A very wise Individual has said to me on many occasions;
“A person who controls their emotions controls their life.”
Have you ever gotten to a point in your life where you felt you just
wanted to give up? You have nothing more to give to anyone including
yourself? You are done!? Last week I felt this way.
Life at times feels like we are on a battle field fighting in a war
that we didn’t ask to be a part of. Some days we have little
victories and other days we feel major loss. We fight an opposing
force that never stops, never gives in and never backs down. As we
advance through our life there are times where we feel we are wounded
so we stop and we crawl behind a rock in the hopes that we can mend
our wound and rest. It feels good to stop and rest.
As life moves forward we find ourselves staying where we are, because
we are tired, worn out and just DON’T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE! The
wound we have is not as bad as we think so we crawl forward a little
keeping our head down until we reach the next rock to hide behind in
the hopes that we won’t get shot and wounded again, because we still
haven’t completely dressed and started the healing process from our
last wounding.
The battle of life rages on and we have no moment of peace, no solace
to evaluate where we are on the field and soon it over takes us, we
are dragged across the ground getting bumped and bruised and then we
are tossed to the side and we feel lost. We are now trapped behind
enemy lines, we feel all alone so we hide. We won’t let anyone or
anything find us because we will just get hurt again.
Soon after this we feel abandon and betrayed! We now lose control and
go into a rage filled with raw emotion. We think “WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING TO ME!” We feel and say things that we don’t really mean
but it feels good at the time to lash out hoping someone on our side
will hear us; someone will find us, SOMEONE WILL HELP US! But the
help doesn’t come.
We realize that now we have to do this on our own, we build walls to
protect ourselves; we care only for our self, we have to survive!
Time passes and soon we feel disconnected from everything. We go
through the motions of trying to find our self, find where we really
are in our life but nothing really matters. It is comfortable for us
to stay where we are because it requires very little effort. The
easiest thing to do in life is nothing! So we stay where we are, but
deep in our heart we are lonely, afraid and really want help.
We find that because we didn’t mend our wound it is now infected, the
infection is spreading and we are getting sick. Now we can barely
help our self. We feel that life would be a better place without us,
but if we give up everyone will think we are a coward and we are not a
coward!
While we are alone voices come and tell us that we are lost, no one
cares, we are all alone, we are worthless and we deserve all of this.
We realize we are now surrounded by the enemy but we can’t see them,
we can only hear them. We are frightened, hurt and feel that now all
hope is lost.
As we take inventory of our backpack we find there is very little left
to survive on. We throw it to the side and something falls out of one
of the pockets, it’s a radio! We thought we lost it! We grab it and
start to talk quietly, hoping that someone will answer on the other
end. We hear clicking and white noise and suddenly we hear; “We see
you! We are sending in a team now to get you, you are safe, and we
are surrounding you now! NOTHING CAN HURT YOU!”
You teammates swarm in and remove the opposing forces. When they
reach you; you are surprised at how many have come to aid you, just
you! How could so many give of themselves so freely to help you? You
are nobody special! Your commanding officer takes a knee and
stretches out His hand to aid you. As you grasp it you see holes in
His hands. He stands you up and carries you out of the enemy
territory.
When you are back in camp He says; “I’ve been watching you the whole
time. And when I wasn’t watching you the General was watching you.
Never at any time were you really alone. When the opposing force
would come too close to you we would send in help quietly to protect
you. I’ve been waiting for you to realize that you could not do this
on your own and once you reached out for help We stepped in. By the
way, this was only a test, and you passed it.”
Why is it that we always give Satan and his forces an ear? WHY do was
listen to them? We can’t see them but we certainly can hear them!
Why is it that Satan always comes when we are at our weakest and
lowest moment? It is because HE IS A COWARD! He attacks us at our
weakest moment because we forget we are stronger than he is! You have
the right to stand up against them and say NO! I WILL NOT LISTEN TO
YOU, LEAVE NOW!
They put thoughts in our head that don’t exist and we run with them.
They play with our heart and our emotions and create feelings that are
false. They pit family member against family member, friend against
friend and all the time they stand back and laugh at us. We are their
clowns!
Yes there are times when we just don’t want to fight them and we let
them run wild with us. The problem is that while we do this we
capture our own loved ones and cause them come along in the wake of
destruction we cause for our self. It is only after the damage is
done, the words are said the actions hurt others that we realize we
are wrong in what we thought and felt.
