Four Blood Moons - Something Is About To Change

Would like to recommend a "riveting" read book by John Hagee entitled: "Four Blood Moons". 

It is about the signs of how Scripture, science, and history align with each other in a supernatural connection of certain celestial events to Biblical prophecy -- and to the future God's chosen people and to the nations of the world. In short, something big is about to happen next year in 2014 into 2015. Check it out

How to have your prayers answered!

Psalm 37:4 teaches us: "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart." Rightly understood, this means that "By delighting ourselves in the Lord, we align ourselves so closely with the Heart of the Lord and His desires, that what we end up praying for, is precisely what His intention was for us in the first place."

 And as a result, He gladly answers our prayers, and we get what we are praying for. 

So simple, but true!

Church Services in the Future 

PASTOR: Praise the Lord.

CONGREGATION: Hallelujah

PASTOR: Can we please turn our tablet PC, iPad, cellphone, kindle Bibles to 1 Cor. 13:13. And please switch on your Bluetooth to download the sermon.

PASTOR: Let us pray, committing this week into God's hands. Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook and chat with God.

PASTOR: Please have your credit and debit cards ready as we shall now take tithes and offerings. You can log on to the church Wi-Fi using the password: Lord909887.

Ushers circulate mobile card swipe machines among the worshipers. Those who prefer to make electronic funds transfers are directed to computers and laptops at the rear of the church and those who prefer to use iPads are allowed to flip them open. Those who prefer telephone banking are allowed to take out their cellphones to transfer their contributions to the church bank account (The holy atmosphere is truly electric as the cellphones, iPads, PCs and laptops beep and flicker!)

[Announcement]

SECRETARY: This week's cell meetings shall be held on the various Facebook group pages where the usual group chatting takes place.

Please don't miss out. Thursday's bible teachings will be held live on Skype at 1900hrs GMT. Please don't miss out.

You can follow your Pastor on Twitter this weekend for counseling and prayers.

Not sure how to give “hugs” electronically.

God bless you and have a wonderful week.

The Hardest Test of All -- Success 

When we are little in our own eyes, we have room for the greatness of God.  But when we become great in our own eyes, we leave no room for God to manifest His greatness through us. When we sin and repent, however, God does forgive us.

Yet it is important for us all to remember that God’s forgiveness does not necessarily cancel all the consequences of our sins, as was the case in King David’s time of total success when he forgot the principles he lived by before he became king.  God warned him after he sinned: "Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10).

God’s Ministry of Healing

I.   Introduction: The name of “Jesus” means three things:
     1) God saves, 2) God heals,  ) God delivers.
   
      Thus, we see these qualities are a part of God´s character,    nature, and ministry.

      Examples: Matthew 4:23 – 25:

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. [24] So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. [25] And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

    Acts 10:38:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

II. We know, of course, that “supernatural healing” of the body is a part of God’s ways among men on earth; and that He often heals through His ministers among pagan peoples as is often seen in Africa, as He reveals to them what He wants to do supernaturally.  As they receive a revelation from Him and pray for the sick, He acts on their behalf.    

Matthew 16:15-18:

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.


A. In this passage the reader sees the Father (His Spirit) revealing to Peter Who Jesus really is.  Peter then confesses his understanding of that revelation to Jesus. This process of revelation and confession is on what Jesus will build His Church.  This is the process of Faith.

B. Paul tell us the Source of Faith:

Romans 10:17:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the (rhema) word of Christ.

1.    The word “rhema” in the Greek means a “specific word” revealed to the  individual by the Lord.
2.  The word “logos” means the general revelation of God´s whole council of God.

III. III.  Trusting God’s revealed Word:

A. Examples by Jesus:

1. Matthew 8: 5-13:

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, [6] "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." [7] And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." [8] But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word (logos), and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

  2.  Matthew 9:18-25:

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." [19] And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. [20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, [21] for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." [22] Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. [23] And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, [24] he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. [25] But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

3. Luke 17:11-19:
 
 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. [12] And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance [13] and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." [14] When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went (in obedience to His Word) they were cleansed. [15] Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; [16] and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. [17] Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? [18] Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" [19] And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith (your confidence in Me and my Word) has made you well."

4.  John 4:46-53:
   
 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son (had assurance in Jesus’ character and Word), for he was at the point of death. [48] So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." [49] The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies (i. e., he acted on Jesus’ Word)." [50] Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word (logos) that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. [51] As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. [52] So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." [53] The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.

5.  John 12:44-50:

And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47If anyone hears my words (rhema) and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48The one who rejects me and does not receive my words (rhema) has a judge; the word (logos) that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."



B. Other Examples of Faith:

1. Hebrews 11:1:

    Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2. Hebrews 11:6:

    And without faith (trust) it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.                    

 

To view this item online, visit http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/newtown-carnage-blame-church-not-god-or-guns/

NEWTOWN MASSACRE

SCHOOL CARNAGE: BLAME CHURCH, NOT GOD OR GUNS

Exclusive: William J. Murray reveals only way to turn society from violent, destructive path

Published: 14 hours ago

by WILLIAM MURRAY Email | Archive

William J. Murray is the chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Religious Freedom Coalition and the author of seven books including "My Life Without God," which chronicles his early life in the home of destructive atheist and Marxist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Having lived the Marxist and the Ayn Rand lifestyle, he has a unique perspective on religion and politics.

If an individual is not afraid of the wrath of God, it is impossible to cause him to fear the justice of the state.

The killing of young children at their school will be linked by many pundits to the availability of guns. Still others will blame the violent act on some pathology or childhood trauma. Some may even blame the Hollywood culture with its disregard for humanity, on which human bodies are seen being dissected  nightly on network TV. Virtually no one will call what occurred in Newtown an act of evil.

Probably not a single sermon will be preached in which the perpetrator is predicted to have begun his eternal punishment for his crime after judgment by a just and angry God. A splintered American church driven by a pew-hungry, feel-good message will offer assurances that eternal peace awaits all those who died, including the shooter. The words “hell” and “sin” will very likely not be used in any sermons associated with the massacre.

Yes, there is societal blame: Ridiculous privacy rules that allow the mentally ill to conceal their condition from schools, employers and gun-shop owners is just one. The constant esteem building in public schools teaching even low-functioning kids with anger problems to judge themselves equal to the valedictorian is yet another.

