Yesterday we talked about how the woman with the issue of blood was instantly healed. In my blog, I shared one of the miracles of instantaneous healings that we have seen in our ministry in the past year at Praise Assembly in Columbia, KY. It is interesting that Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote this song for our generation. 'He Touched Me' The song is about Jesus touching someone and changing their life. It is interesting to note that a lot of the time in the Bible it was people touching JESUS that changed their life. The blind man cried out to Jesus, he reached Jesus, then Jesus reached out to him. Many people sit by the wayside today saying, "If God wants me to be healed or healthy, or wise, I'll just wait for him to touch me, and I will be made whole. I'm waiting upon God's will" We have been taught to be afraid to cry out to him, or to aggressively go after God. The blind man didn't sit around and try to figure out if it was God's will to heal him. He cried out, "Son of David have mercy on me." The disciples tried to make him be quiet. Wow. If the disciples tried to sit me down, I think I would have sat down. I don't have the faith that this man had for sure. Instead of being quiet he yelled out all the LOUDER, "Son of David have mercy on me."
We have been taught to be so careful not to pray for a healing if it isn't the will of God, but we do and say things everyday that is against his Word and his will and we think nothing of that. Why are we so careful not to pray anything against his will, when our mouth speaks things against his will everyday? If we were never expected to ask for anything that wasn't his will, then God would never have to tell us "NO" We are God's kids. How many times growing up did you have to tell your kids, "NO" Lots of times. It is Ok to pray for the things you need. God is a good Father. If he don't want you to have these things you are praying for, he will tell you NO like every other father on this planet does. The bible says to come boldly before the throne of grace...
You need to have an aggressive faith in God. Don't sit back and wait for Jesus to touch you. You press in and touch Jesus. Someone is thinking, "Oh, I couldn't be that bold with God. What if he doesn't want me to touch him? What if it isn't his will." Well, we do things everyday that isn't his will, why are we suddenly so concerned about offending his will. It is a religious teaching and doctrine that keeps people passive with their faith. It sounds so Holy and pious. I have heard many people say, "Oh bless God, I wouldn't want to do anything against the will of God." Yet they turn around and gossip, back bite and carry on. It is just a religious mantra, and a false humility.
Zacchaeus wasn't afraid to aggressively go after Jesus. Even though he was a sinner, and a really bad man, he wanted to see Jesus as he passed by. He was short and couldn't see over top of everyone else that wanted to see Jesus. Did he let that stop him? Absolutely NOT. He climbed up in a tree, and got the best view in the house! His actions touched the heart of Jesus. He wouldn't let nothing stop him from getting God's attention.
There was another man that was paralyzed. Did he let the fact that he was unable to walk stop him from going to the meeting where Jesus was teaching. Absolutely not. They put him on a stretcher and carried him to the meeting. But, set back number two. Once they got to the meeting it was already full, and they couldn't get in. Ok, right there, I'm just going to go home, the building is full. Did this stop them from touching Jesus. Did they say, "Well, the house was full, I guess it just wasn't God's will." NO. They climbed up on the roof, tore the roof open, and lowered him down right in front of Jesus. Now that is about as aggressive as faith gets!
Did Jesus call for the ushers to escort them out? Did he fuss at them for the mess and the noise? NO. They didn't care about the building codes, or anything else. They got to Jesus, and he healed him! Is your faith passive or aggressive? I know people who get sick, pray all of three of four times, and if they don't receive healing they just passively sit back and say, "It must not be God's will." We are spiritually lazy and then blame God! These men ran into all kinds of difficulties and set backs. Did they sit back passively and blame God's will? No. They got aggressive and touched Jesus, they didn't wait for Jesus to touch them!
The root word of action is ACT. The book of Acts in the bible tells the history of the church as it was first being formed in Jerusalem and around the world. They were not a passive church with passive Christians, with passive people praying, "if it be thy will..." They were an aggressive church, with aggressive Christians, and aggressive faith, that followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If they tried to do something against the will of God the Holy Spirit restrained them. They didn't spend days, hours, months and years trying to find out if they should seek, ask and knock for those things they needed in prayer.
The Bible says we can pray amiss... Praying amiss is about our heart that is amiss... it isn't about missing the will of God. The emphasis here is not to fail to pray because we are unsure of his will. The emphasis is to get our motives right and our hearts pure so that we will be obeying his will. The bible never instructs us to fail to seek God in our time of need because we want to know if it is his will to help us or not. The Bible says to seek God while he may be found call upon him while he is near.
