The Holy Thing...

I listened to Sunday's message from Powerhouse Church, and this is what was revealed to me:

Genesis 12:2-3 ~ Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."

 

Abraham was qualified or counted as righteous by what he DID in faith, believing that God is a god of His word.  God tells Abraham that if he will DO what he is telling him, that he will bless him and he will have the reputation as being righteous.  But, not only will He bless him, He will bless ALL of his descendants as well!  That is his seed, his bloodline.  Jesus is in that blood line.  We are washed in the blood of Jesus, adopted as sons and daughters, we are grafted in.  We are Abraham's seed.

Now, God says in Malachi 3:6 "I am the Lord, I change not."  If we believe every word of the Bible to be true, then we cannot exclude this word. He does not change.  The Lord goes on to say in Malachi that "that is why you sons of Jacob are not destroyed".  The sons of Jacob are grandsons of Abraham whom the Lord said He would bless and all of his descendants.  The Lord does not change. He will not destroy us once we are saved because He is a covenant God. We are Abraham's seed. BUT, we have an adversary...

John 10:10 ~  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to DESTROY: I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The thief comes to steal the seed, IF he can get it.  The seed of the land or fruit of the tree is the Lord's.  The enemy wants the kingdom, it's not personal where Satan is concerned.  However, God wants our heart.  It IS personal with Him.  His method of protection for us is obedience.  What is He protecting us from?  Our adversary. 

The tithe is holy unto the Lord [Lev 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the SEED of the land, or of the FRUIT of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD]. 

Jesus came to give us abundant life according to John 10:10.  Deuteronomy 30:15-16  lays it out as our free will choice: blessings or curses [I read tithe or not].  "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;¹⁶ In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall BLESS thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it."

Later in the passage the Lord says his wants us to choose LIFE so that we and our descendants might live and not die. "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy SEED may live"

What did Adam choose in the garden?  The fruit of the tree...Lev 27:30...the holy thing.  The curse came because of that free will choice.  What did Jesus do?  He hung on a tree to give us LIFE...the blessing, reversing the curse.  Jesus is the holy thing, God's tithe, His best. We have a choice to make.  Not just once.  God's has given us a test to prove our commitment to Him. That test is the tithe.  The back side of our money says "In God we trust".  This is a reminder that our hope is found in Him, that He alone is Jehovah Jireh.  All that we have belongs to Him, is given by Him, and should glorify Him. 

 If our treasures are laid up in heaven, the thief can't get them. Jesus said in Matthew 6:20-21:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

There are no robbers or thieves in heaven.  They cannot break through.  What are treasures in heaven? SOULS...

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."

It is a sin not to tithe.  We are robbing God and robbers do not enter into heaven.  Does God need our money? NO, but our money funds the spreading of the Gospel in this world so that men can "Go ye...".  God counted Abraham as righteous or blessed by what he DID in faith, faith in God and His Word.  Adam was cursed because of what he DID that went against God's command.  Jesus came to reverse the curse of Adam and redeem us as Abraham's seed.  The adversary still seeks to steal the seed.  

Think of the reasons we say we can't tithe. We have been deceived and eaten our seed and a root is growing within us: doubt, greed, deception, offense, unforgiveness, bitterness.  The enemy has come in because we have lived under the curse. See, we think our car breaks or we get sick or our air conditioner goes out and THEN we can't tithe.  But surely what is happening is that we are cursed and the devil is stealing seed meant for God BECAUSE we don't tithe.  The tithe is going to car repairs, air conditioners, VISA and pharmaceuticals. 

In a war, if an army wants to stop the movement of an insurgence, they will seek to stop financing to that cell.  The devil has the same plan to destroy the Kingdom of God.  

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that HOLY THING which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." ~ Luke 1:35

Jesus is the holy thing. The tithe is the holy thing.  How are we going to give Jesus to the nations, fulfilling the command to go ye into all the world, storing up treasure in heaven [SOULS] where no robber can take it?  TITHE. 

Come, Follow Me

Today's message at Powerhouse Church was powerful.  We are hearing a series of messages on The Cross.  Ps. Stanley Scott from Faith Family Church in Houston shared a word with us today and I really received it.  What he had to share witnessed to me so personally and I received a fresh revelation about picking up MY cross that I would love to share with you.