But the greatest villain is a church that has accepted the world’s view that hell does not await evildoers.

With a weak message from a weak church, there is no restraint or lessening of the violence. The shooting at Newtown was immediately followed by a shooting at a Birmingham, Ala., hospital and a Las Vegas hotel. Across the country, there are more than 16,000 murders each year. Of those, two-thirds are committed with guns. One in three murders is a very personal, vile act of evil using a knife, a blunt instrument or bare hands.

And the response of the church to this violence is “God loves you. Have a nice day.”

Adam Lanza had to shoot his way into the locked building. Public schools are not the soft targets many think they are. In more populated areas, there is virtually always an armed “safety officer” on duty because of the threat of student violence. Why?

My mother, atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, fought to make the public schools the armed camps they are today by removing prayer, the recognition of the authority of God. In 1962 and 1963, I was attending an all-boys public high school in downtown Baltimore, Md. The school was a magnet school before the term even existed and was intended to prepare young men for college, majoring in science and engineering. There were 1,800 teenage boys in the school, and there was not a cop in the building – ever. The doors were unlocked and often the un-air-conditioned rooms had open windows. There were no metal detectors, no picture IDs, and students went in and out the doors on the honor system.

The authority of God was present, even though I am very sure many of those young men, including myself, had some pretty vile thoughts that were not in the least way moral. The presence of the authority of God, vested in the teachers by His recognition every morning, was reinforced by the churches and the families of the students.

That high school has since merged with a girl’s school in another location, for purposes of political correctness. The last time I checked, the old building itself was the headquarters of the Baltimore City Schools Police Force, something that did not exist when Baltimore’s population was nearly double what it is now. Every kid at every school now has a photo ID. All the doors of every school are locked. All doors have metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs roaming the corridors. I am told that every school in Baltimore has at least one armed “safety officer.”

In the vast majority of America’s public schools, the authority of God has been replaced with the authority of the iron fist of government. Morals? Without the authority of God, there are no morals, and none are taught in the public schools today. The ethics that are taught are situational, perhaps the same situational ethics that led to the logic that caused the tragic shootings in Newtown.

This condition exists in the schools and the society in general because of a failed church that is splintered and weak.

A large advertising sign near my home reads, “A church for those who don’t like church.” Translation: “No condemnation of sin here – we have coffee latte and great music.”

How about this politically incorrect sermon subject: “An angry God condemns the carnal sin of Adam Lanza, the Newton school shooter who killed 26, and he will rot in eternal torment in hell, as do all those who turn their backs on God and his goodness and continue their wicked and sinful ways.”

No way, no how in America today.

No number of gun-control laws can contain the evil that has been let loose in America. Not even black clad police with masks and automatic weapons can maintain social order in our out-of-control society. The nation needs a religious revival to steer it away from certain moral destruction. That revival will not come from feel-good, coffeehouse sermons that do not call sin what it is.

What are preachers today offering to “save” people from, if sin is never mentioned? What punishment are they being “saved” from, if hell is never mentioned?

The fear of an angry and vengeful God was far more likely to have stopped the shootings in Newtown than the warm voice of a psychologist or the soothing feeling of drugs.

Eternity in hell is a very long time.

One of the greatest revival sermons of all times was that of Jonathon Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Can you imagine even this one portion being repeated in a church in America today: “There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men’s hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it.”

God is not in the business of saving evil nations from themselves, but He is in the business of offering salvation to individuals. A nation is saved from ruin when enough of its people turn from their wicked ways and follow His righteous commands.

The challenge is to the churches of every denomination to preach the true Word of God, the nature of sin and the consequences of perpetrating evil. This alone can turn the society from its violent and destructive path.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

I. The New Testament depicts two separate experiences, both of which are described as “receiving the Holy Spirit.”  This means it is possible for a Christian to have “received the holy Spirit” in one use of the expression, but not in the other.

II.    A simple way to distinguish these two experiences is to compare the event of
two Sundays, each is uniquely important in the history of the Christian church.

        The first is Resurrection Sunday; the second is Pentecost Sunday.

A. On Resurrection Sunday Jesus  appeared to the apostles in a group for the first
time after His resurrection.

John 20:22:
    “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

B.  The word “breathed” in the Greek  “enephuseasen” means to “breath on/in” or  “blow on,” as playing a    flute.  We get the English word to “infuse” from it.

C. Jesus’ breathing on/in the apostles was suited to the words that accompanied it: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  In the Greek text the same word pnuema means both “spirit” and “breath”.  Thus, the words of Jesus could be translated: “Receive Holy Breath.”  And at that moment they actually did receive the Holy Spirit within them.

D.  In this first encounter with the resurrected Christ, they passed from “Old  
      Testament salvation” to “New Testament salvation.”  Prior to this encounter,
      OT believers looked forward through prophecies and types and shadows to a
      redemptive act not yet taken place.  But with Jesus’ death and resurrection,
      their salvation was made complete.  As revealed through Paul:
           
 Romans 10:9-10:
    Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God  raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and  with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

E. The two requirements are to confess Jesus as Lord and to believe that God raised Him from the dead.  Prior to Resurrection Sunday the apostles had already confessed Jesus as Lord.  But now, for the first time, they also believed that God raised Him from the dead.  Again, their salvation was complete.

F. At this point they had just experience the New Birth/Born From Above.  Jesus had breathed into them the Holy Spirit (just like Adam in the beginning) imparting to them a totally new kind of life -- eternal life -- that had triumphed over sin, Satan, and over death and the grave.

III.   Fifty days later on Pentecost Sunday, after Jesus' Ascension, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon the    waiting disciples in the Upper Room:

     Luke 24:49:
    And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

     Acts 1:5
    for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

     Acts 1:8
    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

A. Almost all interpreters of the Bible agree that this promise of being Baptized in or filled with the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost Sunday.

B. Thus, it was on Pentecost Sunday after His ascension that Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the waiting disciples.

C.  On Resurrection Sunday it was:

        - The resurrected Christ
- The in-breathed Spirit (Acts 1:2)
    - The result; eternal life
   
  D.  On Pentecost Sunday it was:

 - The ascended Christ
 - The out-poured Spirit
 - The result: Supernatural Power

 E.  From Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2 in the Scriptures) onward in the rest of Acts text,  "receiving the Holy Spirit" was applied to and only for the second experience: namely, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit -- not the New Birth experience.