There are whole denomination of Christians that would put you under bondage. They make you feel as if you are not free to ask God for the things you have need of. It sounds so Holy to say, "find out God's will before you pray so you won't pray amiss" God never told you to find out God's will before you pray for the things you have need of...Asking amiss has to do with YOUR heart, not God's will. Asking amiss is when we pray for the things of God for our own selfish pleasure, not because God doesn't will something for us. The whole concept that we must find out God's will on the matter before we ask him to help us is not a biblical concept.
Jesus simply said, Ask, Seek, Knock...he never said to spend days trying to figure out if God wants you to ask, seek and knock.
Yes, we must pray according to God's will, but God shows us his will by answering our prayer. He will say, Yes, or NO, and either way we have our answer to his will. We don't have to spend months, days, and hours trying to find out if it's God's will that we pray for our needs, before we are free to ask . This is just a trick of the enemy to keep us in a passive faith that does not receive from God. There are religious people today that are making our relationship with God way too complex. Jesus made it simple, ask, seek, and knock. Get aggressive with your faith and go after the things you have need of.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Philippians chapter one: a teaching by Kristi McCann | praiseag
Philippians chapter one: a teaching by Kristi McCann | praiseag CLICK THE LINK TO THE LEFT TO GO TO THE PODCAST
INSTANTLY HEALED OF A HEART CONDITION JUST LAST WEEK
Yesterday we talked about the woman that pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was instantly healed. You know Jesus is still instantly healing people today. Just last week Pastor laid hands on a man and he was super naturally, instantaneously healed by God. He had a procedure scheduled the next day to put stints in his heart. His leg was swollen and purple near the calf, because of poor blood circulation. He was unable to get up and go to the bathroom without running out of breath. He was very sick. He told Pastor that all of his family had gone on before him and all of them had died of heart failure. Pastor Bob laid his hands on the man and prayed for him to recover. He said to the man after the prayer, "When you go to the doctor tomorrow, the doctor is going to say, Why is this man here?" The next day he got up early and went to the doctor as planned. They got him ready for the surgery and the doctor put the scope up his vein, and he turned to the nurse and said, "Why is this man here?" The doctor pulled the scope out without doing anything to his body. They could not find any blockages, though they had seen them previously and scheduled the procedure. Later the doctor told this man that he knew 20 year olds that didn't have a heart in that good of condition. His leg is no longer swollen and blue. He can now walk without breathing hard. This happened just this past week right here in Columbia, KY. Everyone here knows this man. Those that know him have given glory to God for this healing. I know that God still does miracles today, because I have witnessed them, and experienced them first hand.
A man visited our church. He has been taught by another denomination that God doesn't do miracles today. This man said to Pastor Bob, "God doesn't do miracles today, so, if a miracle was done, where did it come from? It came from the devil." Isn't this the same thing they said about Jesus' miracles? Jesus said to the teachers of the law:
John 7: 19-20
A man visited our church. He has been taught by another denomination that God doesn't do miracles today. This man said to Pastor Bob, "God doesn't do miracles today, so, if a miracle was done, where did it come from? It came from the devil." Isn't this the same thing they said about Jesus' miracles? Jesus said to the teachers of the law:
John 7: 19-20
19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me?
20The people answered and said, You have a demon: who goes about to kill you?
The religious folk accused Jesus of having a devil, is it any wonder that people do the same things today? They want to deny that God has any power, and attribute all power to the devil. I have good news for you today, God has POWER and he uses it today. You can deny the existence of God if you like. You can deny that he still cares enough about this world to use his power today if you like, but you cannot deny that a man in Columbia was supernaturally and miraculously healed. Those who are the blind leading the blind may want to attribute the works of God to the devil, be we know better. God is a good God, and the devil is a bad devil. God is the healer, and he is still working miracles today for those who BELIEVE. People today by their own admission no longer believe in God's power, and then think that their lack of faith is proof that God no longer does miracles today. We have seen may healings here in Columbia, KY. Why? Because we believe.
What do you believe? Jesus said:
Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it to you.
Your faith is the key that unlocks heaven. Do miracles still happen today? Yes, they happen for those who believe. It will be for you according to your faith. If you go to a church where they do not believe in miracles, don't bother looking for miracles, you won't find any there. We receive what we believe! Our lack of faith is a stumbling block for our prayers. Our prayers are hindered because we no longer believe. Can you believe in miracles? Than get ready to see a miracle.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Faith that shakes heaven and earth
Yesterday I wrote about the man who had many demons in him that lived in the graveyards. Of course Jesus passed his way and cast out the demons. The demons went into a herd of pigs and they ran off the side of the cliff and they all died. When the people came they saw the man who had been crazy out by the graveyard clothed, and in his right mind.
Mark 5:14-17
Mark 5:14-17
14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15And they came to Jesus, and saw him that was possessed with the demon, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16And they that saw it told them what had happened to him that was possessed with the demon, and also concerning the swine.