“A person who controls their emotions controls their life.”
Before we decide to let these thoughts take root, before we let our
emotions drive us in the wrong direction we need to reach out to our
Commanding Officer and Big Brother Jesus and ask Him for help. We
need to plead with our General, Heavenly Father for wisdom, strength
and courage! And then we need to talk to our loved ones and clear the
air so there is no more misunderstanding! Do you know what the
shortest prayer is? “HELP!”
Never forget this; Satan may win a battle now and then but we WILL WIN
THE WAR AND GO HOME!
STAND AND FIGHT!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Firstling The Bride of Christ
A friend asked me recently, “Why would I want to be a Firstling?” I
said that is a very good question! Some people think that because
they believe in Jesus Christ they have a “get into Heaven” free card,
or those who have been sealed by the hand of an Apostle have the same
“card” as well. This is just not that case. It is not enough to just
believe, Apostle James said; “You say you have faith, for you believe
that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this,
and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19 (NLT)
Anything in life that matters takes work. Faith takes work. Building
a relationship with our Father, Big Brother Jesus and the Holy Spirit
takes a life time. It is a daily battle at times. And the goal we
all seek is HOME. Our Heavenly Home! Right?!
Some may think that because of the way they live their life that is
cause for them to get into Heaven but Apostle Paul said; “For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can
boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9 (KJV)
But then The Apostle James said; “What good is it, dear brothers and
sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?
Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn't
enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James
2:14 & 17 (NLT)
Hmmm, that would seem a contradiction wouldn’t it. But in fact the
point is that you need faith AND you need to work as well. This is
not working for ourselves it is “doing good works” for others.
Some may think that once they get into Heaven they will sit back on
their cloud or in their mansion and they will eat and drink and now
have the time to relax and reap the rewards of their faith. But
Apostle Paul said; “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we
eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 (NLT)
What is it that we are doing while we are here on this earth in this
end time? What is it that drives us to our goal? Do we really
understand what it means to be a Firstling, Overcomer, King or Priest
and the Bride of Christ?
Since I have been a little boy I have heard all of these buzz terms
and through my life certain definitions have come across my heart.
Firstling - the first of its kind to be produced or to appear. (Dictionary.com)
Overcomer - to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations,
etc.); surmount: to overcome one's weaknesses. (Dictionary.com)
King - a male sovereign or monarch; a man who holds by life tenure,
and usually by hereditary right, the chief authority over a country
and people. (Dictionary.com)
Priest - a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and
especially to make sacrificial offerings. (Dictionary.com)
Bride of Christ – Apostle Paul said; “For I am jealous for you with
the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one
husband—Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)
But what do all of these meanings comprise?
We are to become the ultimate SERVANT!
Servant - a person employed by another, especially to perform domestic
duties. 2. a person in the service of another. (Dictionary.com)
To be a servant means to do what is asked of you without question. It
is to give of yourself freely for others, think nothing of yourself
and to give of your strength for their sake. It is to perform a task
with not expectation of payment or reward whatsoever. So then why
would anyone want to be a Firstling or a Bride of Christ? This may
perhaps sound like a lot of work to some people? And in fact it is!
Jesus was the greatest example of a servant! Now do we want to really
be like Jesus?! We will not have to give our life in death to serve
Him or others. But what we will need to do is sacrifice our own
freewill. Put aside what WE think. When we give that up we show our
Father that we trust him completely. Can we really TRUST HIM
COMPLETELY?! Do you have that kind of faith that no matter what
happens to you, you will “stay the course” and allow Him to lead you
to where HE needs you to be so you will become WHAT HE wants you to
BE?!
When you chose to serve the Lord you must understand all of this
completely. “My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul
for temptation. 2 Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and
make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave unto him, and depart not
away, that you may be increased at thy last end. 4 Whatsoever is
brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed
to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men
in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, and he will help you;
order your way aright, and trust in him. 7 You that fear the Lord,
wait for his mercy; and go not aside, or you will fall. 8 You that
fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward will not fail. 9 You that
fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.”
Sirach-Ecclesiasticus 2:1-9 THE APOCRYPHA.
This life that we live here and now IS the training and teaching of
tasks that we will perform once we arrive in Heaven. “Let us be glad
and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for
the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the
fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people.”