IV.  Evidence of this second experience was shown by the disciples speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance as shown in:        


Acts 2:4
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

“If I Were the Devil”

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would whisper with the wisdom of a serpent as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

I would whisper to the young that ‘The Bible is a myth.’

I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around.

I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’

I would whisper to the old and to teach them to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's
effort, instead of God's blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of
the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to
leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent
machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that life of animals are
valued more than human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was
grounds for a lawsuit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I
would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the
minds of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation. I would make
divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so
does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and
movies screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their
lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few calling
themselves authorities and refer to their agendas as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the
Bible is for the naive:

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is
not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;

I WOULD GUESS ANDLEAVE THINGS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THEY ARE!

(Attributed to and in the style of Paul Harvey, former radio and TV Commentator)

The Five What's

Well do I remember my days of ministry in the prison when some fellow would pour out his heart to me about some real tragedy in his life, and he would express his dismay and confusion about what had or was happening to him. Often, he would cry out the question ''why’, Chaplain; why, did such a horrible thing happen to me?” During such times I too would cry out inwardly to the Lord for a workable response. Finally one day when doing rounds in the Solitary Confinement Unit (the “box”), the Lord dropped it in on me on how to reply to such a question:

The better question is not ‘why’? I would say to him, but 'what'?! In fact, there are at least five “what’s” you may ask God in your prayer:

1. –- “What are You saying to me, Lord, though all of this mess''? Or:

2. -- ''What am I doing that I ought not be doing''? (The sin of commission) Or its reverse:

3. -- ''What am I not doing that I ought to be doing''? (The sin of omission). If no answer came by then:

4. -- ''What would You do, Lord, if You were down here in my shoes right now''? And then, lastly,

5. -- ''What one thing in this moment can I do in thought, word, or deed that will help me see and do according to Your highest, and best will for me and my loved-ones"?

Thus, I have found out that when that counselee would truly humble himself and wait upon Him seeking what He had in mind, then He in time would always come through in some tangible way with a solid answer manifesting to us His direction and peace. He never fails; He is always faithful when we seek Him with a pure, unselfish heart! Amen!

The reason He does this, of course, is because He wants to give the hurt, seeking or offended person the opportunity for Him to participate in our lives – to be a partner with us, His children. We thus give Him deference and respect when we ask the question “what” rather than “why”. In effect, we are then saying to Him: “I believe You in Your Wisdom, Knowledge, and Power, and that You have some answer or solution for me, and that You can help me in my pain”.

Like the Scripture says in Romans 4:3, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness”, so too we can come to know rightly His will and find favour with Him as we walk in obedience to His revelation.

Asking “Why”, on the other hand, betrays our self-centeredness and/or ignorance showing that we are basically complaining and gripping about our circumstances. God does not like a “whiner”.

Many examples in Scripture can be found showing this (e.g., Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 10:10; 1 Peter 4:9):


Philippians 2:14-15:
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

1 Corinthians 10:10:
nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

1 Peter 4:9:
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Some Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening

1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

2. Frequent attacks of smiling.

3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.

4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past
     experiences.

6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

7. A loss of ability to worry.

8. A loss of interest in conflict.

9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

10. A loss of interest in judging others.

11. A loss of interest in judging self.

12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.

George Washington's Inaugural Address to the Nation

        George Washington in his first presidential address gave a prophetic message to the nation on April 30, 1789 concerning America’s future.  The message said:

“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself hath ordained”. 

Amplified, this meant that:

If America upholds God’s eternal standards of morality and follows His unchanging way, then it will be blessed with His favor… His protection… His prosperity…
       
        But if America should disregard His eternal standards of what is right and wrong, then the smiles of heaven, the blessings of God, will be withdrawn – its prosperity, its protection, and its powers will be taken away.  In brief, He is giving a warning to the nation: the day America turns away from God will be the day that begins the removing of its blessings and favor.

Why A Loving God Allows Evil? 

By Dean Sherman, Dean of Christian Ministries of WYAM

From “Spiritual Warfare For Every Christian”, pp 135-137

Either We Are Crazy Or We Know Something:

We live in a fallen world.  God lets things happen.  We should not be surprised when they do.  The only way we can rejoice in the midst of tribulation is if we are crazy, or if we know enough about God, about the Word of God, and about the condition of man and our planet.

In his first letter, Peter said we are to glorify God through everything we say do and say.  Through our actions and reactions, every hour and in every situation, we are revealing God’s glory – His character – to those around us.  If we know His character, we can come to the end of each experience rejoicing, knowing that nothing we’ll every encounter can throw us off our course.  If we know God, we know His love for us is the same.  His Kind intentions toward us and His purposes for us have not changed.  In the midst of every disappointment, we can rejoice, because God in us is victorious.  And the character of God will be shown to other as we face our trials.

    Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance/steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4, ESV). 

“Trials of various kinds” and “the testing of your faith” are NOT JOYS!  We must, however, consider them joys.  We can go through times of turmoil when we can barely handle the physical, mental, and emotional pain, and we can say: “THIS IS JOY.”  Why?  Because terrible, fiery ordeals are producing something of unparalleled value in our lives: ENDURANCE/STEADFASTNESS!  

We know little about endurance/steadfastness in the Western world.  Our society demands convenience and comfort.  If we don’t like something, we change it.  However, the majority of people in the world at large have no opportunity to change their situation in life.  They simply learn to endure or be steadfast in their situation.

Without exception, we are all going to have trials.  Those who learn to endure/be steadfast are victors.  We can’t put a price on endurance/steadfastness.  Yet it is one of the most valuable things we can have in this life!

Endurance/steadfastness then is going through what life brings us – resulting with joy in our hearts.  If we could see what God sees, then we should realize the wealth that comes with endurance/steadfastness.

Jesus did not die on the Cross that we might avoid life, but that we might be OVERCOMERS!  He gives us grace for every situation.

Jesus lived a sinless life, went to the Cross, died a painful death, went to hell, ripped authority and the power of sin, death, and Hades from Satan, rose from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and is there interceding for us every minute of every day.

If this is not enough proof of God’s love for us, if this can’t help us endure/be steadfast in any situation and become ALL that we need to be, then we had better start looking for a new faith.