17And they began to ask him to depart out of their region.
Wow. Talk about a rough day so far. Here he cast these demons out of this man. And then the pigs...and the pigs all die. Then the town people come out and say to Jesus, "you gotta leave our town." Wow. Tough day huh?
Mark 5:21-23
21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, many people gathered unto him: and he was near unto the sea.
22And, behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death: I pray you, come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Jesus didn't even get to take a rest, and then there came a man, who wanted Jesus to heal his daughter who was near death. The Bible said that Jesus went with the man and many people crowded in around him. Now he has this crowd pushing in on all sides. And there came a certain woman in the crowd that had an issue...That is what Jesus does, he heals our issues. We are all full of issues and problems and distress. Jesus doesn't leave us stranded in our issue. No matter how much is on his agenda, he always has time for our issues. This woman had an issue of blood. She needed a healing. Not only did this woman had an issue, but there are three things that we know about this woman according to the Scripture.
1. She had a long term illness, she had been sick for 12 years. Maybe you are facing an issue today that you have had as long as you can remember. Maybe you thought you would never get better. This woman had been sick for 12 years, but that didn't matter. There is no problem too hard for Jesus. I've heard people say, "Oh, I 've had this for so long, I guess things will never get better." Don't count your self out yet, Jesus is still alive and he is still working miracles!
2. This woman had suffered many things. Her suffering was great. She was not in a position in life that was acceptable. She had a real problem of sickness. And the physicians only made her sufferings worse. There are times when you realize WHY they call it practicing medicine. You can find your self in a position where everything the doctors try to make your condition better, only makes it worse and adds more suffering to you. The bible said she had suffered many things of many physicians.
3. The doctors had taken all of her money, and her condition had not gotten better, but only worse. You can pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and drive back and forth across the country to go to physician after physician, and still end up sicker than you were yesterday. This woman had spent all she had on the doctors to cure her issue. Money can't heal your issues. Many times doctors cannot heal your issue. Put all your issues in one basket and then give that basket to Jesus.
This woman said, "if only I can touch the hem of his garment I will be healed." This woman didn't question if God wanted to heal her, or if God was willing to heal her. If you are still questioning God, you don't yet have the faith you need to be healed. She never paused to say, "Is it GOD'S will to HEAL ME." She didn't wait for God to come her way. She didn't say, "IF it be God's will,..." She didn't sit at home wishing her circumstances would change. As sick as she was, and unclean because of the blood, she pressed through the crowd. She had a determined and dogmatic faith that would not be denied. The only thing this woman questioned was IF she could actually REACH the hem of his garment. But as weak as she was she pressed her way through the crowd and she grasped the hem of his garment anyhow!
There are times when we don't know if we can reach the hem of his garment, because there is so much depression, and discouragement, and opposition from the enemy clouding up the atmosphere. Sometimes you got to press through. The old timers called that praying through. When you pray you reach up and touch heaven, but when heaven comes down and touches you, that is when your life really begins to change. You got to do more than reach heaven, you got to pray through and pray until heaven comes down and touches you! This woman said, "I KNOW I will be healed." Then she pressed through the crowd and would not be denied! This is the kind of faith that will shake both heaven and earth!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Hopelessness isn't always hopeless
In the times we are living in, if you don't believe in demons you might as well get your head out of the sand and look around you for just a minute or two! The Bible tells of a man who had demons, this guy was past gone. I mean if he were here today and diagnosed he would be bi-polar, schizophrenic, agoraphobic, avoidant personality disorder, (SI) Self Injury...I mean if there was is a psychological disorder out there with a name on it, this guy HAD IT.
1. He had super strength. Even when they chained him, he would break the chains apart.
2. He roamed night and day in the grave yard he wanted to be alone.
3. He would cry out continually and cut him self with the stones in the grave yard he was self abusive.
4. He came up to Jesus and begged Jesus not to send him out of the region, but he wasn't looking at Jesus face when he spoke to him. Jesus said, "Look at me" This man didn't like to make eye contact.
The Bible goes on to say that this man had MANY demons in him.
This man is a representative of society, and he is more like people today than we realize. First people are strong willed. They have a stubborn will that cannot be broken. People are so selfish, each one wanting their own way. And people don't like to make commitments and take on responsibility. If we feel like anything is holding us back, we just break those issues off and toss them away, even if they are our own children, we don't let anything hold us down.
Second he was looking for a life, among the dead. What are you going to find in a grave yard? You certainly are not going to find life there. We put barriers around our hearts, and isolate ourselves from the rest of society because we want to be alone. We think in the solitude of our own existence that we can find peace and safety but what we find only haunts us. There is no life in a pill bottle, no health or peace in another snort. There is no lasting satisfaction in finding someone to be with. All of these things are of the world and they are dead, passing away. Only God can bring you life, joy and peace. Only God can bring lasting satisfaction into your soul.