Revelations 19: 7 & 8 (NLT)
So I ask once again, do you really want to be a Firstling and a Bride
of Christ? Life is choices. The time is NOW! No more excuses, we
are either ALL IN! Or we are ALL OUT!
I stand behind the statement made by Joshua thousands of years ago;
“But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will
serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you
now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
said that is a very good question! Some people think that because
they believe in Jesus Christ they have a “get into Heaven” free card,
or those who have been sealed by the hand of an Apostle have the same
“card” as well. This is just not that case. It is not enough to just
believe, Apostle James said; “You say you have faith, for you believe
that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this,
and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19 (NLT)
Anything in life that matters takes work. Faith takes work. Building
a relationship with our Father, Big Brother Jesus and the Holy Spirit
takes a life time. It is a daily battle at times. And the goal we
all seek is HOME. Our Heavenly Home! Right?!
Some may think that because of the way they live their life that is
cause for them to get into Heaven but Apostle Paul said; “For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can
boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9 (KJV)
But then The Apostle James said; “What good is it, dear brothers and
sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?
Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn't
enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James
2:14 & 17 (NLT)
Hmmm, that would seem a contradiction wouldn’t it. But in fact the
point is that you need faith AND you need to work as well. This is
not working for ourselves it is “doing good works” for others.
Some may think that once they get into Heaven they will sit back on
their cloud or in their mansion and they will eat and drink and now
have the time to relax and reap the rewards of their faith. But
Apostle Paul said; “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we
eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 (NLT)
What is it that we are doing while we are here on this earth in this
end time? What is it that drives us to our goal? Do we really
understand what it means to be a Firstling, Overcomer, King or Priest
and the Bride of Christ?
Since I have been a little boy I have heard all of these buzz terms
and through my life certain definitions have come across my heart.
Firstling - the first of its kind to be produced or to appear. (Dictionary.com)
Overcomer - to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations,
etc.); surmount: to overcome one's weaknesses. (Dictionary.com)
King - a male sovereign or monarch; a man who holds by life tenure,
and usually by hereditary right, the chief authority over a country
and people. (Dictionary.com)
Priest - a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and
especially to make sacrificial offerings. (Dictionary.com)
Bride of Christ – Apostle Paul said; “For I am jealous for you with
the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one
husband—Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)
But what do all of these meanings comprise?
We are to become the ultimate SERVANT!
Servant - a person employed by another, especially to perform domestic
duties. 2. a person in the service of another. (Dictionary.com)
To be a servant means to do what is asked of you without question. It
is to give of yourself freely for others, think nothing of yourself
and to give of your strength for their sake. It is to perform a task
with not expectation of payment or reward whatsoever. So then why
would anyone want to be a Firstling or a Bride of Christ? This may
perhaps sound like a lot of work to some people? And in fact it is!
Jesus was the greatest example of a servant! Now do we want to really
be like Jesus?! We will not have to give our life in death to serve
Him or others. But what we will need to do is sacrifice our own
freewill. Put aside what WE think. When we give that up we show our
Father that we trust him completely. Can we really TRUST HIM
COMPLETELY?! Do you have that kind of faith that no matter what
happens to you, you will “stay the course” and allow Him to lead you
to where HE needs you to be so you will become WHAT HE wants you to
BE?!
When you chose to serve the Lord you must understand all of this
completely. “My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul
for temptation. 2 Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and
make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave unto him, and depart not
away, that you may be increased at thy last end. 4 Whatsoever is
brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed
to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men
in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, and he will help you;
order your way aright, and trust in him. 7 You that fear the Lord,
wait for his mercy; and go not aside, or you will fall. 8 You that
fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward will not fail. 9 You that
fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.”
Sirach-Ecclesiasticus 2:1-9 THE APOCRYPHA.
This life that we live here and now IS the training and teaching of
tasks that we will perform once we arrive in Heaven. “Let us be glad
and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for
the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the
fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people.”
Revelations 19: 7 & 8 (NLT)
So I ask once again, do you really want to be a Firstling and a Bride
of Christ? Life is choices. The time is NOW! No more excuses, we
are either ALL IN! Or we are ALL OUT!
I stand behind the statement made by Joshua thousands of years ago;
“But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will
serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you
now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
Friday, May 11, 2012
Power and Authority
A friend after reading my article about Sin offering said;
Hasn’t Jesus already died for our sins and hasn’t the Lord forgiven us
for all past present and future because of what Jesus has done? How
do we win his favor? I thought God loves everyone.