How can we be perfect, complete, and lacking in nothing?  Simply by enduring/being steadfast.  And while being so, say: “THIS IS A JOY TO ME!”  This isn’t psyching ourselves up or defrauding our minds.  It is just recognizing that each situation is developing us – that we really are becoming like Jesus who, with joy, endured/was steadfast far more than any of us ever will be.

God is always there for us.  He is always turning things around to be a blessing and a benefit for us.  This is what Romans 8:28 means.  He is always working in the circumstances that come our way to bring about our good.  We need only endure/be steadfast and let endurance/steadfastness have its perfect result.

Let us look now into Romans chapter 5 to see how this works out:

    Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings/tribulations, knowing that suffering/tribulations produce endurance/steadfastness, [4] and endurance/steadfastness proven character, and proven character hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:1-5, ESV).

In conclusion then, what does it mean to “exult in sufferings/tribulations?  It’s not avoiding them, or pretending they don’t exist.  It’s not resisting every negative thing that comes into our lives.  It’s not even gritting our teeth in quiet submission to our circumstances.

In short, exulting in our tribulations/sufferings is a wholehearted embrace of every unwanted situation, unbearable turmoil, and disappointment.  “To exult” is to rejoice completely in the midst of our sufferings/tribulation, not in spite of tribulation, but because of it.  To the world, of course, this would seem insane.  But it is the most reasonable thing we can do if we understand what immeasurable benefit our sufferings /tribulation, can be to us.

There is no greater witness in the world than that of a Christian who endures/remains steadfast, truly exulting in and overcoming everything that the world and the devil can throw at him.  Making these things work for us – and not against us is real spiritual warfare.  Standing through these trials develops the “proven character” that is God’s goal for each of us.  Ultimately, this brings about “hope” that enables us to know we can make it through anything, because we have been there and have confidence as God is building us up – making us strong, mature, and more like Jesus.  Finally, this is the reason we can exult in our tribulations, trials, testings, and suffering.    

CHRISTIAN BUMPER STICKERS

* Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

* Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

* Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

* Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

* Forbidden fruits create many jams.

* God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called

* God grades on the cross, not the curve.

* God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

* God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

* He who angers you, controls you!

* If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

* Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.

* Prayer: Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!

* The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

* The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

* We don't change the message, the message changes us.

* You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage them.

The Word of God

Never compare the Bible with other books.
Never think or say that this Book contains the Word of God.
It is the Word of God.
It is:
        supernatural in origin,
        eternal in duration,
        inexpressible in value,
        infinite in scope,
        regenerative in power,
        infallible in authority,
        universal in interest,
        personal in application,
        inspired in totality.

Read it through.  Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. And then pass it on.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

I.        The New Testament depicts two separate experiences, both of which are described as “receiving the Holy Spirit.”  This means it is possible for a Christian to have “received the holy Spirit” in one use of the expression, but not in the other.

II.       A simple way to distinguish these two experiences is to compare the event of
two Sundays, as each is uniquely important in the history of the Christian church.
The  first is Resurrection Sunday; the second is Pentecost Sunday.

A.    On Resurrection Sunday Jesus appeared to the apostles in a group for the first
time after His resurrection.

John 20:22:
    “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

B.  The word “breathed” in the Greek  “enephuseasen” means to “breath on/in” or “blow on,” as playing a flute.  We get the English word to “infuse” from it.

Jesus’ breathing on/in the apostles was suited to the words that accompanied it:  “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  In the Greek text the same word pnuema  means both “spirit” and 'breath."  Thus, the words of Jesus could be translated: “Receive Holy Breath.”  And at that moment they actually did receive the Holy Spirit within them.

C.  In this first encouter with the resurrected Christ, they passed from “Old  
      Testament salvation”  to “New Testament salvation.”  Prior to this encounter,
      OT believers looked forward through prophecies and types and shadows to a  
      redemptive act not yet taken place.  But with Jesus’death and resurrection,
      their salvation was made complete.
         
 D.  Romans 10:9-10:
    Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 

The two requirements are to confess Jesus as Lord and to believe that God raised Him from the dead.  Prior to Resurrection Sunday the apostles had already confessed Jesus as Lord.  But now, for the first time, they also believed that God raised Him from the dead.  Again, their salvation was complete.

At this point they had just experienced the New Birth/Born From Above/Regeneration.  Jesus had breathed into them the Holy Spirit imparting to them a totally new kind of life -- eternal life -- that had triumphed over sin and Satan, over death and the grave.

III.   Fifty days later on Pentecost Sunday, after Jesus' Asension, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon the waiting disciples in the Upper Room:

Luke 24:49
    And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Acts 1:5
    for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 

Acts 1:8 
    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Almost all interpreters of the Bible agree that this promise of being Baptized In or filled with the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost Sunday.

Thus, it was on Pentecost Sunday after His ascension that Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the waiting disciples.

A.     On Resurrection Sunday it was:

        - The resurrected Christ
-The inbreathed Spirit
-The result; eternal life
   
B.      On Pentecost Sunday it was:

     -The ascended Christ
     -The outpoured Spirit
     -The result: Supernatural Power

From Pentecost Sunday onward ( Acts 2 in the Scriptures),  "receiving the Holy Spirit" was applied to and only for the second experience: namely, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit -- not the New Birth experience.


IV.  Evidence of this second experience was shown by the disciples speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance as shown in:          

Acts 2:4
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Our Hope of Glory Realized

I. God’s incredible plan:

A. Was for God to come to earth so people could see and experience what He was like.

B. He could not do this spiritually, but physically – as a man among men and actually live among human beings as one of them.

C. He started this process with Abraham, when He told him, “I am going to bless you, and make you a blessing, and through your seed all the families of the earth are going to be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

D. Ultimately over time (as shown in the Old Testament), God was to come to one Person (know as the Messiah, The Anointed One), Who would be the Seed through Whom all the families of earth could be blessed.

E. Finally, Mary of Nazareth was chosen; she consented; and God’s Spirit touched her body, and Jesus was conceived through the Virgin Birth “in the fullness of time” when everything was ready (Hebrews 10:5).

F. Thus, the fetus of Jesus was both literally and physically God and man.

G. Mary’s child was going to be both fully God and fully human – the Incarnation – the Rescuer of man out of darkness (John 1:5).