Third we torture ourselves and self abuse with guilt and condemnation. We are never good enough, rich enough, or done enough...We torture our self with unpleasant memories. We cry out in the darkness of the night and cry our self to sleep. We rip ourselves up and chew ourselves out...then we go to work, and come home to do the same things all over again. We have to quit being so hard on our self and take the focus off our self, and put our focus on the goodness of God. If I weren't such a sinner, then he couldn't save me. Why do I want to focus on my failures when I can think about God's goodness? We have to stop beating ourselves up, and we have to start lifting JESUS up!
Fourth we can't make eye contact with God. We don't want to look at the pages of the HOLY bible and read what it says. We want to look the other way. We don't want to look at the message from God. We don't want to look our momma in the eye, cause we know we done wrong. We don't want to look out kids in the eyes, cause we know we let them down again. We don't want to look our spouse in the eye, cause we know we have been messing up again.
And we are tired, we don't want to be sent away, put away, shut in or sat down. Let me tell you that if any man had a 'right' to commit suicide it would have been this man. What hope was there for this man that was so full of demons? He didn't have no life. Living in the graveyard, crying out, self abusive, naked, disturbed...completely hopeless.
But his hopelessness wasn't as hopeless as it seemed. Jesus went to him, and helped him even while he was still possessed by demons. NOBODY ever went out to this man, he was dangerous! They avoided him, but Jesus paid him a visit one day. Suicide is not the answer to your hopeless situation. You don't need another pill, all you need is a visit from Jesus one day. Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock." He is waiting on you to open the door and let him in!
Mark 5: 7-15
1. He had super strength. Even when they chained him, he would break the chains apart.
2. He roamed night and day in the grave yard he wanted to be alone.
3. He would cry out continually and cut him self with the stones in the grave yard he was self abusive.
4. He came up to Jesus and begged Jesus not to send him out of the region, but he wasn't looking at Jesus face when he spoke to him. Jesus said, "Look at me" This man didn't like to make eye contact.
The Bible goes on to say that this man had MANY demons in him.
This man is a representative of society, and he is more like people today than we realize. First people are strong willed. They have a stubborn will that cannot be broken. People are so selfish, each one wanting their own way. And people don't like to make commitments and take on responsibility. If we feel like anything is holding us back, we just break those issues off and toss them away, even if they are our own children, we don't let anything hold us down.
Second he was looking for a life, among the dead. What are you going to find in a grave yard? You certainly are not going to find life there. We put barriers around our hearts, and isolate ourselves from the rest of society because we want to be alone. We think in the solitude of our own existence that we can find peace and safety but what we find only haunts us. There is no life in a pill bottle, no health or peace in another snort. There is no lasting satisfaction in finding someone to be with. All of these things are of the world and they are dead, passing away. Only God can bring you life, joy and peace. Only God can bring lasting satisfaction into your soul.
Third we torture ourselves and self abuse with guilt and condemnation. We are never good enough, rich enough, or done enough...We torture our self with unpleasant memories. We cry out in the darkness of the night and cry our self to sleep. We rip ourselves up and chew ourselves out...then we go to work, and come home to do the same things all over again. We have to quit being so hard on our self and take the focus off our self, and put our focus on the goodness of God. If I weren't such a sinner, then he couldn't save me. Why do I want to focus on my failures when I can think about God's goodness? We have to stop beating ourselves up, and we have to start lifting JESUS up!
Fourth we can't make eye contact with God. We don't want to look at the pages of the HOLY bible and read what it says. We want to look the other way. We don't want to look at the message from God. We don't want to look our momma in the eye, cause we know we done wrong. We don't want to look out kids in the eyes, cause we know we let them down again. We don't want to look our spouse in the eye, cause we know we have been messing up again.
And we are tired, we don't want to be sent away, put away, shut in or sat down. Let me tell you that if any man had a 'right' to commit suicide it would have been this man. What hope was there for this man that was so full of demons? He didn't have no life. Living in the graveyard, crying out, self abusive, naked, disturbed...completely hopeless.
But his hopelessness wasn't as hopeless as it seemed. Jesus went to him, and helped him even while he was still possessed by demons. NOBODY ever went out to this man, he was dangerous! They avoided him, but Jesus paid him a visit one day. Suicide is not the answer to your hopeless situation. You don't need another pill, all you need is a visit from Jesus one day. Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock." He is waiting on you to open the door and let him in!
Mark 5: 7-15
7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, that you torment me not.
10And he begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there near unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12And all the demons begged him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13And Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (there were about two thousand;) and were drowned in the sea.
