God and His plan but we will also be vindicated by God Himself.  WE are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. WE are strong to stand against the wiles of the devil. We are strong because we have taken up the whole armor of God, that you and I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand……yes, strong…in the power of His might! Amen.


                                          New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Faithful Church, The Lukewarm Church

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Friday, May 24, 2019

A Winning Hand

Mother's Day has been in recent weeks and while with family, we played cards with our granddaughter. The game proved intense and sometimes with a roaring sound, sometimes laughter, sometimes not, but fun was enjoyed by all who played. What is the winning hand? Well if you talk with one person, you must play this amount of times coming up with the less number scored from a  losing hand. That is: if Uno card, the last played went out and you are holding cards, count them and they count against you or else help you to win in the long run with many games played and hopefully with using the 'high cards'  very early in the game !

Another thought is that you won this one game due to how the cards were played strategically or by spite. Not so great an example and when thinking of family, one would desire the child to win, but you cannot play their cards for them when they are desiring to play them on their own!
Is there a dilemma? There is if you desire to keep the presence of God. You play according to the rules and play to have fun, not out for blood, right? And when we do engage in any activity, do we keep God in mind?

Again, our game was a 'family' game but I think about many who play to "win", out for blood, to take the high honor and leave the loser at a loss, leave the loser in the dirt, kicked to the curb and to fan the hand with a wave toward hopefully indulging the crowd for more accolades.
What makes us tick? Are we mindful God is watching us in activities, as well as our job, our home life and if we drove safely on the Interstate on the way home today after a 'full' day at the office ?

Was thinking of David wanting to move the Ark and how there were men who desired to move the Ark of God in their own style and ambition. 2 Samuel 6:1-16 gives us some details on how some thought the job should be done.



The Ark Being brought to Jerusalem:  2 Samuel  6:1-16  NKJV Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which is on a hill, and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
Names have meanings:    Uzzah ( STRENGTH, BOLD, POWER).   Ahio( BROTHERLY,  COURTEOUS), the sons ........  Abinadab( THE VOLUNTEER, AS OF A SOLDIER)
With the meaning of these men' names, we think of Abinadab, the father and how he was to look over the two boys he had raised hopefully for the LORD! But these two proved to be careless following their own pursuits of how to move the ark as the father did not appear on the scene to do his duty.

David has brought  30 thousand men……..carrying the Presence of God forward to Jerusalem: choice men….gathered in peace to give respect to the Ark of the covenant.  Yet these two have chosen to set the ark of God on a new cart:  It is important to note that transporting the ark on a cart was against God's specific command. The ark was designed to be carried (Exodus 25:12-15) and was only to be carried by Levites of the family of Koath (Numbers 4:15).  And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.  Exodus 25:14-15 ...........At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD to stand before the LORD to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. — Deuteronomy 10:8

2 2 Samuel 6: 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
    Certainly some chaff was blown away……..for they had come to Nachon’s threshing floor and the oxen stumbled. Of course, Uzzah tried to steady the oxen when the cart and ox were not to be used in this procedure of moving the Ark to the city of David.
   It was  Uzzah who committed an error!   Even though the ark was in his father’s house, he presumed to know the best method for moving the ark and it proved fatal. And  Uzzah saw no different between this article and most likely anything else he moved for his father or the king. Yet no man was to touch the ark with their hand.
  Uzzah erred in thinking it didn't matter who carried the ark.  His opinion in thinking of how the Ark was to be carried was wrong. And his opinion that he knew all about the Ark because it was in his father’s home for so much time was dead wrong! And the greatest of these was that he erred thinking God could not take care of the Ark Himself! Yes, it was Uzzah’s intentions  to help, but there was a certain irreverence to how the sacred Ark, on which even its Levitical bearers were forbidden to lay hands that he should do so! 

 2 Samuel 6:  8 And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"           10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. 

David knew they were not following the rules…Abinadab and his sons did not revere God… The very  account given in 1 Chronicles 15:13-15 tells us that during these three months David investigated the Scriptures to see how the ark was to be transported. He was going to find the instruction needed to move the Ark in safety for all men! So David leaves the Ark in the home of Obed-Edom.

In 2 Samuel 6: 12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.

If we look at the history of Obed-Edom before the Ark of the Covenant we find that the field his home stood on was dirt with rocks.  THERE was NO grass. There were Broken down fences, no livestock…and.....his family wore ragged clothes! They were "the desolate, the poverty stricken…and ....after only a 3 month period, Obed-Edom had increased with livestock, servants, fences, and the house looked newer. They dressed in finer clothing……AND was something that  people could SEE…….
 2 Samuel 6:   13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet
16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15:11-15 shows us that David specifically commanded the priests to carry the ark the right way - on their shoulders. We often think that a "new cart" or "strength" or a "friendly" manner is the way to bring the presence and glory of God. But God always wants His presence and glory to come on the shoulders of consecrated, obedient, praising men and women.

We are kings and priests for the Lord. We have received Him into our hearts and as such we carry His presence. Uzzah was strength and probably displayed his muscles and good looks.  Ahio was friendly and probably came out speaking and waving with the occasional great smile he displayed when putting on a production. I mean seriously, King David is here with how many men…..Ahio was going to play his cards for the winning hand.  

But the production to play out was going to be for God’s glory and not by man’s behavior, attitudes or plans. Learning what God desired, David put into play that which God desired for Himself. He paid attention to instruction of God’s word and move the Ark for God’s glory and not for King  David nor for Uzzah who died nor for Ahio the brother!

At the close of this chapter….it is David who danced before the LORD with all his might. And when we do anything in our life, may we know it to be important to do that activity that is bringing glory to God. Our heartfelt worship giving God glory is the hand that wins. For it will show in our hearts as it did for David that day the ARK returned to Jerusalem according to God’s Word and was displayed for all to see!
For whatever we do, it should be for the Lord, not because we are so smart, so beautiful, so handsome, or so witty, but that what we apply to do with family members will be fruit that is of the Holy Spirit and power in our lives that proves God is with us and He is for us....and will be with us everyday till the very END of the age! ( Matthew 28:20)
YOU have the winning hand when you do it God's way, indeed!


New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells



Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching





No Spiritual Hospice

  Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV   10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God t...