H. Jesus thus had a spirit, soul, and body as we do, but His Spirit was always in fellowship with God from within and from the time of His birth.

I. Only later, when He was thirty was He baptized in the Holy Spirit by which the power could be released from within (Luke 3:22; 4:1, et al.), and He could go about “doing good” (Acts 10:38).

J. Satan, the governor of this world since the Fall, stuck back of course, stirring up trouble against Jesus and finally having Him killed as a rabble-rouser.

K. Jesus allowed this and went to His death as the “Lamb of God” like a scapegoat for our sin, even experiencing the hell of separation from God and “lead captivity captive” back to the Father’s House (cf.: 1 Peter 3:19 & amp; Ephesians 4:8).

L. When Jesus let Himself be killed by the dark powers infesting the world, He canceled every claim Satan had against the human race because of the terrible things they had done, and yet would do.  Thus was invoked the principle of “innocent blood shed” covering man as was Adam and Eve in the beginning (Genesis
3:21).

M. All of this was part of the plan of the Father (cf.: Genesis 3:15) as Jesus completely identified Himself with us – spirit, soul and body, thus paying our debt, else God would not be just.

N. Lastly, as a result, Satan defeated himself by bringing about Jesus’ death; but through that, the guilt of mankind from the beginning to the end of human history was cancelled for those who would receive Him.  For by His coming God would provide reconciliation with and redemption for His rebellious children.

II. The Hope Realized:

A. The first great work of the Spirit, of course, was sins forgiven, but there was more:

B. Jesus’ death on the cross made atonement (at-one-ment) possible and comes about after we confess our sins, are forgiven, and united with God.

C. After Jesus’ resurrection He was then qualified to cancel any claims Satan had against us and our sins and to open the way for us to come back into direct personal relationship with God.

D. This new kind of relationship Paul calls: “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” (Colossians 1: 27).

E. Prior to the Resurrection the Holy Spirit could only temporarily fill people from body to soul to spirit, as in the case of Elijah, Elisha, the seventy elders under Moses, King Saul, and others (as in the case of His disciples [cf.: Luke 10:1-20, et al.] before His death); but these “fillings” were only temporary.

F. With the woman at the well Jesus told her that “That the water [Holy Spirit] that I shall give shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

G. Afterwards while speaking to the crowds, He amplified this by saying that “whoever believes in Me ... Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water [the Spirit] that they were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39).

H. Later and before the Resurrection, to His disciples He gave them a preview of how the Spirit was to come in a new way permanently: “I will give you another Helper just like Me, Who will remain with you forever: the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive because it doesn’t see Him or know, Him, but you know Him, for He is staying with you now, and will be in you” (John 14:16,17).

I. After Jesus rose from the dead and had His glorified body, He appeared to His friends, reassured them He was not a ghost, and ate supper with them.  At that point the barrier of sin had been cleared away by His death, and Satan was now defeated by His resurrection, so now there was nothing to prevent Jesus from giving the Holy Spirit to His friends in this new and permanent way.

J. Further, God had closed the door to the human spirit so it could not be opened to the fallen spiritual world of the defeated Satan that formerly had surrounded it, that is, the psychic world; but now Jesus has come as the glorified Savior, and now God can allow people to open the door to their spirits to Jesus, the Door (John 10:9).  The darkness of the enemy can no longer come in, but now the Holy Spirit can: “Behold,” says Jesus, “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3: 20).

K. The human will is still in the picture of the believer.  As such, we may open the door and invite Him in.

L. When we do, we are “born again/born from above, saved, redeemed, and have eternal life (never runs down or out) living within because the Holy Spirit is now linked to our spirit located in our “heart”.
This process is made possible because mankind originally (Genesis 1:26-27) was made up in the likeness or image of God in two ways:

     1. Our spirits are made of the same substance as God who is Spirit.

     2. We are made also like Him in character as Christ-like people having His spiritual nature.

M. Two things result from this new, permanent relationship: first, He makes our spirits alive to God so we can respond to Him; and second, His character begins to be reestablished in us as originally intended, as Paul terms it this way: we “put on the new man, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:10).  In the Greek, the word for “image” means pattern and moral and spiritual likeness.

N.  When this response occurs, His character or nature will now be able to be seen
in you out of the reservoir of His Life within you.
Another description of His character is the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).

O. Without this “recreated spirit” within us, God could not live in you; thus, every time you would sin, the Holy Spirit would have to leave because He will not dwell where sin is.  You would have to be born of the Spirit over and over again.

P.   Fortunately, our spirits do not sin since we have been born of incorruptible life; even when our souls sin, however, God remains in that holy place within (cf.: 1 John 3:8,9; 1 Peter 1:23, 3:4; 2 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 12:23b; Psalm 32:2).

Q.  The place of this union of the Holy Spirit and your spirit is the “most Holy
Place” like a type of the Jewish Tabernacle or Temple.  It is the secret dwelling place of God, a place of:

•  rest
•  receiving God’s wisdom and truth
•  communication whereby we exchange our thoughts, needs, cares, and concerns
•  direction and guidance
•  ageless and eternal life that never expires
•  quickening whereby you may speak life to others, and
•  strength

R.  Paul tells us that this is the “mystery” hidden throughout the ages, but now
revealed to us as:      

The Anointed One (Christ) in you, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27) – Hope for us, for the world, and for the future.

Note: much of the above outline was inspired from Dennis and Rita Bennett’s, Trinity of Man, chapters 10 & amplified; 11, Logos International, 1979.

A Kingdom of Noise: A Screwtape Letter for the Media Age

In 1942, British scholar and author C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters, an ironic book of letters between a senior devil (Screwtape) and his undisciplined pupil (Wormwood) on the techniques and tactics for pestering the Enemy (God) and beguiling his followers.

My Dear Despicable Wormwood,

You magnificent wretch. I am delighted to hear of your progress. Only a year ago you quieted the pandemonium among the rank-and-vile with your preposterous claim that a fiery car crash would bring about the glorious ruin of your assignment. You should take heed not to embarrass your old uncle again!

Now, thank Hell, you have come to see that a traffic jam or a missing pair of socks or a slow woman in the checkout line are far more effective. Your assignment's true colors, crimson and gray, are beginning to show - but be patient, his rejection of the Enemy may take a while. Next, try spoiling his milk or placing a squirrel in his attic.