14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15And they came to Jesus, and saw him that was possessed with the demon, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
After Jesus passed by this man that was possessed with the demon was sitting, clothed, and in his right mind...
Don't think your life is too far gone, because it isn't. Hopelessness isn't always hopeless, Jesus is still putting people's lives back together. Have you had enough? Just give it all to Jesus.
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Arm of the LORD.
Yesterday we talked about who has believed the report of the Lord from Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
First Isaiah wants to know who has believed. Second he says, "and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
If you go through out America today, many, many people will tell you that they believe in Jesus. Do you know that God's will for you does not stop with believing! God wants to reveal him self to you. You cannot overlook the second part of this verse. Revealing is the part God does.
To reveal means:
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
First Isaiah wants to know who has believed. Second he says, "and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
If you go through out America today, many, many people will tell you that they believe in Jesus. Do you know that God's will for you does not stop with believing! God wants to reveal him self to you. You cannot overlook the second part of this verse. Revealing is the part God does.
To reveal means:
1 to make known through divine inspiration
2 to make (something secret or hidden) publicly or generally known <reveal a secret>
But what does God want to reveal to us? He wants to reveal his arm to us. Our responsibility is to believe the report of the Lord. Once we believe God, he then desires to reveal his arm to us. It isn't automatic that when we believe that the arm of the LORD will be revealed to us. There are a whole lot more people who believe in God than there are people who have had the arm of the LORD revealed to them.
Psalms 44: 1-3 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the times of old. How you did drive out the nations with your hand, and planted them; how you did afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, because you had favor unto them.
God saves us by his right hand and his arm! What are you facing today. The arm of the LORD is mighty to save. Let God reveal himself to you. Believe in him, and trust in him, and he will reveal his mighty right hand. Can you trust God? God may not give you what you want, when you want it, but he will always give you the best for your circumstance!
Isaiah 51: 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall judge the people; the coastlands shall wait upon me, and on my arm shall they trust.
When things aren't going right, and they are not what they should be, God brings forth justice with his arm, and by his arm he judges all things. He expects us to trust in his arms. Children must learn to trust and rest in their parents arms. A small child cannot feed themselves, bathe them self, take care of them self, but their parents have mighty strong arms that are constantly working to meet their every need. Does that mean that the child is never hungry or needing a bathe. Well, sometimes the child has to wait on the parent. God has mighty strong arms, and he is constantly working and moving to meet our every need in Christ Jesus!
Psalms 136:12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm: for his mercy endures forever.
Whatever you need today, you must go beyond prayer if you want to see the arm of God meet your provision today. It is good to pray, but beyond prayer we must trust and obey God. Take a step of faith and fully rely on God and be obedient to what he ask you to do. When we take our belief in Jesus and we trust him like we would trust something tangible, we have opened up the way for God to reveal to us his mighty arm.
Is God real?
Yesterday I taught from Isaiah 53:1 , who has believed the report of the LORD. We have an issue in the church today that people no longer believe. Do miracles exist today? Does God heal today? Are the gifts of the Spirit in operation today? Of course they are working today, but there are whole denominations that no longer believe. Jesus said:
Mark 16:16 -18 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.
Jesus said that signs would follow those that believe! Those that believe will cast out demons. We are living in a time when only the foolish refuse to believe in demons. Open your eyes, demonic powers are in the world everywhere around us. We don't have to live with demons. Those who believe in Jesus will cast out demons, they aren't going to live oppressed by a demon! They shall speak in new tongues. Do you realize that every apostle of Jesus including the apostle Paul spoke in an unknown tongue? Not only have churches failed to believe in speaking in tongues, but there are those in the church that are ignorant enough to say that tongues are of the devil. These don't know the Scriptures, nor do they know the power of God. There are others who would say that tongues should be done in private, not in front of unbelievers because they won't understand, or it might frighten them. These also do not know the Scriptures, neither do they know or understand the power of God. Tongues are for the unbeliever!
1 Corinthians 14: 20-22 Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them that believe.
Their are also those who claim that tongues are no longer necessary for today. They don't know or understand the power of God, nor the Scriptures! I was raised Methodist, and I doubted the existence of God. Why did I doubt? My parents were both graduates of Asbury College, students of religion. I asked my mom one day, "Why doesn't God do the miracles like he did in the bible." Her reply was that though God could do these things, he usually does not. I asked my Sunday School teacher the same question. She said, "We don't need miracles of healing and things because now we have medicine and science. God's power is no longer necessary for today." None of that made since to me. I thought, "If God has the power to heal, and does not use it, that is not very smart on his part to quit doing these wonderful miracles." I ultimately came to the conclusion that the miracles were never real...the Bible was never real...I asked my mother why she bothered to pray if God usually does not do anything these days. She was very annoyed that I had asked!