What I am now going to say about all of this is not going to make me
very popular with the main stream Christians but it IS the truth.
When Jesus came and established His church He said; Now I say to you
that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will
build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
It is at this time that Jesus told Peter that he will be the head of
His church, later He asked Peter; After breakfast Jesus asked Simon
Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? "Yes,
Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs,"
Jesus told him. John 21:15 (NTL) Jesus asked him this question three
times because he wanted Peter to understand the enormity of this
question and soon-to-be task.
Then a short time later the Holy Spirit was sent; Then, what looked
like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began
speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this
ability. ACTS 2:22-23 (NTL) And the Apostle ministry was established!
In this current time we live in there are many churches out there that
say “BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND YOU ARE SAVED” “HE FOREGIVES ALL OF
YOUR SINS WHEN YOU JUST ASK HIM” I’m sorry but it is not that easy and
I will pose this question; Where do all of these other churches and
ministers get their power and authority from? Jesus established ONE
WAY through the Apostles ministry and that has never changed.
Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God
without being born of water and the Spirit. Baptism does not make you
a child of God, it makes you His friend, Holy sealing is a separate
act from baptism, and they are not one in the same. Last time I check
Jesus was baptized. Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River
to be baptized by John. MATTHEW 3:13 (NTL) And after that He was
sealed; After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the
heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove and settling on him. MATTHEW 3:16 (NTL)
So if the Son of God had two separate acts performed on him then why
do others think it’s all inclusive?
If you are in prison you can “believe” you are free. But until
someone who has been given the power and authority to set you free
does so you will still remain bound.
Jesus gave the “keys” to the Chief Apostle Peter; And I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." MATTHEW 16:19 (NKJV)
Forgiveness of your sins takes much effort on our part. We are not
forgiven automatically because Jesus died for us. I can’t say I have
a four year degree in college never having gone to a college ever, but
say my Dad went to college! You can’t just say to Him in a blanket
statement; “FORGIVE ME LORD” and then you are done with it. You need
to ponder over what you have done wrong, why you did it, how you are
going to make an effort to stop doing it again and then spelling it
all out to Him. You also need to ask Him to forgive you for the
things you are not even aware that you did wrong and really repent and
then ask to truly be forgiven.
I have gone to many churches and when it comes time to celebrate Holy
Communion there is NO mention of the forgiveness of sin, (which by the
way are TWO separate acts that neither one negates the other) there is
NO pronouncement of forgiveness and many times I have witnessed NO
consecration of the bread and wine. So in fact your sins have never
been forgiven and you are not eating the body and blood of Christ.
If in fact you have asked the Lord to forgive you and you were sincere
in your pleading to Him then what has really happened to you at that
moment of prayer is the Lord lifted your sins from you and put them on
a shelf, you have “atoned” (to make amends or reparation, as for an
offense or a crime, or for an offender) for you sins and they are
still yours and they are NOT paid for by Christ. Only when a minster
who has been given the power and authority through the Apostle
ministry pronounces forgiveness are they really paid for by Christ!
And only when the elements are consecrated through the Apostle
ministry are they changed into the body and blood of Christ.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6(NKJV). WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?! He established ONE WAY through His Apostles. So why are
there so many churches out there that tell everyone you DON’T need
Apostles today? Well probably because they don’t have the power and
authority to do anything in Christ’s name! They can “believe” all
they want that they do but is does not make it so!
For many in this time this is a hard pill to swallow, I ask WHY?
Jesus was very specific about the way He taught. He kept everything
very simple and basic but within what he taught He also established
certain criteria and the WORLD/MAN has taken what He established and
they have changed it so EVERYONE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES. They
have been lying for MILLENIUM to these people and in time the truth
will come out, it is coming out now, and many will find that they have
been “going through the motions” only to find that in the end none of
what they have been practicing will get them to the goal.
You cannot change the path and then not follow the directions given to
you expecting to end up at your final destination! Jesus left behind
specific direction. Anyone can change them, and anyone can say all
they want, the truth is in what Jesus Christ said not what man says!
This seems pretty simple to me. God wants all men to be saved (1
Timothy 2:3-4) but not all men WANT to be saved the way Christ
established, and this saddens me very much.