Good news! The latest commendations have arrived from the Council of the Pit. You impress the lower-downs, my zealous Wormwood. They have heard of your schemes on the Noise Proliferation Committee (NPC). Indeed, places of solitude and moments of silence grow ever more scarce in the Enemy's vast and vulgar dominion. Oh, what euphoria to see his insufferable creatures rush to fill the dead air with a cacophony of cell phones and muzac, leaf blowers and manipulated car exhaust pipes, 24-hour news and I-Pods. Those nauseating humans cannot escape their self-made dungeon of din!

My pride bubbles like brimstone, Wormwood.

It is down-wrong delicious that you are able to entice your assignments into believing that quiet and solitude are a waste of time, even harmful to their pursuits. We must be the demon in the whirlwind, invading their private space, cluttering their innermost being with commotion.

Make them feel empty without a Blackberry on their hip or a television blaring in the background. Tune their alarm clock to a raucous station with bombastic DJs. Call their cell phone on their way to work or during a meal. Put TV screens in banks and hotel lobbies, gas stations and airplanes - anywhere humans might have time to reflect. Offer deals to Walt Disney World and casinos, and make a weekend in the Catskills appear unexciting or at least unaffordable.

Over time the humans will grow unaware of the high-pitched ringing in their ears.

But oh, how dreadful it is if they do notice and, worse yet, begin to reject the delightful opiates we offer. An hour’s walk or an evening alone can be hazardous. Even a drive with a broken radio carries risk. Peace and quietude, after all, are the Enemy's handiwork. He waits patiently for them in the stillness, whispering for them to rest or ponder or, dare I say that repulsive word, meditate.

I trust you understand what is at stake. If allowed to contemplate the empty pursuits and hollow activity that often fill their days, there is no telling what horrific changes they may make in their lives. As long as the volume is high and the lights are flashing, there is little danger of this. But when allowed to face things as they really are, stripped of the comfort provided by our dizzying distractions, our subjects often choose against our ways.

This kind of activity, or rather inactivity, is a breeding ground for all manner of destructive outcomes. Rest gives them refreshed bodies and clear minds. Clarity draws them to that which we most hate: truth. In such moments their vision grows strong and purpose is rekindled. For Hell’s sake, do not let this happen!

Some devils say it is of lesser importance, but I would advise you to keep all thoughts of old friendships, childhood dreams, or yearnings for simple delights - drinking a glass of port or kneeling in a garden - far from them. These are the noxious things of the kingdom of peace; we are the kingdom of noise.

You say that the NPC has decided to abandon all plans for Sunday mornings. You ignorant little demon, leave that time to me. Your youthful vigor is no match to my years of vice. Pridefully speaking, I alone know the secret to penetrating that miserable stronghold of the Enemy: the church. Alas, it is not nearly as difficult as one may think.

Their sanctuaries of silence are perfect playgrounds for devious distractions. Did you notice your assignment wriggling impatiently during the confession last week, or his glare at the woman's hellacious hacking and throat-clearing? Or maybe the squeaky floor to complement the squeaky voice in the choir loft? It is more than luck of the draw that our assignments find silence intolerable when surrounded by noise, and noise intolerable when surrounded by silence! I almost feel sorry for these tortured little beings.

So hurry! Cue the fire engine, the beeping pager, the woman calling for a cab. Cause the head to turn, the eyes to wander, and the mind to work overtime. Even in times of silence, cause their minds to fill and spin like a tornado. If necessary, you may even need to bring forward some of the Enemy’s tools to achieve our ends. Use a good cause to keep the schedule jam-packed. Beautiful music, grating as it is to our ears, chases the silence away same as any other sound. Given the stakes, you must do whatever it takes to keep quietude at bay.

Remember, do not grow weary in doing bad. I await your next report from your travels to Las Vegas.

Your affectionate uncle,

Screwtape
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By Erik Lokkesmoe

How to Ascertain the Will of God

By: George Mueller

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

“I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period

now (in March, 1895) of sixty-nine years and four months,

that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know

the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through

the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been

ALWAYS directed rightly.

But if honesty of heart and

uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not

patiently wait upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the

counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the Word of

the living God, I made great mistakes.”

-George Mueller

Walking As The Lord Walked

The Ebb and Flow of Releasing the Spirit

Note: the following selections were taken for Dennis and Rita Bennett’s, The Trinity of Man; and Watchman Nee’s, The Release of the Spirit, and Journeying Toward the Spiritual, plus my own personal insights revealed to me over the years.

Our Pattern and Challenge:

Is For Us to Walk as our “Elder brother, Jesus” Walked (see Romans 8:29) :

Further, perhaps the deepest principle of all that our Lord Jesus taught is this:

“And He said to them all, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me’ (Luke 9:23).

From our birth what is our focus? Self, Self, Self – the only three most important persons in the universe for us is (our trinity): me, myself, and I!!!

Regrettably, much of the focus in the messages heard in today’s Churches is on the believer in order to boost and comfort his/her image, rather than to seek the mind and purposes of the Lord as His Spirit operates in and released through the believer in power and the Gifts of His Church.

Yet we are to walk as our Elder Brother walked, and how did our Lord Jesus do it?:

The “Rock” (see: Matthew 16:15-19) upon which the Lord will build His Church is what He saw when the Father revealed by His Spirit to the apostle Peter to be able to know (through inner revelation) and say, “You are “The Anointed One” (the Christ/Messiah). In short, this is our Lord’s Modus Operandi as the Head of His Church as a Living Person to His disciples – and not as the Pope of Christianity’s first church and as the founder of “apostolic succession”.

Through the Gospel of John, Jesus responds to His disciples on how He implements this process of revelation:

John 5:19-20 (ESV):
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing. And greater works than these will He show him, so that you may marvel’”.

By this sharing, He reveals how He implements the Father’s will here on
earth.

John 5:30:
"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me”.

Later, He directs His disciples to do the same thing:

John 15:5-7:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.

Just as the Spirit abode in our Lord and guided Him, so too is today’s disciple (the born again believer, ambassador, and living stone of a holy priesthood):

1 Cor. 3:16:
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Ephesians. 3:16:
“That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being….’