Then I attended a Pentecostal church. They began to say that God does do miracles, he does cast out demons, he does raise the dead, his power is still working today just like it did in the Bible. I wanted to do more than hear it, I wanted to SEE IT. The day I first came to believe was the first time I heard a message in tongues. Hearing an unknown tongue convinced me that God was truly real. Yes, it scared me to death, but, I walked out of that Assembly of God church that day believing in God! I knew it was God's power. I felt his presence, I was under conviction, I saw and heard his power displayed. I had never felt, heard or seen anything like it before and I had been raised in a Pastor's home!
Many times since that day I have prayed for people who have received healing instantaneously in their body. And many times God has super naturally healed my body. Now I KNOW God is real because I have experienced his power. Why do we not see many churches operating in the supernatural today? It is simply because they do NOT believe! They will very plainly tell you that they do NOT believe, and will persecute those who do! Why are churches today so arrogant to dismiss the power of God? There is a whole generation of youth today that are becoming atheist. They are just like I used to be. They refuse to believe in a God that is no longer displaying his power to this generation. Those of you in nonbelieving churches that think yourself so smart to dismiss the power of God ponder this question. If God's POWER is no longer necessary for this day, than why is God himself any more necessary. You can fool yourself into thinking that God's power is void, but, your kids know a phony religious belief when they see one! God's power IS real, miracles are for today, God is still working signs, wonders and miracles in THIS generation!
What about taking up serpents, or drinking anything deadly. Jesus said those signs would follow those who believe. Were the apostles snake handlers or did they purposely drink poison. OF COURSE NOT. But there was a time when a deadly viper bit the apostle Paul as he was gathering wood for a fire. Everyone thought he would die, but he did not even have one symptom of the venom! God never meant for us to handle snakes or drink poison on purpose, but accidents happen. If you are bitten by a snake, or accidentally get poisoned, these things will not harm you if you believe! There have been many people through the centuries that had power over death because of their faith in God. Many times people have tried to kill the Godly for their faith only to find out that they were unable to kill them. An example of this is when the KING threw the three Hebrew children into the furnace and had it heated up hotter than usual. They were alive walking around in the flames! They did not die!
Jesus said that those who believed would lay hands on the sick, and they would recover. There are very few churches that practice the laying on of hands. Yet, Paul mentioned it as one of the elementary foundational doctrines of the faith.
Hebrews 6: 1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto maturity; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
If churches are not practicing or preaching the elementary foundational doctrines than what exactly are they doing when they meet together? Giving a good speech, tickling the ears? Can we abandon the foundational teachings and expect a church that can stand? A church that does not preach repentance, faith, doctrines of baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection, and hell has left the foundation of God and are building some other type of congregation other than what the apostles built!
Isaiah said "Who has believed our report?" and "to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"
God wants to reveal himself to you. What is your responsibility? You must believe. As long as you believe that the power of God is not for today, you are not a believer! Do you believe in Jesus? Or, do you merely believe in what he did 2000 years ago. Do you know that he is not dead! He is still alive. Miracles and wonders were done by God in the old testament before the time of Jesus. Miracles and wonders were done in the New Testament during the days of Jesus. Miracles and wonders were done after the death and resurrection of Jesus all throughout history EVEN to this very DAY. You will see it, and experience it, when you believe!
Mark 16:16 -18 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.
Jesus said that signs would follow those that believe! Those that believe will cast out demons. We are living in a time when only the foolish refuse to believe in demons. Open your eyes, demonic powers are in the world everywhere around us. We don't have to live with demons. Those who believe in Jesus will cast out demons, they aren't going to live oppressed by a demon! They shall speak in new tongues. Do you realize that every apostle of Jesus including the apostle Paul spoke in an unknown tongue? Not only have churches failed to believe in speaking in tongues, but there are those in the church that are ignorant enough to say that tongues are of the devil. These don't know the Scriptures, nor do they know the power of God. There are others who would say that tongues should be done in private, not in front of unbelievers because they won't understand, or it might frighten them. These also do not know the Scriptures, neither do they know or understand the power of God. Tongues are for the unbeliever!
1 Corinthians 14: 20-22 Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them that believe.
Their are also those who claim that tongues are no longer necessary for today. They don't know or understand the power of God, nor the Scriptures! I was raised Methodist, and I doubted the existence of God. Why did I doubt? My parents were both graduates of Asbury College, students of religion. I asked my mom one day, "Why doesn't God do the miracles like he did in the bible." Her reply was that though God could do these things, he usually does not. I asked my Sunday School teacher the same question. She said, "We don't need miracles of healing and things because now we have medicine and science. God's power is no longer necessary for today." None of that made since to me. I thought, "If God has the power to heal, and does not use it, that is not very smart on his part to quit doing these wonderful miracles." I ultimately came to the conclusion that the miracles were never real...the Bible was never real...I asked my mother why she bothered to pray if God usually does not do anything these days. She was very annoyed that I had asked!