Jesus warned to be aware of false prophets; Beware of false prophets
who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good
tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good
tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and
thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its
fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. "Not everyone who
calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only
those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
MATTHEW 7:15-21 (NTL)
Sometimes we think a false prophet is the one who stands on the corner
and preaches against God. But Jesus said “beware of harmless sheep”.
What does a false prophet do? They lead people away from the truth;
they give them a false sense of security. They take the truth and
twist it to fit their needs ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD. They take the
simple and they complicate it. Just because they stand behind a
pulpit and preach in a church does not mean they are true to Our
Father. Be careful…
So how do you find God’s favor? By following the way He established
through His Son!
Hasn’t Jesus already died for our sins and hasn’t the Lord forgiven us
for all past present and future because of what Jesus has done? How
do we win his favor? I thought God loves everyone.
What I am now going to say about all of this is not going to make me
very popular with the main stream Christians but it IS the truth.
When Jesus came and established His church He said; Now I say to you
that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will
build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
It is at this time that Jesus told Peter that he will be the head of
His church, later He asked Peter; After breakfast Jesus asked Simon
Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? "Yes,
Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs,"
Jesus told him. John 21:15 (NTL) Jesus asked him this question three
times because he wanted Peter to understand the enormity of this
question and soon-to-be task.
Then a short time later the Holy Spirit was sent; Then, what looked
like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began
speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this
ability. ACTS 2:22-23 (NTL) And the Apostle ministry was established!
In this current time we live in there are many churches out there that
say “BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND YOU ARE SAVED” “HE FOREGIVES ALL OF
YOUR SINS WHEN YOU JUST ASK HIM” I’m sorry but it is not that easy and
I will pose this question; Where do all of these other churches and
ministers get their power and authority from? Jesus established ONE
WAY through the Apostles ministry and that has never changed.
Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God
without being born of water and the Spirit. Baptism does not make you
a child of God, it makes you His friend, Holy sealing is a separate
act from baptism, and they are not one in the same. Last time I check
Jesus was baptized. Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River
to be baptized by John. MATTHEW 3:13 (NTL) And after that He was
sealed; After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the
heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove and settling on him. MATTHEW 3:16 (NTL)
So if the Son of God had two separate acts performed on him then why
do others think it’s all inclusive?
If you are in prison you can “believe” you are free. But until
someone who has been given the power and authority to set you free
does so you will still remain bound.
Jesus gave the “keys” to the Chief Apostle Peter; And I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." MATTHEW 16:19 (NKJV)
Forgiveness of your sins takes much effort on our part. We are not
forgiven automatically because Jesus died for us. I can’t say I have
a four year degree in college never having gone to a college ever, but
say my Dad went to college! You can’t just say to Him in a blanket
statement; “FORGIVE ME LORD” and then you are done with it. You need
to ponder over what you have done wrong, why you did it, how you are
going to make an effort to stop doing it again and then spelling it
all out to Him. You also need to ask Him to forgive you for the
things you are not even aware that you did wrong and really repent and
then ask to truly be forgiven.
I have gone to many churches and when it comes time to celebrate Holy
Communion there is NO mention of the forgiveness of sin, (which by the
way are TWO separate acts that neither one negates the other) there is
NO pronouncement of forgiveness and many times I have witnessed NO
consecration of the bread and wine. So in fact your sins have never
been forgiven and you are not eating the body and blood of Christ.
If in fact you have asked the Lord to forgive you and you were sincere
in your pleading to Him then what has really happened to you at that
moment of prayer is the Lord lifted your sins from you and put them on
a shelf, you have “atoned” (to make amends or reparation, as for an
offense or a crime, or for an offender) for you sins and they are
still yours and they are NOT paid for by Christ. Only when a minster
who has been given the power and authority through the Apostle
ministry pronounces forgiveness are they really paid for by Christ!
And only when the elements are consecrated through the Apostle
ministry are they changed into the body and blood of Christ.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6(NKJV). WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?! He established ONE WAY through His Apostles. So why are
there so many churches out there that tell everyone you DON’T need
Apostles today? Well probably because they don’t have the power and
authority to do anything in Christ’s name! They can “believe” all
they want that they do but is does not make it so!
For many in this time this is a hard pill to swallow, I ask WHY?
Jesus was very specific about the way He taught. He kept everything
very simple and basic but within what he taught He also established
certain criteria and the WORLD/MAN has taken what He established and
they have changed it so EVERYONE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES. They
have been lying for MILLENIUM to these people and in time the truth
will come out, it is coming out now, and many will find that they have
been “going through the motions” only to find that in the end none of
what they have been practicing will get them to the goal.