My favorite verse is Romans 8:14:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”.

Thus, in my view, as He walked here on earth as a Son, so too are His disciples made in the same mold and image and are to walk as He walked through revelation:

Galatians 5:25:
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”

Colosians 2:6:
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,”

1 John 2:6:
“whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked”.

1 Peter 2:21:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps”.

And how are we disciples to walk? The following are some of the ways:

Ephesians 5:18-20:
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but keep on being filled (as in the Greek) with the Spirit, [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Colossians 1:9-14:
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. [11] May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”....

God’s Perfect and Complete Order of Operation:

First, to move in the human spirit; next, to enlighten the mind of the soul, and finally, to execute/be released through the body.

What the Holy Spirit imparts is God’s uncreated life; this other is but man’s created life. The Holy Spirit grants us a supernatural power; this other is merely the natural. The Holy Spirit gives the zoe; this other is the psuche (nephesh in Hebrew, see: Genesis 1:30).

These two natures—old and new, sinful and godly—are fundamentally unalike, irreconcilable and unmixable. The new and the old daily strive for authority over the whole man. During this initial stage the Christian is a “babe in Christ” because he is yet fleshly (Greek: sarx; also see Romans 6:6). Most variable and most painful are his experiences punctuated by both successes and failures. Later on, the believer comes to know the deliverance of the cross and learns how to exercise faith in reckoning the “old man” as crucified with Christ (i.e., the breaking loose the “outer man/soul and body” from the inner man - “the newly regenerated spirit and Spirit”).

He is thereby freed from that sin which has paralyzed the body. With his old man crucified the believer is empowered to overcome and enjoys in actual the promise that “sin will have no dominion over you”.

Yet the spirit Within May Become Suppressed:

Many of God’s children, however, do not perceive the movement of the Holy Spirit. They cannot distinguish between the spiritual and the soulical.

They often construe the soulical to be the spiritual and vice versa, consequently drawing much upon the energy of the soul for their walk and work to the detrimental suppression of the spirit. They assume they are walking according to the spirit while in truth they are walking according to the soul (the flesh)l. Such foolishness throttles their spirit from cooperating with God’s Spirit and thereby interrupts what He is wishing to do in and through their lives.

As long as Christians dwell in the soul, they move according to the thoughts, imaginations, plans and visions of their mind.

They covet joyful sensations and are mastered by their feelings. When they have sensuous experiences they are elated, but when bereft of such experiences they can hardly lift a finger. They are therefore powerless to live in the realm of the spirit. Their feelings become their life, and as their feelings change so do they too. This amounts to nothing more than walking after the sensations of their outward soul and body instead of living out from the center of their being which is the spirit.

Their spiritual sensitivity, overpowered by the body and the soul, grows dull. These believers can only sense matters in the soul or in the body; they have lost the spiritual sense. Their spirit is disabled from cooperating with God and their spiritual growth is arrested.

No longer are they capable of acquiring power and guidance in their spirit for warfare and worship (Cf.: John 4:24: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”.)

If a person denies to his spirit complete ascendancy over his being or fails to draw upon its power to live, he shall never mature.

The danger of retreating into the “bodily realm”:

The danger of retreating into the body realm. Many fleshly works enumerated in Galatians 5 naturally have their origin in the lusts of the human body, but quite a few others indicate as well the activities of the soul:

“Selfishness, dissension, party spirit” distinctly flow from man’s self or personality. They are the consequence of the numerous diverse thoughts and opinions held on to among saints.
What is important to note here is the fact that these exertions of the soul are listed together with such sins of the body as “immorality, impurity, licentiousness, drunkenness, carousing.” This ought to remind us of how closely entwined are the soul and the body. These two in reality are inseparable, because the body we are now in is a “soulical body” (1 Corinthians 15.44 literal).

Should a believer therefore merely seek to subdue his sinful nature and not his natural life too, he shall find himself, after a short period of experiencing victory over sin, and once again tumbling into the realm of the body of sin. Though he may not return to those uglier forms of sin, nevertheless he remains bound by sin.

Danger from the powers of darkness:

The danger of the power of darkness taking advantage. The Letter of James, written to believers, distinctly delineates the relation between soul life and satanic work:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (literally soulish), demonic. (3.13-15)

There is a wisdom that comes from Satan, and it is the same as that which can arise at times out of the human soul. The “flesh” is the devil’s factory; his operation in the soulical part of the flesh is as active as in the bodily part. These verses explain how bitter jealousy springs from the seeking of soulish wisdom. It is through the activity of the devil in the human soul. Christians are aware that the adversary can entice people to sin, but do they equally realize he can inject thoughts into man’s mind? The fall of man was due to the love of knowledge and of wisdom. Satan is employing the same tactic today in order to retain the believer’s soul as his operative center.

The scheme of Satan is to preserve for himself as much of our old creation as possible. If he fails to entangle believers in sin, he will next try to induce them to keep their natural life by taking advantage of their ignorance of his wiles or their unwillingness to yield to the Spirit. For if he does not succeed, all the armies of hell shall soon be totally disemployed.

The more believers choose to unite with the Lord in spirit, the more the life of the Holy Spirit shall flow into their spirit, and the more the cross shall work in them daily (see Luke 9:23). Hence they shall be delivered increasingly from the old creation and shall yield less ground to Satan from which to operate.

Let it be known that all the endeavors of Satan, whether by enticement or by attack, are perpetrated in our old creation. He dare not waste his energy on our “new creation,” God’s Own life. That is the reason he unceasingly attempts to persuade the children of God to retain something of the old creation—be it sin or the beautiful natural life—so that he may continue to operate. How he conspires against believers and confuses them into loving their self-life, despite the fact they have hated sin.

Your Way or His Way:

After the believer is reborn of the Spirit it is difficult for the will to make the transition to the “new and living way” of the New Testament Spiritual principles through which God wants to guide us believers into our fellowship with the indwelling Holy Spirit.
At first after new birth, the will of the new believer still wants to modify its own plans to make them line up with God’s will.

Yet there still remains old patterns of the human will that still wants to do what it wants to do:

It is not direct rebellion at the beginning; it is more subtle than that.

It may turn to legalism, for example: “you tell me what the rules are, Lord, and I’ll obey and fit my plans into them, thus earn your approval”.