Jesus told a rich young man that if he wanted to be His disciple, then he must take up the cross and follow Him [Mark 10:21].  The interesting point that Ps. Stanley made today was that Jesus said this BEFORE the crucifixion. I have only considered the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified and that is the cross that I understood.  He bore our sins, He suffered, He was obedient...the Cross...

But today, a fresh wind came and I got some rhema!
Ps. Stanley began to tell us about our own personal, daily cross that we must bear. The cross in Mark 10 [take up the cross] is NOT the cross in John 19 [the crucifixion of Jesus].  There is a cross for ME to bear.  My cross should be a drawing point for people to come unto Him.  He said some of us may have lost our parents when we were very small [that's me].  Some of us may have had an abortion and never told anyone.  Some of us may have been abused.  Some of us may have an addiction.  These are all drawing points for people to come unto Him. They are 'weaknesses'...

• Where He be LIFTED UP, He will draw all peoples UNTO Him.[John 12:32]
• Take UP the cross [Mark 10]
• It is His GOODNESS that DRAWS men to repentance...[Romans 2:4]

What is my cross???  What does this mean??? What do I lack? 

This is what the Lord showed me today:
My cross is the area where I need the most grace.  Grace = power.  


 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~ 2 Cor 12:9

Boasting in infirmities? Weaknesses?  The world has never heard of such a thing!  Yes...this is my cross.  This is your cross...your WEAKNESSES!  

Let me show you:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.~ Ephesians 2:8-9

As I take up MY cross, it is His grace making me strong in my weakness that draws people to Him for salvation. It is not ME they are drawn to...it is His goodness that draws people to repentance...His kindness.  

  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ~ Romans 1:16

His kindness is grace.  His grace is power.  By grace we are saved.  The gospel is the power of God to salvation.  Grace = power. Weakness is made strong by grace. We are to boast of our weaknesses...this draws people to us drawing people to Him as His grace comes in THAT very moment.  He is such a miracle maker!  A wonder worker! 

Grace is needed most and understood best in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, which all result in judgment, so everyone wants and needs grace. Judgment kills. Only grace makes alive.

I have had so much happen to me in my life...on every level and at every stage of my life so far.  Taking up the cross daily is so much more clear to me now.  Each day we sin.  Each day we have weakness.  Each day we must be broken. So that grace abounds...

The power of God to salvation...for everyone who believes...no matter who you are!!!  
_________________________________________________

If you or someone that you know is not saved or wants to make Jesus Lord of their life, call on Him now!  You could say something like this:

Jesus, I am a sinner.  I know I have missed it on so many levels.  I have done wrong when I knew to do right. I can't do anything to right those wrongs. I need you to save me! I want to apply the payment that you paid on the cross, the blood that you shed for my sins right now. I believe that you are the Son of God who came to earth as a man, died for my sins, and rose from the dead. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I am willing and ready to make you Lord of my life today.  I no longer want to live for myself.  I am laying my life down right now, taking up the cross, and following you.  I commit to read your Word to learn who You are and what you promise me so that I can walk the path that you have tread for me. I ask you to fill me with Your Spirit right now so that I will have the Power to do your will.  In Jesus Name I pray. AMEN!

Congratulations!  You have just made the best decision of your life!!!  A great place to start in the Word of God is the book of John.  This Gospel reveals who Jesus is, His ministry and what He did for us.  If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask!  Get plugged in to a Bible based, spirit filled church.  Stay connected! And remember, when you miss it, just call out to Him and admit your wrongs and He will lead you right! 

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:!4

My husband and daughters :)

I went on a mission trip to Peru a couple of weeks ago. I left on June 22 from my home in Schulenburg, flew out of Houston on June 23 and landed in Piura, Peru on June 24. That evening, God told me to call home at 10:20 PM. I called home and could not reach my husband. I called my 16 year old daughter and she was spending the night at a friend's house. This was odd to me because my husband and I had discussed that she wasn't allowed to spend the night away. I asked her to go home [she was right up the road] and wake her daddy up and tell him I was trying to call him. She went home and called me back as soon as she got there. The words out of her mouth were, "Mom, he's not here." I asked, "Where is Cassidy?" [my 7 year old.] She said, "In the bed." He had left the house and left my 7 year old asleep in the bed...ALONE.