You cannot change the path and then not follow the directions given to
you expecting to end up at your final destination! Jesus left behind
specific direction. Anyone can change them, and anyone can say all
they want, the truth is in what Jesus Christ said not what man says!
This seems pretty simple to me. God wants all men to be saved (1
Timothy 2:3-4) but not all men WANT to be saved the way Christ
established, and this saddens me very much.
Jesus warned to be aware of false prophets; Beware of false prophets
who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good
tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good
tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and
thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its
fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. "Not everyone who
calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only
those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
MATTHEW 7:15-21 (NTL)
Sometimes we think a false prophet is the one who stands on the corner
and preaches against God. But Jesus said “beware of harmless sheep”.
What does a false prophet do? They lead people away from the truth;
they give them a false sense of security. They take the truth and
twist it to fit their needs ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD. They take the
simple and they complicate it. Just because they stand behind a
pulpit and preach in a church does not mean they are true to Our
Father. Be careful…
So how do you find God’s favor? By following the way He established
through His Son!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Sin Offering
Recently this topic has come up across many of my friends so I thought
I would expound on it.
Maybe you are asking yourself when you would need to do something like
this. Well if you feel in your heart that you have crossed over that
“Line” with the Lord and have fallen out of His favor or grace and the
guilt of your actions is almost consuming you for what you have done
wrong in your life then this would be a good step towards finding His
favor once again.
A sin offering is unlike any other offering. It has nothing to do
with thanks or a petition or need. It goes beyond saying you are
sorry to the Lord. You can’t just say to Him here is my sin offering
and be done with it.
There is some preparation. A sin offering is something you present to
God from your heart. It is very quiet moment that you and He share
when your heart is ready. You can’t hurry through the process; you
must take your time.
You pick a dollar amount that you feel will cover this (the monetary
size of the offering doesn’t really matter) Then before you place it
into the offertory you pray to Him.
1)You admit your guilt.
2)You tell Him in DETAIL all you have done wrong, you hold nothing
back. You reach into the depth of your soul and you bear it all to
Him to the point that you are embarrassed that you are even telling
Him. (He already knows He just wants you to acknowledge all of this
to yourself).
3)You repent and apologize for your actions.
4)You ask Him for forgiveness.
5)You thank Him for His kindness.
6)Then you place your offering and let go of all of it.
7)He forgives you and remembers it no more.
I have done this many times within my own life and it is not easy to
do…but He has always been kind and gracious with me.
I would expound on it.
Maybe you are asking yourself when you would need to do something like
this. Well if you feel in your heart that you have crossed over that
“Line” with the Lord and have fallen out of His favor or grace and the
guilt of your actions is almost consuming you for what you have done
wrong in your life then this would be a good step towards finding His
favor once again.
A sin offering is unlike any other offering. It has nothing to do
with thanks or a petition or need. It goes beyond saying you are
sorry to the Lord. You can’t just say to Him here is my sin offering
and be done with it.
There is some preparation. A sin offering is something you present to
God from your heart. It is very quiet moment that you and He share
when your heart is ready. You can’t hurry through the process; you
must take your time.
You pick a dollar amount that you feel will cover this (the monetary
size of the offering doesn’t really matter) Then before you place it
into the offertory you pray to Him.
1)You admit your guilt.
2)You tell Him in DETAIL all you have done wrong, you hold nothing
back. You reach into the depth of your soul and you bear it all to
Him to the point that you are embarrassed that you are even telling
Him. (He already knows He just wants you to acknowledge all of this
to yourself).
3)You repent and apologize for your actions.
4)You ask Him for forgiveness.
5)You thank Him for His kindness.
6)Then you place your offering and let go of all of it.
7)He forgives you and remembers it no more.
I have done this many times within my own life and it is not easy to
do…but He has always been kind and gracious with me.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Spiritual Faith for Monetary Expectations
I have come to find that within my own faith I am very strong when it
comes to the spiritual aspects of my life. I never doubt the unseen,
which by many is not so easy now-a-days. I have on occasion doubted
the seen, which makes me a little backwards.
I have always had an easy time believing that God can change anything that has to do with spiritual faith; He can move a heart, open an eye or cause a situation to happen that would strengthen ones faith. But when it comes to the “monetary” side of my faith (job, car, relationships and financial needs) sometimes I have doubted.