Then I attended a Pentecostal church. They began to say that God does do miracles, he does cast out demons, he does raise the dead, his power is still working today just like it did in the Bible. I wanted to do more than hear it, I wanted to SEE IT. The day I first came to believe was the first time I heard a message in tongues. Hearing an unknown tongue convinced me that God was truly real. Yes, it scared me to death, but, I walked out of that Assembly of God church that day believing in God! I knew it was God's power. I felt his presence, I was under conviction, I saw and heard his power displayed. I had never felt, heard or seen anything like it before and I had been raised in a Pastor's home!
Many times since that day I have prayed for people who have received healing instantaneously in their body. And many times God has super naturally healed my body. Now I KNOW God is real because I have experienced his power. Why do we not see many churches operating in the supernatural today? It is simply because they do NOT believe! They will very plainly tell you that they do NOT believe, and will persecute those who do! Why are churches today so arrogant to dismiss the power of God? There is a whole generation of youth today that are becoming atheist. They are just like I used to be. They refuse to believe in a God that is no longer displaying his power to this generation. Those of you in nonbelieving churches that think yourself so smart to dismiss the power of God ponder this question. If God's POWER is no longer necessary for this day, than why is God himself any more necessary. You can fool yourself into thinking that God's power is void, but, your kids know a phony religious belief when they see one! God's power IS real, miracles are for today, God is still working signs, wonders and miracles in THIS generation!
What about taking up serpents, or drinking anything deadly. Jesus said those signs would follow those who believe. Were the apostles snake handlers or did they purposely drink poison. OF COURSE NOT. But there was a time when a deadly viper bit the apostle Paul as he was gathering wood for a fire. Everyone thought he would die, but he did not even have one symptom of the venom! God never meant for us to handle snakes or drink poison on purpose, but accidents happen. If you are bitten by a snake, or accidentally get poisoned, these things will not harm you if you believe! There have been many people through the centuries that had power over death because of their faith in God. Many times people have tried to kill the Godly for their faith only to find out that they were unable to kill them. An example of this is when the KING threw the three Hebrew children into the furnace and had it heated up hotter than usual. They were alive walking around in the flames! They did not die!
Jesus said that those who believed would lay hands on the sick, and they would recover. There are very few churches that practice the laying on of hands. Yet, Paul mentioned it as one of the elementary foundational doctrines of the faith.
Hebrews 6: 1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto maturity; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
If churches are not practicing or preaching the elementary foundational doctrines than what exactly are they doing when they meet together? Giving a good speech, tickling the ears? Can we abandon the foundational teachings and expect a church that can stand? A church that does not preach repentance, faith, doctrines of baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection, and hell has left the foundation of God and are building some other type of congregation other than what the apostles built!
Isaiah said "Who has believed our report?" and "to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"
God wants to reveal himself to you. What is your responsibility? You must believe. As long as you believe that the power of God is not for today, you are not a believer! Do you believe in Jesus? Or, do you merely believe in what he did 2000 years ago. Do you know that he is not dead! He is still alive. Miracles and wonders were done by God in the old testament before the time of Jesus. Miracles and wonders were done in the New Testament during the days of Jesus. Miracles and wonders were done after the death and resurrection of Jesus all throughout history EVEN to this very DAY. You will see it, and experience it, when you believe!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The report of the LORD.
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isaiah was wanting to know who had believed the report? He was concerned that people were not believing the report that was being given, and he wanted to know to whom the arm of the LORD was revealed. It is understandable why Isaiah was asking these questions. Things haven't changed much since the days of Isaiah when it comes to these issues Its the same problem in the world today. The gospel is being preached 24 hours a day 7 days a week on TV, podcast, in arenas in churches, in blogs, on the internet...yet people still do not believe the report of the Lord!
When you preach the word of God, many people simply do not believe. There are many times that we preach on sin according to the Word of God. For instance, I Corinthians 6: 9-11 says
Isaiah was wanting to know who had believed the report? He was concerned that people were not believing the report that was being given, and he wanted to know to whom the arm of the LORD was revealed. It is understandable why Isaiah was asking these questions. Things haven't changed much since the days of Isaiah when it comes to these issues Its the same problem in the world today. The gospel is being preached 24 hours a day 7 days a week on TV, podcast, in arenas in churches, in blogs, on the internet...yet people still do not believe the report of the Lord!