Last June, my husband was released from prison after a 8 month conviction for possession of crack cocaine. He is 47 years old and has been fighting with his addiction for 25 years. Once released from prison last year, I saw him as a tranfigured man. Literally. He physically looked different and felt different to me...it took some getting used to. He was quoting Scripture and had truly been humbled. He submitted himself to leadership and took direction. He was being molded and made into who God had created him to be!!!

Roger being baptized at a Men's Encounter last summer

He did not come right out into my home. He lived at the Salvation Army and slept on the floor for 2 1/2 months in order to save money to get us in a rent house. See, when he got convicted, we had a house in Katy, Texas and a van and all the comforts. We lost it all. I let it go because I work in ministry and could not afford the rent on that house. I gave all of our stuff away and trusted God. And God did what He does! We were allowed to live at Jordan Ranch [the Christian retreat center where I work] for 10 months while he was away. So when he came out, we were still homeless. But he took his place as the man and worked to make it right. 

Moving in our new house in August 2013

Our new house in Schulenburg Aug 2013

For the past year, my husband has been a man of character and integrity. He has earned trust and we have had grace with him. There were no preemptive or discerning indications that any of this was forthcoming...

Roger joined me and Love Lets Live Pro-Life ministry in Austin in July 2013 to stand for life and pass the new abortion law in Texas.

Roger testifying at one of our many outreaches in the community in Schulenburg.

Roge baptizing Darin at a Men's Encounter in May 2014

and RJ...

So, once she told me that he was not home, he walked in the door. I was relieved...though I had not really panicked in the first place. I still did not believe that the unction I was getting from the Lord was that my husband was falling back...

He got on the phone and was very defensive asking, "What's going on here? Are you checking up on me?" No "Hi honey! How was your flight? It's good to hear from you!" I knew immediately that this was going to happen...

Apparently God had messed with him and he turned around and came home after he saw the two missed calls from me. But even with that conviction he gave in to the flesh the next day. He disappeared and left our children alone. I was in Peru.

This binge took him out. It lasted 7 days. In that time, he lost his job, his integrity, his family, his dignity...and I can't imagine the shame he feels right now. 

I love my husband.  I have hope for my husband.  I look at all the lives he has touched with his testimony, his patience, and his love and I cannot help but smile. However, trust must be built. So we start again... 

He is in the Salvation Army in Houston, TX until he can have phone privileges to call a rehab [Lazarus Project] through our covenant church, Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge. 

Why am I telling you this? 

I was on another continent. I was defenseless when the enemy attacked...except for prayer and the faithfulness I had sown in advance. We will reap what we sow. What are you sowing in to...spirit or flesh? World or Kingdom?  I thank God that I was sowing into the Kingdom.  You never know when those prayers will need to be redeemed.  You never know when your character and faithfulness will be a factor in determining whether tough love or tenderness will be the remedy.

See, when all of this went down, my church family [Powerhouse in Katy] stepped in and ensured that my children were taken care of and safe. Not my family or my husband's family, but The Church. In this way, I received the news but did not miss a beat and carried on with my mission in Peru. I didn't fret, cry, get angered, or loose my composure. I walked in the Power of the Holy Spirit and not my will or emotions. I did not lose my joy or my dignity. I returned on July 1.

I am accountable and covered by 3 pastors and countless other leaders who hold me to the standard of God's Word. My husband was accountable as well. This accountability and discipleship does not guarantee that temptation won't come, that devastation won't ensue, that tribulation won't shake the foundation...but what it does is give me a brace...it is the rebar that keeps me from cracking under pressure. I cannot save my husband. I have learned through all of this that I was holding on probably a little too tightly. I was so excited for him and us...and I unintentionally enabled him spiritually. 

There were moments [though fleeting] when I discerned a little something in the Spirit and discounted it as "doubt" or that I was basing it on history. Don't deny the unction of the Spirit. IF you are confident in who are you in Him, He will speak to you about things unknown, even to the one whom He is speaking about. 

I don't tell you this because I need a "word" from you or any sort of advice. I welcome your prayers, but please keep your "advice" and opinion.  I have wise counselors. I tell you this testimony to show you how accountability, obedience, and faithfulness regardless of circumstances will protect you with God's covering. I have no fear, no worry, no anxieties. I have His Perfect Peace enveloping me as this storm is raging. The wind and rains surround me, though I do not waiver. I don't say this proudly...but I speak confidently by the Power of the Holy Spirit and for His Glory. 