Recently I have been looking for a new job; as a matter of fact I have been looking since November 2011. God told me to start looking at that time. He said apply to the craziest jobs you think you will never get. And in time I will lead you to where I want you to be and you will receive a salary greater than you expect. Last time I checked God has never lied! A friend told me that God made 7,000 promises in the bible and He kept them all!
Sooo, I started to look. I applied to 10-20 jobs a month and nothing. I kept looking, but this time, instead of getting discouraged I held to the belief that if God could create everything we see and experience with one sentence of “let there be…” I KNEW He could easily get me a job.
Month’s pasts, I kept applying and still nothing, not even an interview, then out of the blue a headhunter sent me an email about a position, the next day I interviewed and the same day they offered me the job. I prayed that morning as I drove to the interview and I said to My Father, Thank you for the new job! Then I said; did you see what I did there? I thanked You up front before anything happened because I know if it’s the right job I’ll get it!”
A friend recently asked me the question; “Why is it so hard for me to trust Him? I know He will always take care of things, He always has, but I still struggle! Why can’t I trust Him whole heartily?”
My response was; “We trust Him whole heartily when it is spiritual, but when it is something in the natural we forget He is still MAGICAL. He can do anything when we have faith! You are just being human!”
We read in scripture time and again when the Lord performed miracle after miracle in the physical world and it baffled the minds of those in that time. Have we forgotten how magical, how wonderful, HOW POWERFUL OUR FATHER IS?! Nothing is too hard for Him!
So often I hear of people complaining that HE HASN’T HELPED ME YET, and I cringe. If you ask our Father or Big Brother Jesus for help, YOU DO NOT have the right to dictate to them a timeframe and an answer! Does that make sense?! Who are we that we would think we know better than They?!
Did you see what happened to me recently with my job search? Every day I thank Him for helping me. The job He wanted me to have was not available for 5 months and as soon as it was HE HAD SOMEONE CONTACT ME that I never met or even knew. They saw my resume on a job board and He moved their heart to contact me. I never applied for that job. Have I told you how AMAZING Our Father is? Hmmm? Have I?!
So then a week passes and I still haven’t received their offer letter. I sent an email and they finally responded back with; we can’t hire you now until August and we can’t send you an offer letter until sometime in July. I have two choices; 1) I can get very angry or 2) I accept that everything is in His hands and He will make all of this work out. I chose #2, was I disappointed? YEP!!!
What is my point? When you ask Him for help then YOU have to let HIM help YOU when the time is right! He knows EVERYTHING about your life. He knows you only have so much money to survive on; He will not let you starve! He feeds the birds and you are no less important to Him then they are. He knows how much physical pain you are in and how much you can tolerate. He knows all of your weaknesses and He knows your STRENGTHS better than you.
Please always remember this. Nothing that ever happens to you is a coincidence. It has passed before Him and He has approved it, be it good or not so good! Everything in life is a test of your faith and trust in your love for Him. He wants to see if you will still be strong in your faith when adversity comes, or are going to cuss Him out and walk away. DON’T BE A FOOL! This life we have is but a temporary moment within time. It lasts for a short time but dictates our place and where we want to be for the rest of our Eternal Existence!
I have always had an easy time believing that God can change anything that has to do with spiritual faith; He can move a heart, open an eye or cause a situation to happen that would strengthen ones faith. But when it comes to the “monetary” side of my faith (job, car, relationships and financial needs) sometimes I have doubted.
Recently I have been looking for a new job; as a matter of fact I have been looking since November 2011. God told me to start looking at that time. He said apply to the craziest jobs you think you will never get. And in time I will lead you to where I want you to be and you will receive a salary greater than you expect. Last time I checked God has never lied! A friend told me that God made 7,000 promises in the bible and He kept them all!
Sooo, I started to look. I applied to 10-20 jobs a month and nothing. I kept looking, but this time, instead of getting discouraged I held to the belief that if God could create everything we see and experience with one sentence of “let there be…” I KNEW He could easily get me a job.
Month’s pasts, I kept applying and still nothing, not even an interview, then out of the blue a headhunter sent me an email about a position, the next day I interviewed and the same day they offered me the job. I prayed that morning as I drove to the interview and I said to My Father, Thank you for the new job! Then I said; did you see what I did there? I thanked You up front before anything happened because I know if it’s the right job I’ll get it!”