Jesus says: “I’ll be with you always. Trust Me, and I’ll guide you by My Spirit”. The will responds saying, “Isn’t that great? Jesus will go with me and help me carry out my plans. Come on now, Lord, I have some great ideas!”

Then, comes the MESS we find ourselves in. Jesus then answers the believer: “Correction – look at the mess we are in; I am on the inside with you, remember?” You have been insisting that I go with you where you wanted to go; and that is just where we are. Now start following Me, and we’ll get things in order.
Many times believers get disillusioned with God because they just expect Him to bless whatever they have decided to do.
Yet God never forces people to do what He wants them to do – that would be taking their freedom away, which He will never do. Always, He is “for us” (Romans 8:31). Man’s will is free, and neither God nor the devil can do anything without first obtaining consent. Without Him, we can’t; without us, He won’t.

When things go bad, don’t panic, just ask Him for Plan B, or C or D or as many as needed. Satan or his demons may try to push you into frustration (“you must make up your mind now, he urges. You must take action or miss the opportunity and that would be stupid.”).

But the Holy Spirit always is a Gentleman and knows the perfect timing and place for His will to be done.

God gave us freedom of will so that we could decide to follow Him – not from fear, or from a desire to earn rewards or merits – but for Love’s sake!

God wants us freely to pattern our wills after His, and to let the Holy Spirit within conform our will to His, so we will want the same thing

Ultimately God not only wants us to want what He wants, but thoroughly to enjoy doing it with Him, because we love Him, and He loves us.

The weakest will in the world is strong enough to turn to Jesus (like the Gadarene demoniac (see: Luke 8:26ff) and come to Him for help.

Remember: your will is more powerful than your feelings or your memories. If you choose to take the first step in obedience to His revealed will saying “Jesus help me”, always will He respond to your call!

The heartcry of “HELP” is probably the most powerful prayer in the world!

Tatooing and Body Piercing

By Frank Hammond

“You shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28).

The context of this passage refers to the Israelites coming into the land of Canaan, and Moses was warning them not to take on the customs of the heathen people. They are not to “practice divination or sooth-saying”(v.26) or be involved in any idolatrous practices, among which are “cuttings in your flesh” and “tattoos”. Cutting the flesh was an unnatural disfigurement of the body common in times of mourning among people of the East.

The priests of Baal cut themselves “as was their custom” to seek favor from or propitiate their idolatrous god. (I Kings 18:28).

Tattooing and body piercing involve more than art. What is behind these activities? At the root there is always pagan idolatry and mysticism. So, these are spiritual activities that give opportunity for demonic infiltration.

Tattooing indicates allegiance to a deity. Soldiers and slaves were tattooed to show allegiance to their superiors and masters. Tattoos are symbols of servitude. (Compare piercing the ear as the mark of slavery: Exodus 21:5,6; Deuteronomy 15:17)

Interestingly, the Greek word for “mark” or “tattoo” is stigma, a common English word of the same spelling which means “to disgrace, defame or ruin one’s reputation”.

In the “1990’s the beginning of the fad of tattooing mushroomed. We see tattoos everywhere we look, and it is not just the young people, but the professionals, middle-class, middle-aged, celebrities, athletes, and you name it, are caught up in this fad.

Since our involvement in deliverance in the ‘60’s, we have known that tattoos and body piercing give place to the devil. We have ministered deliverance related to the pictures, symbols, desecration of the body and soul-ties involved with tattoos, and we have broken soul-ties and enslavement related to pierced ears.

William Sudduth, of Righteous Acts Ministries, has recently published a book, "What’s Behind the Ink? - Tattooing, Piercing and Other Fads", which we enthusiastically recommend, and from which, by permission, quote the following excerpts:

“A Harris Poll, done in 2003...estimates that 16% of all Americans, over 45 million people, now have one or more tattoos...36% of people age 25-39 have one or more tattoos. And 28% of Americans 30 to 39 have tattoos.”

‘‘Dr. Robert Raspa cited the following psychiatric conditions as associated with tattoos:

‘Impulsiveness, low self-esteem, lack of self-control, homosexual orientation, sexual sadomasochism, bondage, fetishism, bisexuality, lesbianism, antisocial personality, borderline personality disorder, schizo-typical personality disorder, mania and bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.’”

According to a study done by Timothy Roberts, a pediatrician at The University of Rochester Children’s Hospital:

“Today’s tattooed young people are nearly four times more likely to engage in sexual intercourse. They are also over two times more likely to experience alcohol related problems, use illegal drugs, express violent behavior, and drop out of high school.”

“Throughout history the cutting of the flesh, and blood-letting were rituals performed to unleash supernatural powers. There’s no doubt that cutting, piercing and tattooing are all connected to the satanic and demonic practices of blood-letting and magic... The magical and spiritual significance of cutting and piercing is the very reason for God’s prohibition in Leviticus against cutting the body and the letting of blood.”

“It is obvious from the history and current studies that piercing is a ‘not so subtle’ form of rebellion. It is rebellion against societal norms, against authority, and ultimately rebellion against God.”

“Tattooing and piercing are invasive procedures that can result in serious skin and blood infections. Dr. Bob Hale at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, says that four million Americans are currently inflected with hepatitis C; and, it’s on the increase! Hepatitis C now kills over 10,000 people year in our nation. We found that commercially acquired tattoos counted for more than twice as many hepatitis C infections as injection-drug use. People who get tattooed in a commercial tattoo parlor were nine times more likely to get hepatitis C.”

“Interestingly enough the latest fad in tattoos is actually tattoo removal! Over 50% of everyone receiving a tattoo want it removed. A $25 tattoo might cost $5,000 to remove.”

“Before you let that ink ‘mark’ you for the reset of your life, think very carefully about the possible risks to your health. Also consider the spiritual and social consequences, namely, both tattoos and piercing could damage current or future relationships. This could include friends, spouses, parents, teachers, and employers. Certain jobs will never be available to people who have visible body art.”

“There is absolutely no such thing as a Christian tattoo. In fact the mere term ‘Christian tattoo’ is, at best, an oxymoron; namely, the widespread practice, acceptance and popularity of body modification which definitely says, ‘My body belongs to me, not to God!’

Yet Scripture tells us:

‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with you body’” (I Corinthians 6:19,20 {NIV}).