Remain faithful. Remain accountable. Remain obedient. And if you aren't now, repent and get right. And know that your walk is YOUR WALK...my husband's choices are no reflection of my integrity so I will not retreat. I press on...

What you believe doesn't matter if your behavior contradicts it.  Private choices have public consequences. FAITH requires corresponding ACTION.  
 

Many proclaim to have faith...my question is where does your faith lie?  How do you know the MEASURE of your faith until you come to the end of it? 

Is your faith simply in what you see, have seen, or want to see?  Faith is the substance of things hoped for...where do your hopes lie?  Are they God's will?  How do you know? 

 If you say you have faith [which begins with hope] but don't know God's will, then how will you know if your hopes are His will?  His will is in His Promises...He has declared and decreed our destiny and He has achieved Victory for us, yet  you don't read His Word, know His attributes, or heed His commands and STILL you say you have faith???? In WHAT?

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

I say many of us simply have confidence in our flesh.  We have injected our will as God's promises and in turn have set up a high place and exalted our desires over what He desires for us.  We live under a counterfeit Gospel that simply inspires us.  We have no reverence for the Sovereign God who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

If life crumbled around you, if you lost everything that you hold dear and all you had was YOUR FAITH...what would you find at the end of THAT measure of FAITH?  Would your faith increase, decrease, or would you find that you never really had faith in the first place? I'm telling you right now, that you have no idea.  You can try to answer that question, but until it happens to you...YOU HAVE NO IDEA~

I recently returned from a mission trip to Piura, Peru.  I saw people who have come to the end of faith as they know it and are living on the supernatural, unknown, God faith.  I saw authentic worship, desperate worship, heart pounding, wrecked worship.  I saw pure desire.  I saw pure and genuine love. And I found out that my faith increases when I have come to the end of "I know"...

I encountered God in a new way...unexpectedly.  I landed in that country and simply kept time.  I didn't miss a beat.  God had me the whole time.  I felt as though I was in another dimension...I saw the world from a different perspective...that we are all not that different and neither are our needs.  It is our DESIRES that are variable.  It is in this that we differ.


I noticed that the world, when seen through my God eye, is His.  I saw family...I felt like I was at home.  Honestly...I could have just as easily been in Schulenburg! 

 

I realized that I don't need to go to foreign soil to satisfy my passion for missions!  I can be fulfilled [as I have been so far!] right here in my town.  The similarities, through my God eye, were astounding to me! I love this town...I love these people and I desire to see every person in this city reached with the true Gospel and true Love of Jesus Christ.  THAT is my desire.  And my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.  I cannot do it but He can through me.

 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ~ Romans 12:3

The greatest gift I have been given is the Holy Ghost.  He is my Comforter.  He is my Advocate. He urges me to continue in FAITH.  I love You, Lord.

Them that believe...

Mark 16:17-18 (KJV)

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18 (AMP)

¹⁷ And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;

¹⁸ They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

Mark 16:17-18 (DARBY)

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow those that have believed: in my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;

¹⁸ they shall take up serpents; and if they should drink any deadly thing it shall not injure them; they shall lay hands upon the infirm, and they shall be well.

 WHAT IS A SIGN???
When I am driving down the road, I look for signs to point me in the direction I need to go as well as guide me to safety.

  Are we seeing these SIGNS in the church today?  OR are we witnessing a drawing near to the man of God/ woman of God rather than to Jesus, with a "wishin' and a hopin'" rather than praying and fasting? We don't believe because we see, we see because we believe...according to the Scripture.


The authority comes from Him.  We are given the privilege of using His Name and we have full access and privileges to withdraw from His accounts. Everything that He has done, we will do and more.  But we cannot represent God if we are not SUBMITTED and OBEDIENT. There is no way in heaven that you would give a disobedient and rebellious child access to your ATM card, credit card, or bank account.  You would in no way give an inconsistent, late, and absent employee the privilege of speaking on your behalf and using your name to secure new prospects.  You would never in a millenium offer a thief, a liar, or a murderer access to your home and children.  Yet, we see these errs all over...there is no mention of sin, only "issues"; no call for repentance, only "counseling"; and no accountability, only "fellowship"...wanting authority with no accountability, wanting privileges with no obedience, wanting power with no connection. If the sign does not point to Jesus then it is not a sign from God.  If we believe that a person who is gifted in deliverance is someone to be praised, then we are missing it.  If we come to see the man heal, but disregard the Healer, then we are idolators. All glory and honor and praise goes to the Lord!