A friend recently asked me the question; “Why is it so hard for me to trust Him? I know He will always take care of things, He always has, but I still struggle! Why can’t I trust Him whole heartily?”
My response was; “We trust Him whole heartily when it is spiritual, but when it is something in the natural we forget He is still MAGICAL. He can do anything when we have faith! You are just being human!”
We read in scripture time and again when the Lord performed miracle after miracle in the physical world and it baffled the minds of those in that time. Have we forgotten how magical, how wonderful, HOW POWERFUL OUR FATHER IS?! Nothing is too hard for Him!
So often I hear of people complaining that HE HASN’T HELPED ME YET, and I cringe. If you ask our Father or Big Brother Jesus for help, YOU DO NOT have the right to dictate to them a timeframe and an answer! Does that make sense?! Who are we that we would think we know better than They?!
Did you see what happened to me recently with my job search? Every day I thank Him for helping me. The job He wanted me to have was not available for 5 months and as soon as it was HE HAD SOMEONE CONTACT ME that I never met or even knew. They saw my resume on a job board and He moved their heart to contact me. I never applied for that job. Have I told you how AMAZING Our Father is? Hmmm? Have I?!
So then a week passes and I still haven’t received their offer letter. I sent an email and they finally responded back with; we can’t hire you now until August and we can’t send you an offer letter until sometime in July. I have two choices; 1) I can get very angry or 2) I accept that everything is in His hands and He will make all of this work out. I chose #2, was I disappointed? YEP!!!
What is my point? When you ask Him for help then YOU have to let HIM help YOU when the time is right! He knows EVERYTHING about your life. He knows you only have so much money to survive on; He will not let you starve! He feeds the birds and you are no less important to Him then they are. He knows how much physical pain you are in and how much you can tolerate. He knows all of your weaknesses and He knows your STRENGTHS better than you.
Please always remember this. Nothing that ever happens to you is a coincidence. It has passed before Him and He has approved it, be it good or not so good! Everything in life is a test of your faith and trust in your love for Him. He wants to see if you will still be strong in your faith when adversity comes, or are going to cuss Him out and walk away. DON’T BE A FOOL! This life we have is but a temporary moment within time. It lasts for a short time but dictates our place and where we want to be for the rest of our Eternal Existence!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Passion
Today, Good Friday, marks the anniversary day that starter redemption for all. We all can read of how Jesus suffered and it brings a new reality to our own lives. He told me recently that He too had many more moments that He wanted to give up than what is recorded. Maybe we think that just because He was the Son of God He didn’t have moments of weakness. He struggled often knowing His outcome and yet in spite of this He stayed the course and went home!
All of us have our moments of weakness and what we would call TOTAL FAILURE! No one is a total failure if they continue to learn, ask for forgiveness, stand back up and keep walking on this path of faith. We are never alone if we continue to talk with Our Father and Big Brother Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to help guide us.
If life were simple then we would all win the lottery because MANY think that would solve most of their problems, but in fact IT WOULD NOT! We dwell in the physical world which is more temporary than you think! That is all we really understand. I am asking you to dwell more in the spiritual and you will find a greater treasure than any lottery could offer you.
What will you find? Again you need to make a connection with Our Father and Brother. When you do this you will be given, love, peace, strength, joy, compassion, understanding, patience (I still haven’t mastered THAT one yet!) Insight, wisdom, confidence, a deeper faith, passion, and a drive to want TO GO HOME!
So through this weekend let us all appreciate the love Our Father and Savior holds us in and tell Them!
All of us have our moments of weakness and what we would call TOTAL FAILURE! No one is a total failure if they continue to learn, ask for forgiveness, stand back up and keep walking on this path of faith. We are never alone if we continue to talk with Our Father and Big Brother Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to help guide us.
If life were simple then we would all win the lottery because MANY think that would solve most of their problems, but in fact IT WOULD NOT! We dwell in the physical world which is more temporary than you think! That is all we really understand. I am asking you to dwell more in the spiritual and you will find a greater treasure than any lottery could offer you.
What will you find? Again you need to make a connection with Our Father and Brother. When you do this you will be given, love, peace, strength, joy, compassion, understanding, patience (I still haven’t mastered THAT one yet!) Insight, wisdom, confidence, a deeper faith, passion, and a drive to want TO GO HOME!
So through this weekend let us all appreciate the love Our Father and Savior holds us in and tell Them!
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