When you preach the word of God, many people simply do not believe. There are many times that we preach on sin according to the Word of God. For instance, I Corinthians 6: 9-11 says
Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Andsuch were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Just try to explain to the fornicator that they will not inherit the kingdom ofGod. Just try to teach the idolater, the drunkard and the revilers and the extortioners that they will not enter in.. I challenge you to explain to the effeminate, and those who abuse themselves with mankind that they will not enter the kingdom of God. Explain this verse to the thieves, and the covetous and the adulterers that they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Most who are guilty of these things want to argue the point. Though they are guilty of these things they want to believe they will inherit the Kingdom. When they try to argue the point, they are only arguing with the Word of God. People say things like, "I know I don't live right, but I pray everyday, I think I'm Ok with God." People often say, "I know I'm living wrong, but, I think God understands my heart, I pray." They have their own beliefs, instead of believing the Bible for what it says. Isaiah asked the question, "Who has believed our report?"
Do you believe what the book of Corinthians says? Do you believe the Bible? Is I Corinthians 6: 9-11 valid? Does your church believe the Bible way or have you been taught a different way in your church? If you have been taught the Bible than you have been taught I Corinthians 6: 9-11 says
Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Andsuch were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
That was not man's opinion that was the Word of God. You can disagree with opinions, but you cannot disagree with the Word of God without disagreeing with God. Many churches have used their own opinions and man made interpretations to dismiss the word of God. Remember that Isaiah asked in his day, Who has believed the report. God is still asking the same question today.
Monday, June 17, 2013
He's Living the Dream
Jesus said it was hard for those that are rich to enter into the kingdom of God. Who is rich? Well, most of us don't feel very rich. There are more ways to be rich than money. We can be rich in family, rich in friends, rich in contentment, rich in happiness and joy. When you are unhappy on the inside, you can't get much poorer in this life. In the bible we see the story of a man who was rich, young and a community leader. Wow. You can't get much richer than this guy. The guy was living the dream, but he was still searching for something more.
Matthew 10: 17-24 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
We see that this was a good guy. He wanted to have eternal life, but in the end, his life on this earth was more important to him. Does God want all of us to give away our possessions? No. This was the only person that was told by Jesus to sell all of his possessions. What God desires is that our wealth doesn't mean more to us than our devotion to God. Is it just our money that God is talking about here? God is talking about all of our riches. Should we put our friends before God? No. How many times has someone followed friends above God, and then got into a bunch of trouble! Should we put our business before God? No. How many times has someone put their business first and then lost everything? Should we put our ease and comfort first in our lives? No. There is nothing that we can live for in this life, except God. To live for anything but God, is to be rich in that area of our life. Only when we lay down everything will we find the true grace of God . Is your relationship with God the most valuable thing in your life? If it isn't, consider the rich young ruler. It is hard for a person who is rich to get into the kingdom of God.
Mark 10: 23-25 And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hard for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Think of how many people have suffered because they were rich in sinful living. When we live to sin, we are living a selfish self serving life. God asks us to turn from our sin, and to follow him by being obedient to the Bible. Sin brings dissatisfaction in this life. God brings peace and satisfaction. The rich young ruler that asked Jesus about eternal life went away sad, with his riches still intact. It was a sorrow that lasted a life time, and then even beyond. Maybe like this rich, young man you are already trying to live a good life doing the best you can. Jesus is asking you to lay down whatever you put in front of him, don't walk away sad.
Matthew 10: 17-24 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
We see that this was a good guy. He wanted to have eternal life, but in the end, his life on this earth was more important to him. Does God want all of us to give away our possessions? No. This was the only person that was told by Jesus to sell all of his possessions. What God desires is that our wealth doesn't mean more to us than our devotion to God. Is it just our money that God is talking about here? God is talking about all of our riches. Should we put our friends before God? No. How many times has someone followed friends above God, and then got into a bunch of trouble! Should we put our business before God? No. How many times has someone put their business first and then lost everything? Should we put our ease and comfort first in our lives? No. There is nothing that we can live for in this life, except God. To live for anything but God, is to be rich in that area of our life. Only when we lay down everything will we find the true grace of God . Is your relationship with God the most valuable thing in your life? If it isn't, consider the rich young ruler. It is hard for a person who is rich to get into the kingdom of God.
Mark 10: 23-25 And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hard for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Think of how many people have suffered because they were rich in sinful living. When we live to sin, we are living a selfish self serving life. God asks us to turn from our sin, and to follow him by being obedient to the Bible. Sin brings dissatisfaction in this life. God brings peace and satisfaction. The rich young ruler that asked Jesus about eternal life went away sad, with his riches still intact. It was a sorrow that lasted a life time, and then even beyond. Maybe like this rich, young man you are already trying to live a good life doing the best you can. Jesus is asking you to lay down whatever you put in front of him, don't walk away sad.
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