The Scripture says these signs shall follow them that believe...

1.  Cast out devils [Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 17:20-21; John 14:12]

2.  Speak with new tongues [Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Isaiah 28:11]

3.  Take up serpents [Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Psalm 91; Acts 28:1-5]

4.  Be immune from poisons [Mark 16:18; Psalm 91; Luke 10:18; 2 Kings 4:41]

5.  Heal the sick [Mark 16:18; Matthew 10:1-8; Luke 24:49; John 14:12; Acts 1:8]

Christ did it.  The disciples did it.  All disciples are commanded to do it and believers are promised the POWER to do it.  These signs will NOT follow the doubter and unbeliever.  

FEAR NOT...

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I pray for signs, miracles and wonders.  But I do not celebrate the miracle, I worship the LORD and give glory to Him who is worthy of all honor and praise!  Too many services and gatherings are focused on the sign [i.e. healing, deliverance, etc.] rather than on the person of Jesus Christ.  And still others are focused on "helping" the Christian rather than calling on the Helper and honoring the Helper [the Holy Spirit] that He would manifest.  

ALL OF THIS is predicated by this one VERY important command:

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)

¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

The command was followed by this:

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:4-8

So the disciples were not sent out [whereby signs, miracles and wonders would follow] UNTIL they were baptized in the Holy Ghost [the POWER].  

I propose this:
What many are "believing" today is NOT the Gospel.  Yes, they believe He came.  Yes, they believe He died.  BUT, many do not believe in the resurrection and the work of the Holy Ghost.  The purpose of His death was the resurrection:  Love lives in us in the Holy Ghost!  Without His death, there could be no authority on the earth.  Flesh had to die so that the Spirit can live on!

See, if our authority comes from God, then revelation will be the proof...revelation of who He is and not who I am! We make assumptions about the "qualifying factors" of those in authority: strong will and determination, clever ideas and eloquent speeches; none of these stand for authority but they stand for the flesh.  A gift from God will not be received properly through a wounded vessel. Many of us are wounded, but not dead.  We are still fighting to hold on. Only those who have passed through death and been resurrected are recognized by God and given authority.  

Chew on this:

Hebrews 9:16-17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Pamela
pam@jordanranch.org
 

 

Positioning Yourself for Greatness

When I was in high school, I honestly did not have an aspiration or a dream...I didn't consider "what I would be when I grow up" because I wasn't sure I would make it to tomorrow.  My desire was to get out of the den of danger, fear, and web of anxiety.

I was never a dreamer.  My imagination did not run wild...I was under the impression that even if I tried to dream someone would come along and kill it.  My mode was survival.  I had no other gear except 4 wheel drive...maximum torque transfer. 

I am reading an awesome book right now called "Spiritual Authority" by Watchman Nee.  I want to expound on something he relays in his discussion of Philippians 2:5-11. Watchman Nee writes:

Let us remove our shoes and stand on holy ground as we review this Scripture.  It seems as though at the beginning a council was held within the Godhead.  God conceived a plan to create the universe.  In that plan the Godhead agreed to have authority represented by the Father. But authority cannot be established in the universe without obedience, since it cannot exist alone.  God must therefore find obedience in the universe.  Two living beings were created: angels (spirits) and men (living souls).  According to His foreknowledge God foresaw the rebellion of the angels and the fall of men; hence He was unable to establish His authority in angels or in the Adamic race.  Consequently, within the Godhead perfect accord was reached that authority would be answered by obedience in the Son. 

Man sinned and rebelled, so the authority of God must be built on man's obedience.  Here comes JESUS!!!

 

In order to establish His authority and dominion on earth over ALL things [without the slightest hint of rebellion], Jesus came as a man and walked step by step in obedience to the Father...AS A HUMAN...just like us. In this way, He was made LORD over all and established God's authority.  

