Sunday, February 12, 2017

Time To Get Serious



I just finished a book by R.Loren Sanford titled
Visions of The Coming Days.



There is so much I could say about what is contained in this book, but I really want to share with you the correction and instruction I received from it. The heart of what The Lord spoke to my heart is revealed in the scripture below:


Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!


Listen to the heart of The Prophet.
He sees a God that is greater than all things of the earth.
His heart is so close to His God that there is nothing that can separate him from The Worship of His God!

Paul reveals this in The Book of Romans. 
He reveals this as The Love of Christ.


Romans 8:35-39 New Living Translation (NLT)

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


The Love of God is not a passive Love. 
His love is a manifold Love.
His Love covers all and overcomes all.


I want to briefly touch on His Love that empowers us to serve Him and His Church even during difficult times of uncertainty and persecution.



1 John 4:18 (NKJV)


18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.


The Lord has blessed us with so much. He has, as The Word declares, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Also, we are told that we have been given all things concerning life and godliness.

The Lord has given us all we need to lay our lives down in service to Him and His Church. He calls all of His children to trust him even in times of trouble and persecution. 

Beyond that, there is a call to serve His People. He has anointed and appointed certain people to a higher level of service and responsibility. 

Leaders who are expected to teach, guard and lead The Church through The Coming storms. He has a plan, and we must trust Him, fully and totally apart from what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears

Some of us have been pressed hard, seemingly left in the spiritual trash heap, discarded and forgotten. However in our hearts we knew that He was preparing us, trying us, refining us. He was removing all we might trust In apart from Him, or even in addition to Him!

Now, He call us back into service. He calls us to stand up and serve Him and His Church, even in the midst of apparent self lack, and dryness. 

He calls us to serve sacrificially even though it seems He has not placed  His favor on our lives. He calls us to worship Him, Pray Fervently and Give all, even as it seems our harvest has failed time and time again.

We must trust a Him. He is faithful. We have been given all we need. He is With Us.

Let me finish with the scriptures I started with, plus and exhortation from Paul:


Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!



Romans 8:35-39  (NLT)


35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.


 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.




1 John 4:18New King James Version (NKJV)


18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.




2 Corinthians 11:16-31 (NKJV)

16 I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 

20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.


22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.



Thursday, January 26, 2017

The Sin of King Saul


Don't let the sin of King Saul steal from you, your family, your church and your community the Victory that God has ordained.

You being obedient to wait upon The Lord may be the path in which The Lord gives a great victory to His People and a great defeat to His Enemies.

All Saul had to do was wait, trust and rely upon The Lord, and History would have been quite different, for not only He and his descendants, but many who stood there with him, and even a whole nation.

In the days ahead we must hold tight to Proverbs 3. Even if people abandon us; Even if the trees don't bare fruit; Even if the sky seems to give no rain in the days of delay; wait patiently and faithfully upon a The Lord. Do not move until He comes with His Favor and says move.

Wonderful days await for those who stand watch and obey.








Friday, January 20, 2017

The Compassion Of Christ



These pictures have been speaking to my heart lately.

They touch my soul deeply and move the deepest part of my spirit.

There is a word for this in scripture.
A word almost exclusively used to describe the most powerful
force in heaven and earth.

The Compassion of Christ!

Compassion!

Not just any compassion, this word goes deep to the place where the soul of man meets the spirit of man and is in communion with The Holy Spirit of God!

Here is the Strongs definition of this word:




Another special attribute concerning this word,are the very few scriptures 
it is used in.

Below you will see them, along with these pictures,I believe they will speak to your heart. I long to know The Love and Compassion of Christ. 

Not only to love, but to love so greatly that The Virtue of God Himself flows freely to heal all who are oppressed of The Devil. To see restored Souls and Bodies. 

To see once helpless cases, sitting at peace,fully restored and with perfect 
peace of mind,body, spirit and soul!

I challenge you to look up these scripture and read them in context after you allow the verses and images to touch your heart.





35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”




Matthew 14:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.




Matthew 15:29-38 New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Heals Great Multitudes

29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.


32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”

34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.






Matthew 20:29-34 New King James Version (NKJV)

Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight

29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.  

                           


Mark 1:40-42 New King James Version (NKJV)


40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.


There are just a few other verses that use this particular word that 
are not directly speaking of  Jesus.
Oh, but The Compassion of God is clearly communicated!!

Look them up and read them in context.

Mark 9:22

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion 
on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion  on him,

Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion,  and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

A Dream








1 John 3:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil !!!














Matthew 11:1-6New King James Version (NKJV)


11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”













Monday, January 16, 2017

The Great and Priceless Truth of Seeking The Lord(Repost)







Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV)

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.



Zephaniah 2:1-3 (NKJV)


1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable nation,

2 Before the decree is issued,
Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!

3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.




Isaiah 31:1 (NKJV)


 1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
And rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the Lord!




Hosea 10:12 (NKJV)

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.




Psalm 34:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.




Zechariah 21:1 (NKJV)

21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,
“Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord,
And seek the Lord of hosts.
I myself will go also.”



Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)

29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.



1 Chronicles 16:10-11 (NKJV)

10 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
11 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!




Psalm 105:3-5 (NKJV)

3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

4 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!

5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,



Ezra 6:21 (NKJV)

21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.



2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (NKJV)

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.







Isaiah 51:1-3 (NKJV)

The Lord Comforts Zion
1 “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness,
You who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

2 Look to Abraham your father,
And to Sarah who bore you;
For I called him alone,
And blessed him and increased him.”

3 For the Lord will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.




Proverbs 28:4-6 (NKJV)

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.





Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (NKJV)

29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 31 (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.





Acts 15:16-18 (NKJV)

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;

17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.



Acts 17:26-28 (NKJV)

26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’