Now, GOD could have forced His way and reclaimed authority over all with annihilation and brute power, but then where would our example of obedience lie?  See, Jesus could have been the sacrifice without the obedience, but would it have meant as much...

 IS GREATER 

THAN

 When I read the passage in Philippians, I am humbled greatly.  This LORD of ours emptied Himself and BECAUSE of His obedience, God filled Him up.  


I have sacrificed without obedience.  I have served without order.  I have given of myself yet been in complete rebellion.  When I read this passage of Scripture, it pangs me...Jesus emptied Himself of Glory to be positioned for greatness...in order to be exalted and affirmed by the Father in Heaven, He obeyed.

My example today is Jesus.  My desire is to empty myself to be affirmed by my heavenly Father.  Yes, I want to be Love and Light to all but ultimately my allegiance is with my Lord and what He has to say about me is more important.  Obedience to Christ costs us something and the first thing it costs us is our PRIDE.

Let's look at what Jesus did and model that:
1.  He knew who He was, but it did not puff Him up. His status was not His platform
2.  He gave up His rights.
3.  He humbled himself, He did not wait for God to humiliate Him
4.  He obeyed God fully
5.  In this, He was exalted:  that He obeyed and suffered for the cause: to establish God's authority over ALL things.
6.  If the church is to build the Kingdom and His Kingdom is to come, we must first become obedient in ALL things with no hint of rebellion. 

"A true Christian, living an obedient life, is a constant rebuke to those who accept the moral standards of this world." ~ Billy Graham

My prayer today is to be void of my selfishness and vanity and foolish ambitions, giving myself completely to Him, making Him my Master Craftsman, molding me into His image.  I want to be refined as silver so that He knows I am ready when He can see His reflection in me.  Help me, Lord!

Modern day Witchcraft: REBELLION

We think we can recognize rebellion...it seems obvious, right??? 

The kids who kick and scream in the grocery store

The adolescent who slams her door and turns up the music

The teen who gets drunk, smokes, and dresses provocatively

Or puts up the hand and rolls her eyes, disregarding your directives

What about the wife who spends without consulting her husband or manipulates her husband with sex/favors in order to get what she wants [aka Jezebel...]

 Is this you???

1. “Leaky faucet”—complaining and nagging until he gives you what you want. [There's a Proverb for that!]
2. “Trial Lawyer”—out-talking him and shutting him down with your verbal skills [with your 25,000 words a day].
3. “Blame game”—making your husband feel like he is responsible for your unhappiness, anger, or sadness: “If only you were home more, had a better job, didn't treat me like you do….”
4. “Clue”—expecting him to read your mind but giving little in the way of clues: Sighing, pouting, giving one word answers but when he asks what’s wrong, you answer “nothing.”
5. “Smoke signals”—banging pots and pans around in the kitchen to make a point that you’re doing the dishes, without actually coming out and asking for help.
6. “Water works”—most men don’t like to see a woman crying so even when he thinks he’s right, he’ll usually soften to stop the crying.
7. “Angling”—[AKA "fishing" with bait or lures] withholding sex or using sex to get what you want.
8. “Guilt trip”—laying guilt on him; telling him how disappointed you are in him or bringing up past hurts.
9. “Performance trap”—making him feel inadequate: “We’re the only ones I know who don't have a new car, etc.”




1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."

Witchcraft...not bubbling pots, frogs, and warts.  Rebellion...

A rebel is someone who seeks to be in authority but has not been under authority.  A rebel wants power without accountability.  A rebel wants popularity but not conformity.  A rebel is someone who craves attention and glory.  A rebel is a witch.  A rebel is manipulative and intimidating.  A rebel is seductive in order to get what she wants. A REBEL SAYS:

The passage of Scripture in Ezekiel 3 [Click here] is a sovereign warning about rebellion.  "But when I give you a message, I will loosen your tongue and let you speak. Then you will say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels." ~ Ezekiel 3:27

 “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will cut you off completely. I will show you no pity at all because you have defiled my Temple with your vile images and detestable sins." ~ Ezekiel 5:11

You may be reading this and thinking, "I thank God that He has delivered me from rebellion!  Woe to her who is still bound!"

Let me share another story with you:

We have heard recently of this book "Strange Fire" by John MacArthur and it brought much controversy and discussion...even a rebuttal from some pastors/theologians with follow up books.  
[Check these articles out for further reference: Charisma News: Dr. Michael Brown speaks out concerning MacArthur's "Strange Fire" 
Christian Post: John Piper speaks out about Strange Fire]

Now,  do you know that "strange fire" is in the Bible?  YES!  There are accounts of strange fire, or sacrifice without order, in the Word.  

To serve without order or to serve without obedience to authority is the definition of strange fire.

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron's sons and were under his authority. Aaron was an anointed and appointed priest and his sons helped him with offerings and sacrifices.  They moved on Aaron's order and under his authority.  Aaron was accountable to God and for his sons.  But, his sons ventured to offer without Aaron's order.
"Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." ~ Leviticus 10:1-2

They saw Aaron do it and assumed they could do the same, yet had no reverence at all [fear of the Lord]...they worked apart from Aaron [the priest, anointed and appointed]. They worked or served independently.

Whoever tries to serve without first meeting authority is offering strange fire. Many people today are trying to serve God independently...uncovered and in rebellion. They have never been under authority and they sin against God's authority. 

Many people see themselves as being obedient to God but know nothing of being subject to God's DELEGATED authority [those anointed and appointed...at home, at work, in church, and in every circumstance].

This rebellious spirit becomes obvious when one maintains one attitude towards God and another toward his delegated authority [pastors, leaders, parents, employers, policemen, government officials]. We cannot reject his delegated authority [murmur/complain] on one hand and receive God with the other hand. To be in subjection to God, we must subject ourselves and be humbled to serve under His delegated authority...UNCONDITIONALLY. 



Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Repent now where there has been rebellion and let us get right and in order with the Lord. ~ Hebrews 13:17

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ~ Romans 13:1


Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ~ Ephesians 6:1

Obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:22


Repent now where there has been rebellion and let us get right and in order with the Lord.  


Please consider this resource to build your prayer life in binding the spirits/spiritual warfare:
Red Prayer Book page 139


Much Love and Grace to you all,
Pamela

 

Foundations in Faith Part 1

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

                WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE?

WHAT is the definition of SIN?

                            WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE SAVED?

CAN YOU EARN YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN?

1.  GOD LOVES YOU…and He has a purpose for your life.

·      John 3:16 ~ For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

·      John 10:10 ~ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

·      God’s plan for me is abundant life and eternal life.

2.  The BAD NEWS: People are sinners and separated from God by sin.

·      Romans 3:23 ~ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

·      Romans 6:23 ~ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

·      It does not say that a few have sinned or some have sinned, but that ALL have sinned and fall short.  [ALL MEANS ALL] The penalty [or wages] for that sin is death.

  We cannot appreciate a cure unless we first know that we are ill:

·      Mark 2:16-17 ~ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”  When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

3.  What is sin?

•              James 4:17 ~ Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

·      1 John 3:4 ~ Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

·      Galatians 3:10 ~ But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

·      Galatians 2:20-21 ~ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

·      The law condemns it cannot justify and save.

4.  No amount of good works can earn your way to heaven and a relationship with God. 

·      Romans 3:10 ~ As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.

·      Ephesians 2:8-9 ~  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

True or False:

Baptism will save you.                  T       or      F

Having Christian parents will save you.         T       or      F

Going to church will save you.      T       or      F

·      Good deeds are a verification of our faith.  They will not earn our salvation. Our actions confirm our faith.

·      John 15:16 ~ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

SO...What is the Gospel? 

·      1 Cor 15:1-4 ~ Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.  It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
      I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

He came, He died, He rose...

Romans 1:16 ~ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

o  Trust in Christ’s finished work on the Cross, not our endless efforts.

o  We are brought back by mercy, not because we deserve it, but to reveal the holiness of God through the Holy Spirit that is within us.  He offers us a fresh start, no matter what our sins are.  

o  Romans 3:22 ~ We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

    Why clean up an old life when you can have a new one? 

  2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

The Gospel is the great news of God providing salvation for man through Jesus Christ.

=     I was lost but now I am found.

=     I was guilty but now I am not guilty.

=     I was unforgiven but now I am forgiven.

=     I was an enemy of God but now I am in peace with Him.

=     I had eternal death but now I have eternal life!!!